Pitta & Baione LLP is thrilled to announce that Yan Lian Kuang-Maoga (Lian) has been named Partner at the firm. Lian is an award-winning advocate and a source of strength not only for our firm, but for the people we serve. Her promotion to partner is well-deserved.
“I remember the day my brother told me that Lian was interested in joining our firm back in 2019,” said Partner Christopher J. Baione. “I felt an immense sense of relief. Many of our clients were navigating the profound challenges of seeking justice for their lost loved ones, and Lian’s unique qualifications—including years of legal experience, a stellar reputation, and the ability to speak multiple languages—made her the perfect fit for a critical role we needed to fill: a veteran trust and estates attorney who could truly connect with our clients while guiding them through probate and estate administration. Having the ability to handle these issues within our firm as opposed to using outside counsel is a huge asset to our clients and a key reason why our firm has experienced so much growth since Lian’s hiring.”
Partner Matthew J. Baione added “The needs of our clients dictate every decision we make as a firm. As more of our clients required counsel for probate, trusts, estates and benefit planning, we sought to provide it in-house. We were lucky to find Lian Kuang-Maoga, a 9/11 survivor with extensive experience in these areas and with a history of public service. Lian is dedicated to our clients, embodies our mission of service, and serves as a leader in the firm. She extended that advocacy to the 9/11 community at large by drafting legislation to streamline the probate process for loved ones of victims.”
About Yan Lian Kuang-Maoga, Partner
Partner Lian Kuang-Maoga is an experienced and top-rated attorney who manages the Firm’s Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Trusts and Estates Planning, Probate, Estate Administration, and Special Needs Planning practice areas. She also assists clients seeking compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF) – a deeply personal advocacy rooted in Lian’s own survival of 9/11. She has worked diligently to draft legislation to streamline the process for 9/11 victims’ compensation claims, and she has been a key provider of competent legal services in the Chinese community with her language and cultural competency skills.
“I am honored to be recognized for my contributions in our firm and in the community we serve. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a team that supports our clients in some of the toughest times in their lives. The work has been challenging but so rewarding. Being named a Partner solidifies my role at Pitta & Baione LLP as an integral part of the firm’s goal in serving our clients holistically” said Lian.
Lian joined Pitta & Baione LLP as an experienced Trusts & Estates attorney handling Surrogate’s Courts matters all over the city and state of New York. She has been vital in expanding the services we offer our 9/11 VCF clients so that we can handle all of their needs in-house, even beyond their lifetime.
As a former advocate for the elderly Chinese community in New York, first at the LaGuardia Senior Center and then at the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, Lian joined Pitta & Baione LLP with years of experience dealing with government benefits. As so many 9/11 survivors and family members rely on these benefits, her practical knowledge has proved invaluable to their cause.
Her clients trust her with the most sacred duty there is: to honor the lives of their loved ones. It’s a role she takes seriously, and it’s one of the many reasons why we are so proud of our newest Partner.
Congratulations, Lian!
