KAYLA MEAGHER/ PRESIDENT
Kayla (Potter) Meagher is an Assistant District Attorney with the Albany County District Attorney’s Office where she is a member of the Street Crimes Unit handling primarily drug possession and quality of life crimes. Prior to joining the Albany DA’s Office, she served as an
Assistant District Attorney for Saratoga County where she was a member of the Vehicular Crimes, Special Victims, and General Felony Units.
Kayla has remained in the Capital Region since receiving her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at the University of Albany in 2017. She then graduated from Albany Law School in 2020.
Outside of work, Kayla previously served as a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region program. She is an active alumni member of Albany Law School through continuous participation in the Moot Court Program and is a newly elected member of the National Alumni Association. She also serves as a board member for the Saratoga County Bar Association.
Kayla first became interested in the Capital District Woman’s Bar Association after participating in the mentorship initiatives as a student at Albany Law School. Since graduating and joining the legal profession, she has served as a member on the Board participating in the CLE and Membership Committee, and has previously served as the Treasurer.
Outside of her legal career, she enjoys spending time with her husband Ryan, daughter Sophia and their goldendoodle Maui.
JULIA PALMERINO/ PRESIDENT-ELECT
Julia V. Palmerino (formerly Kosineski) is an Associate at the law office of Lauren L. Hunt, Esq. handling family and matrimonial matters. Prior to joining Lauren Hunt, Julia worked at the Schenectady County Public Defender’s Office representing indigent clients in family court.
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 First Vice President Secretary. Outside of her legal career, Julia is a new mom to her son Giovanni (“Gio”) and enjoys spending time with him, her husband, Mike, and their first born: a French Bulldog named Hank.
JENNIFER STORM/ FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Jennifer Storm is the Supervising Attorney for the Victims Legal Assistance Program (VLAP) at The Legal Project. She leads a dedicated team of attorneys and support staff providing holistic, trauma-informed legal services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and other crimes in civil legal proceedings. Ms. Storm began her career at the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY), where she worked as a staff attorney on several grant-funded projects. Her work included representing homeless domestic violence victims in Albany County, individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS throughout upstate New York, and LGBTQ victims of domestic violence across the region. In 2010, Ms. Storm transitioned to private practice, founding a solo practice focused on low-bono (and pro bono) representation, with a particular emphasis on serving the LGBT community and survivors of domestic violence.
SAMANTHA SHARP/ SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Samantha Sharp serves as Principal Law Clerk to the Honorable Jennifer G. Sober, Rensselaer County Court Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice. She previously held the same position with the Honorable Andra Ackerman in Albany County Court.
Before joining the New York State Unified Court System, Samantha worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Franklin and Albany Counties, representing clients in criminal matters and parole violation proceedings. She also maintained a private appellate practice focused on criminal and child custody appeals. Following her public defense work, Samantha served as Assistant Counsel with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, providing legal guidance on issues affecting correctional facilities and agency operations throughout New York State.
Samantha earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Albany Law School in 2011 and received a Bachelor of Science in Women’s and Gender Studies, with a minor in Sociology, from Union College in 2008.
Samantha previously served on the Board of Directors of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association and assumed the role of Second Vice President in June 2026. Outside of work, Samantha enjoys spending time with her husband, Steven, and their daughter, Savannah.
CHERYL LEE/ TREASURER
A.A.G. Cheryl J. Lee is a prosecutor for the Criminal Enforcement of Financial Crimes Bureau in the Albany office of the New York State Attorney General. She investigates and prosecutes complex financial crimes, including embezzlement, tax evasion, elder financial exploitation, contractor fraud, public benefits fraud, and other white collar crime. She joined the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) in September 2017. Prior to her employment with the OAG, Ms. Lee was an Assistant District Attorney in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office (WCDAO) for ten years. Ms. Lee also served as law clerk to the Honorable Cecelia G. Morris, former Chief Judge of Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York, from 2003-2006, after which she joined the law firm of Ropes & Gray as a Business Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring Associate, before joining the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. She graduated summa cum laude from Pace University School of Law and magna cum laude from New York University with a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing. At Pace Law School she was Case Note and Comment Editor for the Law Review, and graduated first in her class, as valedictorian.
KRISTEN DAVIS/ CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Kristen Davis is an associate in the Commercial Litigation practice at Cullen and Dykman LLP, where she represents clients in complex commercial disputes and high-stakes litigation across state and federal courts. Prior to joining Cullen and Dykman in 2024, Kristen served as a term law clerk for Judge Andrew T. Baxter in the Northern District of New York. During law school, she was a judicial intern for Judge Mae D’Agostino in the Northern District of New York.
Kristen graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School in 2022, where she served as Co-Chair of the Women’s Law Caucus and Editor-in-Chief of the Albany Government Law Review. Kristen also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Flagler College.
Kristen has been a member of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association since she graduated law school. She also contributes to the legal community through her service on the Kate Stoneman Day Committee and the Katheryn D. Katz ’70 Memorial Lecture Series Committee. Outside of her legal career, Kristen enjoys baking, traveling with her friends, and seeing live theatre.
TORI MELITA/ RECORDING SECRETARY
Tori L. Deyo is a trial attorney at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, where she practices exclusively in the area of family and matrimonial law. Tori earned her J.D. summa cum laude from Albany Law School in May 2022, where she was recognized for her academic excellence and where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Albany Law Review.
Tori also holds both a Bachelor’s Degree (2015) and a Master’s Degree (2017) from The College of Saint Rose, graduating summa cum laude from both programs. Tori lives in Albany, New York with her fiancé, their two cats, and dog.
LILA DODGE/ SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR
Lila Dodge is an Associate at the law office of Lauren L. Hunt, Esq., PLLC, handling family law and matrimonial matters. Lila is also currently in the process of becoming an Attorney for the Child (AFC), and a certified Mediator.
Lila is originally from the North Country, but moved to the Capital Region for college, and stayed ever since. Lila graduated summa cum laude from Siena College with a B.A in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice, where she was heavily involved in the Sr. Thea Bowman Center for Women, organizing initiatives that educate, engage and empower students to foster advocacy efforts for social justice, gender equality, and women’s development.
After graduating from Siena, Lila remained in the Capital Region and attended Albany Law School. At Albany Law, Lila was a co-chair and fellow for the Women’s Leadership Initiative. The Women’s Leadership Initiative’s mission is to empower women to advance their legal careers in leadership roles by engaging in skill-building programs, leveraging professional relationships, and broadening opportunities to meet their full potential. During her time at Albany Law, Lila was also heavily involved with Moot Court, serving as the Chair of the Domenick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Competition, and the Family Law Society, where she served as President. Lila has remained involved with these initiatives since graduating.
You’ll find Lila in her free time spending time with her high school sweetheart and their bulldog, Duke, or binging the newest reality tv show.
RENÉE L. BEHRENS/IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Renée L. Behrens currently serves as Associate Counsel at the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (DHSES) focusing on litigation. Prior to joining DHSES, Ms. Behrens worked in Counsel’s Office at the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, as the 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 Cybersecurity (CEHC) where she has taught a technical writing class on intelligence briefing and another 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 of Arts 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 on the Board of Directors, various officer roles, and now serves as Immediate Past President. Renée was recently appointed to the WBASNY’s 2027 Convention Committee. She is a member of several other WBASNY committees.
Renée also sits on the Board of Directors of the Albany Law School National Alumni Association (NAA). She volunteers her time at the law school judging moot court competitions, mentoring students, assisting with mock interviews, and delivering lectures as a guest speaker. Renée has served on the Third Department Appellate Division Committee on Character and Fitness for Attorney Admissions since March 2022. She joined the Third Judicial District Gender Fairness Committee in July 2025. Ms. Behrens is a permanent member of the Town of Niskayuna Zoning Board of Appeals. She also serves on the Niskayuna Democrats Executive Committee.
She was inducted into the Maroon Jackets in September 2025 by the Albany Law School Women’s Alumni Rugby Club. She received the Teaching Award for Emergency Management and Homeland Security in May 2023 from the University of Albany’s College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity; the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in September 2021 from Albany Law School and the NAA; and she was the recipient of the Gabrielli Memorial Award in April 2016 for her dedication to the Albany Law School Moot Court program.
Ms. Behrens serves on the Committee of Bar Leaders at the New York State Bar Association, where she is a member of the State and Local Government section, and sits on the Executive Committee of the Criminal Justice section.
Outside of her professional life, Renée enjoys running, hiking, and golfing. She completed the World Major Marathons as a Six-Star Finisher in April 2026, became an Adirondack 46-er in 2020, and has been a member of the Capital Region LPGA Amateur Golf Association since 2019. Renée and her partner Scott enjoy traveling with their son.