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Kathy Suchocki becomes NYS Bar exec director
The New York State Bar Association made it official on April 13, appointing Kathy Suchocki as its executive director after serving in the role on an interim basis for many months.
Suchocki succeeds Pamela McDevitt who led the association for nine years until she passed away in January. The association said Suchocki will be responsible for advancing McDevitt’s mission in recent years, which included introducing a new membership model that provides all members with free continuing legal education programs, e-books and downloadable forms.
“After forming a working group of past, current and future leaders, we confirmed that the best person to continue Pam’s vision and succeed her is Kathy Suchocki,” said Kathleen Sweet, president of the New York State Bar Association. “No one is more qualified or deserving.”
Suchocki was the association’s associate executive director, the number two position in the organization, for the past three years. In that role, she led the association’s revenue-generating departments and strengthened staff engagement. Before that, she was the association’s senior director of continuing legal education and law practice management.
“Managing the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation is an extraordinary opportunity,” Suchocki said. “I thank President Sweet, the working group and the Executive Committee for the faith they have placed in me. I can assure you that our members will continue to be our number one priority.”
Suchocki is also president of the Association of Continuing Legal Education Professionals, the national organization for CLE professionals. She was president-elect of ACLEA from 2024 to 2025.
Akiva Shapiro joins Holtzman Vogel
Akiva Shapiro has joined the New York office of Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC (Holtzman Vogel), a nationally recognized law firm specializing in political law, regulatory matters, and high-profile litigation, as its managing partner.
Akiva Shapiro has joined the New York office of Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC (Holtzman Vogel), a nationally recognized law firm specializing in political law, regulatory matters, and high-profile litigation, as its managing partner.
Shapiro will also serve as chair of the firm’s New York Administrative Law and Regulatory Litigation practice group.
In its April 21 announcement, Holtzman Vogel heralded Shapiro’s arrival as bringing significant depth to its growing New York presence as client demand for experienced constitutional and complex commercial litigation counsel continues to surge.
“Akiva brings a sharp legal mind, broad first-chair experience in high-profile matters, and a deep understanding across the issues shaping today’s most complex litigation,” said Jill Holtzman Vogel, firm founder and managing partner. “He has spent his career taking on consequential matters, and prevailing.”
Shapiro has built a national reputation over nearly two decades, appearing regularly before New York’s trial courts, federal and state courts of appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court, with landmark wins spanning property rights, regulatory challenges, First Amendment speech, and religious liberties. He has particular expertise in challenging government action in New York City and State and litigating cases that have a New York regulatory connection.
He is also widely recognized as one of the country’s foremost advocates in the fight against antisemitism, having led numerous impactful pro bono matters on behalf of the Jewish community.
“I joined Holtzman Vogel because I wanted to help build something in New York and to do work that no other law firm here is doing,” said Shapiro. “This is a firm that is righting wrongs. It has attracted extraordinary lawyers from the biggest law firms and the highest levels of government. That is a testament to its culture and unique focus. I wanted to be part of a place where the work truly makes a difference.”
Prior to joining Holtzman Vogel, he was a partner at Gibson Dunn, an amNewYork Law 100 firm, where he was chair of its New York Administrative Law and Regulatory Litigation practice group.
For more information, visit www.holtzmanvogel.com.
Fox Rothschild partners with Coney Island Prep
Fox Rothschild’s New York City office is helping build brighter futures for the students at Coney Island Prep, a Brooklyn-based public charter school.Fox Rothschild
Fox Rothschild’s New York City office is helping build brighter futures for the students at Coney Island Prep, a Brooklyn-based public charter school.
The firm’s New York team recently hosted a fundraising campaign to benefit Coney Island Prep’s after-school programs, which provide academic support, enrichment activities, mentorship and a safe, structured environment for students beyond the traditional school day.
Fox attorneys Dale Degenshein and Caroline Hymes visited the school to see firsthand how our support benefited scholars.
Attention legal eagles! Have you promoted a new partner? Are you giving back in your communities? We want to know about it! Send us your good news by emailing robb@amny.com and you may be featured in our Docket every week.