Blue Bell, PA -- The Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) held its Annual Business Luncheon Meeting on Friday, January 7, 2022 at Normandy Farm in Blue Bell. Over 100 members, legal professionals and community leaders attended the event which included the election of the MBA’s officers for 2022, an awards presentation to honor outstanding contributions to the MBA and community, as well as the installation of its new president, Sarinia M. Feinman, Esq., with the ceremonial passing of the gavel.
Ms. Feinman is a partner at the firm of Vetrano | Vetrano & Feinman, LLC in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Ms. Feinman graduated from Widener University School of Law, and from the University of Pittsburgh. Ms. Feinman has been recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyer's Magazine as a Super Lawyer in the area of Family Law since 2019, and prior to that as a Rising Star in the area of Family Law from 2010-2018. Ms. Feinman has been an active member of the MBA since the start of her legal career, having served as Chair of the Family Law Section (FLS) in 2014, Chair of the Young Lawyer's Section in 2009, Co-Chair of the Women in the Law Committee in 2016 and 2017, a member of the Judiciary Committee, a member of the Long Range Planning Committee, as well as a Director for a three-year term, and a member of the Executive Committee. Ms. Feinman is currently serving a three-year term on the Board of Managers of the Montgomery County Youth Center and is serving on the PBA House of Delegates. Ms. Feinman is a Past President of the Doris Jonas Freed American Inn of Court in family law, and was previously the Regional Coordinator of the High School Mock Trial Competition from 2010 to 2013, as well as a member of the PBA Bar Leadership Institute inaugural class of 2010-11. Ms. Feinman previously served two separate terms as a Council Member of the PBA FLS from 2009-12 and from 2014-17. Ms. Feinman was the Chair of the Programming Committee of the PBA FLS from 2013-14, and is presently the Co-Chair of the Membership Committee, for which she received a PBA Achievement Award in 2018 for her work on this Committee. She is also a Collaborative Family Law Affiliate trained in the Collaborative law approach to divorce, which focuses on severing the bonds of matrimony without severing the family. Ms. Feinman is a frequent speaker, course planner, and author for various programs for the PBI and the PBA, as well as for the MBA. Ms. Feinman frequently serves as a volunteer attorney for the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP), for which she represents abused children. Ms. Feinman has chosen to limit her practice to family law, with a special interest in custody relocation matters, and those cases that involve special needs children, as well as mental health and addiction issues.
During her inauguration speech, Ms. Feinman praised the accomplishments, leadership, and friendship of outgoing President Jacqueline M. Reynolds. She also acknowledged the association's past presidents and current officers with whom she has served. Ms. Feinman also thanked her family, including her parents, brother, daughters, and husband who were in attendance. Ms. Feinman ensured that her daughters attended so they could see first-hand the many women in leadership positions, both attorneys and judges. She also acknowledged the role of her firm partner Kate Vetrano in getting her involved in the bar association immediately after joining the firm out of law school.
Ms. Feinman assured members that she is uniquely qualified to meet the challenges of today's uncertain world. She noted the importance of personal well-being and intends to continue - and expand upon - her predecessor's efforts to provide wellness programs to bar association members. Ms. Feinman also noted the importance of collegiality and camaraderie that comes from networking and in-person gatherings. It is her hope that the bar association can return to as many in-person meetings and events as safety allows.
Ms. Feinman concluded her remarks with the following quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
For the 2022 Bar Year, Justin A. Bayer, Esq. of Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer, LLP in Norristown will serve as President-Elect; Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, P.C. in Lansdale will serve as Vice President; Seth D. Wilson, Esq. of Morris Wilson, P.C. in Conshohocken will serve as Treasurer; and Colin J. O'Boyle, Esq. of Elliott Greenleaf, P.C. will serve as Secretary.
Also of Note: Aimee L. Kumer, Esq., of Elliott Greenleaf, P.C. in Blue Bell will serve as President of the MBA’s Trial Lawyers Section; Patrice M. Turenne, Esq., with Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. was named Chair of the MBA’s Young Lawyers Section; Lindsay H. Childs, Esq., of Vetrano | Vetrano & Feinman LLC in King of Prussia was named Chair of the MBA’s Family Law Section; and Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, P.C. in Lansdale remains Chair of the MBA’s Probate and Tax Section.
In addition to new leadership being appointed, the following awards were distributed:
MBA Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsored by the Pugh Family Attorneys
Stephen G. Yusem, Esq.
The Honorable Horace A. Davenport Award
Rebecca Sallen, Esq.
President's Award
Patrick J. Kurtas, Esq.
Committee of the Year Award
Elder Law Committee
Not pictured:
Young Lawyers Section Award
Andrew J. Levin, Esq.
The Honorable Milton O. Moss Award Public Service Award
Susan Strong, Esq.
Edward Danelski, Esq.
The Honorable Louis D. Stefan Law Enforcement Award
Stephanie Landes
Click Here to view photos from the event.
