Trusts & Estates Law Section

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.

Opening Remarks

9:10 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

DNA, Surrogacy, Frozen Gametes – Planning & Litigating Heirship

Building on the Spring 2024 Trust and Estates Meeting session entitled “Kinship Proceedings: Planning to Include or Avoid DNA Relatives,” this session will review current DNA testing case law in estate proceedings, including kinship proceedings, and further discuss estate planning considerations to avoid the issue of claims to inheritance by “DNA relatives”. The speakers will also cover planning required for intended parents in surrogacy, contract and planning considerations for frozen gametes and embryos, and other planning considerations and practical tips.

Speaker

Robert M. Harper, Esq. | Farrell Fritz, P.C., Uniondale, NY

Kathleen (“Casey”) Copps DiPaola, Esq. | Copps DiPaola Silverman, PLLC, Albany, NY and Co-Founder of the New York Surrogacy Center

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Malpractice in Estate Planning

Rising legal malpractice actions against trusts and estates practitioners result in nightmares for many attorneys. This segment will provide an overview of the elements of legal malpractice actions against estate planning attorneys and address best practices to protect you and your law firm. In addition, the looming 2026 estate tax law changes are ripe for malpractice claims against unwary attorneys. The speakers will discuss tips for prudent estate planning in 2025 given the sunset of certain provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Speaker

Laurie S. Keniry, Esq. | Cioffi Slezak Wildgrube P.C., Schenectady, NY

Irma K. Nimetz, Esq. | McCarthy Fingar LLP, White Plains, NY

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Surrogate’s Court Panel

Speaker

Hon. Acea M. Mosey | Erie County Surrogate’s Court, Buffalo, NY

Hon. Stephen W. Cass | Chautauqua County Surrogates Court, Mayville, NY

Hon. Peter J. Kelly | Queens County Surrogate’s Court, Jamaica, NY

Hon. Rita M. Mella | New York County Surrogate's Court, New York, NY

Moderator

Eric W. Penzer, Esq. | Farrell Fritz, P.C., Uniondale, NY

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Reception

12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Luncheon

Mastering Stress and Workload Management in the Information Age

In today’s fast-paced world, lawyers face constant distractions from technology and information overload—emails, instant messages, documents, social media, phone calls, and numerous interruptions. Research shows that lawyers switch tasks on their computers nearly 600 times a day, leaving them overwhelmed and stressed. Join renowned speaker and time management expert Paul Unger, Esq. in this transformative program, where you’ll learn effective strategies to cultivate calm, minimize stress, and manage distractions. Discover how to efficiently handle emails, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines while regaining control over your day and practice. You'll walk away with practical tools and methodologies you can implement immediately to enhance your productivity and well-being.

Speaker

Paul J. Unger | Affinity Consulting Group

2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Executive Committee Meeting (Invitation Only)