New York City Bar Council on International Affairs

Katherine Hughes hosts the latest podcast from the City Bar’s Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies. She is joined by WashU Law Dean Stefanie Lindquist and AI Collaborative Co-Director Oliver Roberts to discuss how generative AI is reshaping law school teaching, assessment, and professional preparation. Dean Lindquist describes her wake-up call about student AI use, making AI a central dean priority, forming an AI task force, partnering with Roberts, and hiring an LLM engineer to support experimentation and tool-building. Roberts traces early experiences with hallucinated citations and argues AI education must go beyond AI regulation to hands-on tool use across legal workflows, core terminology, tool selection, and explicit ethics (competence, confidentiality, supervision, and overreliance). They discuss institutional guardrails such as eliminating take-home exams, using simulations, workflow-based pedagogy, and new assessment ideas like oral exams and quizzing student

Environmental lawyer and Animal Law Committee member Robin Happel hosts a discussion on noise pollution and noise law with Jamie Banks of Quiet Communities and ocean noise researcher Vanessa ZoBell. Jamie explains how chronic leaf-blower and land-care noise led her to found Quiet Communities. She describes gaps in federal, state, and local noise regulation, focusing on the 1972 Noise Control Act, the rise and 1982 defunding of EPA’s Office of Noise Abatement and Control, and Quiet Communities’ lawsuit to reactivate the program. Vanessa outlines major ocean noise sources (commercial shipping and seismic air-gun surveys) and impacts on marine life, including stress, masking, behavioral changes, and examples such as post-9/11 stress hormone reductions in right whales and sonar-linked beaked whale strandings. They discuss challenges of relying on A-weighted averages, low-frequency noise, communication barriers, voluntary and incentive-based programs, electrification of equipment, vessel speed reduction benefits,

In this episode, a panel of legal experts discusses the different approaches taken by the Second and Ninth Circuits on two key areas of copyright law: substantial similarity and the Server Test. Presented by the New York City Bar Association’s Copyright & Literary Property and Entertainment Law Committees, the panel explores recent and emerging case law and the Second and Ninth Circuits’ divergent approaches to analyzing substantial similarity, a key element of copyright infringement, as well as the ongoing debate surrounding the Server Test, which addresses whether the posting of online content constitutes a “display” within the meaning of the Copyright Act. Moderated by Dwayne Amos, Associate at Kasowitz LLP, the episode features a panel of leading copyright litigators and experts, including: • Barry Werbin, Counsel, Herrick Feinstein LLP • Aaron Moss, Partner, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP and author of the Copyright Lately blog • Marc Lebowitz, Principal, Lebowitz Law Office • James Bartolomei, Of Co

The Genius Act and Payment Stablecoins: A Regulatory Deep Dive by New York City Bar Association

In this episode, beloved City Bar figure Richard Tuske reflects on his remarkable 50-year journey with the City Bar Law Library, from starting as a page in 1972 to serving today as Senior Director of Library Operations on the eve of retirement. Along the way, he shares vivid stories with Legal History Committee Chair Abigail Nitka on the library’s transformation into one of the most prominent legal libraries in the world—from towering stacks to the dawn of digital research and early Westlaw and Lexis—along with behind-the-scenes anecdotes on the history of City Bar membership, unusual research requests, the auction of a remarkable rare-books collection, a failed merger attempt, and the library’s technological evolution. 00:00 Podcast Welcome  01:03 Early Page Years  07:30 From Stacks To Screens  14:53 Computer Revolution Begins  19:05 Unusual Research Request  25:24 Famous City Bar Members Spotlight  30:18 Salt Mines Preservation  33:36 What Remains Today  36:59 Computers Transform Research  41:08

The City Bar’s Presidential Task Force on AI and Digital Technologies dives deep into the six pillars of President Trump’s March 2026 Cyber Strategy for America: Shape Adversary Behavior; Promote Common Sense Regulation; Modernize and Secure Federal Government Networks; Secure Critical Infrastructure; Sustain Superiority in Critical and Emerging Technologies; and Build Talent and Capacity. Task Force co-chair Jerome Walker joins Sabeena Ahmed Liconte (Head of Legal & Chief Compliance Officer, Americas at ICBC Standard Bank Group) and Alex Southwell (Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte) to discuss the “aspirational” strategy in its totality, including its offensive, defensive, and future-minded qualities, as well as its challenges and the surrounding requirements for the strategy to be successful and ensure global compliance. If you are interested in learning more about emerging AI developments and policy, join us for the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Conference on June 18 to hear from industry experts and co

In a special Women’s History Month episode, City Bar President Muhammad Faridi speaks with Judge Bianka Perez, an associate justice of the New York Supreme Court and president of the Supreme Court Justices Association. Judge Perez speaks about her path to the bench – her roots as a Bronx paralegal and office manager, through night classes at New York Law School, and a legal practice serving both her intellectual ambitions and her commitment to supporting her community. Perez discusses how private practice shaped her perspective on judicial empathy, how her Dominican heritage and role models influence her leadership and service, and how mentoring students is a priority. She addresses the difficulty of rulings constrained by statute and precedent, coping with the stress of judging, and defines success as making history and lifting the next generation of Latina leaders. Want to hear more from women who lead? Check out the most recent International Law Conference on the Status of Women hosted at the City Bar, w

New York is facing a growing mental health crisis, and the systems meant to support people are struggling to keep up. Efforts to fix an inadequate system have given rise to dueling reform proposals. Maia Goodell, Chair of the City Bar's Mental Health Law Committee, hosts today's podcast in conversation with Dr. Thomas Insel, Former Director, National Institute for Mental Health; Arvind Sooknanan, New York–based mental health advocate and civic leader; Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Former Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and Ken Zimmerman, Attorney & CEO of Fountain House. They discuss existing reform efforts and explain those efforts' real-world impact, focusing on what they mean for care, public safety, and the rights of vulnerable individuals across the state.

Scott Mason talks with Sara Walshe about what intuition is and how lawyers can use it to feel better, work smarter, and avoid burnout. Sara describes intuition as an immediate “knowing,” and says it can show up either as experience-based pattern recognition (like a strong BS meter built from years of practice) or as a deeper inner knowing that’s hard to explain. They discuss how to tell intuition apart from wishful thinking, how confidence can shape outcomes, and why “doom” feelings may be more about instinct and survival. Sara shares stories from studying for the bar, negotiating plea deals as a Brooklyn prosecutor, and eventually leaving law to combine yoga, mindfulness, and coaching. She emphasizes that intuition is easier to access when you feel safe, and suggests simple mindfulness tools—like slow finger rubbing paired with a deep breath—to get grounded in the moment. Want to learn more about combining mindfulness techniques with your legal practice? Get involved with the sponsor of today’s podcast, the

The City Bar’s Presidential Task Force on AI and Digital Technologies hosts today’s podcast on President Trump’s:  Winning the Race, America's AI Action Plan. Task Force co-chair Jerome Walker is joined by task force members Matthew Bacal (Davis Polk), Azish Filabi (American College of Financial Services), Robert Mahari (Stanford Codex), and Evan Abrams (Steptoe), to review the plan’s three pillars and key action steps. Pillar One (“Accelerate AI Innovation”) is described as largely deregulatory, including agency review of rules and certain FTC/FCC actions, with targeted concerns such as ideological bias and synthetic media in the legal system, plus investments in open-source/open-weight models, data, interpretability, evaluations, and government/DoD adoption. Pillar Two (“Build American AI Infrastructure”) focuses on the physical side of AI—permitting for data centers and fabs, energy and grid expansion, semiconductors, water for cooling, workforce training, cybersecurity, and “security by design,” while

In this episode of the New York City Bar Association podcast, host Carl Hahn from Steptoe, LLP leads a discussion on synthetic employees and the future of work. He is joined by experts Marcia Narine Weldon (Illuminating Wisdom), Geoffrey Schaefer (Leidos), and Ramsey Brown (Mission Control) to explore the implications of integrating AI-driven synthetic workers into organizations. Topics include the intersection of artificial intelligence and compliance, the role of governance in AI deployment, the potential employment law ramifications, and practical steps for managing synthetic workforces. The conversation also dives into the practical and ethical considerations companies must navigate as they incorporate these technologies, emphasizing the importance of having robust governance frameworks and multi-stakeholder committees to address risks and ensure sustainable implementation. If you are interested in learning more about emerging AI developments and policy, join us for the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Confe

Today's podcast hosted by the City Bar's Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies explores the ethical and legal dimensions of informed consent in AI healthcare settings. Anne Zimmerman, Chair of the City Bar’s Bioethical Issues Committee and Editor-in-Chief of the Voices in Bioethics Journal at Columbia University, Alex London from Carnegie Mellon University and Susannah Rose from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The discussion covers the significance of informed consent in healthcare, challenges with AI integration, patient autonomy, regulatory issues, and the balance between disclosure and effective use of AI. It also delves into potential impacts on patient care, operational uses of AI, and the importance of building trust and communication between clinicians and patients. If you are interested in learning more about emerging AI developments and policy, join us for the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Conference on June 18 to hear from industry experts and connect with

In this episode, Jerome Walker, co-chair of the Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, convenes Task Force subcommittee members Austin Brown, David Lisson, and Stuart Levi to examine President Trump’s December 11 Executive Order, "Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence." They explore key issues, including the executive order’s implications and challenges; the evaluation of state AI laws and potential federal restrictions on state funding; the creation of an AI litigation task force; and whether this approach can effectively balance innovation with regulation. The panelists also share their perspectives on how AI policy may evolve under this new national framework. If you are interested in learning more about emerging AI developments and policy, join us for the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Conference on June 18 to hear from industry experts and connect with leading legal professionals across the field. Register at: https://services.nycbar.org/SLI

The New York Emerging Technologies Amendments to the New York Uniform Commercial Code are the result of a multi-year collaboration between the City Bar (led by the City Bar Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence) and the Uniform Law Commission, including the New York State delegation to the Uniform Law Commission. This significant legislation modernizes the New York UCC to address advances in technology and digital assets, ensuring that New York remains the preferred jurisdiction for innovations in commerce and finance. In this episode, Task Force Co-Chair Jerome Walker sits down with City Bar stakeholders – including the City Bar Director of Advocacy (Elizabeth Kocienda) and two Uniform Law Commissioners from the Task Force (Ed Smith and Neil Cohen) – to talk about the years-long advocacy effort behind the passage of this bill, and to unpack the nuts and bolts of the bill’s changes to New York’s Uniform Commercial Code. Together we’re celebrating a victory that preserves New York’s leadership

Today we delve into the intricate world of AI assessment, review and audit methodologies, focusing on international frameworks and regulatory approaches. The discussion features experts from the City Bar Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, including Azish Filabi (American College McGuire Center for Ethics and Financial Services), Rim Belaoud (Forensic Risk Alliance), Nikhil Aggarwal (Deloitte Anti Money-Laundering), Lenka Molins (Oxford Internet Institute) and Jerome Walker (Task Force Co-Chair). They explore the definitions, methodologies, and challenges of AI audits across different jurisdictions such as the US, EU, Canada, and the UK, providing perspectives on issues related to methodologies, bias, transparency, and accountability. The episode also covers practical approaches for organizations to review AI models and highlights the importance of robust AI governance in various sectors, including financial services, AML, CFT, fraud, and export controls. 00:00 Introd

The Presidential Task Force on AI and Digital Technologies welcomes you to Wexford, a fictional city that has purchased AI-enabled law enforcement tools with a black box provision from a tech vendor. Task Force member Elizabeth Daitz moderates a discussion on the complexities of AI usage in criminal investigations and prosecution. Panelists Christian Quinn, Andrew Warshawer, Jerome Greco, and the Honorable Paul Grimm provide insightful perspectives on the significance of the black box provision, ethical and legal implications, and the need for transparency and coordination among stakeholders to ensure these tools are used effectively and justly in the criminal justice system. 00:00 Introductions 02:18 Fictional Case Study: Sentinel AI in Law Enforcement 03:31 Regulatory Landscape and Challenges 05:50 Bias and Explainability in AI 12:19 AI in Law Enforcement 18:01 Legal Implications of AI in Prosecution 35:52 Defense Perspective on AI Evidence 43:54 Challenging Unverifiable Evidence 46:57 Lit

Dana Lennon and Lori Nuckolls, co-chairs of the Subcommittee on Digital Technology Issues for Nonprofits, host an informative discussion on the use of digital assets in nonprofit organizations. Joined by subcommittee members Laura Angel Lalanne and John Bennett, alongside nonprofit leaders Kevin Scally of Doctors Without Borders USA and Zach Bronstein of Endaoment, they delve into different types of digital assets, their benefits for nonprofits, real-world applications, and the associated governance and legal considerations. The discussion includes practical advice on implementing digital asset strategies, addressing risk, ensuring transparency, and complying with emerging regulations and legislation. Want to further explore the latest developments in financial technology and associated regulatory changes? 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

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 pro

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 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. In addition to litigating on behalf of clients across the entertainment and media industries on copyright matters, Scott is representing world famous authors in a copyright class action litigation concerning the unauthorized use of literary works for generative AI “training.” He is the chair of the Copyright & Literary Property Committee 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 an