Seeking Feedback on Plans To Merge Corporate Counsel Section Into Business Law Section
6.17.2026
At the April House of Delegates Meeting, the Corporate Counsel Section presented a recommendation to dissolve the Corporate Counsel Section and merge its members and programs into the Business Law Section.
“After careful consideration over the last few years, the leaders of the Corporate Counsel Section agreed unanimously to merge the section into the Business Law Section of NYSBA,” explained chair Elizabeth Shampnoi. The work of the Section would continue through a Corporate Counsel Committee within the Business Law Section. The Business Law Section Executive Committee also agreed unanimously. The merger agreement specifically provides for the continuation of the core programs of the Corporate Counsel Section by the new Corporate Counsel Committee of the Business Law Section. You can read about the proposed merger memorialized into an agreement here. You can also read the letter from the chairs of the Corporate Counsel and Business Law Section with further details about the proposed merger here.
During the debate on the recommendation to dissolve the section, several members of the House of Delegates raised concerns about the lack of notice given to Corporate Counsel Section members about the proposed merger and the impact on the members as well as the lack of feedback from the members about the proposed merger. Several members of the House of Delegates spoke in favor of the merger, citing the inactivity of the Corporate Counsel Section and the need to more actively engage with, support, and provide programming for the members which would be accomplished through the newly formed Business Law Section Committee, as well as the years of analysis and planning that undergirded the recommendation. The House of Delegates voted to table further discussion of the recommendation. The recommendation was also tabled during the Executive Committee meeting that preceded the House of Delegates meeting.
The Corporate Counsel Section was created to support in-house counsel through programming, professional development, mentorship and networking.
If you have questions, comments, concerns, or further feedback about the proposed merger, please email CorpMerger@nysba.org.
