CONA ELDER LAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Brian Haran is a Senior Associate attorney at Cona Elder Law. Mr. Haran concentrates his practice in the firm's Health Care Reimbursement and Recovery Department, handling civil litigation, dispute resolution, guardianship proceedings, and resolution of all issues related to resident financial accounts. In addition to health care law, Mr. Haran handles the firm's estate litigation and elder law litigation matters, and is well-versed in Surrogate's Court laws and procedures. He represents trustees and beneficiaries in will contests, contested Trust accountings and estate litigations.
Mr. Haran has served as a litigator and trial attorney for over ten years, both as in-house counsel, as an Assistant District Attorney to Kathleen Rice, and most recently in private practice. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants and has extensive experience handling jury and bench trials, Grand Jury presentations, depositions, mediations and arbitrations. Mr. Haran is an aggressive advocate, pursuing factual investigations, discovery proceedings, depositions, trials, inquests and enforcement of judgments. He litigates when necessary but prides himself on resolving matters quickly and cost-effectively on behalf of his clients through alternative dispute resolution and favorable settlements.
Professional Organizations
New York State Bar Association
Nassau County Bar Association
Irish-American Bar Association
Education
Juris Doctor, The Catholic University of America
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
- Selected by State Bar to Chair Important Programs
Job Titles:
- Mediator for the Suffolk County Surrogate 's Court
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Dana Walsh Sivak, Esq. is a senior associate attorney at Cona Elder Law. Ms. Walsh Sivak concentrates her practice in health care reimbursement and recovery, devoting her time to litigation, guardianships, complex Medicaid eligibility issues, PRUCOL matters, HMO/Private insurance coverage issues, contract review, Article 78 proceedings, Fair Hearings and other matters related to health care facility residents' financial accounts.
Diana Choy-Shan is a partner at Cona Elder Law. Ms. Choy-Shan concentrates her practice in government benefits eligibility, handling complex Medicaid cases, Fair Hearings, Article 78 proceedings, Guardianships and resolution of all issues related to resident financial accounts and health care facility reimbursement and recovery.
Diana DiLeonardo is an Associate Attorney at Cona Elder Law. Diana concentrates her practice in the Health Care Reimbursement and Recovery department where she handles litigation and guardianship proceedings before the Courts in Nassau County, Suffolk County, all boroughs of the City of New York and numerous upstate counties as well.
In addition, Diana heads up the Long-Term Care Claims and Appeals department at Cona Elder Law. Diana is dedicated to providing expert legal guidance and support to clients navigating the complexities of long term care claims and appeals, ensuring clients secure benefits for which they are entitled.
In her litigation practice, Diana drafts pleadings, discovery demands, orders to show cause, and motions for summary judgment. She researches and advocates for novel outcomes, inuring to the benefit of not just the health care client presently at issue but all health care facilities with the precedent created.
Diana earned her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of law and graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts. She was honored with the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award and is licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Co - Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Essex County Bar Association
Eric R. Goldberg, CELA, designated as a "Certified Elder Law Attorney" (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation, an organization accredited by the American Bar Association, is the founder and principal attorney of at NJ Elder Law Center at Goldberg Law Group.
He is dedicated to working with his clients on a personal level and providing them with customized plans that meet their unique needs and goals for long term care and estate planning. Over the years, Eric has learned that the best plans are the result of close collaboration, not only with his clients, but also with other professionals involved in caring for the needs of seniors, special needs adults and children, and veterans. His clients appreciate this approach and consider Eric both a counselor for life and a family friend.
Eric graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1990. He earned his law degree from Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1994. Eric's extensive knowledge of the interplay between finance, tax law, and government benefits, together with his compassionate nature, make him uniquely qualified to counsel clients on the complexities of estate and long-term care planning. Prior to his legal career, Eric spent a decade working in the financial markets on Wall Street. This gives him valuable insights into the effects of long-term care expenses on the financial security of his clients and their family members and a unique perspective on how to remedy many of the financial difficulties facing his clients.
Eric is proud to be a CELA, a designation awarded to only a small percentage of elder law attorneys. To achieve this award, one must be favorably evaluated by his peers, pass a rigorous exam, and rise to a level of sophistication and experience in elder law to be recognized by the board of the National Elder Law Foundation.
Eric is co-chair of the Elder Law Section of the Essex County Bar Association, a member of Elder Counsel, the NJ State Bar Association, the Financial Planning Association of New Jersey, the Healthcare Association of New Jersey, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, the National Elder Law Foundation, Super Lawyers, and is a member of the Institute of Gerontology Advisory Board.
Eric is licensed in New Jersey, New York, Colorado and Pennsylvania. He is also an Accredited Veterans Benefits Attorney and a Certified Dementia Practitioner by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Managing Partner
- Partner
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Long Island Alzheimer
Jennifer Cona spoke with Victoria Schneps, the host of Power Women! Jennifer B. Cona, Founder and Managing Partner of Cona Elder Law
Jennifer B. Cona is the founder and managing partner of Cona Elder Law. Ms. Cona practices exclusively in the field of Elder Law, including representing older adults and their families in connection with Medicaid planning, preservation of assets, estate planning, estate litigation, probate and administration of estates, special needs planning, Veterans benefits and guardianships. Ms. Cona also founded the Health Care Reimbursement and Recovery practice group.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Executive Director
- of Counsel
- in 2016 As Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer
Julie Wyetzner joined Cona Elder Law in 2016 as Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer of Cona Elder Law. She has joined the management team to support our firm's growth and to spearhead the administration of the firm.
Ken Kern is partner at Cona Elder Law. Mr. Kern leads the firm's Health Care Reimbursement and Recovery Department, concentrating his practice in health care facility representation, civil litigation, complex Medicaid eligibility matters, Fair Hearings, Article 78 proceedings, guardianships and resolution of all issues related to resident financial accounts and health care facilities' bottom line. Mr. Kern handles a wide range of complex matters affecting not only health care facilities but older adults and the disabled as well.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Kristi DiPaolo is a Senior Associate at Cona Elder Law. Ms. DiPaolo concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, asset protection, estate administration, and elder law. As a member of the estate planning department, Ms. DiPaolo handles the preparation of Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies and Living Wills. As an Elder Law attorney, Ms. DiPaolo is responsible for the unique legal issues affecting older adults as they age. She is an advocate for multigenerational families, assisting across the generations with Estate Planning, Long Term Care planning and Asset Protection as well as assistance with major life decisions, such as planning for future health care needs.
Professional Organizations
Member, National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC)
Committee Member, NCBA Elder Law and Surrogate's Court Estates and Trusts
Vice-Chairperson, Animal Law Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association
Member, Nassau County Bar Association
Member, New York State Bar Association
Education
Juris Doctor, Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
Bachelor of Arts, SUNY Brockport
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Kyle Stefurak is a Senior Associate at Cona Elder Law. Mr. Stefurak concentrates his practice in the Health Care Reimbursement and Recovery department where he handles guardianship proceedings, litigation and estate proceedings. Mr. Stefurak handles Article 81 Guardianship proceedings from initial investigations to witness and trial preparation, including handling all facets of guardianship hearings in the Supreme Court. Mr. Stefurak practices before the Supreme Courts of Nassau County, Suffolk County, all boroughs of the City of New York and numerous upstate counties as well.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Joins Cona Elder Law As Associate Attorney
- Member of the NYS Bar Association
Concentrating his practice in estate planning, tax planning and business succession, Marcus advises high net worth individuals on how to protect their assets, minimize estate taxes and transfer wealth to the next generation using the most sophisticated techniques. Marcus also handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, accountings and business succession planning for business owners and entrepreneurs.
Marcus is a member of the NYS Bar Association - trusts and estates and tax law sections. He is also a member of the Nassau County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Accountants and Attorney Networking Group (AANG) on Long Island.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Partner
- Partner of Cona Elder Law LIVE on LI in the AM W / Jay Oliver!
Melissa Negrin-Wiener is a senior partner at Cona Elder Law. Ms. Negrin-Wiener manages the Government Benefits Department, concentrating her practice in the areas of asset protection, Medicaid eligibility planning, estate planning, special needs planning, mediation, guardianships and Veteran benefits. She supervises the preparation of Medicaid Applications for nursing home care, home health care and community benefits, resolves complex Medicaid issues and represents families facing a reduction in Medicaid home care hours and services.
Patricia A. Craig, Esq. is an associate at Cona Elder Law. Ms. Craig concentrates her practice in the areas of special needs planning, guardianships and estate planning. Ms. Craig guides and advocates for families who have children with special needs, helping them access government benefits, handling their estate planning, Special Needs Trusts, and planning for decision-making for children as they reach adulthood.
Richard Miller is designated as a "Certified Elder Law Attorney" by the National Elder Law Foundation, an organization accredited by the American Bar Association. Richard concentrates his practice in Elder Law, Guardianships, Planning for Individuals with Special Needs, Estate Planning, Asset Protection, Estate Administration and Probate Litigation. Richard provides fiduciary services and serves as Executor and Administrator in complex estate matters. Richard serves as guardian for disabled individuals, Trustee for Supplemental Needs Trusts, and as a Mediator for probate litigation matters.
Richard was the recipient of the New Jersey Judiciary's 2020 Pro Bono Attorney Recognition Event which recognizes outstanding members of the New Jersey Bar who provide pro bono services which improve the lives of state residents and support the administration on Justice. He has been selected as a New Jersey Super Lawyer* from 2010-2023.* Richard was also the recipient of the 2011 Professional Lawyer of the Year by the Passaic County Bar Association and the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law, and the 2015 Distinguished practitioner of the Year for Chancery/Probate by the Passaic County Bar Association.
Richard is Past-President and a Trustee of the Passaic County Bar Association, and a Court-Approved Mediator. Richard is a frequent lecturer on elder law, government benefit planning and guardianships before professional, community and financial groups.
Professional Organizations
Member, Melville Chamber of Commerce Women's Empowerment Network
Past Co-Chair, Health and Wellness Committee, Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA-LI)
Past President, Suffolk County Women's Bar Association
Past Co-Chair, Elder Law Committee, Suffolk County Women's Bar Association
Past Vice-President of Programs and Membership, Suffolk County Women's Bar Association
Suffolk County Bar Association, Elder Law Committee
New York State Bar Association, Elder Law and Trusts & Estates Sections
Nassau County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
Sponsor of the Society of Human Resource Management's LI chapter (SHRM-LI)
Sarah B. Rebosa is Senior Counsel at Cona Elder Law, focusing on estate planning and estate and trust administration. Sarah has over 20 years of experience working with clients of varied net worth to implement their estate planning, whether the primary focus is estate tax planning or simply ensuring that property passes in the manner intended. Sarah regularly advises on gifting strategies through the use of SLATs, ILITs and other lifetime trusts, succession planning for family-owned real estate and closely-held businesses, and charitable giving, and creates and implements the overall estate plan to accomplish her clients' objectives. With every client, she evaluates their overall estate plan and guides them accordingly. Sarah's extensive experience with tax planning also extends to the preparation of estate and gift tax returns and fiduciary income tax returns. With respect to estate administration, Sarah regularly handles all aspects of administration from inception to settlement of estates, which includes probate, administration and miscellaneous court proceedings, preparation of informal and judicial estate accountings, as well as consulting with the firm's litigation team on contested Surrogate's Court matters, including compulsory accountings, contested accountings and Will contests.
Education
Master of Laws (LL.M.), Taxation, New York University School of Law
Juris Doctor, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Bachelor of Arts, Binghamton University, School of Management
Taylor Reidy is an associate attorney at Cona Elder Law. Ms. Reidy concentrates her practice in government benefits eligibility, handling complex Medicaid cases, Fair Hearings, Article 78 proceedings, Guardianships and resolution of all issues related to resident financial accounts and health care facility reimbursement and recovery.