Kathleen Deegan Dickson, Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo, Cohn & Terrana LLP

Name: Kathleen Deegan Dickson Title: Partner Company/firm: Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo, Cohn & Terrana LLP I concentrate my practice in the areas of real estate development matters, and, in particular, land use and zoning law. I have an extensive track record of success with and before municipal boards and agencies on significant projects throughout Long Island. Perhaps more importantly, I have a reputation for effectiveness and integrity in the pre-hearing meetings and outreach to municipal planning staffs and civic groups that are now a must in Long Island's current development climate. I am former counsel to the city of Glen Cove Planning and Zoning Boards, and currently represents many developers, property owners, corporations and private individuals in all types of matters involving real property transactions, zoning and land use. I have been awarded an "AV" legal ability and ethics rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory-the very highest rating this nationally recognized publication has established. This rating is based upon extensive confidential peer review surveys. I am a member of WEDLI (Women Economic Developers of Long Island), the Nassau County Catholic Lawyer's Guild and the New York Democratic Lawyers Council. I also serve on the Advisory Council of the North Shore University Hospital at Glen Cove, and the Board of Tomorrow's Hope Foundation. Most recently, I was appointed to the All Saints Regional School Board in Glen Cove. I have published articles on land subdivision in the New York Real Estate Journal. In 2010, I was named one of Long Island's 50 Most Influential Women by the Long Island Business News. How do you manage the work/life balance? Being an active land use attorney and a partner in a large law firm, while being a wife and mother of three young children, requires a lot of flexibility and creativity in order to keep both sides of my life in balance. One of my strategies is to focus some of my business generation activities in ways that will benefit or involve my family. My advice to young lawyers has always been to get involved in community or civic activities that interest you. It puts your name and face out there for different audiences and inevitably will result in obtaining new business contacts. I have found that being a member of the school board at my children's school, a board member of the Tomorrow's Hope Foundation which benefits Catholic schools and being active in my community have provided excellent opportunities for me to spend time with my children (volunteering with them at various events and fundraisers), while benefitting my community and my career. Many of the people I've met through these activities have become clients or business referral sources. There are inevitably times when one side or the other receives more attention, but for the most part, I think I have been fairly successful.