PROFILES IN MEMBERSHIP

 Neal J. Kling

Neal Kling is a member of the Sher Garner law firm in New Orleans, where his practice includes real property finance, development, and leasing. He is the chair of the Real Property Division’s Uniform Laws Committee and also a member of several Section standing committees, including the Continuing Legal Education Committee and the Committee on Groups and Substantive Committees. He has also served the Section as a member of the Section’s Standing Committees on Membership and Technology.

Neal had the privilege of becoming active in the Section as a very young lawyer. Based on his personal experience, the Section presents a “great opportunity for both the young lawyer and the firm.” Because of his Section activities, Neal is able to quickly provide clients with resources for “expert” advice in virtually all parts of the country. In addition, he often assists his Section colleagues when they have a matter involving his jurisdiction. Neal has established friendships with many of his Section colleagues. He says that these friendships are one of the things that “keep me coming back to the Section’s meetings.”

Neal believes that CLE is one of the most important
services that the Section provides its members. As such, Neal is proudest of his contributions to the Section’s CLE activities. During his time as chair of the Mortgage Lending Committee, he organized and led many CLE programs, including an annual financing program that continued well after his tenure with the committee. He continues this service as an active member of the Section’s Standing Committee on CLE. His efforts on the CLE Committee led to his appointment to lead the Real Property Division’s e-CLE initiative. During his tenure, e-CLE programming significantly expanded. His membership on the CLE Committee permits him to remain involved in the Section’s e-CLE programming.

Neal and his wife, Suzanne, are both active in their neighborhood civic association, which is one of the leading local associations in the rebuilding of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Through these efforts, Neal hopes that he can provide a meaningful contribution to the rebuilding of this great city.

Neal is the proud father of two children, John and Madeline. He hopes that his involvement in the legal profession and in the community will instill a sense of service and involvement in his children.

 

Marc S. Bekerman

Marc S. Bekerman is a partner in the law firm of Fleischman & Bekerman, LLP, with offices in New York and Long Island, where his practice consists of estate planning, estate administration, and Surrogate’s Court practice. Marc is an adjunct professor at New York Law School, where he teaches a variety of courses related to trusts and estates in both the J.D. and LL.M. programs and is involved in the STEP program co-sponsored by the Section.

Marc currently serves as a vice-chair of the Section’s Standing Committee on CLE and is a member of the Section’s Standing Committees for Planning and for Community Outreach. Marc is also a liaison from the Section to the SOC Task Force on CLE. Marc has previously held numerous positions within the Section at both the committee and group levels, including group vice-chair of the Probate & Trust Special Division Activities Group, chair of the Probate & Trust Division CLE Committee, and chair of the Non-Tax Issues in the Planning and Administration of Trusts and Estates Committee.

Marc is a second-generation trusts and estates attorney who initially became involved with the ABA at his father’s suggestion. Marc became active with the Section by working on various committee activities, especially the preparation and presentation of many CLE programs.

Marc enjoys teaching and mentoring, and his involvement in the Section has afforded him many opportunities to do both. Marc’s participation in CLE includes formulating Section policy and working on the Section’s CLE offerings, which include the Spring Symposium, the Fall Joint CLE Meeting, and the e-CLE programs offered throughout the year. In addition, Marc is coordinating the inaugural Young Lawyer’s Institute to be held at the 2007 Spring Symposium in Washington, D.C. Marc is especially proud of his work with the Community Outreach Committee, which has enabled him to travel around the country seeking to increase the diversity of the trusts and estates bar. Marc was also fortunate to serve as Hugh Drake’s mentor when Hugh was a Section fellow.

Marc lives on Long Island with his wife Lynn, who is a clinical neuropsychologist, and their twin six year olds, William and Elizabeth, who have already attended numerous Section meetings. In his spare time, Marc enjoys studying the martial arts (which is an adventure for the entire family).