A Conversation with Joseph Bjarnson About Balancing Many Roles During the Covid-19 Panademic  

Our Partner, Joseph Bjarnson, fills many roles. Joe is not only a highly talented attorney, he serves his community, has leadership roles in his church, has dedicated countless hours to pro bono legal work and is devoted to his family. In a recent conversation with Michael Sahn, Joe shared some thoughts on life and work during the Pandemic.

Q: Your spouse is a registered nurse and experienced the COVID-19 pandemic on the front lines as a health care professional. What challenges have you and your family faced during this pandemic?

Witnessing the dedication of my wife and her colleagues as they boldly faced the tremendous challenges and stress of caring for the very sick has been a humbling and inspiring experience. In addition to the added stress of my wife’s position at the hospital, everyone in the household has been adjusting to a new routine – the kids have all had to adjust to online schooling, while I have transitioned to working from home instead of the office. For us, the circumstances were an opportunity for growth.

Starting a New Position During a Global Pandemic

By: Neera Roopsingh

When I accepted a position as an associate attorney at SWC, the world still seemed like a normal place.  The Coronavirus was a distant idea relegated to the Far East.  In fact, just prior to accepting the offer, I had returned from a trip to Singapore and Malaysia and there, it was business as usual.  The only clue that there was any concern about the Coronavirus was a non-descript daily temperature check at my hotel in Singapore, so the idea of an outbreak, much less a global pandemic, seemed far-fetched.  

As featured in Innovate LI, Michael Sahn discusses the importance of a sustainable land use policy to our post-pandemic recovery in his article entitled “Sustainable Land-Use: A Pandemic Recovery Priority”

We are at a pivotal moment in history. The unlikely but seismic convergence of a global pandemic, economic collapse and sudden, stark protest of social inequality have awakened us all to the need for change – our culture, our laws, our economy.

This is a time to rethink how we live and work, and that especially includes how we manage our land and our environmental resources.

Firm Guides Client in Acquisition of Property for Disabled Priests

Christian Browne, Michelle Greenberg and Kyle Lawrence recently represented the Diocese of Rockville Centre in the acquisition of property located in Lake Ronkonkoma.  The property, which was previously used as a convent and retreat center, will be used by the Diocese as a residence for retired and disabled priests.  The team used their knowledge of real estate, land use and corporate law to advise the client in the acquisition of the property, including formation of an entity to acquire and manage the property.

Our Staff Reflects on the Remote Work Experience During Covid-19

"It all happened so fast.  One day we were working in the office and the next three months we were working remotely from home. In the beginning, it was a challenge.   Once we installed all security walls, added our home computers in order to print and set up our Zoom conferences, working at home was great.  Our support staff is a terrific team who is always there for each other!"- Joanne Pallotta

"Working from home was easier than I anticipated but I missed the interaction with the office." - Kelly Vlahov

“I was actually surprised at how much could be accomplished working from home. Although, I did miss the convenience of working in the office and having everything on hand (ie: printers, copiers, scanner)”. -Julie-Ann Moore  

“Resiliency, coupled with collaboration and communication, are essential tools to combat and conquer what first may appear to be an unimaginable conflict.” -Joshua Brookstein

Elaine Colavito's "Bench Briefs" Appears in The Suffolk Lawyer

Elaine Colavito's "Bench Briefs" column was published in the June 2020 edition of The Suffolk Lawyer. "Bench Briefs" is a roundup of recent decisions from Suffolk County trial courts.