Uniondale, NY – May 22, 2024 – Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. announced today that Kera N. Reed and Lois Bladykas were elected to serve on the 2024-2025 Executive Board of the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association. Kera was elected to serve as President and Lois was elected to serve as Treasurer. They were formally installed at a dinner and ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Mansion at West Sayville.
The Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association is a chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY). WBASNY’s 4,000+ members comprised of attorneys, judges and law students, work to promote the advancement of the states of women in the legal profession. On a local level, the organization works to provide networking opportunities, continuing legal education, fun and mentorship to the Suffolk County legal community. WBASNY’s mission is to promote the advancement of the status of women in society and of women in the legal profession; to promote the fair and equal administration of justice; and to act as a unified voice for its members with respect to issues of statewide, national and international significance to women generally and to women attorneys in particular.
“Congratulations to Kera and Lois on their recent appointments to the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association,” said Managing Partner Adam Silvers. “We are confident that Kera and Lois will continue to bring the utmost devotion and commitment to their new roles, which will greatly enhance the Association.”
Ms. Reed is of counsel at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C., where she is a member of the firm’s Trusts and Estates Department, and the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Estate, Trust and Fiduciary Litigation practice groups. Ms. Reed’s practice includes all Surrogate’s Court proceedings to appoint an Executor or Administrator of an estate, SCPA Article 17 and 17-A guardianship proceedings, preparation and litigation of fiduciary accountings, and preparation of New York State and Federal estate tax returns. She also is qualified to serve as Guardian ad Litem and Mediator in Surrogates’ Court proceedings. In addition to her Trust and Estate practice, Ms. Reed is certified to serve as counsel and court evaluator in Supreme Court Guardianship matters. She is a Co-Chair of the New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section’s Trust, Estates, Wills and Guardianships Committee and is the past Co-Chair of the Surrogates Court Committee of the Suffolk County Bar Association. Prior to her installation as President, Kera served as Treasurer of the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association and was one of the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association’s delegates to the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York.
Ms. Bladykas is a Partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C., where she is a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Department; Estate, Trust & Fiduciary Litigation Practice Group; and the Insurance & Insurance Litigation Practice Group. Ms. Bladykas’ practice focuses on estate, trust and fiduciary litigation, including all manner of Surrogate’s Court proceedings such as probate contests, accounting proceedings, discovery and turnover proceedings, will and trust construction proceedings, and other complex disputes between beneficiaries and fiduciaries. This includes related litigation in New York State Supreme Court and appeals to the Appellate Divisions and the Court of Appeals. In addition, Ms. Bladykas has experience representing clients in SCPA Article 17 and 17-A guardianship proceedings and Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 guardianship proceedings. Ms. Bladykas is qualified to serve as Guardian ad Litem in Surrogate’s Court, and as Court Evaluator and Counsel for Alleged Incapacitated Persons in Article 81 guardianship proceedings. A portion of Ms. Bladykas’ practice also involves defending professional liability claims against attorneys where estate and trust issues are involved.
As a complement to her litigation practice, Ms. Bladykas has significant experience in estate administration, including handling probate and administration proceedings, preparing fiduciary accountings, and preparing federal and New York State estate tax returns, as well as estate planning matters. Ms. Bladykas is an active member of the New York State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Law Section, where she serves as Vice Chair of the Legislation & Government Relations Committee. Ms. Bladykas is past Co-Chair of the Suffolk County Bar Association Surrogate’s Court Committee; member of the New York State Bar Association Membership Committee; member of the Nassau County Bar Association Surrogate’s Court Committee; and a member of the Long Island Estate Planning Council.
For over 50 years, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C., headquartered in Uniondale, has built a reputation as one of the region’s leading providers of innovative legal services. Its attorneys are practical, experienced advocates who measure their success by their clients’ success. Cornerstone groups in all major practice areas of the law are represented at the firm, including corporate and securities, corporate restructuring & bankruptcy, commercial lending, commercial litigation, intellectual property, health care, real estate, employment, not-for-profit, cybersecurity and data privacy, energy, and trusts and estates. Clients include large and mid-sized corporations, privately held businesses, institutions and individuals.
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