Biographies
Margaret C. Tabak, Attorney
Margaret C. Tabak brings more than 20 years of professional experience to her practice in matrimonial and family law. She is graduate of Albany Law School (1987) and the State University of New York at Albany (1983). Prior to graduating law school, she held various positions with the State Senate and Attorney General’s office. After graduation, Margaret was hired as an associate for Friedman, Hirschen, Miller, Coughlin & Campito, P.C. in Schenectady. In her five years at the firm, she focused on defense and negligence cases in state and federal court and became the primary attorney for the firm’s matrimonial and family law cases. Margaret began her own legal practice in 1993, while working as a part-time associate for Englert, Stillman, Coffey & McHugh. Nearly 18 years later, Margaret’s practice flourishes and she maintains a reputation throughout the Capital District as an attorney dedicated to her clients and the pursuit of justice.
Margaret has been admitted to the United States Supreme Court (1996), the United States District Court, Northern District of New York (1988) and Appellate Division, Third Department (1988). She is an active member of numerous professional organizations including the Capital District Women’s Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, the Schenectady County Bar Association, and the Albany County Bar Association. She has held numerous positions in these associations, and received the Capital District Women’s Bar Association’s Distinguished Member Award in 2003.
An advocate of accessible legal representation for low-income individuals, Margaret received the Legal Project’s Stanley A. Rosen Memorial Award (2005) and the Capital District Women’s Bar Association’s Pro Bono Award (2006) for her career-long efforts in pro bono legal work. Additionally, Margaret has taught courses for the Knowledge Network and has lectured for various groups and media outlets in the areas of matrimonial and family law.
Margaret is an active member of B’Nai Sholom Reform Congregation and resides in Guilderland with her husband, David Smith, and children, Hugh and Victoria Smith.
Leyla A. Kiosse, Associate Attorney
Leyla Kiosse counsels and represents clients on all matters related to matrimonial and family law proceedings. She has been with the Law Office since December of 2006. Prior to that, she worked as a Law Clerk to the Honorable David E. Christensen in the Fifth Judicial District in Pipestone, Minnesota. A cum laude graduate of Albany Law School (2005), Leyla received the Dorothy S. Hartman Scholarship and was awarded the Mat-Law prize upon graduation. She served as Note & Comment Editor for the Albany Law School Journal of Science and Technology. Leyla completed an internship at the Office of the NYS Attorney General in the Litigation Bureau. Prior to this, Leyla earned her BA from Union College (2000), where she received department honors for Philosophy and the Frankel Award for academic excellence in the study of religion.
Leyla is admitted to practice law in both New York and South Dakota. She is a member of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association, the Albany County Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, and the New York State Bar Association. She also dedicates time to pro-bono legal work. In 2010, Leyla was the recipient of the Outstanding New Attorney Award from the Capital District Women's Bar Association.
Leyla currently resides in her hometown of Guilderland. In her free time, she enjoys golf, fitness, traveling, and outdoor activities.
