2015
Miriam Villani Named LIBN's "Ones To Watch"
Miriam Villani, a Partner with the firm, was named one of Long Island Business News' "Ones to Watch" in Green. Ones to Watch is featured each week in LIBN, highlighting six people who stand out in their respective fields.
Daniel H. Braff and Joseph R. Bjarnson Named Recipients of LIBN’s “Leadership in Law” Award
Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano attorneys Daniel H. Braff and Joseph R. Bjarnson will each receive Long Island Business News’ Leadership in Law Award. Mr. Braff will be honored in the category of Partner and Mr. Bjarnson will be honored in the category of Associate. The ceremony will take place November 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
Daniel H. Braff (left) and Joseph R. Bjarnson (right)
Super Lawyers Recognizes Ten Attorneys from Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano, PLLC
Four attorneys from the firm have been selected to the 2015 New York Metro Super Lawyers list and six more attorneys from the firm have been selected to the 2015 New York Metro Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list. No more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by Super Lawyers. Rising Stars is a more exclusive list, recognizing no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state.
The attorneys chosen by Super Lawyers and the practice area in which they were recognized are:
Super Lawyers selected (above, left to right) are:
Michael H. Sahn, Managing Partner — Land Use/Zoning, Jon A. Ward, Partner — Business Litigation,
Wayne G. Edwards, Partner — Land Use/Zoning and Andrew M. Roth, Partner — Business Litigation
Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars", selected (below) are:
First row - Joseph R. Bjarnson — Business Litigation, Daniel H. Braff — Land Use/Zoning,
Christian Browne — Civil Litigation: Plaintiff; Second Row - John Christopher — Real Estate Law,
Elaine M. Colavito — Family Law and Adam H. Koblenz — General Litigation
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation ofcandidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.
“It is an honor to be named personally, but much more important is the credit and honor to the firm to have so many of our attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers,” said Michael Sahn, the firm’s Managing Partner.
The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in their practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, go to SuperLawyers.com.
Chris Coschignano Named as One of LIBN's "Around 50"
Chris Coschignano, a Partner with the firm, has been named as one of Long Island Business News’ “Around 50.” The award recognizes those in the business community around the age of 50 who make significant contributions to their field. Mr. Coschignano was recognized at an event held on September 29 at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
Joseph R. Bjarnson Named as One of Newsday’s “Winners”
In its September 13 edition, Newsday recently named Joseph R. Bjarnson, an Associate with the firm, as one of its “Winners” for receiving the Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from The Public Justice Foundation, a legal nonprofit organization. Mr. Bjarnson devoted hundreds of hours as pro bono counsel in David, et. al v. Signal International, LLC, et. al. He and the firm’s co-counsel helped obtain a $14 million federal jury verdict for five Indian national workers named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit against a marine fabrication company. The lawsuit claimed the company engaged in human trafficking, forced labor, racketeering and civil rights violations against them because of their nationality.
Joseph Bjarnson Named Trial Lawyer of the Year for Work as Part of Legal Team in Landmark Labor Trafficking Case
The legal team behind one of the largest labor trafficking cases ever brought in the United States, resulting in a $14 million settlement for immigrant workers, was named winner of Public Justice Foundation’s Trial Lawyer of the Year award during the organization’s annual gala last night in Montreal.
Jon A. Ward Named LIBN’s “Ones to Watch” in Law
Jon A. Ward, a Partner with the firm, was named as one of the “Ones to Watch” in Law by Long Island Business News. Ones to Watch is featured each week in LIBN, highlighting six people who stand out in their respective fields.
Click here to read the article.
Chris J. Coschignano Named Touro Law Center’s Alumni of the Month
Chris J. Coschignano, a Member and Partner of the of the firm, has been named Touro Law Center’s “Alumni of the Month” for May, 2015.
Mr. Coschignano concentrates his practice in the areas of zoning and land use planning, real estate law and transactions, municipal and legislative law, economic development and industrial development agency law, advanced litigation in state and federal courts, and matrimonial and family law. He is a member of the American, New York State and Nassau County Bar Associations and the Nassau Lawyers’ and the Columbian Lawyers’ Associations.
Mr. Coschignano was admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the State of Connecticut in 1990. He received his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University (B.S., 1985), and his law degree from Jacob D. Fuchsberg Touro Law Center at Touro College (J.D., 1990).
In addition to serving as Partner with the firm, Mr. Coschignano serves as a Councilman with the Town of Oyster Bay. In that capacity, he has strived to make town government more efficient and provide quality service at the lowest cost possible to the taxpayers. He is also involved in preserving the character of the town’s neighborhoods and the prevention of overdevelopment. Mr. Coschignano was instrumental in the formation of the Syosset Downtown Revitalization Committee and Redevelopment Plan and the Oyster Bay Hamlet Moratorium against overdevelopment. He currently serves as chairman of the Syosset Hamlet Revitalization and Redevelopment Plan Committee and helped obtain a $1.5 million grant for the Downtown Syosset Streetscape project.
Mr. Coschignano participates and assists with the annual Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor’s 5K Run to help raise money for various charities. He has worked with and been recognized by Homes For Our Homecoming Heroes to provide its first-ever house to a returning war veteran. The land for the 1,900-square-foot house is located in Hicksville and was acquired through Nassau County. Mr. Coschignano provided pro bono legal assistance to help form the non-profit group.
In addition to serving as Councilman, Mr. Coschignano is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Boys & Girls Club, as well as its pro bono legal counsel and is an Honorary Director of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce and the North Shore Boys and Girls Club. On October 20, 2014, he was honored at St. Edward Confessor School’s 15th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic for his ongoing commitment and involvement in the school and in Catholic education.
Mr. Coschignano is a parishioner at St. Edward Confessor Church, where he coordinates the church’s annual festival and has served as an usher since 1995. In 2012, he received the Long Island Business News Leadership in Law Award. In 2015, he also received the Keith Romaine Elected Official of the Year Award from the Touro Law Alumni Association. The award was created in memory of Mr. Romaine and is given in recognition of his interest and passion for government.
Chris Coschignano Receives Keith Romaine Elected Official of the Year Award from Touro Law Center
UNIONDALE, NY — On February 10, Hon. Chris J. Coschignano, Partner, Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano, PLLC, received the Keith Romaine Elected Official of the Year Award from the Touro Law Alumni Association as part of its Public Interest Law Organization Awards Ceremony. The event took place at the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in Central Islip.
Named after 2003 graduate and Brookhaven Town Councilman Keith Romaine, who passed away in 2009, the award is given annually to a Touro Law Center graduate who serves the public as an elected official. The award was created in his memory and in recognition of his interest and passion for government.
In addition to serving as Partner with the firm, Mr. Coschignano serves as a Councilman with the Town of Oyster Bay. In that capacity, he has strived to make town government more efficient and provide quality service at the lowest cost possible to the taxpayers. He is also involved in preserving the character of the town’s neighborhoods and the prevention of overdevelopment. Mr. Coschignano was instrumental in the formation of the Syosset Downtown Revitalization Committee and Redevelopment Plan and the Oyster Bay Hamlet Moratorium against overdevelopment. He currently serves as chairman of the Syosset Hamlet Revitalization and Redevelopment Plan Committee and helped obtain a $1.5 million grant for the Downtown Syosset Streetscape project.
Mr. Coschignano participates and assists with the annual Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor’s 5K Run to help raise money for various charities. He has worked with and been recognized by Homes For Our Homecoming Heroes to provide its first-ever house to a returning war veteran. The land for the 1,900-square-foot house is located in Hicksville and was acquired through Nassau County. Mr. Coschignano provided pro bono legal assistance to help form the non-profit group.
In addition to serving as Councilman, Mr. Coschignano is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Boys & Girls Club, as well as its pro bono legal counsel and is an Honorary Director of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce and the North Shore Boys and Girls Club. On October 20, 2014, he was honored at St. Edward Confessor School’s 15th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic for his ongoing commitment and involvement in the school and in Catholic education. He is a parishioner at St. Edward Confessor Church, where he coordinates the church’s annual festival and has served as an usher since 1995. In 2012, he received the Long Island Business News Leadership in Law Award.
