Category: News on the Homepage

The American Red Cross on Long Island honored members of the local American Ex-Prisoners of War chapter on June 9, 2016 at the Red and White Dinner Dance, the annual fundraiser for Long Island branch of the 135-year-old nonprofit.  In a special recognition ceremony, the Red Cross paid tribute to Joe Abbondondelo, Ben Chrzanoski, Steve Kirtyan, Joseph Manoni, and Bernie Rader, who valiantly served their country in World War II and were held captive in Europe until 1944 and 1945 under unimaginable conditions.  Stanley Kosierowski, who passed away on March 22, 2016 shortly after being awarded the prestigious POW medal, was also recognized.  Joe Campolo, Red Cross board member and managing partner of Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, Suffolk County’s premier law firm, was honored to present medals to these American heroes at the event.

Members of the “greatest generation,” many of these former POWs credit the rations they received from the American Red Cross with helping to save their lives.  The ceremony was a tribute to the original line of service on which the Red Cross was founded in 1881.  For more than 130 years, the Red Cross has been a steadfast supporter of the military and their families.  Today, through its Service to the Armed Forces program, the Red Cross serves as a communication link to deployed military members, provides pre- and post-deployment support, and works with veterans in an ever-changing and demanding environment.

Campolo was selected to present the tribute medals to the ex-POWs in recognition of his work as a board member of the American Red Cross on Long Island.  Prior to starting Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, he served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps.

At the ceremony, Campolo said that he was “humbled to help recognize a group of American heroes.  Each of these servicemen valiantly protected the liberties and freedoms we hold dear as Americans.  Their sacrifice, resolve, and bravery continue to serve as an inspiration to us all.”

Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, has announced that all four partners of the firm—Joe Campolo, Scott Middleton, Patrick McCormick, and Christine Malafi—have earned AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest possible rating from the most recognized and trusted legal directory and resource for nearly 150 years.  The AV Preeminent rating recognizes attorneys for both ethical standards and legal ability, and is earned only after an extensive peer review and recommendation process that includes members of the bar and judiciary.  Frederick Eisenbud, Of Counsel to the firm and chair of the Environmental & Land Use practice group, also holds an AV Preeminent rating.

A peer named Campolo as “the first recommendation to my clients for business and commercial law issues,” while Middleton was recognized for being “an outstanding trial attorney” and “respected by the judiciary.”  A fellow lawyer shared that McCormick “would be my number one choice” for personal representation.  Malafi was praised for having an “exceptional legal mind” and ethical standards “beyond reproach.”

The partners of the firm all continue to shape Suffolk County’s legal and business landscape by serving on the boards of some of its most prestigious professional organizations.  In recognition of their legal skill and community involvement, they have won numerous awards in addition to achieving the AV Preeminent rating.  In 2016, Campolo was voted the Best Lawyer on Long Island for the second year in a row and Malafi was named a Top Woman in Law. Both Middleton and McCormick are recent recipients of LIBN Leadership in Law Awards and have been named New York Super Lawyers for several years running.

CMM partner Patrick McCormick was installed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Suffolk County Bar Association at the 108^th Installation Dinner Dance on Friday, June 3.  The gala event at the Cold Spring Country Club in Huntington celebrated the incoming officers and directors and honored those SCBA members who have made an indelible mark on the community over the past year.

McCormick chairs the Litigation & Appeals practice group at Campolo Middleton.  He has been named to New York Super Lawyers – Metro Edition for several years running and has also earned an AV Preeminent rating on Martindale Hubbell.

In addition to his new role at the SCBA, McCormick also serves as an Associate Dean and Officer of the SCBA’s Academy of Law and as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), a nonprofit organization serving over 1,500 children and adults with autism.  In recognition of his legal work and community involvement, he received an LIBN Leadership in Law Award in 2015.

Christine Malafi, a partner at Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, Suffolk County’s premier law firm, has been sworn in as a member of the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County (“GSSC”).  The preeminent leadership development organization for girls, GSSC serves more than 40,000 girls between the ages of 5 and 17.  As a board member, Malafi will work to further the organization’s mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character.

In 2015, Malafi was involved in the implementation of GSSC’s new “Justice Patch” program, which was designed to help girls develop a sense of fairness and an understanding of the role of lawyers and judges in the community.  The Justice Patch program imparts knowledge to the county’s young citizens as to why laws exist and how they can be changed when they do not work.

Malafi, chair of the Corporate department at Campolo Middleton, focuses on mergers and acquisitions as well as insurance, municipal, and labor and employment matters.  She is a longtime volunteer for organizations dedicated to the personal and professional development of women and girls.  She is no stranger to GSSC, having been a Girl Scout herself in her youth.

“We are delighted to have Ms. Malafi join the Board of Directors,” said Yvonne Grant, President and CEO for Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “I am confident that her enthusiasm and dedication to serving girls will align extremely well with the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character.”

In recognition of its community engagement, Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, Suffolk County’s premier law firm, was selected to receive a 2016 Corporate Citizenship Award from the Long Island Business News in the category of Corporate Social Responsibility.  The awards program recognizes companies and individuals who believe that practicing good corporate citizenship contributes to the economic and social well-being of employees, businesses, and the Long Island community. The awards were presented at a celebratory breakfast on June 14 at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.

Campolo Middleton was recognized for having community dedication “woven into its DNA,” with attorneys serving in leadership roles for numerous nonprofits and providing pro bono legal services and financial support to philanthropic organizations.  The firm supports numerous leading nonprofits in the community including the American Red Cross on Long Island, Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS), Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, UCP Suffolk, the Ronald McDonald House, and Pet Peeves, among others.

In his keynote address at the awards ceremony, John D. Kemp, President and CEO of the Viscardi Center, applauded the winners for believing that when they see challenges in the community, “it’s not someone else’s problem – it’s our problem.”  He explained that the days of “having” to perform community service for school credit or as punishment are gone; today’s employees have grown up with a culture that calls for service, and they look to employers to help provide those opportunities.

The firm congratulates all the winners!

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Suffolk named Joe Campolo the honoree of their annual golf classic, which was held on May 9, 2016 at Glen Head Country Club.  Proceeds from the golf classic  will directly benefit the almost 3,500 children and adults with disabilities served annually by UCP of Suffolk. Please visit http://www.ucp-suffolk.org/golfClassic.html for more information.

CMM Partner and Corporate department chair Christine Malafi, Esq., is among the recipients of the 2016 Top Women in Law Awards. Hon. A. Gail Prudenti and Hofstra University School of Law will celebrate the honorees at an awards luncheon on Tuesday, April 5 at 12:00 pm at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine. Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas will deliver the keynote address at the event, which will benefit Hofstra’s Center for Children, Families and the Law.

This first annual event, sponsored by Hofstra’s Center for Children, Families and the Law and the Long Island Business News, highlights distinguished female attorneys who have done incredible work on behalf of children and families and are creating a positive impact for future female attorneys.  

Ronkonkoma, NY, January 2016– Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP, Suffolk County’s premier full service business law firm, is pleased to announce the addition of 4,000 square feet of space to its Ronkonkoma headquarters.  The firm has acquired half of the space on the third floor at 4175 Veterans Memorial Highway, connecting it to the existing fourth floor office by an internal staircase.  The new space features conference rooms, a suite of offices and workstations, as well as a new kitchen for use for special events and by employees.  The existing space on the fourth floor has been reconfigured to encompass additional offices, a library, and expanded meeting spaces.

“Our expansion reflects our continuing commitment to our clients and the surrounding community,” said Joe Campolo, managing partner of the firm.  “We needed additional space to meet the demands of our growing client base, and we chose to do that right here in Ronkonkoma.”

This expansion is the latest of many for the firm, which grew out of its Bohemia office space two years ago and has continued to grow.  The new space at CMM’s Ronkonkoma office, located at the entrance to Long Island MacArthur Airport, also follows the firm’s creation of its Bridgehampton office last year.