Author: Jennifer

Addressing Incivility

To the Forum: I recently conducted a virtual deposition of the defendant in a case in which I was plaintiff’s counsel. Given that this was a virtual deposition, it seemed that defense counsel felt that this was an informal encounter and did not have to abide by any sort of professional standards and appeared dressed … Continued

Guardianship’s Article 17-A: Marooned in Time and in Need of Reform

In cases where a person is alleged to be unable to make his or her own decisions, the law has traditionally responded by empowering surrogates, including legal proxies or guardians, to act for or on behalf of the individual. Surrogate decision-making regimes have increasingly been scrutinized and criticized, however, for curtailing the rights of people … Continued

Understanding Bias and Strategies to Interrupt Bias

New York State Bar Association President-Elect Dick Lewis told 300 people attending a program on implicit bias that unconscious stereotypes plague all of us and “we need to be aware of it.” He pointed out that these beliefs can impact our thoughts about people of different ethnic groups, religious and political persuasions. The NYSBA webinar, … Continued

New York’s New Congressional Delegation: Fewer Numbers, But More Influence

This has been a tumultuous year in New York congressional politics. The 2020 Census, conducted entirely during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed a diminished population in the state resulting in New York losing a congressional seat. A drawn-out and contentious redistricting process resulted in bitter intra- and inter-party campaigns where senior congressional leaders … Continued

End-of-Year Accounting for Law Firms 

  Don’t let the looming tax season dampen your joy during the most wonderful time of the year. To enjoy your holiday plans without the specter of outstanding tasks hanging over your head, get proactive about closing out your 2022 books.  Review cash flow  You monitor your cash flow throughout the year, but now is … Continued

Bored Apes and Monkey Selfies: Copyright and PFP NFTs

What do the monkey selfie and the “Bored Ape Yacht Club” images pictured above have in common? Both depict grinning primates, of course. But less obviously, both may lack copyright. You may recall a dispute between Naruto the monkey and a photographer whose camera Naruto borrowed to take a selfie. The photographer argued that he … Continued