Annual Report

2014-2015 Uniting the Legal Community

@NYCLAssoc @NYCLA @New York County Lawyers’ Association

@nycountylawyers

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from NYCLA’s President ........................................................................... Page i

Membership & Communications ....................................................................... Page 1-5

Event Highlights .................................................................................................. Page 5-9

Continuing Legal Education Institute .................................................................. Page 9-11

Pro Bono ............................................................................................................. Page 11-13

Research and Technology ................................................................................... Page 13-14

Justice Center ..................................................................................................... Page 14-15

Task Forces and Working Groups ....................................................................... Page 15-16

Minority Judicial Internship Program ................................................................. Page 16

Public Policy Initiatives ....................................................................................... Page 16-18

NGO Status at the United Nations ...................................................................... Page 18

Eppler Award ...................................................................................................... Page 18

Kobak Award ....................................................................................................... Page 18

NYCLA Foundation .............................................................................................. Page 19-20

Sustaining Members ........................................................................................... Page 20-21

In Memoriam ...................................................................................................... Back Cover

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MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS

The NYCLA Membership and Communications Department develops and manages programs and services for the NYCLA community, made up of more than 8,000 attorneys, judges, academics, and law school students. Through Member benefits, events, communications, publications, and more, NYCLA helps Members keep learning and stay competitive, expand their professional networks, and demonstrate and elevate their professional value and credibility.

Member Benefits

Your Manhattan Bar Association Each year the legal profession changes and as it does, so does NYCLA. The Association stays in tune with the latest trends in the legal space and subsequently provides Members with opportunities to keep up with the profession. NYCLA offers many ways in which Members can learn about the latest in the law while also connecting and collaborating with others in the legal community. This includes an open Committee structure; discounted products and services; reduced cost high-quality CLE; and best-in-class librarians—all high-value benefits for the Member’s career, business and life. Benefits for WORK Open Committee Structure NYCLA’s open Committee structure allows Members to benefit from joining any and as many Committees and Sections as they feel necessary to advance their understanding of their field of practice and meet others who are leaders in the profession. NYCLA Committees and Sections play a key role in the public policy arena through the issuance of reports and comments on critical issues affecting the bench, bar, and public. The Association encourages Committees and Sections to analyze and report on pending legislation and proposed rulemaking by administrative agencies and the courts. NYCLA Committee and Section Reports and Amicus Briefs serve an important function in aiding legislators and judicial and government administrators during the decision-making process. Publicity generated by these reports enhances the stature of the Association and the Committee or Section that produced the report. And the benefits of participation in Committee or Section work are available to all NYCLA Members – from law students to experienced attorneys. Professional Development and CLE NYCLA offers preferred pricing on CLE seminars and webinars; free professional and personal development opportunities through our monthly membership programs; and access to an extensive collection of legal research materials in digital, print, and other formats with a helpful staff to assist Members as needed. This year NYCLA helped Members stay on top of emerging trends and legal news with the weekly e-News and monthly New York County Lawyer digital publication, delivering relevant, timely information to our broad range of Members from newly admitted to senior partner. NYCLA also offers Members the opportunity to submit articles in its publications for thought-leader opportunities.

NYCLA Opens Member Lounge

In fall 2014 NYCLA opened the Member Lounge, a redesigned space on the first floor of the Home of Law. Members are invited to relax here during a break from the Library, before or after a meeting or event, or rest their feet and gather their thoughts before or after court. The room features cable TV and complimentary coffee and tea, for NYCLA Members to enjoy, along with outlets to charge electronic devices.

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Library Services New York County Lawyers' Association Library maintains a collection geared specifically to meet the needs of the practicing bar. The Library's New York practice collection is one of the finest on the East Coast and our staff is second to none. In 2014 the NYCLA Library had over 7,490 visits from over 740 members.

Benefits for WORK, Benefits for LIFE NYCLA recognizes that Members want to access benefits usually only available to employees of large corporations – like discounts on gym memberships, shopping, and car rentals, to name a few. We also know that many Members are business owners who need discounts on essential services such as shipping, web design, electronic discovery, malpractice insurance, and financial services. We offer a broad range of membership benefits and are committed to expanding our benefits program with additional products and services that enhance both the professional and personal lives of our Members. In 2014-2015 NYCLA began offering a new Member benefit through MLS Direct—a significantly discounted credit card processing program. Members who accept credit cards at their office locations now have the opportunity to obtain rates as low as 1.19%.

Career Support for Members NYCLA Members have access to the Association’s complimentary and low-cost career-building programs and services. Whether Members are transitioning between fields, unemployed, or just starting out, NYCLA provides a variety of offerings to help Members accomplish their goals. Panel Discussions and Networking Programs NYCLA’s "How-To" programs and networking events such as Speed Networking and the annual fall Mentor Auction for law students help Members learn from industry leaders and network with others in the legal community. Resume Review The Peer-to-Peer Resume Review Service team assists Members—from recent law school graduates to seasoned attorneys to attorneys looking to change practice areas—by reviewing resumes in the following areas: • Supervisory • Lateral • Transactional • Litigation • Big firm • Public service/government • Compliance

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We thank the Membership Committee and its chair, Daniel Wiig, for its invaluable support and dedication to expanding NYCLA’s membership offerings, and for ensuring that NYCLA membership is truly of value to those who belong to the organization.

Communications and Publications

NYCLA continuously strives to improve communications with Members. Chaired by Adrienne Koch, the NYCLA Communications Committee had led key initiatives which impact how we communicate with Members. We would like to acknowledge and thank Adrienne and her committee for their hard work and dedication. The Association recently launched the New York County Lawyers Association Law Blog, which can be accessed at https://nyclalaw.wordpress.com.

Issues and Trends Members stay connected to NYCLA through the weekly e-newsletter, distributed on Friday mornings. Each issue contains links to articles of interest to the legal community, the latest issue of the NYCLA newspaper, upcoming CLE programs and events, featured jobs, Committee/Section meetings, Member benefits, and more.

New York County Lawyer The New York County Lawyer covers a variety of practice areas and keeps readers up to date on issues that are shaping the legal community in New York and across the country. Written by the legal community for the legal community, the New York County Lawyer is published 10 times and includes professional perspectives on new statutes and regulations, as well as current social issues facing our nation. Recent issues have been devoted to topics such as Alternative Legal Models;” “Women’s Rights and the Law;” “Going Virtual;” and “Legal Trends.”

NYCLA Law Blog NYCLA recently launched its Law Blog at https://nyclalaw.wordpress.com to help get information on the latest trends in the law to Members and the legal community in an efficient and effective way. This new, dynamic blog contains articles by Members about issues relating to the legal community in general and about topics specific to various practice areas.

Attorneys’ Guide to Civil Practice in the New York Supreme Court The Attorneys’ Guide to Civil Practice in New York County Supreme Court, published in spring of 2015, serves as a valuable tool for all attorneys engaged in civil litigation in Manhattan. In its 20th edition, the 2015 edition

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of the Guide includes summaries of the many recent changes to the rules and is also a concise resource for details about judges, court personnel, and procedures in the Supreme Court. Special pricing is offered to NYCLA Members. Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts

The Third Edition of the treatise Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, a highly successful joint venture between NYCLA and Thomson Reuters/West, continues to receive critical acclaim and generate annual royalties for NYCLA. A myriad of legal newspapers and bar journals throughout the State of New York have published favorable book reviews of the Third Edition since it was published during the fall of 2010. This six-volume, 7,769 page treatise, written by 144 distinguished judges and well-known litigators, contains 106 chapters and covers all aspects of civil procedure in New York State courts.

Publicity NYCLA’s work in the New York City legal community is publicized by external media outlets and helps get the word out in the community about

the great work being done by the Association. Stories cover programming, advocacy work, and pro bono programs. Members serve as spokespeople, showcasing NYCLA’s thought leadership.

NYCLA’s efforts have been publicized by various media this past year including national media outlets such as Forbes.com, local media outlets like CBS2, and industry publications, including CapitalNewYork.com, Crain’s New York Business, Commercial Litigation Insider, Law360.com, Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, and the New York Law Journal. The Association was featured in articles covering topics

such as NYCLA’s new Veteran’s discharge upgrade pro bono project, social media ethics, New York State’s pro bono admission requirement, and special programs and events.

NYCLA Rapid Response

Over the past several years, NYCLA’s Rapid Response Team has reacted quickly to negative and unwarranted attacks on the judiciary. This initiative was designed specifically to respond to politically motivated, inflammatory, and/or ad hominem attacks, whether from politicians or from the press, that threaten judicial independence or mislead the public. During 2014-2015, the Rapid Response Team responded quickly and effectively to a series of attacks on individual judges and on the difficult decisions those judges made. Of note, the Rapid Response team responded to attacks on judges assigned to cases involving lawyers with ties to former Speaker Sheldon Silver and attacks on judges involved in stop-and-frisk cases.

Social Media

NYCLA’s Members are accessing content in new ways, particularly through social media while on the go. Therefore the Association increasingly uses these channels to engage in discussion with the New York legal community and spread the word about programs and initiatives. NYCLA’s Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn channels

help the Association keep in constant contact with the audiences we most need to reach, while each channel allows us to target our message to most effectively reach the audience on their terms. Within NYCLA’s LinkedIn group, its 3,390 members engage in discussion about various topics related to the legal industry. Meanwhile, over 1,300 members of the legal community are fans of NYCLA on Facebook (facebook.com/NYCLAssoc),

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where we aim to keep them informed about the happenings at NYCLA with informational, photo, and video postings. The NYCLA Twitter handle, @NYCLA, with over 900 followers, keeps our community up-to-date on industry news and Association event and activities. NYCLA also recently established an Instagram account @NYCOUNTYLAWYERS to highlight happenings at the Association.

2014-2015 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS In 2014-2015 NYCLA hosted a wide range of events to meet the needs of its membership, from networking events to professional development events, public forums, work-life balance programs, and special events.

Lunch with a Judge 2.0: The Courtroom Experience Designed for summer associates, this popular real-world educational series includes a lunchtime panel with members of the bench discussing various topics related to the law in their courtrooms. During the summer of 2014, NYCLA held three sessions of Lunch with a Judge in the court rooms of Hon. Helen Freedman, Hon. Joan Madden, and Hon. Sidney Stein. The program was sponsored by the Judicial Section and the Young Lawyers’ Section.

Networking Events High -energy events, hosted by the Young Lawyers’ Section, connected members of the legal community with one another and helped them expand their networks and opened the door to professional and personal opportunity. NYCLA Members networked at these events and more:

Club NYCLA Happy Hours

Law Student Reception and Mentor Auction

Oktoberfest – Meet & Greet

Speed Networking

100th Annual Dinner

At its 100th Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria on December 17, 2014, NYCLA honored the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on its 225th Anniversary. The event, chaired by Robert L. Haig, former NYCLA President, featured remarks by the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, and the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States. The 2014 William Nelson Cromwell Award was presented to

Honorable Michael B. Mukasey, Former Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District

Photo right: The Young Lawyers’ Section hosted a Speed Networking event on January 30 to help lawyers make the connections needed to propel their careers.

Photo above: A group of summer associates hear from Hon. Sidney Stein during Lunch with a Judge.

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of New York and Former Attorney General of the United States. The 2014 Boris Kostelanetz President's Medal was presented to the Honorable Loretta A. Preska, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Lectures, Special Events, and Award Recognition

The following forums, lectures, special events, and award ceremonies were held in 2014-2015. We thank our Committees and Sections for organizing many of these valuable programs and events and appreciate the unwavering support by Megan Davis, Chair of the Committee on Committees, whose dedication to NYCLA’s Committees and Sections has enabled the organization to maximize the membership experience.

Event Date About

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Annual Edith Spivack Award May 30, 2014 Rachel Lloyd of GEMS was presented with this award by the NYCLA Women in the Law Committee.

Matrimonial Section Spring Cocktail Party June 2, 2014 NYCLA’s Matrimonial Law Section held its Annual Cocktail Party at Battery Park Gardens and honored the New York Matrimonial Support Office.

Federal Courts Committee Annual Dinner June 10, 2014 The Federal Courts Committee presented the David Y. Hinshaw award to Gregg Kanter, former Federal Courts Committee Chair, at this event held at Battery Park Gardens.

Young Lawyers’ Section Awards and Reception June 12, 2014 The Young Lawyers’ Section honored attorneys and law students for their contributions to the legal profession.

Civil Court Practice Section Annual Dinner June 24, 2014 This annual awards dinner hosted by the Civil Court Practice Section was held at Fino Wall Street and celebrated the supervising and administrative judges of the Civil Court, past and present.

Lunch with a Judge 2.0: The Courtroom Experience June 11, 19, 26, 2014 This program was sponsored by NYCLA's Young Lawyers' Section.

Reception Honoring the New NYSBA President and NYCLA member, Glenn Lau Kee

July 16, 2014 NYCLA’s Asian Practice, Federal Courts, and Solo/Small Firm Committees and AABANY hosted a joint special reception honoring the newest NYSBA president, Glenn Lau-Kee.

In Practice September 14, 2015 NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section hosted this program with Louis Nock, Senior Attorney at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

Law Student Reception and Mentor Auction September 18, 2014 NYCLA's Young Lawyers’ Section hosted an evening of food, drink, and networking. Law students “bidded” auction-style (with fake money) on a mentor for their chance to “shadow” a lawyer or a judge for a day.

Public Service Awards and Reception

September 15, 2014 This event honored attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the public sector. Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel of the City of New York,, served as special guest speaker during the event in which seven attorneys were given awards.

Portrait Unveiling of a Former President, Ann B. Lesk September 29, 2014 NYCLA unveiled a portrait of Ann B. Lesk, President of the Association from 2008 to 2010.

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Club NYCLA Happy Hour October 1, 2014 NYCLA held a Club NYCLA Happy Hour at Essex Restaurant where Members met and mingled with each other in a casual environment.

51st

Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Lecture

October 6, 2014 Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of New York, delivered the 51

st Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Lecture,

sponsored by Hughes Hubbard.

Kick-off Reception for Hon. Harold Baer Jr. and Dr. Suzanne Baer Minority Judicial Internship Program

October 9, 2014 Law students attended this event to learn more about the Minority Judicial Internship program, which provides a unique opportunity for law students of color to be introduced to the judicial system during a paid summer internship.

Construction Law Committee Cocktails & Dinner November 6, 2014 NYCLA’s Construction Law Committee hosted a cocktails and dinner event at BLT Prime.

Luncheon Honoring the Federal Courts in New York City

November 3, 2014 NYCLA’s Federal Courts Committee honored the federal courts in New York City. The Edward Weinfeld Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Administration of Justice was presented to Chief Judge Carol Bagley Amon, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York by Judge Reena Raggi, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Celebrating Pro Bono Reception October 24, 2014 NYCLA, the New York State Bar Association and the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program held a reception to honor dedicated volunteers for their pro bono service.

Oktoberfest – Meet & Greet

October 29, 2014 NYCLA Members informally gathered to celebrate autumn and enjoyed a selection of hard ciders from Crispin and tasted a variety of German-inspired appetizers. This event was hosted by the Young Lawyers' Section.

Club NYCLA Happy Hour November 10, 2014 NYCLA hosted a happy hour at Reichenbach Hall where Members met and mingled with each other in a atmosphere.

How to Ask for a Raise and Get It November 11, 2014 NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section hosted an event featuring noted career coach Vera Sullivan during which attendees gained insight on the touchy subject of asking for a raise.

Nanette Dembitz Lecture November 19, 2014 NYCLA’s Family Court and Child Welfare Committee hosted the annual Nanette Dembitz Lecture, "The Indian Child Welfare Act: Understanding its Import and its Impact on New York City’s Family Courts and Child Welfare System."

Remembering the Dream: Personal and Professional Reflections in Honor of the Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act

December 4, 2014 NYCLA hosted a special program commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A distinguished panel of judges discussed the importance of the Civil Rights Act, from both a personal and professional perspective, as well as ways to deal with the remnants of racial and ethnic inequality that still exist in our society. Panelists sharing their personal and professional stories included: Hon. Jenny Rivera, NYS Court of Appeals, Hon. Pamela Chen, E.D.N.Y., Hon. George Bundy Smith (Ret.), and Hon. Ronald Ellis, Magistrate Judge, S.D.N.Y. This program was co-sponsored by NYCLA’s Civil Rights and Liberties Committee, Federal Courts Committee, and the Minorities and the Law Committee.

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100th Annual Dinner: Honoring the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on its 225

th Anniversary

December 17, 2014 NYCLA honored the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on its 225th Anniversary at the 100

th Annual Dinner. The event featured remarks by the

Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, and the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States.

Restorative Justice in New York City: What's Happening and Why We Need More

January 8, 2015 NYCLA’s Criminal Justice Section held a forum where panelists provided an overview of existing restorative justice programs in New York City and discussed the future of restorative justice in the city.

Speed Networking

January 30, 2014 Attendees were matched with other professionals they wanted to meet with based on a few key components and were taken through eight rounds of six-minute sessions. This event was sponsored by Tiger Beer U.S. and hosted by NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section.

The 16th Annual FINRA Listens…and Speaks February 2, 2015 NYCLA hosted an exchange of views among arbitrators, counsel for claimants and counsel for respondents with Katherine M. Bayer, Regional Director, Northeast Region, FINRA Dispute Resolution.

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Annual Ida B. Wells-Barnett Justice Award Ceremony

February 3, 2015 NYCLA and the Metropolitan Black Bar Association presented the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Justice Award in Honor of Black History Month to Hon. Fern A. Fisher, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, New York City Courts and Director of the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program.

East Meets West: Understanding the Dynamics of the Asian Market

March 9, 2015 NYCLA's Asian Practice Committee presented a Lunar celebration event where a panel of attorneys and business professionals who have worked in Asia or with Asia related business in the US shared their experiences and gave their perspectives on understanding the Asia market and how they are addressing the high level of Asian Investment and Development both in New York and abroad.

Breast Cancer: Upworthy Ideas March 10, 2015 NYCLA’s Women in the Law Committee and Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert held this event that offered insight and advice on topics such as how to deal with a diagnosis and how to help friends who have been diagnosed.

Animal Rescue Forum March 19, 2015 Attendees learned how to use their legal skills to help animals in need. This event was sponsored by the Animal Law Committee.

Judicial Reception March 23, 2015 NYCLA’s Supreme Court Committee hosted this reception honoring newly elected, appointed, re-elected, and re-appointed judges.

In Practice April 2, 2015 NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section held an “In Practice” program with Johanna Miller, the Director of the Advocacy Department at the New York City Liberties Union.

Law Day Luncheon April 17, 2015 NYCLA’s Supreme Court Committee hosted the annual Law Day Luncheon. The Capozzoli Gavel Award was presented to Hon. Sheila Abdus-Salaam, Associate Judge, New York Court of Appeals. Greetings were made by Maya Wiley, Esq., Counsel to New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio, and Remarks were delivered by Ron Kuby, Esq., civil rights attorney and radio host.

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Portrait Unveiling of a former NYCLA President, Michael Miller April 30, 2015 NYCLA held a special event to unveil the portrait of Michael Miller, President of the Association from 2002 to 2004.

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Edith Spivack Award May 1, 2015 NYCLA’s Women and the Law Committee presented the Edith Spivack Award to Dina Bakst and Sherry Leiwant, Co-Presidents of A Better Balance, for their work in advancing the rights of working families. This award was presented at the Committee’s Women in the Law: Policy Perspectives and Personal Progression CLE course.

United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York

May 12, 2015 The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York held a special ceremony to celebrate the publication of The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York: A Retrospective (1990 – 2014), which was written, compiled and published by the Federal Courts Committee of the New York County Lawyers Association.

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Annual Young Lawyers’ Awards and Reception May 14, 2015 The Young Lawyers’ Section honored attorneys and law students for their contributions to the legal profession.

Annual Meeting May 28, 2015 NYCLA's annual induction ceremony for new officers and directors took place on May 28, 2015.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION INSTITUTE

Educating and Training Attorneys

The CLE Institute continued to educate and train attorneys in law practice management, ethics and professionalism, professional practice, and skills. Many new programs were developed in 2014-2015 to keep pace with the changing needs of the legal profession, especially in light of the recovering economy, advances in technology, and the ever-present need to sharpen skills. An unparalleled roster of experts from the bench, bar, government, academia, and related disciplines taught the programs, offering their insights, knowledge, tactics, and guidance to attendees.

Extensive Selection of Live Programs

NYCLA offered programs in both substantive law and skill building. While some programs focused on new developments in specific practice areas, such as Ethics in the Digital Age, others were developed in response to the developments in and around New York City, such as Don’t Hail That Cab: Insurance and Other Issues Surrounding Ride Sharing. The CLE Institute continued to partner with other organizations to create specialty programs, such as the partnership with the Federal Bar Association (FBA) on the program Pretrial Practice in the SDNY: A Conversation with the Magistrate Judges. NYCLA also developed programs to assist lawyers in honing their legal and business skills, such as Being a Good Lawyer is Not Enough. Other programs, such as Drafting Prenuptial and Spousal Settlement Agreements, focused on skill development.

The CLE Institute also taught basic legal skills in programs such as How to Try an Equitable Distribution Case, The Experts’ Guide to Appellate Practice, and Mediation in Estates and Trusts and Elder Law.

Photo above: Congressperson Jerry Nadler, Hon. Barbara Jaffe, artist Frank Stella and Irina Tarsis speak at the 7

th Annual Art

Litigation and Dispute resolution Practice Institute

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The CLE Institute continued to present important programs in key areas of the law. For the seventh consecutive year, our seminal program, Art Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Institute, co-chaired by Hon. Stephen G. Crane, Andrea Crane and Raymond J. Dowd, was a sold-out success. This year the program included a panel focusing on Should Artists Get a Cut? Resale Rights on Capitol Hill, featuring the noted artist Frank Stella and Congressperson Jerald Nadler. With all the legal and social changes occurring in the LGBT community, we conducted an LGBT Legislative Forum this February featuring prominent legislators from the NYS Assembly and Senate and NY City Council. Further, last May we instituted a full-day program on Women in Law, focusing on key policy and professional development issues of particular interest to women attorneys. During the lunch, the Edith Spivack award was presented before a sold out audience. The second iteration of the program was conducted this May. Working with NYCLA’s Young Lawyers’ Section, the CLE Institute also developed a series of programs focusing on career choices, So You’re Interested in a Career in Politics, So You Want to Be a Judge, So You’re Interested in Working In-House and So You Want to Work in the Courts. Special Events

The CLE Institute continued to combine learning with sporting events, holding a CLE program in June at Yankee Stadium, followed by a Yankees --Baltimore game and a program on Branding in the Sports and Media Industries followed by a Nets-Cleveland basketball game at Barclay’s Center. We hosted movie screenings followed by panel discussions on such titles as Shellshocked: Saving Oysters to Save Ourselves and After Tiller, as well as Author Events with Robert B. Fiske, Daniel Kornstein. On April 14 the Law & Literature Award was presented to Gilbert King at a program discussing his book “Devil in the Grove,” followed by a panel discussion on Thurgood Marshall’s legacy.

NYCLA CLE Institute Receives Accreditation as a Provider of CPE Courses Along with being an Accredited Provider of Continuing Legal Education programs in New York State and New Jersey, NYCLA’s CLE Institute is certified as a provider of continuing education courses for accountants in the areas of auditing, accounting, taxation, advisory services, and specialized knowledge. Programs for both lawyers and accountants have included Finance for Lawyers, How to Protect Your Law License, New Jersey Trust, and Business Accounting and The Tax Court: A View from the Bench.

NYCLA’s Ethics Institute

NYCLA’s Ethics Institute continued to offer CLE programs discussing ethical issues that arise in different legal contexts such as Insurance Ethics. Other programs focused on the ethical issues that arise in law practice, such as Best Practices and Ethics for Law Firm Marketing and Ethical Considerations in Starting Your Own Practice: What You Need to Know. In addition, NYCLA’s Task Force on Professionalism, chaired by Ronald Minkoff under the aegis of the Ethics Institute, has been commenting on issues of professionalism and developing programming aimed at improving attorneys’ professional lives, such as Ethics and Professional Issues in Criminal Practice.

Training Programs and Roundtable Discussions Along with traditional programs, we conducted small group training programs this year. We started a rainmaking and coaching 10-month series this March, Being a Good Lawyer is Not Enough, aimed at assisting attorneys in developing and implementing their own business development plans and implementing them. In conjunction with NYCLA’s Solo and Small Firm Committee we started a Solo and Small Firm Networking Roundtable. The group meets once a month, and focuses on issues of concern to solos and members of small firms and spotlights a particular member and his or her firm and provides networking opportunities.

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CLE Institute Now Providing CLE On The Go and On-Demand

NYCLA’s CLE Institute is now offering both MP3 and On-line versions of many of its most popular programs under the CLE On the Go and CLE On Demand brands. Attorneys are able to download programs and listen and learn while exercising at the gym, traveling to and from work, having coffee, or from the comfort of their homes or offices. The affirmation and issuance of CLE certificates are both handled online and via e-mail, eliminating the previously cumbersome mail process.

In addition, the Institute continues to offer selected programs as part of its DVD/CD Audio Reference Library.

NYCLA thanks the CLE Committee and its Chair, Hon. Stephen G. Crane, the Board of Advisors of the Ethics Institute and members of the Task Force on Professionalism, for their invaluable support and guidance throughout the year.

PRO BONO PROGRAMS NYCLA continued to foster a robust array of pro bono projects, which range from providing limited legal information and assistance to resolve a problem before legal action is taken to representing individuals who are challenging an adverse decision. Our pro bono projects targeted populations that represented the tremendous diversity of New York. Clients included single parents, the elderly, veterans, persons with low-level English proficiency, individuals with criminal convictions and low-income people who were forced to represent themselves.

Ongoing Projects

When people cannot afford legal counsel or they are uncertain about how to obtain legal assistance to solve a particular problem, they become discouraged by the legal system. Consequently, they endure needless and unjust hardship or give up on problems that might otherwise be easily solved. Our Legal Counseling Project, NYCLA’s longest-running and most popular volunteer opportunity, provided free weekly counseling in the areas of family, employment, and landlord/tenant law. The project gave individuals the opportunity to meet one-on-one with an attorney to discuss their legal problems and explore options and solutions. With the growing number of New Yorkers using credit cards to make ends meet, the Civil Courts are being inundated with consumer debt cases. The Manhattan CLARO Project responded by providing limited legal advice to the unrepresented debtor being sued by their creditors in New York County Civil Court. Rather than representing these individuals in court, volunteer attorneys provided advice on self-representation strategies at free weekly walk-in clinics. Bankruptcy experts were also available for one-on-one consultations on consumer bankruptcy issues. Unemployment is the persistent factor most strongly correlated with recidivism. Obtaining gainful employment, however, is typically difficult for a person with a criminal history, particularly one who seeks to enter a vocation requiring state licenses. Routinely, the New York Department of State, which has the authority to grant the necessary licenses, denies them to individuals solely on the basis of their prior criminal convictions. NYCLA’s Project Restore provided representation to such individuals during the administrative appeal process, and once again boasted a high success rate in overturning the initial administrative denials and obtaining licenses for the clients. When the New York State Office of Children and Family Services receives a call regarding suspected abuse and neglect, a report is entered into the State Central Register. The mere existence of such a report, even if unfounded, often hinders the listed individual in future family disputes or job searches. If individuals listed on the Register wish to remove their names from the list, and if the Register refuses to remove their

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name, they have a right to an administrative review and fair hearing. Our State Central Registry Project provided counsel to individuals throughout this process who sought to clear their names. Most taxpayers who appear in front of the Tax Court are unrepresented and cannot afford to pay an attorney to represent them. While some calendar call locations have Low Income Taxpayer Clinics, such clinics in New York only provide representation to taxpayers who are already clients. This leaves many pro se taxpayers at calendar call without access to legal advice. NYCLA’s Tax Court Project provided limited legal assistance to those unrepresented pro se petitioners at calendar call. Military discharges that are not characterized as “Honorable” can disqualify veterans from many benefits and carry a stigma that can make it difficult to find employment. A service member generally receives a discharge characterization that is less than Honorable due to inferior performance or misconduct. However, a number of military service members have received less than Honorable discharges due to misconduct arising from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury that was misdiagnosed or undiagnosed at the time. NYCLA’s Veterans’ Discharge Upgrade Project provided assistance to veterans seeking to upgrade the characterization of their military discharge.

New Project

Unemployment benefits provide crucial, temporary income support to people who have lost a job through no fault of their own. These benefits can stave off an eviction and keep food on the table. NYCLA’s Unemployment Insurance Advocacy Project, in collaboration with Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS), provided representation to individuals denied unemployment insurance benefits in administrative hearings before the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board.

Pro Bono Reception-October 2014

New York County Lawyers Association, New York State Bar Association and the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program held a reception to honor dedicated volunteers for their pro bono service. NYCLA members honored included Aaron J. Feinstein and Timothy J. DeCicco for providing advice, support and comfort to hundreds of individuals in the Legal Counseling Project. Cynthia Watkins was honored for her work with the Manhattan CLARO Project. Olivia Cuggy was recognized for giving the clients of Project Restore a second chance. Regina Y. Won and Jake Spillman, Jr. for providing counsel to individuals seeking to amend seal or expunge indicated reports of child abuse and

maltreatment through their work with the State Central Registry Project. Peter A. Lowy was honored for helping numerous taxpayers settle their case with the IRS through the Tax Court Project. Ben Rossen and Joshua F. Naylor for their work with the Veterans’ Discharge Upgrade Project assisting veterans who have served our country navigate the discharge upgrade administrative process. NYCLA is deeply proud of its tradition of public service and looks forward to building on it in the future. With the support of volunteers, NYCLA’s Pro Bono projects provided assistance to over 1,600 individuals this past year. As the communities we serve and the legal needs of those living in them change, we will continue to redefine and revise our programs to meet those needs. This cannot be done without the support of the extraordinary committed group of members of the Pro Bono Committee. NYCLA acknowledges their tireless work and especially thanks its Chair, Lisa E. Cleary. NYCLA’s pro bono efforts were made possible by the generous support of NYCLA members, the IOLA Fund, the New York Bar Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.

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Part 137 Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Program

NYCLA continued to administer the Part 137 Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program, a public service that provides for the informal and expeditious resolution of fee disputes between attorneys and clients through arbitration or mediation. We are very pleased with the work of the volunteer arbitrators and mediators; without them the program would not be a success. NYCLA owes a special debt of thanks to James E. Daniels, Chair of the Joint Committee on Fee Disputes and Conciliation, for his invaluable support and guidance. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

The “Lawyers’ Toolbox” for the 21st Century is increasingly digital, though access to some material in print, and in microform serves to strengthen the resources at hand for the practitioner. The NYCLA Library continues to fine tool the balance of resources and formats needed by those who rely on our library now and in the coming years. The NYCLA Library supports 25 patron personal computers, allowing access to legal databases, the Internet, Adobe X Pro, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), WordPerfect, etc. All the Patron PCs have Adobe X Pro (for your electronic filing needs), Microsoft office, and five PCs have WordPerfect. Twenty-three of the Patron PCs have access to WestlawNext and Westlaw Classic (until it is phased out) and one terminal supports Lexis. The West subscription is rich in secondary source content (treatises, law reviews, ALRs and form sets), with special libraries covering New York and New Jersey treatises, as well as having State and Federal cases, statutes, and administrative materials. The Lexis subscription also has State and Federal primary source materials, and a core collection on New York treatises and form sets dealing with litigation. Through the use of the “Get Document” feature the Librarians and patrons can access most Lexis and Matthew Bender Treatises and form sets. Free printing is available from the NYCLA Patron computers. Likewise the Lexis and Westlaw subscriptions allow patrons to email most of the content in the subscriptions in Word, WordPerfect or in PDF formats. Most NYCLA members are qualified to receive free, off-site legal research materials through the New York State Library- Attorney Borrower’s Card. The NYCLA Library offers training to members in the use of these free databases that provide access to state and federal primary source materials and selected secondary materials from Wolters Kluwer/CCH/Aspen, Lexis Matthew Bender, and Bar Association publications. McKinney’s New York Consolidated Laws, the New York Official Reports, the New York Code Rules and Regulations, the New York City Charter and Administrative Code, the Rules of City of New York are all available in print as well as being available through Lexis and WestlawNext. Selected treatises in the area of Immigration Law, Landlord and Tenant Law, and New York Family Law and Litigation are also kept up to date in print. When available, the NYCLA Library also has these materials on Westlaw. Four special collections deserve to be pointed out to NYCLA members.

The NYCLA Library has a strong collection of superseded treatises. If you find a reference to an old volume in a case, the NYCLA Library is likely to have it.

The NYCLA Library has the ability to reconstitute old administrative rules from the NYCRR. If you are trying to track down an old New York regulation, contact us at Reference@NYCLA.org. We are one of the few Law Libraries that can provide this service. The NYCLA Library can assist members in divining the legislative history and legislative intent of current and out-of-date New York statutes, New York City Charter and Administrative Code provisions and changes in the New York City rules. The Library also has some capability and skill in doing this for other state’s statutes and the United States Code.

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The Records and Briefs for the New York Court of Appeals and the four New York Appellate Divisions are available in microform and selected Briefs are available through Westlaw/WestlawNext. Even selected trial court documents are available through Westlaw.

The New York Law Journal arrives in the Library every day it is published and the Library, in microform, has the entire back file to the beginnings of the publication in 1888. The holdings of the NYCLA Library have been selected and preserved to best meet the needs of NYCLA members, onsite and off-site.

Library Usage

Newly admitted attorneys, seasoned members of the Bar, paralegals, law students and academics visit the library to consult the collection and to tap into the expertise of the NYCLA Library staff. Some NYCLA members use the library frequently; other members visit as needed. The highly experienced staff offers assistance to patrons in the efficient and effective use of Library resources and legal research in general. Many NYCLA members and law firms use the NYCLA Library’s fee-based services. These customers can place their requests for assistance by email, fax, or phone. The library services include copying cases, law review articles, Records and Briefs, and can even include requests for research services. The NYCLA fee-based services offer good value. Customers contact the NYCLA Library from around the world, across the state, and down the block. The NYCLA Reference staff can access databases not available directly to the NYCLA members, including public records and other esoteric materials. Through various sources the Library staff can often identify and track down expert testimony and reports. The NYCLA fee-based services revenue are an integral part of the Library budget. The NYCLA Library, like the law itself, is at the flashpoint of continuity and change, trying to offer members the tools they know and need. All members are encouraged and welcome to visit the NYCLA Library to see how it can aid you in your practice. JUSTICE CENTER Under the leadership Jim Kobak and Hon. Joseph Kevin McKay as Co-Chairs, the dedicated Justice Center Advisory Board continued to make significant contributions to issues such as civics education and access to justice. The Justice Center also continued its work on issues pertaining to Special Immigration Juvenile Status, which is available to certain immigrant youth who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, or similarly mistreated. The Justice Center Advisory Board also co-sponsored the following programs during the year:

On March 30, 2015, Pretrial Alternatives to Incarceration: SOS and POP in the EDNY

On April 28, 2015, Sex Trafficking: Underage Victims in NY Courts

On April 14, 2015, Law and Literature Award Ceremony and Program: Devil in the Grove and Discussion on Thurgood Marshall’s Legacy

Youth Law Education Projects

In partnership with Hon. Richard Lee Price, chair of the NYCLA Law‐Related Education Committee, and Debra Lesser, Executive Director of the Justice Resource Center, on May 15, 2015, the NYCLA Justice Center sponsored its eighth conference for high school students and teachers of law‐related education. The conference was held at NYCLA and brought together New York City high school students and their teachers to discuss issues of civil rights and criminal law as well as careers in the law.

Essay Contest

NYCLA’s Law‐Related Education Committee, chaired by Hon. Richard Lee Price, continues to sponsor the High School Essay Contest. In May 2015, the Committee presented cash prizes and certificates to the New

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York City public high school students who wrote the winning essays on the topic: Does solitary confinement constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the U.S. Constitution? Yes or no? Students were permitted to take into account the inmate's original crime, conduct while incarcerated, age, emotional and physical health, the duration of the solitary confinement; the rights and/or safety of other inmates; or solitary confinement practices in other nations. TASK FORCES AND WORKING GROUPS Task Force on Meeting the Challenge On August 5, 2014, the NYCLA Task Force on Meeting the Challenge issued its in-depth Report on New York State’s 50-Hour Pro Bono Bar Admission Requirement. As of January 1, 2015, applicants to the New York Bar are required to certify that they have completed at least 50 hours of pro bono work as a condition of admission to practice. The Task Force Report investigated what law schools, law firms, public interest organizations and bar associations are doing to assist law students and law school graduates in meeting the new 50-Hour requirement. The report also outlined anticipated challenges and made several recommendations. The Task Force also noted that, as New York is the first state to implement a pro bono rule for bar applicants, the impact of the rule cannot be fully assessed until it goes into effect. At that point, data can and should be gathered directly from the affected bar applicants to determine—among other things—the degree to which the new rule has imposed additional costs or burdens, or has influenced new graduates to seek admission in states other than New York. NYCLA has historically encouraged its members and other attorneys to engage in voluntary pro bono work, but has resisted mandatory pro bono requirements, whether for admitted attorneys or for bar applicants. In accordance with its long-standing view, NYCLA went on record opposing the 50-hour rule for bar applicants. Although the investigation conducted by the Task Force assuaged some of the practical concerns that the Association initially had about the rule, NYCLA’s opposition to mandatory pro bono rested in part on broader issues of principle and professionalism. Task Force on the Uniform Bar Exam Proposal On March 3, 2015, the NYCLA Task Force on the Uniform Bar Exam issued its report on the New York UBE Proposal. The Report explains how reasonable arguments can be made for and against the adoption of the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) by New York State, and therefore NYCLA supports a one‐year study period during which these arguments can be fully assessed. The Task Force found that the adoption of a UBE would allow more resources to be devoted to constructing questions; the portability of UBE scores would allow exam‐takers to transfer to other states; and younger lawyers would benefit as the legal world becomes increasingly national and global. In its report, the Task Force noted concerns about the switch to the UBE, including the impact on the public of adoption of the UBE in the 15 states that have currently adopted it; the costs and fees that would be imposed for administration of the UBE in New York, when compared to the modest $250 current cost of the examination for first time takers; and the need for further study of possible disparate impact of the change on minorities, indigent examination takers, and graduates of foreign law schools. In particular, under the proposal all takers must pass a one hour 50 question multiple choice test on New York law. NYCLA questions whether dependence on a high‐speed multiple choice component for state law disproportionately disadvantages members of certain groups. NYCLA urged that all of the concerns about the UBE, as discussed in the report, be studied in the next year. If New York determines to immediately adopt the UBE, NYCLA recommended that studies be conducted after adoption.

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Task Force on Judicial Selection The Task Force on Judicial Selection, co-chaired by Hon. Margaret J. Finerty and Susan B. Lindenauer, continues to focus on court simplification and reorganization, New York’s Code of Judicial Conduct, and the administrative tribunal system in city government. HONORABLE HAROLD BAER JR. AND DR. SUZANNE BAER MINORITY JUDICIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM The Honorable Harold Baer Jr. and Dr. Suzanne Baer Minority Judicial Internship Program has been an integral part of NYCLA’s mission to increase diversity in the legal profession. Established in 1989, the program provides a unique opportunity for law students of color to be introduced to the judicial system during paid summer internships with local state and federal judges. The program is administered by NYCLA’s Minorities and the Law Committee and accepts first and second year law students from the five law schools in New York County, as well as Brooklyn Law School, St. John’s University School of Law, and City University of New York School of Law at Queens College. To promote the program, a kick-off reception was held in October 2014. Eligible law students, law school administrators, sponsors of the program, members of the Minorities and the Law Committee, and NYCLA Board members attended. In the winter of 2015, NYCLA awarded internships for the summer of 2015 to five students from Brooklyn Law School, City University of New York School of Law, Fordham University School of Law, and St. John’s University School of Law. Financial support for the program is provided by NYCLA’s Federal Court and Supreme Court Committees, NYCLA members, and a generous contribution from Pfizer Inc. Evaluations from the interns help provide the Minorities and the Law Committee with an indication of the program’s success. One intern for the 2014 program, Rogendy Toussaint of St. John’s University School of Law, said: When I first heard about the Hon. Harold Baer Jr. and Dr. Suzanne Baer Minority Judicial Internship Program, I knew immediately that it was a program that I had to be a part of. As an aspiring litigator, the opportunity to “peek behind the curtain” during a judge’s decision-making process, hearing oral arguments and writing decisions, has been invaluable. Coupled with the mentorship of NYCLA’s Minorities and the Law Committee, interning for the Hon. Geoffrey D.S. Wright of the New York Supreme Court Civil Term exceeded my expectations; giving me a broad understanding of what it means to be a good attorney. So enjoyable was my time as an intern that I decided to remain with Justice Wright beyond the summer, and continue throughout the fall semester of my 3L year. I can honestly say that the Hon. Harold Baer Jr. and Dr. Suzanne Baer Minority Judicial Internship Program solidified my dream to become a litigator and I am proud to call myself a “Baer-ette.” In Memoriam NYCLA remembers Hon. Harold Baer Jr. for his contributions that helped make the Minority Judicial Internship program possible over the years. PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES June 2, 2014: NYCLA SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE Sent Comments to OCA on Privilege Logs

in the Commercial Division

Jun 2, 2014: NYCLA SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE Sent Comments to OCA about the

Assignment of Cases to the Commercial Division

June 5, 2014: NYCLA CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES COMMITTEE and CRIMINAL JUSTICE

SECTION Sent Letter to Elected Officials about New York State Senate and

Assembly Bill Relating to Trafficking Victims

June 16, 2014: NYCLA Professional Ethics Committee Issued an Opinion on Concerns Whether

a Corporate Counsel's Offer to Represent a Corporate or Former Employee

Constitutes Improper Solicitation

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Jun 24, 2014: NYCLA President Lewis F. Tesser Sent Letter to Governor Cuomo about

Increasing the Number of Family Court Judges

June 24, 2014: NYCLA Issued an Opinion on Ethical Conflicts Caused When Corporate Counsel

Offers to Represent Corporate Employee or Former Employee

August 5, 2014: NYCLA Task Force on Meeting the Challenge Issued a REPORT ON NEW YORK

STATE’S 50-HOUR PRO BONO BAR ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

September 8, 2014: NYCLA Supreme Court Committee Sent Comments to OCA about the Proposed

Preamble to the Rules of the Commercial Division Regarding Sanctions

September 8, 2014: NYCLA Supreme Court Committee Sent Comments to OCA about Presumptive

Limitations on the Number and Duration of Depositions

September 15, 2014: ESTATES, TRUSTS AND SURROGATE'S COURT PRACTICE SECTION Sent

Statement to OCA about Proposed Amendments to Rules Regarding the Filing

of Death Certificates

October 22, 2014: NYCLA ADR COMMITTEE Sent Comments to OCA on Proposed Amendment to

22 NYCRR Part 1215 Regarding ADR Language in Attorney Engagement Letters

October 23, 2014: NYCLA Issued a Statement Regarding Hurrell-Harring v. New York Settlement

November 6, 2014: NYCLA CONSTRUCTION LAW COMMITTEE Issued a Report, ““New York’s

Scaffold Law and Pending Reforms”

November 6, 2014: NYCLA TORT LAW SECTION Issued a Report, “The Scaffold Law and Legislative

Proposals that Would Shift the Strict Burden for Workplace Safety from Owners

and Contractors to the Injured Employee.”

November 24, 201: NYCLA SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE Sent Comments to OCA on Proposed

New Rule of the Commercial Division Regarding Responses and Objections to

Document Requests

December 4, 2014: NYCLA Issued a Statement Recommending Court Budget Proposals

February 3, 2015: NYCLA CONSTRUCTION LAW COMMITTEE sent a letter to the Association of the

Bar of the City of New York in Support of Report on Modernizing New York's

Construction Law

February 12, 2015: NYCLA Federal Courts Committee commented on Proposed Amendments to

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

February 18, 2015: NYCLA President Lewis Tesser Sent a Letter to New York Post Editor on Attack

of Judge Joan Madden

March 2, 2015 NYCLA Past-Presidents Sent a Letter to United States Senate Judiciary

Committee Supporting Loretta Lynch Attorney General Nomination

March 3, 2015 NYCLA Issued a Report on the New York Uniform Bar Exam Proposal

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March 10, 2015: NYCLA Professional Ethics Committee Issued an Opinion on the Ethical

Implications of Attorney Profiles on LinkedIn

NGO STATUS AT THE UNITED NATIONS In 2003, NYCLA was granted special consultative status at the United Nations, which permits NYCLA

representatives to participate in UN conferences, briefings by the United States Mission to the UN, and

activities sponsored by other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). In the past year, NYCLA

representatives to the UN, Marilyn J. Flood, Hon. Joseph Kevin McKay (ret.), Barbara T. Rochman, Clara

Flebus, and Caroline Fuchs were actively engaged in activities of the NGO Commission on the Status of

Women/NY and 59th Annual Commission on the Status of Women Conference in March 2015. The

conference theme for CSW59 was review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+20).

In addition, on November 3rd to 5th, 2014, over 700 women gathered at the Palais des Nations in Geneva,

Switzerland, for the Geneva NGO Forum, Beijing + 20, UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)

Regional Review. The women came to discuss, debate, and develop recommendations to update and

further implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action for Equality, Development and Peace,

which was adopted at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, China in 1995. This

groundbreaking document committed UN Member States to a comprehensive agenda for advancing

women's rights and empowerment. Marilyn J. Flood and Barbara T. Rochman, two of NYCLA's

representatives at the UN, attended the Geneva NGO Forum on behalf of NYCLA.

EPPLER AWARD Each year, NYCLA awards a Committee or Section that has written a report that has had or may have the greatest impact in effecting improvements in the law or in our judicial system with the Eppler Award. It consists of a certificate and a $500 stipend to enhance the Committee’s work.

The Criminal Justice Section, which studies and proposes reforms of the criminal justice system, will receive the 2015 Eppler Award at the Annual Meeting for its report on Raising the Age of Juvenile Jurisdiction, which was published March 17, 2015. This report propose changes to the criminal justice system’s response to young offenders by raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction; removing youth from adult jails and prisons; reducing collateral consequences; and expanding diversion from courts and placement. The report also makes recommendations to reform PINS.

KOBAK AWARD This award was established in 2012 by immediate Past President Jim Kobak and is awarded annually to the Regular or Special Committee(s), Section(s), or Task Force(s) which have, during the Association year then ended, developed programs or projects which, in the sole judgment of the President-Elect of the Association, has been innovative, of high quality, and have had or are likely to have an impact on the betterment of the law, our judicial system, or the Association itself. The 2015 Kobak Award for innovative programs will be presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting to the Animal Law Committee for their March 2015 Animal Law Forum, dealing with legal issues regarding animals by bringing these highly specialized experts together and informing attorneys and the public of many key legal issues surrounding animal law. Highlights from the event included a discussion on Habeas Chimpus: Is a chimpanzee a “person” within the meaning of the law such that a habeas corpus petition may be brought to rescue him from abusive captivity; Avian Rescue; Emotional Support Animals and Disability Rights; and Pet Trusts: How to protect your beloved animal if you become incapacitated or die.

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NYCLA FOUNDATION & ASSOCIATION DONORS Under the leadership of Board Chair Vincent T. Chang and Foundation President Carol Sigmond, the members of the board of the New York County Lawyers Association Foundation gave generously of their time to both governance and fundraising. The Foundation’s Second Century Campaign helps support NYCLA projects, including the Justice Center, pro bono programs, as well as various operations and capital initiatives. Individuals, law firms, and corporations contributed to a combination of the Veterans Discharge Upgrade Program, Project Restore, Tax Court Project, Edith I. Spivack Fund for Women in Law and Society, and Hon. Harold Baer Jr. and Dr. Suzanne Baer Minority Judicial Internship Program. NYCLA and the NYCLA Foundation would like to extend a sincere thanks to all of those donors who make our programs possible. Private Foundation Donors Irene Aycock Foundation New York Bar Foundation Domenico Foundation Wounded Warriors Project IOLA Fund

Firms and Corporate Donors Arnold and Porter Alston & Bird LLP Cohen Rabin Stine Schumann LLP DLA Piper Pfizer

2014 Individuals and Member Donors

Stewart D. Aaron, Esq. Sharon M. Adler Karekin Arzoomanian, Esq. Carol Bahan, Esq. Nancy M. Bannon, Esq. Anthony P. Balsamo, Esq. Patrick H. Barth, Esq. Hon. Prudence Carter Beatty Hon. Ariel E. Belen Susan L. Bender, Esq. Scott M. Berman Felicia Berenson, Esq. Geoffrey Bickford, Esq. William Kenneth Block, Esq. Franklin S. Bonem, Esq. Shoshana T. Bookson, Esq. Jeffrey Braun, Esq. Colin D. Bull, Esq. Barbara Burger, Esq. Toby Butterfield, Esq. Joseph Calluori, Esq. Gregory J. Cannata, Esq. Alan R. Carena, Esq. Jai K. Chandrasekhar, Esq. Vincent T. Chang, Esq. Evan Chesler, Esq. Sylvia Fung Chin, Esq. Hon. Carmen B. Ciparick David M. Cohn, Esq.

Samuel Benjamin Cohen, Esq. Jeffrey R. Coleman, Esq. J. Peter Coll, Jr., Esq. Martin E. Connor, Esq. Maria T. Cortese Hon. Barry Anthony Cozier Hon. Stephen G. Crane Louis Crespo, Esq. Joseph A. D'avanzo, Esq. Megan P. Davis, Esq. Sylvia E. Di Pietro, Esq. Sherri Donovan, Esq. Jo Ann Douglas, Esq. Thomas G. Draper Jr., Esq. Joseph M. Drayton, Esq. Todd L. Drucker, Esq. Fiona Dutta, Esq. Curlina Laverne Edwards, Esq. Elizabeth Eilender, Esq. Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin Gordon Eng, Esq. Klaus Eppler, Esq. Professor John D. Feerick Hon. Paul Feinman Myrna Felder, Esq. Alan L. Fell, Esq. Arthur Norman Field, Esq. Hon. Margaret J. Finerty Dyan M. Finguerra-DuCharme, Esq.

Rosalind S. Fink, Esq. Harvey Fishbein, Esq. Lindsey Flook, Esq. Ann Marie Flynn, Esq. Walter M. Frank, Esq. Myra L. Freed, Esq. Hon. Helen E. Freedman Robert Freedman, Esq. Robert B. Funkhouser, Esq. Philip Furgang, Esq. Peter Gallagher, Esq. Honorable Phyllis Gangel-Jacob Stuart F. Gartner, Esq. Jane C. Geever Ingrid Gherman, Esq. Hon. Judith J. Gische Andrew Goldberg, Esq. Eric Goldberg, Esq. Hon. Arlene D. Goldberg Robert M. Goldstein Hon. Norman Goodman Brian D. Graifman, Esq. Bruce A. Green, Esq. Alexis L. Greenberg, Esq. William J. Greene III, Esq. Russell F. Guba, Esq. Andrew T. Hahn, Esq. Mark S. Hamburgh, Esq. Suhana S. Han, Esq.

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Cheryl A. Harris, Esq. Vilia B. Hayes, Esq. Hon. Sherry Klein Heitler Margo E. K. Hirsch, Esq. Stephen D. Hoffman, Esq. Marilyn Henry Howell, Esq. Hon. Barbara Jaffe Hon. Debra James JAMS Christopher P. Johnson, Esq. Daniel P. Jordan Jr., Esq. Hon. Deborah Kaplan Robert M. Kaufman, Esq. Bruce Kelly, Esq. Jennifer A. Kelly, Esq. Robert S. Kelner, Esq. Alissa Kempler Henry J. Kennedy, Esq. John J. Kenney, Esq. Jeffrey M. Kimmel, Esq. Matthew Kiernan Scott B. Klugman, Esq. James B. Kobak, Jr., Esq. Adrienne B. Koch, Esq. Lance H. Koonce, Esq. Denise Mortner Kranz, Esq. Ephraim Leibowitz, Esq. Ann B. Lesk, Esq. Ori Lev, Esq. Sue Levy, Esq. Susan and Arthur Lindenauder Stanley N. Lupkin, Esq. Honorable Joan A. Madden Eve Rachel Markewich, Esq. Benjamin Marzolf, Esq. Ira Brad Matetsky, Esq. Hon. Angela M. Mazzarelli Hon. Joseph Kevin McKay Michael J. McNamara, Esq. Robert Shane McNamara, Esq. Robert C. Meade Jr., Esq. Jeffrey Mikel, Esq.

Michael Miller, Esq. Ronald C. Minkoff, Esq. Kyle M. Mitchell, Esq. Deborah L. Morse, Esq. Barbara Moses, Esq. Karla Moskowitz, Esq. Marvin Moskowitz, Esq. Irena Mykyta, Esq. Myron M. Studner Foundation Eugene B. Nathanson, Esq. Malvina Nathanson, Esq. Lester Nelson, Esq. Yitzy Nissenbaum, Esq. Norman A. Olch, Esq. James P. Pagano, Esq. Robert T. Perry, Esq. Sotirios Petrovas, Esq. Robert Michael Petrucci, Esq. Adam P. Pollack, Esq. Kate Powers, Esq. Jonathan D. Pressment, Esq. Hon. Richard Lee Price Deborah Rand, Esq. David Robert Ratner, Esq. Lee B. Ratner, Esq. Hon. Robert Reed Judith A. Roberts, Esq. Michael Aaron Ross, Esq. Lewis Rosenberg, Esq. Rosaline Rosenfeld, Esq. Hon. Israel Rubin George M. Santana, Esq. Deborah Scalise, Esq. Phillip H. Schaeffer. Esq. Fern Schair, Esq. Sandra Schpoont, Esq. Harry Richard Schumacher, Esq. Diana S. Sen, Esq. Barbara L. Seniawski, Esq. Felice K. Shea Dara Sheinfeld, Esq. Martin I. Shelton, Esq.

Carol A. Sigmond, Esq. George J. Silver, Esq. Stephen Simoni, Esq. Thomas M. Smith, Esq. Ira L. Sorkin, Esq. Edward M. Spiro, Esq. John A. Stahl, Esq. Henry Steinglass, Esq. Martha Cohen Stine, Esq. Leslie Stroth, Esq. Richard P. Swanson, Esq. Lewis F. Tesser, Esq. Richard A. Tsai, Esq. Hon. Nicholas Tsoucalas Karen Tucker Dorianne Van Dyke, Esq. Kelly M. Vandevelde Mary Kay Vyskocil, Esq. Honorable Leonard M. Wagman Aristea N. Walsh, Esq. Brett Scott Ward, Esq. Harriet R. Weinberger, Esq. Ariel N. Weinstock, Esq. Richard Weisbroat, Esq. Amy Weiswasser, Esq Naomi I. Werne, Esq. Stephanie Wheeler, Esq. Daniel K. Wiig, Esq. Alison Wilkey, Esq. Richard A. Williamson, Esq. David W. Wiltenburg, Esq. Catherine O'Hagan Wolfe, Esq. Jacqueline C. Wolff, Esq. Sally Woo, Esq. Marie-Claude O. Wrenn-Myers, Esq. Jack Yoskowitz, Esq. Stephen P. Younger, Esq. Sanford F. Young, Esq. Donald M. Zolin, Esq. John F. Zulack, Esq.

NYCLA wishes to extend its thanks and gratitude to its Sustaining Members: Stewart David Aaron, Esq. Alton L. Abramowitz, Esq. Morton Alpert, Esq. William B. Aronstein, Esq. Ernest Edward Badway, Esq. William Edward Banfield, Esq. Simeon Harold Baum, Esq. Morrell I. Berkowitz, Esq. Scott Mitchell Berman, Esq. Kenneth J. Bialkin, Esq. Peter Bienstock, Esq. Thomas Charles Bivona, Esq. Martin Blackman, Esq. Franklin S. Bonem, Esq. Shoshana T. Bookson, Esq. Howard Walter Burns, Jr., Esq. Robert A. Calinoff, Esq. Gregory J. Cannata, Esq. John A. Cannistraci, Esq. Larry Carbone, Esq.

Gerald I. Carp, Esq. Vincent Ted Chang, Esq. Sylvia Fung Chin, Esq. Catherine Ann Christian, Esq. Lisa Elaine Cleary, Esq. Jeffrey R. Coleman, Esq. Leslie D. Corwin, Esq. Hon. Stephen G. Crane Megan P. Davis, Esq. Robert B. Davis, Esq. Robert Dembia, Esq. Charles E. Dorkey, III, Esq. Mary Dale Dorman, Esq. Raymond James Dowd, Esq. Thomas G. Draper, Jr., Esq. Mary J. Eaton, Esq. Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin Klaus Eppler, Esq. Michael C. Fahey, Esq. Dean John D. Feerick

Bernard Feigen, Esq. Alan Leslie Fell, Esq. Gilbert C. Ferrer, Esq. Arthur Norman Field, Esq. Hon. Margaret J. Finerty Robert S. Fink, Esq. Rosalind S. Fink, Esq. Cynthia Dale Fisher, Esq. Thomas J. Fleming, Esq. Leo Fox, Esq. Samuel Friedman, Esq. Anthony Henry Gair, Esq. Barry H. Garfinkel, Esq. M. Robert Goldstein, Esq. Michael E. Gorelick, Esq. Prof. Bruce A. Green David M. Grunblatt, Esq. Robert L. Haig, Esq. Thomas J. Hall, Esq. Philip M. Halpern, Esq.

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Vilia Beleckas Hayes, Esq. William Charles Herman, Esq. Adria S. Hillman, Esq. Jack S. Hoffinger, Esq. Stephen D. Hoffman, Esq. Michael J. Holland, Esq. Hon. Howard M. Holtzmann Richard W. Hulbert, Esq. Robert A. Jacobs, Esq. Sue C. Jacobs, Esq. David Jaroslawicz, Esq. Alan E. Kahn, Esq. Roberta A. Kaplan, Esq. Ronald J. Katter, Esq. Robert M. Kaufman, Esq. John J. Kenney, Esq. Jeffrey Mitchel Kimmel, Esq. James B. Kobak, Jr., Esq. Daniel J. Kornstein, Esq. Carolyn A. Kubitschek, Esq. Hon. William Francis Kuntz, II, Esq. Craig A. Landy, Esq. Robert Todd Lang, Esq. Glenn Lau-Kee, Esq. Charlotte Cho-Lan Lee, Esq. Jody Leight, Esq. Ann B. Lesk, Esq. Stephen C. Lessard, Esq. Jack P. Levin, Esq. Sue Schleifer Levy, Esq. Susan B. Lindenauer, Esq. Martin Lipton, Esq. Walter Mack, Esq.

Thomas V. Marino, Esq. Sayward Mazur, Esq. Michael J. McNamara, Esq. Olivera Medenica, Esq. Henry Theodore Meyer, III, Esq. Michael Miller, Esq. Deidra R. Moore, Esq. Barbara Moses, Esq. Kay Crawford Murray, Esq. Gary P. Naftalis, Esq. Charles Frederick Niemeth, Esq. Bernard W. Nussbaum, Esq. John William Olivo, Jr., Esq. Andrew G. Patel, Esq. Gerald Gordon Paul, Esq. Marvin G. Pickholz, Esq. Gary B. Pillersdorf, Esq. Hon. Richard Lee Price Alan Ira Raylesberg, Esq. John Joseph Reddy, Jr., Esq. Michael Rikon, Esq. Frank Joseph Rio, Esq. Geraldo M. Rivera, Esq. Edwin David Robertson, Esq. Dean Janice Sheryl Robinson, Esq. David Barry Rosenbaum, Esq. Harold J. Ruvoldt, Esq. Bradley A. Sacks, Esq. Jeffrey E. Schanback, Esq. Harry Richard Schumacher, Esq. Donald Schupak, Esq. Marvin Schwartz, Esq. Sybil Shainwald, Esq.

Steven Bradley Shapiro, Esq. Carol A. Sigmond, Esq. Robert G. Silversmith, Esq. Scott N. Singer, Esq. Bryan Charles Skarlatos, Esq. Hon. George Bundy Smith Thomas M. Smith, Esq. Ira Lee Sorkin, Esq. Eugene P. Souther, Esq. Joshua Aaron Stadtlander-Miller, Esq. James L. Stengel, Esq. Marvin B. Tepper, Esq. Lewis F. Tesser, Esq. George N. Tompkins, Jr., Esq. Vinoo P. Varghese, Esq. Mark Robert Von Sternberg, Esq. Leandros A. Vrionedes, Esq. H. Elliot Wales, Esq. Jerome Walker, Esq. Charles Street Webb, III, Esq. Bruce Laurence Weiner, Esq. Stephanie G. Wheeler, Esq. Daniel K. Wiig, Esq. Richard A. Williamson, Esq. David W. Wiltenburg, Esq. Hon. Geoffrey D. S. Wright Jack Yoskowitz, Esq. Nancy Young, Esq. Vincent J. Zichello, Esq. Donald Marc Zolin, Esq. Adrian Zuckerman, Esq. John F. Zulack, Esq.

Necrology Hon. Harold Baer, Jr.

Robert L. Conason, Esq.

B. Jennifer Jaffee, Esq.

Robert J. Levinsohn, Esq.

Seymour W. Miller, Esq.

Hon. Israel Rubin

Marvin Schwartz, Esq.

Robert W. Turnier, Esq.

Jeffrey Scott Ween, Esq.

Hon. Louis B. York