KATELYN PRIMOMO-MILLWOOD/ PRESIDENT

Katelyn Primomo-Millwood, President, received a B.A. magna cum laude in Biology and Sociology from the University at Albany and a J.D. cum laude, from Albany Law School.

Katelyn received an athletic scholarship to play Division I Lacrosse at The University at Albany.  There she served as the captain for two seasons and was twice chosen to the America East “First Team” and “All Academic Team.”  Upon graduation Katelyn was hired by English Lacrosse and moved to St. Albans, England to coach and teach at St. Albans High School for Girls.

Upon returning to the States, Katelyn attended Albany Law School.  After graduating, Katelyn went to work for The Legal Project, a private, independent, not-for-profit organization founded by the Capital District Women’s Bar Association in 1995.   There she worked her way up from a Staff Attorney to the Domestic Violence and Crime Victims Program Supervising Attorney.  Throughout her tenure she represented victims of domestic violence and victims of crime in Supreme, Small Claims and Family Court.

Currently, Katelyn is working as a Deputy Chief Assistant at The Schenectady County Public Defender’s Office.  She is appearing in Family Court representing low-income clients in matters involving orders of protection, custody, visitation, family offenses, abuse, neglect, paternity, support, and allegations of willful violations of court orders.  Additionally, she appears in local criminal courts as Counsel at First Appearance during hours Court is closed.

Part-time, Katelyn is an associate attorney at The Law Office of Danielle Neroni, where she represents clients in matrimonial and Family Court matters throughout New York State.

Katelyn joined the Capital District Women’s Bar Association (CDWBA) and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) upon joining The Legal Project in 2019.  Since joining the CDWBA she has served on the Board of Directors, as the First Vice President, the Second Vice President, and is currently the President-Elect.  This year Katelyn became a member of the Third Department’s Committee for Character and Fitness.  There she will be reviewing applications of those wishing to be admitted to the New York State Bar.

Katelyn is one of three girls and now she and her husband, Jared, are raising their own three daughters: Roselyn, Emmalyn, and Vivienne.

REBECCA HARP/ PRESIDENT ELECT

Rebecca Harp is an Assistant Public Defender in Albany County.  She currently represents individuals charged with a variety of criminal charges.

Prior to becoming an Assistant Public Defender, Ms. Harp worked representing individuals dealing with family and matrimonal issues, and worked as a Staff Attorney for Boies Schiller Flexner, LLP.

Ms. Harp is a 2017 graduate of Albany Law School. While attending law school, she was the Symposium Editor for the Journal of Science & Technology, a Katheryn D. Katz Fellow for the Legal Project, and a member of the Student Bar Association.  She is admitted to practice in the State of New York. 

In 2013, Ms. Harp graduated from SUNY Oswego with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Public Justice, and a minor in Forensic Science.

As a member of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association since 2018.  She has served as the co-chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee, a member of the Board and now serves as the Second Vice President.

Ms. Harp frequently participates in events with Albany Law School students, as she is an advocate for mentoring students and young attorneys.  She also attends other local bar associations and group events.

RENÉE L. BEHRENS/ FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Renée L. Behrens currently serves as Associate Counsel at the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (DHSES) where she focuses on litigation matters. Prior to joining DHSES, Ms. Behrens worked in Counsel’s Office at the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, as Bureau Chief of the vehicular crimes unit at the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office, and as an Assistant District Attorney at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. She specializes in both criminal and civil litigation. Ms. Behrens has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Albany, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cyber Security (CEHC) where she has taught a technical writing class on intelligence briefing and a second class on civil liberties.

Ms. Behrens obtained her Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School. She also holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in Communications with dual concentrations in Journalism and Public Relations & Advertising, and a minor in Political Science.

Ms. Behrens joined the CDWBA in 2017. She has served as a Board Member, Corresponding Secretary, and currently serves as the First Vice President. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the National Alumni Association of Albany Law School.  She volunteers much of her time at the law school judging moot court competitions, mentoring students, assisting with mock interviews, and delivering lectures as a guest speaker.

Outside of her professional life, Renée enjoys running, hiking, and golfing. Ms. Behrens is a three-time marathoner, an Adirondack 46-er, and a member of the Capital Region LPGA Amateur Golf Association. She is married to her husband (and best friend), Scott. They recently welcomed their first child, Francis.

RACHAEL OUIMET/ SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

JULIA KOSINESKI/ RECORDING SECRETARY

Julia V. Palmerino (formerly Kosineski) serves as a Deputy Chief Assistant Public Defender at the Schenectady County Public Defender’s Office, representing indigent individuals in family and criminal matters. She appears primarily in the following cases: custody and visitation, family offenses, neglect and abuse, paternity, and child
support. Prior to joining the Public Defender’s Office in 2020, she worked in private practice focusing on criminal defense and civil litigation matters.

In 2020, Julia opened her own part-time private practice representing individuals in real estate, business, criminal, family, and other matters. Attorney Palmerino is also admitted to practice in the Northern District of New York and handles the trial of prisoner cases brought under 42 USC §1983. She donates her time speaking at the Court of Appeals Day each year to law student recipients of the Catalyst Public Interest Fellowship and at Union College to the Pre-Law Society.

She obtained her B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where she was the President of Delta Gamma and founded the Female Leadership in Hospitality Club. After graduating from Cornell, Julia moved to New York City to work in event marketing at a startup. Julia returned to the Capital Region to pursue her law degree and graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School in 2019.

Julia has been a member of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association since 2017 and currently serves as the Recording Secretary. Outside of her legal career, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband, Mike, and their first born: a French Bulldog named Hank.

BONNIE WEIKEL/ CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

ERIN LYNCH/ TREASURER

Erin Lynch, Treasurer, is serving her second term on the Board of Directors for the Capital District Women’s Bar Association and was a prior Chair of the Classroom Project Committee. She is proud of the role the CDWBA has in empowering others, including women, to have success and growth in the legal profession.

Erin also serves on the Committee on Character and Fitness for the Third Judicial Department and is involved in the Albany County Bar Association. Erin has worked in public service since graduating from law school. She is currently employed with the NYS Office of Cannabis Management as Ethics Counsel. Her roles in government include work for the NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, the NYS Joint Commission on Public Ethics, the NYS Attorney General’s Office, NYS Assembly Program and Counsel, and local District Attorney Offices.

Erin received her J.D. from Case Western Reserve School of Law and a B.A., Honors in Sociology, from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She dedicates time outside of her profession to her role as President of the Board for School’s Out, Inc., teaching yoga, and spending time with her husband, Dan, and their two children.