Meet Marianne Bertuna, a Fierce Advocate and Trusted Counselor
In the high-stakes world of New York law, where courtrooms hum with tension and legal briefs can change lives, Marianne Bertuna has built a reputation as both a fierce advocate and a trusted counselor. As a named partner and Executive Partner at Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, she oversees one of the city’s busiest boutique firms, balancing the legal complexities of clients’ cases with the demands of running a thriving practice.
But for Bertuna, the essence of her career has never been about prestige or headlines. “I am fueled by helping others,” she has often said. “I appreciate the trust a client places in me and I will use all of my ability and energy as an attorney to ensure that my client’s trust is well placed.”
Her earliest years in practice were shaped by criminal defense work, a field she still calls her “baby.” “That will always be my passion—helping people,” she explained. “I’ve been so lucky to meet so many wonderful clients and to be able to help them at a very stressful time in their lives. To see how they overcame whatever they were struggling with—and to see them now successful, thriving, with families—that’s a wonderful thing.”
Yet in recent years, her focus has shifted. Today, she is counsel to the Kings County Public Administrator in Surrogate’s Court, Brooklyn, handling estates where there may be no immediate family members or where relatives are unable—or unwilling—to serve as administrators. “We step in to make sure that the person’s estate, their assets, are passed to the proper parties,” she said. “We also do investigations and fraud work to make sure that nobody has tried to improperly take assets. We’re constantly dealing with daily emergencies.”
Her criminal defense training, she adds, prepared her for the intensity. “Because I’m used to being quick on the spot and having to handle things in the courtroom, that has really prepared me to handle these emergencies and act quickly.”
Bertuna’s practice reflects a rare versatility. In addition to her criminal and estate work, she heads the firm’s Wills, Trusts and Estates Department, handles complex real estate matters, and has been recognized by Lawyers of Distinction for her work in Real Estate Law. Early mentorship played a key role in her career. “Going back 20 years, there was another attorney in my Brooklyn office who really guided me,” she recalled. “He introduced me to people in Surrogate’s Court. It was something I could do alongside criminal law, helping local families in the community. It just took off from there.”
Her real estate knowledge, in fact, predates her law degree. “My family has always been in the real estate world. I knew how to do a closing before I even became a lawyer,” she said with a laugh. That background now dovetails seamlessly with her estate work: “A lot of my work now is also handling the real estate for the decedent’s estate. We sell the properties, so my real estate background has really played a big role in this position. It’s really all of my worlds coming together.”
One of Bertuna’s best-known specialties is DUI defense. Recognized among the top 100 attorneys in the field by the National Advocacy of DUI Defense, she has written on the subject, taught CLE courses, and often served as the attorney other lawyers consulted for advice.
“It became a niche of my practice,” she said. “I knew the DMV laws, which in order to be a good criminal defense attorney handling a DWI, you have to know. I studied it, I kept myself up to date on the changing laws, and that became something I was really focused on.”
She recalls the era before COVID when DWI enforcement was at its peak. “That was my bread and butter because the NYPD was really focusing on it,” she said. “I still handle those cases today, though not as much. People have gotten the message—you can’t drink and drive—and you can see that in the statistics.”
Bertuna’s legal career has always unfolded in the public eye. Her husband and law partner, Arthur Aidala, is one of the city’s most recognized criminal defense attorneys, often representing clients in high-profile cases. For Bertuna, the attention comes with the territory, but she believes her firm’s reputation rests on more than headlines.
“We’ve always had a really good reputation in the legal world,” she said. “That comes from how much we care for our clients and how we put our heart and soul into all of it. It’s not just a factory—it’s a family feeling. We have great respect for the law and for the entire legal community. From the judges to the court officers and everyone in between, that respect shows. This isn’t just a job for us—it’s a profession.”
That reputation, she adds, is one of her greatest assets. “Twenty-plus years of credibility—you can’t put a price on that. When I’m standing next to a client, or filing a motion, or going to the Surrogate’s Court with a problem, I’m starting off with that credibility. That’s invaluable.”
Despite her demanding career, Bertuna makes space for life outside the office. She and Aidala are raising two young children, and family time often revolves around their kids’ activities—her son’s baseball, her daughter’s dance. When possible, she finds time for skiing, tennis, and reading. “We love what we do, so even when we talk about work at home, it doesn’t feel taxing,” she said. “It all works out in the end.”
Looking forward, Bertuna’s focus is on her city as much as her clients. “I’m hoping that something comes together to make New York a better place,” she said. “We’re New Yorkers at heart, so that’s what I want to see.”
From her beginnings as a young criminal defense lawyer to her current role guiding estates through Surrogate’s Court, Marianne Bertuna’s journey is a testament to adaptability, integrity, and passion. Her clients may arrive at her office during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, but what they find is an advocate who sees their trust as both a gift and a responsibility.