Executive Committee (Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law)

Chair:

Richard W. Kokel, Esq.

New York, New York
Rwk1998@aol.com

Currently, Mr. Kokel is a New York State No-Fault Arbitrator.  His office is located in Manhattan, New York.  He has been an Arbitrator since 2002.  He is also a member of the Small Claims Arbitrator Association.  Prior to becoming an Arbitrator he worked as a trial attorney for two prominent New York City law firms that specialized in personal injury litigation.  Negligence, Labor Law/Construction site liability, Motor Vehicle liability and Medical Malpractice were his areas of expertise in his prior practice.

Richard graduated from Vermont Law School in 1981 and received his undergraduate degree from Siena College in 1977.  He is admitted in the U.S. Southern District of New York; the U.S. Eastern District of New York; and, the New York State Courts.

He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, and is currently a member of its Membership Committee, and a Co-Chair of the No-Fault Committee for the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section.  Previously, he was a member the Solo and Small Firm Practice subcommittee and the Chair of the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section’s Membership committee.

Vice-Chair:

Donald R. Gerace
Utica, New York

DONALD R. GERACE has been a solo practitioner with offices in Utica and Inlet New York since 1990. He is a graduate of Siena College (B.A. 1976) and Albany Law School (J.D. 1979). Prior to becoming a solo practitioner, Mr. Gerace was associated with the Law Offices of Anthony J. LaFache. He has served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney for Oneida and Jefferson Counties as well as a Special Prosecutor for Oneida, Herkimer and Madison Counties. Mr. Gerace served as Counsel to the Utica City School District from 1988 to 2023 and as Counsel to the Holland Patent School District and Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES since 1999. His practice includes the representation of individuals, municipalities and corporate entities in all aspects of general, business, criminal, constitutional, labor and education law matters regarding the public and private sector. Mr. Gerace is admitted to practice in New York State, the U.S. District Courts in New York State and the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He has tried cases in all levels of New York State and Federal Courts and has practiced before numerous agencies including but not limited to the New York State Division of Human Rights, the New York State Public Employment Relations Board, the National Labor Relations Board, the American Arbitration Association, the New York State Education Department, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and various other agencies. Mr. Gerace has successfully sued and defended individuals, school districts, public employers, private employers and the State of New York in all aspects of litigation. He has argued appeals in both State and Federal Courts. Mr. Gerace is the owner of Central Adirondack Land Title Agency and serves as a Title Agent and Examiner for Old Republic Title Insurance Company. He has been a member of the Oneida, Herkimer and Jefferson County Bar Associations, the New York State Bar (NYSBA), New York State Defender’s and Federal Defender’s Bar Associations as well as the Oneida County Women’s Bar Association. He has previously served as the President of the Oneida County Bar Association and chairperson of said bar association’s Judiciary and By-Laws committees.  He also previously served as a Delegate to the House of Delegates for the NYSBA, as a Member of the NYSBA Membership committee, as a Member of the NYSBA Membership Subcommittee on Diversity and as an Executive Member of and a District Representative to the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section of the NYSBA.

Treasurer:

Brendan F. Baynes

The Baynes Law Firm PLLC
130 Main Street
Ravena, NY 12143
bfb@bayneslawfirm.com

Brendan is a trial lawyer at his own firm, The Baynes Law Firm, which he established in 2009, in Ravena, New York. He has been practicing law for 37 years, concentrating his practice on personal injury law. Brendan has tried scores of cases to verdict throughout upstate New York and has argued dozens of appeals, primarily in the Appellate Division, Third Dept. He also enjoys providing private counsel and advice to a diverse “small town” community of clients in Ravena and Greene County.

Brendan is a highly regarded attorney, acknowledged for his excellence in the Capital District legal community. His exceptional contributions led to his selection to Super Lawyers consecutively from 2012 to 2023 in the field of personal injury.

He has been active in TICL for 30 years, having served as a District Representative for the Third District and as one of TICL’s delegates and alternate delegate in the NYSBA House of Delegates and has lectured extensively at NYSBA/TICL CLE’s. Brendan served as a member of Character & Fitness Committee from 2009-2019.

For the past 15 years, Brendan has assumed the crucial role of Financial Officer for the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Sections of the New York State Bar Association, showcasing his dedication to the legal community and his leadership capabilities.

Brendan is a graduate of St. Lawrence University (1983) and Albany Law School (1986) and he and his wife Patricia have three children and one grandchild. He volunteers his time on the board of several community not-for-profit organizations.

Secretary:

Darian Bryan, Esq.