What are the economics of the metaverse? Is your privacy safe when you make a financial transaction? What new scams and cons are criminals developing in the world of virtual reality? Flora Lau leads a cohort from the City Bar Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies – Terry Dugan, Sabeena Ahmed Liconte, Alex Southwell, Irene Byhovsky, Clark Abrams, and Adam Scott Wandt – in a discussion covering regulatory implications, privacy concerns, national security issues, and cybersecurity challenges. They share detailed analysis, use cases, and potential solutions to ensure a balance between innovation and regulation, while also considering the broader implications for privacy and security. They also touch on the importance of regulatory sandboxes and future technologies that may reshape our digital interactions.

Want to learn more about developing standards and best-practices for emerging technologies? Join us at the City Bar’s upcoming FinTech Conference on September 9. (This program will be available on-demand thereafter.) Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events.

01:07 Defining the Metaverse

02:52 Economic Aspects of the Metaverse

05:20 Financial Activities in the Metaverse

14:33 Regulatory Considerations for Financial Institutions

36:36 Privacy and Data Concerns in the Metaverse

51:25 Child Privacy and Financial Risks in the Metaverse

52:25 Global Perspective on Metaverse Adoption

54:13 Recommendations for Metaverse Platforms on Privacy

56:36 Challenges of Age Verification and Regulation

01:00:06 National Security Concerns in the Metaverse

01:00:51 Money Laundering and Financial Crimes in the Metaverse

01:17:40 Cybersecurity in the Metaverse

01:31:34 Future of the Metaverse and Regulatory Considerations

01:39:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Attorney and bioethicist Karolina Zhukoff sits down with Dr. Jonathan Moreno, Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, to discuss his new book, “Absolutely Essential: Bioethics and the Rules-Based International Order.”

They delve into the historical development of bioethics since its emergence post-World War II, focusing on the evolution of doctor-patient relationships and the significant influence of the Nuremberg Code. The conversation also covers the ways in which Dr. Moreno’s upbringing inspired his work, the global impact of COVID-19 on bioethics, and the challenges posed to the international rules-based order by geopolitical shifts and emerging technologies.

00:00 Introduction

01:33 The Essence of Bioethics

04:20 Historical Context of Bioethics

08:04 Personal Influences on Dr. Moreno

11:09 Global Perspectives on Medical Ethics

21:11 Impact of COVID-19 on Bioethics

27:23 Future Challenges and Emerging Technologies

32:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Scott Sholder is a prominent New York litigator representing clients across the entertainment and media industries on copyright matters. He is currently counsel to world famous authors in a copyright class action litigation concerning the unauthorized use of literary works for generative AI “training.” He also chairs the Copyright & Literary Property Committee’s A.I. Subcommittee whose mission is to keep tabs and stay current on the latest developments at the intersection of copyright law and generative A.I.

Presented by the New York City Bar Copyright and Literary Property Committee and hosted by Theodora Fleurant and Jose Landivar, we discuss the latest developments in copyright law and artificial intelligence, discuss how taekwondo and power metal have shaped Scott’s practice, and what it takes to be a high-performing litigator in 2025.

Scott J. Sholder is co-chair of the Litigation Group at Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP, one of the premier law firms in media and entertainment. A frequent writer and speaker on copyright and trademark issues, Scott has been recognized by Variety as “a thought leader in the artificial intelligence space as it relates to entertainment.” He was also featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s 2024 “Power Lawyers” list.

(The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of any organizations, employers, or affiliates they may be associated with. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or professional advice.)

Selected Links from the Episode:

New York City Copyright & Literary Property Committee: https://www.nycbar.org/committees/copyright-literary-property-committee

Copyright Claims Board: https://ccb.gov/

Red Rising by Pierce Brown: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Rising-Pierce-Brown/dp/034553980X

Ghost, “Mary On A Cross”: https://open.spotify.com/track/2wBnZdVWa5jVpvYRfGU7rP?si=511c7ba7d3df4e21

Unleash the Archers,”Northwest Passage” https://open.spotify.com/track/3Fiz4tFoVBosOUm2uMgdlL?si=8af4660100604e89

The Mindfulness and Wellbeing in the Law Committee returns to the airwaves to give you the lawyer’s perspective on the healing power of music. Scott Mason, Nancy Batterman and Kathryn Schneider explore the mindfulness practices inherent to musical artistry, and the way that those practices can inform a life in the law. Nancy and Kathy share their personal journeys in the City Bar Chorus and the strong sense of community they have built there. The episode gives a new framing for some of the challenging aspects of the legal profession, like performing under pressure and navigating a proclivity for perfectionism. We close with a guided meditation and a poem by Rumi, emphasizing the spiritual and emotional dimensions of engaging with music.

Kathryn Schneider is the Musical Director of the New York City Bar Chorus, which is giving two public concerts (with identical setlists) in June 2025 at the House of the Association showcasing musical theater and film selections, including from Sweeney Todd, Encanto, Kinky Boots, The Greatest Showman and Wicked, as well as inventive arrangements of songs by artists ranging from Billy Joel to Bruno Mars, Billie Eilish to Beyoncé, and more. Donations at the door will benefit the City Bar Fund and the Chorus. RSVP for the concerts at:

June 26, 2025: https://services.nycbar.org/EventDetail?EventKey=CHOR062625

June 27, 2025: https://services.nycbar.org/EventDetail?EventKey=CHOR062725

02:29 Mindfulness and Music: The Connection

04:03 The Impact of Singing and Music on Wellbeing

08:13 The Role of Community in Music and Law

13:57 The New York City Bar Chorus: History and Personal Journeys

19:26 The Healing Power of Music and Performance

35:08 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts

38:36 Guided Meditation for Performance Preparation

A new City Bar report (https://bit.ly/3FURuAi) from the Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology highlights the harmful effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on people with disabilities, and the harm likely to occur for them in the future. The Task Force’s  Subcommittee on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on People with Disabilities and Underserved Communities continues the conversation in this podcast episode featuring attorneys, researchers, and technology leaders. They talk about the current challenges and opportunities AI presents for people with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of inclusive design and representation.

Want to be part of the discussion? Register for the City Bar’s Artificial Intelligence Institute on June 16 (available on-demand thereafter): https://services.nycbar.org/AIInstitute/ Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming CLE programs and events as well as on-demand CLE content.

03:06 Overview of AI's Impact on Disabilities

04:44 Building a Disability Inclusive AI Ecosystem

09:08 Generative AI and Representational Harms

15:54 AI in Digital Accessibility: Test Party's Mission

19:39 Challenges and Legal Perspectives on AI and Disabilities

35:26 Inclusive Design and Evaluation in AI

44:54 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

The City Bar Presidential Task Force on AI and digital technologies hosts this discussion on AI governance in the financial sector. Azish Filabi (American College McGuire Center for Ethics and Financial Services) moderates with Muyiwa Odeniyide (Nasdaq), Adam Marchuck (Citi), Jordan Romanoff (BNY Mellon), Stuart Levi (Skadden Arps), and Corey Goldstein (Paul Weiss). They share best practices for integrating AI governance and the specific risks associated with third-party AI vendors, underscoring the importance of cross-functional collaboration and continuous learning for lawyers navigating the rapidly changing AI environment.

Want to learn more about AI governance in the financial sector? Register for the City Bar’s Artificial Intelligence Institute on June 16 (available on-demand thereafter): https://services.nycbar.org/AIInstitute/ Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming CLE programs and events as well as on-demand CLE content.

01:08 AI Ethics and Financial Services

02:37 Current State of AI Law and Regulation

13:33 AI Use Cases in Financial Companies

16:50 AI Risk and Governance Considerations

18:45 Legal Perspectives on AI Risk

28:44 AI Governance in Financial Services

37:28 The Role of AI Lawyers

42:56 Balancing Innovation and Risk

Every day, New Yorkers are involuntarily committed to hospitals and mental health facilities for psychiatric treatment. But what happens when a patient wishes to be released from a hospital or refuses medication? In this podcast, we are joined by Hon. W. Frank Perry to discuss Mental Hygiene Proceedings, a little-known area of the law designed to resolve disputes between mental health patients and the facilities responsible for treating them. In this discussion, Judge Perry describes his transition from a Supreme Court Justice in the General Assignment Part to his current role as the sole Judge presiding over Mental Hygiene Proceedings throughout New York County. This open and honest conversation explores Judge Perry’s experience with helping people at their most vulnerable moments, the tension between protecting individual rights of patients and ensuring that they are not a threat to themselves or others, and the procedure for carrying this out. We hope that this discussion can shed some light on a legal process that affects thousands of New Yorkers every year.

Want to learn more about practice in New York’s mental hygiene courts? You can access the City Bar’s on-demand CLE program "Better Served by Treatment": Practicing in the Mental Health Courts 101: https://bit.ly/452oUXY Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming CLE programs and events as well as on-demand CLE content.

Sara Walsh and Elizabeth Pyjov discuss the critical role of compassion in the legal field. Elizabeth shares her extensive background in compassion training, her experiences living in diverse cultures, and how these shaped her understanding of human suffering. Together, they delve into the definitions and science of compassion, the eternal role of the arts in processing suffering, and practical ways to cultivate compassion. They emphasize that a compassionate approach can significantly improve lawyers' well-being and their professional interactions, ultimately leading to a more just and thriving society.

If you’re interested in incorporating mindfulness and well-being into your practice, join the Mindfulness and Well-Being in Law Committee for a Mindfulness Break, Yoga for Lawyers, or its next Book Club. More information about the committee and its upcoming events is available here.

02:09 Elizabeth's Journey: From Literature to Law

07:16 Defining Compassion in the Legal Profession

07:32 The Science Behind Compassion

14:12 Compassion vs. Common Misconceptions

17:24 The Role of Compassion in Legal Practice

19:15 Cultivating Compassion and Self-Compassion

27:12 The Impact of Compassion on Lawyers and Society

28:41 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

34:18 Closing Remarks and Additional Resources

Today the City Bar Podcast brings you an episode from its sister show, Building Belonging, a podcast of the City Bar's Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Building Belonging is launching a new season that brings listeners into the heartfelt, uncertain, messy, hopeful discussions that capture the work of DEIB on the ground as the landscape shifts and changes.

In the first episode of Building Belonging season two, ODIEB dives deep into the fundamental question: What is DEI really? With the haters circling and pushback in full force, a lot of people are returning to this question to understand how to move justice forward.

The team explores their individual journeys into DEI and what it means to them. As Eli puts it, this conversation seeks to address 'what DEI is, what it is not, where it is going, and who our allies are,' clearing up misconceptions and providing a nuanced understanding of essential concepts.

Tanya highlights the innate human essence of DEI, saying, 'At its core, it is one of the most innate and human things that we have.' Angie drives home the practical importance of DEI: 'It's everything that makes the world more accessible to everyone.' By offering their personal insights and discussing the broader significance of DEI, the team aims to inspire listeners to open their eyes to new opportunities and get involved in this transformative work.

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE BUILDING BELONGING PODCAST IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE!!!!

Microsoft is mobilizing generative artificial intelligence technology to address the access to justice gap in the United States. In partnership with the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project (NWIRP), they have built a collaborative initiative, ‘LUZ,’ to streamline and scale the DACA renewal process for Dreamers. The City Bar Presidential Task Force on AI and Digital Technology’s Ray Brescia hosts Malou Chávez, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project (NWIRP), and Microsoft’s Global Pro Bono Manager Adrian Palma and UX/UI designer Amae Kurre to talk about the access to justice gap that inspired the project, the role of tech in making legal services more efficient, and the essential nature of human oversight in AI-driven legal processes.

Want to learn more about how AI and digital technology are being mobilized to close the digital divide in access to justice? You can access the City Bar’s Artificial Intelligence Institute on demand: https://bit.ly/4j3lCYQ Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming CLE programs and events as well as on-demand CLE content.

01:19 The Evolution of Legal Technology

01:55 Introduction of ChatGPT and Generative AI

03:17 The Impact of AI on Legal Services

03:45 Microsoft's Pro Bono Initiative: LUZ

05:02 Challenges Faced by NWIRP

07:50 The Role of Technology in Legal Clinics

13:28 The Development and Design of LUZ

24:48 Human Oversight and AI Integration

26:26 Scaling the Initiative and Future Prospects

42:48 Addressing Concerns and Ensuring Security

48:28 Final Thoughts and Call to Action