Welcome to The Docket, amNewYork Law’s weekly column focused on the movers and shakers in New York’s legal community.
NYC Bar seminar looks to ‘demystify’ judge selection process
The New York City Bar Association will feature a meeting this month at its Midtown headquarters, inviting the legal community to learn more about how judges are selected for the state Court of Appeals, the highest court in the Empire State.
The program takes place from 5 to 6 p.m. on July 16 at the State Bar located at 42 West 44th St., and will be hosted by the Commission on Judicial Nomination, the body responsible for evaluating and then recommending to the governor candidates to fill vacancies on the Court of Appeals.
As the State Bar explained, the Commission vigorously seeks out, carefully evaluates, and then recommends to the Governor well-qualified candidates from the extraordinary, diverse community of lawyers admitted to practice in New York State for at least 10 years.
The program is of note because in a few months’ time, the governor will need to fill an impending vacancy. Senior Associate Judge Jenny Rivera’s term expires on Feb. 10, 2027.
As part of the process of identifying and recommending candidates to fill vacancies on the Court, the Commission conducts meetings to discuss the requirements for the position and the Commission’s procedures and rules for submitting recommendations of qualified candidates. The meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend and express their views (orally or in writing) about community needs, the general qualifications for judicial office, and the nominating process.
Elizabeth R. Fine, the Chair of the Commission, will host the July 16 informational meeting at the NYC Bar. She and former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman and former Associate Judges Beauchamp Ciparick and Eugene M. Fahey (also a commission member) will discuss the process.
Other scheduled speakers and panelists include Paul N. Samuels, a member of the commission, along with commission counsel Henry M. Greenberg.
For more information on the meeting, visit nycbar.org.
Those interested in learning more about the Commission on Judicial Nomination are encouraged to visit the Commission’s website: https://cjn.ny.gov.
Cadwalader adds partner to Capital Markets practice
Nika Silva has joined Cadwalader as its new partner in the Capital Markets practice, the firm announced.Cadwalader
Nika Silva has joined Cadwalader as its new partner in the Capital Markets practice, the firm announced.
She will originate out of the New York office before relocating to Los Angeles upon completion of the merger to create the firm Hogan Lovells Cadwalader. Silva will then serve as the combined firm’s U.S. head of digital infrastructure finance.
Silva brings more than 20 years of experience to the firm as a finance attorney primarily focused on data center and infrastructure transactions. She has represented issuers, financial institutions, underwriters and institutional investors in a variety of capacities.
“We’re thrilled that Nika is joining Cadwalader,” said Co-Managing Partner Pat Quinn. “Her data center specialization will bolster our capability in the space and open up opportunities to expand our client offering. Nika’s extensive experience working on data center and other digital infrastructure transactions, as well as her work for fintech clients, will complement the expanded Hogan Lovells Cadwalader platform.”
“I’m extremely excited to join Cadwalader at such at a watershed moment as the firm transitions to its next phase as Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, a global powerhouse,” said Nika. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to Hogan Lovells Cadwalader’s digital infrastructure offering and help lead the effort in the United States.”
Silva has been recognized by the Legal 500 for her work. She received her judicial degrees at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and is qualified with the New York State Bar.
Loeb & Loeb adds real estate finance partner
Ryan McCaffrey has joined Loeb & Loeb’s New York office as a partner, bringing more than 20 years of experience in real estate and financial law.
During his career, the firm said, McCaffrey has been a trusted advisor to developers, lenders and investors alike, and has represented clients on matters including executing buying, entitling, building, managing, leasing and selling real estate, as well as restructuring debt.
“Ryan deepens our sophisticated real estate transactional bench and enhances our ability to advise on complex financing and development deals,” said Raymond A. Sanseverino, chair of Loeb’s Real Estate department. “His ideal combination of transactional skills and understanding of real estate finance complexities will greatly benefit our clients.”
McCaffrey previously spent more than a decade as chief legal officer of Post Brothers, a leading real estate development company. He earned his judicial degree from the Notre Dame Law School, and is an adjunct professor of law at both the University of Notre Dame Law School and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
“It’s exciting to join Loeb & Loeb, and I admire the firm’s continued commitment to strategic growth in both real estate and finance,” said McCaffrey. “I look forward to helping clients navigate the evolving real estate finance market and partnering across the firm on complex, business-critical transactions.”
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