Legally Bond

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Mary Fitzpatrick, Bond’s director of attorney professional development, about how new associates can build trust, navigate uncertainty and grow their careers through curiosity, strong communication and intentional professional development. They also discuss the traits that help lawyers achieve long-term success, including emotional intelligence, reliability and a willingness to embrace new opportunities.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond litigation attorney and chair of the firm's management committee Brian Butler about how AI is accelerating change across the legal industry and what it means for law firms navigating evolving client expectations, talent dynamics and traditional business models. They discuss responsible AI use, the continued importance of strong client service and communication, and how lawyers can adapt while maintaining the human skills and firm culture that drive long-term success.

In this Mental Health Awareness Month recap episode, Kim speaks with Jennifer Clayton, LMSW, Well-Being Program Manager for the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), about what burnout really looks like in the legal profession and why meaningful well-being goes beyond surface-level fixes. They discuss how sustained stress and workplace culture affect lawyers, along with practical, realistic strategies to support recovery and build a more sustainable approach to legal work.Learn more about the NYSBA Attorney Well-Being Program, here.

As a kick off to Legally Bond's fifth year, Kim and Kate discuss the brief hiatus the podcast took at the start of the year and what's to come in 2026!

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim talks with Bond's Chief Marketing Officer, Kelly Beauchamp, about how law firms build trust, not hype, through client-focused marketing strategies. From digital platforms and LinkedIn to AI tools and personalized content, Kelly shares practical steps for attorneys and marketers to grow with purpose. 

In this special Veterans Day episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Beth Kubala, Executive Director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) and teaching professor at Syracuse University College of Law. A retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and the first woman to serve as a Military Judge at Fort Drum, Beth shares how she continues her commitment to service through higher education - working with law students at the VLC and helping provide legal support to those who have served. Bond is grateful to all of our veterans and those who are still actively serving in the United States military. Thank you for your service as well as the sacrifices of your families and loved ones!

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Debra Hamilton, founder of Hamilton Law and Mediation and a nationally recognized leader in mediating conflicts involving pets and animals. She’s also the host of the “Why Do Pets Matter?” podcast and a frequent speaker and writer on mediation and animal law. Deb shares her journey from litigator to mediator, explores emerging legal trends like best-interest standards for animals, and introduces the MAAP Blueprint for planning a pet’s future care. She shares practical tools for resolving emotionally charged disputes with compassion and clarity—offering a roadmap for lawyers, veterinarians, and pet owners alike. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond trust and estate attorney Ralph (Buz) Code. Buz discusses joining Bond this past March after spending 50 years as a founding partner of the Rochester area law firm, Boylan Code LLP, how the trust and estate legal landscape has changed throughout his career and provides advice for any young lawyers looking to grow a trust and estate practice. 

In this special episode of Legally Bond, we get a chance to hear from Bond's newest class of associate trainees. Tim Bouffard, Cecilia Brey, Alex Brockhuizen, MacKenzie DiLeo, Grant Haffenden, McKenzie Kestler, Lindsay McCarthy, David Reinharz, Courtney Ryan, Lexi Takashima, Sheila Tapia, Joseph Vogt and Diana Waligora share what advice they'd impart on their 1L selves, why they are excited to be a part of the Bond team and more.

In this Summer Fun Series episode of Legally Bond, Kim talks with Bond attorney Chip Grieco, co-chair of the hospitality and tourism practice. Chip shares how environmental law led him to liquor licensing, and what hospitality businesses need to know about Section 111-A of New York’s Alcohol Beverage Control Act when applying for outdoor dining permits.

In this Summer Fun Series episode of Legally Bond, Kim talks with labor and employment attorney Michael Billok about the rich history of Saratoga, New York. As the city prepares for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, considered the turning point of the American Revolution, Mike shares insights on the plans to commemorate the date on local and national levels.Click here to learn more about Saratoga 250.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond attorneys Craig Olivo and Ralph Rosella, co-managing members of the newly combined Bond Long Island Office. Craig and Ralph discuss the strategic decisions that brought the Garden City and Melville offices under one roof and the positive impact this move will have on Bond clients in the metropolitan area. Bond Long Island is now located at 68 South Service Road, Melville, New York 11747.

In this Pride Month episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond trust and estate attorney Christopher Phillips. Chris shares insights on advance planning, the issues that arise when legal protections aren’t in place, and unique considerations for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking to protect their assets and preserve their legacy.Resources discussed in this episode:Niagara Pride, Inc.Pride Center of WNYPrideLaw at Center for Elder Law & JusticeLambda LegalSAGE - Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with labor and employment attorney Hannah Redmond. Hannah, also Bond’s Summer Coordinator, discusses what law students can expect during the Firm’s Summer Law Clerk Program and provides some helpful tips to keep in mind while participating in the OCI process.

In this special Well-Being in Law Week episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Janet Thompson Jackson, founder of Paraplu Wellness and Well-Law and Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the Faculty of Law at University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Drawing from her unique background as an attorney, law professor and wellness coach, Janet offers practical wisdom that challenges the profession's glorification of "the grind." She explains how the legal culture of perfectionism and chronic overwork slowly erodes health and human connection, while providing accessible alternatives that don't require radical lifestyle changes. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond intellectual property attorney Fred Price. Fred breaks down the fundamentals of intellectual property law and explains the differences between patents, trademarks and copyright. He also explains what it means to be a registered patent attorney and discusses alternative protection strategies, such as trade dress, when patents aren't available.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond labor and employment attorney Sara Colacino. Sara discusses her labor practice in both the private and public sectors, her work with school districts and her passion for community service.  

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond attorney and co-chair of the firm’s cybersecurity and data privacy practice group Amber Lawyer. Amber discusses the distinction between data privacy and cybersecurity, provides updates on global and US privacy laws, and the new challenges that are arising from artificial intelligence.For information on the Honda settlement discussed in this episode, click here.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond litigation attorney Suzanne Messer. Suzanne discusses how she "grew up" at Bond, what it means to be a higher education litigator and her experience with class action lawsuits in state and federal courts. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond immigration attorney John Riley. John discusses his career path from pianist to South Korean law professor to immigration attorney at Bond to composer. While talking about the unique challenges faced in both the legal profession and musical theater, John shares insights into the extensive, creative process of bringing his musical "A Girl I Know" to the stage in Syracuse with a full orchestra and Broadway talents. "A Girl I Know" is debuting at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, New York on Wednesday, February 12. Click here for tickets and more information about the show.

In this special Empire State Winter Games episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Tracy Smith, Executive Director of the Adirondack Sports Council. Tracy discusses the mission of the Adirondack Sports Council in promoting sports and driving economic growth in New York. She also talks about the 2025 Empire State Winter Games, which will bring over 2,500 athletes to Lake Placid and surrounding areas to participate in over 20 events. This year, Bond is a proud sponsor of the ESWG Torch Relay. The torch travels over 700 miles across New York State before arriving in Lake Placid where the athlete of the year lights the cauldron to kick off the start of the games during the opening ceremonies on January 30. 

This special episode of Legally Bond is a part of Bond's 2025 Countdown to Data Privacy Day. Bond's cybersecurity and data privacy practice group co-chair, Jessica Copeland, speaks with Christine Wiktor, Area Vice President for Gallagher. Christine discusses how cyber insurance is crucial for organizations in today’s digital landscape and provides best practices for responding to cyber incidents and engaging with insurance carriers.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim talks with Tina Foster, Executive Director of JustCause. JustCause provides legal assistance to low-income residents of Monroe County. Tina discusses the importance of pro bono work in bridging the access to justice gap and the need for civil legal assistance.For more information on how to get involved with JustCause, click here. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond labor and employment attorney Gianelle Duby. Gianelle discusses the importance of organization compliance with the New York State sexual harassment prevention and awareness training requirements.For more information on Bond's online sexual and other workplace harassment prevention training programs, click here. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond labor and employment attorney Rob Manfredo. Rob discusses how he transitioned his practice from corporate litigation to labor and employment with litigation when he joined Bond.

In this special Veterans Day episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond attorney Ryan Cross about his career as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer and his path to Bond.Bond is grateful to all of our veterans and those who are still actively serving in the United States military. Thank you for your service as well as the sacrifices of your families and loved ones!For more information on the Albany Law School 2024 Veterans Pro Bono Project being held on November 15 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., click here.

This special Pro Bono Week episode of Legally Bond is a repost of Kim's conversation with Sal Curran, executive director of the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Central New York. Sal discusses the impressive reach of VLPCNY as well as the extensive services the staff and volunteer lawyers provide.Learn more about the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Central New York, here.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond trust and estate attorney Lindsay McKenna. Lindsay talks about how her willingness to be open to new experiences led her to the trust and estate practice area and discusses how important client relationships are within T&E, especially when navigating emotional situations. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond's hospitality and tourism practice group co-chair Jennifer Tsyn. Jen discusses the growing hospitality industry in New York State and the nuances that are involved in liquor licensing. 

In this special episode of Legally Bond, we get a chance to hear from Bond's newest class of associate trainees. Alex Casper, Leah Dawit, Ariyana DeWitz, Madison Einhorn, Josiah Elsaghir, Gavin Gretsky, Selin Ince, Jillian Jin, Jéla Paul, Colin Smith, Kymberley Walcott-Aggrey and Jackie Zahn share what advice they'd impart on their 1L selves, why they are excited to be a part of the Bond team and more.

In this special summer series of Legally Bond, Kim talks with Bond higher education and Title IX attorney and Olympic Gold Medalist Kristen Thorsness. Kris traveled to the 2024 Paris Olympics as part of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Ad Hoc Division. Part four, and the conclusion of this series, is a discussion of the arbitrations Kris oversaw and her overall experience in Paris.For the CAS decisions discussed in the episode, click below:WeightliftingWater PoloSwimmingTrack & Field

In this special summer series of Legally Bond, Kim talks with Bond higher education and Title IX attorney and Olympic Gold Medalist Kristen Thorsness. Kris is traveling to the 2024 Paris Olympics as part of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Ad Hoc Division. Part three of this series is a discussion of what Kris has experienced at the games thus far.

In this special summer series of Legally Bond, Kim talks with Bond higher education and Title IX attorney and Olympic Gold Medalist Kristen Thorsness. Kris is traveling to the 2024 Paris Olympics as part of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Ad Hoc Division. Part two of this series is a discussion of what Kris is expecting to see in Paris as an arbitrator.

In this special summer series of Legally Bond, Kim talks with Bond higher education and Title IX attorney and Olympic Gold Medalist Kristen Thorsness. Kris is traveling to the 2024 Paris Olympics as part of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Ad Hoc Division. Part one of this series is a discussion of Kris's journey to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and how she joined CAS as an arbitrator.

In this special episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Dr. John Coverdale, President of The Center for Workplace Solutions, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964. For more information about the Civil Rights Act, click here and here. 

In this special episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond team members Laura Ryan, Gabe Oberfield, Christa Vidaver, Bob Lazzaro, Aubrey DeVeau, Sharon Wager and Kris Thorsness as they answer the question "What does Pride Month mean to you?"

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond labor and employment attorney Katherine Schafer. Katie discusses workplace investigations and talks about how curiosity is an important quality for a successful legal career. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond business restructuring, creditors' rights and bankruptcy attorney Andrew Rivera. Andrew, who is the Summer Coordinator for Bond's Summer Law Clerk Program, shares advice for law students on how to make the most out of their summer law jobs. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond school law attorney Mara Harvey. Mara discusses joining Bond in January 2024, working with the diverse school districts on Long Island, and she provides some practical advice for any law students interested in a school law practice.

This special episode of Legally Bond is inspired by the recent 2024 Bond Attorneys' Meeting which brought together over 200 attorneys from across all of Bond's offices, Kim talks with Bond attorneys Colin Leonard, Amber Lawyer, Kevin Cope, Matthew Lamstein, Laura Purcell and Lou DiLorenzo as they share their thoughts on what makes Bond great.

In this special Well-Being in Law Week episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Ashleigh Frankel, Co-Founder of The WiseMind Co. and practicing attorney, and Amy Johnston, Clinical Director at Urban Wellness, a mental health organization in Chicago. Ashleigh and Amy discuss the importance of mental well-being in the legal profession and explain that integrating rest ethic is vital to the sustainability of the work ethic required for today's hustle culture.Learn more about The All Rise Initiative, founded by Ashleigh and Amy, here.Episode resources:Rest is Resistance by Tricia HerseySacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton SmithInstitute for Well-Being in Law: Well-Being In Law Week 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond business and transactions attorney Sam Burgess. Sam discusses what it means to be a transactional attorney and how he developed his practice of working with entities owned by professionals such as physicians, dentists, physical therapists, and design professionals.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond labor and employment attorney Hannah Redmond. Hannah talks about how she was able to create a practice that leverages her interest in both labor and employment law and litigation.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond collegiate sports attorney Michael Sheridan. Mike discusses the recent injunction against the NCAA's enforcement of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rules.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond litigation attorney and Deputy Managing Member of the Rochester office Jennifer Schwartzott. Jen talks about her litigation practice as well as her recent appointment as co-chair of Bond's Diversity & Inclusion Committee. 

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond litigation attorney Katie McGraw. Katie talks about how she became a litigator despite initially being interested in tax law, and how she developed her trust and estate litigation practice. 

In this special episode of Legally Bond, Kim and producer Kate Femia celebrate the podcast's third anniversary! They discuss how much Bond has changed since starting the podcast in March 2021 and what 2024 looks like for the firm - and the podcast.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond school law attorneys Candace Gomez, Kate Reid and Sara Visingard. Candace and Kate, who co-chair the firm's school law practice group, discuss the recent expansion of the practice group which brought Sara and five of her colleagues to the Bond Buffalo and Rochester offices. Additionally, Sara explains how the collaborative nature of the firm's practice groups has made for a seamless transition to Bond. Learn more about the recent attorney growth of the school law practice group, here. 

In honor of Women's History Month, this episode of Legally Bond is a reposting of Kim's conversation with Girls Rule the Law Founder and CEO Mirna Santiago. Mirna talks about the positive impact Girls Rule the Law has on middle school and high school girls, and how important discussions of diversity, equity and inclusion continue to be.For more information on Girls Rule the Law and how you can get involved, click here.

In this episode of Legally Bond, Kim speaks with Bond labor and employment attorney Erin Torcello. Erin talks about the cyclical nature of labor and employment law and her leadership roles at the firm including becoming a part of Bond's Management Committee this year.