Good morning. It is great to see everyone here at the Bar Center. It has been my honor and privilege to serve as President of this great association, the largest voluntary state bar in the nation. As President I always remembered that when I spoke, I spoke on behalf of all of you, our members, … Continued
The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed an unprecedented experiment in remote legal practice, forcing firms to rapidly adapt to virtual operations. This mass migration to remote work revealed surprising capabilities in some areas while exposing significant limitations in others. As the legal profession emerges from this period of forced adaptation, many firms are thoughtfully evaluating the role … Continued
The New York State Bar Association is working with the Commercial Division Advisory Council to provide economic benefits to NYSBA members and the State of New York. The Advisory Council has recently produced a new film about New York’s business court, the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court. The film is available … Continued
The administration of employee benefit plans is an essential, though often overlooked, function in corporate governance. The mismanagement of these plans can have significant implications for employees and employers alike. The Second Circuit’s recent decision in Singh v. Deloitte LLP offers important insights into those responsible for overseeing employee benefits plans.[1] The ruling underscores the … Continued
The discourse surrounding pediatric mental health care in the United States has gained prominence in recent years as concerns about the well-being of our nation’s youth continue to escalate.1 Following the COVID-19 pandemic, in October 2021, a national emergency in pediatric mental health was declared.2 The mental health challenges faced by children and adolescents demand … Continued
The landscape of college athletics continues to change at an unprecedented rate. Name, image and likeness has opened the flow of compensation to student-athletes at all levels. To date, payments for NIL have only been allowed through entities not associated with a university. This rule may change soon as a result of ongoing litigation. The … Continued
Sustainable affordable housing is a marriage between sustainable building practices and residences that are economically manageable for both the persons living there and their landlords. This article discusses what is affordable housing; what is sustainable development; and how attorneys can help their clients develop such properties by utilizing tailored financing, obtaining tax incentives and receiving … Continued
In May 2022, a jury in Virginia state court awarded one of the biggest trade secrets verdicts in history in Pegasystems, Inc. v. Appian Corporation – a whopping $2 billion. Nearly 2 ½ years later, that verdict was wiped out on appeal in July 2024.[1] The plaintiff, Appian Corporation, sued the defendant, Pegasystems, Inc., under … Continued
The proliferation of cell phones into the daily lives of almost every person on the planet has changed how we all communicate both personally and professionally. Allowing employees to use their own cell phones for work can save a company money, help employees to stay connected, and increase productivity. On the other hand, personal devices … Continued
In the spring of 2024, the biggest story in entertainment was the rap battle between Aubrey Graham (better known as Drake) and Kendrick Lamar, which sent shockwaves through the industry. Though the bad blood between the artists and the songs ultimately caught people’s eyes, Drake’s use of a digital replica of the deceased rapper Tupac … Continued