Practice Areas
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Devika Kewalramani
Partner
dkewalramani@mosessinger.com
T: 212.554.7832 F: 917.206.4332
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.
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/lawfirm 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.
EDUCATION
ARTICLES
- "Save E-Mails, Avoid Sanctions: Court Creates New Duty To Preserve E-Mails During A Transaction," Moses & Singer Client Alert, April 2012.
- "Greenwashing: Deceptive Business Claims of Eco-Friendliness," Forbes.com, March 2012.
- "Second Circuit Topples Some NY Rules on Certified Specialists," Moses & Singer Client Alert, March 2012.
- "The Greenwashing Domino Effect," Thomson Reuters News & Insight; Canadian Competition & Antitrust Law; Canadian Advertising & Marketing Law, February 2012.
- "Lawyers' Titles and Law Firm Names in the Hi-Tech Era," New York Law Journal, February 2012.
- "Ethical Screens: Building Electronic Barriers," Law360, August 2011; New York State Bar Association Journal, February 2012.
- "Lawyers: Know Your Clients: Unsolicited Emails – Fake Checks – Vanishing Clients," Moses & Singer Client Alert, October 2011.
- "No Office, No Practice? No! Requirement of New York Office for Non-resident Attorneys Ruled Unconstitutional," Moses & Singer Client Alert, September 2011.
- "How to Outsource Legal Work—Ethically: Authorities Weigh In," New York Law Journal, August 2011.
- "Are Law Firm Loss Prevention Communications Discoverable?," Moses & Singer Client Alert, May 2011.
- "New York Resolves In-House Counsel Bar Admission Problem," Moses & Singer Client Alert, April 2011.
- "Women’s Empowerment Conference Held at United Nations," featured, The India Tribune, April 2011.
- "Conference on Women’s Empowerment Held at the United Nations," featured, News India Times, April 2011.
- "Flying High in April," cited, Law Technology News (LTN), March 2011.
- "Cloud Computing: Ethical Shades of Gray," New York Law Journal, March 2011.
- "Privilege Invoked If Company Reasonably Believes In-house Counsel is a Lawyer," Moses & Singer Client Alert, February 2011.
- "URLs for ESQs: How to Choose and Use Ethical Domain Names," New York Law Journal, January 2011.
- "Lawyers Spared From Red Flags Rule," Moses & Singer Client Alert, December 2010.
- "Unwritten Vows Break Up Law Firm Partnership," Moses & Singer Client Alert, September 2010.
- "Up Close and Professional with New York’s Engagement Letter Rules," New York State Bar Association Journal, September 2010.
- "No License, No Privilege: Says Magistrate Judge in Gucci v. Guess," Moses & Singer Client Alert, July 2010.
- "You Can Tweet But You Can’t Hide: Social Networking for Lawyers," New York Law Journal, June 2010.
- "Report on Bill A8697 to Amend New York’s Lien Law of the Ethics Institute of the New York County Lawyers’ Association," author, June 2010.
- "Gucci v. Guess: A Lesson on Lapsed Licenses," Law 360, June 2010.
- "EEOC v. Kelley Drye & Warren LLP: The Sequel," Moses & Singer Client Alert, April 2010.
- "Lawyer’s Failure to Maintain License Triggers Battle Over Attorney-Client Privilege," Moses & Singer Client Alert, April 2010.
- "EEOC Attacks Law Firm Retirement Again," Moses & Singer Client Alert, February 2010.
- "Tips to Avoid the Pitfalls of Legal Opinion Practice," Moses & Singer Client Alert, January 2010.
- "Beware of New Scams Targeting Law Firms," Moses & Singer Client Alert, November 2009.
- "Report on Engagement Letters of the Professional Responsibility Committee of the Association of the Bar of The City of New York," co-author, August 2008.
- "New Lawyer Ad Rules Restrict Client Testimonials, Names," New York Law Journal, December 2006.
PUBLICATIONS
- The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, Mentor to Journal staff members for note publications on ethics (2010-11 and 2011-12).
- "The New York Rules of Professional Conduct," Oxford University Press, Rules Co-Editor and Contributor of Three Chapters: "Rule 1.7 – Conflicts of Interest: Current Clients;" "Rule 1.8 – Current Clients: Specific Conflicts of Interest Rules;" and "Rule 1.9 – Duties to Former Clients" (2010).
PRESENTATIONS
- "Ethics in Elder Law," Practising Law Institute’s (PLI) 24th Annual Elder Law Institute, April 2012
- "Ethics for Inhouse Lawyers: Emerging Issues, Evolving Duties," Barclays Capital, April 2012
- "Dealing with Ethical Issues Facing Intellectual Property Practitioners," New York County Lawyers’ Association, February 2012
- "Hot Topics in Legal Ethics: Current Issues, New Risks and Recent Developments," Esquire Bank, Ultimate Abstract of New York and Citrin Cooperman, December 2011
- "Ethical Considerations for the Real Estate Leasing Attorney," Analysis of Case Study by Devika Kewalramani, Practising Law Institute, November 2009, November 2010 and November 2011
- "Ethics for Real Estate Attorneys," Analysis of Case Study by Devika Kewalramani, Practising Law Institute 10th, 11th and 12th Annual Commercial Real Estate Institute, December 2008 (New York), November 2008 (Chicago), December 2009 (New York), December 2010 (New York) and November 2011 (New York)
- “In-House Counsel Ethics: Risks, Trends and Real-World Challenges,” Moses & Singer CLE Program to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., September 2011
- "Cloud Computing: Balancing Privacy and Data Mobility," Moses & Singer CLE Webinar to FriendFinder Networks Inc., August 2011
- "Latest Trends and Insights Impacting Law Practice in a Turnaround Economy," Chair, the Association of the Bar of The City of New York, July 2011
- "Ethics, Technology and Solos," Business Lawyers Group, July 2011
- 2nd Annual USA India Business Summit, participant, June 2011
- "Cloud Computing: Thunderstorms or Silver Lining?," Co-Sponsored by New York County Lawyers’ Association and its Cyberspace Committee, June 2011
- "From Outsourced to Cloudsourced: The Next Level of Risks," Moses & Singer’s In-House Counsel CLE Program, June 2011
- "Ethics for New Lawyers," Lawline.com CLE Seminar, April 2011
- "Women's Leadership That Inspires Global Change," The 55th Annual United Nations Conference on Women's Empowerment, March 2011
- "Ethical Issues in Client Representation Agreements," WebCredenza National Teleseminar, February 2011
- "Fees, Retainer Agreements, and Letters of Engagement," New York State Bar Association, November and December 2010
- "Attorney Advertising via Blogs, Websites and Social Networks: Ethical Risks," Strafford National CLE Webinar, November 2010
- "Everyday Ethics Issues Facing Your Law Practice," Moses & Singer Women’s Initiative Program, November 2010
- "Best Practices for Protecting Your Law Practice from Ethical Violations," Esquire Bank and Ultimate Abstract of New York, October 2010
- "Navigating the Attorney Advertising Maze: Recent Rules, Cases and Ethics Opinions," New York County Lawyers’ Association, September 2010
- "Minimize Risks, Manage Challenges and Avert Ethical Pitfalls," Esquire Bank and Ultimate Abstract of New York, July 2010
- "Indian Businesses Go Green," host, Citi-Anchin Indian Initiative, June 2010
- "Ethics of Going Green At Home And Abroad," The Institute of International Social Development and Forum 21, April 2010
- "The New NY Ethics Rules: An Inside View for In-House Counsel," legal department of Deutsche Bank AG, April 2010, and JPMorgan Chase & Co., February 2010 and Moses & Singer’s In-House Counsel CLE Program, May 2010
- "Getting Engaged and Serving Your Client Under New York’s Engagement Letter Rules," The Judicial Title Insurance Agency LLC, March 2010
- "Essentials of Setting Up A New Law Practice: Formation Issues, Ethics And Other Key Considerations," Chair, the Association of the Bar of The City of New York, Small Law Firm Center, March 2010
- "Ethics in Commercial Mortgage Practice: Analysis of Case Study by Devika Kewalramani," Practising Law Institute, March 2008 (Chicago), February (2008) (New York) and March 2010 (New York)
- "Attention In-House Counsel: New York’s New Ethics Rules Apply To You," Fidelity National Financial, Inc., December 2009
- "What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About New York’s Engagement Letter Rules," Hudson Valley Bank and Lawline.com CLE Seminar, November 2009, Rivkin Radler LLP, January 2009, Asian American Bar Association of New York, December 2008, the Association of the Bar of The City of New York, May 2007 and Moses & Singer In-House Counsel CLE Program, March 2006
- "The Rules, They Are A-Changin’," The Copyright Society of the U.S.A., September 2009
- "How New York's New Ethics Rules Impact Subordinate Lawyers," New York County Lawyers' Association, September 2009
- "New York's New Ethics Rules: What's New, What's Not, and What Changed?" Quinn Emanuel, October 2009, Citibank/Corporate Solutions New York, August 2009 and Moses & Singer's Law Firm Managing Partners Forum, July 2009
- "Highlights of New York’s New Rules of Professional Conduct," Advantage Title, 2009 CLE Seminar Series, June 2009
- "New York Adopts New Rules of Professional Conduct: Are You Ready?" Moses & Singer’s In-House Counsel CLE Program, March 2009 and Lawline.com, May 2009
- "Seven Risk Management Tips for Law Firms," Lawline.com, May 2009
- "Law Firms and In-House Counsel," MSI Global Alliance North America and Latin America Local Members' Meeting, January 2009 (Miami)
- "Legal Ethics: Solutions to the Most Common Challenges," National Business Institute, September 2008
- "Law Firm Blogs: Legal and Ethical Concerns," Moses & Singer’s In-House Counsel CLE Program, November 2007
- "Ethical Duties of Supervisory and Subordinate Lawyers," Moses & Singer’s In-House Counsel CLE Program, October 2008 and the Association of the Bar of The City of New York, October 2007
- "Conflicts of Interest, Engagement Letters and Attorney Advertising Rules," National Business Institute, September 2007
- "What You Need to Know About Legal Opinions," Moses & Singer’s In-House Counsel CLE Program, January 2007
- "What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Conflicts of Interest," the Association of the Bar of The City of New York, June 2006
- "Law Firm Conflicts Management," Moses & Singer’s In-House Counsel CLE Program, December 2004
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Member, Committee on Professional Ethics of the New York State Bar Association
- Member, Advisory Board of the Ethics Institute of the New York County Lawyers' Association
- Member, Committee on Professional Discipline, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- Past Chair, Subcommittee on Engagement Letters, Professional Responsibility Committee, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
BAR/COURT ADMISSIONS
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- New York
- Connecticut
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