The Corporate Counsel Section of the New York State Bar Association is pleased to welcome Section members and visitors. The Section sponsors CLE, networking and other events and offers LinkedIn and Facebook pages where members can reach out to each other with questions and advice.
Contact the Corporate Counsel Section Liaison
To learn more about this Section, please contact Sharmin Woodall
[email protected]
(518) 487-5686
Please do not contact the Section liaison with a request for legal advice or an attorney referral. You can instead visit our ‘Public Resources’ or ‘Lawyer Referral Service’ page for this type of request.
Naomi Hills
Senior Counsel, GSK
Naomi Hills is the newly elected chair of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Corporate Counsel section. Naomi is Senior Counsel at GSK where she advises on the commercialization and promotion of pharmaceutical medicines and biologics for the US Pharma/Specialty and Oncology business. Naomi is lead counsel for a biologic and launched a product indication in July 2021. Naomi advises on marketing strategies and materials, patient support programs and healthcare professional engagements. Naomi advises senior leaders on the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, FDA advertising and promotional regulations, Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, OIG Guidance, PhRMA code and the Sunshine Act.
Naomi has significant corporate and regulatory experience and prior to her role at GSK, Naomi was Senior Legal Counsel/ Head of US Legal for a multinational manufacturer. Naomi advised c-suite executives on legal strategies and matters. While in this role, Naomi managed the multi-million-dollar multidistrict product liability matter. Naomi has worked on corporate governance for its United States subsidiary, as well as other corporate and transactional matters.
Naomi has been a member of the Corporate Counsel section for over 12 years and was the section’s Young Lawyer Liaison. Naomi is a leader within NYSBA and has served as the section’s Chair-Elect, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and has chaired numerous sub-committees. Naomi is a current member of NYSBA’s Audit committee. In addition to her leadership within NYSBA, Naomi has been invited to speak on various topics. Naomi has spoken across the country on topics such as; Crisis Management for in-house counsel, Alternative Fee Arrangements and Class Actions Lawsuits.
KENNETH G. STANDARD DIVERSITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Overview of the Diversity Internship Committee
Responsible for administering and managing all aspects of the Section’s Diversity Internship Program, named in honor of former NYSBA President Kenneth G. Standard and his commitment to initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.
Overview of the Diversity Internship Program
Since its inception in 2006, more than 100 interns have participated in the Program. The students complete a 10-week internship with an assigned host company and are paid a minimum of $7,000. Host companies have included, among many others in the private and public sectors, Ayco, Con Edison, Pepsi Co., Salesforce, TakeRoot Justice, Unilever, and Urban Justice and Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
The Program’s Goal
To provide students from a diverse range of backgrounds with the experience of in-house legal practice, and to increase such student representation in future corporate legal departments. We offer mentorship, educational and career training to enhance the skills needed in the workplaces of tomorrow. To promote and advance the full and equal participation of attorneys from an under-represented community and to promote knowledge of and respect for the profession in communities that historically have not participated to the fullest extent in the practice of law.
Benefits of Workplace Diversity
Diverse employees can bring together different skill sets, talents, and experiences.
Embracing diversity and inclusion is an important step in the workplace. Through increased diversity, employers can more effectively address societal and member needs with the varied perspectives, experiences, knowledge, information and understanding inherent in a diverse relationship.
Eligibility & Deadlines
Law students who self-identify as under-represented candidates, and who attend an accredited law school in New York State. The program has demanding selection criteria, including minimum GPA requirements and a series of interview rounds, each set by the host company. Students must submit a legal writing sample and a letter of interest. The letter of interest must describe their personal commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal field, and/or explain how being from an under-represented group has impacted them.
The application deadline, interviews, offer, and program start date vary per each host company. Generally, student application deadlines are due between December and January.
Benefits of Applying to a Summer Position Through the Program
The benefits include (i) exploring different career paths; (ii) developing a network within the corporate environment and among fellow program participants; (iii) receiving cutting-edge, real world experience solving and supporting day-to-day corporate matters; and (iv) gaining a rare and valuable opportunity to jump start their careers in the law by spending their summer in a corporate legal department/non-for-profit agency.
We invite anyone who is interested in learning more about the program to contact the Committee at: [email protected]
Photos of the July 17, 2019 Reception
Photos of the August 16, 2017 Reception
Photos of the August 16, 2016 Reception
Photos of the August 5, 2015 Reception
Photos of the July 23, 2014 Reception
2014 Kenneth G. Standard Internship Program
2013 Kenneth G. Standard Internship Program
ADDITIONAL INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
ACCESS NOW
Applications Due: March 11, 2022
CELONIS
Applications Due: March 11, 2022; however, applications will be accepted and processed on a rolling basis
Disability Rights New York (DRNY)
Eligibility Candidates: Class of 2024
Deadline: February 15, 2022
Application: See Attachment
Hercules Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Applications Due: March 1, 2022
2022 Jana Springer Behe Corporate Counsel Section Scholarship
Applications Due: February 12, 2022
PepsiCo
Applications Due: March 11, 2022
SalesForce
Application Due: Monday, February 14, 2022; however, applications will be accepted and processed on a rolling basis
TakeRoot Justice
Applications Due: December 15, 2021; however, applications will be accepted and processed on a rolling basis.
Unilever
Eligibility Candidates: Class of 2023 and 2024
Deadline: February 14, 2022
Visiting Nurse Service of New York
Applications Due: March 7, 2022
Program Archives
Offering Pro Bono Legal Services: A Primer for In House Counsel
(Must be a logged-in NYSBA member to access this program)
