Lauren Sharkey is a partner at Cioffi, Slezak & Wildgrube, a women-owned and -operated law firm in Schenectady, N.Y. She serves on the New York State Bar Association’s Executive Committee and is a past chair of the Young Lawyers Section. Sharkey is a member of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section and the Trusts … Continued
The main goal of my presidency is to meaningfully reduce impediments to the efficient practice of law for our members. I know that may sound ambitious, and perhaps even somewhat ambiguous, and that the implantation of this goal will likely take longer than my one year in office to complete. However, creating value for our … Continued
Helen Naves, the recently-installed co-chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Membership Committee, wants to bring the far-flung lawyers of the association closer together in her new role. An international banking lawyer with a practice in São Paulo, Brazil, Naves will be joining Michelle Wildgrube, partner at Cioffi Slezak Wildgrube, as co-chair. “I’m super … Continued
The Copyright Act ensures that its protections extend to creative works even after the death of the author. However, no copyright can last forever, and, as of Jan. 1, 2024, an iconic American cartoon has now entered the public domain: Steamboat Willie.[1] For those unfamiliar with Disney lore, the cartoon is synonymous with the character … Continued
The New York State Bar Association supports the bill (S7524/A10350) the state Legislature passed to expand e-filing and calls on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign it. The bill allows Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas to permit e-filing in any state trial court. Pro se litigants and lawyers without the technical skills or equipment to e-file … Continued
The New York State Bar Association is calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill that would allow New Yorkers with a felony conviction to serve on a jury. State Senate bill 206A/Assembly bill 1432A lifts the lifetime ban on jury service. Once New Yorkers have served their sentences including probation or community supervision, … Continued
Domenick Napoletano, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the death of the association’s first female president: “As the first female president of the association, Maryann Saccomando Freedman led by example, making it easier for women and people of color to rise to the top ranks of the New … Continued
The New York State Bar Association applauds the state Legislature for passing S7576A/ A9143, which ensures that a judge’s family can receive state-paid death benefits if the judge dies while in office. Previously, state pension funds were only paid out to beneficiaries if the judge was retired at the time of death. Passage of the … Continued
New York’s congestion pricing program was set to take effect on June 30, 2024, notwithstanding multiple pending legal challenges.[1] Then on June 5,2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she was directing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority – which is charged with implementing the program – to put the congestion pricing program on “indefinite pause.”[2] This announcement … Continued
The New York State Bar Association is set to host a free presentation on the sexual violence perpetrated against women and children during Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, chair of the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children and recipient of the Israel Prize, will lead … Continued