Busell, Lieser and Zapson join Certilman Balin as partners

 

 

 

East Meadow, NY According to Certilman Balin, three lawyers, all formerly partners at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, LLP, have joined Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, as partners.

Sandra Busell joined the trusts and estates and elder law practice as a partner. A Certified Public Accountant as well, Busell brings a strong tax knowledge to all of her estate planning work. An integral part of her practice in the areas of trusts is concentrated on guardianships, supplemental needs trusts, and the protection of Medicaid benefits in regard to the elderly and special needs children and adults. In the areas of estate planning, she advises clients on business succession issues, where her experience also includes counseling clients on various real estate issues that arise relating to elders buying, selling, and transferring property. A frequent lecturer in her field, Busell earned a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law and a bachelor of Business Administration from Baruch College of the City University of New York, with a concentration in Accounting. She is admitted to practice in the state of New York and the U.S. District Courts in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and the U.S. Tax Court. A member of the New York Bar Association, Nassau County Bar Association, Queen’s Women’s Bar Association, National Academy of Elder Care Attorneys (NAELA), New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and  American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, she also serves on the board of the Long Island Chapter of the American Heart Association. In 2016, Busell was named to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list.

David Lieser joined the litigation, trusts and estates and elder law practice groups as a partner. He has an extensive background in commercial litigation in federal and state courts, as well as experience in all aspects of trial and appellate work, including employment, real estate and corporate disputes. In addition, he is well-versed in trusts and estates matters and elder law issues including Medicaid planning, Article 81 guardianship matters, estate planning, estate administration, and Surrogate’s Court litigation. Prior to joining the firm, he was affiliated with  Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, LLP on Long Island; and Goodwin Proctor LLP (formerly Schneck Weltman & Hashmall) and Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker in Manhattan. Lieser is a member of the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations, and their respective commercial litigation and elder law committees. He regularly volunteers as a Pro Bono Provider to seniors on Long Island. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania and his bachelor of arts, magna cum laude, from Binghamton University where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.  He has also served as a graduate instructor for the Dale Carnegie Training Institute. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York, and the District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Michael Zapson joined the real estate group as a partner. Zapson concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and estate litigation, real estate and zoning. He represents real property owners, national companies, developers, purchasers, REITs, lenders and brokers. Prior to joining the firm, he was the Managing Attorney of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron’s Long Island office. Zapson was a member of the Nassau County Legislature from 1999 until 2004 where he chaired the Judiciary, Finance, and Public Works Committees.  He was chairman of the Long Beach Democratic Committee from 2008 until 2015. He also served as a Long Beach City council member from 1989 until 1999; as Vice President from 1990 until 1993; and as President from 1996 until 1999. Active in the community, Mr. Zapson is a board member of the Long Island Chapter of the League of Conservation Voters, a member of the Long Island Builder’s Institute (LIBI), and of the Long Beach Lawyer’s Association, the Nassau County Bar Association, and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He presents seminars on the topics of land use and development and trusts and estates. Michael earned his Juris Doctor from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University. He is admitted to practice in New York, Washington D.C, and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York.