President-Elect Candidate Statement: Michael McNamara
9.15.2026
I submit this Statement in support of my candidacy for the position of President-Elect.
Thanks to the foresight, dedication and hard work of many leaders, the New York State Bar Association has achieved remarkable financial and operational success in recent years despite very challenging conditions.
Because of the strong foundation that we have built, I am very optimistic about NYSBA’s future and, with your support, I believe I can help the Association move forward.
My candidacy is grounded in significant leadership experience. I had the privilege of serving as President of the New York County Lawyers Association during a pivotal period. At NYSBA, I was a Vice President and Executive Committee member for four years and Chair of the Finance Committee, which has responsibility for all the financial affairs of the Association, including the annual budget, investments and Section financial policies, for five years.
As a result, I have a deep understanding of the Association, significant relationships with volunteer leaders and staff and an appreciation of the critical importance of listening, working collaboratively and building consensus.
By delivering exceptional value, our new membership model has succeeded in increasing membership, strengthening our Sections and creating a strong foundation for future growth. An important priority of my presidency would be ensuring that NYSBA maintains its focus on the needs and well-being of members and continues to work hard to significantly expand membership.
As a former Chair of the Finance Committee, I understand the importance of financial discipline and the value of a strong financial position. During my tenure, the Association was able to successfully market and launch the new membership model, renovate its Albany headquarters without incurring any debt and see its investment portfolio reach historic highs. As President, I would insist that we continue to be responsible stewards of the Association’s assets.
My vision for NYSBA is to be the most successful, influential and respected bar association in the country. That involves more than growing membership and having a strong balance sheet. We must also be an organization that has a real impact on serious issues and challenges facing the legal profession.
Given our ability to bring together talent from around the state and our reputation as a trusted voice, NYSBA is uniquely positioned to fulfill that role. By harnessing the expertise of lawyers in private practice, in-house counsel, government and public service attorneys as well as academics and judges, we can provide valuable thought leadership on issues such as innovations to improve access to justice, increasing threats and unfair criticism of judges, private equity investment in law firms and proposals for Court reform.
Finally, the true strength of any bar association lies in the engagement of its members, leaders and future leaders and the relationships it fosters. As President, I would work to ensure that
NYSBA offers events and experiences that people genuinely enjoy and that create the opportunity for professional connections and enduring friendships to be developed.
I welcome your support!