Kathy A. Ahearn


E-mail: kahearn@guerciolaw.com
Kathy A. Ahearn, Esq., earned her B.A. in Political Science from SUNY Stony Brook, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1980. Stony Brook awarded her the “Outstanding Student Service” award for her leadership of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society. Ms. Ahearn is a 1983 graduate of New York University School of Law, where she served on the Moot Court Board.

Before joining Guercio & Guercio, LLP, as a partner in July 2009, Ms. Ahearn served for 16 years as Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs in the New York State Education Department. In this capacity, she served as chief legal advisor to the Commissioner of Education, the New York State Board of Regents and the Department, providing legal counsel in the areas of K-12 public and private education, colleges and universities, vocational education and services for adults with disabilities, the licensing and regulation of 48 professions, and cultural education (libraries, museums and historical associations). During her tenure as General Counsel, she also served as Acting Commissioner of Education and Chief of Staff to the Commissioner of Education. Before the Regents appointed her as their General Counsel in 1993, Ms. Ahearn was responsible for the operation of the Department’s Office of Counsel as Deputy Counsel (1991-1993), and for its litigation practice as Assistant Counsel (1989-1991).

Ms. Ahearn was appointed by then Attorney General Robert Abrams as an Assistant Attorney General specializing in litigation defense from 1988-1989. Before joining state government, she was in private practice as a litigator at the Manhattan law firms of Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler and Battle, Fowler, Jaffin & Kheel.

Ms. Ahearn is a member of the NYS Bar Association and the New York State Association of School Attorneys. She is a frequent speaker at school law seminars. Her areas of practice at Guercio & Guercio, LLP include all aspects of general counsel work for schools, colleges, universities, and municipalities.
Areas of Practice:
Education Law
Municipal Law
Special Education Law
Bar Admissions:
New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Education:
   State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1980
B.A.
Honors: magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
    
   New York University School of Law, 1983
J.D.
Honors: Moot Court Board
Honors and Awards:
Outstanding Student Service Award, Pi Sigma Alpha
Professional Associations and Memberships:
New York State Bar Association
New York State Association of School Attorneys


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