Managing Partner Joseph Milizio leads VMM’s Business and Transactional Law, Real Estate, Exit and Succession Planning for Business Owners, LGBTQ Representation, and Surrogacy, Adoption, and Assisted Reproduction practices. He is a lead partner in the Matrimonial & Family Law and COVID-19 Legal Assistance practices.
Mr. Milizio represents start-up and established businesses, providing day-to-day general counsel and advice. He has significant experience in various areas of transactional law with an emphasis on business transactions, including acquisitions, sales, entity and owner representation, franchising, leasing, and transactional real estate matters. He represents a wide range of businesses, including retailers, manufacturers, real estate entities, healthcare providers, and other professional industries and organizations.
His diverse corporate and real estate finance experience includes the representation of both borrowers and lenders. He regularly advises clients on corporate governance, dispute resolution, and estate planning matters. As head of the Exit Planning for Business Owners Practice, he works with proprietors and other representatives as a consultant and legal advisor in planning for and implementing exit and succession strategies.
Mr. Milizio founded the firm’s groundbreaking LGBTQ Representation Practice over twenty years ago, one of the first in the nation. The practice provides legal counsel, representation, and education to the LGBTQ community in a variety of matters, including workplace discrimination, estate planning, health care proxies and living wills, prenuptial agreements, real estate, domestic partnership agreements, property co-owner agreements, spousal rights and obligations, divorce and child custody, adoptions and surrogacy, name changes, and gender marker changes.
He is a trusted advisor to both his personal and business clients and often serves as executor, trustee, and legal guardian.
Mr. Milizio is regularly featured in the press, including NBC, NBC's MoneyWatch, CBS, CNBC, News 12, 1010 WINS, WCBS 880, Star 99.9, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, LI Herald, Long Island Business News, Gay City News, and Gay Parent Magazine.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
BAR ADMISSIONS
EDUCATION
- J.D., Brooklyn Law School, 1983
- B.A., Criminal Justice, St. John’s University, 1980
- Summa Cum Laude
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
- New York State Bar Association; LGBTQ Law Section, founding member
- Nassau County Bar Association; Lawyer Referral Committee, Corporation Law Committee, Real Estate Committee, LGBTQ Committee (former cochair)
- Suffolk County LGBTQ Advisory Board, founding member
- International Exit Planning Institute – Long Island Chapter, founding vice president
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC), National Board of Governors and NY Steering Committee
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society Long Island Chapter, former chairperson
- National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) – Long Island Chapter, founding member
- The Mergers & Acquisitions Network, Advisory Board
- Hofstra University, LGBT Advisory Board
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
- Special Congressional Recognition, 2021
- Nassau County Office of the Executive Special Citation, 2021
- Suffolk County Executive Certificate of Achievement, 2021
- The Best Lawyers in America, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, 2024
- LI Herald “Top Lawyer of Long Island” Business & Transactional, 2024
- LI Herald “Top Lawyer of Long Island” Philanthropist of the Year, 2023
- Crain's New York Business "Notable LGBTQ Leaders and Executives," 2021 – 2023
- Crain's New York Business "Notable Diverse Leaders in Law," 2022
- Schneps Media "Dan’s Out East End Impact Awards" 2022
- Schneps Media "New York Power Lawyers 2021"/"New York Power Professionals 2022"
- New York Metro Super Lawyers, “Top Rated Business & Corporate Attorney,” 2020 – Present
- LI Herald “Top Lawyer of Long Island” Civil Rights, 2019
- LI Herald “Top Lawyer of Long Island” Pro Bono, 2019 – Present
- Chambers USA Regional Spotlight NY, 2024 (firmwide)
- U.S. News & World Report-Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms in America," 2022 – Present (firmwide)
- New York Law Journal "New York Top Rated Lawyers,” 2019 – Present (firmwide)
- LI Herald “Top Law Firm of Long Island" 2019 – Present (firmwide, in size category)
- The Best Lawyers in America, Top-Listed, 2024 (firmwide, by geographical area)
- Nassau County Office of the Executive Special Citation, 2019 (firmwide)
- New York Law Journal "New York’s Top Rated Real Estate Lawyers,” 2020 – Present (practice)
- New York Law Journal "New York’s Top Rated Trusts and Estates Lawyers,” 2020 – Present (practice)
- New York Law Journal "New York’s Top Rated LGBTQ Representation Lawyers,” 2020 – Present (practice)
- Nominee, LI Herald “2019 Top Lawyers of Long Island,” Real Estate
- Nominee, LI Herald “2019 Top Lawyers of Long Island,” Philanthropist of the Year
- Nominee, LI Herald “2019 Top Lawyers of Long Island,” Lifetime Achievement Award
- PFY (Pride For Youth) Deer Park Center naming honor, 2022
- Long Island Crisis Center “2017 Person of the Year”
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society Leadership Award
- Long Island Business News “Leadership in Law” award, 2013
- Long Island Business News “Fifty or so Around 50 Awards,” 2010
- Avvo, 5-star reviewed member
PRO BONO & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC), National Board of Governors and NY Steering Committee
- National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) – Long Island Chapter, founding member
- Suffolk County LGBTQ Advisory Board, founding member
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society Long Island Chapter, former chairperson
- Long Island Crisis Center (LICC), Advisory Council
- Long Island Crisis Center Pride for Youth initiative, Planning Committee
- CUNY Pridefest 2019, sponsor
- Queens College, GLASA (Gay Lesbian and Straight Alliance) club, sponsor
- Queens College, City University of New York, law program founding board member, curriculum advisor, and speaker
- Theodore Roosevelt American Inn of Court, former member