NYCLA Amicus Curiae

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.