Pictured from left: Daniel Antonelli, Samantha Sbrocchi, Michael Pavlakos and Shoshana Brenenson at Circa Brewing Company during the Brooklyn Bar Association’s inaugural Surrogate’s Court Bench and Bar Mixer. The pivotal gathering, spearheaded by Antonelli, brought together key figures from the Surrogate’s Court and the BBA to foster collaboration and mutual understanding.
Eagle Photos by Mario Belluomo
Circa Brewing Company in Downtown Brooklyn was abuzz on Thursday, Sept. 21, as the Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA) hosted its inaugural “Surrogate’s Court Bench and Bar Mixer.”
The mixer, which proved to be an enormous success, almost transformed the brewery into a satellite BBA venue. The atmosphere was punctuated by the presence of Surrogate Court judges Hon. Rosemarie Montalbano and Hon. Bernard Graham. Judge Graham, who is an acting surrogate, is running unopposed in the upcoming November election.
Both judges were not just titular guests. They actively participated for the majority of the evening, engaging with the BBA attorneys and introducing their respective staff. Such interactions highlight the core purpose of the event — to foster relationships and understanding between the Surrogate’s Court and the bar.
The strategic mind behind this successful event was none other than Daniel Antonelli, the BBA’s second vice president and chair of the Trusts and Estates Section. According to Antonelli, this kind of interaction is pivotal due to the distinct nature of the Surrogate’s Court, which differs considerably from other courts. While most courts have an adversarial framework, the Surrogate’s Court, though it does oversee trials, tends to operate on more congenial terms.
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