Devika Kewalramani

Devika Kewalramani is a partner and chair of Moses & Singer's Legal Ethics & Law Firm Practice which advises law firms, lawyers and legal departments on ethical and legal aspects of law practice. She also currently serves as the firm's general counsel. Devika represents law firms and attorneys in legal ethics, professional discipline, law firm risk management, lawyer licensing and admissions matters, including escrow issues, conflicts of interest, structuring arrangements with non-lawyers, multijurisdictional practice, disqualification, lateral transition, law firm mergers and break-ups, partner disputes, ethics in alternate dispute resolution, reporting/disclosure issues, attorney advertising, law firm cyber security issues, social media use, legal fee disputes, and other professional responsibility issues.  She conducts ethics and risk management audits for clients.

A frequent lecturer, panelist and author on legal ethics, Devika speaks to law firms, corporate legal departments, bar associations and professional groups on a variety of legal ethics matters. The editor of New York State Bar Association’s Journal magazine recognized Devika as author of one of the best articles of 2010: “Up Close and Professional With New York’s Engagement Letter Rules” (September 2010). Her articles, "Trading Client Trust: A Glimpse Into Insider Trading Within the Legal Profession" and “Demystifying ESQrow Ethics” were featured on the front page of the New York State Bar Association Journal’s May 2018 and May 2013 editions.  Another article of Devika's, "Confidentiality and Whistleblowing: Where In-House Counsel's Competing Interests Collide" was published on the front cover of The Lexis Practice Advisor Journal™ Summer Edition 2018.  She is a faculty member of the Practising Law Institute and of Lawline.com.

Devika serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the New York City Bar Association.

She is a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Restarting the Economy Work Group which will work with the administration of Governor Cuomo to develop a plan for re-opening law firms in New York State.

Devika is the immediate past co-chair of the Council on the Profession of the New York City Bar Association (2017-2019).

She is the past Chair of the Committee on Professional Discipline of the New York City Bar Association.

Devika was appointed a member of the New York Commission on Statewide Attorney Discipline in 2015 and served as a co-chair of its Subcommittee on Transparency and Access.

In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, she achieved Super Lawyer status in the Metro Edition of New York Super Lawyers®.

• Privacy & Cybersecurity
• Legal Ethics & Law Firm Practice

• City University of New York School of Law (J.D.)
• St. Xavier's College (B.A.) Kolkata, India

• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
• New York
• Connecticut, (retired)

• Bengali
• Hindi

• Acted as outside ethics and professional responsibility counsel for firms.
• Counseled lawyers on professional discipline, licensing and admissions matters.
• Defended lawyers in disciplinary investigations alleging professional misconduct.
• Represented firms and lawyers on ethics matters relating to partner disputes, departures, mergers and break-ups.
• Advised firms and lawyers on handling escrow accounts and developed best practices.
• Counseled attorneys on attorney-client privilege issues.
• Advised law firms on conflicts of interest issues.
• Counseled attorneys on fee-sharing arrangements with other lawyers.
• Represented lawyers in matters initiated by the Lawyers Fund for Client Protection.
• Counseled firms on ethics matters relating to lawyer-nonlawyer business structures.
• Advised start-up firms on ethics, professional responsibility and risk management.
• Acted as ethics counsel for multi-state firms opening New York offices.
• Represented firms as targets of internal investigations by clients.
• Advised in-house legal departments regarding ethics and professional responsibility matters.
• Counseled firms on ethical risks of evolving technology in law practice.
• Counseled firms on attorney advertising rules relating to firm websites and promotional materials.
• Conducted ethics audits for firms and developed law firm ethics manuals.

• Devika Kewalramani Quoted in ABA Journal Article on Zoom
• Devika Kewalramani to Serve as Secretary of the Board of Directors (Formerly Known as the Executive Committee) of the New York City Bar Association
• Devika Kewalramani Appointed to NYSBA Restarting the Economy Work Group
• Devika Kewalramani Has Written A Lesson In A Newly-Released Book
• Devika Kewalramani Quoted in Law360
• Moses & Singer Attorneys Achieve Top Women Super Lawyers Status
• Super Lawyers Honors 41 Moses & Singer Attorneys in 2015 New York Metro Edition
• Devika Kewalramani Serves on Hearing Panel as Member of Commission on Statewide Attorney Discipline
• Devika Kewalramani Appointed to New York Commission on Statewide Attorney Discipline
• Devika Kewalramani Speaks at United Nations Day
• Super Lawyers Honors 36 Moses & Singer Attorneys in 2014 New York Metro Edition
• Devika Kewalramani Speaks to In-House Counsel at Fordham Law School
• Devika Kewalramani Featured in News India Times Article
• Devika Kewalramani Appointed as Chair of Professional Discipline Committee of the New York City Bar Association
• “Cybersecurity Ethics and Risks” Takes Center Stage at a Presentation Given by Devika Kewalramani and Amyt Eckstein
• Moses & Singer's Diversity Committee hosts National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce New York (NGLCCNY)
• Moses & Singer LLP Contributes to Lexis Practice Advisor, a LexisNexis Product for Attorneys Handling Transactional Matters
• Devika Kewalramani and Walter Delacruz Speak at Law Firm Annual Attorney Conference
• Moses & Singer Celebrates Its Alumni
• Devika Kewalramani, UN Panelist, Featured in Indian News Media
• Law Technology News Cites Kewalramani Cloud Computing Article
• Devika Kewalramani Co-Authors Legal Ethics Treatise
• Moses & Singer Sponsors Vault/MCCA Legal Diversity Career Fair
• Devika Kewalramani Authors Report on Lien Law Legislation
• Moses & Singer Hosts In-House Counsel CLE Program

• Devika Kewalramani Participates in Global Legal Practitioners' Colloquium
• Devika Kewalramani Panel Co-Chair at New York City Bar Webinar
• Devika Kewalramani Presenting a Celesq Webinar on Ethics
• Devika Kewalramani Presenting at a South Asian Bar Association of New York Webinar
• Devika Kewalramani To Speak at "Staying Out Of Trouble 2019" PLI Seminar December 17th
• Devika Kewalramani and Gregory Shatan Will Speak at "The Trusted Advisor in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" Seminar October 3rd
• Devika Kewalramani Will Be a Panelist at New York City Bar Association’s Professional Development Workshop
• Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law (EASL) 2019 Annual Meeting
• Wire Fraud, BEC Attacks, Cybersecurity & Your Ethical Duties
• New York State Bar Association Elder Law and Special Needs Section Summer Meeting
• Promoting & Protecting Our Law Firms: Demystifying ADA Web Accessibility Compliance and the New York Attorney Advertising Rules
• Practical Ethical Issues Facing Entertainment Attorneys
• Cyber Ethics: Shielding Your Clients' Data
• Conflicts of Interest: Defining, Identifying, Preventing and Addressing
• Crossing the Line: When Ethics Problems Can Become Disciplinary Sanctions
• Cyber Ethics: Understanding Your Ethical Obligations in a Cybersecurity Breach
• Ethics in Real Estate Transactions
• When Things Go Wrong, Don't Go With Them: What to Do If the Grievance Committee Comes Calling
• Ethics & Professionalism: Best Practices for Attorneys 2017
• Ethical Issues in Representing Real Estate Joint Ventures
• Bagels, Lox and a Side of Ethics
• Thomson Reuters' Legal Executive InstituteRisk, Ethics and Compliance Forum
• Ethics & Cybersecurity: Duty to Protect Client Data
• 16-Hour Bridge-the-Gap: Practical Skills, Ethics & More…
• Getting Admitted to the First or Second Departments
• Legal Ethics for Real Estate Finance Lawyers
• Ethical Issues for Mediators and Attorneys
• Ethical Implications of a Cyber Breach at a Law Firm
• Answers to Everyday Ethics Questions
• Ethics And Professional Responsibility In The Indian Legal Profession
• Current Developments in Elder Law 2015
• Hot Button Issues in Employment Law
• Attorney Discipline in New York: Structure, Process & Trends
• 16-Hour Bridge-the-Gap: Practical Skills, Ethics & More…
• CLE Program - Setting Up and Maintaining Client Relationships to Avoid Ethical Dilemmas
• Ethics & Professionalism: Best Practices for Attorneys 2015
• Ethical Issues in FCPA Compliance & Investigations: Practical Advice from the Front Lines
• Women Rising: Advancement, Mentoring and Negotiating Your Way to the Top
• Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee: Midwinter Meeting 2015
• 2015 Legal Industry Council Cocktail Mixer
• Bridge the Gap Orientation Program for Newly Admitted Attorneys
• A Guided Tour of Special Ethics Problems Facing Trusts & Estates Lawyers
• The Rules of Engagement: A Simulated Arbitration Ethics Hotline
• Ethical Issues Facing the Trusts & Estates Attorney
• Getting Admitted to the First or Second Departments
• Overview of Ethics Issues Confronted by the New Practitioner
• Introduction to New York's Rules of Professional Conduct and System of Lawyer Discipline
• 16-Hour Bridge-The-Gap: Practical Skills, Ethics & More...
• Answers to Everyday Ethical Questions
• Top Five Ethical Challenges For Lawyers
• Law Firm Ethics: Key Issues and Practice Tips
• Legal Ethics and the Cloud
• Attorney Disciplinary Process in New York: How it works
• Ethical Clicks to Avoid Technology Risks in Your Practice
• CUNY School of Law: Professionalism
• Legal Industry Council Cocktail Mixer
• Ethics for In-House Counsel: New Developments and Future Challenges
• Ethics Issues in Legal Process Outsourcing and Cloud Computing
• Protecting Confidentiality, Reducing Risk & Avoiding Liability
• Ethical Issues Facing Real Estate Attorneys
• Ethical Gaps, Mishaps and Traps in Real Estate Practice
• Cyber Liability, Security & Ethics: Problems and Practice Tips
• The Disciplinary Process: How It Works
• Cyber Security & Ethics: Risks & Best Practices for Law Firms
• Ethical Arrhythmias in Trusts & Estates Practice
• NGLCC Legal Industry Council Networking Event
• Ethics for Corporate Counsel: Multi Jurisdictional Practice & Other Current Issues
• Be Careful Who You "Like:" Legal and Ethical Implications of Social Media Use in the Workplace and Employment and Labor Litigation
• To Click or Not to Click: That is the Ethical Question?
• Ethics Matter in Real Estate Deals
• Ethical Gaps, Mishaps and Traps in Real Estate Practice
• High Tech, High Risk, High Stakes: Key Strategies to Protect You & Your Client
• How to Balance E-Discovery Requirements and Cloud Computing Challenges with Ethical Compliance
• Ethics Challenges For Law Firms
• Hi-Tech Ethics Lowdown for Downtown Lawyers
• Ethics in Elder Law
• Ethics for Inhouse Lawyers: Emerging Issues, Evolving Duties
• Dealing With Ethical Issues Facing Intellectual Property Practitioners
• Hot Topics in Legal Ethics: Current Issues, New Risks and Recent Developments
• Practising Law Institute's (PLI) Commercial Real Estate Institute 2011
• Ethical Considerations for the Real Estate Leasing Attorney
• In-House Counsel Ethics: Risks, Trends and Real-World Challenges
• Cloud Computing: Balancing Privacy and Data Mobility
• Ethics, Technology and Solos
• Cloud Computing: Thunderstorms or Silver Lining?
• 2nd Annual USA India Business Summit
• From Outsourced to Cloudsourced: The Next Level of Risks
• Ethics for New Lawyers
• Women's Leadership That Inspires Global Change
• Ethics and Representation Agreements
• Fees, Retainer Agreements, and Letters of Engagement
• Ethics for Real Estate Attorneys
• Fees, Retainer Agreements, and Letters of Engagement
• Everyday Ethics Issues Facing Your Law Practice
• Ethical Considerations for the Real Estate Leasing Attorney
• Attorney Advertising via Blogs, Websites and Social Networks: Ethical Risks
• Best Practices For Protecting Your Law Practice From Ethical Violations
• Navigating the Attorney Advertising Maze: Recent Rules, Cases and Ethics Opinions
• Minimize Risks, Manage Challenges and Avert Ethical Pitfalls
• Indian Businesses Go Green
• The New NY Ethics Rules: An Inside View for In-House Counsel
• The New NY Ethics Rules: An Inside View for In-House Counsel
• Ethics of Going Green At Home and Abroad
• Getting Engaged and Serving Your Client Under New York's Engagement Letter Rules
• Essentials of Setting Up A New Law Practice: Formation Issues, Ethics And Other Key Considerations
• Ethics in Commercial Mortgage Practice
• The New NY Ethics Rules: An Inside View for In-House Counsel
• Attention In-House Counsel: New York's New Ethics Rules Apply To You
• Ethics for Real Estate Attorneys
• Ethical Considerations for the Real Estate Leasing Attorney
• What Every Lawyer Needs To Know About New York's Engagement Letter Rules
• What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About the Engagement Letter Rules
• New York's New Ethics Rules: What's New, What's Not, and What Changed?
• Green - Ethics
• New York's New Ethic Rules: What's New, What's Not, and What Changed?
• The Rules, They Are A Changing'
• How Do New York's New Rules of Professional Conduct Impact Subordinate Lawyers?
• New York's New Ethics Rules: What's New, What's Not, and What Changed?
• New York's New Ethics Rules: What's New, What's Not, and What Changed?
• New York's New Ethics Rules: What's New, What's Not, and What Changed?
• Highlights of New York's New Rules of Professional Conduct
• Green - Ethics
• New York Adopts New Rules of Professional Conduct: Are You Ready?
• New York Adopts New Rules of Professional Conduct: Are You Ready?
• Seven Risk Management Tips for Law Firms
• New York Adopts New Rules of Professional Conduct: Are You Ready?
• Law Firms and In-House Counsel
• What Every Lawyer Needs To Know About New York's Engagement Letter Rules
• What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About New York's Engagement Letter Rules
• How to Comply with New York's Letter of Engagement Rules
• Ethics and Risk Prevention for Real Estate Attorneys
• Ethics and Risk Prevention for Real Estate Attorneys
• Ethical Duties of Supervisory and Subordinate Lawyers
• Legal Ethics: Solutions to the Most Common Challenges
• Commercial Real Estate Financing 2008 - What Borrowers & Lenders Need to Know Now: Ethics in Commercial Mortgage Practice
• Commercial Real Estate Financing 2008 - What Borrowers & Lenders Need to Know Now: Ethics in Commercial Mortgage Practice
• Law Firm Blogs: Legal and Ethical Concerns
• Ethical Duties of Supervisory and Subordinate Lawyers
• Ethical Responsibilities of Supervisory and Subordinate Lawyers
• Conflicts of Interest/Confidentiality; Letters of Engagement/Retainer Agreements; New Attorney Advertising Rules
• What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About New York's Engagement Letter Rules
• How to Comply with New York's Rules on Engagement Letters and Retainer Agreements
• What You Need to Know About Legal Opinions
• What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Conflicts of Interest
• What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About New York's Engagement Letter Rules
• Law Firm Conflicts Management

• Social Distance Lawyering – How Close is Your Ethical Compliance?
• Pandemics and Ethics: How To Sustain Lawyer Quality and Client Service
• Privilege, Discovery and Digital Technology: Remembering Other Warnings From 'Upjohn'
• New Tools for Old Rules: How Technology is Transforming the Lawyer’s Tool Kit
• In-House Counsel’s Role As Whistleblower
• Two Sides of the Same Coin: Bitcoin and Ethics
• Confidentiality & Whistleblowing: Where In-House Counsel's Competing Interests Collide
• Trading Client Trust: A Glimpse Into Insider Trading Within the Legal Profession
• New Rules for Electronic Device Border Searches: Are Attorneys and Clients Prepared?
• In-House Counsel Ethics: Fee Sharing Implications
• In-House Counsel Sanctions: Recent Trends
• How Privilege Applies To Multinationals' In-House Counsel
• “Brick and Mortar” Offices for Non-Resident New York Lawyers: U.S. Supreme Court Denies Review of New York’s In-State Office Rule
• Issues to Consider Regarding In-House Counsel Disqualification
• Preserving Privilege and Maintaining Client Confidences When Dealing With Third-Party Consultants During a Crisis
• In-House Counsel: Avoid Stretching Your License Beyond Its Legal and Ethical Limits
• In-State Office Rule For Out-Of-State Lawyers Upheld
• Ex-Files: Retain or Return a Former Client's Files?
• Taking Down Your Shingle in New York: Ethics Rule Sets Forth Duties
• New York Rule 8.5: Choice of Law or Law of Choice?
• Is the "Unfinished Business Rule" Really Finished?
• Lawyers & Marijuana: If It's Legal, Can It Be Ethical?
• Too Close for Comfort: Client - Lawyer Relations
• Deal-of-the-Day Coupons: The Ethics of Discount Marketing by Lawyers
• Close Encounters With Non-Clients: Bridging the Communication Gap, Ethically
• Lawyer-Nonlawyer Business Ventures: A Limited Affair
• Out-of-State Law Firms in a New York State of Mind
• Private Practice, Public Office: Drawing the Line, Ethically
• Demystifying ESQrow Ethics
• Advance Payment Retainers: Whose Property? What Account?
• Non-Lawyers Beware: New Law Will Make Unauthorized Practice a Felony
• Latest ABA Guidance: Old Wine in a Tech-Ethics Bottle?
• Ethical Wrinkles in Elder Law
• Risk Management Audit & Ethics Manual: A CFO's Due Dilligence Tool Kit
• Audits & Manuals: Essential Tool Kits In Legal Risk Management
• Virtual Law Offices: A New and Lasting Frontier
• Are You Being Greenwashed?
• Client-to-Client Conflicts: New Look at Overlooked Rule Change
• Save E-Mails, Avoid Sanctions: Court Creates New Duty To Preserve E-Mails During A Transaction
• Greenwashing: Deceptive Business Claims of Eco-Friendliness
• Second Circuit Topples Some NY Rules on Certified Specialists
• The Greenwashing Domino Effect
• Lawyers' Titles and Law Firm Names in the Hi-Tech Era
• Ethical Screens: Building Electronic Barriers
• Ethics For In-House Counsel
• Lawyers: Know Your Clients: Unsolicited Emails
• No Office, No Practice? No! Requirement of New York Office for Non-resident Attorneys Ruled Unconstitutional
• How to Outsource Legal Work
• Are Law Firm Loss Prevention Communications Discoverable?
• New York Resolves In-House Counsel Bar Admission Problem
• Women's Empowerment Conference Held at United Nations
• Conference on Women's Empowerment Held at the United Nations
• Flying High in April
• Cloud Computing: Ethical Shades of Gray
• Privilege Invoked If Company Reasonably Believes In-house Counsel is a Lawyer
• URLs for ESQs: How to Choose and Use Ethical Domain Names
• Lawyers Spared From Red Flags Rule
• Unwritten Vows Break Up Law Firm Partnership
• Up Close and Professional with New York's Engagement Letter Rules
• No License, No Privilege: Says Magistrate Judge in Gucci v. Guess
• You Can Tweet But You Can't Hide: Social Networking for Lawyers
• Report on Bill A8697 to Amend New York's Lien Law of the Ethics Institute of the New York County Lawyers' Association
• Gucci v. Guess: A Lesson on Lapsed Licenses
• EEOC v. Kelley Drye & Warren LLP: The Sequel
• Lawyer's Failure to Maintain License Triggers Battle Over Attorney-Client Privilege
• EEOC Attacks Law Firm Retirement Again
• Tips to Avoid the Pitfalls of Legal Opinion Practice
• Beware of New Scams Targeting Law Firms
• New Lawyer Ad Rules Restrict Client Testimonials, Names

Thank you so much for a very informative seminar... The program was wonderful, chock full of facts, delivered with ease and entertaining as well... The evaluations were all extremely positive, with many great comments on your presentation.  

Monique Birnbaum
Leah Siegel
American Friends of Israel Museum

I wanted to reach out to you about your 2009 program entitled "New York Ethics - The Amendments of 2009."  This program has almost 1000 views and is at a 92% recommended!  This is an extremely hard feat to accomplish so congratulations!

Sigalle Barness, FurtherEd.com

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.