Local & State Government Law Section Spring Forum (2020)

Who’s Got Your Back So Ya Don’t Get Hacked? Recent State Data Protection Laws and Regulations Generally, Education Data Protection Specifically

Legislation and regulation are catching up with the challenges of data protection at the state and local government level. This panel will provide an overview of these new state requirements. It will also examine as a case study the recent NYS Department of Education regulation on data protection and its impact on school districts and their private vendors. They will also discuss the scourge of ransomware attacks, and how these attacks can affect other state and local governmental entities, as well as private attorneys, firms and other businesses.

Smart Growth, Downtown Revitalization and the Emergence of “Sustainable Development Law” in New York State

Over the past decade, several laws and Executive Orders have been enacted that support the Triple Bottom Line of Smart Growth and Sustainable Development Environment, Equity and Economy. Case studies will be used to demonstrate how sustainable development laws and related programs have worked in concert to achieve sustainable community development, particularly in the context of Governor Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The roles of both state and local planners in implementing these laws and programs will also be discussed.

Twitter. SnapChat. WhatsApp. Instagram. What’s an Ethical Attorney to do in the Age of Social Media and Technology?

It isn’t easy to comply with the Rules of Professional Responsibility in the age of uber technology where everyone, at all times, has a computer, a microphone and a camera in hand. Does our duty of confidentiality crumble when our client posts to social media? These and other ethical issues abound for every attorney in every sector. The panel explores ethical questions surrounding the use of personal versus government-issued equipment; social media as a means of communication, source of information and investigative tool; open repositories of government and private citizen data, including procurement information; and more. What are our obligations under Rules and, for public sector attorneys especially, what consequences do we face under the Freedom of Information Law, the various statutory codes of ethics and other laws?

Speakers

Patrick Burke, Esq. – Phillips Nizer LLP, New York City

Anita Murphy – Capital Region BOCES, Albany

Paul Beyer, Esq. – Office of Planning, Development & Community Infrastructure, New York State Department of State, Albany

Seth G. Agata, Esq. – Jenner & Block, LLP, Hudson

Mark A. Berman, Esq. – Ganfer Shore Leeds & Zauderer, LLC , New York City

Steven G. Leventhal. Esq (Moderator) – Leventhal, Mullaney & Blinkoff, LLP, Roslyn