Changing of the guard at the Brooklyn Bar Association

Once again, it was out with the old, in with the new.

The Brooklyn Bar Association unveiled its newest leadership roster May 5 at its annual meeting in Brooklyn Heights, bidding farewell to outgoing president Frank Seddio and welcoming his successor, Aimee Richter.

Seddio, who heads the Brooklyn Democratic Party and the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, said addressing the 145-year-old bar association for the last time as its president was “bittersweet for me.”

Richter, a partner in the law firm Lee Anav Chung White Kim Ruger & Richter LLP, said she looked forward to taking the helm of the venerable group. “You look back at all of the people that have been the BBA president, and I’m so in awe,” she said when she learned she was next in line for the position. “It’s hard to believe that I’ll be one of those people.”

The association also announced the other results of its officer elections, held just prior to the meeting at its Remsen Street headquarters. David M. Chidekel will be president-elect, Frank V. Carone will be the first vice president, Anthont J. Lamberti will be second vice president, Armena D. Gayle will serve as secretary, and Richard Klass will be treasurer.

Six members received special honors. Adam Kalish, Joseph H. Dirks, and Diane Golkin, each received a Distinguished Service Award. Sidney Cherubin, managing attorney for the Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, received the Freda S. Nisnewitz Award for Service to the Community “In recognition of a demonstrated commitment to pro bono work for the indigent population of the borough of Brooklyn,” and Lucinda DiSalvo received the Hon. Nathan Sobel Award, named for a beloved Brooklyn lawyer, judge and adviser to several state political leaders whose career spanned seven decades, including long stints as a County Court and Surrogate Court judge.

Established in 1872, the Brooklyn Bar Association states that its primary purpose is “to promote professional competence among attorneys and increased respect for the legal system.”

Reach James Harney at (718) 260-2529 or e-mail him at jharney@cnglocal.com.