Taking the Lead 2025: Winning Trial Strategies and Techniques for Commercial Cases

A Program Designed to Empower and Celebrate Women Commercial Litigators and Highlight Successful Trial Strategies and Techniques

Location:

60 Centre Street, room 300

New York, NY 10007

Agenda:

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Registration

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – CLE Program

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Award Ceremony and Reception

This captivating event promises to offer invaluable insights into successful trial strategies and techniques, showcased through an engaging mock trial presentation. The program starts with the re-enactment of a real-life civil commercial trial, featuring compelling opening and closing statements, and direct and cross-examinations of witnesses, by talented women commercial litigators. Following the trial presentation, distinguished members of the judiciary will provide a critique of the presentations, offering valuable feedback and practice tips on trial presentation.  

The Commercial & Federal Litigation Section is thereafter proud to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of outstanding women commercial litigators with the presentation of the prestigious Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin Award for Excellence in the Courtroom and the Hon. Judith S. Kaye Commercial & Federal Litigation Scholarships to women who exemplify exceptional skill and dedication in commercial litigation. 

The program will conclude with a celebratory reception, providing a fantastic opportunity to network and acknowledge the remarkable achievements of our esteemed colleagues.

Sponsored by NYSBA’s Commercial & Federal Litigation Section:

Chair: Helene Hechtkopf, Esq., Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP

Chair-Elect: Maryann C. Stallone, Esq., Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP

Vice-Chair: Viktoriya Liberchuk, Farrell Fritz, P.C.

Treasurer: Ralph Carter, Workday, Inc.

Secretary: Veronika Pavlus, Fox Rothchild, LLP

Opening Remarks:

Hon. Laura Taylor Swain, Chief Judge of the US District Court of the Southern District of New York
Hon. Suzanne Adams, Administrative Judge for Manhattan Civil Supreme Court 

Program Chair and Moderator: 

Maryann C. Stallone, Esq., Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP

Mock Trial Presentation:

Senior Attorneys (Plaintiffs’ Side)

• Amanda Kuryluk, Assistant Attorney General of the State of New York, Albany
• Becky Baek, Farrell Fritz, P.C.
• Sandra Langolf, Rottenstreich Farley Bronstein Fisher Potter Hodas LLP
• Kathleen A. Barclay, O’Connor, O’Connor, Bresee & First PC

Junior Attorneys (Defendants’ Side)

• Nicole Fleming, Williams & Connolly LLP
• Bonnie Trunley, Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP
• Stephanie Lamerce, Duane Morris LLP
• Alicia Johnson-Ishman, Nixon Peabody LLP

Plaintiffs Witness:

• Mohammed Alam, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP 

Defendants’ Witness:

• Steph Campanha Wheaton, NYC Office of the Comptroller

Panel Judges:

• Justice Robert Reed, NY Supreme Court, NY County Commercial Division
• Judge Mae D’Agostino, US District Court of the Northern District of NY
• Justice Linda S. Jamieson, NY Supreme Court, Westchester County Commercial Division
• Judge Shira S. Scheindlin (Ret).
• Judge Jeannette Vargas, US District Court of the Southern District of NY

Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin Award for Excellence in the Courtroom: Award Winner

Carolyn Pokorny, Esq.

Former Acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York

Introduced by Seth Levine, Partner, Levine Lee LLP

Hon. Judith S. Kaye Commercial and Federal Litigation Scholarship Winners:

• Mary Serene Carino, Farrell Fritz, P.C.
• Kelly Geary, Adams Leclair LLP
• Alyssa C. Goldrich, Tannenbaum, Helpern, Syracuse & Hirschtritt, LLP
• Michaela J. Mancini, Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC
• Morgan V. Manley, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP

Thank You to our Sponsors!

Bronze