Finnish American Lawyers Association Hosts London Representative in Long Island New York

On June 8, 2012, a beautiful Friday evening, members and friends of the Finnish American Lawyers Association FALA met for a “Meet and Greet” FALA event in Westbury, Long Island, NY at Chi Restaurant for an informal opportunity to "mix and mingle" with a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, and optional dinner. The event was coordinated with the arrival in New York of the London representative of FALA, Liisa Maarit, Esq., who is the Avon Cosmetics Legal Director for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). Liisa Maarit had hosted Honorary Member Judge Steven Bucaria, Nassau County Supreme Court, currently sitting in the Commercial Part, when Judge Bucaria visited London recently.

The FALA officers attending were ex-Judge John Pessala, Executive Director; Robert Alan Saasto, Esq., President (trial attorney); Ernest Saasto, Esq., Vice-President (real estate); and Directors Elizabeth Dalal Pessala, Esq. (Associate Village Justice Village of Westbury) and Mika Hallakorpi, Esq. (Maritime Subrogation Services, LLC).

Several new members, all with Finnish “roots” attended: Tricia Heino Moriates, Esq., principal law clerk to Judge Bruno Nassau County Supreme Court, Mineola NY; Veera Williamson, Esq., an Edgar Specialist (Security Administration filings) with the Wall Street firm of Cravath Swaine & Moore; Maria Paulsen, Esq., attorney representing police officers; and Laila Williamson, Esq., a former practicing attorney in Finland now working as an Associate in the Division of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History.

Several “non Finn” attorneys attended: Daniel Frisa, Esq., former United States Congressman and Assemblyman representing the southern part of Nassau County; Elisa Nuottajarvi, Esq., manager of asset management group, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, SIFMA; Carl Copertino, Esq., NYC Transit Ethics Officer; and Jack Angelou, Esq., private practice Bellmore NY.

Other FALA members appearing but not within the photos were George Stankevich, Esq., former Town Attorney for Shelter Island, LI, NY; and Angelo Mangia, Esq., former majority counsel in the NYS Senate and retired CEO of Standard Funding Corp.

In addition to the above, spouses and “significant others” attended to enjoy the outdoor patio setting with drinks, food, and most importantly, good company.

Robert Alan Saasto, Esq.

     
Front row from left to right: Veera Williamson, Tricia Heino
Moriates, Laila Williamson, Liisa Maarit, Elizabeth Pessala,
Maria Paulsen middle row: Ernest Saasto, Mika Hallakorpi,
Judge Bucaria last row: Dan Frisa, Robert Saasto, Carl Copertino
 
From left to right: Ernest Saasto, Robert Saasto, Liisa Maarit,
retired Judge Pessala 
 

Seated left to right: Mary Ellen Saasto, Robert Alan Saasto, Ernest

Saasto, Tarja Koskela, Mikka Hallakorpi standing: Liisa Maarit