How has being a board member of WEDLI impacted you or your business?
When I was the president of WEDLI, I became the founder of the Long Island Women's Agenda.  As its president, in 1999, we invited First Lady Hillary Clinton to speak at our annual luncheon.  A crowd of more than a thousand people showed up and we had to turn people away from this event, which I chaired.  Very soon after this, I attended the Long Island Philharmonic gala.  A very prominent LI businessman saw me at the gala and announced:  I know you - you're that woman from that woman's thing.  Yes, I told him, you are right!

LIWA is now 10 years old, and it has been a great springboard for me, as I've been able to meet so many New Yorkers from that perch.
How did you get started?
After graduating from law school, I started in NYC Corporation Counsel's office and had the opportunity to work on one of the largest breach of contract cases that was tried in Manhattan federal court.  From there, I continued to handle a variety of business litigation.

Erica Garay is a partner with Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C., Garden City, N.Y. Tags: