November 20, 2008
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION’S COMMERCIAL AND
FEDERAL LITIGATION SECTION CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY
ALBANY—The Commercial and Federal Litigation
Section of the New York State Bar Association celebrated its 20th
anniversary on November 18th honoring past section chairs for their
service to the public, the judiciary and the legal profession, and
honoring the Justices of the Commercial Division of New York, which the
section was instrumental in establishing. The reception, held at the
Russian Tea Room in New York, attracted more than 200 attendees. Many
Commercial and Federal Litigation Section chairs have gone on to become
leaders in the New York judiciary, including Association President
Bernice K. Leber of New York (Arent Fox LLP).
“The Commercial and Federal Litigation Section is
best known for formidable achievements that have raised the level of the
bar and the profession,” said Bernice K. Leber of New York, who
spoke at the event. “This section is a testament of how lawyers do
make a difference in our society through their advocacy and
innovation.”
In 1995, a task force of the section issued a report
calling for the creation of a new commercial court for New York. Citing
the section’s initiative, Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye appointed a
task force to implement the concept proposed in the report, and in 1996,
Commercial Divisions were established in New York and Monroe Counties.
Since then, the section has continued to support the creation and
operation of Commercial Divisions throughout the state, most notably
by:
• Drafting a report calling for the elimination of jury
exemptions, enacted by Chief Judge Kaye
• Editing the Commercial Division Law Report and other
publications for lawyers in New York
• Developing training programs on substantive legal issues and
ethics for lawyers and the judiciary throughout New York State
• Funding a Minority Law Student Fellowship, which is awarded
annually by The New York Bar Foundation to enable a law student enrolled
in a New York law school to spend 10 weeks during the summer working in
the chambers of a Commercial Division justice
• Creating educational programs directed to lawyers in each
judicial district in which a Commercial Division part is opened.
Established in 1988, the 2,500-member Commercial &
Federal Litigation Section strives to improve the quality of
representation of commercial clients in litigation matters, provides a
forum for the improvement of law and procedure in the areas of
commercial and federal litigation, and enhances the administration of
justice.
The 74,000-member New York State Bar Association is the
official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest
voluntary state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876,
NYSBA programs and activities have continuously served the public and
improved the justice system for more than 130 years.
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