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Mara D. Afzali

Mara D. Afzali

Associate

mafzali@bsk.com
Albany, NY
(518) 533-3233
Fax (518) 533-3299

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  • Profile
  • Honors & Affiliations
  • News
  • Representative Publications
  • Other Activities
Education
  • Albany Law School of Union University (summa cum laude, 2017)
  • Siena College (B.A., summa cum laude, 2014)
Bar/Court Admissions
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Practice
  • Litigation
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  3. Mara D. Afzali

Profile

Mara represents public and private sector clients in a variety of civil litigation matters in state and federal court and has successfully argued on behalf of clients through motions, at hearings, trials, administrative proceedings and on appeal. She also routinely advises clients in litigation prevention strategies and risk mitigation. Her experience includes: 

  • Handling business and commercial disputes (breach of contract, business torts, breach of fiduciary duty, professional liability claims);
  • Defending employers against allegations of discrimination, retaliation, constitutional and civil rights violations, and labor law violations; 
  • Preparing tax assessment challenges and appeals; and
  • Petitioning on behalf of not-for-profit organizations to obtain Attorney General and/or judicial approval for mergers and asset sales. 

Prior to joining the legal profession Mara spent more than a decade working at an independent alternative elementary school specializing in self-directed learning and fostering student-led conflict resolution. This experience provides her with a unique perspective on problem-solving and a dynamic ability to negotiate and mediate disputes on behalf of her clients. In addition to her work at Bond, Mara serves as a First Lieutenant in the United Stated Army (Reserves) Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. 

Honors & Affiliations

  • Albany County Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association 
  • Capital District Women’s Bar Association
  • Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association, CLE Committee Member, 2019-present 
  • Capital District Women’s Bar Association, Outstanding New Lawyer Award, 2018 
  • Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials Competition, Winner/Best Oral Advocate, Spring 2017
  • Domenick L. Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition, Winner, Fall 2015
  • Judge Merle Fogg Jr. ’45 Moot Court Prize, Recipient
  • Thomson Reuters Award for Excellence in Evidence Law, Recipient
  • Selma Mintz Memorial Prize, Recipient
  • Judicial Intern for Hon. Mae A. D'Agostino, United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York
  • Dean Thomas Sponsler Honors Teaching Fellow
  • National Order of the Barristers 

News

  • Albany Law Magazine Spotlight, Summer 2017
  • Albany Law School Adds 5 to Board of Trustees
  • Afzali ’17, Robbins ’17 Take Top Honors in Moot Court Advocacy Competition
  • Alumna Conquers the Courtroom and the Classroom

Representative Publications

  • "Letting Sleeping Dogmas Lie: A Response to Judge Posner's Call to Reform The Res Gestae Exceptions To The Rule Against Hearsay", 80 Alb. L. Rev. 595, 2017  
  • Excited Utterance, The Evidence and Proof Podcast, Episode 51: Mara Afzali, The Res Gestae Exceptions to the Rule Against Hearsay, available here.

Other Activities

  • Knox Fire Department, Volunteer
  • The Albany Law School Dean’s Leadership Council, Member, 2019-present 
  • Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York’s Private Attorney Involvement Program, Volunteer, 2019 
  • Albany Law School, Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials Competition, Advisor, 2019
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, 2019 Youth Law Day, Volunteer 
  • Albany Law School Board of Trustees, Student Representative, 2016-2017
ProfileToggle Button Closed

Mara represents public and private sector clients in a variety of civil litigation matters in state and federal court and has successfully argued on behalf of clients through motions, at hearings, trials, administrative proceedings and on appeal. She also routinely advises clients in litigation prevention strategies and risk mitigation. Her experience includes: 

  • Handling business and commercial disputes (breach of contract, business torts, breach of fiduciary duty, professional liability claims);
  • Defending employers against allegations of discrimination, retaliation, constitutional and civil rights violations, and labor law violations; 
  • Preparing tax assessment challenges and appeals; and
  • Petitioning on behalf of not-for-profit organizations to obtain Attorney General and/or judicial approval for mergers and asset sales. 

Prior to joining the legal profession Mara spent more than a decade working at an independent alternative elementary school specializing in self-directed learning and fostering student-led conflict resolution. This experience provides her with a unique perspective on problem-solving and a dynamic ability to negotiate and mediate disputes on behalf of her clients. In addition to her work at Bond, Mara serves as a First Lieutenant in the United Stated Army (Reserves) Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. 

Honors & AffiliationsToggle Button Closed
  • Albany County Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association 
  • Capital District Women’s Bar Association
  • Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association, CLE Committee Member, 2019-present 
  • Capital District Women’s Bar Association, Outstanding New Lawyer Award, 2018 
  • Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials Competition, Winner/Best Oral Advocate, Spring 2017
  • Domenick L. Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition, Winner, Fall 2015
  • Judge Merle Fogg Jr. ’45 Moot Court Prize, Recipient
  • Thomson Reuters Award for Excellence in Evidence Law, Recipient
  • Selma Mintz Memorial Prize, Recipient
  • Judicial Intern for Hon. Mae A. D'Agostino, United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York
  • Dean Thomas Sponsler Honors Teaching Fellow
  • National Order of the Barristers 
NewsToggle Button Closed
  • Albany Law Magazine Spotlight, Summer 2017
  • Albany Law School Adds 5 to Board of Trustees
  • Afzali ’17, Robbins ’17 Take Top Honors in Moot Court Advocacy Competition
  • Alumna Conquers the Courtroom and the Classroom
Representative Publications Toggle Button Closed
  • "Letting Sleeping Dogmas Lie: A Response to Judge Posner's Call to Reform The Res Gestae Exceptions To The Rule Against Hearsay", 80 Alb. L. Rev. 595, 2017  
  • Excited Utterance, The Evidence and Proof Podcast, Episode 51: Mara Afzali, The Res Gestae Exceptions to the Rule Against Hearsay, available here.
Other Activities Toggle Button Closed
  • Knox Fire Department, Volunteer
  • The Albany Law School Dean’s Leadership Council, Member, 2019-present 
  • Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York’s Private Attorney Involvement Program, Volunteer, 2019 
  • Albany Law School, Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials Competition, Advisor, 2019
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, 2019 Youth Law Day, Volunteer 
  • Albany Law School Board of Trustees, Student Representative, 2016-2017
Education
  • Albany Law School of Union University (summa cum laude, 2017)
  • Siena College (B.A., summa cum laude, 2014)
Bar/Court Admissions
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Practice
  • Litigation
Related Practice Bios
  • Labor and Employment
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