Good evening. This moment is incredibly meaningful to me. Standing before a full house at the Westchester County Bar Association’s 125th Annual Gala, surrounded by family, friends, partners, colleagues, and mentors, I am honored and humbled to have just been sworn in as your president.

Tonight is not just about tradition—it is about possibility. And I want to talk about what is possible when you show up, when you get involved, and when you are supported by a community like ours.

But first, I want to take a moment to pay tribute to tonight’s Hopkins Award honoree—the Honorable Linda Jamieson. Judge, your decades of service to the bench and the bar have shaped the Westchester legal community in lasting and profound ways. Your commitment to civility, your deep respect for the rule of law, and your leadership as a past WCBA president have set a standard we all aspire to. Through your warmth and approachability, you have helped make the judiciary in Westchester more accessible to lawyers and litigants alike. And on a personal note, your mentorship and encouragement have played an enormous role in my own journey—and I am especially grateful to be sworn in on the same evening we honor your remarkable career. Congratulations on your well-deserved award.

Back in 2017, my partner and good friend of 35 years, David Lachtman, and I decided to open up shop in Westchester after spending our entire careers in the city. We wanted to be part of the local legal community, so we joined this Association. But I will be honest—at first, I felt like an outsider. I remember walking into my first Meet the Judges event and thinking: everyone seems to know each other. I felt like I was crashing an exclusive club. And as someone who has always prided himself on stepping out of his comfort zone and taking risks, that feeling still made me hesitate for a moment. But I hung in there and made a go of it, and then continued to show up—and that is where everything began to change.

I started attending what was then known as Judge Jamieson’s Brown Bag Lunch—an initiative that brought lawyers and judges together in a relaxed setting. It was an incredible concept— but not always well-attended. One afternoon, my partner Greg Blue and I showed up, and we were the only two in the room along with Judge Jamieson and her guest that day, Judge Wood. That lunch turned out to be a gift. We talked about the law, the courts, and how to increase engagement. And during  that conversation, Greg and I brainstormed a simple but effective idea: free food. With David’s support,we offered to sponsor lunch for the attendees, and the event was renamed “Lunch with the Judges.” Attendance grew substantially, and in the process, we helped build bridges between the bench and the bar.

That one lunch—and the opportunity Judge Jamieson gave us to help —was a turning point. I was no longer an outsider. I was an active member making meaningful relationships. And good things started happening.

Next, I started thinking about how the conversation around mental health and well-being in our profession— which is very important to me—was not happening in our local bar. I had an idea: let’s start that conversation. So, I prepared a proposal for a symposium that I wanted to organize and moderate, and that David and I would sponsor, and I emailed the proposal to our then-President, Judge Jamieson. I have to admit that, due to the then-taboo nature of the topic and the stigma around mental health, I sent the proposal with a bit of trepidation. However, that same day, she wrote back: “Hi Brian, I love this idea! You have my full support. Go for it and let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”

There is absolutely no doubt that moment—when I received that warm and enthusiastic response—set me on a path that led to where I am standing right now. Judge, that is the kind of president I want to be. And to all our members, I promise—that is the kind of president I will be.

Fortunately, the symposium was well-attended and well-received, which made me want to get even more involved, and I did, and things took off. I continued to get involved with the Association. For David and I, our network grew, our business grew, and we made lasting friendships. I was invited to join the Board, then the Executive Committee. And then, under the leadership of then-President Judge Hyer, Andrew Schriever and I created the Task Force on Attorney Well-Being—a group that is now a thriving committee led by Judge Livia Rodriguez, Rachel Chazin-Halperin, and Michelle Tarson. They are doing great work to keep this issue front and center, and supporting this committee, like all committees, will always be a priority.

There is one more thing that came out of that journey—and it is a very big one. While working on the task force, I spent a lot of time with each of its members, including Brian Belowich. David had been friends with Brian for years, while Brian and I had known each other from bar-related activities. But through our work on the task force, we—Brian, David, and I—discovered that we have great synergies and share core values about how we practice law, the kind of firm we want to build, and the kind of culture we want to promote. That led to the creation of a new law firm that I am extremely proud of and love being a part of every day.

So yes, all of this—the professional growth, the business development, the friendships, even a new law firm—all of it traces back to one thing: getting involved in the WCBA. Showing up. Having ideas. And being part of a community that enthusiastically says “yes” to your ideas.

That is what I want for every one of you. This Association has done wonders for me and my partners, and I want every member to have the same experience. That is why I am focused on the following three goals:

First, delivering tangible value. Your membership should be a vital part of your legal career. That means more targeted programming, better resources, high-quality CLEs, and opportunities for networking, mentoring, and public service that help you grow and stay ahead.

Second, growing our membership and deepening engagement. This is your Bar Association. If you have an idea for a program, an initiative, or a new committee—let’s do it. We want your input, your voice, and your vision. Isabel and I are just an email or a phone call away and I strongly encourage you to reach out to us.

And third, continuing to build a culture of diversity and inclusion. Our Association is strongest when it reflects the full richness of our community. That means working together with local affinity bars and ensuring that every member feels empowered to contribute and be heard.

In closing, to our members—I am standing here tonight, because I showed up and got involved, and the same opportunity is there for each of you. When you step forward, great things begin to happen—sometimes in ways you cannot predict, but always in ways that matter. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to serve as your President. I am honored, humbled, and grateful, and I promise, I will not let you down.