On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department disbarred attorney Daphna Zekaria, effective retroactively to May 21, 2025. This decision follows Zekaria’s conviction in the Supreme Court, Suffolk County, on multiple felony counts, including grand larceny and scheme to defraud.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Daphna Zekaria,” with case number 2024-00376.
Zekaria faced disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Attorney Grievance Committee (AGC) for the First Judicial Department. The AGC’s investigation was triggered by Zekaria’s handling of client funds, specifically the conversion of escrow funds for personal or business use.
The disbarment stems from Zekaria’s guilty plea on May 21, 2025, to two counts of grand larceny in the second degree (a class C felony), one count of grand larceny in the third degree (a class D felony), one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree (a class E felony), and one count of criminal contempt in the second degree (a class A misdemeanor). She is awaiting sentencing in 2026.
The charges against Zekaria arose from three separate instances. In one case, Zekaria, then a partner at a law firm, represented a woman in her divorce and the sale of her marital home. She was entrusted with approximately $150,000 from the home sale to be held in escrow. Instead of disbursing the funds after the divorce was finalized, Zekaria used the money for her own purposes.
In another instance, Zekaria was hired by a lottery winner to hold a portion of his winnings in escrow and invest another portion. However, she instead transferred large sums to other individuals. Additionally, Zekaria was retained by an elderly woman to contest eviction proceedings, receiving $17,500 but performing no legal work and misappropriating the funds.
The Attorney Grievance Committee moved to strike Zekaria’s name from the roll of attorneys, citing Judiciary Law § 90(4)(a) and (b) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(1), which mandate automatic disbarment upon felony conviction. The Committee argued that Zekaria’s guilty plea triggered automatic disbarment, regardless of the pending sentencing. Zekaria consented to the service of the motion but did not submit a response.
The court’s decision emphasized that under Judiciary Law § 90(4), Zekaria was automatically disbarred upon pleading guilty to the felonies. The order mandates that Zekaria cease practicing law in any capacity, refrain from appearing as an attorney before any court or public authority, and desist from offering legal advice or holding herself out as an attorney. Zekaria is also required to comply with the rules governing the conduct of disbarred attorneys, as outlined in 22 NYCRR 1240.15. Furthermore, she must return any secure pass issued by the Office of Court Administration.
According to Avvo, Ms. Zekaria was a real estate lawyer in Huntington, NY. She acquired her law license in New York in 1997.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
