Attorneys

Jack A. Aini

Jack A. Aini is a principal of the firm and has over 25 years of real estate, finance, banking, and corporate law experience. Prior to founding Aini & Associates, Mr. Aini served for 10 years as a Vice President and the CMBS Business Development Manager at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Mr. Aini was an associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in New York, New York, and also served as a clerk to the Honorable Lawrence M. McKenna of the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Aini focuses his practice on a commercial and residential real estate, investment and commercial banking, general corporate, commercial and residential mortgage-backed securitizations, re- securitizations, custodial arrangements, and other financial products.

Mr. Aini received his B.S. in Business Management and Finance from Brooklyn College, with honors, his J.D. from Cardozo Law School, with honors, and his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, with honors.

Liza Kabariti

Liza Kabariti is a partner at the firm, and has a diverse legal background, including residential and commercial real estate transactions, corporate law, estate planning and probate. Ms. Kabariti regularly represents trustees, custodians and securities intermediaries on various types of structured finance transactions, including commercial mortgaged backed securitizations, defeasance transactions and custodial transactions. Ms. Kabariti also represents clients in purchases and sales of commercial and residential real estate and licensees and licensors in connection with licensing agreements.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Kabariti clerked for the Honorable Sandra L. Sgroi of the Appellate Division, Second Department. Prior to clerking at the Appellate Division, Ms. Kabariti worked at Cohen & Schwartz, LLP, a trust and estates firm, and focused on probate matters, estate administration, and estate planning.

Ms. Kabariti is admitted to practice law in New York and in New Jersey. Ms. Kabariti received her B.S. from Brooklyn College in Accounting, graduating cum laude, and her J.D. from Hofstra University, the Maurice A. Deane School of Law.

Steven Cohen

Steven Cohen is an associate at the firm and primarily focuses on real estate and corporate matters. He routinely represents individuals, entities, and lenders in connection with residential and commercial real estate transactions. Prior to law school, Mr. Cohen spent one year as a real estate paralegal at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP where he worked alongside several partners of the firm in representing cooperative and condominium boards on refinances.

Mr. Cohen received his J.D. from Cardozo Law School in 2021 and served for two years as an Editor of the Cardozo Law Review. In his final semester at Cardozo, he participated in the NY Court’s Pro-Bono Scholars Program which allows students to accelerate their law school curriculum and take the Bar Exam prior to graduating. Students then work at a pro-bono placement during their final semester of law school. Mr. Cohen was placed at Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, where he regularly drafted motions on landlord-tenant matters.

Mr. Cohen received his J.D. from Cardozo Law School. He is admitted to practice law in New York and in New Jersey. Mr. Cohen graduated summa cum laude from Brooklyn College in 2016.

Leo Rishty

Leo Rishty is an associate at the firm where his practice focuses on general civil litigation, ranging from contractual disputes to landlord-tenant cases to Municipal Court matters. In addition, Mr. Rishty has experience in transactional matters representing purchasers and sellers in residential and commercial real estate transactions, and tenants and landlords in commercial and residential leases.

Prior to joining Aini & Associates, Mr. Rishty worked as a senior associate at a boutique litigation practice in New Jersey where he regularly represented clients on a broad range of complex commercial litigation and business transactions.

Mr. Rishty received his J.D. from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School where he concentrated in environmental law. Mr. Rishty is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Rishty graduated from Rutgers University in 2010.

Ariel Bivas

Ariel Bivas is an associate at the firm and mainly represents clients in general civil litigation matters, with a focus on commercial litigation. At the firm Mr. Bivas expanded his practice to include representation of entities and individuals on residential and commercial transactions and represents tenants and landlords in lease negotiations and various corporate matters. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bivas worked at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP as a general litigation associate where he gained valuable experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation matters. Mr. Bivas’s interest and experience in litigation began when he worked at Ahmuty Demers & McManus during law school and he continued working there following graduation in the commercial litigation division.

Mr. Bivas received his J.D. from New York Law School in 2018. Mr. Bivas is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Bivas graduated from Rutgers University in 2014.

Samantha Conroy

Samantha Conroy is an associate at the firm. Ms. Conroy’s practice focuses on capital markets and structured finance, with an emphasis on representing trustees in public and private commercial mortgage-backed securitization transactions. Ms. Conroy also represents parties in residential and commercial purchases and sales, leases and various corporate matters.

Ms. Conroy received her J.D. from Cardozo Law School and is admitted to practice law in New York. Ms. Conroy graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in Art History and East Asian Studies.

Yuchen (Fiona) Zheng

Yuchen (Fiona) Zheng is a law clerk at the firm. Ms. Zheng received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and has been working alongside each of the attorneys at the firm, training in capital markets and finance ahead of her admission. ‘Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Zheng was a Law Fellow at the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

Ms. Zheng received her Bachelor of Social Sciences in Government and International Relations in BNU-HKBU United International College in China and was the Vice President of AIESEC, a student run Non-Governmental Organization. Ms. Zheng is a candidate for admission to the New York bar.