The State Legislature has given the New York Lawyers' Fund a broad mission: to protect legal consumers from dishonest conduct in the practice of law, to preserve the integrity of the bar, to safeguard the good name of lawyers for their honesty in handling client money, and to promote public confidence in the administration of justice in the Empire State.
The Trustees of the Lawyers' Fund attempt to secure these goals by reimbursing client money that is misused in the practice of law. But there are other efforts as well.
Principal among them is the development of proposals to change legal practices that provide opportunities for dishonest practitioners to exploit the trust of clients.
Other efforts focus on helping lawyers comply with their fiduciary and escrow obligations. The Trustees also develop consumer education programs with the hope that informed clients will avoid situations and transactions with lawyers that can result in losses.
In these efforts, the Lawyers' Fund serves as a helpmate to the courts of New York in shielding the integrity of the justice system and the honor and reputation of the lawyers who serve as its officers.
Typical losses reimbursed by the Lawyers' Fund include the theft of estate and trust assets, escrow deposits in real property transactions, settlements in personal injury litigation, debt collection receipts, money embezzled in investment transactions with law clients, and unearned fees paid in advance to lawyers who falsely promise their legal services.
There is a $400,000 maximum limit, per law client loss, on awards from the Fund, fixed by regulation of the Trustees. There is no aggregate maximum on awards involving one lawyer.
Who We Are
The Fund’s Mission
The Board of Trustees
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The Trustees serve renewable terms of three years, and without compensation for their services. Since the Fund's organization in 1981, the Court of Appeals has maintained a panel with a mix of five practicing lawyers and two community and business leaders who are not members of the bar.
The Board's officers are a Chairman, Vice-
Eric A. Seiff, is Chairman of the Board and resides in the Bronx. He is of counsel to the Manhattan law firm of Amini, L.L.C. Mr. Seiff is a graduate of Yale University and the Columbia University Law School (1958).
Patricia L. Gatling, of Manhattan, is Vice-
Dr. Gary S. Greenberg of Liverpool, Onondaga County, is a dentist specializing in Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr. Greenberg is a graduate of the State University of New York, Buffalo (1973), the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (1978) and the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (1979). .
Michael J. Knight of Delmar, Albany County is the Executive Director and Counsel of the Lawyers' Fund. He is a graduate of Niagara University (1987) and the Albany Law School of Union University (1990).
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Peter A. Bellacosa of Manhattan is the Fund’s Treasurer, and a partner with the law firm of Phillips Lytle, LLP. He is a graduate of Georgetown University (1985) and St. John’s University Law School (1988).
Anthony J. Baynes of Williamsville, Erie County, is the founder and current Chairman of the AJ Baynes Group, a Buffalo based development and logistics company. Mr. Baynes is a graduate of Buffalo State College (1979).
Stuart M. Cohen of Rensselaer County served for 14 years as the Clerk of the Court of Appeals. Mr. Cohen is a graduate of Connecticut College and New York University School of Law (1979). He is a sole practitioner in Rensselaer concentrating on appellate matters.
Lisa L. Hutchinson of Farmingdale, Nassau County, is a partner in the Farmingdale law firm of Guercio & Guercio. Ms. Hutchinson is a graduate of the State University of New York, Albany and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.