By: Jeremy Murphy
For Rosario Bona, the path to becoming a New York attorney began thousands of miles away in Palermo, Sicily. Today, as an associate in the Civil Litigation Department at Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, P.C., he works on complex commercial disputes, intellectual property matters, and entertainment litigation in one of the most competitive markets.
This journey, by his own admission, still feels surreal. “I come from Sicily,” Bona says. “I grew up believing in family and community. Being in an environment where I go to the office and feel sort of at home is a special feeling.”
A Dream That Began in Sicily
Bona’s story is one of determination and ambition. He is the first attorney in his family, a distinction that carries much pride. While studying law in Italy, he enrolled in his university’s International Program, opening doors to global opportunities.
His academic success led him through exchange programs and competitions in Poland, Spain, and Serbia. Those experiences broadened his perspective, but a scholarship to St. John’s University in New York through the Global Law Fellows Program changed the course of his life. “It was during that experience that I truly fell in love with New York City,” Bona recalls. “That’s when becoming an attorney here stopped being a dream and became a concrete goal.”
After graduating from law school in Italy, Bona pursued that goal relentlessly. He enrolled in Fordham University School of Law’s LL.M. program, focusing on Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law and International Business and Trade Law. In 2022, he graduated and passed the New York Bar Examination on his first attempt, qualifying for admission in every Uniform Bar Examination jurisdiction.
Finding a Legal Home in New York
Shortly before that milestone, fate intervened in the form of a Sicilian connection. Through ties to Arthur Aidala’s family hometown of Bolognetta, Bona was introduced to the firm, and the young attorney joined as an intern. That quickly evolved into a position within the Civil Litigation Department.
“We handle civil and commercial litigation cases of any kind,” he explains. “The cases range from copyright infringement and defamation to personal injury, employment discrimination, and complex commercial fraud and breach-of-contract disputes.” The variety is what appeals to him. “You have to be an expert in almost everything,” he says with a laugh. “But I see that as an opportunity to learn day by day.”
Entertainment, IP and the Future of Law
Intellectual property and entertainment law remain Bona’s greatest passions. He has worked on matters involving internationally recognized artists and public figures, gaining exposure that many young attorneys spend decades seeking. One of the most rewarding aspects of his career has been interacting with clients whose names appear in headlines. “I’ve had the chance to meet clients like 50 Cent and Harvey Weinstein,” he says. “Working on those cases and drafting papers related to them certainly marks a milestone in my career.”
For Bona, however, the future of legal practice may be more fascinating than the celebrity clients. As someone who focuses on intellectual property, he is particularly interested in the emerging legal questions surrounding artificial intelligence. “I still think the AI area in the legal realm is sort of unexplored,” he says. He points to growing concerns surrounding the unauthorized use of artists’ names, images, and voices through AI-generated content. Efforts by entertainers to protect their identities, he believes, are only the beginning of a larger legal evolution.
Rooted in Family, Built for Manhattan
While his legal career develops, Bona remains deeply connected to his Sicilian roots. He is a devoted supporter of Juventus, cooks traditional Italian pasta dishes, and remains passionate about travel and exploring different cultures.
Still, family remains at the center of everything. Like many Sicilians, he stays connected to home, speaking with family members daily despite being separated by a great distance. Every year, no matter how busy life becomes, he returns to Palermo for Christmas. Perhaps that balance between old-world values and modern ambition explains Bona’s ease in adapting to New York’s legal world.
At Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, he has found a workplace that mirrors the values he learned in his youth. “This firm really feels like a family,” he says. “We’re not that many people, and that adds a human element that might not exist elsewhere.” For a young attorney who once dreamed about New York, it is difficult to imagine a more fitting destination. “Working alongside lawyers like Arthur Aidala and Imran Ansari, and learning from retired judges and experienced litigators, feels like a dream come true,” Bona says.
For Rosario Bona, the journey to Manhattan may have started with a dream. But through talent, persistence, and a willingness to embrace opportunity, it has become a remarkable reality.
