Lecturer Bios
Natalia Gourari, Esq.
Natalia Gourari is the managing partner of her own law firm, with more than 22 years of experience in complex matrimonial and commercial law. Natalia Gourari has recently expanded her practice to include surrogacy and probate work. Uniformly respected in the field, Natalia Gourari has served as co-counsel and trial counsel to many medium sized to large law firms. With her expertise across a range of specialties and straightforward approach, Natalia Gourari is prepared to help clients through trying situations. Natalia Gourari recommends solutions that benefit clients and their families while lessening acrimony. If a settlement is not possible, she will fight to protect her clients’ interests in court or dispute resolution to reach the most favorable and expeditious resolution.
A lawyer with a multicultural European, Russian, and American background, she will stay the course. Her degree in economics and prior experience in corporate law with Debevoise & Plimpton, provides a level of knowledge into corporate and financial matters that levels the playing field from the start in high-net-worth cases.
Natalia Gourari works to make sure that every client’s immediate and long-term needs are met, even when up against an opponent who refuses to budge. A strong strategic litigator whose career has seen her go up against some of the nation’s leading law firms, she can’t be deterred. She aggressively fights for her client’s rights and their future.
Natalia Gourari has extensive trial experience, but she tempers that with negotiation skills that attempt to keep her clients out of the court room. She is flexible and knowledgeable which helps her settle cases, but when all else fails, she knows how to win a trial.
Natalia Gourari received her Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University in Economics where she graduated magna cum laude and went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the prestigious Cardozo School of Law where she received merit scholarships.
Natalia Gourari is a member of the bars in New York and New Jersey. She is also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Natalia Gourari also shares her vast legal experience on cutting edge legal matters as a lecturer at numerous institutions for CLE credit.
Stefan B. Kalina, Esq.
Stefan B. Kalina works with the Litigation and Real Estate Department, handling complex commercial and insurance disputes, as well as real estate litigation and transactions. He represents corporate and individual clients before trial and appellate courts in several jurisdictions. A member of the Board of Editors of the New York Dispute Resolution Lawyer, he is also experienced in arbitration, mediation and out-of-court negotiation.
Mr. Kalina's business litigation practice involves corporate ventures, commercial contracts and leases, lending arrangements, mortgages and loan servicing, landlord and tenant, fiduciary obligations, creditors' rights and judgment enforcement. In the insurance arena, he represents companies, directors and officers pursuing recovery under a variety of lines and advises them regarding their policies and programs. In addition, Mr. Kalina is experienced in technology matters, having represented software and Internet companies' in. connection with their products and services. He applies this background to commercial claims involving intellectual property transfer and licensing as well as to insurance claims over data privacy and protection. As a former prosecutor and current adjunct professor of criminal justice, Mr. Kalina also handles matters that present potential criminal and civil liability. Mr. Kalina regularly serves as local counsel to firms outside the tri-state area in need of representation.
In addition, Mr. Kalina dedicates time to pro bono matters. In 2003, he was recognized as one of Touro Law Center's Outstanding Long Island Pro Bono Attorneys for his work with Nassau Suffolk Law Services' Landlord/Tenant Dispute panel.
Prior to joining Cox Padmore Skolnik & Shakarchy LLP, Mr Kalina was associated with major metropolitan law firms with national practices. He has also served as Assistant District Attorney for the District Attorney of Kings County in Brooklyn, New York, In addition, he has held several internships in federal and state government including United States District Judge Denis Hurley in the Eastern District of New York, United States Magistrate Judge Linnea Johnson in the Southern District of Florida, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, United States Senator Richard Lugar and New York State Senator James Lack. Based on these experiences, Mr. Kalina has been appointed to the Alumni Advisory Board of The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars in Washington, D.C.
