Member of the Firm,
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.
Board of Trustees, Long Island Children’s Museum
Defining Community involvement and
leadership …
Erica B. Garay ’78, a partner and litigator with the firm of
Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein, P.C. has recently joined the
board of trustees of the Long Island Children’s Museum
(LICM). Ms. Garay serves in this leadership position at the
LICM because as she states, “In this era of growing academic
expectations and shrinking school budgets, the Museum emerges as a
vital educational resource dedicated to providing young children
and their families an affordable and meaningful way to play, learn
and grow together.”
Serving on LICM’s board is the “next chapter” in an extensive
history of community service including: the Huntington Township
Chamber of Commerce board, the Friends of the Arts, the Long Island
Association Economic Development Committee, President of the Women
Economic Developers of Long Island, Vice President of the board of
directors of the Center for Family Resources, and the corporate
advisory board of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. Ms. Garay
was the founding president of the Long Island Women’s Agenda and
served as a board member of the organization for ten years.
It was through this organization that Ms. Garay had the opportunity
to introduce the present Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to an
1100 person strong luncheon audience when Mrs. Clinton was the
First Lady in 1999.
Ms. Garay, who can’t recall ever meeting a female attorney
growing up, worked in the textile industry after college but
aspired for a more engaging profession. Ms. Garay fondly
remembers her uncle, Julius Mendalis, a St. John’s Law graduate
Class of 1941 – who practiced for more than sixty years.
Being a Queens resident Ms. Garay chose to apply to Law School
because of St. John’s Law’s solid reputation and convenient
location. After enrolling, her academic accomplishments
earned her a St. Thomas More Scholarship, St. Thomas More Award,
and a position on the Editorial Board of Law Review as Assistant
Managing Editor.
Shortly after Law School, Ms. Garay experienced one of her
earliest litigation victories as a member of a 17-attorney team
headed by Paul Weiss’ legendary Arthur Liman– a $95 million dollar
verdict for their client, the City of New York. She knew that
she was long removed from the textile industry. To this day,
it is one of the fondest moments of her professional career.
Awards and recognition are commonplace for Ms. Garay. The
organization, Women on the Job recognized Ms. Garay as Advocate of
the Year in 2002 and in 1993 received the Long Island Center for
Business and Professional Women’s Achiever award, and also was
inducted into its Hall of Fame. She was the Girl Scouts of
Nassau County, Juliette Low Award of Distinction recipient in
2000. In addition, Ms. Garay was inducted into the “Top 50
Women on Long Island” Hall of Fame in 2003 - after being recognized
in 2001 and 2002.
Reflecting upon completing her own legal education, Ms. Garay
offered this advice to the upcoming graduating class, “During
challenging periods, you must think creatively to find solutions to
the most daunting problems – a flat job market is one such
challenge…persevere and you will be successful in your
endeavors.”