Melissa Negrin-Wiener, Esq. Installed as President of Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association

July 2015

Melissa Negrin-Wiener, Esq.  partner at Genser  Dubow Genser & Cona (Cona Elder Law), elder law firm based in Melville, has recently been installed as the 32nd president of the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association (SCWBA) for the 2015-2016 term.  She has served on the Board of SCWBA for the past five years as a director, VP of programs and VP of membership as well as co- chair of the elder law committee.  Melissa is a resident of Smithtown.

"During my presidency, I plan to continue an important aspect of SCWBA’s mission with regard to promoting the advancement of women in society, particularly as it pertains to the legal profession," says Ms. Negrin-Wiener.  "As the number of female lawyers continues to grow, there is no doubt that will lead to an increase in female law partnerships and female firm owners.   Along these lines, I hope to add more networking and business development events, with the goal of helping women lawyers grow their practices and become rainmakers.” 

According to Lisa Fine, Esq, immediate SCWBA past president, “Melissa was instrumental in building our membership to nearly 200 so we were able to gain an additional delegate to the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, the second largest Bar Association in NYS.” 

At Cona Elder Law, Melissa manages the government benefits department while concentrating her practice in Medicaid planning, asset protection planning, disability matters, guardianships, estate planning and Veterans benefits. She is a State Certified Court Evaluator and Counsel to Guardian and incapacitated persons and is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs.   With Advanced Elder Law Mediator certification, she is now serving as a Mediator on the Nassau County Bar Association's Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel.

Melissa has received many awards including: the “40 Under 40 Rising Stars on LI” award from Long Island Business News and the Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney award from Touro Law School.  She is also a frequent lecturer at professional organizations, assisted living facilities and senior citizen groups.   

Recognized for her industry expertise, Melissa has been featured and quoted in legal publications, Newsday – Ask the Expert column, Kiplingers, the Chicago Tribune and others while also appearing as a guest on WABC TV, WLNY TV, FIOS and Queens Public Television and many radio programs.  She has  authored numerous articles for The Suffolk Lawyer, Nassau Lawyer, New York Law Journal and the HIA Hauppauge Reporter.

Giving back to the community, Melissa serves as chair of Cona Elder Law Charitable Events, a not-for- profit organization that enhances the quality of life for the elderly, disabled and underprivileged. She helped to launch Cona Elder Law’s Senior Dreams Come True, a non-profit program that benefits low income seniors on Long Island by granting wishes from basic needs to lifelong dreams.

Ms. Negrin-Wiener received her Juris Doctor from Hofstra University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, Politics and Law from Binghamton University.

Cona Elder Law is recognized as a leading elder law and estate planning firm on Long Island.  The firm was ranked the #1 Elder Law firm by Long Island Business News for 4 consecutive years (2012 – 2015) and is a finalist in the 2015 HIA Business Achievement Awards.  The firm provides creative advocacy and cutting edge planning strategies.