Friday, March 17, 2023

An Overview of NYWBA Grant Partners


Dyan Gershman is an experienced corporate attorney located in New York City. As a partner at Gershman Law, PLLC, which she founded in 2014, she has represented both US-based and international business clients. Dyan Gershman spends time as a member of industry organizations such as the NYC Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York.

Established in 1934, the New York Women’s Bar Association (NYWBA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to elevating women not only in the legal field, but throughout society. The New York Women’s Bar Association Foundation, Inc. (NYWBAF) functions as the charitable arm of the NYWBA, operating with a mission of eliminating gender bias and discrimination from both the legal system and the industry as a whole.

The foundation provides a number of grants to programs and projects that support this mission, as well as services that provide legal support and promote the safety and well-being of women and children. NYWBAF is longtime supporter of the Joint Minority Bar Association’s Judicial Internship Program. The program was incorporated into the Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program, Inc., in 2015, allowing grant opportunities to be extended to high school students.

NYWBA has provided multiple grants to the Pro Bono Matrimonial Project, which is a product of an NYWBA-New York Law School Collaboration. The Pro Bono Matrimonial Project involves volunteer attorneys providing representation to individuals engaged in various contested matrimonial matters.

Other grant recipients include the Justice Resource Center, which provides legal information to NYC high school students and educators, and Children’s Pressline, which supports adolescent interest in journalism.

Friday, March 3, 2023

NYC Bar Association Calls for Increased C-SPAN Coverage of US Congress


 Based in New York City, Dyan Gershman is the founder of and a partner at Gershman Law, PLLC. In addition to managing operations at the elite corporate law firm, Dyan Gershman is an active member of local professional organizations such as the New York City Bar Association.


The NYC Bar Association is a legal association for the state’s professional law community. Recently, it has advocated for greater freedom of press for Congressional proceedings, specifically in regards to camera access afforded to C-SPAN. The media outlet has frequently requested expanded latitude for coverage of Congressional meetings, such as having complete control of camera placement and coverage.


The NYC Bar Association has expressed full support of the C-SPAN request, in part by drafting a letter through the association’s Communications and Media Law Committee. The letter highlighted the perpetual need for governmental transparency and was sent directly to House leadership. The committee’s messaging underscored public interest in a number of protracted House debates in recent years as proof that American citizens will follow Congressional proceedings if they are provided the opportunity to do so.


In addition to representing law and order throughout the country, the NYC Bar Association cited Congress’s history of convening in the city as a reason for taking a personal vestment in matters of Congressional transparency.