Events
Unzipped
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
We look forward to seeing you at a future event!
Fashion is a regular subject of editorial critique, whether as art or commerce, but fashion houses and industry professionals who receive negative attention are unlikely to appreciate the media spotlight. In extreme cases, fashion editors -- who rely on invitations, unlike restaurant or theater critics -- have been banned from runway shows. Journalists and social media commenters have also been threatened with defamation and invasion of privacy claims by irate fashion designers, brands, and photographers, both in the U.S. and in other jurisdictions. How do fashion critics balance access and candor, whether covering collections, reporting news, or analyzing the industry? Do anti-defamation lawsuits have a chilling effect on expression? Can anti-SLAPP laws balance free speech concerns? Please join
- Award-winning fashion journalist and author Teri Agins;
- Lindsey Schuyler and Tony Liu, the duo behind Diet Prada (infamously sued by Dolce & Gabbana);
- Italian attorney Marco Amorese;
- Jeff Trexler, Fashion Ethics professor at Fordham and an expert on banned books; and
- Professor Susan Scafidi, founder and director of the Fashion Law Institute,
for a Fashion Law Institute panel discussion, "Unzipped! Law and the Art of Speaking Truth to Fashion."
DATE: Thursday, November 9, 2023
TIME: 9:30-10:45am (continental breakfast at 9am)
PLACE: Fordham School of Law, 150 W.62nd St., New York, NY. 10023
NYS CLE: 1.5 hours professional practice, transitional and non-transitional
For more information about the Institute or the CLE hardship policy, please contact us at events@fashionlawinstitute.com.
Protected: CLE Materials Designing Diversity II
Fashion Week Panel: Designing Diversity II
Fashion has taken strides toward greater racial diversity – but as we anticipated in our panel discussion last fall, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively eviscerated affirmative action, a key civil rights tool for over half a century. While the opinion addressed college admissions policies, its reasoning is far broader, and follow-on cases challenging corporate internships and scholarships are already on the horizon. Could a pledge to stock more products from an underrepresented group, a hiring strategy intended to achieve racial or other forms of diversity, or a program of targeted support for minority designers now be considered unconstitutional? How might the decision affect existing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs? And what are the best legal and ethical strategies for collecting the dividends of diversity and promoting the full spectrum of style in light of the Court's decision? Our panel of experts for "Designing Diversity after Affirmative Action, Part II" will discuss these questions and more. Join us at the beginning of New York Fashion Week to celebrate the Fashion Law Institute's 13th anniversary and engage in one of our favorite roles: cutting-edge analysis and constructive problem solving.
DATE: Friday, September 8, 2023
TIME: 9:30-10:45am (breakfast 9am)
PLACE: Fordham Law, 150 W. 62nd St., 2nd floor (Bateman Room)
NYS CLE: 1.5 hours Ethics and Professionalism, transitional and non-transitional
SPEAKERS:
Angie Byun, AB World
Hayley Macon, Endeavor
Jeff Trexler, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Kenya Wiley, Georgetown University
MODERATOR:
Professor Susan Scafidi
Founder & Director, Fashion Law Institute
Due to the social significance of this topic, there is no required registration fee. Voluntary donations are welcome – and tax-deductible!
Register now!
Designing Diversity 2: After Affirmative Action
Fashion has taken strides toward greater racial diversity – but as we anticipated in our panel discussion last fall, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively eviscerated affirmative action, a key civil rights tool for over half a century. While the opinion addressed college admissions policies, its reasoning is far broader, and follow-on cases challenging corporate internships and scholarships are already on the horizon. Could a pledge to stock more products from an underrepresented group, a hiring strategy intended to achieve racial or other forms of diversity, or a program of targeted support for minority designers now be considered unconstitutional? How might the decision affect existing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs? And what are the best legal and ethical strategies for collecting the dividends of diversity and promoting the full spectrum of style in light of the Court's decision? Our panel of experts for "Designing Diversity after Affirmative Action, Part II" will discuss these questions and more. Join us at the beginning of New York Fashion Week to celebrate the Fashion Law Institute's 13th anniversary and engage in one of our favorite roles: cutting-edge analysis and constructive problem solving.
DATE: Friday, September 8, 2023
TIME: 9:30-10:45am (breakfast 9am)
PLACE: Fordham Law, 150 W. 62nd St., 2nd floor (Bateman Room)
NYS CLE: 1.5 hours Ethics and Professionalism, transitional and non-transitional
SPEAKERS:
Angie Byun, AB World
Hayley Macon, Endeavor
Jeff Trexler, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Kenya Wiley, Georgetown University
MODERATOR:
Professor Susan Scafidi
Founder & Director, Fashion Law Institute
Register now!
Due to the social significance of this topic, there is no required registration fee. Voluntary donations are welcome – and tax-deductible!
Symposium review at LookOnline.com
Missed our 13th annual symposium? Here’s a comprehensive – and delightful – overview of the entire event, with photos and panel summaries from Laurel Marcus @ LookOnline.com!
We’re preparing recordings of several panels – along with additional pics – and will post links here when they’re accessible.
CLE Materials – 13th Annual Symposium
13th Annual Symposium
Are you ready for a smart and intellectually sophisticated spring fling? Although rough winds may yet shake the darling buds of May, the pandemic is so last season. As we re-focus on cutting-edge legal issues of importance to the fashion industry, in subject areas as diverse as IP and AI, global trade, consumer protection regulation and legislation, and of course dress itself, it is clear that we are in a moment of renewal and regrowth – and one that will have significant impact. Please join us in person on Friday, April 28, for the 13th annual Fashion Law Institute symposium, a full day’s bouquet of sharing and discussion!
DATE: April 28, 2023
TIME: 9am-6pm
PLACE: Fordham Law School, 150 W. 62nd Street
NYS CLE: 6.0 hours total (5.0 professional practice, transitional & non-transitional, and 1.0 diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias)
SPEAKERS:
- Sana Ahmed, The Fashion Law Africa Summit
- Claire Bing, Maesa
- Michael Busiashvili, OX Fine Jewelry
- Jana Checa Chong, Louis Vuitton
- Sindy Ding-Voorhees, Kilpatrick Townsend
- Ray DeForest/Doris Dear, award-winning drag icon/fashion influencer
- Caen Dennis, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
- Julia Ensor, Federal Trade Commission
- Kristin Garris, McCarter & English
- David Horowitz, Media Coalition
- Sydney Kipen, Gucci
- Haley Macon, Endeavor
- John Maltbie, Louis Vuitton
- Walé Oyerinde, Atklás
- Ashley Pusey, Maureen Data Systems
- Tiffany Stevens, Jewelers Vigilance Committee
- Professor Susan Scafidi, Fashion Law Institute
- Jeff Trexler, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
- Caitlyn Walsh, Chanel
- Kenya Wiley, Georgetown University
- Sara Yood, Jewelers Vigilance Committee
PANELS:
9am
Continental breakfast
9:20am
Welcome: Budding thoughts
9:30-10:30am
Cross-pollination: Global trade issues, from diamonds to TikTok
10:45am-11:45am
Cuttings: Intellectual property at the U.S. Supreme Court
12-1pm
Lunch: Edible arrangements
1-2:15pm
New varieties: AI, NFTs, technology, and fashion
2:30-3:30pm
Green: New trends in legislation and regulation
3:45-4:45pm
Thorny problems: Gender-specific dress codes and anti-drag laws
5-6pm
Reception: Garden party
This event will not be livestreamed, but if we are able to record individual panels, we will share the links afterward.
Inside Out 8
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
We look forward to seeing you at a future event!
Join us for our 8th annual panel featuring fashion's in-house counsel!
In-house counsel can rarely discuss their own cases or problems in public, but everyone is keeping an educated eye on others' issues. We've asked about the litigation, legislation, scandals, social issues, and other matters that our colleagues at fashion-related companies are glad are on someone else's desk and not their own, and we're eager to learn about what they're watching. Join us during New York Fashion Week for our 8th annual in-house counsel panel, "Inside Out 8: Fashion's in-house counsel shares schadenfreude"! This session will not be recorded.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 2023
TIME: 9:30-10:45am (continental breakfast at 9am)
PLACE: Fordham School of Law, 150 W.62nd St., New York, NY. 10023
NYS CLE: 1.5 hours professional practice, transitional and non-transitional
- Angie Byun, AB WORLD
- Lizzy Han, Chanel
- Ariel Sodomsky, Coty
- Nick Barnhorst, Fresh
- John Maltbie and Jana Checa Chong, Louis Vuitton
- Alice Pang, Ralph Lauren
- Ashley Valdes, Warby Parker
- Moderated by Professor Susan Scafidi, Founder & Director, Fashion Law Institute at Fordham
For more information about the Institute or the CLE hardship policy, please contact us at events@fashionlawinstitute.com.
Video: Designing Diversity
Thank you to our panelists and attendees at our virtual panel! The complete video of the panel is above. If you missed the panel, feel free to watch it here!
ATTORNEY CLE INFORMATION
If you are an attorney seeking continuing legal education credit from New York or a state with New York reciprocity, you have the opportunity to receive CLE credit by watching the panel Designing Diversity, on demand. At various points during the panel special codes are posted on the screen and closed captions for you to note on the attorney affirmation form. Email us with the completed form and we will send you a certificate of attendance. CLE material is available here.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 2022
TIME: 6:00-7:15 pm
PLACE: Zoom
NYS CLE: 1.5 hours Ethics and Professionalism, transitional and non-transitional
SPEAKERS:
Peter D. Arnold, Fashion Scholarship Fund
Ifeoma Ike, Pink Cornrows
Colette Stanford, SPARC Group
Kenya Wiley, Georgetown University
MODERATOR:
Jeff Trexler, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund /
Professor of Fashion Ethics at Fordham Law