Nyasha Foy Begins New Era as First Black Woman To Chair NYSBA’s Intellectual Property Law Section
9.2.2026
Nyasha Foy’s path to chairing the New York State Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Law Section has been nearly two decades in the making. She joined the section as a first-year law student in 2009 as a section fellow and went on to serve in a succession of leadership roles, including chair of its Young Lawyers Committee, and secretary, treasurer and vice chair of its Executive Committee. Now as the section’s first Black woman chair, Foy is focused not simply on leading the organization, but on building the pipeline of lawyers who will lead it next.
“Serving as the first Black woman to chair the Intellectual Property Law Section is deeply meaningful to me, but I also see the moment as part of a much larger story. I’ve had the benefit of learning from previous leaders of this section, and now I have an opportunity to help create those same opportunities for the lawyers and leaders who come next,” Foy said.
Adding to the significance of this historic milestone, the section’s officers are all women—a leadership slate believed to be the first of its kind in the section’s 35-year history.
“One of the things that’s remarkable for me is that because I’ve been a part of this section since 2009, I’ve had the privilege of being part of its rich institutional history; that’s incredibly valuable to me. I am very grateful to still have the founders of our section, including Founding Chair Rory Radding, as active Executive Committee members,” Foy said. “I think there is something powerful about being able to carry forward what has worked while also asking what the section needs for its next chapter.”
Foy’s own leadership path reflects the opportunities made available through the section, from its benefits, leadership and networking opportunities to program development, speaking engagements and writing for the section’s newsletter Bright Ideas.
“One of the things I care most about is making the section feel accessible at every stage of a lawyer’s career. You shouldn’t have to arrive with a particular title, practice area or network already in place to find your place here.” Foy said. “Whether you want to write, speak, learn, build relationships or take on a leadership role, there should be a door you can walk through.”
Among the section’s ongoing programs are its Young Lawyers Fellowship Program, monthly coffee hours, and the Miriam Maccoby Netter Scholarship award.
The fellowship program, as Foy can attest to firsthand, is a natural gateway to a section leadership role.
Its goal is to increase the participation of law students and young lawyers in the section’s activities by giving them a voice and a seat at the table at the section’s Executive Committee. Fellows are provided with free admission to many of the section’s events, including its Annual Conference, and can also submit their work for possible publication in the section’s newsletter.
The monthly Bright Ideas Coffee Hour, which was initiated by Immediate Past Section Chair Bill Samuels, is a virtual program that affords members an opportunity to learn from each other in an informal environment.
Finally, the Netter Scholarship is bestowed upon one or two law school students who show an interest in intellectual property law. The $5,000 recipient (s) is expected to be announced this fall.
Foy said the scholarship is aimed toward engaging the section’s next generation of leaders.
“Supporting students interested in intellectual property is really about investing in the future of the profession. We want students and young lawyers to see themselves in this field, understand that there is a community here for them and know that there are people willing to open doors for them. That’s the kind of pipeline we want to build,” she said.
Looking ahead, Foy is preparing for the section’s Fall Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Calvin Klein Showroom in New York City. The programming will center around the intersection of fashion, intellectual property and emerging technology. Panelists will discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on the fashion industry along with strategies for protecting brands against online infringement and counterfeiting.
In her professional career, Foy has increasingly focused on the intersection of intellectual property, technology, media and culture, making the section’s exploration of fashion, AI and emerging technology particularly aligned with the issues she sees shaping the profession.
“I’m thinking about this chairmanship as an opportunity to build on what I’ve inherited and to make sure the section is even stronger for the people who come after me. I benefited enormously from people who were willing to give me a seat at the table early in my career. I want to make sure we keep pulling up chairs,” Foy said.
