Thank You to Everyone for Making Our
FamilyKind 9th Annual Awards Benefit & Virtual Symposium
Event a Huge Success!
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Symposium: 2:00 – 5:30 PM
Awards: 5:45 – 6:30 PM
See what the New York Law Journal is saying about our 2021 Symposium
SYMPOSIUM
Global Perspectives in Family Law
and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Expert voices from around the world, representing diverse perspectives and specialities, addressing their region’s adaptations to support families through divorce and separation during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
in partnership with
CLE credits pending through NYWBA. Contact hours for social workers offered.
HONORING
Hon. Jacqueline Silbermann
Administrative Judge of Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County (Retired)
Special Counsel, Dobrish Michaels Gross LLP
The Honorable Sondra M. Miller Award
for her leadership in promoting parent education for divorcing and separating parents in New York
Philip Katz, Esq.
Partner, Fink & Katz
​
The 2021 FamilyKind Service Award
for his efforts to organize the Assigned Counsel Panel of the New York County Family Court during the COVID-19 pandemic
Hon. Evelyn Frazee, J.S.C.
Justice, New York Supreme Court Seventh Judicial District (Retired)
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS
Patient (Pepsi) Samukelo Thuto
​
Founding Firm Partner and Attorney at Law (Botswana)
Patient Samukelo (Pepsi) Thuto (nee Chibanda) is a founding Partner of Chibanda Makgalemele & Company. The firm was established on 1st September 1994 and is based in Gaborone. She has over 29 years’ experience in private practice in Zimbabwe and Botswana having been first admitted to practise in January 1988 in the High Court of Zimbabwe.
Judge Vanessa Aufiero
Da Rocha
​
Panelist representing Brazilian Judicial System (Brazil)
Vanessa Aufiero da Rocha has been a magistrate judge for over 22 years, specializing in mediation in São Paulo, Brazil. Four years ago, she built the first Center of Mediation and Citizenship in her city. She added the Parental Education program for the National Council of Justice, in 2013, in order to help families, overcome the many difficulties of divorce.
Stephen Madigan, MSW, MSc, Ph.D.
​
The Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy and Yaletown Family Therapy (Canada)
The American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) recently honored Stephen with their Distinguished Award for Innovative Practice in Family Therapy Theory and Practice. Stephen holds an MSW as well as an MSc and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. In 1992, he opened the Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy through Yaletown Family Therapy (YFT) in Vancouver, Canada.
David Allison
​
Solicitor, Mediator & Collaborative Lawyer (England)
David is a director at Family Law in Partnership Ltd, London. The focus of his practice is financial claims on divorce, particularly those with an international element, but he is also well known for his expertise in the legal issues affecting cohabitants, same sex couples and civil partners. David was named Family Law Partner of the Year at the Family Law Awards 2019.
Michal Feffer
​
Attorney and Executive Director of Israeli not-for-profit (Israel)
Michal Feffer Director and Founder of ‘In-Between’ – a non-profit social innovation organization supporting Israeli children and families undergoing divorce. Michal is a certified group facilitator and a Jurist and holds an MBA in Marketing from Herriot-Watt University and an LLB from Tel Aviv University.
Hirotaka Honda
​
Barrister and Solicitor / Attorney at Law (Japan)
Hirotaka Honda has expert knowledge and extensive experience in family law and Wills, Trusts & Estates. He has taken a lot of cases of divorce/dissolution, family violence/abuse. He is committed to LGBT issues, believing that diversity and equality is all about family law. Families and assisted reproduction is also his concern, and Hirotaka believes it is always good for a child to be born in this world.
Maurice Q. Robinson
​
Moderator for FamilyKind Symposium (USA)
Maurice Q. Robinson is an active alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) professional who currently holds adjunct professorships at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law’s Kukin Program in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Mr. Robinson is also the EEO Officer, Executive Agency Counsel for New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Department of Equal Opportunity. Maurice Robinson received his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
SYMPOSIUM & BENEFIT PERFORMERS
Imani Mchunu Grosvenor
Soprano
Soprano Imani Mchunu Grosvenor has enjoyed performing opera, operetta, musical theatre, and concert works in Europe and North America since her debut with the University of Michigan Opera Theatre at the age of 19.
Ms. Grosvenor will perform at the benefit
Paul Grosvenor
Bass
Paul Grosvenor, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, is currently a resident artist with Toledo Opera. This Summer, Paul will perform the title role in The Mikado at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival.
Mr. Grosvenor will perform at the benefit
Petro Bass Experience
Musician
Petro Bass has been a seeker of musical inspiration, with a vision of creating a wellness space where sound intention is used as a vehicle to invoke healing in the body’s neural pathways while expanding consciousness.
Mr. Bass’ music will be featured symposium breaks.
Romona Mukherjee
Rejuvenation
Romona Mukherjee is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. In the practice of yoga and meditation, dance and sacred movement, she organically incorporates movement, posture, breath, mindfulness, guided imagery, and energy work into her therapeutic approach.
Ms. Mukherjee’s self-care techniques will be featured during the symposium breaks.
Event Co-Chairs
​
Patricia Ann Fersch, Esq.
Lesley Friedland, Esq.
Elliot Wiener, Esq.
​
Honorary Chair
​
Pamela M. Sloan, Esq.
Steering Committee
Amy Carron Day, Esq.
Tara Diamond, Esq.
Nancy Goodman
Sharon Manewitz
Tziporah Pronman