Artificial Intelligence is rapidly influencing the legal profession and remains a hot topic for attorneys and the courts. AI has proven useful for everything from routine administrative tasks to case-analysis summaries. It helps lawyers research quickly, draft faster, and analyze large amounts of information more efficiently. However, as attorneys’ use and reliance on AI increase
Arbitration can be an attractive alternative to the courtroom for any number of reasons. But practitioners should know that arbitration is not the courtroom; parties must be prepared to accept the final award of an arbitrator, even if a court would decide the case differently. As reiterated in the Manhattan Commercial Division’s recent decision, Light
Consistent with the Commercial Division Advisory Council’s (“Advisory Council”) mission – i.e., to ensure that the Commercial Division serves as a globally-recognized forum for the adjudication of complex commercial disputes – the Council this summer proposed to amend the Commercial Division Rules (22 NYCRR § 202.70) to clarify the types of insurance-coverage
The Commercial Division Advisory Council (“CDAC”) has recommended a new rule that would introduce the use of Virtual Evidence Courtrooms in the Commercial Division. The proposed Rule 25-a is now under review by the Administrative Board of the Courts (the “Board”). If adopted, the rule would mark another step towards the Commercial Division’s ongoing efforts
When litigants pursue claims against foreign defendants, the question of how to serve them is more than procedural – it’s jurisdictional. As many readers of this blog are aware, CPLR 308 authorizes alternate service methods when traditional methods are shown to be impracticable. A recent decision from Manhattan Commercial Division Justice Margaret A. Chan confirms
A recent decision from the Manhattan Commercial Division reminds us that even substantial and high-profile transactions tied to the state may not be enough to establish personal jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant. In Zeng v HH Fairchild Holdings, LLC, the court held that a multimillion-dollar sale of surgical gowns to the City of New York during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was not enough to maintain a breach of contract lawsuit in New York. In short, without a strong legal nexus to the state, long-arm jurisdiction will not reach as far as some plaintiffs might hope.
In Zeng, an out-of-state plaintiff—who had contracted to assist a New Hampshire limited liability company (the “NH Company”) in securing personal protective equipment (PPE) manufactured in China—brought a breach of contract suit against NH Company in New York. The PPE, consisting of 10 million surgical gowns, was ultimately sold by the NH Company to the City of New York. The NH Company moved to dismiss, arguing that the court lacked personal jurisdiction under New York’s long-arm statute.Continue Reading Out-of-State, Out of Luck: Commercial Division Justice Dismisses PPE Suit for Lack of Jurisdiction
On April 29, 2025, the Justice Robert R. Reed of the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of New York County issued a significant ruling in ACM MCC VI LLC v. Able Liquidation Three, Thomas Rossi, et al., granting a default judgment on liability against defendant Thomas Rossi in a commercial dispute after two
On April 23, 2025, Matt Donovan and Viktoriya Liberchuk moderated a panel featuring Westchester Commercial Division Justices Linda S. Jamieson and Gretchen Walsh. The “town-hall” event covered a wide range of topics, including motion practice, artificial intelligence in legal proceedings, alternative dispute resolution, and trial procedures, to name just a few.
Below are some of
On March 4, 2025, the New York County Lawyers Association (“NYCLA”) celebrated a significant milestone during its Annual Gala held at The Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. The event commemorated the 30th Anniversary of the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court.
At the Gala, the NYCLA presented its highest honor – the William Nelson Cromwell Award, which was first established in 1964. This prestigious award is conferred upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to public service. This award is named in honor of William Nelson Cromwell, one of NYCLA’s earliest and most esteemed leaders, for “unselfish service to the profession and the community.”
At the Gala, the award was presented to the Commercial Division Justices in New York State. Among those present to accept the honor were Commercial Division Justices from across New York State, including Justice Boddie of the Brooklyn Commercial Division, Justice Driscoll of the Nassau County Commercial Division, Justices Chan, Masley, and Reed of the Manhattan Commercial Division, and Justice Jamieson of the Westchester County Commercial Division.Continue Reading A Court that Means Business: Three Decades of the New York Commercial Division
In a recent decision, the New York County Commercial Division reaffirmed the high bar that parties must meet when attempting to seal court documents in business disputes. In Linkable Networks, Inc. v. Mastercard Inc., the court ruled that Mastercard, despite having the consent of the plaintiff, was not entitled to an order sealing documents referenced in prior motion practice and produced in discovery. This ruling is another reminder of the high bar courts have set to seal documents, as discussed by my colleague Serene Carino in her blog post “Signed, Seal, Delivered.” It also highlights the balance courts strike between protecting sensitive business information and upholding the public’s right to access judicial records.
Under Section 216.1(a) of the Uniform Rules for Trial Courts, a court may seal or redact court records only upon a written finding of “good cause.” The rule stipulates that such an order must specify the grounds for sealing and take into account both the interests of the parties involved and the public’s right to transparency. In the business context, courts are more willing to seal records when trade secrets or competitive advantages are at risk.Continue Reading Commercial Division Clarifies Standards for Sealing Court Records in Business Disputes