42 City & State New York March 15, 2021
73 MARTIN LIPTON FOUNDING PARTNER Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz Mary Lu Bilek leads the CUNY School of Law.
Koenig has been representing Michael Mann, the former MyPayrollHR CEO who pleaded guilty in a high-profile bank fraud case.
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MARY LU BILEK
JEFFREY CITRON
With Mary Lu Bilek serving as its dean, CUNY School of Law has billed itself as one of the top public interest law schools and among the most diverse law schools as well. Bilek first joined the faculty back in 1985 and was appointed dean in 2016. That same year, Bilek was named as one of the most influential people in legal education by National Jurist.
CO-MANAGING PARTNER Davidoff Hutcher & Citron Jeffrey Citron represents clients across multiple areas of the law, including commercial banking and finance law, corporate law, government relations and real estate. He has been practicing law for over 25 years, in which he has assisted both private and public companies during capital projects, and previously worked as general counsel to multiple privatelyheld businesses. His firm is also known for its government work, with a thriving lobbying business and such politically savvy executives as Sid Davidoff and Keith Wright on his team.
DEAN CUNY School of Law
72 MILTON TINGLING NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK Before he became known as one of the “city’s most revolutionary judges,” Milton
You can use the word “powerhouse” to describe both the firm Martin Lipton co-founded and Lipton himself. Lipton is known for many things, including as the inventor of the “poison pill” defense, a technique for a company to use when faced with a hostile takeover. His specialties include advising major corporations on mergers and acquisitions and matters affecting corporate policy and strategy.
74 DOUGLAS WIGDOR FOUNDING PARTNER Wigdor Douglas Wigdor has levied cases against some of the most powerful players in the business and political worlds
– and won. Wigdor, whose firm had its second-best year on record in 2020, has advocated for a woman accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, represented Fox News employees in their claims of sexual harassment and race discrimination, and recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Black woman claiming Amazon treated her unfairly based on race.
75 MARK USTIN PARTNER Farrell Fritz A go-to regulatory lawyer and lobbyist who has extensive experience representing clients in the health care industry, Farrel Fritz partner Mark Ustin provides counsel for businesses and private citizens alike. He has regularly represented clients dealing with state governmental agencies, including the Department of Health and the Office of Mental Health. He told Long Island Business News that COVID-19 is a reminder “clients need to plan separately for the short and long term.”
Lipton invented the “poison pill” defense technique for companies facing hostile takeovers.
AARON MARCU; FARRELL FRITZ, P.C.; STEPHEN CHURCHILL DOWNES; PATRICK NUGENT/CAMERA ONE; HINMAN STRAUB
Tingling, who grew up in Harlem, worked as both a cab driver and an MTA token booth attendant. He first took the bench in 1996. His 35-year law career culminated with Tingling becoming the first Black county clerk in New York. Tingling says one of his passions is getting more people of color in the jury pool.
