Event Overview
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | CLE Program | Rendezvous Trianon- Third Floor
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Reception | Petit Trianon- Third Floor
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Luncheon | Trianon Ballroom- Third Floor
The first panel will delve into the complex and often contentious world of business divorce. The second panel will explore issues related to ethics and civility, with a focus on how ethics has changed over time. The final panel will examine the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice. Panelists will discuss recent, notable cases involving the use of AI, and explore how in-house counsel expect outside counsel to use AI-particularly in terms of billing practices, disclosure, and ethical use.
Highlights and Objectives:
- Attendees will benefit from insights shared by esteemed panelists on key issues involving business divorce, legal ethics, and the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice.
Commercial & Federal Litigation Section Chair:
Helene Hechtkopf, Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney LLP
Program Chair:
Viktoriya Liberchuk, Farrell Fritz P.C.
General Registration Fee
Required for all Annual Meeting attendees.
| NYSBA Members | $250 |
| Non-members | $395 |
+plus…
$195 Program Registration Fee
Commercial & Federal Litigation Section Annual Meeting Program
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
New York Hilton Midtown | 1335 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY, 10019
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | CLE Program | Rendezvous Trianon- Third Floor
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Reception | Petit Trianon- Third Floor
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Luncheon | Trianon Ballroom- Third Floor
3.0 MCLE Credits
1.0 Credit in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection — General; 1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice; 1.0 Credit in Ethics and Professionalism
This program is transitional and is suitable for all attorneys including those newly admitted.
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Registration and Visiting the Section Sponsors
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Speaker
Helene R. Hechtkopf, Section Chair | Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney LLP New York, NY
Viktoriya Liberchuk, Vice-Chair and Program Chair | Farrell Fritz P.C. Uniondale, NY
8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Generative AI in Litigation: Practice Innovations, Pitfalls
The panel will examine how litigators are integrating generative AI into their day-to-day work, the practical risks and challenges that have surfaced, including recent cases involving AI misuse, and how in-house counsel are shaping expectations and billing practices around AI-enabled services. The discussion will also address how the decision not to adopt generative AI may increasingly affect standards of practice and attorney performance.
Speaker
Hon. James W. Wicks | U.S. Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of New York Central Islip, NY
Hon. Timothy S. Driscoll | Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Nassau County, Commercial Division Mineola, NY
Angela Shannon | IBM Corporation New York, NY
Kathryn C. Cole, Esq. | Greenberg Traurig Garden City, NY
Cathy Fetgatter | Innovative Driven, Washington, D.C.
Moderator
Ralph Carter, Esq. | Workday, New York, NY
1.0 Credit in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection — General9:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Break
9:55 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Hot Topics in LLC Business Divorce: Dilution, Deadlock, and Buy-Sell Agreements
Business divorce disputes continue to generate significant developments in the areas of dissolution, capital calls, dilution, and deadlock. This panel will review recent Commercial Division decisions shaping these issues and discuss how they influence litigation strategy and governance outcomes. The panel will also consider how these trends reinforce New York LLCs’ position as the preferred unincorporated entity for many business owners.
Speaker
Hon. Richard Platkin | Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Albany County, Commercial Division Albany, NY
Hon. Anar Rathod Patel | Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, Commercial Division New York, NY
Stephen J. Ginsberg, Esq. | Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP Garden City, NY
John P. Curley, Esq. | Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney LLP New York, NY
Moderator
Peter J. Sluka, Esq. | Farrell Fritz, P.C. New York, NY
1.0 Credit in Areas of Professional Practice10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.
Break
10:55 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
Roundtable on New York Ethics and Civility
The program covers recent developments in attorney ethics, including noteworthy case law, and offers practical guidance on applying the rules of civility when dealing with adversaries and navigating issues within the firm.
Speaker
Hon. Andrea Masley | Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, Commercial Division New York, NY
Mark Zauderer, Esq. | Dorf Nelson & Zauderer LLP New York, NY
Hal R. Lieberman, Esq. | Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel, LLP New York, NY
Moderator
Vincent J. Syracuse, Esq. | Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP New York, NY
1.0 Credit in Ethics and Professionalism11:55 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Concluding Remarks
Speaker
Viktoriya Liberchuk, Esq. | Farrell Fritz, P.C. Uniondale, NY
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Reception
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Luncheon
Color Guard
Opening Remarks by NYSBA President Kathleen M. Sweet, Esq. and Section Chair Helene R. Hechtkopf. Esq.
Presentation of the new slate of officers by Anne B. Sekel, Esq. and Michael Cardello III, Esq.
Remarks by the New York Bar Foundation
Presentation of the Stanley H. Fuld Award to the Hon. Saliann Scarpulla, Associate Justice, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department
Thank You to our Sponsors!
