New York City Bar Association Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Women’s History Month Conversation with Judge Bianka Perez: Heritage, Discernment and Legacy Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

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, where we honor the women judges who uphold justice for all with courage and integrity: https://www.nycbar.org/videos/2026-annual-international-law-conference-on-the-status-of-women/ 00:00 Welcome and Women’s History Month 00:26 Judge Perez’s Bronx Beginnings 02:04 Working Full Time in Law School 04:43 Why Private Practice Matters 06:00 Law School Through a Practitioner Lens 08:22 Opening a Storefront Practice 11:39 Dominican Roots and Bronx Service 15:36 Bar Leadership and Becoming a Judge 18:47 When the Law Ties Your Hands 21:15 Life Experience on the Bench 24:02 Choosing the Judgeship Path 27:27 Mentoring and Paying It Forward 31:38 Carrying the Work Home 34:25 Success, Advice, and Closing

Mental Health Reform at a Crossroads in New York Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

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. Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/417gwTW

Unlocking Intuition: A Lawyer's Hidden Asset Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

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 Mindfulness and Well-Being in Law Committee! A great opportunity is coming up on March 26, join the committee’s Mindfulness and Well-Being in Law Book Club (nycbar.org/calendar). Reading the book is encouraged but not required to take part in this community space. 00:00 Defining intuition 02:22 Two types of knowing 04:13 Wishful thinking vs intuition 07:21 Bar exam visualization 16:18 Using intuition in practice 19:38 Negotiation and efficiency 27:49 Office politics and EQ 30:57 Leading with intuition 34:26 Soft Skills Are Hard 35:07 Lawyer Identity Beyond Work 36:38 Connection Crisis and Screens 39:12 Marriage Lens of Intuition 40:21 When Not to Use Intuition 41:06 Intuition and Instinct Dance 49:16 Prosecutor to Coach Story 55:37 Mindfulness for Intuition 57:25 Fingertip Grounding Trick 58:45 Closing Thanks and Credits

America's AI Action Plan Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

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 anticipating trade-offs and litigation. Pillar Three (“Lead in International AI Diplomacy and Security”) balances support for exporting US “full stack” AI with tighter national security controls, including stronger export-control enforcement and participation in international bodies primarily to counter China. The conversation closes with suggestions for improving the plan by strengthening trust, safety/rights considerations, and maintaining flexibility as AI capabilities evolve. 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. 00:00 Trump’s 2025 AI Action Plan: Big Goals, Short Document, 3 Pillars 03:23 Pillar One Preview: 15 Action Steps to ‘Accelerate AI Innovation’ 09:16 Meet the Panel + Setting Up the Pillar One Deep Dive 11:21 Pillar One Explained: Deregulation, Free Speech, Data Sharing, Evaluations, and Trust 18:33 Key Takeaways for Stakeholders: Business, Finance, Civil Society, and Tech 23:57 Which Pillar One Steps Matter Most? Sequencing, Competitiveness, and Data Access 27:52 Pillar Two: The Physical Side of AI—Energy, Chips, Data Centers 36:32 Critical Infrastructure Security: Physical Risks, Cyber Threats & ‘Security by Design’ 37:14 Data Poisoning Explained: How Training Data Can Be Manipulated at Scale 38:00 Workforce Training at Scale: From Trades to Semiconductor Talent Pipelines 38:52 Wrapping Pillar Two: China Competition, Speeding Projects, and Ranking Priorities 40:34 What Lawyers & Judges Need to Know About Pillar Two (Red Tape, Legal Tech, Litigation) 45:30 Pillar Three Overview: Balancing Global AI Leadership with National Security Controls 50:05 Pillar Three Priorities by Industry: Export Controls, Frontier Evaluations & Data Center Risk 58:56 Why Engage International AI Bodies? Countering China and Filling the Leadership Vacuum 01:03:20 Trump vs. Biden Narratives: Competition vs. Safety—What Should Change in the Plan? 01:07:38 Panel Advice to Improve the Action Plan: Rights Framework, Nimble Policy, Safety & Research Funding

Synthetic Employees in the Future of Work Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

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 Conference on June 18 to hear from industry experts and connect with leading legal professionals across the field. 00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome 10:30 Defining Synthetic Employees and AI Agents 11:45 The Continuum of AI Autonomy 19:00 Legal and Governance Challenges 25:00 Organizational Integration of AI 30:00 Ethical Considerations and Coordination Challenges 40:00 Mission Control AI and Governance Case Study 48:00 Second-Order Consequences of Synthetic Workforces 55:00 Legal and Compliance Implications 1:05:00 Practical Steps for AI Integration 1:10:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Informed Consent and AI in Healthcare Feb 05, 2026

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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 John 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 leading legal professionals across the field. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 01:30 Understanding Informed Consent in Healthcare 02:32 Ethical Considerations of AI in Healthcare 06:05 Challenges and Frameworks for AI Consent 06:47 AI's Impact on Clinical and Operational Settings 07:28 Patient Autonomy and AI Decision-Making 11:19 Regulatory and Safety Concerns with AI 17:12 The Role of AI in Patient Communication 18:37 Equity and Justice in AI Deployment 20:10 Future of AI in Healthcare and Concluding Thoughts 29:43 Closing Remarks and Podcast Information

Navigating President Trump’s National AI Policy Framework Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

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/SLIT/ 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Executive Order 09:08 Challenges in Establishing a National AI Framework 15:44 Implications of the AI Litigation Task Force 34:44 Federal Funding and State AI Laws 41:32 Preemption and Deceptive Conduct in AI Models 47:01 Future Outlook 55:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

NY Passes Emerging Technologies Amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code with City Bar's Help Dec 06, 2025

Show notes

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 in the world of commerce and finance.

Methodologies for AI Assessments, Reviews and Audits Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

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 Introduction to the Podcast 00:50 Overview of AI Assessments, Reviews, and Audits 02:20 Key Definitions and Concepts in AI 05:44 Panelist Introductions 08:39 Discussion on Responsible and Trustworthy AI 18:33 Training AI Models and Explainability 22:33 Challenges in AI Assessments and Reviews 27:09 Global Perspectives on AI Audits 39:10 Practical Approaches for AI Model Reviews 53:57 Key Skills for AI Model Audits 59:27 Introduction and Areas of Practice 01:01:31 AI in Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing 01:07:36 AI Models in Fraud Detection 01:14:41 Export Control on AI Models 01:21:35 International AI Audit Methodologies 01:27:42 Challenges in AI Audits 01:42:10 Accountability in AI Audits 01:46:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

AI and Civil Liberties: Law Enforcement in "Wexford" Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

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 Litigation Strategy and Expert Witnesses 49:00 Economic Barriers in Defense Technology 53:33 Judicial Perspectives on AI Evidence 01:13:53 Key Takeaways and Leadership in AI 01:22:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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