R+C Lawyers Recognized for Pro Bono Service Provided to the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program

Ten R+C lawyers were selected to receive a certificate of recognition as part of the New York County Lawyers Association’s Pro Bono Awards ceremony for their dedicated service to the New York State Courts Access to Justice Program: Lisa Andrzejewski, Tim Chen, Nicholas Enriquez, Sabrina Galli, Erica Kerstein, Janet Kljyan, Eric Lankton, Tiffany Liu, Alexis Stevens and Anna Wang.

Hosted with the New York State Bar Association and New York State Unified Court System’s Office for Justice Initiatives in celebration of National Pro Bono week, the ceremony took place on October 19, 2023. The New York State Courts Access to Justice Program is one of the Unified Court System’s many programs and initiatives which strive to increase access, improve the delivery of justice and promote public confidence in the courts.

Kate Dion and Janet Kljyan Author Article on “Deadnaming” and Setting Policy for Preferred Name Usage

Education Industry Team Chair Kate Dion and Business Litigation Group lawyer Janet Kljyan authored the article, “Avoid ‘deadnaming’: How universities and colleges can get ahead of preferred name usage,” published on March 21, 2022, in University Business. The article covers challenges facing universities and colleges around the country from growing requests by students to identify themselves by a preferred or chosen name in place of the student’s legal name. The authors suggest that having a clear and thoughtful policy in place to address preferred name usage will help avoid “ad hoc or case-by-case determinations to grant such requests for a few reasons.” Universities and colleges may want to review a number of considerations as develop their policies, including: “(1) the logistics of establishing and utilizing a preferred name, (2) matters requiring the use of a legal name, and (3) identifying instances that may warrant rejecting a student’s request to use a preferred name.” Read the full article.

Janet Kljyan Elected to Hudson River Housing Board of Directors

Business Litigation Group lawyer Janet Kljyan has been elected to serve a three-year term on the Hudson River Housing, Inc. Board of Directors. Hudson River Housing provides a continuum of services that improves lives and communities through housing with compassion and development with vision. The organization creates pathways out of homelessness through empowerment, education, and advocacy and strengthens communities by developing and preserving affordable housing and creating opportunities for people and places to thrive. Learn more about Hudson River Housing.