New York City Bar Association Podcast

In this special episode we hear the Hon. Jed S. Rakoff – Senior Judge, United States District Court, Southern District of New York – deliver a speech to the Association entitled "The U.S. Supreme Court’s History as a Regressive Institution."

Judge Rakoff’s speech is part of City Bar’s Benjamin N. Cardozo Lecture Series, which is inspired by the legacy of Benjamin N. Cardozo "and his love for the law, passion for justice and sympathy for humanity." First presented in 1941, previous speakers in the series have included Robert H. Jackson, Felix Frankfurter, William O. Douglas, Earl Warren, William J. Brennan, Jr., Marian Wright Edelman, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, among many others.

Judge Rakoff was introduced by Judge Raymond Lohier, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, after a welcome from City Bar President Muhammad Faridi.

Presidential Task Force on AI and Digital Technologies members Wendy Butler Curtis and Robert Mahari are joined by Cai GoGwilt, founder of Ironclad, to discuss the power and potential of Agentic AI. Their conversation explores the definitions, capabilities, and notable limitations of the emerging Large Language Models. Building on Forbes’ “intern” analogy, the co-hosts highlight the ways in which Agentic AI can enhance productivity across several fields with its hyperintelligence and adaptability to complex tasks. Curtis, Mahari and GoGwilt conclude with thoughts on its future development, ethical considerations of its usage, and anecdotes of their most interesting encounters with these tools.

If you’re interested in learning more about artificial intelligence, join us for related programs at the City Bar, including the UN Summit of the Future: International Regulation of AI on November 4 (https://services.nycbar.org/EventDetail?EventKey=TFDT110424) and the Artificial Intelligence in Health Care: An Overview of Laws, Policy, and Practices webinar CLE on November 6 (https://services.nycbar.org/EventDetail?EventKey=_WEB110624). Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events.

00:00 Introduction to Agentic AI

05:14 Defining Agentic AI

08:11 Rapid Fire Q&A

09:07 Capabilities and Limitations of Agentic AI

13:55 Open Source and Future Prospects

21:26 AI's Limitations in Legal Contexts

22:01 Debating AI's Reasoning Capabilities

26:02 Practical Applications of AI in Various Industries

28:24 AI in Legal Practice: Current and Future Uses

31:47 Ethical Considerations and Professional Responsibility

32:34 Optimism and Concerns About AI's Future

40:10 Engaging with Generative AI: Practical Tips

41:56 Best and Worst Uses of Generative AI

45:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

An increasing number of states are enacting policies hostile to LGBTQ youth, like book bans and restrictions on participation in sports. Even in states like New York where there is greater state-level support for LGBTQ rights, similar policies aimed at stifling those rights have emerged at the local level. Amy Leipziger (Project Director, Free to Be Youth Project), Ashton Hessee (Legal Fellow, Free to Be Youth Project) and Gabriella Larios (Staff Attorney, NYCLU) of the City Bar’s LGBTQ Rights Committee unpack the damage to psychological and physical health that these bans and the anti-LGBTQ culture that they promote can have on LGBTQ youth – kids who are navigating the same developmental challenges as their peers while being saddled with these additional burdens. Amy, Ashton and Gabriella also speak to how queer and trans youth – and their parents and caregivers – can understand their rights and understand how to advocate for their rights in school. All three share stories from the frontlines of litigating against these bans, and share insights on the most effective strategies for pairing litigation with grassroots community organizing.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3zp9tfd

Access NYCLU’s “Your Rights as an LGBTQ Student” resource here: https://bit.ly/4euK6aC

Want to learn more about the changing state of the law governing transgender athletes' participation in sports? View the City Bar’s on-demand CLE program “Transgender Athletes: Title IX and the Dynamic Legal Landscape” (https://bit.ly/4gITn0v). Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events.

00:00 Introduction and Back-to-School Reflections

02:27 Challenges Faced by Students and Schools

04:06 Transgender Rights and School Policies

16:14 Impact of Discrimination on Mental Health

19:15 Statistics on LGBTQ+ Student Experiences

33:08 Community Support and Advocacy

46:35 Conclusion and Call to Action

The Presidential Task Force on AI and Digital Technologies’ Bob Schwinger hosts a discussion with fellow Task Force members Don Irwin and Tyler Yagman. They identify the key takeaways from the House Financial Services Committee’s June 5th congressional hearing about the tokenization of real-world assets, its relation to cryptocurrency, and its potential to improve market efficiency and transparency. Bob, Don, and Tyler also discuss the importance of regulatory compliance, the differences between permissioned and permissionless blockchains, and tokenization's implications for future financial inclusion.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3ZxikWG

Want to learn more about emerging digital technologies and their development? Join us at the City Bar’s upcoming program: Guidelines for Users and Developers of AI Powered Technologies on October 10 (https://bit.ly/GUDAI) and view our catalogue of similar on-demand CLEs (https://bit.ly/BarCTFDT). Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Today's Topic

01:21 Overview of Tokenization and Congressional Hearing

02:21 Detailed Explanation of Tokenization

05:09 Legislative Proposals and Industry Perspectives

07:33 Distinguishing Tokenization from Cryptocurrency

10:26 Goals and Benefits of Tokenization

16:41 Use Cases and Practical Applications

24:30 Fundamental Principles and Regulatory Concerns

33:38 Permissioned vs. Permissionless Blockchains

39:31 Tokenizing Securities and Technological Challenges

43:22 Stable Coins, CBDCs, and Financial Inclusion

48:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

President Muhammad Faridi hosts Rich Miller (former Chief of Energy Policy for New York City and former Vice President of Energy and Environmental Law at Con Edison) and Robie Craig (Senior Energy Council at the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services), Co-Chairs of the City Bar Energy Law Committee. The conversation touches on various aspects of energy policy and its relevance to New York City, including historical perspectives on power generation, the current shift towards clean energy, and the implementation of regulatory mandates such as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and the Build Public Renewables Act. Muhammad, Rich and Robie also explore the city's efforts to balance environmental justice with the need for reliable energy supply, the role of Con Edison, challenges posed by intermittent renewable sources, and the steps New York City is taking to support electric vehicle adoption.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3XhBhtK

Want to learn more about the impact of energy decisions and environmental justice? Join us at the City Bar’s upcoming programs: The Professional Duty of Lawyers and Bar Associations in Action on Climate on September 23 (https://bit.ly/3XsQhFh) and Economic and Environmental Impacts of State and City Funded Remediation Programs on Environmental Justice Communities in NYC on October 29 (https://bit.ly/3XrirQL). Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

03:46 Understanding DCAS and Con Edison

11:15 New York City's Energy Landscape

16:58 Historical Perspective: The Birth of Electricity in NYC

23:52 Regulatory Framework and Environmental Justice

35:49 Future of Clean Energy and Transportation in NYC

49:03 Committee Focus and Closing Remarks

In this episode of the New York City Bar Association podcast, hosted by Sara Chekroun and sponsored by the Animal Law Committee, the spotlight is on Steven Wise's pioneering legal career and his legacy with the Nonhuman Rights Project (NHRP). Guests Courtney Fern and Elizabeth Stein, both attorneys with NHRP, delve into Wise's groundbreaking legal strategies that fundamentally altered the framework for animal advocacy. They discuss the application of writs of habeas corpus for non-human animals, emphasizing the importance of scientific evidence in advancing animal rights cases. The conversation also covers current legislative efforts to secure bodily liberty for elephants and other animals, underscoring the impact Wise's work has had on public and judicial perceptions of animal rights. The episode pays tribute to Steven Wise's enduring influence in the realm of animal law.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/479Ng17

Read the City Bar Animal Law Committee’s recent report supporting an NYC local law regarding the keeping of elephants: https://bit.ly/46Mqwnm

Read the City Bar’s Report in Support of the Elephant Protection Act: https://bit.ly/3YzV7CE

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests

00:36 Remembering Steven Wise's Legacy

03:17 Understanding Habeas Corpus for Non-Human Animals

09:33 The Case of Happy the Elephant

23:59 Legislative Efforts for Animal Rights

27:46 Personal Memories of Steven Wise

31:31 The Evolution of Animal Rights Law

41:17 Conclusion and Call to Action

The metaverse isn’t just the future, it’s already here and growing in every direction. But with so many players and users expanding in the space, the boundaries between metaverse platforms are becoming more cumbersome and complex. Flora Lau and Terry Dugan of the New York City Bar Association Digital Technologies Task Force host Larry Goldberg, a pioneer in media accessibility, and Debbie Rosenbaum, a leading attorney at Meta with extensive experience in Oculus and immersive spaces. They share their thoughts on developing cross-platform standards for the metaverse, discuss the role of avatars and digital identity, and explore the challenges of making the metaverse inclusive for people with disabilities. The episode explores technical challenges, policy considerations, and the importance of social norms within virtual environments. Key topics include interoperability, the economics of digital assets, and the potential for innovative applications in extended reality.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3AFroym

Listen to our first podcast episode on the metaverse: What Is the Metaverse, Really? https://bit.ly/3AE39AK

Want to learn more about developing standards and best-practices for emerging technologies? Join us at the City Bar’s upcoming CLE program on October 10: Guidelines for Users and Developers of AI Powered Technologies (https://bit.ly/4dSBYAA). (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.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast

00:39 Introducing the Guests: Larry Goldberg and Debbie Rosenbaum

02:35 Larry Goldberg's Journey in Accessibility

03:54 Debbie Rosenbaum's Metaverse Experience

06:39 Meta's Vision for the Metaverse

07:41 Challenges and Innovations in Cross-Platform Standards

11:26 The Role of AR Glasses and Accessibility

25:21 The Future of Avatars and Digital Identity

29:05 Challenges of Avatar Customization

29:30 Avatar Rights and Legal Issues

32:36 Social Norms in the Metaverse

37:29 Early Days of the Metaverse

43:38 Interoperability and Business Drivers

46:11 Decentralization and Future Prospects

49:33 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Muhammad Faridi, President of the New York City Bar Association, is joined by Boaz Morag, a Counsel at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and one of the lead drafters of a recent City Bar report analyzing for the Office of the Legal Advisor in the U.S. Department of State three private international law treaties: the Hague Convention on Choice of Courts Agreements (COCA), the Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Judgments Convention), and the UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (Singapore Convention).

These treaties deal with the cross-border recognition and enforcement of court judgments and mediated settlement agreements. We investigate the purpose and impact of these treaties on current practice in this country and on U.S. litigants who seek to enforce U.S. courts judgments abroad, the status of the treaties, and the detailed recommendations provided in the City Bar report. The episode provides an in-depth exploration of the potential benefits of these conventions for litigants seeking to have their judgments and settlements enforced internationally as well as the intricacies involved in implementing these treaties in the United States.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3zWnD7b

Read the City Bar Report on Three Private International Law Treaties here: https://bit.ly/4c5NQO2

00:00 Introduction to the Discussion

00:56 Meet Boaz Morag: Background and Career

03:54 The Role of the State Department and the City Bar

06:14 Introduction to the Three Treaties

07:56 Deep Dive into COCA and the Judgments Convention

12:12 Understanding the Judgments Convention

17:53 Criticisms and Concerns about COCA

29:28 The Singapore Convention on Mediation

34:49 Implementation Challenges in the U.S.

48:14 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Hayley Gorenberg, co-chair of the LGBTQ Rights Committee, and Mary-Ellen La Rosa, Manager of Pipeline Initiatives and Education, discuss creating inclusive environments and understanding the broader social forces that contribute to inclusivity or lack thereof. They emphasize the importance of training oneself to recognize and dismantle exclusion dynamics, using respectful language, and embracing allyship. The discussion covers challenges such as deadnaming, the significance of pronoun use, and the legal implications of persistent workplace discrimination. The episode also highlights the evolving language around LGBTQ+ identities and the critical role of allies in building supportive spaces.

Want to continue your learning about inclusivity? Check out the City Bar’s on-demand program: Being Seen in Dialogue for Diversity:

A Discussion on Intersectional Feminism in the Legal Profession https://bit.ly/3xD90oy

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3W15opI

00:00 Introduction to Inclusive Environments

01:46 Meet the Experts: Hayley Gorenberg and Mary-Ellen La Rosa

02:32 Understanding Workplace Dynamics and Systems

03:32 Challenges Faced by LGBTQ Individuals in the Workplace

11:47 The Importance of Pronouns and Respectful Language

15:09 Legal Implications of Inclusivity in the Workplace

23:19 The Role of Allyship and Privilege

34:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Karyn A. Temple is the Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and one of the world’s leading authorities on copyright and anti-piracy. Karyn oversees the MPA’s legal affairs and content protection efforts worldwide.

Before joining the MPA, Karyn served more than eight years in the U.S. Copyright Office as the Register of Copyrights, where she led the 400-person agency and its eight divisions. Karyn previously served as Vice President of Litigation and Legal Affairs for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), spent several years as a litigation associate at the law firm, Williams & Connolly LLP, and received her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where she was Senior Editor of the Columbia Law Review, and served as Chairperson of the Columbia Black Law Students’ Association. Karyn recently joined the Board of the Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice and has served in several prominent volunteer positions in the copyright community.

Presented by the New York City Bar Copyright and Literary Property Committee and hosted by members Theodora Fleurant and Jose Landivar, Ms. Temple reflects on her storied career and the MPA’s ongoing battle against online piracy.

Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/4b4z4GO

Selected Links from the Episode:

Motion Picture Association: https://www.motionpictures.org/

Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment: https://www.alliance4creativity.com/

Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iipsj/

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