I recently wrote about structured legal fees for lawyers (see “Contingent Fee Tax Planning, Anyone?” NYSBA Journal, vol. 94, no. 5, Sept./Oct. 2022, p. 37). For nearly 30 years, plaintiff lawyers have been structuring contingent legal fees based on the seminal tax cases of Childs v. Commissioner.[1] Payments over time can flatten the peaks and … Continued
For decades, New York courts have led innovation in the way domestic violence cases are addressed in the United States legal system.[1] Specifically, New York has been at the forefront of instituting specialized courts to handle domestic violence cases, giving courts one focus in handling the endemic of domestic violence.[2] In 1996, the first felony … Continued
Technology can both help and hurt in the cause of justice. In a fascinating conversation, Vivian Wesson shares with host David Miranda how artificial intelligence and facial recognition are being used in both criminal and civil law. Wesson says the technology can unearth biases when it cannot distinguish between races of people and lead to … Continued
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement regarding NYSBA’s filings seeking to have the court issue a preliminary injunction raising compensation for Attorneys for the Children and 18-B lawyers: “The state has disregarded the need to provide more funding for the representation of children and indigent adults … Continued
The chaos surrounding Signature, First Republic and Silicon Valley banks in the past week is making it difficult for lawyers and clients to know how to respond. The New York State Bar Association is offering a webinar Bank Closures, the FDIC, Escrow Accounts and Ethics – What Lawyers Need to Know Now. It will take place … Continued
“While we are impressed with your credentials, we are looking to hire a man for this position.” My grandmother Ada practiced law starting in the late 1940s in Brooklyn, New York. Grandma was born in Southern Italy and moved to the United States through Ellis Island when she was four years old. Her family settled … Continued
New York State Bar Association President Sherry Levin Wallach was honored with the Huntington Her Hero Lifetime Achievement Award Wednesday night during the 4th Annual International Law Conference on the Status of Women. The award recognizes women in law and public policy who dedicate their careers to justice for women and girls. The conference was … Continued
“In light of [the] worldwide liberalization of abortion laws, it is American States that will become international outliers after today.”[1] So concluded the dissenting United States Supreme Court Justices Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan in their response to the majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.[2] Dobbs, issued on June 24, 2022, tumultuously overturned … Continued
To the Forum: I am an attorney involved in a case against a large biotechnology company accused of defrauding investors and patients. My client was the chief scientist at this company and told me that none of its devices were functional despite investors and health care professionals believing they were. This put hundreds of thousands … Continued
As one of the world’s most prominent legal organizations, we must wield our influence to defend the rule of law, protect those who are vulnerable to oppression and create a more equitable society, and we must do everything we can to ensure access to justice, equity, inclusion and equality. We are at a point in … Continued