NYCLA Amicus Curiae

The New York County Lawyers Association Amicus Curiae Podcast is proud to present our latest episode with guest Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson during Black History Month.  The Honorable Jeh Charles Johnson is the former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, serving in that post from 2013-2017. From 2009-2012, Secretary Johnson was General Counsel for the Department of Defense.  A graduate of Columbia Law School, Secretary Johnson joined Paul, Weiss in 1984 and left in 1989 to serve as an AUSA in the Southern District of New York.  He returned to Paul Weiss in 1992 and was elected the first African American Partner of the firm in 1994.  In 1998, he left private practice again to serve as General Counsel for the Air Force, returning to Paul Weiss in 2001. Secretary Johnson rejoined Paul Weiss in 2017, after the conclusion of his service in the Obama Administration.  He continues to serve the broader community through various other leadership posts such as the Council of Foreign Relations and a trustee of Columbia University. He is the recipient of 13 honorary degrees. 

In this episode we are investigating the aftermath of the 2023 Supreme Court Ruling in STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. v. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE. Does this ruling effectively end affirmative action? Is there no longer a need to invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)? Can you have DEI without the consideration of race? These questions and more will be considered in this timely conversation with thought leader & legal powerhouse, Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson. 

For more information on Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson click here.

To view the United States Supreme Court Syllabus for STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. v. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE case click here.

*The views expressed are those of the guest, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, members, officers, or Board.

NYCLA is proud to kick off the first episode of the fourth season of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with our esteemed guest Landis Best, Co-Chair of Cahill Gordon & Reindel’s First Amendment & Media Litigation practice group. The topic for discussion is the formally known Missouri v. Biden case, now referred to as Murthy v. Missouri. The issue at hand: when do the acts of government officials who lobby social media companies to remove what it deems to be harmful misinformation cross into a violation of the 1st Amendment and free speech? Are these government actors coercing private companies and forcing them to silence voices counter to their own? In short form, did the government make the social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook an offer they couldn't refuse?  Or is this a case of the government exercising its right to protect its citizens? Our host Dan Wiig sat down with Landis to discuss the Missouri v. Biden case, the implications of the 5th Circuit’s ruling, the 1st Amendment, Section 230, The Twitter Files, and how the government's actions may or may not have been constitutional. The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Murthy v. Missouri in October 2023. The impact of the Court's ruling could ultimately define how the government may or may not interact with social media companies in the United States. This episode is informative, enlightening, and balanced - it should not be missed!

More About Our Guest

Landis Best is Co-Chair of Cahill Gordon & Reindel’s First Amendment & Media Litigation practice group, and represents global corporations, multinational financial institutions, and leading media companies in litigation and appeals, as well as before government and regulatory bodies.  Her clients have included ABC, CBS, HSBC, The New Yorker, The New York Times Company, & The Motion Picture Association of America. She has been named a top litigator by Chambers USA.  A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke University School of Law, Landis clerked for the Hon. William H. Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Hon. N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina.

The New York County Lawyers Association is proud to present our latest episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with host Daniel K. Wiig. This important episode addresses the elephant in the room of the legal profession: Mental Health. In the latest episode, Daniel sits down with our guest Jason Ward, a Retired Lawyer, Founder of Ward Lawyers PC, Speaker, and Author who shares his journey from success to addiction, and finally recovery. Jason launched a website: Mentally Speaking,  to grow awareness around mental health issues in the legal profession and to destigmatize those who are suffering, often in silence. 

The culture of the legal profession is driven by instant accessibility, billable hours, and the expectation that members of the profession be essentially on call 24 hours/ 7 days/365 days a year. The most successful attorneys are rewarded accordingly. The drive to be successful under these expectations create the perfect mix for substance abuse and mental health issues. Jason shares his insights on the challenges he faced and how he ultimately found balance. 

More Information about Jason Ward. 

*The views expressed on the NYCLA Amicus Curiae podcast are those of the guest, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, members, officers, or Board.

NYCLA Amicus Curiae with Host Daniel K. Wiig had the opportunity to sit down with Fabio Bertoni, General Counsel of The New Yorker to discuss the state of the media, freedom of speech, journalism, and the implications of law on the press. Fabio shares a bit background on the conversations held prior to the publication of The New Yorker articles written by Ronan Farrow which assisted in bringing former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein to justice. Also up for discussion is the Sullivan Standard, the FCC Fairness Doctrine, Dominion v. Fox News, Neutral Reportage Privilege, and Donald Trump. We also delve into the intracies of the role of General Counsel at The New Yorker. This is a very interesting and informative conversation. Listen now! 

More about Fabio Bertoni

Fabio Bertoni is general counsel of The New Yorker magazine, where he is responsible for pre-publication review of all articles, website posts, videos and other content published by The New Yorker, as well as supervising legal issues surrounding The New Yorker Festival and other events. Prior to working at The New Yorker, Fabio was assistant general counsel at HarperCollins Publishers & vice president and deputy general counsel for ALM Media, publisher of The American Lawyer, the New York Law Journal, and dozens of other newspapers and magazines across the United States. Fabio also serves as an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School, where he teaches a seminar on Media Law Drafting.  He began his legal career at the firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed and is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

**The views expressed here are those of the guest, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, members, officers, or Board.

In this timely episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with Host Daniel K. Wiig, we are honored to sit with Former New York State Attorney General Dennis C. Vacco. Mr. Vacco is a Partner with Lippes Mathias and serves on the firm's Executive Committee and as the Government & Corporate Investigations Practice Team Co-Leader.  Mr. Vacco was elected New York State Attorney General in 1994 and served until 1999. In 1988, he was appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of New York by President Ronald Reagan after serving 10 years as an Assistant District Attorney in Erie County. 

Mr. Vacco shared his vast legal knowledge and informed perspective on the civil fraud case faced by former United States President, Donald J. Trump. Up for discussion are a review of the facts of the case, questions of politicalization of the justice system, and whether the legal system is operating in fairness, as the case involves a declared candidate for the next presidential election. Is Trump being treated unfairly and has the New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, abused her prosecutorial discretion and misapplied the use of N.Y. Exec. Law § 63-12 (“Whenever any person shall engage in repeated fraudulent or illegal acts or otherwise demonstrate persistent fraud or illegality in the carrying on, conducting or transaction of business, the attorney general may apply, in the name of the people of the state of New York, to the supreme court of the state of New York”)? Mr. Vacco shares his candid insights & legal analysis on the People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump et. al.  

**The views expressed here are those of the guest, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, members, officers, or Board.

Read More About Our Guest Dennis C. Vacco.

The NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with Host Daniel K. Wiig is proud to present our latest episode with guest Olivera Medenica. Olivera is an equity partner at Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP, she is a published author and expert of soft IP law. In this episode, we are breaking down the case against fast fashion giant SHEIN. In the words of Meek Mills and Drake, SHEIN has been "Hit With A RICO", the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. SHEIN is accused of infringing on artists' rights by copying their designs, the complaint (Krista Perry v. Shein Distribution Corporation) in a federal district court in California alleges. The plaintiffs laywers note in the complaint that "Shein has grown rich by committing individual infringements over and over again, as part of a long and continuous pattern of racketeering, which shows no sign of abating". Olivera provides our listeners with valuable legal insights on the case, the implications of artificial intelligence in the business of fashion, intellectual property, trademarks, service marks, copyright, and the use of the RICO Act. This is an episode you don't want to miss.

**The views expressed here are those of the guest, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, members, officers, or Board.

More About Our Guest Olivera Medenica

The NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast is proud to present the latest episode with former New York Gov. David A. Paterson. David A. Paterson served as the 55th Governor of the State of New York, was New York’s first African American to serve as governor and the state’s first sight-impaired chief executive. A graduate of Columbia University and Hofstra University Law School, Gov. Paterson served in the NYS Senate from 1985 to 2007, rising to the rank of Minority Leader. As a senator, he helped the African Burial Ground become a national monument. In 2006 he was elected Lieutenant Governor and became Governor in 2008. As Governor, he set a precedent, and settled years of legal dispute, by appointing a Lieutenant Governor. During his time in office, New York and the rest of the nation suffered through the worst recession since the Great Depression. In response, he amended budget extender legislation to limit late budgets and helped guide the state through this crisis.
During this informative episode Gov. Paterson shares his insights and anecdotes about his time as Governor of the great state of New York and the extraordinary journey that led him to becoming New York's 55th Governor. Host Daniel K. Wiig sat down with Gov. Paterson to discuss the state of politics, leading during crisis, the challenges of being differently abled, and the current migrant crisis facing the present NY Gov. Kathy Hochul.  Serving as a testament of the human spirit, perseverance, and leadership, Gov. Paterson reminds us to focus on what one can do when they focus on ability when being differently abled. Listen now!

Though Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for more than 70 years, the body of the law regulating its use is in its infancy. AI is the science of making machines that can think like humans. The reverberation of AI's impact can be felt on every sector of society. The widely changing technological landscape has high potential stakes and forces every field to investigate newly emerging issues that could essentially replace humans.  At the time of this episodes recording, SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and the WGA (Writers Guild of America) Labor Unions were in the midst of a strike to obtain better wages, residual payments from streaming services for their work, and job protections guaranteeing that artificial intelligence would not be used to replace actual actors and writers. Our guest Simon Pulman, is a partner and co-chair of Pryor Cashman’s Media & Entertainment and Film, TV & Podcast Groups; he is also co-chair of the M+E Transactions and Financing Practice. Simon’s practice focuses on entertainment and media law, with significant experience in company-side business affairs and sophisticated rights transactions for television, film, podcasting, and interactive clients. As outside business affairs counsel for studios, networks, production companies, and rightsholders, he helps clients negotiate complex development, production, financing, and licensing deals. NYCLA Amicus Curiae Host Daniel K. Wiig sat down with Simon to elucidate on the key issues, threats, and legal implications and impact of AI on the entertainment field and its participants. This timely episode provides the listener with an insider's view from a leader in the legal media and entertainment sector. Listen now to this not to be missed episode. 

Simon Pulman - Biography

The New York County Lawyers Association is proud to present the latest episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast. This month our host Daniel K. Wiig sat down with the newly elected Chief Administrative Judge of the New York State Unified Court System, Hon. Jospeh A. Zayas to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The conversation delves into the importance of dreaming, acts of service, demystifying the Bench, and making a difference. Hon. Zayas discusses the goals of his new role and his efforts to build strong relationships within the New York Legal Community and those that he serves. This episode is informative, informational, and inspiring. The Amicus Curiae Podcast team is honored to share this very special episode to kick off National Hispanic Heritage Month. 

We're proud to present our latest episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast. Our host Daniel K. Wiig sat down with attorney and award-winning legal thriller author Mark M. Bello. As an attorney, author, and civil justice advocate, Mark M. Bello brings over 4 decades of legal experience to his Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series. Mark Bello's novels provide readers with a front-row seat into lawyer and client battles in the criminal and civil justice systems. Mark shares with Dan how his legal background informs his plots, characters, and stories. This is a very enlightening episode that you don't want to miss. Listen now!

Mark M. Bello, Attorney & Author

More About Mark M. Bello

Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States, is the first President to face criminal charges in U.S. History. In a highly charged legal landscape, one must question is this political theater or do these indictments have teeth? The four indictments are: the Classified Documents Case, Election Interference, Hush Money, and the Fulton County Case.  The New York Country Lawyers Association Amicus Curiae Podcast with Host Daniel K. Wiig sat down with guest Vinoo Varghese, Expert Legal Analyst, and New York City Criminal Defense Attorney. The aim of the show is to share a balanced legal analysis, void of political influence, and based on facts.

Vinoo Varghese Bio
New York City Criminal Defense Attorney

The New York County Lawyers Association Amicus Curiae Podcast host Daniel K. Wiig sat down with Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Chief and CEO of The Legal Aid Society, as she reflected on her inaugural year at the organization's helm. Ms. Carter is the first Black woman and first Asian American to serve in this role in the Legal Aid Society's 145 year history. In this special episode, we're discussing the wins, challenges, and the work in progress, as Twyla continues to recalibrate an out of balance system. Ms. Carter continues to fight the good fight, as she seeks to advance the Legal Aid Society and its efforts to secure funding fairness, equity, and equality. 

Pictured Above: Twyla Carter

Learn More About Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Chief, Chief Exectutive Officer of The Legal Aid Society

The New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) Amicus Curiae Podcast host Daniel K. Wiig, sat down with the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), Lisa Bova-Hiatt. Mayor Eric Adams appointed Lisa Bova-Hiatt as the permanent CEO on July 6, 2023, after 10 months as the interim CEO. Running the day-to-day operations of 335 developments, 2,411 buildings, and 177,569 apartments, is no easy feat, however the newly appointed CEO is up for the job. A seasoned leader and lifelong New Yorker, Ms. Bova-Hiatt, talks about regaining the trust of NYCHA's residents, leading with empathy, comprehensive revitalization, rebuilding, and the fiduciary responsibilities of her role. The heart and soul of New York City is its communities and there is a NYCHA development in every neighborhood. This episode is not to be missed, as Ms. Lisa Bova-Hiatt shares her clear vision of renewal and transformation.
 
Lisa Bova-Hiatt Bio

Lisa Bova-Hiatt was appointed chief executive officer of the New York City Housing Authority in July 2023, after serving as interim CEO since September 2022.
 
Bova-Hiatt has more than 25 years of experience in the public sector. She joined NYCHA in February 2020 as general counsel, where she led the Authority’s Law Department and was involved with all NYCHA executive matters, including compliance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development agreement, NYCHA’s transformation and implementation plans, and operations and administration.
 
She was previously general counsel of the City University Construction Fund and executive university counsel of the City University of New York (CUNY). Prior to CUNY, Lisa served as executive director of the New York Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, where she played an integral role in helping the agency carry out the reconstruction of over 12,000 homes and hundreds of infrastructure projects.
 
Lisa previously spent 19 years in various roles at the New York City Law Department, including as the deputy chief of the Tax and Bankruptcy Litigation Division, where she specialized in real estate acquisition and development, and chief advisor to administration officials.
 
She is a graduate of Villanova University and Brooklyn Law School.
 

NYCLA Amicus Curiae Host Daniel K. Wiig sits down with former Assistant Director Strategic Planning, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (1997-2001 William Clinton Administration), Robert Hausman. In October 2021, the FTC sued Xlear, Inc., a Utah-based company, for violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, alleging that it falsely pitched its saline nasal sprays as an effective way to prevent and treat COVID-19. DOJ filed the complaint on the FTC’s behalf. United States of America v. Xlear, Inc.

This case concerns COVID-19, the FTC, and free speech. Listen to this interesting conversation discussing the nuances of the case, and its possible ramifications on free speech. Has science become a victim of politics? 

Guest Information

Robert Housman, Partner, Book Hill Partners; General Counsel, Xlear; Consultant 360 Law Group; 360 Business Law America

The New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) is proud to present the latest episode of the Amicus Curiae Podcast with Host Daniel K. Wiig. Our guest is Richard William Painter, a prominent lawyer, and S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law at the University of Minnesota Law School. Richard served as the chief White House ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration from 2005 to 2007.

In the wake of the recent cloud of controversy facing United States Supreme Court Justice Alito, Justice Gorsuch, Justice Kavanaugh, Justice Roberts, and Justice Thomas, regarding a myriad of questionable activities and financial nondisclosures, which in the U.S. lower courts would violate judicial ethical standards, and have actionable recourse, Daniel sits down with Richard to get the facts and rise above the noise. Do the Supreme Court Justices of the United States need a Code of Ethics? Should the Supreme Court voluntarily submit itself to a binding code of ethical standards? If Congress imposes a Code of Ethics on the Supreme Court, does that violate the Separation of Powers? This questions and more are up for discussion in the latest episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with Host Daniel K. Wiig and our guest Richard William Painter. Listen now! 

The New York County Lawyers Association is proud to present Season 3 - Episode 6 of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with Host Daniel K. Wiig: Cryptocurrency & the Blockchain Explained: A Panel Discussion with Attorneys: Joseph J. Bambara, M. Ridgway Barker, and Charles S. Kolstad. 

Unless you've been living under a rock you can not miss the unmistakable impact of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain technology. Our guests explain what cryptocurrency and blockchains are, how they work, and how they can be used. Also, up for discussion, the security, transparency, decentralization of cryptocurrency and blockchains, the benefits, pros and cons, and what the future holds for the use of digital assets, regulation, and taxation.  

Guest Information (Click Guest Names to be taken to full BIOs.)

Joseph J. Bambara, Author/Technologist, CIPP/US, Counsel to WithersWorldWide
General Counsel and CIPP/US handling all legal matters especially everything law and technology.  Co-Chair, New York County Lawyers Association Law and Technology Committee (aka Cyberspace Law).

M. Ridgway Barker (goes by Ridge Barker)Partner, Withersworldwide 
Actively engaged in a full range of business, corporate, securities and capital market, and cryptocurrency and blockchain legal, advisory and transactional matters.

Charles S. Kolstad, Partner, Withersworldwide 
Specializes in practice on international tax, corporate, and partnership matters. 

Recommended Reading

AI, IoT and the Blockchain: Using the Power of Three to create Business, Legal and Technical Solutions by Joseph Bambara (Author), Ron Espinosa (Author), Steven Wolff (Author), Paul Allen (Author), M. Ridgway Barker (Author)

Are cryptocurrencies securities? 5 Things to Consider by Charles S. Kolstad

Law and Technology : The Future is Nowby New York County Lawyers Association (Author), NYCLA Law and Technology Committee (Editor)

NYCLA's Amicus Curiae Podcast Host Daniel K. Wiig sits down to chat with Hon. Sol Wachtler, former Chief Judge of the New York State Unified Court System. Judge Wachtler, once considered the heir apparent to become the Governor of New York, takes the listener on a journey that begins at the height of his legal career and ventures to the other side of the Bench with candid observations of the criminal justice system, the role his mental health played in his actions, the associated stigma, and the road to healing. 

Hon. Sol Wachtler is the author of "After the Madness: A Judge's Own Prison Memoir".

This episode is brought to you during Mental Health Awareness Month. The New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) recognizes the serious mental health issues and challenges faced by those in the legal profession. If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Visit the National Institute of Mental Health for resources to find help for you, a friend, or a family member.  

There are few ready to do battle not only when called but before the rest of the world has realized there is something amiss. Ms. Allred is the exception, noted for her constant vigilance in the face of systematic discrimination, and her commitment to the plight women and women's rights. We are honored to share our Women's HER-story month episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with Daniel K. Wiig. Ms. Allred, a founding partner of the law firm Allred, Maroko & Goldberg (AM&G) sat down with our host to discuss her thoughts on the state of the legal profession as it pertains to the diversity, equity, and inclusion of women; the Me-Too movement, breaking barriers; and advocating for justice, and the rights of victims. Ms. Allred walks our listeners through her story and shares insights on what she believes needs to be done to extract justice for those who are often brushed aside and ignored. Ms. Allred is a trailblazing attorney, who empowers those she advocates for!

About Ms. Gloria Allred

More NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast Episodes 

A partner at leading law firm Bracewell, and former acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Seth D. DuCharme sits down with NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast host Daniel K. Wiig, to discuss the brouhaha around classified documents. What matters, the call for empathy, and balancing National Security Interests, what justice requires and the best interest of the American people. This insightful episode will break through the noise and present a cogent discussion on what really matters when discussing classified documents and national security. 

Seth D. Ducharme Bio

We're celebrating Black History Month in an in-depth conversation with Deneen L. Donnley, Senior Vice President & General Counsel of Consolidated Edison Company of New York.  Our host Daniel K. Wiig sits down with Deneen to delve into topics of importance and the keys to advancing the legal field. Listen as Ms. Donnley discusses specific attributes that foster professional success, the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the necessity of embracing change.  Noted as agile leader, Ms. Donnley reflects on the critical need of the legal community in embrace an environment that reflects the communities they represent while ensuring a sense of belonging enabling all to succeed. Checkout this inspiring episode!

View Ms. Deneen L. Donnley's Bio