New York, New York

The Law Office of Alfreida B. Kenny - Attorney

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator

Attorney, The Law Office of Alfreida B. Kenny, 1989-Present; Partner, Cooper, Liebowitz, Royster & Kenny (formerly Cooper & Kenny), 1984-1989; Special Counsel to General Counsel, New York City Housing Authority, 1984; Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, 1981-1984; Assistant General Counsel, Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 1976-1981; Staff Attorney, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 1975-1976. Adjunct Professor, City University of New York Law School, 1997-1998; Instructor, Legal Analysis, Writing and Research, New York University School of Law, 1984-1986; Adjunct Professor, Real Property, Pace University Law School, Summer 1984.

As an associate at Weil Gotshal & Manges, LLP, represented real estate developers and individuals in purchase, sale, lease, assignment, and mortgaging of interests in real property. Prepared commercial office leases, leases for strip mall stores, and assignments of leasehold interests. For more than three decades of private practice represented cooperative corporations and condominium associations, and for more than 20 years acted as outside general counsel for a cooperative corporation regarding corporate governance, governmental compliance, governmental regulations, tenant/shareholder issues, financing the client’s interest in real property, preparing and negotiating contracts relating to the operation of the building, preparing office and garage leases, and litigation. Current practice includes representing clients in real estate transactions, guardianship proceedings, trust and estates planning and litigation. Trusts and estates practice includes representing clients before the Surrogate's Court of the State of New York in probate, administration, construction, and miscellaneous proceedings, the majority of which are contested proceedings. Also represent clients in contested and uncontested guardianship proceedings before the Supreme Court of the State of New York.<br/><br/>Guardianship practice includes representing individuals alleged to be incapacitated, family members, and friends who petition to be appointed guardian for the alleged incapacitated person, as well as family members and friends who oppose some aspect of the guardianship proceeding. Represent guardians in demands for, and objections to, accountings, and turnover of assets of the incapacitated person in the possession or custody of another.

Mediated more than 125 disputes. Serve on mediation panels for the United States District Court, SDNY, United States District Court, EDNY, and Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, Commercial Division. Mediation experience includes mediating:<br/>• Breach of commercial leases; <br/>• Breach of employment contracts;<br/>• Breach of publishing contracts; <br/>• Breach of commercial contracts; <br/>• Trusts and estates disputes involving fraudulent transfers; <br/>• Copyright infringement; <br/>• Retaliatory discharge; <br/>• Employment discrimination (race, gender, and age); <br/>• Discrimination under the American Disabilities Act; <br/>• False arrest claims, <br/>• False imprisonment claims; <br/>• U.S.C.A 1983 claims; <br/>• Breach of fiduciary duty; and<br/>• Class action involving denial of governmental benefits.

• Estate proceeding regarding alleged fraudulent deed transfer;<br/>• Estate proceeding regarding alleged forged beneficiary designation of policy of life insurance and post death transfers of decedent’s assets; <br/>• American Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act claims alleging defendant terminated plaintiff’s employment in retaliation for advocating for disabled students; <br/>• Violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, claim of employment discrimination based upon plaintiff’s condition of pregnancy;<br/>• Violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, claim of employment discrimination based upon plaintiff’s race and age; and<br/>• Breach of commercial leases regarding the sums due to landlords as additional rent.

Mediation is a process for the parties. The mediator assists the parties in arriving at resolution by facilitating discussion, exchange of information, and identifying the interests of the parties. It is important that the mediator be cognizant of the business relationships that the parties are involved in beyond the current dispute in order to assist the parties in reaching creative solutions that will not threaten those business relationships. Counsel can provide value to the mediation process by working with the mediator to assist in developing realistic creative resolutions that will endure.

Harvard Law School (Certificate, Mediation-1998); Columbia Law School (JD-1975); Syracuse University (AB-1972).

Admitted to the Bar: Pennsylvania (1975), New York (1976); U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York (1976); U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (1982); U.S. Supreme Court (1981).

• Departmental Disciplinary Committee, First Judicial Department,<br/> 2009 - 2014 <br/>• Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2002-Present <br/>• Fellow, New York State Bar Foundation, 2003-Present <br/> • Board Member, Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (“JALBCA”), 2010-Present<br/> • Board Member, The Fund for Modern Courts, 1998-2019; Vice Chair, 1999-2003 <br/>• Board Member, The Legal Aid Society, 2005-2010 <br/>• Board Member, The Puerto Rican Bar Association, 2018 - Present<br/>• New York County Lawyers’ Association: <br/>▸ Executive Committee, Estates, Trusts and Surrogate’s Court Practice Section, 1993-1998; Member, 1998-2007 Co-Chair, Trusts and Estates Legislation and Governmental Affairs Committee, 1996-1998; Member, 1995-2001 <br/><br/>• New York City Bar Association: <br/> Executive Committee, 1993-1997 <br/> Chair, Thurgood Marshall Summer Internship Program, 2000-2005 <br/> Diversity Pipeline, 2011 - 2017<br/> Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee, 2016 - 2018, Chair of the Diversity Subcommittee<br/> Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1995-1998 <br/> Council on Judicial Administration, 2000-May, 2003 <br/> Committee on Small Law Firm Management, 1998-2002 <br/> CLE Advisory Council, 1993-1997 <br/> Committee on Trusts and Estates and Surrogate’s Courts, 1992-1995; Vice Chair, Committee on the Judiciary, 1991-1992, Member, 1989-1992 <br/> Committee on Civil Courts, 1986-1989; Committee on Labor and Employment, 1978-1983<br/> <br/>• New York State Bar Association: <br/> Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section, 2000-2010; Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section, 2007-2008, District Representative; Elder Law Section, 1998-current; Executive Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section, 2012 – current, Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee (2012 – 2016 and 2022 - 2024), Secretary 2017 – 2020; Delegate-at-Large, 1997-2000 <br/> <br/> • Mediator Advisory Committee - SDNY, June 2015 - 2018<br/><br/>• Commission to Examine Solo and Small Firm Practice, appointed by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, 2004-2005 <br/><br/> • Network of Bar Leaders, 1993-1994; 1998-2006; Executive Council, 1999-2006; Vice-President, 2003-2005 <br/><br/> • National Bar Association, Board of Directors Women’s Division, 1980-1983; Board of Directors Alternate Dispute Resolution Section 2009 - current; <br/><br/> • Association of Black Women Attorneys-NY, Chapter, Founding Member; President, 1978-1980 <br/><br/>• Metropolitan Black Bar Association<br/><br/>• Friends of Syracuse University, Vice President, 1976-1977<br/> <br/>• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.<br/><br/>• Columbia Law School:<br/> Class of 1975 Alumni Association, Treasurer, 1975-1980; Vice-President, 1980-1985 Alumni Association, Treasurer, 1980-1983; Board of Directors, 1980-1988<br/><br/> • Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (“OSCE”) and United Nations Mission in Kosovo: <br/>• Supervisor of Kosovo municipal elections, Nov. 2002 <br/>• Supervisor of Kosovo elections for Assembly, Nov. 2000

Taught more than seventy-five (75) CLE courses. Participated as a panel member for judicial training of judges, offered by the Office of Court Administration, addressing New York State judges on issues relating to adult guardianship, (July 15, 1998, July 14, 1999, July 21, 1999, April 29, 2003, and June 25, 2008 and August 27, 2008). <br/>The CLE programs taught were offered by bar associations: New York City Bar on issues addressing adult guardianship and the Certified Guardian and Court Evaluator Program; New York County Lawyers' Association addressing trust and estates issues and guardianship issues, the Certified Guardian and Court Evaluator Program, and "Blueprint for Building Your Practice: A Conference for Solo and Small Firm Practitioners." Some published articles for the CLE programs include: "Advanced Directives: Implements for Future Care," October 13, 2005; "Is Article 81 the Appropriate Vehicle to Address the Needs of the Mentally Ill?," June 28, 2001;<br/>"Guardian of the Person," December 10, 2007, published by New York County Lawyers' Association, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Practicing Law Institute and other bar associations; "Preliminary Examination: So You Want to Open Your Own Law Firm?," April 3, 2007, published by New York County Lawyers' Association; "Update/Procedural Changes to Article 81; Pre-Hearing Procedural Issues and the Hearing," November 27, 2006, published by New York County Lawyers' Association; "Preparing the Petitioner-Client for Guardianship Proceeding," January 5, 2006, published by New York City Bar; "The Court Evaluator," October 29, 2005, April 1, 1999, published by New York County Lawyers' Association, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Practicing Law Institute and other bar associations; "Guardianships Under Article 17 and Article 17-A of the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act and Supplemental Needs Trusts," March 28, 2003, published by New York County Lawyers' Association; “Guardianships Under Article 17 and Article 17-A of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act and Supplemental Needs Trusts”, March 28, 2003, published by New York County Lawyers’ Association; “Burdens of Proof in Article 81 Proceedings and Beyond to Surrogate’s Court to Continue Combat by Litigation”, October 9, 2002, published by The Association of the Bar of the City of New York and New York County Lawyers’ Association; “Is Article 81 the Appropriate Vehicle to Address the Needs of the Mentally Ill?”, June 28, 2001, published by New York State Judicial Institute, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, New York.

$400 Per Hour

English

United States of America

New York, NY

The AAA’s Rules provide the AAA with the authority to administer a mediation including, mediator appointment, general oversight and billing. Accordingly, mediations that proceed without AAA administration are not considered AAA mediations, even when the parties select an mediator who is on the AAA’s Roster.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.