Dana Walsh Sivak, Esq.

Dana Walsh Sivak is a Partner at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman, and serves as Chair of the firm’s Elder Law Practice Group. Dana is a dedicated and compassionate advocate who has devoted much of her legal career to addressing legal issues involving the elderly and adults with disabilities. Her areas of expertise include Article 81 guardianship proceedings, complex Medicaid eligibility issues, nursing home litigation, and advocacy for quality-of-life initiatives for seniors. Known for her innovative “outside-the-box” thinking, Dana draws on her extensive experience to devise creative solutions to issues her clients and their families are facing, including in contested guardianship proceedings and Medicaid “crisis planning” scenarios. She works closely with her clients and their families to craft individualized long-term care plans which include high-level Medicaid planning techniques that aim to preserve their assets while prioritizing their continuous access to excellent care. Dana’s work in guardianship has earned her a reputation as both a skilled legal advocate and a respected leader in the legal community. Her experience, insight and expertise has led judges to frequently appoint Dana to serve in integral roles in complex and often contested guardianship proceedings before the Court. Dana’s ability to provide compassion and guidance to clients struggling through emotional and challenging circumstances has allowed her clients to feel supported and empowered to make sound, informed strategic decisions regarding these often volatile legal proceedings, helping them to overcome obstacles and secure positive and meaningful results through her legal interventions. Through Dana’s involvement in the legal community, particularly her role as Co-Chair of the Elder Law, Social Services and Health Advocacy Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association, Dana has translated this experience into the growth of the guardianship bar through her creation of a mentorship program, aiming to foster a more inclusive and diverse community of guardianship law practitioners, and helping to train and mentor less experienced attorneys so that they may better serve the needs of this vulnerable population.