October 2013

Philadelphia ® The Monthly Newspaper of the Philadelphia Bar Association Vol. 42, No. 10 October 2013 Justice Presents Writing Award Tarasiewicz Named Bar Executive Director M&*2 A. T&*&+3"- wicz has been selected by the Board of Governors as the Philadelphia Bar Association’s new executive director. He will assume the duties of executive director on Jan. 1, 2014. Tarasiewicz Tarasiewicz, 45, succeeds Kenneth Shear who will retire on Dec. 31, 2013, after a 37-year tenure as executive director Photo by Mark Tarasiewicz Mark by Photo of the 211-year-old Philadelphia Bar As- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg presented the Bar Association’s “Pursuit of Justice” Legal Writ- sociation. ing Award given in her name to Matthew G. Tom at the National Constitution Center on Sept. 6, marking the Award’s “1e Philadelphia Bar Association has a 10th anniversary. Tom, a graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law, is now an associate with Cohen Seg- lias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC. Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson also joined the presentation. Justice Ginsburg national reputation for service to the pub- spoke at the NCC earlier that evening. lic and the profession, so it was important to select a new executive director to carry on that proud tradition,” said Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Human Rights Chancellor’s Forum Oct. 22 Wilkinson. “Our Board of Governors T!" O#$. %% C!&'#"(()*’+ F)*,- at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 continued on page 17 “Putting Power Behind the Prose: Using Market St. International Human Rights Law to In/u- Included in the program will be an over- ence American Jurisprudence and Policy” Web Check view of the major human rights treaties and will cover how international human rights a discussion to the approach of the United law works, in theory and practice. Visit pbi.org to register for the Oct. States to treaty rati0cation and its treaty obli- 22 Chancellor’s Forum. Speci0cally, it will look at the develop- gations; treaty reporting obligations; and the ment of human rights treaties, with an use of the treaty review process for advocacy overview of the major treaties that the United States has rati0ed, – such as “shadow reporting.” Philadelphia Bar Association their implementing mechanisms, and how lawyers have used Other topics to be discussed are domestic advocacy to expand Annual Gold Sponsor those mechanisms in their own advocacy as a tool to in/u- the reach of international law norms; use of international law in ence policy and action at all levels of government. 1e panel amicus briefs; “success stories” where such international norms will instruct the audience as to techniques used to domestically have been implemented domestically; adoption of principles by implement international human rights norms with a particular the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and In This Issue focus on recent Bar Association resolutions adopting principles Philadelphia Bar Association; and a focus on the Pennsylvania of international human rights treaties on discrimination against and Philadelphia Bar Associations’ resolutions in Support of 4 Beating Cancer women and homelessness. the U.S. Rati0cation of the United Nations Convention on the 5 Diversity Speakers for the program are Eric Tars, director of Human Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and Rights and Children’s Rights Programs at the National Law the American Bar Association resolution Urging the Govern- 6 Access to Attorneys Center on Homelessness and Poverty; Sarah Paoletti, director of ment to Promote the Human Right to Housing. the Transnational Legal Clinic of the University of Pennsylvania Attendees will learn how to participate in advocacy and imple- 7 Fee Disputes School of Law; and Beth Lyon, director of the Farmworker Legal ment these strategies in their own practice – including upcoming Aid Clinic of the Villanova University School of Law. opportunities in the Philadelphia area. A reception featuring 10 Getting Business One substantive CLE credit will be available for this program international wines will follow the event. Register online for this 14 Insurance Practice which begins at 4 p.m. in the 11th /oor Conference Center event at pbi.org. 2 Philadelphia Bar Reporter October 2013 philadelphiabar.org Frontline Building Relationships Abroad Editor-in-Chief Heather J. Austin, Esq. Associate Editors and Increasing Impact All Over Ria C. Momblanco, Esq. Regina Parker, Esq. T!3+ 4"&*, $!" P!3(&- Luc arranged for me to us as well. Thomas L. Bryan, Esq. By Kathleen Wilkinson Edward P. Kelly, Esq. delphia Bar Association be invited to and partici- 1ese relationships with foreign bar Julia Swain, Esq. has worked to build pate in the “Ceremonie associations are important, especially as Angie Halim, Esq. our relationships in the De La Rentree Judiciare” the practice of law becomes a more global Mary-Kate Breslin, Esq. international community. – opening of the courts endeavor. Philadelphia will also host the Benjamin F. Johns, Esq. Annie Kelley, Esq. Earlier this summer, – in Montreal as well World City Bar Leaders Conference in James R. Nixon Jr., Esq. we signed a friendship as Quebec City, which 2014, where the top o6cials from bar Lauren A. Strebel agreement with the takes place at the Palais de associations around the world will gather Barcelona Bar. 1anks to Justice in both cities every to share ideas and foster relationships. Contributing Editor Richard Max Bockol, Esq. the wonders of technol- September. In Montreal, 1e Barcelona Bar Association and Bar of ogy, we were able to sign both English and French Montreal are also members of the World Advisory Editor the agreement during a were spoken in the courts City Bar Leaders Conference and are Molly Peckman, Esq. Skype conference call whereas in Quebec City, expected to attend. Associate Executive Director, without having to leave the city of Phila- the opening ceremony was entirely in 1e Philadelphia Bar Association’s Communications delphia. French. 1e Philadelphia Bar Association membership in Global Philadelphia is Mark Tarasiewicz 1is was the formation of our sec- was recognized during both events. part of our education on the international ond sister relationship in Europe. 1e It was striking to see the courtrooms stage. Global Philadelphia, with more Senior Managing Editor, Publications Philadelphia Bar Association has had a in Quebec follow an English style, with than 100 member businesses and orga- Jeff Lyons relationship with the bar in Lyon, France a closed area where the defendant in a nizations, works to enhance our region’s dating back 15 years. Both agreements criminal matter would sit. Similar to pro0le around the world. Executive Director o5er opportunities for law students England, where the barristers don black Locally, we also continue to enhance Kenneth Shear and young lawyers in Philadelphia and robes, the batonnieres (lawyers) in Que- our relationships with the Philadelphia The Philadelphia Bar Reporter (ISSN 1098- Europe to become familiar with foreign bec are required to wear black robes with business community. In September, I was 5352) is published monthly and available by practice through training or internships white starched ornate collars, many of invited to participate in “Select Greater subscription for $45 per year by the Philadel- phia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th in participating law 0rms in both cities. which are quite elaborate. Some baton- Philly” and have dinner with a group of !oor, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2911. Periodicals And we continue to make friends nieres also have a little fur on their robes, local business leaders. Part of our discus- postage paid at Philadelphia, PA POSTMASTER: across borders. At the World City Bar which is a symbol of their seniority. 1e sion focused on the fact that Philadelphia Send address changes to Philadelphia Bar Re- porter, c/o Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Leaders Conference we attended earlier in judges likewise wore black robes, with is a prime location for international and Market St., 11th !oor, Philadelphia, PA 19107- the year, we met the president of the Bar black capes draped with red. national business development and that 2955. Telephone: (215) 238-6300. Association of Montreal, Luc Deshaies, and began Montreal’s Bar president will be our lawyers can make things happen as well Web site: philadelphiabar.org. Newspaper e- mail address: [email protected]. The edi- discussions on the relationship between special guest at the Bench-Bar & Annual as bene0t from having our business com- torial and other views expressed in the Phila- our bar associations. We continued our Conference at Revel in Atlantic City early munity thrive. delphia Bar Reporter are not necessarily those of the Association, its of"cers or its members. dialogue when we saw Luc again at the this month. Make sure you introduce Another example of our local impact Advertising rates and information are available American Bar Association Annual Meet- yourself to him and his wife Natalie, is seen by the commissioning of a report from Don Chalphin at American Lawyer Media, ing in San Francisco. We traveled north (who is also a battonniere), while you’re at by our Large Law Firm Management 1617 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19103. Telephone: (215) 557-2359 or e-mail dchal- on Sept. 13 and signed a new friendship the conference and see what we can learn Committee to study the impact lawyers, [email protected]). agreement with the Bar of Montreal in from each other. We also anticipate that paralegals, and the legal industry contrib- Page 1 skyline photo by Edward Savaria, Jr./PCVB Quebec. some of our interns from Lyon will join continued on page 12 Tell Us What You Think! Bar Forms Elections Committee The Philadelphia Bar Reporter T!" P!3(&7"(8!3& B&* A++)#3&$3)' solicited are Vice Chancellor, Secretary, titled to vote; and for candidates for Vice welcomes letters to the editors for has formed its Elections Committee.

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