Robert Abrams
Executive Partner
Abrams Fensterman, LLP
Robert Abrams (Bob) is the co-founder and an Executive Partner at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP, a New York Law Journal Top 100 law firm located in Lake Success, New York, with locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Rochester.
As Bob created his law firm, he developed several practice verticals including Aging and Longevity Law, which includes areas of legal practice such as guardianships, life and retirement planning, estate litigation and health law. Both directly and indirectly as an Executive Partner at Abrams Fensterman, Bob has participated in many high profile cases, some of which helped to create and/or clarify existing law.
In addition to his diverse legal skills, Bob has demonstrated a tremendous sensitivity and understanding of the challenges faced by family members of murder victims, as demonstrated by his representation of the families of Kathleen McCormack Durst, John Frankowski, Sr., and Joseph “Joey” Comunale. Bob has developed a boutique practice, which focuses on the common law tort and loss of the right of sepulcher, which is defined as “next of kin’s right to find solace and comfort in the act of burying a loved one”.
Recognized for his substantive expertise and leadership skills, Bob has been called a “Pillar of Knowledge” and a “National Treasure.” Bob served as Chair of both the Elder and Health Law sections of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). Bob had the unique honor to serve as guest editor of the historic 2011 issue of the NYSBA Journal which was titled “Are You Prepared for the Elder Years?” and the 2017 issue which was titled “The Dementia Crisis.” Over 100,000 people have read these special issues of the NYSBA Journal.
Bob has twice been invited to participate in the once in a decade White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA), the first of which was hosted by President Bill Clinton in 1995 and the second hosted by President George W. Bush in 2005. At the 2005 Conference, Bob coordinated the first ever WHCoA Technology Exhibit which showcased technological initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for older individuals in America and throughout the world.
A prolific educator and writer, Bob has presented educational programs to attorneys, healthcare professionals and consumers throughout the United States. Bob has made presentations to many prestigious organizations including the American Healthcare Association; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; American Bar Association; Arizona Healthcare Association; Rhode Island Healthcare Association; California Association of Healthcare Facilities and the National Association of State Veterans Homes. Most recently, Bob was selected for the Outstanding Achievement Awards from the Association for Continuing Legal Education for his educational programs sponsored by NYSBA titled: Dementia Science & the Law and Aging & Longevity Law.
In addition, Bob has served as Editor for or authored the following resources: Guardianship Practice in New York State, outlining the abrogation of the conservatorship statutes in New York and the enactment of Mental Hygiene Law Article 81; a joint project with the New York State Medical Society titled: The Legal Manual for New York Physicians; and, at the direction of the Honorable Jonathan Lippman, Chief Judge of New York State, The Legal Manual on Public Health Emergency Preparedness. In 2000, Bob co-authored Boomer Basics, which was published by McGraw Hill and which addressed personal, financial and health issues that affect Baby Boomers, their parents and children. In 2009, Bob wrote Watered-Down Truth: A Flood of Lies More Deadly Than Hurricane Katrina. This book received multiple accolades for providing a riveting and truthful account of how and why 35 patients drowned in their Nursing Home during Hurricane Katrina.
Bob created the Aging and Longevity Law Institute and the Aging and Longevity Law LLM Program for the Touro Law Center -a Master’s Program designed for lawyers interested in Aging and Longevity Law. The Aging and Longevity Law LLM Program has been designed to provide attorneys and other professionals with the information and resources they need to serve the 100 million Americans who are 50 years of age or older. The LLM Program will address a wide variety of educational topics, including fragility of capacity, adult children with special needs, bankruptcy, confidentiality, emergency preparedness, estate planning and administration, financial planning, grandparents’ rights, mental health issues, retirement, taxes and many others. As the LLM Program grows, plans include a research agenda focused on law and public policy in the area of longevity and aging law.
Bob has defined Aging and Longevity law as follows: “A confluence of several substantive areas of law which individually and collectively address the diverse legal challenges and related life contingencies that impact many of the ever evolving and growing demographic of the 100 million Americans who are approximately 50 years of age or older.”
Bob received his law degree from the evening division of New York Law School. While attending law school at night, Bob worked in an administrative capacity in a nursing home. He passed the New York State Nursing Home licensure test the same year he passed the Bar exam. He received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University, which included course work completed at Fresno State University of the California University System. Bob graduated with honors from Brooklyn College where he received his bachelor’s degree in special education.