2013-2014 Empowering the NY Legal Community Annual Report
@NYCLAssoc @NYCLA @New York County Lawyers’ Association TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter from NYCLA’s President ...... Page i Membership & Communications ...... Page 1‐5 Event Highlights ...... Page 6‐8 Continuing Legal Education Institute ...... Page 8‐10 Pro Bono ...... Page 11‐13 Research and Technology ...... Page 13‐14 Justice Center ...... Page 14‐16 Task Forces and Working Groups ...... Page 16‐17 Minority Judicial Internship Program ...... Page 17 Public Policy Initiatives ...... Page 17‐18 NGO Status at the United Nations ...... Page 18 Eppler Award ...... Page 19 Kobak Award ...... Page 19 President’s Commendation Award ...... Page 20 NYCLA Foundation ...... Page 20‐21 Sustaining Members ...... Page 21‐23 In Memoriam ...... Back Cover
Dear New York County Lawyers’ Association Member,
When I was inducted as NYCLA President last May, my vision for the year ahead included three major goals: to launch new pro bono projects; to make NYCLA more affordable to lawyers just starting their careers; and to help restore adequate funding for the federal and state courts in New York. I’m proud to say we have delivered on these initiatives.
One of the pro bono programs we launched this year was the Veterans’ Discharge Upgrade Pro Bono Pilot Program, which helps veterans suffering from PTSD and related disorders obtain discharge upgrades. Seventy NYCLA Members participated in the program’s first training session in September. Meanwhile, working in collaboration with the New York County District Attorney’s Office, the Asian American Bar Association, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York, the Chinatown Partnership, and the Chinatown Business Improvement District, NYCLA held a series of workshops in Chinatown to assist small business owners in understanding various laws and regulations related to record keeping, taxes, labor issues, construction permitting, and immigration. Through these and other programs, the Association and its dedicated volunteers have once again helped to make our community a better place, serving 1,700 individuals this year alone.
Meanwhile, we revamped our membership dues structure, making NYCLA more affordable to young lawyers just starting out in their careers. Instead of raising rates across the board (after seven years with no dues increases in any category), NYCLA actually lowered dues for young lawyers not yet well established in their careers. Newly admitted lawyers continue to receive a complimentary membership from the Association during the first year they are licensed to practice. Thereafter, dues start at $75 for lawyers admitted one to two years—a figure that drops to $50 for young lawyers who were NYCLA members while in law school or before admission to the bar. This is a substantial reduction from NYCLA’s previous dues structure, and a very competitive rate as well.
Since last May NYCLA has also advocated for the courts, vigorously investigating the real‐world effects of recent judicial budget cuts—including sequestration—publicizing our findings and conclusions, and advocating for adequate funding for systems that faced severely decreased appropriations. In September, NYCLA’s Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts issued a report on the effects of sequestration and related cuts on the administration of justice in the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. In December, the Task Force held a day‐long public hearing to gather testimony about the continuing impact of judicial budget cuts on the administration of justice in both the federal and the state courts. The hearing was open to the public and featured seven hours of testimony from 23 witnesses, including the chief judges of the Second Circuit and the Southern and Eastern District Courts, and the Presidents of the American and the New York State Bar Association. In January, the Task Force followed up the hearing with a report describing the struggles of both the state and federal judiciaries in meeting their constitutional and statutory obligations in the face of shrinking resources and growing caseloads. Thereafter, Congress acted to restore most of the sequestration‐related cuts to the federal courts, and the New York judiciary submitted its budget request to the Governor. Mostly recently, in February, I submitted written testimony to the Joint Fiscal Committees of the New York State Legislature in support of the full budget amount requested by the judiciary.
Of course we didn’t stop there. NYCLA continues to provide Members with career‐building tools and offers a wide range of networking events and programs to bring together practitioners of all levels. We freshened up our Member newspaper; offered discounts on new products and services (such as JurisPage, a web design, marketing, and search engine optimization tool); and served our Members’ research needs through our Library.
We also offered cutting‐edge CLE programs in substantive law and skill building at competitive rates. For example, after the Supreme Court invalidated a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, NYCLA brought in many of the key players in U.S. v. Windsor for a special CLE program devoted to discussing the case and the continuing issues it raises.
These initiatives and programs were made possible through NYCLA’s dedicated Officers, Directors, Committees, and staff. I value the opportunity to work with this great group and I am grateful for all they do for our Association.
Barbara Moses President New York County Lawyers’ Association
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MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS NYCLA Adds New Member Categories and Transitions to Annual Billing The NYCLA Membership and Communications Department manages the NYCLA community, made up of more than 9,000 attorneys, judges, academics NYCLA has transitioned to an annual billing cycle, bringing all Members onto a and law school students. Through Member benefits, events, communications, calendar‐year cycle running from January publications, and more, NYCLA ensures that Members keep learning and stay 1 through December 31. This will now be competitive, expand their professional networks, and demonstrate and your billing cycle, regardless of the time of elevate their professional value and credibility. enrollment or renewal. (Your dues will be pro‐rated if you joined part‐way through Member Benefits the year.)
Your Manhattan Bar Association In addition, NYCLA revamped its dues structure, making membership more The legal profession is evolving and so is your bar association. NYCLA affordable to young lawyers just starting provides its Members with opportunities to connect and collaborate so they out in their careers. In 2013, instead of can be successful in and help shape the Manhattan legal community. From raising rates across the board—after our open Committee structure to our Member benefits portfolio, from seven years with no dues increases— reduced cost high‐quality CLE to the NYCLA Library with its best‐in‐class NYCLA actually lowered dues for young librarians, NYCLA delivers high‐value benefits for your career, your business lawyers not yet well established in their and your life. careers. Newly admitted lawyers continue to receive a complimentary membership Benefits for WORK from the Association during the first year they are licensed to practice. Thereafter, Open Committee Structure dues start at $75 for lawyers admitted With our open Committee structure, NYCLA Members can benefit from one to two years—only $50 if they were joining any and as many Committees and Sections as they feel necessary to NYCLA Members while in law school or advance their understanding of their field of practice and meet others who before admission to the bar. This is a are leaders in the profession. NYCLA Committees and Sections play a key role substantial reduction from the dues we in the public policy arena through the issuance of reports and comments on previously charged young lawyers. critical issues affecting the bench, bar, and public. The Association encourages Committees and Sections to analyze and report on pending A senior category was also added this past legislation and proposed rulemaking by administrative agencies and the year, offering Memberships at a reduced rate for attorneys who have taken courts. NYCLA Committee and Section Reports and Amicus Briefs serve an emeritus status with the New York State important function in aiding legislators and judicial and government Bar or who report that they have administrators during the decision‐making process. Publicity generated by substantially retired from the practice of these reports enhances the stature of the Association and the Committee or law. Section that produced the report. And the benefits of participation in Committee or Section work are available to all NYCLA Members – from law Have a question about your Membership? students to experienced attorneys. Contact a Member Services Associate at 212‐267‐6646 x208 or e‐mail Professional Development and CLE [email protected]. NYCLA offers preferred pricing on CLE seminars and webinars; free professional and personal development opportunities through our monthly membership programs; and access to an extensive collection of legal research materials in digital, print, and other formats with a helpful staff to assist Members as needed. We strive to help you, our Members, stay on top of emerging trends and legal news with NYCLA’s weekly e‐News and monthly New York County Lawyer newspaper, delivering relevant, timely information to our broad range of Members from newly admitted to senior partner. NYCLA also offers Members the opportunity to submit articles to the New York County Lawyer and get published.
Library Services New York County Lawyers' Association Library maintains a collection geared specifically to meet the needs of the practicing bar. The Library's New York practice collection is one of the finest on the East Coast and our staff is second to none. Here’s what our Members have to say about this wonderful benefit:
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“I've used NYCLA’s reference librarians to locate and email me sections of treatises. They were very efficient and very effective. I found this service to be very helpful.”
“As a new attorney who is starting out solo, the NYCLA Library has been a tremendous resource. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.”
“I find the NYCLA Library to be a tremendously valuable resource. I have always found staff incredibly helpful when I need them.”
“I love the library. Your staff navigated me through the tough sheparding work when I was a lowly associate in a small neighborhood law office. I shepardized, sweat, shepardized some more, researched Benders, drafted complaints and Demands for Bills of Particular all with the help of your wonderful staff.”
“I really appreciate the staff and services offered. In particular, access to briefs and filings and jury verdict reports.”
“The Lexis and Westlaw CLE classes that are held in the library are very valuable.”
Benefits for WORK, Benefits for LIFE NYCLA recognizes that our Members want to access benefits usually only available to employees of large corporations – like discounts on gym memberships, shopping, and car rentals, to name a few. We also know that many of our Members are business owners who need discounts on essential services such as shipping, web design, electronic discovery, malpractice insurance, and financial services. We offer a broad range of membership benefits and are committed to expanding our benefits program with additional products and services that enhance both your professional and personal life.
We thank the Membership Committee and its chair, Michael McNamara, for its invaluable support and dedication to expanding NYCLA’s membership offerings, and for ensuring that NYCLA membership is truly of value to those who belong to the organization.
Communications and Publications
To engage our Members, this past year we took a deeper look at our communications that keep you, our Members, informed, and made numerous improvements to deliver you more targeted and relevant news and announcements.
E‐Newsletter Members stay connected to NYCLA through the weekly e‐newsletter, distributed on Friday mornings. Each issue contains links to articles of interest to the legal community, the latest issue of the NYCLA newspaper, upcoming CLE programs and events, featured jobs, Committee/Section meetings, Member benefits, and more.
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New York County Lawyer
The New York County Lawyer covers a variety of practice areas and keeps readers up to date on issues that are shaping the legal community in New York and across the country. Written by the legal community for the legal community, the New York County Lawyer is published 10 times a year by Apogee Publications for NYCLA and includes professional perspectives on new statutes and regulations, as well as current social issues facing our nation.
Recent issues have been devoted to topics such as “Going Inside the Courtroom;” “Lawyering a New Senior Population;” “Legal Careers;” “Legal Ethics;” “Technology and the Law;” Social Responsibility and the Law;” and “Working with Special Populations.”
In October 2013 the New York County Lawyer was relaunched with a new appearance while maintaining the quality of information and knowledge within the publication. Eight issues per year are offered digitally with limited print distribution and two issues per year are printed and mailed to all Members. The mobile‐ friendly format allows readers to click and read on their phones, tablets, and of course, desktops.
Attorneys’ Guide to Civil Practice in the New York Supreme Court
The Attorneys’ Guide to Civil Practice in New York County Supreme Court, published in the summer of 2013 and spring of 2014, serves as a valuable tool for all attorneys engaged in civil litigation in Manhattan. In its 18th and 19th editions, the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Guide served as a concise resource for details about judges, court personnel, and procedures in the Supreme Court. Special pricing is offered to NYCLA Members.
Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts
The Third Edition of the treatise Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, a highly successful joint venture between NYCLA and Thomson Reuters/West, continues to receive critical acclaim and generate annual royalties for NYCLA. Over 30 legal newspapers and bar journals throughout the State of New York have published favorable book reviews of the Third Edition since it was published during the fall of 2010. This six‐volume, 7,769 page treatise, written by 144 distinguished judges and well‐known litigators, contains 106 chapters and covers all aspects of civil procedure in New York State courts. At the 2013 Annual Dinner, the book’s authors and editor were honored with the Boris Kostelanetz President's Medal.
Publicity
In addition to publishing our own content, we tap into external media outlets to get the word out in the community about the great work being done by our Members, including programming, advocacy work, and pro bono programs. We strategically position our Members as experts, showcasing NYCLA’s thought leadership.
NYCLA has been front and center this year in the media, garnering significant media coverage in national media outlets including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, local media outlets,
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including the New York Daily News and the New York Post, and industry publications, including Law360.com, Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, the New York Law Journal, and Thomson Reuters Legal News & Insight. The Association was featured in articles covering topics such as judicial budget cuts, judicial retirement, bail reform, whistleblower ethics, social media ethics, stop‐and‐frisk, pro bono reporting, legal education, and marriage equality.
NYCLA Rapid Response
Over the past several years, NYCLA’s Rapid Response Team has reacted quickly to negative and unwarranted attacks on the judiciary. This initiative was designed specifically to respond to politically motivated, inflammatory, and/or ad hominem attacks, whether from politicians or from the press, that threaten judicial independence or mislead the public. During 2013‐2014, the Rapid Response Team responded quickly and effectively to a series of attacks on individual judges and on the difficult decisions those judges made, including several decisions made in closely watched stop‐and‐frisk cases.
Social Media
NYCLA taps into its social media channels to engage in discussion with and to share news and information with the New York legal community. In a world where people have less and less time to digest information, communicating in a direct format is more important than ever. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn enable the Association to keep in constant contact with the audiences we most need to reach, while each channel allows us to target our message to most effectively reach the audience on their terms. Within NYCLA’s LinkedIn group, its 3,100 members engage in discussion about various topics related to the legal industry. Meanwhile, over 1,200 members of the legal community are fans of NYCLA on Facebook (facebook.com/NYCLAssoc), where we aim to keep them informed about the happenings at NYCLA with informational, photo, and video postings. The NYCLA Twitter handle, @NYCLA, with nearly 700 followers, keeps our community up‐to‐date on industry news and Association event and activities.
2013‐2014 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
In 2013‐2014 NYCLA hosted a wide range of events to meet the needs of its membership, from networking events to professional development events, public forums, work‐life balance programs, and special events.
Lunch with a Judge
Designed for summer associates, this popular series includes a lunchtime panel with members of the bench discussing various topics related to the law. During the summer of 2013, NYCLA held several sessions of Lunch with a Judge, a program sponsored by the Judicial Section and the Young Lawyers’ Section. Speakers at the luncheon included: Hon. Matthew F. Cooper, Hon. Helen Freedman, Hon. Photo above: A group of summer associates meet and enjoy Debra A. James, Hon. Shirley Werner Kornreich, Hon. lunch together before the June 18 Lunch with a Judge Jeffrey K. Oing, Hon. Martin Shulman, Hon. Sidney featuring New York County Supreme Court Justices Debra A. Stein, and Hon. Geoffrey D. Wright. James and Shirley Werner Kornreich. Justice James and Justice Kornreich covered the topic, “Cross Examining a Witness: To Ask or Not to Ask, What is the Right Question?”
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Networking Events
These high‐energy events, hosted by the Young Lawyers’ Section, connected members of the legal community with one another and helped them expand their networks and open the door to professional and personal opportunity. NYCLA Members networked at these events and more:
Summer Kickoff 2013 A Mid‐Summer Night’s Party Law Student Reception and Mentor Auction Oktoberfest – Meet & Greet Speed Networking Mid‐Winter Happy Hour Photo above: The Young Lawyers’ Section hosted a Speed Networking event on January 30 to help lawyers make the connections needed to propel their careers.
99th Annual Dinner
At its 99th Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria on December 17, 2013, NYCLA celebrated service to the bar and the community and honored the law firm partners and in‐house counsel who lead the pro bono efforts of their firms and corporations. The event featured remarks by New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman. The 2013 William Nelson Cromwell Award was given to Jane C. Sherburne, Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Bank of New York Mellon for her leadership and dedication to pro bono service. Former Detroit Mayor and former American Bar Association President Dennis Archer presented NYCLA’s Diversity Award to Thomas L. Sager, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of DuPont for his leadership, efforts, and achievements in increasing diversity in the legal profession. The 2013 Boris Kostelanetz President's Medal was presented to the authors of the critically acclaimed six‐volume treatise Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, published by NYCLA and Thomson Reuters, and to the treatise’s longtime editor‐in‐chief, former NYCLA President Robert L. Haig.
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Lectures, Special Events, and Award Recognition
The following forums, lectures, special events, and award ceremonies were held in 2013‐2014. We thank our Committees and Sections for organizing many of these valuable programs and events and appreciate the unwavering support of the Co‐Chairs of the Committee on Committees, Megan Davis and Blair Fensterstock, whose dedication to NYCLA’s Committees and Sections has enabled the organization to maximize the membership experience.
Event Date About Matrimonial Section Spring Cocktail Party June 6, 2013 NYCLA’s Matrimonial Law Section held its Annual Cocktail Party at Battery Park Gardens and honored the Senior Court Attorneys of New York County Matrimonial Judges. Non‐Profit Opportunities: How to Become a General Counsel or June 11, 2013 The Non‐Profit Organizations and Women's Rights Board Member Committees and the Young Lawyers’ Section held an educational evening that welcomed guest speaker Lesley Rosenthal, best‐selling author of the recent book, Good Counsel: Meeting the Legal Needs of Non‐Profits. Federal Courts Committee Summer Party June 17, 2013 The Federal Courts Committee presented the David Y. Hinshaw award to Brian Graifman, Gusrae Kaplan Nusbaum PLLC, at Battery Park Gardens. Asian Americans on the Bench: A Celebration June 19, 2013 NYCLA’s Federal Courts Committee and the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted a joint special event that honored two newly appointed Asian American federal judges, Hon. Lorna Schofield and Hon. Pamela Chen. Summer Kickoff 2013 June 21, 2013 Attendees enjoyed complimentary appetizers and happy hour specials while meeting and mingling with other lawyers and law students at Sky Room, the highest roof deck bar in NYC. The event was hosted by NYCLA's Young Lawyers' Section; Brooklyn Bar Association; AABANY; the Puerto Rican Bar Association of New York (PRBA‐NY); and the Iranian American Bar Association – NY Chapter.
Civil Court Practice Section Annual Dinner June 27, 2013 This annual awards dinner hosted by the Civil Court Practice Section was held at Fino Wall Street and celebrated the supervising and administrative judges of the Civil Court, past and present. Lunch with a Judge June 18, 25 & July 2, 9, 2013 This program was sponsored by NYCLA's Young Lawyers' Section. A Mid‐Summer Night's Party August 6, 2013 Attendees enjoyed complimentary appetizers and happy hour specials while meeting and mingling with other lawyers and law students at Sky Room, the highest roof deck bar in NYC. It was sponsored by NYCLA's Young Lawyers' Section and the Federal Courts and Multilingual Lawyering Committees; the AABANY; the Brooklyn Bar Association Young Lawyers' Section; PRBA‐NY; and Esqspot.com Law Student Reception and Mentor Auction September 10, 2013 NYCLA's Young Lawyers’ Section hosted an evening of food, drink, and networking. Law students “bidded” auction‐style (with fake money) on a mentor for their chance to “shadow” a lawyer or a judge for a day. Jack Newton Lerner Award September 20, 2013 The Jack Newton Lerner Award for Contributions to CLE was presented to Sylvia DiPietro for her outstanding contributions to continuing legal education during a lunch‐ time award ceremony at the full day Jack Newton Lerner Landlord‐Tenant Practice Institute. "In Chambers" September 25, 2013 The Young Lawyers’ Section hosted this event, featuring guest host Hon. Kathryn Freed, Acting Justice of the New York Supreme Court, New York County. Public Service Awards and Reception September 25, 2013 This event honored attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the public sector. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., New York County's District Attorney, served as special guest
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speaker during the event in which seven attorneys were given awards. Construction Law Committee Cocktails & Dinner October 3, 2013 NYCLA’s Construction Law Committee hosted a cocktails and dinner event at BLT Prime. "In Chambers" October 16, 2013 NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section hosted this event, featuring guest host Hon. A. Gail Prudenti, New York State’s Chief Administrative Judge. Luncheon Honoring the Federal Courts October 22, 2013 NYCLA’s Federal Courts Committee recognized Former Chief in New York City Judge Dennis Jacobs, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, with the Edward Weinfeld Award for his distinguished contributions to the administration of justice. Oktoberfest – Meet & Greet October 30, 2013 NYCLA Members informally gathered to celebrate autumn and enjoyed a selection of beers from Weyerbacher Brewery and tasted a variety of German‐inspired appetizers. This event was hosted by the Young Lawyers' Section. Law and Literature Award November 12, 2013 The Law and Literature Award was presented to Professor James Simon by former NYCLA President Michael Miller. Jumpstart Your Practice: Planning for 2014 November 14, 2013 Russ Korins, NYCLA Member and director of marketing for the business law firm Cohen Tauber Spievack & Wagner, facilitated this highly interactive session. Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts Public Hearing December 2, 2013 The NYCLA Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts held a day‐ long public hearing to receive testimony about the continuing impact of judicial budget cuts on the administration of justice. 99th Annual Dinner: Celebrating Service to the Bar and the December 17, 2013 At NYCLA’s Annual Dinner on December 17, 2013, at the Community Waldorf‐Astoria, the New York legal community celebrated and honored law firm partners and In‐house counsel who lead the pro bono efforts of their firms and corporations. Holiday Toy Drive December 19, 2013 NYCLA's Young Lawyers' Section organized a holiday toy drive that benefited children of the Henry Street Settlement. Speed Networking January 30, 2014 Attendees were matched with other professionals they wanted to meet with based on a few key components and were taken through eight rounds of six‐minute sessions. This event was hosted by SpeedNetworking.com and sponsored by NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section; BNI Manhattan; and the Young Real Estate Professionals New York. Public Forum: The 15th Annual FINRA Listens…and Speaks February 10, 2014 The ADR, Labor Relations & Employment Law, and Securities and Exchanges Committees hosted the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for an exchange of views among arbitrators, counsel for claimants, and counsel for respondents. "In Practice" February 19, 2014 NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section hosted this event featuring guest host Suzanne Adams of Morris, Duffy, Alonso & Faley LLP. Judicial Reception February 19, 2014 NYCLA’s Supreme Court Committee hosted this reception honoring newly elected, appointed, re‐elected, and re‐ appointed judges. 12th Annual Ida B. Wells‐Barnett Justice Award Ceremony February 24, 2014 NYCLA and the Metropolitan Black Bar Association honored Michele Coleman Mayes, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for The New York Public Library, with the 12th Annual Ida B. Wells‐Barnett Justice Award.
"In Practice" February 25, 2014 NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section hosted this event, featuring guest host Hon. Sheila Abdus‐Salaam, Associate Justice of the New York Court of Appeals. Mid‐Winter Happy Hour February 26, 2014 Attendees enjoyed complimentary appetizers and happy hour specials while meeting and mingling with other NYCLA Members at Reichenbach Hall, the premier beer hall of NYC. This event was hosted by the Young Lawyers’ Section. Portrait Unveiling: Stewart D. Aaron March 5, 2014 NYCLA held a special event to unveil the portrait of its immediate Past President, Stewart D. Aaron, head of the New York office of Arnold & Porter LLP. "In Chambers" March 20, 2014 The Young Lawyers’ Section hosted this event, which featured guest host Hon. Jeffrey Oing of NY’s Commercial Division.
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Lawyers Helping Animals Forum March 21, 2014 Attendees learned how to use their legal skills to help animals in need. This event was sponsored by the Animal Law Committee. It’s Finally Spring Happy Hour March 27, 2014 Attendees enjoyed complimentary appetizers and happy hour specials while networking with other attorneys and law students at Pranna Lounge. This event was hosted by the Young Lawyers’ Section. NYCLA Foundation First Annual Spring Fundraiser: A Musical April 24, 2014 The NYCLA Foundation held its First Annual Spring Tribute to the Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin Fundraiser: A Musical Tribute to the Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin in honor of her exemplary contributions to NYCLA and the legal community. “In Practice” with Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney, Southern District April 25, 2014 NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section hosted this event, featuring of New York guest host Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York. How to Become a State Judge April 29, 2014 NYCLA’s Supreme Court Committee and the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted a special joint program on ways of becoming a state court judge. Law Day Luncheon May 9, 2014 The Justice Louis J. Capozzoli Gavel Award was presented to Hon. O. Peter Sherwood, Supreme Court, New York County, Commercial Division, by New York City Corporation Counsel Zachary Carter, at this annual event hosted by the Supreme Court Committee. “In Practice” with Hon. Frank Maas, U.S. Magistrate Judge for May 21, 2014 NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section hosted this event, featuring the Southern District of New York guest host, Hon. Frank Maas, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York. Public Forum on the Mandatory Reporting of Voluntary Pro Bono May 27, 2014 NYCLA held a Public Forum to address new rules that now require New York attorneys to report certain information about their pro bono service, as well as their charitable contributions to organizations that provide pro bono legal service, on their biennial registration statements. Annual Meeting May 29, 2014 NYCLA's annual induction ceremony for new officers and directors took place on May 29, 2014.
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION INSTITUTE
Educating and Training Attorneys
The CLE Institute continued to educate and train attorneys in law practice management, ethics and professionalism, professional practice, and skills. Many new programs were developed in 2013‐2014 to keep pace with the changing needs of the legal profession, especially in light of the stagnant economy, advances in technology, and the ever‐present need to sharpen skills. An unparalleled roster of experts from the bench, bar, government, academia, and related disciplines taught the programs, offering their insights, knowledge, tactics, and guidance to attendees.
Extensive Selection of Live Programs
NYCLA offered programs in both substantive law and skill building. While some programs focused on new developments in specific practice areas, such as the Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, others were developed in response to the developments in and around New York City, such as Construction at the World Trade Center and Other Large Construction Projects: Insurance, Defects, Disasters and Superstorm Sandy. The CLE Institute continued to partner with other organizations to create specialty programs, such as the partnership with the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) on the program The Changing World of Insurance Regulation and the co‐sponsorship of the Federal Criminal Practice Institute with The Federal Bar Council. NYCLA also developed programs to assist lawyers in honing their legal and business skills, such as How to Run a Profitable Law Firm. Other programs, such as Acting for Lawyers, focused on skill development.
The CLE Institute also taught basic legal skills in programs such as How to Conduct a Deposition, So You
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Want to Learn How to Do a Real Estate Closing, and What You Need to Know about ADR, co‐sponsored by NYCLA’s ADR Committee. Photo right: Hon. Ariel E. Belen, Anna K. Mitchell, Lewis Tesser, Shauna Tesser‐Friedman, Matthew Marcus at Everything You Need to Know About ADR.
The CLE Institute continued to present important programs in key areas of the law. For the sixth consecutive year, our seminal program, Art Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Institute, co‐chaired by Hon. Stephen G. Crane and Raymond J. Dowd, was a sold‐out success. This year the program included a panel focusing on 3D Printing and the Arts—complete with a 3D printing demonstration—that mesmerized the audience. After a landmark Supreme Court decision on the issue of marriage equality, we conducted a panel discussion with many of the key players in the case, entitled The Road to Victory: U.S. v. Windsor, Proposition 8 and Their Aftermaths. Further, in November we conducted a full‐day Securities Litigation and Regulatory Conference, co‐sponsored by NYCLA’s Securities and Exchanges Committee and the New Jersey State Bar Association Securities Litigation and Regulatory Enforcement Committee. Working with NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Seection, the CLE Institute also developed a series of programs focusing on career choices, So You’re Interested in a Career in Politics, From Prosecuting Cases to Defending the Accused: So You’re Interested in a Career in Criminal Law, and From the Outside Looking In: So You’re Interested in Becoming an In‐House Counsel, which was also co‐ sponsored by NYCLA’s In‐House/Outside Counsel Committee.
Special Events
This year the CLE Institute was proud to present a number of special events. Working with NYCLA’s Law and Literature Committee, we held a series of author events, welcoming Thomas Healy who discussed his book, The Great Dissent: How Oliver Wendell Holmes Change His Mind – and Changed the History of Free Speech in America, and Lawrence Leamer, who gave a presentation on The Price of Justice: A True Story of Greed and Corruption.
For the first time the CLE Institute combined learning with sporting events, holding a CLE program in June at Citfield, followed by a Mets‐Cubs game and a Foreigner concert, and a program in the newly refurbished Lounge area of Madison Square Garden, followed by a Knicks Game in April. Both events were sold‐out successes!
The Jack Newton Lerner Award was presented to Sylvia DiPietro for her outstanding contributions to continuing legal education during a lunch‐time award ceremony at the full‐day Jack Newton Lerner Landlord‐Tenant Practice Institute in September. In November, the Law and Literature Award was presented to Professor James Simon by former NYCLA President Michael Miller. Following the award ceremony, Professor Simon and Daniel Kornstein discussed Professor Simon’s book, FDR and Chief Justice Hughes – The President, the Supreme Court and the Epic Battle Over the New DealPhoto. right: Prof. James Simon receives law and Literature Award from former NYCLA President Michael Miller and Committee Co‐chairs Alan Fell and Walter Frank.
In November, the CLE Institute hosted a Judicial Convocation co‐sponsored by the Judicial Institute on Professionalism in the Law, which presented A Principled Discussion of Professionalism: Lawyer Independence in Practice. In January, we hosted a program co‐sponsored by the Policy Committee of the Departmental Disciplinary Committee, focusing on Common Disciplinary Problems and How to Prevent Them.
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NYCLA CLE Institute Receives Accreditation as a Provider of CPE Courses
Along with being an Accredited Provider of Continuing Legal Education programs in New York State and New Jersey, NYCLA’s CLE Institute is certified as a provider of continuing education courses for accountants in the areas of auditing, accounting, taxation, advisory services, and specialized knowledge. Programs for both lawyers and accountants have included Finance for Lawyers, How to Protect Your Law License, New Jersey Trust, and Business Accounting and The Tax Court: A View from the Bench.
NYCLA’s Ethics Institute
NYCLA’s Ethics Institute continued to be extremely productive this year. The New York Rules of Professional Conduct, edited by a sub‐group of the Ethics Institute and published by Oxford University Press, is currently being revised to reflect recent Ethics Opinions, court decisions, and ways to deal with the ethical dilemmas brought about by the explosion of social media. This scholarly publication contains over 800 pages of analysis, practice pointers and advice in two volumes, along with the full‐text of recent Ethics Opinions, articles, primary source materials, forms and finding aids.
The Institute offered CLE programs discussing ethical issues that arise in different legal contexts such as Insurance Ethics, Investor Protection Under the Dodd‐Frank Act and Advanced Professionalism, and Blowing the Whistle: Perspectives From Both Sides. Other programs focused on the ethical issues that arise in law practice, such as Best Practices and Ethics for Law Firm Marketing and Ethical Considerations in Starting Your Own Practice: What You Need to Know. In addition, NYCLA’s Task Force on Professionalism, chaired by Ronald Minkoff under the aegis of the Ethics Institute, has been commenting on issues of professionalism and developing programming aimed at improving attorneys’ professional lives.
NYCLA’s Mentoring Program
NYCLA’s Mentoring Program is now in its fifth session. The current “class” of 21 mentees, chosen from a pool of over 100 applicants, is reaping the benefits of the one‐on‐one mentor/mentee relationships, structured programs and informal gatherings with other mentors and mentees. We are greatly indebted to the 21 experienced attorneys who have agreed to serve as role models for their younger counterparts.
CLE Institute Now Providing CLE On the Go
NYCLA’s CLE Institute is now offering MP3 versions of many of its most popular programs under the CLE On the Go brand. Attorneys are able to download programs and listen and learn while exercising at the gym, traveling to and from work, or having coffee. The affirmation and issuance of CLE certificates are both handled online and via e‐mail, eliminating the previously cumbersome mail process.
In addition, the Institute continues to offer selected programs as part of its DVD/CD Audio Reference Library.
NYCLA thanks the CLE Committee and its co‐chairs, Hon. Stephen G. Crane and Lewis F. Tesser, the Board of Advisors of the Ethics Institute, members of the Task Force on Professionalism, Mentoring Program Advisory Board, and 2013/2014 Mentors for their invaluable support and guidance throughout the year.
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PRO BONO PROGRAMS
NYCLA’s pro bono projects continued to provide vital legal services to low‐income individuals and make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers. These projects range from providing legal information and assistance in resolving a problem before legal action is taken to representing individuals who are challenging an adverse decision.
Ongoing Projects
When people cannot afford legal counsel or they are uncertain about how to obtain legal assistance to solve a particular problem, they become discouraged by the legal system. Consequently, they either endure needless hardship or give up on problems that might otherwise be easily solved. Our Legal Counseling Project, NYCLA’s longest‐running and most popular volunteer opportunity, provides free weekly counseling in the areas of family, employment, consumer bankruptcy, and landlord/tenant law. The project gives individuals the opportunity to meet one‐on‐one with an attorney to discuss their legal problems and explore options and solutions.
With the growing number of New Yorkers using credit cards to make ends meet, the Civil Courts are inundated with consumer debt cases. The Manhattan CLARO Project responds by providing limited legal advice to the unrepresented debtors being sued by their creditors in New York County Civil Court. Rather than representing these individuals in court, volunteer lawyers provide advice on self‐representation strategies at free weekly walk‐in clinics. Additionally, a pilot program has been incorporated into the project to provide regular visits by bankruptcy attorneys.
Unemployment is strongly correlated with criminal recidivism. Obtaining gainful employment, however, is typically difficult for a person with a criminal history, particularly one who seeks to enter a vocation requiring a state license. The New York Department of State, which has the authority to grant the necessary licenses, often denies them to individuals solely on the basis of their prior criminal convictions. NYCLA’s Project Restore provides representation to such individuals during the administrative appeal process, and once again boasted a high success rate in overturning the initial administrative denials and obtaining licenses for the clients.
When the New York State Office of Children and Family Services receives a call regarding suspected abuse and neglect, a report is entered into the State Central Register. The mere existence of such a report, even if unfounded, often hinders the listed individual in future family disputes or job searches. If individuals listed on the Register wish to remove their names from the list, and if the Register refuses to remove their name, they have a right to an administrative review and fair hearing. Our State Central Registry Pro Bono Pilot Program provides counsel to individuals throughout this process who seek to clear their names.
Most taxpayers who appear in front of the Tax Court are unrepresented and cannot afford to pay an attorney to represent them. While some calendar call locations have Low Income Taxpayer Clinics, such clinics in New York only provide representation to taxpayers who are already clients. This leaves many pro se taxpayers at calendar call without access to legal advice. NYCLA’s Tax Court Project provided limited legal assistance to those unrepresented pro se petitioners at calendar calls.
New Project
Veterans’ Discharge Upgrade Pro Bono Pilot Program Military discharges that are not characterized as “Honorable” can disqualify veterans from many benefits and carry a stigma that can make it difficult to find employment. A service member generally receives a discharge characterization that is less than Honorable due to inferior performance or misconduct. However, a number of military service members have received less than Honorable discharges due to misconduct arising from post‐traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury that was misdiagnosed or undiagnosed at the time. NYCLA’s Veterans’ Discharge Upgrade Pro Bono Pilot Program provides
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assistance to veterans seeking to upgrade the characterization of their military discharge. The first training session for the project took place in September 2013 and 70 potential volunteers attended.
Other Events
Small Business Owner Educational Workshops‐September 2013 Many owners of small businesses in New York lack the knowledge necessary to comply with various laws and regulations. They end up being prosecuted criminally for conduct that could have been avoided with proper education.
Working in collaboration with the New York County District Attorney’s Office, Asian American Bar Association, Chinese Chamber of Commerce of New York, Chinatown Partnership, and Chinatown Business Improvement District, NYCLA held a series of workshops in Chinatown to assist the small business owners in understanding general record keeping, compliance with tax laws, labor law issues, construction permitting laws, and immigration issues.
Based on the success of the workshops in Chinatown, it was decided to schedule additional workshops in other communities. The next series of workshops will be held in Washington Heights.
Photo above: Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. (left), and NYCLA President Barbara Moses (right), announce the Small Business Owner Educational Workshops
Wills for Heroes Program‐September 2013 Despite the inherently dangerous nature of their jobs, an overwhelmingly large number of first responders do not have even simple wills. On Saturday, September 21, 2013, NYCLA collaborated, for the second time, with the Wills for Heroes Foundation to prepare free will and other estate‐planning documents for federal agents of the United States District Court and Port Authority Police Department and their spouses or domestic partners. Thirty NYCLA Members volunteered to prepare documents for 66 first responders. Photo right: Volunteers prepare wills and other estate planning documents for clients.
Pro Bono Reception‐October 2013 New York County Lawyers’ Association, New York State Bar Association, New York State Courts Access to Justice Program, and the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York held a reception to honor dedicated volunteers for their pro bono service. NYCLA Members honored included Maryellen Goble, Cheryl Griffin, and Keith Walsh for providing advice, support, and comfort to hundreds of individuals in the Legal Counseling Project. Mei Song was honored for her work with the Manhattan CLARO Project and Jessica Beauvais, Tania Redman, and Noah Stein for giving the clients of Project Restore a second chance. Sarah Levin and Christopher Strong were honored for being the driving force behind the State Central Registry Project while John Genova was honored for helping numerous taxpayers settle their case with the IRS through the Tax Court Project. Photo above: At the Pro Bono Reception, NYCLA President Barbara Moses (right) helped present awards to NYCLA members, including Tania Redman (left), a volunteer with Project Restore.
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NYCLA Members value pro bono involvement. With the support of dedicated volunteers, NYCLA’s Pro Bono projects provided assistance to over 1,700 individuals this past year. As the communities we serve and the legal needs of those living in them change, we will continue to redefine and revise our programs to meet those needs. This cannot be done without the support of the extraordinary committed group of members of the Pro Bono Committee. NYCLA acknowledges their tireless work and especially thanks its Chair, Lisa Cleary.
NYCLA’s pro bono efforts were made possible by the generous support of NYCLA Members, the IOLA Fund, and the New York Bar Foundation.
Part 137 Attorney‐Client Fee Dispute Program
NYCLA continued to administer the Part 137 Attorney‐Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program, a public service that provides for the informal and expeditious resolution of fee disputes between attorneys and clients through arbitration or mediation. We are very pleased with the work of the volunteer arbitrators and mediators; without them the program would not be a success. NYCLA owes a special debt of thanks to James E. Daniels, Chair of the Joint Committee on Fee Disputes and Conciliation, for his invaluable support and guidance.
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
The NYCLA Library serves Members as the “lawyers’ Toolbox” for the 21st Century. Today the contents of the “lawyers’ Toolbox” are increasingly digital, with essential items still available in print or microform. Some titles, like McKinney’s New York Consolidated Laws and the New York Official Reports, are available in print as well as being available through Lexis and Westlaw. Decades of historical records and briefs for the New York Court of Appeals and the four New York Appellate Divisions are available in microform, and selected briefs are available through Westlaw. The New York Law Journal arrives in the Library every day it is published and the Library has the entire back file, to the beginnings of the publication in 1888, available on microform. The holdings of the NYCLA Library have been selected and preserved to best meet the needs of NYCLA Members, on and off site.
The NYCLA Library provides Members with on‐site access to Westlaw and Lexis at no charge. These two subscriptions include nationwide state and federal primary source materials as well as significant secondary materials from each vendor. There is no charge for printing or e‐mailing from the NYCLA Westlaw and Lexis subscriptions. In addition the Library is able to assist Members with access to Loislaw, LegalTrac, IndexMaster, State Capital Universe, Mergent Online, Science Direct, and scores of non‐legal databases. The NYCLA Library promotes off‐site access through the New York State Library Attorney Borrower’s Card for qualified users, who must be New York residents and admitted to the New York Bar.
Every weekday newly admitted attorneys, seasoned members of the Bar, paralegals, law students and academics visit the Library to consult the collection and to tap into the expertise of the NYCLA Library staff. Some NYCLA Members visit regularly while others might drop by just once a month, or as needed. The highly experienced staff offers assistance to patrons in the efficient and effective use of Library resources and legal research in general. Many NYCLA Members and law firms use the NYCLA Library’s fee‐ based services. These customers can place their requests for assistance by e‐mail, fax, or phone. The Library services include copying cases, law review articles, records and briefs, and customized legal research services—all at good value. The NYCLA Reference staff can also access databases not available directly to the NYCLA Members, including public records, verdict research, expert testimony and reports,
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and other more esoteric materials. Customers contact the NYCLA Library from around the world, across the state, and down the block.
Library Usage and Holdings
The NYCLA Library’s patron computer network continues to be heavily used. The 25 patron computers operate with Windows 7, and have Microsoft Office 2010 and Adobe Acrobat X Pro. Several computers also have WordPerfect Office X5. Twenty‐three of these computers offer regular and reliable access to the Library’s digital holdings, primarily through Westlaw Classic and Westlaw Next. One additional terminal has Lexis access and one terminal has Internet access only. NYCLA Members are also encouraged to bring their own devices and use the NYCLA wireless connection.
The upgraded NYCLA Westlaw subscription includes New York and New Jersey treatises and forms, federal and national treatises and forms, law reviews, ALRs, American Jurisprudence, and primary source materials from all 50 states and the federal system.
NYCLA Members can request a tour of the Library to familiarize themselves with available resources and research approaches. Likewise, specialized tours are given to NYCLA Committees whenever requested.
Two special collections within the NYCLA Library deserve a special note: the records and briefs collection and the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) collection. Historical records and briefs from the New York Court of Appeals and the four Appellate Divisions, together with selected records and briefs from the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court, are available in microform, hard copy, and in some cases through Westlaw. The records and briefs may be viewed on site. The Library staff can also e‐mail copies in PDF as part of our fee‐based service.
The NYCLA Library can also retrieve historical New York administrative regulations, included superseded regulations, on request. NYCLA has an unparalleled collection of “take out” pages from the NYCRR, which allow our trained staff, as one of the Library’s fee‐based services, to retrieve superseded provisions of the NYCRR not available elsewhere.
In addition, NYCLA has a strong collection of New York State and City building codes, legislative history materials, superseded treatises, administrative materials with great historical depth, and back files of many law reviews.
The Library hosts many CLE trainings each month on Westlaw, Lexis, and Bankruptcy Electronic Filing in the Gladys Glickman Balcony. Registration fills up quickly, so register online through the NYCLA CLE calendar at www.nycla.org.
The NYCLA Library has a wealth of resources in all formats—digital, print, and microform. The NYCLA Online Catalog can be found by clicking Library at www.nycla.org. The Online Catalog contains the New York Collection and holdings acquired since the 1980s. The print card catalog can be consulted to find older materials in the NYCLA Library. Always feel free to ask the NYCLA Library staff for assistance.
NYCLA authors are requested to send copies of their publications to the Director of Library Services for placement in the Gladys Glickman NYCLA Authors display.
JUSTICE CENTER
Under the leadership of Hon. George Bundy Smith as Chair and Hon. Joseph Kevin McKay as Vice Chair, the dedicated Justice Center Advisory Board continued to make substantive contributions to issues such as civics education and access to justice.
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Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System
In July, a groundbreaking report was issued on the October 2012 conference the NYCLA Justice Center co‐sponsored with the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and the Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions. Held at the Home of Law, Criminal Justice in the 21st Century: Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Criminal Justice System was a multi‐day, open, and frank discussion among a distinguished group of criminal justice experts—prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, scholars, community leaders, and formerly incarcerated advocates. The report reflects the conference’s critically important and inclusive examination of the profound racial and ethnic disparities in America’s criminal justice system, and includes concrete recommendations to overcome them. In February, the New York University Journal of Legislation and Public Policy published a special issue on the conference featuring articles by academics and policy experts.
Special Immigration Juvenile Status
On December 6, 2013, the NYCLA Justice Center co‐sponsored a conference with the Feerick Center for Social Justice on Special Immigration Juvenile Status, which is available to certain immigrant youth who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, or similarly mistreated. With approximately 120 people in attendance, the conference, held at Fordham Law School, focused on key issues, such adolescent development and trauma, courtroom advocacy techniques and the ethical challenges in working with this vulnerable population. On November 18, NYCLA also held a CLE on the same topic at the Home of Law.
Trafficking
In October 2012, the Justice Center co‐sponsored, with the Feerick Center for Social Justice, a conference at Fordham Law School to assess the effectiveness of various anti‐trafficking laws and programs and recommend reforms to strengthen them. The conference produced recommendations for enhancing enforcement of current laws against traffickers, as well as services for victims.
UN Conference
The Justice Center issued a summary report in May 2013 about the official sessions and side events at the 57th Annual Commission on the Status of Women Conference at the UN in March.
Youth Law Education Projects
In partnership with Hon. Richard Lee Price, chair of the NYCLA Law‐Related Education Committee, and Debra Lesser, Executive Director of the Justice Resource Center, the NYCLA Justice Center sponsored its seventh conference for high school students and teachers of law‐related education on May 23, 2014. New York Law School hosted the conference, which brought together over 100 New York City high school students and their teachers to discuss computer forensics, civil rights, and careers in the law.
On February 11, 2014, during “Respect for All Week,” NYCLA and the Justice Resource Center held a professional development seminar for high school educators, with presentations by NYCLA Committee Chairs and Members on immigration and LGBT issues. In addition, the law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, as a pro bono project, helped produce a third edition of the NYC Youth Law Manual, a guide to laws of special interest to young people, with cover artwork designed by a student.
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Essay Contest
NYCLA’s Law‐Related Education Committee, chaired by Hon. Richard Lee Price, continues to sponsor the High School Essay Contest. In May 2014, the Committee presented cash prizes and certificates to 10 public high school students who wrote winning essays on the topic: “You work for the government. You are required to keep what you learn secret. You learn of something that you believe violates the law. What should you do and why? What legal support do you have for your position?”
TASK FORCES AND WORKING GROUPS
Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts
The Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts began its third year by issuing a report in September 2013 on the effects of continuing budget cuts, including sequestration, on the administration of justice in the federal courts of New York, including the United States District Courts for the Southern District and the Eastern District of New York. Through interviews with judges and court personnel, the Task Force concluded that the federal courts were on the brink of crisis.
On December 2, 2013, the Task Force held a day‐long public hearing to gather testimony about the real‐ world impact of judicial budget cuts on the administration of justice. The hearing was open to the public and featured seven hours of testimony from 23 witnesses—including Hon. Robert Katzmann, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; Hon. Carol Bagley Amon, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York; Hon. Loretta A. Preska, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Southern District of New York; Preet Bharara, United States Attorney, Southern District of New York; Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York; Hon. Carla E. Craig, Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern District of New York; Hon. Lawrence Marks, First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, New York State Office of Court Administration; James Silkenat, American Bar Association President; David Schraver, New York State Bar Association President; and Robert Anello, Federal Bar Council President.
The Task Force followed up the hearing with a report in January 2014, describing the struggles of both the state and federal judiciaries in meeting their constitutional and statutory obligations in the face of shrinking resources and growing caseloads. In addition, President Barbara Moses submitted written testimony supporting the 2014/15 New York State Judiciary Budget to the Public Hearings on the Executive Budget before the Joint Fiscal Committees of the Senate and Assembly Public Protection.
Task Force on Judicial Selection
Now in its tenth productive year, the Task Force on Judicial Selection, co‐chaired by Hon. Margaret J. Finerty and Susan B. Lindenauer, focused on the appointment of Acting Justices of the Supreme Court in New York City and a constitutional amendment raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges to 80.
In June 2013, a joint coalition of the Task Force, Judicial Section, and Supreme Court Committee prepared a response to Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti’s proposal concerning the appointment and assignment of Acting Justices of the Supreme Court within the Unified Court System.
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In September, the Task Force prepared a resolution, adopted by the Board, supporting amending the New York State Constitution to allow Court of Appeals Judges to serve until age 80 and Supreme Court Justices to be certificated from age 76 to 80.
HONORABLE HAROLD BAER JR. AND DR. SUZANNE BAER MINORITY JUDICIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Honorable Harold Baer Jr. and Dr. Suzanne Baer Minority Judicial Internship Program has been an integral part of NYCLA’s mission to increase diversity in the legal profession. Established in 1989, the program provides a unique opportunity for law students of color to be introduced to the judicial system during paid summer internships with local state and federal judges. The program is administered by NYCLA’s Minorities and the Law Committee and accepts first‐ and second‐year law students from the five law schools in New York County, as well as Brooklyn Law School, St. John’s University School of Law, and City University of New York School of Law at Queens College. To promote the program, a kick‐off reception was held in October 2013. Eligible law students, law school administrators, sponsors of the program, and NYCLA Board members attended. In the spring of 2014, NYCLA awarded internships for the summer of 2014 to five students from Columbia Law School, CUNY School of Law, New York Law School, and St. John’s University School of Law. Financial support for the program is provided by NYCLA’s Federal Court and Supreme Court Committees, NYCLA Members, and a generous contribution from Pfizer Inc.
Evaluations from the interns help provide the Minorities and the Law Committee with an indication of the program’s success. One intern from the 2013 program, Stephanie Lin of St. John’s University School of Law, said:
“This summer was amazing! The best part of my internship was being able to discuss my projects and the on‐going trials with Judge Patterson. From these discussions, I learned to identify and analyze obstacles that prevent lawyers from achieving their client’s goals. I now have insight into what a judge considers important factors and issues. These are skills that will no doubt make me a better law student and a more effective lawyer in the future. For law students like me, who do not know any lawyers personally, this program is vital to our growth in our legal career. This program is crucial to minority law students who cannot afford to intern with a judge. Without this program, I never would have had the support and insight that this program provides.”
PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES
Amicus Briefs
April 22, 2014—In the matter of In Re Thelen LLP; In Re Coudert Bros.LLP, NYCLA, joined by City Bar and State Bar, submitted an amicus brief to the New York State Court of Appeals in opposition to the application of the unfinished business doctrine to hourly fee matters in the context of a law firm bankruptcy.
Public Policy Initiatives
June 17, 2013 – the NYCLA Federal Courts Committee sent a letter to Chief Judge Loretta A. Preska regarding a proposal to limit access to federal courthouses. June 25, 2013 – the NYCLA Federal Courts Committee sent a letter to Edward A. Friedland, District Court Executive for the Southern District of New York, on proposed amendments to the local civil rules. June 26, 2013 – NYCLA issued a statement regarding the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor. June 27, 2013 – NYCLA President Barbara Moses sent a letter to Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti about a proposal reforming the appointment of Acting Supreme Court Justices.
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July 9, 2013 – NYCLA published an ethics opinion concerning a lawyer’s advice to clients about social media postings. July 31, 2013 – the NYCLA Federal Courts Committee sent a letter to Edward A. Friedland, District Court Executive for the Southern District of New York, on proposed changes to Rule 83.9. August 13, 2013 – NYCLA responded to media criticism of District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin’s decision on New York City’s Stop‐and‐Frisk Policy. September 4, 2013 – NYCLA adopted the report of the Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts regarding budget cuts in the federal courts. September 10, 2013 – NYCLA adopted a resolution on the proposed constitutional amendment to the New York State Constitution on judicial retirement age. October 7, 2013 – NYCLA published an ethics opinion concerning issues raised by the Whistleblower Bounty Provision of the Dodd‐Frank Act. October 15, 2013 – the NYCLA Estates, Trusts and Surrogate’s Court Practice Section sent comments to NYSBA supporting a legislative proposal by the Trusts and Estates Law Section of NYSBA. December 3, 2013 – the NYCLA Civil Court Practice Section sent comments to OCA on the recommendation for amendment to the Uniform Rules for the New York City Civil Court and City Courts outside of New York City. December 3, 2013 – the NYCLA Estates, Trusts and Surrogate’s Court Practice Section sent comments to OCA about the proposed adoption of 22 NYCRR 207.64. January 7, 2014 – NYCLA adopted the report of the Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts regarding its December 2, 2013 public hearing. January 15, 2014 – the NYCLA Criminal Justice Section published a report on bail reform in New York State. January 16, 2014 – NYCLA issued a statement on the federal judiciary budget. January 23, 2014 – the NYCLA Supreme Court Committee sent comments to OCA concerning proposed adoption of a mandatory pilot mediation program in the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court. January 23, 2014 – the NYCLA Supreme Court Committee sent comments to OCA relating to the use of interrogatories in the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court. January 23, 2014 – the NYCLA Supreme Court Committee sent comments to OCA on the proposed preliminary conference for use in the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court. February 5, 2014 – NYCLA President Barbara Moses submitted testimony on the New York State Judiciary budget to the Joint Fiscal Committees of the Senate and Assembly. February 18, 2014 – the NYCLA Federal Courts Committee published a report on proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. March 10, 2014 – the NYCLA Judicial Section and Supreme Court Committee jointly issued comments to OCA supporting the adoption of proposed new 22 NYCRR 202.9‐a. March 25, 2014 – the NYCLA Civil Court Practice Section published a report proposing that third parties producing documents for trial in special proceedings be permitted to authenticate documents by certification.
NGO STATUS AT THE UNITED NATIONS
In 2003, NYCLA was granted special consultative status at the United Nations, which permits NYCLA representatives to participate in UN conferences, briefings by the United States Mission to the UN, and activities sponsored by other Non‐Governmental Organizations (NGOs). In 2013, NYCLA submitted its quadrennial report to the Economic and Social Council, which approved NYCLA’s continued status as an NGO.
For 2014, NYCLA’s representatives to the UN, Marilyn J. Flood, Sophie Pierson, Hon Joseph Kevin McKay, Barbara T. Rochman, Asha Smith, and Jay G. Safer, were actively engaged in activities of the NGO Commission on the Status of Women/NY and the Stop Trafficking in Persons (STIP) Committee, as well as other UN entities.
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EPPLER AWARD
Each year, NYCLA awards a Committee or Section that has written a report that has had or may have the greatest impact in effecting improvements in the law or in our judicial system with the Eppler Award. It consists of a certificate and a $500 stipend to enhance the Committee’s work.
The Criminal Justice Section, which studies and proposes reforms of the criminal justice system, will receive the 2014 Eppler Award at the Annual Meeting for its Report and Recommendations on Bail Reform in New York State, which was published in January 2014. The report analyzed state legislation introduced last spring that would increase the number of people detained pre‐trail and discussed evidence that shows far too many people are incarcerated pre‐trial for low‐level offenses. The report recommended several reforms and was presented at a meeting of the New York State Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section.
KOBAK AWARD
This award was established in 2012 by immediate Past President Jim Kobak and is awarded annually to the Regular or Special Committee(s), Section(s), or Task Force(s) which have, during the Association year then ended, developed programs or projects which, in the sole judgment of the President‐Elect of the Association, has been innovative, of high quality, and have had or are likely to have an impact on the betterment of the law, our judicial system, or the Association itself.
The 2014 Kobak Award for innovative programs will be presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting to the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee and the Professional Ethics Committee.
Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee Since taking over as Chair of the NYCLA ADR Committee in the summer of 2013, Hon. Ariel E. Belen (Ret.), a current mediator and arbitrator with JAMS, has revitalized the discussion of ADR within and outside of NYCLA. This included the organization of a three‐hour February 2014 NYCLA CLE program on “What You Need to Know About ADR.” The monthly Committee meetings, which consistently draw upwards of 20 attendees, are a testament to the momentum of this energized group. Each Committee meeting features an expert ADR speaker – ranging from leaders of Court administered ADR programs, to ADR academics (e.g., Professor Lela Love of Cardozo Law School), to Chairs of local non‐profits who drive pro bono mediation programs. The Committee has succeeded in ADR‐themed publishing efforts as well, with a Committee member authored article published in the December 2013 NYCLA newspaper and an additional article set for publication in the June 2014 NYCLA newspaper. Perhaps most importantly, Judge Belen has reached across the aisle to other NYCLA Committee leaders to assist in furthering the discussion of ADR. Committee leaders from the Construction Law, Tort Law, Securities, and Exchanges Committees, and Young Lawyers’ Section (just to name a few) have enthusiastically attended ADR Committee meetings and/or been involved in leadership roles in ADR Committee CLE programming efforts.
Professional Ethics Committee The Professional Ethics Committee, chaired by Richard M. Maltz and Barry R. Temkin, operates a live hotline, which is available every day and manned by knowledgeable members of the Professional Ethics Committee, typically in two week stints. Volunteers often field up to four calls per day when serving as the designated hot line answerer. This service is a tremendous resource for NYCLA members and other NY attorneys and is consistent with NYCLA’s emphasis on both practical advice for attorneys and inculcating high standards of professionalism and ethics. The Committee also is actively involved in CLE, putting on at least one Bridge the Gap ethics program a year. It also has been preparing thoroughly vetted, well researched ethics opinions that have in recent years taken on cutting edge issues and been widely cited. The Committee has attracted a number of active new members in the last year or so, drawn from a broad spectrum of the Membership. Its the oldest ethics committee in the United States and in recent years it has shown a vitality that should keep that tradition alive and well for many years into the future.
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PRESIDENT’S COMMENDATION AWARD
The President’s Commendation will be presented for the first time in 2014 to the Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts to recognize its superior contribution to NYCLA and to the justice system. Through the outstanding leadership of Task Force Co‐Chairs Michael Miller, past NYCLA President, and Hon. Stephen Crane, former Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, the Task Force greatly increased awareness of the looming budget crisis that threatened the state and federal courts of New York and advocated forcefully and effectively for adequate funding for our justice system. The Task Force’s many hard‐working members investigated the effects of budget shortfalls on the courts and the community, held two day‐long hearings to gather testimony about the real‐world impact of judicial budget cuts, including sequestration, on the administration of justice, and issued a series of high‐profile reports detailing its findings and recommendations. NYCLA commends the Task Force for its discipline, its focus, and its dedication, and thanks the Co‐Chairs and the members of the Task Force for their leading role in NYCLA’s efforts to restore the federal funding stripped by sequestration and to provide the state courts with a much‐needed increase in their operating budget.
NYCLA FOUNDATION
Under the leadership of Board Chair Vincent T. Chang and President Lewis F. Tesser, the members of the board of the New York County Lawyers’ Association Foundation gave generously of their time to both governance and fundraising. The Foundation’s Second Century Campaign, which helps support the building and NYCLA projects, raised funds to assist NYCLA with its mission. Individuals, law firms, and corporations also contributed to the Public Service Fellowships, Edith I. Spivack Fund for Women in Law and Society, Tax Court Pro Bono Project, and Hon. Harold Baer Jr. and Dr. Suzanne Baer Minority Judicial Internship Program. The New York Bar Foundation also gave $5,000 to NYCLA’s Veterans Discharge Upgrade pro bono project, which helps veterans discharged with less than honorable discharges apply to upgrade their discharge to honorable.
2013 NYCLA Foundation Donors*:
Stewart D. Aaron, Esq. Louis Crespo, Esq. Robert Freedman, Esq. Martha Celia Adams, Esq. Michel Criscuoli, Esq. Richard B. Friedman, Esq. Arnold and Porter Joseph A. D'avanzo, Esq. Philip Furgang, Esq. Karekin Arzoomanian, Esq. Megan P. Davis, Esq. Dora Galacatos, Esq. Nancy M. Bannon, Esq. Robert Dembia, Esq. Daniel Franklin Gaven, Esq. Sidney Baumgarten, Esq. Sylvia E. Di Pietro, Esq. Mary Gail Gearns Timothy K. Beeken, Esq. DLA Piper Hon. Judith J. Gische Hon. Ariel E. Belen Sherri Donovan, Esq. Andrew Goldberg, Esq. Susan L. Bender, Esq. Jo Ann Douglas, Esq. Eric Goldberg, Esq. Scott M. Berman Thomas G. Draper Jr., Esq. Hon. Arlene D. Goldberg Ellen Edwards Biancaniello, Esq. Joseph M. Drayton, Esq. Hon. Emily Jane Goodman Karen Blaustein, Esq. Fiona Dutta, Esq. Hon. Norman Goodman Franklin S. Bonem, Esq. Curlina Laverne Edwards, Esq. Brian D. Graifman, Esq. Shoshana T. Bookson, Esq. Elizabeth Eilender, Esq. Bruce A. Green, Esq. Jeffrey Braun, Esq. Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin William J. Greene III, Esq. Barbara Burger, Esq. Gordon Eng, Esq. Andrew T. Hahn, Esq. Toby Butterfield, Esq. Klaus Eppler, Esq. Sarah Jo Hamilton, Esq. Joseph Calluori, Esq. Peter M. Fass, Esq. Suhana S. Han, Esq. Gregory J. Cannata, Esq. Hon. Paul Feinman Cheryl A. Harris, Esq. Alan R. Carena, Esq. Myrna Felder, Esq. Vilia B. Hayes, Esq. Jai K. Chandrasekhar, Esq. Alan L. Fell, Esq. Hon. Sherry Klein Heitler Vincent T. Chang, Esq. Blair C. Fensterstock, Esq. Margo E. K. Hirsch, Esq. Evan Chesler, Esq. Arthur Norman Field, Esq. Stephen D. Hoffman, Esq. Keefe Bryant Clemons, Esq. Hon. Margaret J. Finerty Hon. Barbara Jaffe Cohen Rabin Stine Schumann LLP Dyan M. Finguerra‐DuCharme, Esq. Hon. Debra James Martin E. Connor, Esq. Rosalind S. Fink, Esq. JAMS David Simeon Cook, Esq. Harvey Fishbein, Esq. David Jaroslawicz, Esq. Gregory Eliot Cooper, Esq. Franklin Kurnit Klein & Selz Hon. Barbara S. Jones Hon. Stephen G. Crane Hon. Helen E. Freedman Hon. Deborah Kaplan
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Roberta A. Kaplan, Esq. Barbara Moses, Esq. Franklin Siegel, Esq. Ronald J. Katter, Esq. Karla Moskowitz, Esq. Carol A. Sigmond, Esq. Richard Katz, Esq. Marvin Moskowitz, Esq. George J. Silver, Esq. Robert M. Kaufman, Esq. Monique J. Mulcare, Esq. Stephen Simoni, Esq. Bruce Kelly, Esq. Myron M. Studner Foundation Taryn A. Singer, Esq. Henry J. Kennedy, Esq. Eugene B. Nathanson, Esq. Asha Smith, Esq. John J. Kenney, Esq. Malvina Nathanson, Esq. Ira L. Sorkin, Esq. Jeffrey M. Kimmel, Esq. Lester Nelson, Esq. Edward M. Spiro, Esq. Scott B. Klugman, Esq. NYCLA Federal Courts Committee James Stengel, Esq. James B. Kobak, Jr., Esq. NYCLA Supreme Court Committee Carl Stine, Esq. Adrienne B. Koch, Esq. Norman A. Olch, Esq. Martha Cohen Stine, Esq. Denise Mortner Kranz, Esq. Rhonda E. Ores, Esq. Leslie Stroth, Esq. Carolyn A. Kubitschek, Esq. James P. Pagano, Esq. Caroline M. Sullivan, Esq. Craig A. Landy, Esq. Gerald G. Paul, Esq. Richard P. Swanson, Esq. Robert Todd Lang, Esq. Pfizer Lewis F. Tesser, Esq. Charlotte Cho‐Lan Lee, Esq. Adam P. Pollack, Esq. Tesser, Ryan & Rochman LLP Ephraim Leibowitz, Esq. Kate Powers, Esq. LaSonya Thompson, Esq. Linda M. Lemiesz, Esq. Jonathan D. Pressment, Esq. Hon. Nicholas Tsoucalas Ann B. Lesk, Esq. Hon. Richard Lee Price, Esq. Carol Ule, Esq. Stephen C. Lessard, Esq. Proskauer Rose Mary Kay Vyskocil, Esq. Ori Lev, Esq. Hon. Robert Reed Brett Scott Ward, Esq. Robert J. Levinsohn, Esq. Veronica E. Rendon, Esq. Harriet R. Weinberger, Esq. Norma B. Levy, Esq. David B. Rosenbaum, Esq. Ariel N. Weinstock, Esq. Sue Levy, Esq. Lewis Rosenberg, Esq. Richard Weisbroat, Esq. Lauren Lifland, Esq. Rosaline, Rosenfeld, Esq. Naomi I. Werne, Esq. Susan and Arthur Lindenauder Hon. Israel Rubin Stephanie Wheeler, Esq. Felix Lopez, Esq. Jay G. Safer, Esq. Daniel K. Wiig, Esq. Stanley N. Lupkin, Esq. Deborah Scalise, Esq. Alison Wilkey, Esq. Natalie Mackiel‐Jackson, Esq. Fern Schair, Esq. Richard A. Williamson, Esq. Richard M. Maltz, Esq. Jeffrey Schanback, Esq. David W. Wiltenburg, Esq. Eve Rachel Markewich, Esq. Geoffrey Schotter, Esq. Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe, Esq. Ira Brad Matetsky, Esq. Harry Richard Schumacher, Esq. Jacqueline C. Wolff, Esq. Hon. Angela M. Mazzarelli Joel M. Sciascia, Esq. Jack Yoskowitz, Esq. Hon. Joseph Kevin McKay Diana S. Sen, Esq. Stephen P. Younger, Esq. Michael J. McNamara, Esq. Laura R. Shapiro, Esq. Sanford F. Young, Esq. Robert C. Meade Jr., Esq. Steven Bradley Shapiro, Esq. Mark C. Zauderer, Esq. Michael Miller, Esq. Dara Sheinfeld, Esq. Donald M. Zolin, Esq. Ronald C. Minkoff, Esq. Martin I. Shelton, Esq. John F. Zulack, Esq. Lynette Morrow, Esq. Susan Shin, Esq. Deborah L. Morse, Esq. Felix Shipkevich, Esq.
*as of April 21, 2014
NYCLA wishes to extend its thanks and gratitude to its Sustaining Members*:
Stewart David Aaron, Esq. Thomas Charles Bivona, Esq. Seymour N. Chesir, Esq. Alton L. Abramowitz, Esq. Jacob Black, Esq. Sylvia Fung Chin, Esq. Joseph Aisley, Esq. Martin Blackman, Esq. Catherine Ann Christian, Esq. Morton Alpert, Esq. Hon. Albert A. Blinder Lisa Elaine Cleary, Esq. Ian Anderson, Esq. Franklin S. Bonem, Esq. Jeffrey R. Coleman, Esq. William B. Aronstein, Esq. Shoshana T. Bookson, Esq. Andrew Robert Colmant, Esq. Joyce Phillips Austin, Esq. William Brafman, Esq. Leslie D. Corwin, Esq. Ernest Edward Badway, Esq. David N. Brainin, Esq. Hon. Stephen G. Crane Hon. Harold Baer, Jr. Joseph Bruno, Esq. Emanuel Dannett, Esq. William Edward Banfield, Esq. Howard Walter Burns, Jr., Esq. Marvin M. David, Esq. Elisa Barnes, Esq. H. Donald Busch, Esq. Arnold Davis, Esq. Earl Barrison, Esq. Hon. Herman Cahn Megan P. Davis, Esq. Ravi Batra, Esq. Robert A. Calinoff, Esq. Robert B. Davis, Esq. Simeon Harold Baum, Esq. Emily A. Canelo, Esq. Robert Dembia, Esq. Jack A. Bennardo, Esq. Gregory J. Cannata, Esq. Norbert Dengler, Esq. Morrell I. Berkowitz, Esq. John A. Cannistraci, Esq. Lawrence Dick, Esq. Scott Mitchell Berman, Esq. Bruno Cappellini, Esq. Charles E. Dorkey, III, Esq. Kenneth J. Bialkin, Esq. Larry Carbone, Esq. Mary Dale Dorman, Esq. Peter Bienstock, Esq. Gerald I. Carp, Esq. Raymond James Dowd, Esq. Giuseppe Bisconti, Esq. Vincent Ted Chang, Esq. Thomas G. Draper, Jr., Esq.
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Byron Dresner, Esq. David Jaroslawicz, Esq. Bernard W. Nussbaum, Esq. Mary J. Eaton, Esq. Frank S. Johnson, Esq. Ronald Joel Offenkrantz, Esq. Charles Edwards, Esq. Peter J. Johnson, Esq. John William Olivo, Jr., Esq. Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin Alan E. Kahn, Esq. Paul J. O'Neill, Jr., Esq. Klaus Eppler, Esq. Roberta A. Kaplan, Esq. Hon. David G. Oringer Lawrence Epstein, Esq. Ronald J. Katter, Esq. Seymour Ostrow, Esq. Michael C. Fahey, Esq. Harry I. Katz, Esq. Donald W. Paley, Esq. Dean John D. Feerick Robert M. Kaufman, Esq. Andrew G. Patel, Esq. Bernard Feigen, Esq. John J. Kenney, Esq. Gerald Gordon Paul, Esq. Hon. Wilfred Feinberg Jeffrey Mitchel Kimmel, Esq. Alan D. Pekelner, Esq. Alan Leslie Fell, Esq. Robert A. Klipstein, Esq. Gregory J. Perrin, Esq. Asher Fensterheim, Esq. James B. Kobak, Jr., Esq. Marvin G. Pickholz, Esq. Robert V. Ferrari, Esq. Belle G. Kopel, Esq. Gary B. Pillersdorf, Esq. Gilbert C. Ferrer, Esq. Daniel J. Kornstein, Esq. Herbert S. Podell, Esq. Arthur Norman Field, Esq. Herbert Kramer, Esq. Hon. Richard Lee Price Ralph Finerman, Esq. Carolyn A. Kubitschek, Esq. Dr. Herbert Rand Hon. Margaret J. Finerty Hon. William Francis Kuntz, II, Esq. Robert J. Randell, Esq. Robert S. Fink, Esq. Edward Labaton, Esq. Alan Ira Raylesberg, Esq. Rosalind S. Fink, Esq. Rafael Lacot, Esq. Maurice A. Reichman, Esq. Fern J. Finkel, Esq. Steven S. Landis, Esq. John Peter Reiner, Esq. Cynthia Dale Fisher, Esq. Craig A. Landy, Esq. Edwin M. Reiskind, Jr., Esq. Jack Flamhaft, Esq. Robert Todd Lang, Esq. Michael Rikon, Esq. Thomas J. Fleming, Esq. Glenn Lau‐Kee, Esq. Jordan Evan Ringel, Esq. Leo Fox, Esq. Charlotte Cho‐Lan Lee, Esq. Frank Joseph Rio, Esq. Sigmund Fox, Esq. Ephraim K. Leibowitz, Esq. Geraldo M. Rivera, Esq. Peter James Franco, Esq. Philip Lerner, Esq. Edwin David Robertson, Esq. Joseph Frank, Esq. Ruth Lerner‐Levitt, Esq. Dean Janice Sheryl Robinson, Esq. Louis L. Frank, Esq. Ann B. Lesk, Esq. David Barry Rosenbaum, Esq. Samuel Friedman, Esq. Stephen C. Lessard, Esq. Charles H. Rosenberg, Esq. Stanley D. Friedman, Esq. Seymour S. Lesser, Esq. Mordecai Rosenfeld, Esq. Harlan J. Funk, Esq. Chaim A. Levin, Esq. Barney Rosenstein, Esq. Anthony Henry Gair, Esq. Jack P. Levin, Esq. Leonard Rovins, Esq. Lt. Col. Martin Gallin Jay H. Levine, Esq. Hon. Israel Rubin Barry H. Garfinkel, Esq. Robert J. Levinsohn, Esq. Nancy Rucker, Esq. Aaron Gelbwaks, Esq. Sue Schleifer Levy, Esq. Harold J. Ruvoldt, Esq. Robert Thomas Girling, Esq. Nathan Lewis, Esq. Bradley A. Sacks, Esq. Richard Godosky, Esq. Herman Lieblich, Esq. Jeffrey E. Schanback, Esq. David M. Goldberg, Esq. Bernard Liles, Esq. Harvey I. Schneider, Esq. M. Robert Goldstein, Esq. Susan B. Lindenauer, Esq. Herbert Alan Schneider, Esq. Stephen F. Gordon, Esq. Martin Lipton, Esq. Harry Richard Schumacher, Esq. Michael E. Gorelick, Esq. Robert MacCrate, Esq. Donald Schupak, Esq. Paul B. Gottbetter, Esq. Walter Mack, Esq. Marvin Schwartz, Esq. Prof. Bruce A. Green Melvin Maiman, Esq. Murray Schwartz, Esq. David M. Grunblatt, Esq. Harvey Taylor Malakoff, Esq. Samuel A. Shacter, Esq. Russell F. Guba, Esq. Thomas V. Marino, Esq. Sybil Shainwald, Esq. Robert L. Haig, Esq. Lionel Alan Marks, Esq. Steven Bradley Shapiro, Esq. Thomas J. Hall, Esq. Sayward Mazur, Esq. Martin I. Shelton, Esq. Edward Halle, Esq. Michael J. McNamara, Esq. Carol A. Sigmond, Esq. Philip M. Halpern, Esq. Olivera Medenica, Esq. Robert G. Silversmith, Esq. Stanley Hamberger, Esq. Joel Paul Mellis, Esq. Lea S. Singer, Esq. Vilia Beleckas Hayes, Esq. Henry Theodore Meyer, III, Esq. Scott N. Singer, Esq. Thomas T. Hecht, Esq. Harvey R. Miller, Esq. Bryan Charles Skarlatos, Esq. Philip D. Held, Esq. Lorraine D. Miller, Esq. Hon. George Bundy Smith Isaac Henkoff, Esq. Michael Miller, Esq. Thomas M. Smith, Esq. William Charles Herman, Esq. Seymour W. Miller, Esq. Ira Lee Sorkin, Esq. Adria S. Hillman, Esq. Charles G. Moerdler, Esq. Eugene P. Souther, Esq. Jack S. Hoffinger, Esq. Richard E. Montag, Esq. Samuel P. Sporn, Esq. Stephen D. Hoffman, Esq. Deidra R. Moore, Esq. Joshua Aaron Stadtlander‐Miller, Michael J. Holland, Esq. Robert M. Morgenthau, Esq. Esq. Hon. Howard M. Holtzmann Edward W. Morris, Esq. James L. Stengel, Esq. Joy M. Holz, Esq. Leonard M. Morrow, Esq. Theodore D. Stuzin, Esq. Richard W. Hulbert, Esq. Barbara Moses, Esq. David J. Sweet, Esq. Jerome E. Hyman, Esq. Godfrey H. Murrain, Esq. Herman Taub, Esq. Robert A. Jacobs, Esq. Kay Crawford Murray, Esq. Marvin B. Tepper, Esq. Sue C. Jacobs, Esq. Gary P. Naftalis, Esq. Lewis F. Tesser, Esq. Laurence E. Jacobson, Esq. Charles Frederick Niemeth, Esq. George N. Tompkins, Jr., Esq.
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Hon. Nicholas Tsoucalas Bruce Laurence Weiner, Esq. Alexander Yunis, Esq. Vinoo P. Varghese, Esq. Aaron Weitz, Esq. Mark C. Zauderer, Esq. Mark Robert Von Sternberg, Esq. Howard Weitz, Esq. Vincent J. Zichello, Esq. Leandros A. Vrionedes, Esq. Stephanie G. Wheeler, Esq. Donald Marc Zolin, Esq. Hon. Leonard M. Wagman Daniel K. Wiig, Esq. Saul J. Zucker, Esq. Bernard J. Wald, Esq. Richard A. Williamson, Esq. Adrian Zuckerman, Esq. H. Elliot Wales, Esq. David W. Wiltenburg, Esq. John F. Zulack, Esq. Frederic D. Walker, Esq. Eugene Wollan, Esq. Robert M. Zweiman, Esq. Jerome Walker, Esq. Hon. Geoffrey D. S. Wright Hon. Lawrence E. Walsh Jerome J. Yates, Esq. Fred Waxman, Esq. Jack Yoskowitz, Esq. Charles Street Webb, III, Esq. Nancy Young, Esq.
*as of February 24, 2014
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IN MEMORIAM
The NYCLA community was saddened by the passing of the following members this past year
E. Nelson Asiel, Esq. John H. Babigian, Esq. Michael K. Benimowitz, Esq. William J. Dealy, Esq. Charles J. Fine, Esq. Bert W. Linder, Esq. William M. Miles, Esq. Robert Nizewitz, Esq. Arnold A. Secunda, Esq. John J. Witmeyer, Esq.