Commercial & Federal Litigation Section Spring 2026 Meeting
Join us this spring for the Commercial & Federal Litigation Section Spring 2026 Meeting in Lake George, NY!
Dates: Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3
Location: The Sagamore Resort | 110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing, NY 12814
AGENDA AT A GLANCE:
Friday, May 1
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Registration
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Welcome Dinner
The Commercial Division Turns 30: Reflections from Former and Current Commercial Division Justices
Saturday, May 2
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Appellate Practice: Beyond Brief Writing and Oral Argument (1.0 MCLE Credit)
10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Remarks: Hon. Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, JAMS
10:15 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. | Interplay between Bankruptcy and Commercial Litigation (1.0 MCLE Credit)
11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. | Lawyers Behaving Badly: Tips on What to Avoid (1.0 MCLE Credit)
12:20 p.m – 6:30 p.m. | Lunch and Afternoon Activities (on own)
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Reception
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Gala Dinner and Award Presentation
2026 Recipient of the Robert L. Haig Award For Distinguished Public Service:
Hon. Norman St. George, First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge
9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Casino Night After Party
Sunday, May 3
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Networking and Visiting Exhibitors
10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. | Artificial Intelligence in the Law Practice: Legal Impacts and Ethical Implications (2.0 MCLE Credits)
(End of Program)
ACTIVITIES:
- Take a cruise on the Morgan! Tours will run on Saturday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. and are free to hotel guests. More information here.
- Enjoy the Spa at the Sagamore with a 10% discount to Spring Meeting registrants.
- Join for golf on the Donald Ross-designed Sagamore Golf Course. Tee times begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. Contact Paul Sarkozi (psarkozi@thsh.com) for more information and to sign up.
- Take a morning jog with Section Chair Helene Hechtkopf around the beautiful Sagamore Resort and Bolton Landing.
- Enjoy all that Lake George has to offer!
HOTEL RESERVATIONS:
Please be advised that our room block rate has expired. To book your room, please reach out to the Sagamore directly at at 866-385-6221 or on their website here: https://www.opalcollection.com/sagamore/
MEETING REGISTRATION FEES:
Section Member (after March 20) – $950.00
NYSBA Member (non-section member) – $1,150.00
Non-NYSBA Member – $1,595.00
Newly Admitted Attorneys (10 years or less) – $550.00
Public Interest / County Clerks – $550.00
Guest – $450.00
Guest – Child ages 5-16 – $250.00
The cancellation policy is as follows:
Cancellations received more than 14 days from the scheduled event date – 100% refund
Cancellations received between 5-13 days from the scheduled event date – 50% refund
Cancellations received less than 5 days before the scheduled event date – No refund
Thank You to our Sponsors!
General Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
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- May 1, 2026
- May 3, 2026
- 4:00 PM
- 12:00 PM
- 2.0
- 2.0
- 1.0
- 5.0
- The Sagamore Resort
110 Sagamore Road
Bolton Landing, NY 12814
New York State Bar Association
Commercial and Federal Litigation Section Spring 2026 Meeting
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3, 2026
5.0 MCLE Credits
2.0 Areas of Professional Practice; 1.0 Skills; 2.0 Ethics and Professionalism
This program is transitional and approved for MCLE credit in New York for all attorneys, including those newly admitted
Agenda
Friday, May 1
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Registration
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Welcome Dinner Welcoming Remarks:
Helene R. Hechtkopf, Esq., Chair
Maryann C. Stallone, Esq., Chair-Elect
The Commercial Division Turns 30: Reflections from Former and Current Commercial Division Justices
Panel conversation with Hon. Bernie Fried (ret.), Hon. Melissa Crane, and other Commercial Division justices. Moderated by Paul Sarkozi, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP.
Saturday, May 2
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Appellate Practice: Beyond Brief Writing and Oral Argument
The panel will explore the richness of appellate practice in areas beyond appellate briefs and oral argument, such as issue preservation, stays, motion practice, remands, further appeals, alternative dispute resolution, and settlement.
Moderators:
Seth M. Rokosky, Esq.
Duane Morris LLP
New York, NY
Constance M. Boland, Esq.
Thompson Hine LLP
New York, NY
Panelists:
Hon. Dianne T. Renwick, Presiding Justice
New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department
New York, NY
Hon. Anil C. Singh (Ret.)
JAMS
New York, NY
Brian D. Ginsberg, Esq.
Harris Beach PLLC
White Plains, NY
Dean L. Pillarella, Esq.
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
New York, NY
1.0 MCLE Credit in Areas of Professional Practice
10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Break
10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Remarks: Hon. Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix (ret.), JAMS
10:15 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Interplay between Bankruptcy and Commercial Litigation
Moderator:
Massimo Giugliano, Esq.
Davis & Gilbert LLP
New York, NY
Panelists:
Hon. Kyu Y. (Mike) Paek
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York
New York, NY
Leslie Berkoff, Esq.
Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
New York, NY
Patrick T. Collins, Esq.
Farrell Fritz, P.C.
New York, NY
1.0 MCLE Credit in Areas of Professional Practice
11:10 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Break
11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Lawyers Behaving Badly: Tips on What to Avoid
Think you'd never cite a nonexistent case, send a regrettable email, or wing it on a motion you barely read? Lawyers Behaving Badly brings ethics to life through five provocative courtroom vignettes examining competence, candor to the tribunal, civility, ex parte communications, and fair dealing in discovery—delivering memorable lessons on what not to do through scenarios that will make you cringe in recognition. Join us for an hour of instruction, reflection, and just a touch of cautionary humor.
Panelists:
Hon. Timothy S. Driscoll
NYS Supreme Court, Commercial Division
New York, NY
Hon. Mitchell J. Katz
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
Syracuse, NY
Anne B. Sekel, Esq.
Foley & Lardner LLP
New York, NY
Jonathan D. Lupkin, Esq.
Rottenstreich Farley Bronstein Fisher Potter Hodas LLP
New York, NY
1.0 MCLE Credit in Skills
12:20 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Buffet Lunch and Afternoon Activities
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Gala Dinner and Award Presentations 2026 Recipient of the Robert L. Haig Award for Distinguished Public Service
9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. After-Party: Casino Night
Sunday, May 4
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Networking and Visiting Exhibitors
10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. Artificial Intelligence in the Law Practice: Legal Impacts and Ethical Implications
This panel will explore the effects, opportunities, and challenges AI poses for practitioners and the courts.
Moderator:
Paul F. Downs, Esq.
Nixon Peabody LLP
New York, NY
Panelists:
Ignatius A. Grande, Esq.
Berkeley Research Group
New York, NY
Hon. Stan L. Pritzker
Appellate Division, Third Department
Fort Edward, NY
Christine Sisario
New York State Unified Court System, Division of Technology and Court Research
New York, NY
Maura R. Grossman
University of Waterloo, Cheriton School of Computer Science
Waterloo, ON Canada
2.0 MCLE Credits in Ethics and Professionalism
11:40 a.m. Adjournment and Departure
- In-Person
- FEDSP26
- Commercial & Federal Litigation Section
- Committee on Continuing Legal Education
