BAEC Bulletin - Fall 2021

BAEC Bulletin | Fall 2021 | 19

Committees of the Bar Association

CRIMINAL LAW COMMITTEE Chairs: Daniel P. Grasso and Nora B. Robshaw | Board Liaison: Robert C. Brucato, Jr.

The Criminal Law Committee are attorneys primarily engaged in criminal practice, both defense and prosecution, who consider matters which impact on the criminal justice system and the practice of criminal law.The committee considers matters referred to it by the Board of Directors.The committee also presents CLE programs through the Erie Institute of Law and provides lecturers for the Stop-DWI assemblies.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION COMMITTEE Chair: Stephanie J. Calhoun | Board Liaison: Hugh M. Russ, III

The mission of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee is: (1) to educate our legal community concerning the importance of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion; (2) to support sustainable programs that foster, build, and develop a diverse legal community; and (3) to ensure the Bar Association of Erie County promotes inclusion and provides significant opportunities for personal and professional growth for all.

ELDER LAW COMMITTEE Chair and Board Liaison: Kelly Barrett Sarama

The Elder Law Committee shares information among members and the public regarding issues of major concern to the elderly and practitioners representing them. Such issues include access to health care, Medicaid, asset planning, housing, community resources and institutional placement, pension benefits, health care decision making, private and Medicare health insurance, administrative proceedings, attorneys' fees, veterans' benefits, and exploitation of the elderly. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW COMMITTEE Chair: Henry A. Zomerfeld | Board Liaison: Anne K. Bowling The Environmental Law Committee provides environmental practitioners and other attorneys with a forum for discussion of current environmental legal trends, DEC/EPA regulatory, statutory, and enforcement initiatives, and current or emerging case law. It also provides education and community/academic outreach programs.The committee has frequent speakers on a wide variety of environmental topics. FEDERAL PRACTICE COMMITTEE Chair:Timothy J. Graber | Board Liaison: Karen Richardson The Federal Practice Committee fosters an ongoing dialogue with the members of the federal judiciary who sit in this district. Each fall, the committee holds a dinner attended by all district, magistrate and bankruptcy judges from both Buffalo and Rochester. Meetings often consist of an informal discussion with one of the members of the federal bench.The committee provides regular input with respect to proposed changes to the Local Rules of Practice for the district, and conducts one major seminar each year. HEALTH CARE LAW COMMITTEE Chair: Jennifer R. Scharf | Board Liaison: Kelly Barrett Sarama The Health Care Law Committee educates members and others about developments and trends in the field through CLE seminars and speakers at monthly meetings. Consideration is given to all legal and ethical issues affecting physicians, hospitals and other providers of health care services. A Liaison Committee between the Health Law Committee and the Medical Society of the County of Erie has developed guidelines for interprofessional relations between physicians and attorneys. HISTORY COMMITTEE Chair: Michelle Parker The History Committee is dedicated to the publicizing and preservation of the rich history of the Western New York legal community. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE Chair: Sharon Nosenchuck | Board Liaison: Jennifer Metzger Kimura The Human Rights Committee is concerned with human rights of people. In the past, the committee has examined the conditions of local jails, followed local cases that have human rights implications and heard from experts on the problems of refugees. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, COMPUTER AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW COMMITTEE Chairs: Melissa N. Subjeck and Nathaniel W. Lucek | Board Liaison: Peter J. Crotty Intellectual Property, Computer and Entertainment Law Committee shares information about contract issues in music, film and sports industries; publicity rights; Internet and computer law issues; copyrights; trademarks; patents; trade secrets; and unfair competition. About half of each meeting is devoted to a presentation from a committee member or guest speaker on a current topic of legal interest.