The New Jersey State Bar Association is proud to announce a talented class of fellows for the Association’s 2023–2024 Leadership Academy.
The academy, which kicked off this month, provides a year of programming that helps fellows develop leadership skills. The curriculum includes a wide array of classes on topics such as improving communication skills, the legislative process, public-sector law, issues confronting the profession, the New Jersey business landscape and more.
The 15 fellows selected for this year represent an accomplished assemblage of attorneys, spanning diverse practice areas in the private, public and non-profit sectors.
“The breadth of talent and experience brought by this incoming class of leadership fellows is astounding. They come from all corners of the legal profession and represent the best in each,” said NJSBA President Timothy F. McGoughran. “We are thrilled to welcome the profession’s next generation of leaders, who will further their careers and gain invaluable career planning, networking and educational experiences through this program.”
The class is expected to graduate in May at the NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City.
The NJSBA 2023–2024 Leadership Academy fellows are:
Yomara Castro, an assistant prosecutor with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Castro has worked in various sections in the prosecutor’s office since 2006, including appellate, grand jury, juvenile, domestic violence and the special victims unit. She is currently a team leader in the trial section.
Chelsea Coleman, an assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Jersey. Coleman is currently assigned to the Opioids Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit, which investigates and prosecutes individuals and businesses that contribute to the ongoing opioid crisis.
Rafael Corbalan, an attorney with Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi’s Environmental Law Group. Corbalan assists the firm in a variety of matters, including environmental litigation, compliance and site permitting. Corbalan previously worked as an associate attorney representing local governments and private businesses in civil litigation, labor and employment, and residential landlord/tenant claims.
LaDonna M. Cousins, a partner at the Williams Law Group, LLC. Cousins specializes in all aspects of family law. She serves as an early settlement panelist in Essex County and is a current member of the NJSBA’s Family Law Executive Committee.
Stacey Gorin, an associate at Capehart Scatchard. Gorin focuses her practice in the areas of commercial litigation and education law. She currently serves as secretary of the Burlington County Bar Association.
Michael R. Griffith, an associate at Mazie, Slater, Katz, and Freeman LLC. Griffith concentrates his practice in litigation, specializing in mass tort, product liability, personal injury and medical malpractice. He is the current Warren County representative to the NJSBA Young Lawyers Division’s (YLD) Executive Committee.
Robert Holup, an associate at Riker Danzig LLP. Holup practices in the firm’s securities litigation, arbitration, regulation and investigations group. He is currently on the executive committee for the YLD.
Christopher L. Jackson, an associate in the Princeton office of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. Jackson is active in the Mercer County Bar Association and YLD, where he currently holds leadership positions. He is also a voting member in the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates.
Cassandra “Sandy” Jahnke Walsh, of counsel with O’Toole Scrivo LLC. Walsh practices in the areas of commercial litigation, shareholder and member disputes, estate administration and probate litigation. She is also a certified public accountant.
Megan Kilzy, chief assistant prosecutor in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Kilzy’s litigation experience covers a variety of areas, including homicide, attempted murder, cyber/dark web investigations, gun and gang-related offenses. She currently handles financial crimes as a prosecutor.
Raymond Kim, senior managing director and president of life insurance premium financing at Peapack-Gladstone Bank. In this role, Kim marries his legal expertise and financial acumen to oversee a range of responsibilities in spearheading his division. As a law student at Rutgers, he was recognized with the Dean’s Pro Bono Award for Exceptional Service and as a Horace & Kate King Wu Public Interest Fellow, showcasing his dedication to the legal field and community service.
Lawrence Krayn Jr., a deputy attorney general with the Division of Criminal Justice/Office of the Insurance Prosecutor. Krayn oversees the investigation of, and prosecutes crimes related to the Medicaid program. He previously served as an assistant prosecutor with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, where he took several cases involving violent crime to trial.
William Maslo, an assistant corporation counsel for the City of Jersey City. Maslo represents Jersey City in all local property taxation matters and regularly appears before the state Tax Court and County Board of Taxation regarding defense of property tax assessment appeals, claims for property tax exemption, applications for long and short-term tax abatements and on municipal appeals to increase property assessments.
William P. Miller, chief assistant prosecutor of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Appellate Section. Prior to joining the BCPO, he served as a law clerk for state Supreme Court Justice Helen E. Hoens.
Michael Mouridy, counsel at Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi’s Real Estate, Development and Land Use Group. Mouridy’s practice focuses on the financing, development, acquisition and disposition of a wide variety of commercial real estate properties, including, office buildings, condominiums, multi-family properties and retail properties throughout New Jersey and nationally.