(Contact: Epoch 5 Public Relations)

Woodbury, NY … Joseph S. Bavaro, an attorney and partner at Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP (SSK&B) (Woodbury and New York City) has been named President of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.  His one-year term commenced July 1, 2013. He previously served as Vice President for the 2nd Department, which includes Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Kings, Richmond, Westchester, Putnam and Orange Counties.

 The New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers upholds a strong commitment to protect, preserve and enhance the civil justice system and advocates on a wide array of legislative and political matters.  The Academy’s membership consists of plaintiff and defense attorneys, members of the judiciary, non-judicial government employees, law professors, law clerks, law secretaries, paralegals and law students.

In addition to his work with the NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers, Joseph Bavaro serves the judiciary system as a member of the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission, a statewide network of independent screening panels for judicial candidates designated to ensure that voters are provided with comprehensive information regarding the qualifications of candidates for judicial office.  Locally, Suffolk County’s Administrative Judge, Justice Hinrichs, who oversees Suffolk County’s 70 member judiciary staff, named Mr. Bavaro to a select task force charged with making the county’s Supreme Court more efficient.

In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, Joseph Bavaro currently serves as the Past Chairman of the Nassau Suffolk Trial Lawyers Association.  The 60-year old association represents close to 400 Long Island litigators.  Mr. Bavaro has previously served the organization as President, and as a member of its Board of Directors and Executive Board.

Named yearly to the elite New York Super Lawyer’s list since 2009, Mr. Bavaro represents plaintiffs in personal injury matters, and has brought numerous cases to successful settlements and verdicts.  He was made a name partner in the firm in 2010, and has been a partner of the firm since 2007.  He joined SSK&B in 1997 after serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Richmond County, N.Y., where he acted as lead prosecutor in the Sex Crimes Special Victims Unit.  He also worked as a student law clerk to the Honorable Justice Louis San Giorgio, Supreme Court Justice, Richmond County.  A resident of Huntington, N.Y., Joe Bavaro works predominantly from the firm’s Woodbury office.

He is a member of the Suffolk County and New York State Bar Associations, and graduated from the State University at Albany with a B.S. degree and Quinnipiac School of Law, where he earned his J.D. degree.  He is admitted to practice in New York and the United States Federal Courts.

Headquartered in Manhattan’s Woolworth Building, Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro attorneys have successfully represented victims in all types of personal injury cases including negligence, medical malpractice, accidents and defective products for more than 30 years.  Well-respected among peers and clients alike, SSK&B was named as the “Best Litigation Firm on Long Island” by Long Island Business News, among the Best Law Firms in the United States by U.S. News and World Report and has consistently been recognized with Martindale-Hubbell’s AV-rating, the highest rating available to law firms in New York State.  This peer-voted honor identifies firms with preeminent legal ability based on experience, ethical standards, integrity and overall professional excellence.  SSK&B attorneys have also been recognized individually, named to the Super Lawyer and Best Lawyers in America lists, and with top ratings from Martindale-Hubbell.  More information on SSK&B can be obtained at www.sskblaw.com.