Annual Meeting 2025

Presidential Summit

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

New York Hilton Midtown | Grand Ballroom West | Third Floor

3.0 MCLE Credits- 1.5 Areas of Professional Practice; 1.5 Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection-General

Panel 1: Securing Justice: Addressing Sexual Violence and the Weaponization of Individuals and Groups During Conflicts and Wars

1.5 Credits in Areas of Professional Practice

Throughout history women, men, and individuals, including children, families, groups, and communities have been deliberately weaponized as targets of sexual violence in times of conflict and war. History has also revealed that there has been a failure to adjudicate these crimes and human rights violations for the physical, mental, lifetime, and multi-generational harm inflicted on victims, survivors, families, and communities.

During our 2025 Presidential Summit, the New York State Bar Association seeks to shine a light on conflict related sexual violence (‘CRSV”). You will hear first-hand from attorneys and leaders on how we move beyond condemnation and hold perpetrators legally responsible for their crimes. In addition to looking at the law and policy concerning CRSV, challenges surrounding prosecutions, we will also discuss the rising and dangerous use of social media warfare to broadcast and/or deny these criminal acts, collection of evidence, and best practices to support victims. Finally, we will consider our roles, as attorneys, and setting the standard where individuals and populations are not violated in the first place.

Moderator:

• Susan Harper, Esq.

Speakers:

• Abid Shamdeen, Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor, Nadia’s Initiative
• Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, Chair of the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children
• Susana SáCouto, Professorial Lecturer-in-Residence, Director, War Crimes Research Office, Director, Summer Law Program in The Hague, American University Washington College of Law

Panel 2: Generative AI: Disrupting the Business and Practice of Law

1.5 Credits in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection-General

AI is impacting the legal profession and is here to stay. This session will explore AI in the legal field and how AI is disrupting both the business and practice of law. Learn how law firm and in-house attorneys and judges are navigating evolving regulations around key issues and technology, including generative AI, privacy, and data security.

Panelists will explore common myths about AI, how to evaluate AI tools for lawyers, and the future of generative AI in the legal industry. Learn more about AI-powered legal tools to automate simple legal tasks and concerns about deep fake technology spreading harmful misinformation and disinformation.

Speakers:

• Jen Leonard, Founder, Creative Lawyers
• Bridget McCormack, American Arbitration Association International Center for Dispute Resolution New York, NY

2025 Constance Baker Motley Symposium

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Join us for a celebratory evening of award presentations and a CLE event.

President’s Reception: A Celebration of Diversity

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
President’s Reception: A Celebration of Diversity will feature updates from President Domenick Napoletano on NYSBA’s diversity initiatives and a preview of what lies ahead for 2025.

Judicial Section Reception and Luncheon

Friday, January 17, 2025 – 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Honoring Tradition, Shaping the Future: NYSBA Judicial Section Centennial Celebration Justice in the 21st Century: New Visions, New Realities – A New Dawn of Justice

Distinguished Jurist Award
Hon. Rowan D. Wilson
Chief Judge of the State of New York and the Court of Appeals

Hon. Joseph A. Zayas
Chief Administrative Judge of the NYS Courts

Advancement of Judicial Diversity Award
Hon. Dianne T. Renwick
Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, First Department

Hon. James L. Hyer, J.S.C.
NYS Supreme Court, Westchester County

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.
James S McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, African American Studies, Princeton University
“A New Dawn for American Democracy”

2025 Presidential Gala–SOLD OUT

Thursday, January 16, 2025 – 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
The Plaza Hotel, 768 5th Avenue
On behalf of President Domenick Napoletano, you are cordially invited to join us at the upcoming Presidential Gala in January honoring Justice Stephen Breyer as the 2025 Gold Medal Award recipient. The NYSBA Annual Dinner has been the flagship event for the association since 1878. The 2025 Gala will take place at the iconic Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue in New York City.