Joanne Seminara

Of Counsel
(718) 238-6960
jseminara@gylawny.com

“Attorneys help simplify complicated matters. It is truly rewarding when I can use my skills to help clients meet their unique goals in providing for themselves and their loved ones. ”

For more than two decades, Joanne has been dedicated to public service, using her legal skills on behalf of clients and volunteering thousand of hours to the community in which she was raised and makes her home. Joanne’s first career was a high school science teacher at her alma mater, Notre Dame Academy in Staten Island. She then decided to follow her father’s footsteps, entered law school and was admitted to the New York and New Jersey bars in 1986. Since then she has worked tirelessly at raising a family, practicing law and giving back to the citizens of the Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights neighborhoods, where she currently serves as Chair of Brooklyn Community Board 10.

As a lawyer, Joanne has broad general practice experience representing many types of clients. For commercial clients, she has negotiated and closed real estate transactions and substantial loans, negotiated construction contracts, prepared and filed zoning and land use applications, formed business entities, drafted business contracts and litigated and tried arbitration matters. Joanne has successfully closed many residential real estate, co-op and loan transactions.

For over 25 years, Joanne has drafted and administrated countless wills and trusts and helped clients plan for the transfer of their hard-earned wealth to successive generations. Joanne is especially gratified that she has been able to compassionately provide services that allowed her senior clients to ensure that their last wishes were fulfilled with dignity and care.

Joanne’s first efforts at public service began by obtaining funds for much needed repairs of the public schools her children attended. She has served as an officer and been on the boards of many organizations, among them The Guild for Exceptional Children, The Bay Ridge Forum, The Bay Ridge Alliance of Block Associations, Bay Ridge Against Garbage Sites. She has served as the Democratic State Committeewoman in the 60th Assembly District since 2002 and has run for New York City Council. Joanne has been a member of Community Board 10 since 1993 and has been Chairwoman since 2010.

A former partner at Kurzman, Karelsen & Frank, LLP, one of the oldest law firms in New York City, Joanne is delighted to be working with Grimaldi & Yeung LLP.

  • Professional Organizations and Admissions
  • U.S. District Courts: Eastern, Southern and New Jersey District
  • Member, Bar Association of the City of New York, Subcommittee on Land Use and Zoning
  • Bay Ridge Lawyers Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Recognition and Awards
  • Community Service Award — Golden Flame Society of St. Rosalia Regina Pacis Church
  • 30th Anniversary Service Award of the Union Center for Woman
  • Guild for Exceptional Children, Inc. Service Award
  • 2010 Ft. Hamilton Army Base Key Note Speaker on Women’s Voting Rights
  • Public Service History (partial list)
  • Democratic State Committeewoman, 60th AD, 2002 – present
  • New York City Community Board 10, member since 1993, Chair since 2010
  • Brooklyn Congregations United, board member
  • Bay Ridge Real Estate Institute, Lecturer (past)
  • City Council candidate (1997, 2001, 2003)
  • Alliance of Bay Ridge Block Associations, President, member (past)
  • Guild for Exceptional Children, Director & Parliamentarian (past)
  • Bay Ridge Forum, President, member (past)
  • Education
  • JD, Brooklyn Law School
  • B.A. Lehigh University