About Geri

Telephone: 914.949.9100

Fax: 914.949.9109

Email: gsk@kraussny.com

“Clients present problems infused with legal, emotional, and financial considerations. My role is to carefully navigate a highly charged situation, and piece the puzzle together for a successful resolution of the issues. Business and professional break-ups present problems in a legal area characterized by little settled law and many cutting edge issues. I like the challenge of the situation, and the need to keep a calm center and a clear focus on the issues in the midst of tense emotional context.”

Geri has extensive experience as both an advocate and a neutral.

She is equally skilled in the courtroom and other forms of dispute resolution. She has extensive experience in mediation, arbitration and civil collaborative law processes, as well as litigation. Geri’s clients are executives, partners, employees, as well as companies and firms.

Additionally, as the author of a leading book on partner departures she works with law firms and lawyers in situations involving transition issues, discrimination, and partnership disputes, malpractice claims, sanctions, malicious prosecution, and contract differences.

Geri believes that client communication and personal attention are as essential as excellent lawyering.

Admitted to the Bar of the State of New York since 1977.

Dispute resolution forums other than litigation can often be more effective as they offer a broader range of solutions.

  • All New York State Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

  • American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator on Commercial and Employment Panels

  • American Arbitration Association, Mediation Panel

  • Character and Fitness Committee for the Ninth Judicial District Character Committee, conducting admission interviews and serving on hearing panels with respect to attorney admissions and reinstatement

  • Panel of Arbitrators for Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Panel, Arbitrator

  • Panel of Arbitrators for the New York State Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program, Member

  • S.D.N.Y. Mediation Panel, Member

  • New York State Supreme Court Commercial Division ADR Program, Mediator

  • New York State Supreme Court Westchester ADR Program, Mediator

  • Partner, Herrick, Feinstein LLP, chair of the firm’s Professional Practices Group and a member of its Litigation Department

  • Partner, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, practicing in their Lawyers for the Profession Group

  • Associate, Golenbock and Barell

  • Associate, Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays and Handler

  • 5th Annual Arbitration Training Institute, 3-day program sponsored by ABA/AAA, July 2010

  • FINRA Arbitrator Training, 16.5 hours, August 2010

  • The Center For Dispute Settlement, 3-day program in Advanced Mediation Techniques, May 2010

  • The Center For Mediation In Law, 40-hour Mediation Intensive Training Program, May 2010

  • Program On Negotiation at Harvard Law School, 5-day Mediation Training Course, June 2009

  • Arbitrator Training Sponsored by New York Courts for Attorney Fee Disputes, 1-day, June 2008

  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law – Boalt Hall (1976)

  • B.A., magna cum laude, University of Michigan, Phi Beta Kappa (1973)

Geri has appeared as a guest commentator on legal issues on television and radio shows, including “Court TV,” “Celebrity Justice,” “The Today Show” and “Lawline.”

  • Member, The Committee on Character and Fitness for the Ninth Judicial District

  • Member, Advisory Board of the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA)

  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, 2011-2017

  • Instructor, Pace University Law School New Directions Program, 2008-2010

  • Former Member, Westchester County Women’s Advisory Board

  • Former Member, Committee on Professional Responsibility of the New York City Bar

  • Member, American Bar Association

  • Member, New York State Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Executive Board

  • Women’s Bar Association and the Westchester Women’s Bar Association

 

  • “Ethical Issues When an Attorney Leaves the Firm”, Strafford Webinars, June, 2018.

  • “Ethical Issues When an Attorney Leaves the Firm”, Strafford Webinars, March, 2017.

  • “Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover,” National Association for Law Placement, April, 2016.

  • The Law and Ethics of Changing Law Firms Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, June 2014.

  • “Ethical Issues When an Attorney Leaves the Firm”, Strafford Webinars, November 2013.

  • Keynote Speaker, National Association of Legal Search Consultants, 2013 Fall Symposium, October 2013.

  • “The Ethics of Exiting,” Westchester County Bar Association, June 2013.

  • “Ethical Issues When an Attorney Leaves the Firm

    Managing Client Communications, Client Files, Work Product and Conflicts of Interest,” Strafford Webinars, October 2011, November 2012.

  • Featured Author/Speaker on American Bar Association, Law Practice Management Author-Expert CLE Series, May 2011.

  • Keynote Speaker, “Walking a Tightrope: Partners, Placements and Perils, National Association of Legal Search Consultants, 2010 Fall Symposium, October 2010.

  • “How to Maximize Results in Mediation and Arbitration,” New York State Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section and Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section Joint Fall Program, October 2010.

  • Featured Author/Speaker on American Bar Association, Law Practice Management Author-Expert CLE Series, October 2010.

  • “Lawyers in Transition: The Legal & Ethical Issues to Consider When Changing Jobs,” New York City Bar, July 2010.

  • “The Ethical Considerations When Lawyers Change Jobs,”  New York State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section, New York City, Annual Meeting, February 2008.

  • “Ethics of Witness Preparation,”  New York State Bar Association, Section of Commercial and Federal Litigation, New York City, Annual Meeting, January 2008.

  • “Anticipating the Personal Disaster: Why You Should Have A Plan of Action for Your Practice and How To Do It,” New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section Meeting, Long Boat Key, Florida, March 2006.

  • “The Bottom Line: Fees, Billing and Collections,” Westchester Women’s Bar Association, White Plains, New York, March 2006.

  • “Law Firm Mergers and Lateral Hires: Managing Conflicts of Interest Risks,” Hinshaw’s 2006 Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference, Chicago, Illinois, March 2006.  

  • “Avoiding Liability with Respect to Lateral Partner, Of Counsel and Associate Hiring and Firing,” Practicing Law Institute, December 2005.

  • “Law Firm Break-Ups, Mergers and Lateral Hiring: Managing the Risks,” Hinshaw’s 2005 Professional Responsibility and Risk Management Program, New York, New York, October 2005.

  • “Can A Partner Be An Employee Under the Discrimination Laws?” Aon & XL Employment Practices Liability Symposium, Hamilton, Bermuda, March, 2003.

 

  • “Transition From Litigation to Mediation,” New York Law Journal, April 4, 2012. (click to read)

  • “Resolving Disputes Among Small Business Owners,” NYSBA White Paper, January, 2011.

    (click to read)

  • “Validity of Nonsolicitation Pacts Among Lawyers’ Shrinks,” New York Law Journal, October 21, 2008. (click to read)

  • “Issues and Principles Relating to Due Diligence in Lateral Acquisitions,” Practicing Law Institute, “Staying Out of Trouble: What Every Attorney Must Know About Ethics 2005,” December 2005.

  • “New Partners: New Status Brings Change in Approach to Compensation,” New York Law Journal, February 2, 2004.

  • “The Nitty-Gritty on Equity,” Legal Times, January 26, 2004. “Employers’ Anti-Discrimination Policies Should Encompass Sexual Orientation,” New York Law Journal, May 5, 2003.

  • “Partnership Roles Vary Widely From Firm to Firm,” New York Law Journal, January 27, 2003.

  • “Are Law Firm Equity Partners Protected by Discrimination Laws?” New York Law Journal, November 19, 2002.