Josefa Velasquez

July 20, 2017 | New York Law Journal

A tort-reform business group is pushing for a bill that would regulate the third-party consumer litigation funding industry in New York state, despite the end of the legislative session for the year.

By Josefa Velasquez

6 minute read

July 20, 2017 | New York Law Journal

The Farm Bureau argued before Albany Supreme Court Justice Richard McNally on Thursday that allowing roughly 60,000 farm workers to unionize would devastate New York farms, where work days are dictated largely by weather conditions, while a NYCLU attorney argued that the state constitution permits all workers to organize.

By Josefa Velasquez

5 minute read

July 19, 2017 | New York Law Journal

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to meet with members of the state Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus Friday to discuss the controversial home-sharing service's anti-discrimination efforts.

By Josefa Velasquez

4 minute read

July 17, 2017 | New York Law Journal

Airbnb filed a formal complaint Monday with New York state's ethics panel against a hotel industry-backed group for allegedly failing to register as a lobbyist, to disclose how it is funded and to report lobbying expenses or file the necessary lobbying reports.

By Josefa Velasquez

7 minute read

July 14, 2017 | New York Law Journal

The DFS has approved two new banking development districts in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Two state-chartered banks will receive financial incentives to offer accounts to consumers and small businesses in underserved areas.

By Josefa Velasquez

4 minute read

July 13, 2017 | New York Law Journal

Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's conviction on corruption charges was overturned by a federal appeals court Thursday morning. Southern District U.S. Attorney Joon Kim has already announced the office will retry the case.

By Josefa Velasquez and Andrew Denney

11 minute read

July 13, 2017 | New York Law Journal

For federal prosecutors, the ruling by the Second Circuit to throw out the conviction of former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on Thursday highlights the challenges of winning public corruption cases in the post-'McDonnell' era.

By Andrew Denney and Josefa Velasquez

5 minute read

July 13, 2017 | New York Law Journal

The First Department ruled Thursday that Reorg Research, a specialty publisher with a narrow audience and tech-driven business model, is covered by New York's Shield Law, overturning the trial court.

By Josefa Velasquez

9 minute read

July 12, 2017 | New York Law Journal

Insurance agents and brokers whose state licenses have expired can now apply for re-licensing online rather than go through the old paper system, the New York State Department of Financial Services announced last week.

By Josefa Velasquez

4 minute read

July 11, 2017 | New York Law Journal

In a sign that Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is gearing up to battle Trump administration rollbacks in financial, labor and antitrust regulations, he made some new appointments to his office Tuesday.

By Josefa Velasquez

5 minute read