LeGaL Welcomes New Attorney Members to the LeGaL Board of Directors
The LGBT Bar of New York (LeGaL) is proud to announce the election of Cody Yorke and Lindsay M. Goldbrum to our 2019 Association Board. LeGaL also celebrates the appointment of Craig A. Convissar and Andrew P. Merten to our 2019 Foundation Board.
Craig A. Convissar is an associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. Craig has experience representing companies and individuals across a variety of litigation matters in both state and federal court, including class actions, labor and employment, unfair competition, and breach of contract issues. Craig maintains an active pro bono practice and has assisted several LGBT clients in obtaining asylum in the United States. He has previously served on the New York City Bar Association’s LGBT Rights Committee and is currently a member of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York’s board of directors and judicial screening panel. Prior to joining Katten, Craig served as a law clerk to the Honorable Laura Taylor Swain of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Before his clerkship, Craig was as an associate editor in the litigation group of Thomson Reuters Practical Law, and previously worked as an associate at a large corporate firm in New York, focusing his practice on litigation matters. While in law school, Craig completed internships with the New York Legal Assistance Group, Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, and the American Civil Liberties Union. He serves on the Judicial Screening Committee of the LGBT Bar Association of New York
“I view membership on the LeGaL board as an opportunity to continue giving back, by helping guide one of the most dynamic bar associations in the country. It is a chance to have a hand in directing an organization that lifts the community up and brings together LGBT leaders for a common cause. I am excited to manage the challenges that come with this role, and to continue offering my support to the LGBT community at a time when it is crucially important.” -Craig Convissar
Lindsay Goldbrum is an Assistant District Attorney in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. She has represent the People of Brooklyn in prosecutions of individuals charged with crimes. Lidsay has been extremely involved in the relaunch of the Women’s Committee for LeGal, and has planned or assisted in the planning of every women’s event that LeGal has hosted.
I believe that LeGal is an incredible organization. It brings together a group of intelligent and impressive individuals from a number of diverse backgrounds, only a handful of which I have had the opportunity to get to know so far. — Lindsay Goldbrum
Andrew P. Merten is an Associate in Morrison Cohen’s Business Litigation Department. He represents clients involved in a wide variety of commercial and business disputes.Andrew has represented and advised corporations, hospitals, not-for-profit entities, and individuals in complex commerical litigations and other disputes, including investigations by the federal government under the False Claims Act. He has experience in both state and federal court and arbitral forums, and has experience with all phases of litigation, including pre-action investigations, discovery, pleadings, motion practice, and settlement negotiations. Additionally, Andrew has represented clients in transactional matters. Prior to joining Morrison Cohen in 2014, Andrew was an Associate at Proskauer Rose LLP.
“I have been a member of LeGaL since 2013 and I have broadened my involvement in the organization in recent years. In addition to serving as a law student mentor and hosting the 2017 mentor program kick-off reception, I have volunteered with Manhattan Weekly Walk-In Clinic, and had the privilege of serving on LeGaL’s Judicial Screening Panel. Moreover, in serving as co-appellate counsel in the successful appeal of first impression before the First Department, which impacted the rights and obligations of New York’s LGBTQ parents, I had the privilege of working extensively with LeGaL.” — Andrew P. Merten
CODY YORKE is an associate in Outten & Golden LLP, and a member of the firm’s Executives and Professionals Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, Ms. Yorke worked as an associate at a leading Canadian employment law firm. Ms. Yorke was counsel in Galea v. Wal-Mart Canada Inc., a groundbreaking employment law case in which her client was awarded nearly $1.7 million, including $500,000 in punitive damages and $250,000 in moral damages, awarded in Canadian law for an employer’s bad faith. The decision is the highest moral damages award in Canadian law and one of the highest punitive damages awards in Canadian employment law.
“Last summer, I volunteered with LeGaL four days a week, helping to run the Manhattan clinic, the hotline, and the LRN, as well as working with Brett on our litigation cases — both in placing pro bono cases and in preparing analyses and documents for the cases LeGaL itself is litigating. Through this work, I have been able to gain insight into LeGaL’s mission and objectives, as well as its daily operations. I have been dedicating my free time to LeGaL because I believe in its mission and its work.” — Cody Yorke
