2023 Women in CRE: Judy Simoncic, Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

What recent project, transaction, or accomplishment are you most proud of? 

I was recently honored to be included in Long Island Business News’ (LIBN) List of Most Dynamic Women Leaders of 2023. The list of 44 industry leaders is hand selected by LIBN and recognizes women that have demonstrated integrity, persistence and most importantly, leadership skills in their respective fields. I am most proud to be listed among women that I have admired and looked up to throughout my legal career. Gail Prudenti, a former dean of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where I attended law school, who is also a former Supreme Court Appellate Division Justice, was named in this list. To be included among such esteemed women in my field and others is truly an honor.

What are the most important factors women in your industry should consider when choosing a firm to build their career with? 

I believe a key factor that women looking to join a firm in the legal industry should look for is if the firm is actively seeking to attract, retain and promote women. At my firm, it is extremely important to have programs designed to help young women achieve professional success in their career, as well as personal success. We understand that women face challenges that their male counterparts may not experience. It is critical to find a firm that is dedicated to empowering, strengthening, and advancing women.

Who inspires you most? What qualities do they possess that inspire you? 

Former United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a woman who has inspired me and many other women in the legal profession to reach their professional goals. Justice Ginsburg was highly intellectual and had an unwavering determination that led her to be a pioneer for women’s rights despite all of the obstacles she faced in her life. Her motto was not to be deterred when things got tough. That is something that I follow in my own career.