Lecturer Bios
Devika Kewalramani, Esq.
Devika Kewalramani is a partner and co-chair of Moses & Singer's Legal Ethics & Law Firm Practice which advises law firms, lawyers and legal departments on ethical, legal and business aspects of law practice. Devika’s practice focuses on the laws that regulate lawyers and she counsels on a variety of issues relating to legal ethics,
professional responsibility, partnership and fee disputes, risk management and loss prevention. She conducts ethics audits for midsize and boutique law firms and develops risk management compliance manuals for the firms.
A frequent lecturer, panelist and author on legal ethics, Devika speaks to corporate legal departments, law firms, bar associations and other professional organizations around the country on conflicts of interest, engagement letters, attorney advertising via blogs, websites and social media, unauthorized practice of law, lawyer/law firm domain names and law practice management. The editor of the New York State Bar Association’s Journal magazine recognized Devika as an author with one of the best written articles for 2010 with “Up Close and Professional With New York’s Engagement Letter Rules” (September 2010). She is also a faculty member of the Practising Law
Institute and of Lawline.com. Previously, she was general counsel to Moses & Singer. Prior to that, Devika was an associate in Moses & Singer’s Banking and Finance practice where she represented major financial institutions in secured and unsecured financings.
Richard B. Friedman, Esq.
Richard Friedman is a former AMLAW 100 employment and business litigation partner and an experienced trial lawyer. He handles all kinds of employment-related matters such as those involving investigations of alleged employee misconduct, covenants not to compete, employee discipline and terminations, discrimination claims, fiduciary duty claims, wrongful discharge claims, defamation claims, alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, and related issues for companies of varying sizes as well as individuals in New York state and federal trial and appellate courts as well as other venues.
Richard’s most recent blog article discusses several noteworthy National Labor Relations Board decisions concerning a few of the do’s and don’ts involving employer social media practices and policies and employee posts on social media. The article can be accessed via the following link.
Richard also represents individual clients in employment-related matters and disputes. He has advised individual clients with respect to their rights and obligations arising out of restrictive covenant provisions and negotiated numerous employment and severance agreements on behalf of such clients. Richard has also counseled experienced lawyers in connection with their ethical obligations when changing law firms.
In addition, Richard aggressively represents clients in a wide range of business litigation matters, including contract and licensing agreement disputes, partnership disputes, real estate litigation, and post-judgment enforcement proceedings. Richard has a particularly active practice in the New York County Commercial Division and was appointed by the former Chief Administrative Judge to the Court’s Advisory Committee on which he continues to serve with the ten judges of that court.
Joshua H. Abramson, Esq.
Josh Abramson has over twelve years of experience representing businesses and individuals in a variety of complex, business related disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, real estate, property rights, and employment and shareholder claims. His practice also focuses on defending product manufacturers against claims of product liability, negligence, and wrongful death, in cases that often involve catastrophic injuries. He routinely appears in state and federal courts, and before arbitration tribunals. Josh also represents clients in will contests, and other estate litigation, in the New York Surrogate’s Court.
From matter inception, Josh strives to understand his client’s business, litigation objectives and expectations. He zeroes in on the key issues, especially in highly complex and technical matters, and strategically focuses his efforts to efficiently achieve his clients’ goals. Clients often call on Josh when emergencies arise and they need someone who knows how to take the steps necessary to protect their interests. An aggressive litigator when the circumstances call for it, Josh also has many years of experience negotiating favorable settlements and outcomes for his clients when that is the most practical path. Josh is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.
Thomas O. Johnston, Esq.
Mr. Johnston aggressively litigates employment, education and business matters in federal, state and administrative courts in New York and New Jersey. He also handles traditional labor matters, representing employers. He counsels private companies, schools and governmental bodies on general business and operational challenges. While he is adamant about advancing his clients’ interests, he is equally committed to achieving win-win results and avoiding litigation for clients, if possible. Clients who look for a first-rate strategic legal mind with a relentless focus on achieving clients’ goals look to Tom Johnston.
James G. Paulsen, Esq.
Mr. Paulsen is the Regional Director of the Brooklyn Regional Office (Region 29) of the National Labor Relations Board and was appointed to that position on December 28, 2011. Prior to his appointment as Director, he served as an Assistant General Counsel, in Division of Operations-Management with oversight over eight Regional Offices. He is a member of Senior Executive Service since 1999. In Operations, he helped to coordinate General Counsel policy on utilization of Section 10(j) injunctive relief, chaired the Field Quality Committee and was a lead on the development of NxGen, the NLRB’s case management system. In 2003, Mr. Paulsen received a Presidential Rank Award for distinguished service as a Senior Executive. For six months in 2002, Mr. Paulsen served as the Acting Regional Director of the New Orleans Regional Office (Region 15).
Mr. Paulsen began his career with the NLRB as an attorney in the Division of Advice in 1978, worked in the Manhattan (Region 2) and Brooklyn (Region 29) Regional Offices as a Field Attorney, was promoted in 1989 to a Supervisory Attorney in Region 2 and in 1996 to Deputy Assistant General Counsel in Operations–Management. Mr. Paulsen received his B.A. degree from Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina in 1974, graduating cum laude, and his J.D. degree, with high honors, from the University of Florida Law School in Gainesville, Florida in 1976. During law school, he also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the University of Florida Law Review.
Stephen F. Stander, Esq.
Stephen F. Stander is Senior International Advisor at A&E Television Networks, LLC (AETN). He has administered AETN’s program for compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, making compliance presentations in the US and other locations where AETN has operations. Mr. Stander joined AETN in 1998 and served as Vice President & Deputy General Counsel. In his current position, Mr. Stander assists with the legal and business affairs work for the International Division, focusing on its channel and joint venture businesses. He helped form AETN joint ventures in Japan, India, Southeast Asia, and Germany and oversaw transactions in which AETN acquired full ownership of its businesses in Italy and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining AETN, Mr. Stander was the head of the Corporate & Transactions Practice Group within the NBC Law Department, where he was Senior Vice President, Law and oversaw television station acquisitions, the launch of NBC overseas channels, the legal work for the formation of CNBC and the joint venture with Microsoft to form MSNBC. Mr. Stander received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and his J. D. degree from Harvard Law School.
Jordan Kanfer, Esq.
Jordan Kanfer is a seasoned technology, outsourcing, and corporate attorney. He is currently Executive Vice President and General Counsel at NTT America/NTT Communications, which is an international telecom and outsourcing service provider. Prior to this Mr. Kanfer served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary to the board of directors at T-Systems North America, Inc., the business services arm of Deutsche Telekom. Additionally, he has held senior in-house legal positions at Moneyline/Telerate (acquired by Reuters) and Global Crossing. In these positions, Mr. Kanfer managed and organized large-scale business and legal initiatives, as well as negotiated and facilitated complex outsourcing, technology, telecom, and finance transactions. Prior to working in technology, he worked at a firm and in investment banking, where he was involved in structured finance and derivatives transactions. Mr. Kanfer holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University and Juris Doctorate at New York Law School.
