Elisabeth Haub School of Law Alumni Magazine 2019

Pace Law ALUMNI MAGAZINE • SPRING 2019

SPRING 2019

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INTERIM DEAN OF PACE LAW

Horace Anderson EDITOR

Jessica Dubuss ASSISTANT DEAN OF COMMUNICATIONS

Elizabeth Rapuano DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS

Arianne L. Andrusco

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jessica Dubuss Elizabeth Rapuano Chelsea Aiosa Nicole DiGiacomo Christopher Emch Michael Hand Ashley Unangst Mark Meeker, Esq. (Dec. ’09) Professor Bridget Crawford Professor David Dorfman Professor Vanessa Merton Professor Marie Stefanini Newman Professor Jason Parkin Professor Emily Gold Waldman

Tom Carling, Carling Design, Inc.

The Pace Law Alumni Magazine is published annually under the auspices of the Dean, and is distributed free of charge to alumni and friends of Pace Law.

PHOTOGRAPHY

ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO:

DESIGN

Jörg Meyer Photography Don Hamerman Photography Liflander Photography Erik McGregor Photography Pace Law Faculty & Staff PRINTING

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Development and Alumni Relations, 78 North Broadway White Plains, NY 10603 plsalumni@law.pace.edu Opinions expressed on these pages do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine staff or of individuals enrolled at or employed by Pace University or of Pace University itself. Pace University admits, and will continue to admit, students of any sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not, and will not, discriminate on the basis of sex, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

© Copyright 2019 by Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University

Pace Law ALUMNI MAGAZINE • SPRING 2019

Message from the Dean

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OF NOTE In Defense of Protest

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Environmental Law Colloquium in Brazil

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The Land Use Law Center: Celebrating 25 Years

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Remembering Norman Lichtenstein Pace Law’s Baseball Arbitration Team

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Congratulations, Alexandra Dunn

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Neighborhood Justice Clinic

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Women, Gender & the Law

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IJC Client Wins Governor’s Pardon

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The Law School Mourns the Passing of Erivan Haub 17

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Pace Women’s Justice Center

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Robert Tucker Joins Pace Board of Trustees

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2018 Haub Visiting Scholars

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30 Years of Clean Energy Work

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Pace Law Launches Pre-Law Certificate Program 25 Pace Law Moves Towards A Plastic-free Campus 26 Pace Law Library Supports Alumni

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STUDENT PROFILES

• Ariel Dahan, JD Candidate 2019

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• Kasey Brenner, JD Candidate 2019

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• Megan Edwards, JD Candidate 2021

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• Edgar Aguilar, JD Candidate 2019

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E V E N T S 28 F A C U LT Y Article Excerpt: Faith-Based Emergency Powers

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Professor Smita Narula Joins Pace

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Pace Law Faculty Publications (2018)

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DigitalCommons@Pace 41

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F A C U LT Y P R O F I L E S

• Professor Leslie Garfield Tenzer

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• Professor Emily Gold Waldman

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• Professor Jonathan Brown

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ALUMNI

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Class Notes

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Looking Back at Pace Law

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Like Father, Like Son: A Pace Law Legacy

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Letter from the Alumni Board President

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ALUMNI PROFILES

• Steven J. Chananie ‘83

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• Angelina Galiteva ’93, ‘94

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• Vernon Brown ‘96

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• Saad Siddiqui ‘07

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• Fatima Silva ‘08

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• Lisa Denig ‘09

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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Pace Law alumni,

“U.S. News and World Report recently published its Law School rankings and we could not be more proud that we are now home to the #1 ranked environmental law program in the nation!”

As I finish my first year as Interim Dean of the Law School I am pleased that we have much good news to tell you. You will find much of it on the following pages but I am excited to be able to share some of our most notable highlights from the past year here with you.

The Law School is continuing on its upward trajectory and we are doing well.

U.S. News and World Report recently published its Law School rankings and we could not be more proud that we are now home to the #1 ranked environmental law program in the nation! Our Environmental Law program is the only one at Pace University to ever hold a #1 distinction. And after being unranked last year, we are once again among the list of ranked schools in Dispute Resolution. This is a tremendous testament to the work of our faculty, staff and students who have worked so hard to get us to the top.

We are also excelling in other areas by continuing to innovate in legal education. Over the past year, I have spoken with so many alumni who credit Pace Law’s evening program with making them the lawyers they are today. As that program demonstrated, the Law School has a long history of providing a highquality legal education to non-traditional students. This is why we are proud to announce a new expanded part-time option available for our JD students. The new option will make law school more accessible to working professionals, allowing part-time law students to take all of their required classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, as well as on Saturday mornings and online, as they pursue their JD degrees. We already have a strong interest in this scheduling option and are excited to launch it this fall.

We also have added a new concentration in Women, Gender and the Law as a path to practice our students can follow. The concentration is the newest of five concentrations that the Law School offers in various fields of legal study and was created in response to a growing interest in the topic among our students.

Since the establishment of the Women’s Justice Center in 1991, our School has made gender justice a priority. Our newest concentration provides an opportunity for students to have gender justice inform their pursuit of careers in family law, trusts and estates, criminal justice, immigration, and a wide range of other areas

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of practice. This concentration is a natural outgrowth of the Law School’s historic commitments, our faculty’s strengths, and our present-day emphasis on legal education that goes beyond statutes, regulations and case law. It is also just one of the more recent examples of how we are evolving and adapting legal education to respond to our students and a changing legal marketplace.

As many of you know from your time here, the work of our Clinics and student lawyers continues to be second to none. For example, the Immigration Justice Clinic continues to be on the front lines advocating for asylum seekers and the rights of immigrants in Westchester and at the border. As you will read on page 16, one of the Clinic’s clients, Reginald Castel, was granted a full and unconditional pardon by Governor Cuomo. The Clinic had worked on his case for nearly a decade. And the good work of the Clinic is not only being done by our students, but by our alumni as well. Pace Law graduates Craig Relles ’12 and Steven Haskos ’11 recently won a path-breaking decision challenging indefinite detention of asylumseekers without a hearing. We are proud of the work our students and alumni do to advocate for those in our community and beyond.

Similarly, earlier this year, Professor David Dorfman, along with students from the Environmental Litigation Clinic, argued in front of a Cortlandt judge, securing an unconditional discharge for their clients in the AIM pipeline protester case. The decision came after two years of work by the students and Professor Dorfman. All of these cases are tremendous examples of how the determination and tenacity of our students and faculty change the lives of all those with whom they have worked.

Our dynamic and talented students graduate from our campus and become dynamic and talented alumni. We are grateful for the support you have shown to today’s students and the pride you have in Pace Law. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Sincerely,

Horace Anderson Interim Dean

SPRING 2019

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OF NOTE

In Defense of Protest Professor David Dorfman and The AIM Pipeline Protester Case ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2019, Cortlandt Judge Kimberly Ragazzo found the protesters in the AIM pipeline protester case guilty of non-criminal trespass. Despite the finding of guilt, Judge Ragazzo completely rejected the District Attorneys request of a sentence of 300 hours of community service and a maximum fine, and instead imposed an unconditional discharge without any fine or court costs or community service. Further, Judge Ragazzo noted that the protesters could continue protesting as long as they did not break the law.

This decision comes after over two years of work

by Professor David Dorfman on the case, assisted by Pace Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic. On October 10, 2016, in protest of the federal government’s decision to allow the pipeline to be installed near the Indian Point power plant, protesters spent over 16 hours inside a section of the pipeline. As a result, the protesters were arrested. Shortly thereafter, Professor Dorfman started his work as the defense attorney for the protesters.

Professor Dorfman was referred to the pipeline protesters cause by the National Lawyers Guild, a progressive lawyers’ organization of which he is a member. “I have also been a Legal Observer for the Guild in the past, including during Occupy Wall Street and in DC at the Women’s March on January 20, 2017.

I’ve actually represented 24 protesters in three different cases just up in Northern Westchester over the last two plus years. It’s kind of my sub-specialty. I’ve also conducted trainings for other lawyers on how to represent protesters.”

Professor Dorfman feels that the most difficult challenge of the case was “learning all of the science of climate change and its dangers, fracking and pipeline gas transmission, exploding pipelines and the likely resulting nuclear disaster because of the

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proximity of the pipe to Indian Point, the deleterious public health impacts of shale gas emissions, and more. I needed to understand all of it and then work with the expert witnesses to convey this technical information in plain and vivid terms so that the judge would get the message. The AIM pipeline is extremely dangerous in a number of different ways.”

In July 2018, Professor Dorfman successfully won a trial order of dismissal after a week of trial, including intense oral argument. Three of Professor Dorfman’s clients were relieved of the charges they faced, whereas the remaining three were left to defend themselves on the basis of Necessity. Professor David Dorfman argued that his remaining three clients were not guilty by way of the Necessity defense. “My clients were trying to prevent greater harm by opposing the pipeline.” Some of the greater harms asserted by the defense were a pipeline explosion within 100 feet of Indian Point nuclear plant, the major contribution methane emissions makes to global climate change, and the deleterious health effects of shale gas emissions on people who live near the pipeline.”

In her decision, Judge Ragazzo suggested that the defendants could have done more to legally oppose the AIM pipeline, such as seeking status as intervenors in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorization process. Professor Dorfman notes that, “Judge Ragazzo appeared to accept the rest of the Necessity defense, specifically as to the imminent and substantial harms caused by the AIM pipeline.”

He continues, “I think the judge knew that a full acquittal would have been historic, basically unprecedented. No Necessity case on fracking or shale gas pipelines anywhere had been so fully litigated and then resulted in an acquittal. So the judge felt a lot of pressure, I believe. This was her first trial as a judge

Photos by Erik McGregor—erikmcgregor.com

Professor David Dorfman and Pace Law student Tom Persico representing six pipeline protesters along with numerous community supporters who attended each day of the two week trial

and I do think she is a very fair judge, overall. Also, the New York law of Necessity is pretty tough sledding for the defense. The harm to be averted has to be imminent and serious, not speculative. The conduct of the defendants has to be reasonably calculated to avert the harm. It can’t just be symbolic. The defendants have to have exhausted legal means to avert the harm before resorting to civil disobedience of the law.”

Professor Dorfman feels that the judge’s decision not to punish his clients at all on sentencing speaks volumes about how she actually felt about their conduct and what they are trying to do to save the community, to save the planet. “She literally said that she did not want to deter their activism by her sentence. That remark on the record from a judge is really telling, and quite extraordinary.”

Professor David Dorfman will appeal the guilty verdict. He hopes to reverse the conviction, “in particular on the issue which determined the case according to the judge’s express reasoning. She found that my clients hadn’t done enough legally to stop the pipeline before they resorted to illegal trespass. I would like to challenge that finding and its premise, which is not contained in the plain language of the statute. It may serve to relax the Necessity defense in New York State just a tad, which I think would be a good thing.” n

Professor David Dorfman at trial

SPRING 2019

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OF NOTE Pace Law Holds Environmental Law Colloquium in Brazil ON MARCH 2, 2018, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and the Brazil-American Institute for Law & Environment (BAILE) held the first ever Environmental Law Colloquium in Sao Paolo, Brazil for Pace Law alumni and friends. The Colloquium was held at the offices of Martinelli Advogados and was organized by Haub SJD graduate Juliana Marcussi (2017), and sponsored by Martinelli Advogados. It featured panels on important bilateral environmental issues of the day, ranging from animal rights through ecotourism. The Colloquium also featured Professors David Cassuto, Claudia Green, Nicholas Robinson and Cecilia Caldeira. Brazilian environmental law experts joined these professors to discuss environmental rights, ecotourism, and other themes.

In addition to fostering wide-ranging discussions on important topics, the Colloquium also created a forum for Pace alumni going back several decades to

Pace Law faculty and colleagues pictured at the 2018 Brazil Colloquium

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meet, network, and collaborate. The Law School has more than fifty Brazilian alumni who work in all areas of Brazil’s legal system—from the federal judiciary through the private sector. No other American law school can boast of such a deep connection with Brazil and its legal system. ”Pace’s environmental law program has been tremendously enriched by its relationship with Brazil and by our many wonderful Brazilian students and alumni,” said Professor David Cassuto, who is the Director of the Brazil-American Institute for Law and Environment (BAILE). “BAILE grew out of an already deep relationship with Brazilian law students and lawyers and it continues to grow and thrive in both countries.”

BAILE is a non-profit research, teaching and policy center dedicated to building and fostering the relationship between the United States and Brazil in their shared goal of environmental protection and sustainable development. The Institute encourages international cooperation to stimulate and refine progressive environmental law in both countries.

Through BAILE, Pace offers a unique combination of classroom and field training. Pace has extensive relationships with many Brazilian law schools and universities, allowing us to engage our students in research and exchanges with our partner schools in Brazil. Each year, students travel to Brazil to experience the environmental issues they have studied in the classroom first hand. Students visit one of the many unique environmental regions of Brazil and attend legal meetings in Rio de Janeiro and other parts of the nation.

“Pace Law is proud to have alumni in Brazil and around the world,” said Cecilia Caldeira, Director of Graduate Programs and International Affairs.

Professor Robinson notes: “The 2018 Environmental Law Alumni Colloquium in Sao Paulo was an extraordinary event. It brought together Brazilian scholars and legal professionals for an intimate and cutting-edge dialogue on environmental law issues. Alumni who had not known each other, but who had each worked with Professor Cassuto and I in different periods of time, discovered that they shared a common outlook and commitment to rigorous analysis of environmental law.

A shared set of community values, for both advancing environmental stewardship and for enhancing the practice of environmental law was evident throughout the day. A camaraderie emerged between recent alumni and those who studied and graduated nearly 20 years before.” n

The Land Use Law Center:

Celebrating 25 Years IN 2018, THE LAND USE LAW CENTER at Pace Law celebrated its 25th anniversary. Established in 1993, the Land Use Law Center is dedicated to fostering the development of sustainable communities and regions through the promotion of innovative land use strategies and dispute resolution techniques.

Through the work of its programs, centers, and institutes, the Land Use Law Center offers conferences, seminars, clinics, academic law school courses, continuing legal education programs, audio podcasts, and frequent publications and resources on contemporary land use, real estate, and environmental issues. The Center has spent more than two decades educating local and regional land use leaders and supporting municipalities.

Each year, the Center holds its annual Alfred B. DelBello Land Use and Sustainable Development Conference. This conference is just one example of how the Center brings together leaders, policy makers, and attorneys to analyze, discuss, and offer solutions to the challenges faced in land use. This year’s theme, “Sustainable Development as a Market Driver”, brought together more than 250 attorneys, business professionals, and local leaders who spent the day learning about national, regional, and local innovations, challenges, and best practices. The featured sessions covered comprehensive and target area plans, zoning tools for a new economy, water resources and energy projects, among other topics.

The morning keynote address, “Walkable Urbanism is the Future of the Suburbs; Identifying Winners and Losers of this Trend”, was given by Christopher Leinberger, a land use strategist, professor, real estate developer, researcher, speaker, and author. The luncheon keynote speaker was Sam Schwartz discussing his new book, No One at the Wheel.

Additionally, on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, the Center hosted a dinner to allow local leaders and sponsors an opportunity to add to their conference experience and network with conference presenters and to honor our Founder’s Award recipient, 1981 Pace Law graduate, Richard O’Rourke, from Keane & Beane. Further, this year, the Center bestowed its first Distinguished Young Attorney Award to Noelle C. Wolfson, associate attorney, Hocherman, Tortorella, & Wekstein, LLP, a 2006 graduate of Pace Law and former Land Use Law Center Honors Fellow, who has demonstrated excellent service and commitment to land use law. n

Deputy Director of the Land Use Law Center, Tiffany Zezula, at the LULC’s 2018 Annual Sustainable Development Conference

Jessica Bacher, Executive Director, Land Use Law Center, Michael Dupree, Planning Board Chairman of Hyde Park, Tiffany Zezula, Deputy Director, Land Use Law Center, Aileen Rohr, Supervisor of Hyde Park, and Emily Svenson, Pace Law graduate and former Town Board official of Hyde Park

SPRING 2019

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STUDENT PROFILE

OF NOTE Ariel Dahan JD Candidate 2019

President, Jewish Law Students Association Secretary, Honor Board Treasurer, Federalist Society What brought you to law school?

At an early age, I came to realize that I had a great passion for the law. Laws surround every facet of our society, and those that are familiar with its nuances stand to reap the benefits of that knowledge.

My love for the law and my desire to understand it drove me to law school.

What was your path to law school?

It was not a direct journey. Upon graduating Touro College in 2010, I immediately started on my path towards getting my JD. I sat for the LSAT together with my sister. Unfortunately, with the job market being what it was at the time, I felt that, while I would have loved to pursue a career in the law, it did not make sense from a financial perspective. Instead, I went to work for a company that imported and manufactured licensed cosmetics for children.

In that role, I faced legal challenges, determining how to classify products under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code system to ascertain the duty owed, complying with various FDA and other related health and safety ordinances, and dealing with restrictions placed on us by our licensors.

While the work was rewarding, after four years there I felt it was time for a change. The job market having improved by 2016, I looked at going to law school again. And, here I am!

Why did you choose Pace?

My sister, Candice, attended Pace Law. I chose Pace because I saw firsthand the quality and depth a Pace Law education provides. Attending Pace meant that I was able to spend my 1L year with my sister. Also, Pace’s location is ideal and

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made it very convenient for me to commute to class.

Have you become interested in any specific practice area while attending Pace?

When coming to law school, I did not know what area of law I wanted to study. During my time at Pace, I quickly found that my passion lies in fields that are governed by statute. The rigidity of having clear bright line rules and tests clarifies a person’s standing and makes known the likely outcome of a proceeding. Areas like tax, bankruptcy, and criminal law fascinate me.

You are president of the Jewish Law Students Association and secretary of the Honor Board—what is that like?

As president of the Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA), my focus lies in helping Jewish law students explore their heritage while at the same time support an atmosphere of inclusion and diversity. During Mental Health Week, JLSA teamed up with the Christian Law Student Association

and created an opportunity for both groups to socialize and network. And, on the Honor Board, as secretary, one of my responsibilities was to go to all of our 1L classes and review our honor code with the students in detail. I am a firm believer that our Honor Code is “all we have” as prospective attorneys. Without our ethical code to guide us, there can be no trust in our words and deeds.

Who is your favorite professor?

THE CRAW!!! As president of the Bridget Crawford Fan Club, I can tell you that I have never met any other professor like her! Professor Crawford manages to find the time to answer every student’s questions. She literally writes down her cell number on the board before finals and tells her students to call if they have any questions. Her devotion to her students is unmatched. She wants her students to succeed. At the beginning of each semester, Professor Crawford hands out thick supplemental volumes to each student, detailing with diagrams and outlines areas of the course that previous students had difficulty.

What does justice mean to you?

To me, justice is a question of equity. All cases in our legal system are adversarial in nature. There is always someone in each case trying to right a perceived wrong. While sometimes there are statutes denying an equitable resolution for a greater public policy interest, the goal of our legal community should always be focused on achieving an equitable outcome for all involved, the public included.

In your opinion, what makes a “good” lawyer?

One word: Trust. It is important to remember that a lawyer’s “fight” is not really his fight; it is his clients. The client must always be able to trust that his attorney will advocate for him in the best manner possible, and will hold the personal information the attorney learned from the client privileged. Like I said earlier, without our honor, there can be no trust—we are nothing.

What are your goals post-law school?

I want to work in an environment where I can rest assured that I am helping people and our society as a whole. Wherever I end up, my focus will always be on making this world a better place through advocating on behalf of my clients. n

Remembering Norman Lichtenstein PACE LAW MOURNS the loss of former professor Norman Lichtenstein.

Professor Lichtenstein was an active member of the Pace Law faculty for more than 25 years and in that time, was beloved and respected by our entire community. As Dean Emeritus Richard Ottinger said of Norman, who served as associate dean during his tenure, “he was one of the pillars on which our law school was built, famed for his dedication to education and social justice…it was with his wise guidance…that the Law School thrived with one of its strongest points being as an exceptionally studentoriented school.”

Professor Lichtenstein’s career was long and accomplished. His commitment to public service and the law was inspiring to all of us at Pace Law and to many others. Prior to his work at the Law School, he served as executive director of Westchester Legal Services and was a member and past president of the White Plains Board of Education. He was also counsel to the New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Consumer Protection and was a member of the Citizens Union Committee on State Legislation. Professor Lichtenstein was also a scholar, with numerous published articles on the eleventh amendment, the “right to know” for children in schools, and fault as a factor in distribution of property after divorce.

Professor Lichtenstein contributed immeasurably to Pace Law, our students and the study of the law. We are grateful for his extraordinary work and legacy. n

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OF NOTE Pace Law’s Baseball Arbitration Team A Q&A with Dan Masi

Major League Baseball players and the team decides whether they will take on the role as agent for the player or the lawyer representing their team. The teams are given a salary amount that they are to use to base their argument. Each team is required to write a brief, detailing the player and why they deserve to get the amount stated using their relevant statistics, and most importantly comparing and contrasting those stats against other players. Once the briefs are submitted, it is time to prepare the oral arguments and exhibits used during the Competition to convince the judges to agree with your argument.

The first day, each team presents three cases headto-head against another team with one earning a “win” and a “loss.” The resulting win-loss record after the first day determines if you advance. The second and final day consists of three rounds of single elimination until there is one team left standing.

Can you explain briefly the process of salary arbitration—why is it done? What is the end goal?

Briefly, baseball arbitration came about in the 1960s as a hard fought compromise between the teams and the players. Prior to arbitration, the teams would invoke the “reserve clause” to essentially keep players on their team for whatever salary they thought was fair—there was no free agency. Baseball player Curt Flood challenged the reserve clause leading to this compromise where a team retained the reserve clause for a player’s first three years in MLB, followed by the ability to have their salary based on certain criteria (statistics, team performance, comparable player salaries, etc.) until they are able to become a free agent after six full years in the majors. The goal is to allow the players to earn more money based on their stellar play and to allow teams to still retain control over their prized assets.

Pictured at the Baseball Arbitration Competition: Greg Dreyfuss, Dan Masi, and Jared Hand

How many schools participate in the Competition each year?

Roughly 40 schools each year.

Dan Masi is a 2014 Pace Law alumnus and the coach of Pace Law’s Tulane International Baseball Arbitration Competition Team. Currently, Dan is working as a talent agent with Stern Speakers, a lecture bureau representing business school professors and other speakers for keynote presentations. In this role, he has the opportunity to negotiate deals and build relationships with fortune 500 companies on behalf of his clients. He is an Oakland A’s fan and watches them whenever he has the chance.

Can you describe what exactly the Baseball Arbitration Competition entails?

The Competition starts in late November when the problem is released. Each team is assigned three

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How did you, as a student and then as a coach become involved with the Competition?

I found out about the Competition from my legal skills professor, Peter Widulski, who knew my interest in the sports world and thought I would be a good fit.

I reached out to Professor Lou Fasulo and practically begged him to allow me to be a part of the team as a 2L. At that time, the coach, Jared Hand (2012 Pace Law alumnus), and my teammate, Greg Dreyfuss (2013 Pace Law alumnus), had lost out the year before due to a tie-breaker despite earning several perfect scores. So, in 2013, we were determined to make sure we won and we did! After graduating, Jared decided to move on and asked if I wanted to continue on as a coach and I’ve been doing that ever since.

How did it feel to win the Competition in 2013?

It was crazy to say the least. Greg and Jared sat me down when we first met up and began preparing and said we need to get it in our minds that we’re going to win, there’s no alternative.

That started us off on the right path. We prepared probably 20 different comparable players for each round, even though you only typically use three, just so we were prepared for anything.

We had practiced our oral arguments to the point that we would finish each other’s sentences and our teamwork really paid off with high scores and an undefeated record. Once we got to the final we knew we had a great chance and we were relieved to hear the announcement that Pace was the winner.

Has Pace received recognition from ESPN and other networks for their predictions?

Pace began contributing to salary arbitration predictions for ESPN following the 2013 Competition win. One of the judges that year, Adam Rubin, was the Mets beat writer and asked the team to provide predictions for the salary arbitration eligible players on the Mets that offseason. Every year since then, the current Pace team has made predictions, often times coming very close or hitting the number exactly. Last year we contributed on the SportsNet New York (“SNY”) platform.

Congratulations, Alexandra Dunn!

FORMER DEAN of Pace Law’s environmental law programs, Alexandra Dunn, was confirmed and sworn in to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. n

How did the Pace Law team perform in the Competition held in 2018?

Pace has always been a strong competitor in this particular Competition, but the quality of the exhibits and oral arguments has only gotten better over time. That is why I am so proud of our team finishing as runners-up in the January 2018 Competition. Even though we did not win—we put in our best effort. The biggest compliment is when the judges single out your exhibits and your preparation as comparable to real arbitration cases.

What do you feel are the biggest benefits of students participating in this Competition?

The goal of the Competition is to give law students firsthand experience in the world of baseball arbitration. Students have the chance to participate in a shortened version of an arbitration hearing and present in front of some of the most influential people in the world of baseball. The judges are all agents, lawyers, general managers, and directors of baseball operations with both MLB teams and independent agencies. Students learn invaluable oral advocacy skills and have the opportunity to work on and really sharpen their brief writing abilities. n

Pictured with Alexandra Dunn are Professors Emeriti Jeffrey G. Miller and Ann Powers

SPRING 2019

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OF NOTE

Neighborhood Justice Clinic Supports Local Worker Organizing IT ALL STARTED in the fall of 2014. Professor Jason Parkin launched the Neighborhood Justice Clinic earlier that year with a goal of providing legal support to community organizing efforts in Westchester County.

The Clinic’s client that fall was the Alianza Laboral de Westchester (Westchester Labor Alliance), a coalition of worker centers located at Don Bosco Workers (Port Chester), Community Resource Center (Mamaroneck), Neighbors Link (Mt. Kisco), Obreros Unidos of Catholic Charities (Yonkers), and United Community Center of Westchester (New Rochelle).

The Alianza retained the Clinic to investigate strategies to combat the problem of “wage theft”

in Westchester County. Wage theft occurs when a worker is not paid in full for the work he or she has done for an employer. It is particularly common in Westchester’s home-improvement sector, which includes landscaping, painting, construction, and other improvements made to private residences.

Wage theft is illegal, but businesses often refuse to pay their workers, even after a court or government agency orders the business to comply with the law.

The Alianza wanted to know what Westchester County could do to discourage wage theft. A small but growing number of cities, including Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle, had recently amended their

Professor Jason Parkin and clinic students Cassidy Fitzgerald, Milad Momeni, and Swatanter Polce, with members of the Westchester Board of Legislators and the Alianza Laboral de Westchester, shortly after the bill was passed

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local laws to deny business licenses to businesses that commit wage theft— could Westchester do the same thing?

Clinic students Leigh Ellis (’16), Matthew Trauner (’15), and Sohad Jamal (’15) spent the Fall 2014 semester researching those new laws and analyzing whether something similar was possible in Westchester. Then, in the Spring 2015 semester, the Alianza asked Clinic students Albert Vetere (’16), Ancy Thomas (’16), and Benjamin Campos (’17) to gather data about the prevalence of wage theft in Professor Jason Parkin and clinic students Cassidy Fitzgerald, Milad Momeni, and Swatanter Westchester, which they accomplished Polce, with members of the Alianza Laboral de Westchester, shortly after the bill was passed by drafting and submitting Freedom of Information Law requests to the federal and state Department of Labor.

By 2018, the Alianza had written a bill that would The Clinic’s work on the anti-wage theft legislaamend Westchester law to deny business licenses tion also won praise from the bill’s lead sponsors. to home-improvement contractors with a history “The Neighborhood Justice Clinic provides students of wage theft. The next step was to convince the with a unique opportunity to take the skills they learn Westchester County Board of Legislators to pass the in law school and use them to benefit the community bill. Again, the Alianza turned to the Clinic for help. and promote social justice,” said Legislator Nancy During the Spring 2018 semester, Clinic students Barr. “They should be very proud of the role they Ameera Bing (’19), Joshua Gribetz (’19), and Krystal played in advancing this important legislation.” LegisPaulino (’19) consulted with legislators and their staff, lator Christopher Johnson added, “I am proud of the advocates, organizers, and union officials to map out students of Pace Law who advocated in favor of such the legislative process and help the Alianza develop significant legislation.” its campaign in support of the bill.

Reflecting on her experience, clinic student The Alianza’s campaign swung into action in the Swatanter Polce recalled that when she joined fall of 2018. The anti-wage theft bill was introduced by the Clinic “the idea of working on something so Legislators Nancy Barr (Port Chester) and Christopher important and significant seemed scary.” But the Johnson (Yonkers), along with eight co-sponsors, on experience was “rewarding and eye-opening,” and September 17, 2018. Clinic students Cassidy Fitzgerald it “showed me new possible career paths follow(’20), Milad Momeni (’20), and Swatanter Polce (’19) ing graduation and inspired me to run for my local advised the Alianza as the bill made its way through library’s board of trustees.” n the legislative process. They attended committee hearings, updated the Alianza on developments, enlisted support from Westchester organizations and labor unions, prepared Alianza members to testify at the public hearing, and delivered their own testimony in support of the bill. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Board of Legislators passed the bill by a 17–0 vote, and it was signed into law by County Executive George Latimer on November 29, 2018.

“The Alianza is grateful for the support of the Neighborhood Justice Clinic,” said Luisa GrandaRodriguez, Director of Operations at Neighbors Link.

“The students played a significant role and supported Alianza’s efforts to address wage theft in the county and make this bill a reality. I applaud Jason Parkin for his dedication to our community and his leadership of these dedicated and knowledgeable students.”

And there is more to be done. “The students will be crucial in helping Alianza member organizations and Westchester County make this law a success,” Ms. Granda-Rodriguez predicted.

“The Neighborhood Justice Clinic provides students with a unique opportunity to take the skills they learn in law school and use them to benefit the community and promote social justice.”

SPRING 2019

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STUDENT PROFILE

Kasey Brenner JD Candidate 2019

Managing Editor, Pace Environmental Law Review Haub Scholar, Elisabeth Haub School of Law What brought you to law school?

I did not always know I wanted to go to law school, but I knew I wanted a career that involved problem solving and the potential to make a difference.

As a PPL (Philosophy, Politics, and Law) major at Binghamton University, I took several courses that focused on law and justice that I found interesting.

It was also during this time that I realized that an education and career in law would be a challenging and fulfilling path.

Why did you choose Pace?

I chose Pace because of its renowned environmental law programs. In addition, when I visited, Pace’s campus definitely made it stand out from other law schools I visited. I was also fortunate enough to receive a full tuition scholarship.

Have you focused on any specific practice area while at Pace?

I came into law school interested in environmental law. At Binghamton, I minored in environmental studies, took several courses in environmental law and policy, and in general, became more aware of ongoing environmental issues. Since coming to law school, I learned more about the many different (but interconnected) facets of environmental law, and have become interested in land use and sustainable development law in particular. Working at the Land Use Law Center, researching with Professor John Nolon, and taking related classes has taught me that local governments have a lot of authority and tools to combat climate change from the ground up.

You are a Haub Scholar. Can you talk about that experience?

After being accepted at Pace, I found out that I was offered a spot in the inaugural class of Haub Scholars. I was selected based on my academic achievement and environmental interest. The experience has been an excellent mentorship and networking opportunity. From the start of law school, we meet with faculty mentors about classes, career guidance, and any other concerns we have along the way. We

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also often get the chance to meet personally with esteemed environmental speakers who come to campus to give lectures and presentations. For me, a highlight of the program has been the opportunity I had to attend the second annual workshop of the Food Systems Impact Valuation Initiative at Oxford along with Professor Jason Czarnezki, Professor Margot Pollans, and two other Haub Scholars. This was a unique opportunity to meet with lawyers, corporate representatives, big data experts, farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders working toward valuating and mitigating the environmental, social, and economic costs associated with food systems. The experience was extremely rewarding and allowed us to travel to England and meet with professionals from around the world in many different areas of expertise coming together to work on such a global issue involving sustainability, social justice, and the economy.

What has your experience with the Food & Beverage Clinic been like?

The Food & Beverage Law Clinic has been a great opportunity to get hands-on experience in transactional law and working directly with clients. Many of the clients in the clinic are very mission-driven, and their farms and/or businesses are related to food justice, improving the environment, providing farming opportunities for underrepresented communities, etc.

Working with interesting clients doing great things, while at the same time honing legal skills related to contracts, tax law, and nonprofit incorporation has been a challenging and unique experience. n

OF NOTE Women, Gender & the Law A New Concentration at Pace Law WITH THE START of the 2018 academic year came the announcement that Pace Law has launched a new JD concentration in Women, Gender & the Law. The concentration is the newest of five concentrations that the Law School offers in various fields of legal study. It responds to a growing interest in the topic among Pace Law students.

The concentration was approved by the faculty this fall, and is available immediately to any qualifying Pace Law student. Several students in the May, The new JD concentration in Women, Gender & the Law launched in the fall of 2018 and was 2019 graduating class are expected to made available immediately to any qualifying Pace Law students qualify for the concentration.

Pace Law faculty members Bridget Crawford, Darren Rosenblum, and Noa Ben-Asher proposed the concentration. The concenthree professors at Pace Law who proposed the new tration director for the 2018–2019 academic year is concentration. “One of the hallmarks of almost every Professor Noa Ben-Asher, a nationally recognized classroom at Pace Law is that discussions of gender expert in Sexuality, Gender and the Law. are woven into the material, not treated as a special “For four decades, Pace Law has prided itself on course or side issue. Lawyers who are familiar with being on the cutting edge of legal education,” said strategies for achieving gender justice have never Dean Horace Anderson. “And since the establishment been more important than they are now. This conof the Women’s Justice Center in 1991, Pace Law has centration provides an excellent way for students to made gender justice a priority. The Women, Gender prepare for futures career in which issues of equality & the Law concentration provides an opportunity for and fairness will be front and center.” students to have gender justice inform their pursuit In order to concentrate in Women, Gender & the of careers in family law, trusts and estates, criminal Law, students are required to take the foundational justice, immigration, and a wide range of other areas course of Family Law, followed by a choice from a of practice. This concentration is a natural outgrowth menu of intermediate related courses including Femiof the school’s historic commitments, our faculty’s nist Legal Theory; Sexuality, Gender & the Law; Public strengths, and our present-day emphasis on legal Health Law; Poverty Law; Asylum & Refugee Law, and education that goes beyond statutes, regulations and more than 30 others. The concentration culminates case law. This concentration will equip students with in a required, practical, skills-based capstone experipractice skills and strategies for effective representaence or externship, such as a family court externship, tion and advocacy for gender justice.” a guided research project, or participation in a legal “Students who are interested in issues related to clinic, among many other opportunities.

“This new concentration draws on the strengths Women, Gender & the Law are part of a vibrant comand interests of our faculty and students. It is a great munity of faculty, alumni, staff and local and national addition to our curriculum and I am honored to be the attorneys who are deeply committed to justice for 2018–2019 director,” said Professor Noa Ben-Asher. n people of all genders,” said Bridget Crawford, one of

SPRING 2019

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OF NOTE IJC Client Wins Governor’s Pardon ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo granted a full and unconditional pardon to Pace Immigration Justice Clinic (“IJC”) client Reginald Castel.

Professor Vanessa Merton, Faculty Supervisor of the IJC, and the IJC Student Attorneys have been fighting Mr. Castel’s unjust deportation for a dozen years. The Clinic took his case up through the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, a certiorari petition to the US Supreme Court, and numerous motions and applications in the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Professor Merton noted, “This case in particular has been one of our longest, most complex, and challenging, but also very rewarding.”

At the age of eight, Mr. Castel legally migrated from Haiti to the United States as a lawful permanent resident, but in his late twenties—over two decades ago—a chance run-in with an intoxicated friend on the streets of Rochester turned ugly. The man attacked Mr. Castel with a knife and Mr. Castel used his licensed-to-carry gun to shoot his assailant in the leg. As a result of ineffective counsel, he agreed to plead guilty to the serious felony of Assault in the First Degree and spent six years in state prison. Although Mr. Castel had a very strong prima facie self-defense claim and as a working man with no criminal record, was a good candidate to go to trial, Mr. Castel’s defense attorney recommended the plea rather than risk double or triple the sentence if convicted after trial.

The defense attorney knew that Mr. Castel was a noncitizen, but through ignorance of immigration law, the attorney affirmatively misrepresented the devastating immigration consequences of such a plea, and the judge did nothing to correct him. The Immigration Justice Clinic has continued to litigate on Mr. Castel’s behalf in New York State Supreme Court, trying to vacate his assault conviction on constitutional and statutory grounds, and at the same time using every possible technique to thwart his deportation.

Eventually, even ICE itself agreed to place Mr. Castel in a special status known as “deferred action”—allowing him to work and live in the US, renew-

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“...IJC’s students and faculty have changed the lives of all those with whom they have worked.” able on an annual basis—but after a total of seven years of renewal, in 2017, under the new Administration, ICE reversed itself, took him into custody, and almost immediately deported him to Haiti. Mr. Castel speaks no language but English, has no family left in Haiti except an estranged father, and as a Type I diabetic, requires careful medical management that is utterly unavailable for a poor person in that country.

His devoted wife Lashanda has been flying to Haiti every month to see him and bring him the special insulin that he needs, but these trips are expensive, disruptive, and excruciatingly painful every time the couple has to say good-bye—never knowing if Reggie will be safe in the current chaos of Haiti until she can save up money and time off for the next trip. Moreover, going to Haiti is very risky for Lashanda: conditions in Haiti are extremely dangerous for anyone out on the street, with rioting, fires, killings, and general lawless turmoil throughout the country. The United States Department Travel Warning is at the highest level: Red—DO NOT TRAVEL. The Student Attorneys at the IJC have gone above and beyond in this case, never giving up. “A few years back a resourceful Student Attorney located the victim—who was in jail at the time—traveled to see him and after speaking with him, the victim agreed to sign a sworn affidavit in which he forgave Mr. Castel, saying that he was a good man who did not deserve to suffer more, and that he did not want to see Mr. Castel deported,” Professor Merton recalls.

However, the affidavit was not enough either to persuade the DA of Monroe County to agree to vacate the plea or ICE to rescind his removal order.

For nearly two years, the Clinic has been seeking a pardon for Mr. Castel, despite the unlikeliness of such a result. This past semester three Student Attorneys, Jennifer Moses, Marie-Kendy Williams, and Tayler Steinberg, revamped the pardon petition and in a crucial presentation convinced the Governor’s Assistant Counsel, responsible for vetting pardon applications, that if pardoned, Mr. Castel would have a legal pathway back to lawful status in the USA, and his life could be saved. In his telephone call delivering the good news on New Year’s Eve, the Assistant Counsel mentioned specifically how deeply impressed he had been by the advocacy and skill of the Student Attorneys.

“Pace Law’s Immigration Justice Clinic has worked with hundreds of immigrants whose stories are similar to Mr. Castel’s, fighting for justice and advocating for their legal rights,” said Dean Horace Anderson. “The determination and tenacity of the

IJC’s students and faculty have changed the lives of all those with whom they have worked.”

Professor Merton notes that “[t]his pardon changes the world for this man, for his unshakably devoted wife, their seven children, and his home town of Rochester. Now we can pursue the necessary applications to bring him home and restore his Lawful Permanent Resident status, acquired as a young boy when he lawfully emigrated to the USA, so that he can regain his health, care for his family, and resume a peaceful life in the only country he has ever known as an adult.”

Considerable legal obstacles to getting Mr. Castel back to the United States still lie ahead.

However, the work of the Immigration Justice Clinic Student Attorneys, and Professor Vanessa Merton, is an example of persistence, courage, and zeal in the representation of a client and in the search for fundamental justice. n

The Law School Mourns the Passing of Erivan Haub PACE UNIVERSITY and the Elisabeth

President Marvin Krislov. “Erivan’s pas-

Haub School of Law mourn the pass-

sion for the United States and for the

ing of Erivan Haub, whose support

environment, inspired by his mother,

and partnership of the Law School has

Elisabeth, led to the Haub family’s long

made a tremendous difference to our

and successful partnership with Pace.

students, faculty and staff. As Pace

We present the annual Haub Award for

University President Marvin Krislov

Environmental Diplomacy, and in 2016

notes, his leadership, friendship and

we were honored to name our law

generosity will not be forgotten.

school the Elisabeth Haub School of

Below is President Krislov’s full statement: “On behalf of the trustees, students, faculty, and

Law, in recognition of our long partnership and a generous gift from the Haub family. We send our deepest condolences to the Haub family,

staff of Pace University, I mourn the passing of Erivan

and most of all to Liliane Haub, Erivan’s daughter-in-

Haub, a longtime friend and philanthropic supporter

law, who serves as a Pace trustee. Erivan’s leadership,

of Pace and especially our law school,” said Pace

friendship, and generosity will not be forgotten.” n

SPRING 2019

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OF NOTE

A New Walk-in Legal Clinic at the Pace Women’s Justice Center IN JUNE 2018, the Pace Women’s Justice Center (“PWJC”) opened new office space. The 4,000 square-foot office, which was the former Student Life Center on the Pace Law campus, includes a new walk-in legal clinic (the “Clinic”) and will allow PWJC to serve as many as 600 more clients a year.

PWJC is the leading civil legal services and training provider addressing domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse in Westchester and Putnam counties, providing free legal help to thousands each year who would otherwise not be able to afford representation. The new $1.5 million office space was funded by Pace University and private donors including a $100,000 grant from Impact 100 Westchester.

Prior to the opening of this new space, PWJC served more than 3,000 clients per year. PWJC’s previous office was a small space adjacent to the

“...more victims of abuse are speaking out and needing help and the Clinic will remove obstacles that many victims face when coming forward. We know that the opening of this Clinic will save lives.”

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Pace Law campus that was not sufficient to meet the growing numbers of survivors who are in need of their services. PWJC’s attorneys assist clients in and out of the courtroom, helping them to obtain orders of protection, custody of their children, child support and divorces. Victims of interpersonal violence have many needs arising from the abuse, and PWJC believes that clients do better in the long term if they are treated holistically. Thus, PWJC connects their clients with a broad range of social services such as shelter, medical care, counseling and immigration assistance, in order to help them find a pathway to safety. PWJC also trains social service providers and police officers across the region in how to handle cases of abuse.

Cindy Kanusher, executive director of PWJC, said the Clinic is the first of its kind in Westchester and Putnam providing free legal services without an appointment in a warm and welcoming space, to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse.

“The Clinic is a safe alternative to PWJC’s satellite offices in the White Plains and Yonkers courthouses for clients who are afraid to go to court. Many victims fear facing their abuser in the courtroom, and immigrant victims are often afraid of the judicial system and deportation.”

“Domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse are pervasive problems that affect communities all over the country, including ours,’’ said Kanusher. “The explosion of the #MeToo Campaign demonstrates the need for the Pace Women’s Justice Center’s walk-in clinic; more victims of abuse are speaking out and needing help and the Clinic will remove obstacles that many victims face when coming forward. We know that the opening of this Clinic will save lives. We will give people the critical help that they need to feel safe, and we will be at their side every step of the way throughout the legal process.”

She added, “We are so thankful to everyone who generously contributed to the development of the

The ribbon cutting for the June 2018 opening of the PWJC’s new office space and walk-in legal clinic

new walk-in clinic, especially our partners, Pace and Impact 100 Westchester.’’

The Clinic has had a substantial and positive impact on the community since opening its doors on June 1, 2018. In its first eight months of being open, the Clinic has served 418 clients. As part of the Clinic’s services, staff and pro bono attorneys provide clients with free legal advice and counsel on a range of legal issues, including orders of protection, child and spousal support, child custody/ visitation, divorce and immigration issues. Clients are then referred to one of PWJC’s other programs for ongoing legal representation or to outside legal agencies and social service providers for additional assistance.

There are currently 12 pro bono attorneys volunteering at the Clinic, and three more attorneys are presently in the process of being trained. The majority of the pro bono attorneys volunteer one time per week for a period of approximately 3—4 hours. In its first eight months, since opening on June 1, 2018, pro bono attorneys have donated 918 hours of their time, which translates into in-kind services totaling $321,300. In addition, the Clinic has collaborated with Pace Law to provide practical, hands-on learn-

ing experiences for law students interested in working with victims and survivors of domestic violence, elder abuse and sexual assault. Through the Pro Bono Externship Seminar, two Pace Law student externs volunteered with the Clinic for course credit in the Fall 2018, contributing a combined total of 290 hours.

Additionally, a 2L Pace Law student is currently volunteering at the Clinic this semester through the same Pro Bono Externship Seminar program. To complement the fieldwork experience, Pace Law Students are mentored by PWJC staff attorneys and volunteer attorneys, four of whom are Pace Law Graduates.

“We are proud that the Women’s Justice Center has been a part of the Pace Law community for the past 25 years,” said Dean Horace Anderson. “The PWJC provides critical services to thousands of clients a year. It also provides an opportunity for our students to work with supervising attorneys as they advocate and seek justice for women and families in need.”

For further information about PWJC’s Walk-in Clinic services, please call 914-422-4188. For information about emergency Orders of Protection, please contact PWJC’s Family Court Legal Program at 914-995-7400 (White Plains) or 914-231-2886 (Yonkers). Call PWJC’s Main Office at 914-422-4069 for all other questions. n

SPRING 2019

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STUDENT PROFILE

OF NOTE Megan Edwards JD Candidate 2021

Haub Scholar, Elisabeth Haub School of Law MEM Candidate 2021, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Vice President, Student Animal League Defense Fund What brought you to law school?

I studied biology at Simmons College and had two summer experiences working at a wolf research and conservation center. I loved learning about wildlife and wildlife conservation efforts. As much as it was enjoyable for me to learn objectively, I wanted to have a more active role with regard to wildlife conservation. I believe that as a lawyer, I will have the training and opportunity to step up and be an advocate for wildlife, which will be very fulfilling for me.

Why did you choose Pace?

My pre-law advisor at Simmons College suggested that I look into Pace because of their strong environmental law program. Ultimately, I decided to attend Pace not only because of this program, but because I felt that I could not pass up the extra opportunities that Pace affords, such as belonging to a prestigious Environmental Law Review, having the opportunity to apply for the Federal Judicial Honors Program, and having the ability to network with accomplished environmental law scholars and faculty.

You are participating in the JD/MEM program—what made you decide to pursue that opportunity?

I learned about the JD/Master of Environmental Management program with Yale before I even began orientation at Pace, and I had the first draft of my personal statement done before the first day of class. I am so excited to be a part of this program! I really love going to school and being in an academic environment. I am also very excited to strengthen

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my scientific knowledge through my studies at Yale.

I want to be an advocate for the environment and for wildlife, and I feel like I can best accomplish this goal if I have a strong foundational understanding of the underlying scientific principles that some complex legal issues involve.

You are very involved with the Student Animal League Defense Fund (SALDF).

Yes! As a 1L student, I immediately became involved with SALDF, as I wanted to learn more about the laws that govern animal welfare and take an active role on campus concerning animal advocacy. As the 1L representative, and then treasurer for the group, I was able to help put on some successful events, such as our Tailgate event, where a local shelter came with some of their animals which were up for adoption—a few animals found their forever homes! This year, I am serving as the vice president.

Why environmental law, specifically natural resources and wildlife conservation law?

Growing up, some of my favorite and most special memories were with my family spending time outside in nature. This appreciation for the natural world made me curious from a young age about how the natural world works and how living things interact with one another. As I learned more about the environment studying at Simmons, I realized that there is a huge disparity between how people perceive their relationship with the environment and how important the environment is to the health of people’s daily lives. The living organisms in individual ecosystems are codependent on each other to thrive and maintain equilibrium, and people are dependent on healthy ecosystems in ways that they may not understand. Many people likely don’t realize how important it is to preserve wild spaces and different species, not only to preserve the wildness of nature, but also to help maintain a healthy relationship between people and the environment. Having a legal education seemed to me like the best way that I could take an active role in the wildlife conservation movement.

You are also a Haub Scholar—how has that experience unfolded?

I learned about the Haub Scholar Program after I had already applied to Pace. Since I was selected as a Haub Scholar, I have had the opportunity to form close relationships with faculty and also meet the visiting faculty, such as Professor Winders who works as an attorney for PETA. I have had some really helpful and instructive conversations with Professor Winders, who has told me about her journey in environmental law, and has helped guide me as I wrote my Law Review Note. Also, notably, as a part of the Haub Program, I had the opportunity to participate in the Antonio A. Oposa Intergenerational Moot Court in France, which was a challenging, yet tremendously rewarding experience.

What will you be doing this upcoming summer and beyond?

This upcoming summer I will be working at the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston.

This organization does a lot of clean water and environmental justice work in the New England area, where I’m from. One day I would love to work fulltime for an organization like this one that does environmental work in my community. I am also interested in pursuing a career in academics. I really love being in school and constantly learning and sharing with my colleagues, and I can see teaching being a very rewarding career. n

Alumnus Robert Tucker Joins Pace Board of Trustees PACE UNIVERSITY’S Board of Trustees announced the appointment of its newest member, Robert S. Tucker, Esq., a 1996 graduate of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of T&M Protection Resources, a global security and investigations company based in New York City with operations worldwide.

A devoted philanthropist, Tucker is active with many organizations including the FDNY Foundation, The New York City Police Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City and The Richard Tucker Music Foundation, named after his grandfather, a well-known American operatic tenor.

“Robert Tucker is a respected community leader, a generous philanthropist, and a great friend to Pace University,” said Marvin Krislov, Pace’s president. “But more than that, he demonstrates the deep commitment to the public good that we aim to instill in our graduates. We’re proud that he is an alumnus of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and we’re even prouder that he’s joining our board of trustees.”

Tucker serves as a commissioner to the Westchester County Police Board, a role he was appointed to in January 2017. Through the years, he has received awards and accolades for his accomplishments in the security industry and his dedication to public service, humanitarian, and mentorship work. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Citizens Crimes Commission of New York City, the Eugene R. Fink Memorial Award by the Associated Licensed Detectives of New York State (ALDONYS), and this past April, Tucker received the Public Service Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City.

Tucker founded the Robert Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence which is given annually by Pace Law. The award recognizes outstanding public service and excellence in prosecutorial practice. He holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University. n

SPRING 2019

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OF NOTE

2018 Haub Visiting Scholars Delcianna Winders and Michael Puma joined the Law School for the spring semester as 2018 Haub Visiting Scholars

Delcianna J. Winders

Michael Puma

Delcianna J. Winders is the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for the PETA Foundation’s Captive Animal Law Enforcement division. She recently completed an Academic Fellowship at Harvard Law School. Her scholarship focuses on animal law, and specifically, the Animal Welfare Act and the Endangered Species Act. Winders received her BA in Legal Studies with highest honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz, where she was named a Regents’ Scholar and received the Dean’s Award for outstanding achievement in Social Sciences, and her JD from NYU School of Law, where she was awarded the Vanderbilt Medal for outstanding contributions to the law school, named as a Robert McKay Scholar, and served as the Senior Notes Editor of the NYU Law Review. Following law school, Winders clerked for the Hon. Martha Craig Daughtrey on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and practiced animal law in a variety of settings. Winders, who taught Animal Law during the spring 2018 semester, previously taught it at Tulane University School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

Michael Puma is the Director of the Center for Climate Systems Research, part of Columbia University’s Earth Institute and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

His research focuses on global food security, specifically exploring how susceptible the global network of food trade is to natural and manmade disturbances. Dr. Puma’s work on global food security lies at the interface of science, economics, policy and governance. He is currently working on building collaborations with the World Food Program and USAID through a new “Columbia World Project” on climate and food systems. Dr. Puma received his doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from Princeton University, his Master of International Affairs in Environmental Policy Studies from Columbia University, and his Bachelor of Science in Civil Environmental Engineering and Water Resources from Columbia University.

Funding for the Visiting Scholars positions was made possible by a gift from the Haub family in recognition of the essential role of environmental science, informatics and other technology and allied fields towards formulating environmental policy and law.

In their roles at Pace Law, Ms. Winders and Dr. Puma collaborated and worked closely with faculty and students, taught and were guest lecturers in classes, and engaged in collaborative scholarly work with faculty, staff, and students. Their positions ran through the end of spring 2018. n

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STUDENT PROFILE

Edgar Aguilar JD Candidate 2019

Articles Editor, Pace International Law Review EDGAR AGUILAR MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES with his family from Guatemala when he was fifteen years old. “When I first arrived to the US the transition was very hard. I spent the majority of my high school years trying to learn the language and did not take my first traditional English class until I was a freshman in college. During high school I stayed busy and learned the language through experience—I played football, wrestled, and I worked a part-time job.” For Edgar, law school was a dream since before he moved to the United States. “I wanted to be able to help people while engaging in something that interested me—that was law. I have always been fascinated by the power that lawyers have in helping people. You can start a business, defend an individual, and protect the community through prosecution. You can make an impact on a person’s life and impact society. That is what really drove me to become a lawyer.”

Knowing what he wanted to do already, immediately after graduating college, Edgar began law school. “I chose Pace because of the convenience to all the necessities in my life—I wanted to be close to home, to my family, and I wanted to attend a law school that would allow me to have every opportunity in the community where the school was. White Plains and Pace Law were ideal.”

While at Pace, Edgar has taken every opportunity to develop his litigation skills. He took classes in which he had an interest. He also pursued areas of the law in which he was not sure if he had an interest with the purpose of ensuring he found his niche within litigation. “I want to be a litigator. I like to learn and solve problems. For me, all of the clinical experiences at Pace were outstanding.”

Edgar has participated as a student attorney in the Neighborhood Justice Clinic and the Food and Beverage Law Clinic. “With the Neighborhood Justice Clinic, I worked closely with peers and Professor Jason Parkin, the supervising attorney. I had the opportunity to represent someone at an administrative hearing and obtain unemployment benefits for that person.

I also had the opportunity to advocate for workers’ rights issues. I found the work extremely rewarding.

Specifically, advocating for workers’ rights gave me the opportunity to advocate for solutions to an issue

(wage theft) that predominately affects the Hispanic community. It was empowering to be able to use my knowledge and my personal experiences to help those who are often forgotten by the legal system.”

The Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) has been an organization that allowed Edgar the experience to promote values and experiences that are important to him as a Hispanic immigrant.

“Through LALSA, Pace recognizes our needs as a culture—it gives us a space for us Hispanic individuals to connect and embrace our roots and backgrounds.”

Additionally, Edgar competed in the National Latino/a Law Student Association Moot Court Competition, which he describes as a “tremendous experience”.

As for post-law school life, Edgar would like to “work in an environment where I can use my knowledge to help others, and also where I can grow personally and professionally. Being at a firm or agency where I can use my knowledge, skills, and do something meaningful is important to me. I want to be a good lawyer. To me that means, I have to see the world, see the issues, and see the interest and the problems of my clients as they see them and as they perceive them. On the other side, a good lawyer has to be to anticipate the view of the opposing side. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a good lawyer has to be creative and passionate about the work that he or she does.”

For now, Edgar is enjoying the remaining months of his Pace Law experience. “I have enjoyed my time here, attending the Barrister’s Ball and enjoying the company of my friends. I will miss it all.” n

SPRING 2019

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OF NOTE

30 Years of Clean Energy Work

Pictured are Christian Harned, Joe O’Brien-Applegate, Richard L. Ottinger, Thomas G. Bourgeois, Mary Cataneo, and Radina Valova. Missing staff members include: Karl R. Rábago, Sam Swanson, Loretta Musial, Kimberly Peterson (intern), and Shivani Patel (intern)

“It is a force for legal and policy change, and has trained many Pace Law students to become the next generation of smart energy professionals”

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PACE UNIVERSITY’S Elisabeth Haub School of Law celebrates 30 years of work at the Pace Energy and Climate Center (PECC). For three decades, PECC has been at the leading edge of creating and implementing solutions to our energy and climate challenges on the local, state, regional, national, and international levels.

“Pace’s Energy and Climate Center is an important part of the Pace Law campus and our community,” said Dean Horace Anderson. “It is a force for legal and policy change, and has trained many Pace Law students to become the next generation of smart energy professionals, working at home and abroad to create more resilient, sustainable communities.”

“This little Center has had an outsized positive effect on clean energy policy over the past thirty years,” said Karl R. Rábago, current Center director. “We fight well above our weight because of the brilliant and inspired leadership of our founder, Dick

Ottinger; because of the high caliber of our staff, interns, and colleagues; and because of the steadfast support of our community, funders, and clients. I can’t wait to see what we do next!”

Pace Law Dean Emeritus Richard Ottinger founded PECC. Over time, the Center has grown from its initial focus on energy regulatory law and policies to tackle transportation and fuels, as well as climate change mitigation and resilience. PECC directly engages in complex regulatory proceedings in New York and several other states, and advocates successfully for policies to improve energy efficiency, advance renewable energy and distributed generation, account for environmental impacts in energy decisions, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. PECC is the leading Center working at the intersection of energy and the environment, engaging government decision makers and key stakeholders with robust research and analysis in law and policy. n

Karl R. Rábago, Executive Director, Pace Energy and Climate Center

Pace Law Launches

Pre-Law Certificate Program THE ELISABETH HAUB SCHOOL OF LAW at Pace University (Pace Law) launched the Pace Pre-Law Certificate Program (PPCP) for undergraduate students and others who are interested in attending law school. The inaugural year of the program began last summer in 2018.

The PPCP is an intensive, three-week long certificate program based in New York City, just blocks away from all major courthouses in Manhattan. Those who enroll in the program will attend approximately 45 hours of in-class lectures, visit law firms and courtrooms, receive law school application guidance, audit actual law school classes, and hear guest speakers from various legal and business fields. Participants will have an opportunity to live and network with other Pace University students, and law students from around the world, including international LLM (Master of Laws) students.

The launch of the PPCP was a collaborative effort created by Cecilia Caldeira, Director of Graduate Law Programs and Dr. John Meletiadis, Assistant Dean of the Center for Global Business Programs at Pace University’s Lubin School of Business. The PPCP program is ideally suited for undergraduate sophomores and juniors enrolled in United States

higher education institutions considering applying to law school, international students in undergraduate law programs abroad interested in a US-based LLM program, foreign-trained students or attorneys who are interested in learning more about US Law and paralegals who are considering applying to a US-based law school, and many others who meet the application requirements.

PPCP students will get a head start on the essentials of legal study. The students will explore diverse fields within the legal profession, have the opportunity to build their resume, and gain an advantage over other law school applicants. Members of the Pace Law faculty and staff have also participated in the program, providing an overview of the law school experience.

Dr. John Meletiadis notes that, “[t]he Pre-Law Certificate Program provides an excellent preview of law school. The program consists of a broad overview of law school courses and invaluable legal experiences. Last year’s students ranged from those who were uncertain about whether or not to attend law school to those who wanted to prepare for it or figure out what type of law to specialize in. By all accounts the students had an invaluable experience which exceeded their expectations.” n

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Pace Law Moves Towards A Plastic-free Campus THE ELISABETH HAUB SCHOOL

which supports legislation to eliminate single-use

of Law at Pace University

plastic straws in New York City: “Plastic pollution

announced numerous

threatens marine wildlife worldwide, from whales and

measures that will make

sea turtles, to marine birds and fish—and ultimately

its White Plains campus

humans when we eat seafood that have consumed

one of the greenest in

micro-plastics. WCS applauds the Elisabeth Haub

the region and nearly eliminate the use of plastic in its cafeteria and other areas of campus. This year, the

School of Law at Pace University for taking a strong stance against plastic pollution and setting an excellent example in Westchester as well as the broader New York academic and legal community.”

Law School began using paper straws instead of

In addition to reducing plastic, the Law School is

plastic and students started using only china and

using new energy efficient dishwashers to reduce the

metal flatware in the cafeteria. In addition, at all of its

amount of water used by the school. New trash and

programs, the school no longer uses paper or plastic

recycling bins are also being installed with clearly

products and instead provides water-filled bubblers

marked components. Should members of the Law

rather than individual plastic water bottles.

School community request a “to-go” container they

“For decades, the Elisabeth Haub School of

will be given a paper container. Pace University will

Law has been a pioneer in the field of environ-

also convert all campus water fountains to water

mental law and home to a nationally recognized

filling stations. Faculty, staff and students are encour-

environmental law program,” said Dean Horace

aged to use their own re-usable water bottles. n

Anderson. “I am so pleased that we are ensuring that we continue to lead the way by taking important measures to ensure that our campus is more sustainable than ever.”

“Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental issues facing our planet. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight,” said Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law Jason Czarnezki. “The Law School is taking a first and necessary step to help confront this crisis and enact more sustainable practices.”

Said John Calvelli, executive vice president of public affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and director of WCS’s “Give a Sip” Campaign,

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“Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental issues facing our planet. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight.”

OF NOTE Pace Law Library Supports Alumni THE PACE LAW LIBRARY offers support to Pace Law alumni throughout their professional careers.

Pace Law Library is staffed by librarians, most of whom have JD and MLS degrees. Alumni seeking access to the Law Library who don’t have an alumni ID card are initially issued a patron information card to access materials including reserve items from the Circulation Desk. Your permanent ID card will be issued in exchange for your patron information card. Please contact the ID office on the first floor of Aloysia Hall (914) 422-4032 to confirm their current hours.

Library Resources, Including Databases There are a number of subscription databases available from all the computers in the library. A public access version of Lexis, including Shepard’s, is available for use by our alumni; it is available at one computer opposite the Reference Desk. The reference librarians are available to assist you in accessing and using these resources.

The Law Library can support your research through our collection of New York materials, including New York practice materials and treatises, McKinney’s statutes and forms, the NYCRR, case reports and digests, and records and briefs for the New York State Court of Appeals, 1956 to date.

Whether at your office or on campus, you have access to the research guides developed by our reference librarians; they cover a range of topics such as a guide to free and low-cost resources which includes information on internet legal research as well as some low-cost alternatives to Westlaw and Lexis, including Fastcase and Smart Litigator.

Other Services The six public access computers across from the Reference Desk provide access to the Library catalog, Microsoft Office, and the internet. If a Law School graduate comes to the Law Library and we can confirm in our database that he/she is a Pace Law graduate, the Library staff will issue the

graduate a green Patron Information Card. This card serves as a pass that will give the graduate access to the Law Library on the day of the visit, and enable him/her to get started on his/her research right away. The graduate can bring the Patron Information Card to the Registrar to begin the process of creating a Law School photo ID. Alumni can print from any of the library computers at a cost of 6 cents per page. Alumni can also scan at a machine behind the Reference Desk at no charge. Photocopying is available at a cost of 10 cents per page.

Please visit https://law.pace.edu/library for additional information. n #AlumniAccess @pacelawlibrary

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EVENTS

Pace Law’s 40th Annual Commencement 2018 Pace Law held it’s 40th annual Commencement on Monday, May 14, 2018.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez delivered the Commencement Address and he was also awarded an honorary degree. Judge Robert Keating was also awarded an honorary degree from Pace Law. Congratulations to the Class of 2018!

Robert Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence The 2018 Robert Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence was presented to Attorney General Barbara Underwood on November 13, 2018. The award was made possible

by Pace Law Class of ’96 alumnus Robert Tucker.

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2018 Annual Law Leadership Awards Dinner The 2018 Law Leadership Awards Dinner, held on March 8, 2018, was a wonderful evening, which celebrated the accomplishments of our honorees, Jeffrey J. Delaney ’92 and Anthony J. Enea ’85. The evening was a resounding success as it brought together the Elisabeth Haub School of Law community.

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EVENTS

P.L.A.N. The Pace Law Alumni Network (P.L.A.N.) is an independent group of Pace Law graduates dedicated to helping other alumni by creating networking opportunities. P.L.A.N. was launched by Mark Meeker (Dec. ’09) and has been hosting quarterly networking events since 2011 and currently alternates between venues in Manhattan and White Plains.

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Pace Law Gives Back On December 7, 2018, Pace Law faculty, staff, and students volunteered with Feeding Westchester and traveled to the Westchester Food Bank to help them stock their shelves with necessities for the holiday season. The Office of Student Services coordinated a collection of canned goods and/or nonperishable items for the Westchester Food Bank’s pantry. Additionally, turkeys were purchased with donated funds from the Pace Law community for the Westchester Food Bank’s Turkey Drive Initiative. The Initiative is to help feed the more than 200,000 Westchester residents who are hungry or at risk of being hungry.

2018 Pace Law Reunion Held on October 13, 2018, the classes of 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018 celebrated with classmates, faculty, and friends.

Ruderman Law Review Space Dedication The Honorable Terry Jane Ruderman and Jerold R. Ruderman Law Review Offices, located on the second floor of the Gerber Glass Library, house the Law School’s three Law Reviews—the Pace Law Review, Pace Environmental Law Review, and Pace International Law Review. The Space was dedicated on March 22, 2018.

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FACULTY

Faith-Based Emergency Powers

*

BY PROFESSOR NOA BEN-ASHER

The following excerpt is from Professor Noa Ben-Asher’s 2018 article, Faith-Based Emergency Powers, which was published in the Harvard Journal of Law & Gender.**

INTRODUCTION LATELY, CONSERVATIVES HAVE advanced emergency-powers rationales, analogous to those used in the “War on Terror,” in their efforts to resist liberal advancements in the so-called “Culture Wars.”

The term “Culture Wars” refers to the cultural and legal struggle of liberals and conservatives in the United States over gender, sexuality, and reproductive issues. In the Supreme Court, from Griswold (1965) and Boutilier (1967) to Hobby Lobby (2014) and Obergefell (2015), liberals and conservatives have debated the meaning of gender, reproduction, and sexuality under the law. In the early Culture Wars, beginning in the 1960s, the debates involved whether traditional morality ought to shape legal rules such as anti-sodomy laws and abortion bans.

Conservatives argued that legal rules should govern individual morality (often through criminal prohibition), and liberals argued that they should not. In recent years, the terms of the debates have shifted.

Conservatives have turned to a new strategy that involves declaring an emergency or crisis in order to carve out exceptions to legal rights. This Article calls

“...religious exemptions are in fact calculated attempts to limit or suspend liberal norms.”

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this relatively new trend in the Culture Wars, “FaithBased Emergency Powers.”

The concept of Faith-Based Emergency Powers is developed in this Article by exploring the analogy to emergency powers rationales applied in relation to War on Terror policies. In the War on Terror, conservatives typically take the position that legislatures, the public, and especially courts must defer to the President and the executive branch in matters involving national security. This rationale has three components: (1) a rhetoric of war, emergency, or catastrophe; (2) a legal argument for suspension of existing human rights; and (3) the designation of decision-makers who are allegedly more qualified than courts or the legislature to address the emergency. Consequently, conservatives have argued that human rights ought to be suspended or abrogated to some extent in real or perceived national security emergencies. The principal claim of this Article is that in contemporary Culture Wars, conservative politicians, lawmakers, and litigants have imported this three-step rationale to “defend” religious liberties.

The Culture Wars of today have drawn the attention of legal scholars. Several have supported religious exemptions. Douglas Laycock, for instance, has argued that “individuals or institutions [should not be made to] assist or facilitate practices they consider immoral, except . . . where the goods or services requested are not available from another reasonably convenient provider.” Andrew Koppelman has likewise proposed that “[b]usinesses that serve the public, such as wedding photographers, should be exempted, but only if they are willing to bear the cost of publicly identifying themselves as discriminatory.” Many oth-

ers have objected. They have elaborated on how religious accommodations may harm third parties, create an alternative legal order, and become limitless.

In providing a framework of Faith-Based Emergency Powers, this Article adds to the liberal critique of religious exemptions by focusing on the form of the current arguments for such exemptions. It argues that religious exemptions are in fact calculated attempts to limit or suspend liberal norms. The existence of an emergency puts into question the normal state of things: it calls for exceptionalism. This Article focuses on two areas in the Culture Wars where Faith-Based Emergency Powers have emerged: marriage equality and the so-called “Contraceptives Mandate” in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In both contexts, conservatives have declared a crisis or an emergency to religion shortly after sexual minorities and women were granted liberal rights. In particular, the right to marry was met with the legislative response of exemptions for those who oppose samesex marriage, and the access to reproductive healthcare enacted in the ACA was met with Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) challenges.

The First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), introduced in Congress in 2015, prohibits the government from discriminating against anyone who “believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.” If passed, FADA will legally condone actions against same-sex marriages. Several state legislatures have enacted legislation that traces the principles of FADA (hereinafter “mini-FADAs”). A 2015 North Carolina statute for example, exempts magistrates and register of deeds employees from performing marriages if they have religious objections to samesex marriages. Texas legislation, introduced on the day that Obergefell was decided, allows clergy members to refuse to officiate marriages that violate their beliefs. In 2015, a bill was proposed in Alabama that would exempt those authorized to solemnize marriages from performing same-sex marriages if it violated their religious beliefs. In Oklahoma as well, similar legislation was introduced in 2015 but failed to pass.

In 2016, the First Amendment Defense Act of Georgia, which mirrors the federal versions, was referred to a subcommittee. The common thread in this type of legislation is clear: it carves exceptions for religious or moral dissenters from a new liberal norm that allegedly threatens their religious or moral faith.

In March 2010, Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), a hallmark of Barack Obama’s presidency. In order to promote gender equality, the ACA required employers to offer female employees “minimum essential [reproductive] coverage” including “preventive care” (such as

birth control) and “screenings” without cost-sharing requirements like co-pays and deductibles. This measure has come to be known as the “Contraceptives Mandate.” In Hobby Lobby, employers who sought religious exemptions from the mandate prevailed when the Supreme Court held that the Contraceptives Mandate (as applied to for-profit, closely held corporations) violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”). The Court reasoned that “if the owners comply with the HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] mandate, they believe they will be facilitating abortions, and if they do not comply, they will pay a very heavy price.” Further legal challenges followed, and when President Trump was elected, he quickly signed an executive order that instructed the executive branch “to vigorously enforce Federal law’s robust protections for religious freedom,” and “consider issuing amended regulations…to address conscience-based objections to the preventive-care mandate.” As in the context of marriage equality, the gist of the conservative position here is that a liberal rule that offends the religious faith of individuals (or corporations) should be suspended for them. n *For purposes of this excerpt, footnotes have been omitted. **The full version of the article was published in the Journal of Law & Gender’s Summer 2018 issue volume 41.2. Please note that the copyright in the Journal of Law & Gender is held by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, and that the copyright in the article is held by the author.

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F A C U LT Y P R O F I L E

FACULTY Professor Leslie Garfield Tenzer Pace Law Professor Leslie Y. Garfield Tenzer has recently added host of podcast to her resume. We sat down with her to learn more about her podcast, Law to Fact.

Let’s start with the basics, what sparked you starting this podcast?

It was a combination of a few things. I am always looking to explore new technological outlets and I wanted to provide students with unique learning tools. I had noticed that podcasts were gaining in popularity and so it seemed like making podcasts would be a way to impart information while providing me with an opportunity to learn a new medium.

The podcast is called Law to Fact—how did you come up with the name?

Well, originally I called it Podagogy, which I thought was clever because it was a combination of the words podcasts and pedagogy, which means a method of teaching. Apparently others are equally clever because I learned, after about 10 podcasts, that there is already a Podagogy. So, I spoke with several students and we brainstormed and came up with Law to Fact. It made sense since I constantly remind students in class that the key to acing an exam is applying law to fact.

“I am always looking to explore new technological outlets and I wanted to provide students with unique learning tools.”

Are the podcasts applicable nationwide or more focused on NY law?

Nationwide! They are all geared to basic law school courses, and so they are designed to benefit anyone in law school, although I have had non-lawyers contact me and say they enjoy them too. And, the podcast has expanded to discusses issues of relevance to law students beyond just learning the law. There are episodes on the importance of social media, starting your own law practice, and I have launched a four-part series on taking the bar.

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What is the format of the podcasts?

Now they are all interview based. My original goal was to provide an overview of each topic through a medium that students could listen to in the car or at the gym (although try lifting weights to the elements of negligence!). So I started out with scripts and taped myself with mini-lectures. Then, one of my students asked me to create a pod-

cast on the Erie Doctrine. I don’t teach Civ. Pro., so between not being fully familiar with how to explain the Erie Doctrine and loving Marc Maron’s WTF interview podcast, I decided to try out a Q&A interview format. I asked Professor Michael Mushlin, a Civ. Pro. expert, to do a podcast with me. I interviewed him and I got to play Marc Maron! I love this format much more than the straight lecture format.

What is your goal with each podcast?

For podcasts where I am focused on a specific area of law, my goal is help students learn the law and learn how to communicate their understanding of the law as it applies to different factual situations. In each of those podcasts I try to tease out three questions. First, what are the rules of the particular area of law we are discussing? Second, how would a student see this particular area of the law on the exam? And finally, how should the student structure an answer if they see this area of the law on the exam? I am also trying to round out the law school experience by included episodes on career development, the bar exam, issue on academic success and the like.

Have you had any student feedback?

The feedback has been very positive. For example, I got an email from a student saying I saved her because she just didn’t understand future interests until she heard the podcast. (Special thanks to Professor Jason Czarnezki for this one!).

You are over 35,000 downloads and rapidly increasing—did you ever think it would be downloaded on such a widespread basis?

No! I am blown away. I check the analytics all the time and I love seeing that number rise. We also have over 2,000 weekly listeners!

What is your most downloaded episode of the podcast?

Lissa Griffin’s discussion on Relevance and the Federal Rules; with Noa Ben Asher’s discussion on Reasonableness in Tort Law a close second.

What area of law do you wish you had had a Law to Fact type podcast for when you were a law student?

Can I say everything?

Some people can’t stand to hear themselves recorded—are you one of those people who avoid listening to yourself after the fact?

Not at all or I definitely could not be hosting this podcast!

Where is the podcast available?

It is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and on our website www.lawtofact.com. It will be on Pandora and YouTube soon too!

What are your future plans for Law to Fact?

You know, I am not really thinking beyond the immediate future. Right now I am having fun and feeling good about the podcast. I was on sabbatical last semester and when I meet students in the halls who don’t know me they get excited to meet the podcast professor. And I get even more excited to learn that they are listening. I do assess interest, though. If the podcast continues to grow, I will figure out how to grow with it.

Any tips for students as they take their end of year exams?

Yes. Get out of what I call the “Undergrad Head.”

Students think that the skills that got them the grades to get into law school—like memorization—are the skills that will get them good grades in law school. But that isn’t the case. Law school exams test the ability to analyze a particular set of facts to the law they learned in class. I guess that is why I call my podcast Law to Fact, because the best exam answers are the ones that apply law to fact. n

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FACULTY Professor Smita Narula Appointed Distinguished Haub Chair in International Law

THE LAW SCHOOL ANNOUNCED that Smita Narula joined the faculty as the first Haub Distinguished Professor of International Law. Professor Narula is an award-winning scholar and practitioner with more than two decades of experience in the field of human rights and public policy and is the most recent professor to join the Law School’s nationally recognized environmental law faculty. Professor Narula’s tenure was approved by the Pace University Board of Trustees.

Professor Narula has founded and directed numerous non-profit and higher education initiatives dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights and to social and ecological justice. She comes to the law school from her position as Distinguished

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Lecturer and Interim Director of the Human Rights Program at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College.

Prior to Hunter, Professor Narula was an Associate Professor of Clinical Law at NYU School of Law where she taught the International Human Rights Clinic and served as Faculty Director of the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. In these capacities, she helped found and grow the law school’s human rights program—a top-ranked program for international law in the United States.

In 2008, she was appointed legal advisor to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food and served in this capacity for the duration of the Rapporteur’s six-year mandate. From 1997 to 2003, Professor Narula served as India researcher and Senior Researcher for South Asia at Human Rights Watch, and in 2000, she co-founded the International Dalit Solidarity Network, a transnational advocacy network that helps advance the right to equality for 260 million people affected by caste-based discrimination worldwide.

Professor Narula is author of dozens of widely-cited publications, and has helped formulate policy, legal, and community-led responses to a range of social justice and ecological issues worldwide. She regularly advises the U.N. and briefs government officials, civil society groups, and the media on issues related to human rights, food systems, and the sustainable and equitable management of land and natural resources. Professor Narula graduated with honors from Harvard Law School where she was editor-in-chief of the Harvard Human Rights Journal. Prior to law school, she earned a BA and MA with honors from Brown University, and worked on HIV and public health issues at UNICEF and the United Nations Development Fund.

As previously announced, funding for the Distinguished Haub Professor of International Law was made possible by a gift from the Haub family. n

Pace Law Faculty Publications (2018) Professor Noa Ben-Asher

Professor Bennett L. Gershman

Professor Margot J. Pollans

ARTICLES

ARTICLE

BOOK

Faith-Based Emergency Powers, 41 Harv. J.L. & Gender 269 (2018)

A Penal Colony For Bad Lawyers, 69 Mercer L. Rev. 743 (2018) (symposium)

How is Sex Harassment Discriminatory?, 94 Notre Dame L. Rev. Online 25 (2018) (symposium on Feminist Judgments: Rewritten Opinions of the United States Supreme Court, Cambridge Univ. Press, 2016)

Food Law and Policy: Cases and Materials (Wolters Kluwer 2018) (with Jacob Gersen & Michael Roberts)

Professor Shelby D. Green

BOOK CHAPTER

BOOK

The Food System, in Climate Change and Public Health Law (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2018)

Professor David N. Cassuto

Nicholas A. Robinson & Shelby D. Green, Historic Preservation: Law and Culture (Carolina Academic Press, 2018)

ARTICLE

ARTICLE

Under the Radar: The Costs and Benefits of Wind Energy Through the Lens of National Security, 3 Mich. St. L. Rev. 587 (2018)

Testing Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s PostCrisis Self-Preservation Policies Under the Fair Housing Act, 66 Clev. St. L. Rev. 477 (2018)

Professor Bridget J. Crawford ARTICLES Feminist Judging Matters: How Feminist Theory and Methods Affect the Process of Judgment, 47 U. Balt. L. Rev. 167 (2018) (with Kathryn M. Stanchi & Linda L. Berger) Tampon Tax Be Gone: What the US Can Learn from India’s #LahuKaLagaan Repeal, 29 Nt’l L. Sch. of India L. Rev. Online (2018) Methods, Impact, and Reach of the Global Feminist Judgments Projects, 8 Oñati SocioLegal Series 1215 (2018) (with Linda L. Berger & Kathryn M. Stanchi) Rewriting Judicial Opinions and the Feminist Scholarly Project, 94 Notre Dame L. Rev. Online 1 (2018) (symposium on Feminist Judgments: Rewritten Opinions of the United States Supreme Court, Cambridge Univ. Press, 2016) (with Kathryn M. Stanchi & Linda L. Berger) Professor Karl S. Coplan ARTICLE The Missing Element of Environmental Cost Benefit Analysis: Compensation For the Loss of Regulatory Benefits, 30 Geo. Envtl. L. Rev. 281 (2018) Professor Jason J. Czarnezki ARTICLES Jason J. Czarnezki, Katrina Kuh & K. Ingemar Jönsson, Crafting Next Generation Eco-Label Policy in Environmental Law, 48 Envtl. L. 409 (2018) Katherine Fiedler, Steven Lord & Jason J. Czarnezki, Life Cycle Costing and Food Systems: Concepts, Trends, and Challenges of Impact Valuation, 8 Mich. J. Envtl. & Admin. L. 1 (2018) BOOK CHAPTER President Trump, The New Chicago School, & The Future of Environmental Law and Scholarship, in Perspectives on Environmental Law Scholarship (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2018) (with Sarah Schindler)

Professor Karl R. Rábago OTHER WRITING Revisiting Bonbright’s Principles of Public Utility Rates in a DER World, The Electricity J., Vol. 31, Issue 8, pp. 9-13 (Oct. 2018) (with Radina Valova)

OTHER WRITING

Professor Nicholas A. Robinson

Shadowing Lenders and Consumers: The Rise, Regulation and Risks of Non-Banks, 37 Banking & Financial Services Policy Report 12 (2018)

BOOK

Professor Alexander K. A. Greenawalt ARTICLE Targeted Capture, 59 Harv. Int’l L.J. 1 (2018) OTHER WRITI NG If War Is Everywhere, Then Must the Law Be Nowhere?, 32 Temp. Int’l & Comp. L.J. 25 (2018) Professor Jill I. Gross

Nicholas A. Robinson & Shelby D. Green, Historic Preservation: Law and Culture (Carolina Academic Press, 2018) BOOK CHAPTERS Biodiversity in International Environmental Law through the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in Routledge Handbook Of Biodiversity And The Law (Charles R. McManis & Burton Ong eds., 2018) The Nature of Courts, in Courts and the Environment (Christina Voigt & Zen Makuch eds., 2018)

BOOKS

Professor Darren Rosenblum

Arbitration: Law, Policy and Practice (Carolina Academic Press 2018) (with M. Weston, K. Blankley & S. Huber)

ARTICLE

Broker-Dealer Law and Regulation (5th ed.

Wolters Kluwer 2018) (two-volume treatise with James Fanto & Norman Poser)

OTHER WRITING

Professor Lissa Griffin

When Does Sex Diversity on Boards Benefit Firms?, 20 U. Penn. J. Bus. L. 429 (2018) When Does Gender Diversity on Boards Benefit Companies? The Conference Board Director Notes (2018)

UPDATE AND NEW EDITION

Dean Emerita & Professor Michelle S. Simon

Michael B. Mushlin & Lissa Griffin, New York Evidence With Objections (5th ed. National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2018)

ARTICLE

Professor Katrina Fischer Kuh ARTICLE Jason J. Czarnezki, Katrina Kuh & K. Ingemar Jönsson, Crafting Next Generation Eco-Label Policy in Environmental Law, 48 Envtl. L. 409 (2018) Professor Michael B. Mushlin

Hogan vs. Gawker II: A Statutory Solution to Fraudulent Joinder, 70 Baylor L. Rev. 1 (2018) Professor Merril Sobie UPDATES & NEW EDITIONS McKinney’s Commentaries to the New York Family Court Act and portions of the Domestic Relations Law (2018)

UPDATES & NEW EDITIONS

New York Family Court Practice (Thomson Reuters, Supp. 2018) (with Gary Solomon)

Rights of Prisoners (5th ed. Thomson Reuters, Supp. 2018)

Professor Leslie Y. Garfield Tenzer

Michael B. Mushlin & Lissa Griffin, New York Evidence With Objections (5th ed. National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2018).

UPDATE & NEW ED ITION Criminal Defense Techniques (Matthew Bender Pub. 2018)

Professor John R. Nolon

Professor Emily Gold Waldman

ARTICLE

ARTICLE

Low Carbon Land Use: Paris, Pittsburgh, and the IPCC, 40 U. Ark. Little Rock L. Rev. 661 (2018)

The Preferred Preferences in Employment Discrimination Law, 97 N.C. L. Rev. 91 (2018)

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F A C U LT Y P R O F I L E

FACULTY Professor Emily Gold Waldman Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Operations You joined Pace Law in 2006, after having clerked for two judges and also after spending time as a litigation associate with a large international law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP—how was that transition?

I really enjoyed working at Debevoise and I loved my clerkships. However, as soon as I started teaching here, I knew that this was the right long-term fit for me. It was a happy transition. I loved teaching, was excited to start producing my own scholarship, and felt very welcomed by my faculty colleagues as well as my students. As icing on the cake, I am a Westchester native, so this really felt like a homecoming for me.

Why academia? Was being a law professor always on your radar?

It actually was always on my radar. Law school ‘clicked’ for me as soon as I was there—I was very engaged by the material and my classes. I also found myself increasingly drawn to teaching opportunities. I worked as an LSAT tutor, served as a teaching assistant for then-professor Elena Kagan’s Civil Procedure class, and also worked for the Harvard Law School Dean of Students Office as a tutor for 1L students who were having academic difficulty. I knew that being a law professor would be a dream job for me, because I loved both learning the law and then thinking about how to explain it to other people.

What brought you specifically to Pace?

That is actually a funny story. As I mentioned, I had always thought that I’d love to be a law professor.

In 2004, I was working at Debevoise & Plimpton and had a clerkship lined up for the following year with Judge Robert Katzmann of the Second Circuit. One day, a memo went out to everyone at the firm stating that one of the senior corporate

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“[Pace is] a small, personal community where all of us are very invested in each student’s success. And the students themselves tend to be collaborative and supportive rather than cut-throat competitive.”

partners, Steve Friedman, was leaving Debevoise to become the dean of Pace Law. I knew Steve a bit, because I had worked on a matter involving one of his clients. I later reached out to him as I was starting my clerkship, and he encouraged me to apply for one of the two faculty positions for which Pace was currently hiring. I decided to go for it, and ultimately received a job offer. So I came here in 2006, right after finishing my clerkship with Judge Katzmann.

What is the best part about teaching for you?

I love the areas of law that I teach—Constitutional Law, Education Law, and Employment Law—and I find that students are really interested and eager to learn more about them. I love thinking about how to present the material in ways that they will understand and find interesting.

What was your experience as a law clerk like?

I clerked for a district judge (Judge William G. Young, D. Mass.) and later, after a two-year stint at Debevoise & Plimpton, a circuit judge (Robert A. Katzmann), who is now the Chief Judge of the Second Circuit. Both experiences were fabulous. When you clerk for a district judge, you get to see a lot of how a case is actually managed, up through a trial (if, of course, the case doesn’t settle). While Judge Young primarily had his clerks work on pre-trial motions (motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, etc.), we were also always welcome in the courtroom, and I got to watch some fascinating cases. One highlight of my clerkship with Judge Young was that he had the case of the shoe-bomber, Richard Reid, who ended up pleading guilty in Judge Young’s courtroom. That was an extremely dramatic event that I will always remember. With a circuit judge, all of the clerkship work is focused on appeals, and is centered around preparing for oral arguments and then assisting with the opinions that emerge from those arguments. It’s a chance to really think deeply about the law with your coclerks and judge. One of the daunting and exciting

things about federal clerkships is that you work on a tremendous variety of cases, since the federal courts have such wide civil and criminal dockets. I worked on some cases where I hadn’t known the first thing about the substantive law, and essentially had to teach myself by reading the parties’ briefs and then doing my own case law research. That experience made me realize the value of the case law method in law school. I remember thinking, when I was a 1L, that it seemed incredibly inefficient to teach the law by having students read the cases first, on their own, and then be questioned about them in class. I thought that it would be better to have some sort of textbook or initial lecture by the professor before you just start reading the cases on your own. But reading the cases on your own, and trying to extract the law from them and teach it to yourself, is actually a big part of what you have to do as a law clerk or a practicing lawyer.

Your article, “The Unconstitutional Tampon Tax”, was recently published by the University of Richmond Law Review. You co-authored it with fellow Pace Law professor Bridget Crawford. What was the process like?

It was a fabulous and very organic process. Our faculty has regular workshops in which we present our scholarly work to each other, and Professor Crawford presented a piece that she had written about the tampon tax. (I should clarify here that the tampon tax isn’t an extra tax on tampons; rather, it refers to the fact that many states exempt certain “necessities” from sales tax, but don’t provide that same exemption to menstrual hygiene products like tampons and maxi-pads.) In the ensuing discussion, she mentioned that she was interested in exploring the idea (which is also being pressed in litigation) that the tampon tax violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. I was immediately intrigued by whether that argument could work (since there are tough standards for whether Continued on page 40

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FACULTY Continued from page 39 something counts as sex discrimination under the Equal Protection Clause), and we began talking more about it. She invited me to work with her on an article exploring the question. It was the perfect collaboration, because we were both very interested in the topic, but she had the tax law expertise and I had the constitutional law expertise—neither of us could have really done it (at least not as well!) without the other. What was amazing was how seamless our partnership was—we each wrote our own sections, but edited each other’s so that the whole piece had a good flow. The piece has gotten a lot of attention, which has been really exciting— it’s been on several top-ten download lists in areas ranging from constitutional law to consumer law to gender and the law.

What does your current work focus on?

I have another article that just came out in the North Carolina Law Review entitled “The Preferred Preferences in Employment Discrimination Law.” It looks at which customer preferences can sometimes allow employers to adopt policies that would otherwise violate anti-discrimination law. I’ve been interested in that question since I wrote my very first law review article, which was about whether preferences for female OB-GYNs could allow medical practices to favor women in their hiring decisions.

You have focused a lot of your reading, writing, and teaching on law & education, employment law, and constitutional law—what about those areas interest you?

Education law and employment law interest me because they’re so connected to people’s everyday lives. When you’re a kid, what do you do every day? You go to school. And then when you’re an adult, you go to work. So those are the arenas where all sorts of personal and policy issues play out, giving rise to fascinating legal questions.

One thing that’s really fun is that the same issues often arise in both contexts: speech rights, privacy rights, discrimination, harassment, affirmative action, etc. And, of course, many of those issues intersect with larger constitutional law issues as well. It’s really interesting to see what the baseline

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constitutional law approach is, and then how it gets tweaked to the specific contexts of public education and government employment. Relatedly, it’s interesting to compare the legal protections for government employees to the applicable law for private employees. Moving back and forth between teaching Law & Education, Employment Law, and Constitutional Law helps me see a lot of connections.

Let’s talk about the Federal Judicial Honors Program—since 2007, you have been the Faculty Director.

The Federal Judicial Honors Program developed in the late 1990s (before my time at Pace). It was the brain child of an adjunct professor here, Jo Ann Harris, who had held high-ranking positions in the Department of Justice and was close friends with several federal judges. She had the idea that if we placed some of our best students in internships with her friends who were now judges, it would expose them to the federal judiciary and hopefully help them get clerkships after law school. Ultimately, the program expanded beyond her initial network and became more structured and formalized.

We now typically have 22 students in the program each year, and send them to federal judges in the Southern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, District of Connecticut, Second Circuit, and Third Circuit. There are really a few goals: first, we want all of our students to get an inside look at the federal judiciary and what the work of judges and law clerks actually entails. Second, we hope that the internships will excite them about applying for clerkships and help their applications stand out.

It’s really, really hard to get a clerkship, especially a federal clerkship. We’ve been excited that every year, FJHP participants have landed state and federal clerkships. We always encourage the students to cast as broad a net as possible (i.e., applying for both state and federal clerkships, and being geographically flexible) because clerkships are such a great way to launch a legal career.

What sets Pace Law apart?

It’s a small, personal community where all of us are very invested in each student’s success. And the students themselves tend to be collaborative and supportive rather than cut-throat competitive. n

DigitalCommons@Pace The Pace Law Digital Commons is an open-access repository that collects our faculty scholarship as well as all issues of all three Pace Law reviews. It can be accessed at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/law.

99,000 173,000 3,300,000

In 2018, Pace Law faculty articles were downloaded over 99,000 times from the Pace Law Digital Commons Articles from the three Pace Law reviews were downloaded over 173,000 times Total downloads for the Law School collections surpassed 3,300,000 in 2018

The top three most downloaded faculty writings in 2018 were: Sample Forms, in Estate Planning Law and Taxation, 4th ed. (2003) (Professor Bridget J. Crawford) Students’ Fourth Amendment Rights in Schools: Strip Searches, Drug Tests, and More, 26 Touro L. Rev. 1131 (2011) (Professor Emily Gold Waldman) Prosecutorial Ethics and Victims’ Rights: The Prosecutor’s Duty of Neutrality, 9 Lewis & Clark L. Rev. 559 (2005) (Professor Bennett L. Gershman)

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F A C U LT Y P R O F I L E

FACULTY Professor Jonathan Brown Professor of Law and Director, Food and Beverage Law Clinic Let’s jump right in, why academia?

Coming out of law school I never seriously considered academia. Working at a firm, over time I realized that the part of my job I enjoyed the most was mentoring and teaching the young associates, whether it was leading in-house Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes or teaching first-year associates the fundamentals of contract-drafting when we worked on deals together. At the same time, I liked transactional practice and didn’t want to give that up. I found the perfect balance in leading a transactional law clinic where I get to teach students through actual practice.

What brought you specifically to Pace?

In short, the chance to lead the Food and Beverage Law Clinic. I was a fellow in the Community and Economic Development Clinic at Yale Law School, where I worked with small non-profits and community groups, including some work in the food and farming space. I hoped to start my own clinic after that fellowship. Professor Margot Pollans developed the idea of the Food and Beverage Law Clinic and I thought it was an amazing, firstof-its kind concept: a law clinic devoted entirely to supporting change-makers in the food system through transactional legal practice. I jumped at the opportunity to come here and bring that idea into fruition.

What is the best part about teaching for you?

When I see something “click” for a student. For example, a student in the Clinic working on their first contract for a client, where after rounds of edits, feedback from the client, and negotiations with the other party, they start to see what’s actually involved in that kind of legal work, the role lawyers play, and that they might actually enjoy it. It’s re-

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warding to help a student come into their own as a burgeoning lawyer in that way.

What makes Pace Law different?

Pace Law has a small, tight-knit, community feel that sets it apart from other law schools in my experience. There is a sense that everyone is in it together to help our students be successful and to help the law school continue to grow. From what I see, a very strong network of passionate alumni is a big part of that.

Can you talk a bit about Food and Beverage Law? As practiced by our Clinic, “food and beverage law” is more of a multidisciplinary approach (multiple areas of law) to a problem, as opposed to one specific substantive area of law. It stems from

“The Food and Beverage Law Clinic...was an amazing, first-of-its kind concept: a law clinic devoted entirely to supporting change-makers in the food system through transactional legal practice. I jumped at the opportunity...” a recognition that in many ways our food system is broken, and that for many of the “food revolutionaries” trying to make it better (farmers employing regenerative practices and selling directly to consumers, community-based nonprofits expanding access to local, healthy food in underserved communities, mission-driven entrepreneurs employing innovative business models and practices), legal support is a critical need. To achieve their goals, these groups need assistance in structuring business entities, negotiating contracts, navigating regulations, and more. Our Clinic’s work touches on multiple areas of law, centered around “transactional” corporate practice, to help these clients.

What are some recent cases that the Clinic has taken on?

Recently, some of our most interesting projects include working with a group innovating the use of livestock grazing for vegetation management on ground-level solar installations (among other things, our students helped them develop model contracts between sheep farmers and solar developers), and working with a Somali Bantu refugee community that is organizing a community farm that will use their traditional agricultural practices.

But I think all of our projects are interesting!

What do you hope students get out of the Clinic?

For one, I want them to get the confidence and experience that comes with having their own clients and leading a representation. I also want them to

appreciate some of the unexpected ways in which their legal practice can be a force for good—that even if they want to practice transactional or corporate law there are opportunities for using that to serve the public interest that people don’t always recognize.

What do you wish students would realize sooner rather than later?

That a career is long and can take a lot of twists and turns—certainly that’s the case for many of the lawyers I admire most. It’s natural for students to focus their attention on getting that first job after they graduate, but sometimes that can mean losing perspective on what brought them to law school in the first place. If a student is passionate about something, they should use the brief amount of time they have in law school to nurture it, even if they may at first take a job doing something completely unrelated after graduating. I think keeping that long-term perspective in mind helps in developing a rewarding and exciting career.

Outside of work, what takes up your free time?

I have two young kids who seem to take up almost all my free time—in the best way possible! I like to cook and am a very amateur home-pickler/fermenter. And I love skiing—this winter for the first time my three-year old son is going to take ski lessons when we go, so hopefully it will become something the whole family does. n

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ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI Steven J. Chananie ‘83 We asked 2L Christopher Emch to interview alumnus Steven J. Chananie ’83. Steven is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group of Sheppard Mullin’s New York office, focusing on healthcare issues.

Prior to entering private practice, Steven spent thirteen years as a prosecutor. He has also taught classes as an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School and Pace Law. CE: How did you decide to attend law school?

SC: That’s actually a funny story. After college, I worked as a paralegal at one of the big firms in the City. I hated it with a passion. I said, “I never want to go work for a law firm.” It just was not a good fit for me. I didn’t know what to do. My father was a business man, and he said, “Go to law school, but you don’t have to be a lawyer. It’s just good training.” I thought, “Well, I have no desire to be a lawyer at this point. But it would be good training. Who knows, maybe I’ll do politics, maybe I’ll do something else.” So I went to law school, and I did very well in law school.

CE: And now, you are a partner in the corporate practice group at the international law firm Sheppard Mullin.

SC: Yes, I am part of the Corporate Practice Group, but I’m really on the healthcare team.

Here at Sheppard, we’re about 880 attorneys internationally. The healthcare team draws members from different groups within the firm—Corporate, Tax, Anti-Trust, Government Contracts, etc.—and is thus not designated as its own practice “group” within the firm. And it has, depending on how you count, 150 attorneys who are on the healthcare team. So, I’m healthcare regulatory. When there is a healthcare transaction, whether it be an M&A, a joint venture, or some other kind of transaction, I am often the regulatory specialist.

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In addition, I represent my own clients on regulatory, compliance and transactional issues, including structuring transactions, joint ventures and other deals, both here in New York and nationally.

I also do regulatory defense work. So, for instance, if the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General in New York is investigating a healthcare Medicaid provider, I will represent them in that investigation.

If there’s a federal False Claims Act investigation by the US Attorney Department of Justice, I will represent them on that as well. I’m not trial-ready, so I’ll normally partner with one of my litigation partners who can, for instance, take a False Claims Act case to trial. So, even though I’m in the “corporate department,” it’s really a misnomer in terms of what I do. I’m really a broad-based, healthcare, regulatory, compliance and defense attorney.

CE: How do you view the law?

SC: I think there are three points.

First, at a very high level, I see law as “practical philosophy.” Ultimately, the law is based on the

search for justice and a desire to find a way we can govern ourselves in a fair and compassionate way.

Certainly, this is a high and mighty philosophical idea. But, the greatest wonder of the law is that it takes this idea seriously, and tries to implement it very practically in the real world, often with mixed results, admittedly. But still, the ultimate goal, even if not always clearly seen or articulated, is to serve the ends of fairness, mercy, compassion and an even-handed and predictable ordering of our interactions. An unbiased rule of law.

Second, I have a deep and abiding love of and dedication to the rule of law itself. As a prosecutor, you have a duty to do justice. And, when I did my criminal appellate work, and trained other attorneys, I stressed that their first priority had to be upholding the rule of law itself. And, as a private attorney, you have duties to your clients, to represent them passionately, with undivided attention, consistent with the rule of law; you cannot violate that. You are a representative of the rule of law and you have to have a dedication to the highest levels of excellence and fairness.

Third, as any kind of attorney, I see your highest priority as being of service—to clients, to society and to the rule of law itself. Such is obvious for any kind of governmental attorney, but it is true for those of us in private practice as well. In private practice, you have to be a counselor to your clients, using your training and experience to truly be of service—and not just giving narrow legal advice, but advice that fits into the client’s business and operational objectives and strategies. You need to ask your client, “What are you trying to achieve? Yes, I’m here as your legal advisor, but let me work with you and understand your realities.” Overall, you must do all this in an ethical way, an honest way, so that your clients will trust you and know that you are being honest, direct, and reliable and compassionate. Obviously, I am passionate about being a lawyer.

CE: Did Pace shape the perspective that you have?

SC: It’s funny, when I look back at my time at Pace and I think of the professors that I had—some of whom are still there actually, all these years later, such as Jay Carlisle and Ben Gershman and others—they had a real influence. There was this sense with them of higher purposes to the law and that has stayed with me. The other thing about the Pace Law education was that it gave me the robust tools to further my ability to practice law as practical philosophy. It is not enough to have high ideals, you’ve got to actually be an excellent, competent attorney on the ground. You need more

than the necessary legal knowledge: as I’ve learned in my career, you can learn almost anything.

But, in whatever area you practice, you need really sharp analytical, writing and overall communication skills. The tools of the trade are words, language and ideas, and then the ability to analyze all that in a legally rigorous manner, seeing how your analysis will impact the real world, and then communicating clearly and concisely to clients, courts, colleagues, and others. These skills are as fundamental as everything else I’ve just said. And Pace gave me a tremendous foundation in all of that. I came out of Pace feeling very confident.

Pace sensitized me to thinking about the forest and the trees, which I think is one of the challenges of being a lawyer. Pace taught me how important the details are and to pay attention to them.

Overall, I really credit my experience at Pace in so many ways with my success. I am very appreciative to the professors and the entire Pace community, I felt very, very supported there.

CE: What do you like to do in your free time?

SC: I enjoy spending time with my family. My son is a lawyer now, he graduated from Brooklyn Law School. My two daughters are involved in not-forprofit and public interest. I’m very proud of all of them. They are my highest priority.

I also have a tremendous interest in philosophy, spirituality, and politics. I spend a lot of time reading and over the past year and a half have spent most of my free time writing, when I’m not with my family and my wife. I have a manuscript of a book that is pretty much completed. The book is about the intersection of law, politics, spirituality and science, and details the evolution of our legal norms, our moral and spiritual ideas going back to the Axial Age 2500 years ago, and the rise of Western philosophical thought from the Renaissance and the Enlightenment to the American Founding Fathers. The book charts how all of these historical trends can provide a common ground, if we so choose, to embrace our shared humanity in all that we do, including in our political dialogue and decision making.

Chris Emch is a second-year student at Pace Law. During his 2L spring semester, Chris interned with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as part of the Federal Judicial Honors Program. This summer, he will work as a summer associate at Herbert Smith Freehills New York. Chris is a junior associate on Pace Law Review, a Pace Law Dean’s Scholar, and a recipient of the Federal Bar Council’s Cornelius W. Wickersham, Jr. Award.

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ALUMNI

Angelina Galiteva JD ’93, LLM ’94

Class Notes 1980

1985

V. Gerard “Jerry” Comizio h osted an alumni gathering at his home in the DC area on December 5 to celebrate DC area alumni and nine Pace Law graduates who were sworn in as members of the US Supreme Court Bar. Philip Halpern was nominated to the federal bench by President Trump. He is managing partner of Collier, Halpern, Newberg & Nolletti and will be considered for the Southern District of New York.

1982

Joan Murray was nominated to the Tax Court by Governor Chris Christie and confirmed to serve as the new Tax Court judge by the New Jersey Senate on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

1983

Harold E. Kaplan , BBA ’72, JD ’83, a Florida Board Certified Health Law Attorney, also admitted in New York, was awarded MartindaleHubbell’s AV® Preeminent™ status for 2019, his 17th year with that distinction, representing the highest possible peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards. He continues to be the principal with Kaplan Dispute Resolution located in Fairview, North Carolina, which focuses exclusively on nationwide arbitration of health care and contract disputes and arbitration case consultation.

1984

Hon. William J. Giacomo was elected to his second 14 year term as a justice of the New York State Supreme Court.

Robert Sands was elected to Pace University’s Board of Trustees in spring 2018.

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Angelina Galiteva received her JD from Pace Law in 1993 and her LLM from Pace Law in 1994. Ms. Galiteva was appointed to a third term on the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) Board of Governors by California Governor Jerry Brown, where she is vice chair of the board. She was first appointed in 2011. Currently, she is also president for NE Options, Inc., a renewable energy and new technology product design and project development firm. Ms. Galiteva also serves as chairperson of the World Council for Renewable Energy and is the founder of Renewables 100 Policy Institute.

What was your path to law school?

Judson K. Siebert, Esq. was named Managing Member at Keane & Beane, PC. Thomas H. Welby, P.E., Esq. , was designated as a Fellow of the Charted Institute of Arbitrators (London.)

1987

John Vorperian was the sole American lawyer in attendance for the special annual lecture held at Nova University, Ljubljana, where he heard Phillip Leach, Director, EHRAC, assess the European Court of Human Rights’ future. John was personally invited by Slovenian Supreme Court Judge Jan Zobec.

1989

Judge Robert F. Moson will retire from Middletown, NY city court at the end of May after more than eight years on the bench.

Nader Sayegh was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing New York’s 90th District.

1990

Ed Gold joined GMB’s Sparks, Maryland office as a Senior Project Manager in the Site/Sustainable Design Group.

1991

Margarita Hartley Moore was nominated to fill a vacancy for a judgeship on the Connecticut Superior Court.

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I came from the energy perspective. I grew up in Tanzania and knew the need for electricity first hand. I completed my bachelors degree in Bulgaria, and it was the Chernobyl disaster that made me realize the connection between environmental wellbeing, economic stability and social progress as all intricately interconnected to energy supply and resources. Law and regulatory frameworks seemed like the best avenues to affect change in the energy sector on a global scale.

Why did you choose Pace Law to complete your JD and then your LLM? The excellent environmental and energy law programs and the tremendous support of my fabulous sponsors, Professor Burt Leiser and especially the visionary former Dean Janet Johnson, whom I met in Bulgaria and who encouraged me to come to Pace. I also wanted to focus on energy and environmental law and had the great fortune to work with Dean Emeritus Richard Ottinger, whose invaluable guidance and insights inspire my work each and every day. I had amazing professors while I completed my studies at Pace, in addition to Janet Johnson and Richard Ottinger, others who deserve credit are Professors Nick Robinson, Victoria Lutz, and Jeffrey Miller.

What is it about environmental law and renewable energy that interests you?

Everything. Energy and environmental law are the foundation of global development that impacts all aspects of our lives—from lighting our homes

What are some of your greatest career accomplishment so far?

“Energy and environmental law are the foundation of global development that impacts all aspects of our lives.”

Rolling out the first and most ambitious comprehensive Green Power Program in Los Angeles called Green Power for a Green LA, which brought the first solar buy down program, a green energy option and an electric vehicle and mass transit infrastructure program to LA and also, working with Hermann Scheer, the leading German Parliamentarian and others at the World Council for Renewable Energy. I am also very proud of the success of the 100% clean energy legislation SB 100 for California and the support of the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) for a 100% renewable resource future for CA and beyond. It is incredibly exciting to be able to play a role in transitioning the 5th largest economy in the world— California—to a 100% renewable energy future and a decarbonized power grid!

ALUMNI PROFILE

a lot to do to get to where we need to be from a climate perspective. Luckily, the economic argument is on our side. I am excited about technology transfer and developing nations being able to leap frog technologies (like transitioning to cell phones and bypassing the wires) and not repeat the fossil path that some of the more developed nations have chosen to take on the energy side.

How has a law degree influenced your career? to heating, cooling, industry, building construction and transportation. Decarbonizing the grid and transitioning to 100% renewable energy in all sectors, are the most effective ways to boost the economy while curbing climate change. Energy can shape not only our electricity supply, but also the transportation sector, the building sector, industry and fuels and last, but not least, protect our air and water resources. Renewable energy produces no emissions and does not impact precious fresh water reserves, which are becoming critical as well.

What is most rewarding about your job?

That after all the hard work on the 100% renewable energy goal for at least one sector it has now become the norm around the world and it is no longer just a niche application, but our lowest cost, highest value energy resource. We are replacing a powerful decades old fossil fuel based legacy system and there is major push back from the incumbent structures. We are on the right path, but have

It’s the most decisive factor that has enabled me to have the tools to succeed on the regulatory, management and activist side of the work that I do every day. I wanted to play a role in energy policy and infrastructure development. A law degree gives the freedom to pursue the most effective ways to achieve that.

What are some of your passions aside from the law?

I love to travel to new and exotic places, mostly driven by an energy mission or agenda, which makes it so fascinating. As an expert renewable energy speaker for the US State Department since 2014, and as an avid renewable energy advocate, I have had the privilege to visit many countries and far off locations only to discover that we all share the desire to have a clean environment and an excitement about new technologies replacing legacy systems and directly utilizing cutting edge green technologies to build the decarbonized, distributed grid of the future. n

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ALUMNI

Looking Back at Pace Law

The former Hayes Library, which was demolished in order to construct what is now Richard L. Ottinger Hall

Former Dean Janet Johnson

Students congregate on the Preston Hall Lawn

Preston Hall Preston Hall in spring

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1997 Pace Law Faculty Retreat

Professor Donald Zeigler with Pace Law students

Professor Randolph McLaughlin

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ALUMNI 1992 Mayo Bartlett was a panelist on Richard French Live discussing gun control. He also discussed the Russia probe, recent White House resignations and the Schiff memo.

Steven Cohen was appointed the Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

(LLM ‘95), an attorney at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

1996

Congratulations to Vernon Brown, who made “Billboard”’s list of 2018 Top Music Lawyers!

Hon. Carole Levy ‘83 Director Emerita

Adam Ciffone ‘11

Ian Shavitz joined Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman’s new Washington, DC office.

Pace University’s Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Robert S. Tucker, Esq. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of T&M Protection Resources, a global security and investigations company based in New York City with operations worldwide.

1999

1994 1995

Kim Berg received the award for Leading Civil Rights Attorney at the Above the Bar Awards Ceremony.

Kerri L. Alessi ‘99 was named counsel at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP.

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James M. Lenihan ‘91

Caesar Lopez ‘12 Joseph M. Martin ‘91 Director Emeritus Joseph W. Mazel ‘97 Joseph Moravec ‘17

Jonathan Engel ‘09

Raymond Perez ‘00

Hon. Sandra A. Forster ‘79

Christopher M. Psihoules ‘12

Michael A. Frankel ‘03

Joseph Ruhl ‘90

James A. Garvey III ‘80

Leanne Shofi ‘94

Michael G. Gilberg ‘07

Judson K. Siebert ‘85

Michael T. Goldstein ‘06

Andrew Teodorescu ‘13

Amy Haberman , a partner in the New York office of McCarter & English, will lead the Labor & Employment Practice Group. She joined McCarter & English in 2005.

Her global practice spans numerous industries and focuses on representing US and multinational corporate clients in recruiting and transferring of foreign nationals, immigration consequences of mergers and acquisitions and compliance with Department of Labor statutory and regulatory requirements. She also counsels individuals on obtaining permanent resident status and citizenship. She is a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.

Sumiko Kanazawa was featured in Vanguard Law magazine (P.100 of Summer I, 2018 issue).

Mike Minihan joined BX3 Capital.

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Lisa E. Gladwell ‘10 Alumni Association Vice President

MEMBERS

Generali Global Assistance Won Three Stevie® Awards at the 2018 American Business Awards. Generali Global Assistance North America is led by CEO Chris Carnicelli.

The fall 2017 Natural Resources & Environment magazine featured an article—Save Yourselves, Kids: The Atmospheric Trust Litigation—authored by David Rubinton

Jennifer L. Gray ‘06 Adele Lerman Janow ‘90

Michael A. Calandra Jr. ‘05

1993

David Hirshfeld joined the Tampa office of Lubell Rosen Law Firm as partner.

OFFICERS Mark Meeker Dec. ‘09 Alumni Association President

Patricia Bisesto ‘92 Alumni Association Secretary

Maya van Rossum was honored for her efforts to protect the Delaware River watershed. She was named a “Woman of the Watershed,” by the Philadelphia-based nonprofit PennFuture.

Kay Ann King Wetherington was elected Superior Court Judge for the Rome Judicial Circuit. She is the first female elected Judge of Superior Court in the Rome, GA Circuit.

Pace Law Alumni Association Board of Directors

Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb presented at the New York City Bar Interntional Environmental Law Year in Review program on May 1, 2018 with Pace Law Professor Katrina Fischer Kuh. Hiroko is Senior Ocean Governance Advisor, Global Marine Polar Programme, International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

2001 Jeffrey Casaletto , of Norris McLaughlin, P.A., presented Due Diligence in New Jersey with Chemmie Sokolic of Whitman and Ben Alter of GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Co-sponsored by the firm and the Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Association (LSRPA), the full-day course was held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018.

Thomas Cetta was promoted to Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of the corporate legal department, commercial division at Jabil Inc. Eileen Fullerton founded her law firm, Fullerton Beck LLP, a full-service litigation firm with her law partner, Katrine Beck, in March 2018. Their office is located in White Plains.

Jennifer M. Porter (Jackovitz) joined Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi in West Orange, NJ as a partner in its Real Estate, Development and Land Use Group.

2002

2006

John Bandler led a walk and tree pruning activity on Friday, April 20, 2018 before Pace Law’s Earth Day Jam.

Patrice Fraccio joined the Law Office of Nancy D. Kellman as an associate.

Christie D’Alessio was appointed as a Greenburgh Town Judge.

George Longworth retired as Westchester Police Commissioner as of January 2, 2018. He returned to law practice at his firm in Dobbs Ferry.

Todd Spodek was quoted in The Cut’s article Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track of It: Somebody had to foot the bill for Anna Delvey’s fabulous new life. The city was full of marks.

Alexander Rosen received the 2018 Kevin M. Andersen Memorial Award from the New York State Defender’s Association (NYSDA).

Siobhan O’Grady received the 2018 Judith S. Kaye Community Service award at the May 1, 2018 Law Day ceremony at the New York State Court of Appeals.

Amy Reichart was promoted to Counsel at Nixon Peabody.

2005

2007

Michele Glass was elected Chair of the Environmental Law Section of the NJSBA.

Samuel Brown was promoted to partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (formerly Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth Kenyon).

Doug Jones joined McGinnis Lochridge as a partner. His practice areas include tax planning & controversy and corporate & business transactions.

Kerri Durso was promoted to counsel at Shearman & Sterling.

She is a member of the Derivatives & Structured Products practice in New York.

Diana Carlino was elected partner at Rosenblum Newfield, LLC.

Kate Harrison published an architectural coloring book with her father, Henry S. Harrison. The book is titled Houses, Houses, Houses

Sean Dixon (JD/MEM ‘09; LLM ‘10) , was named as Senior Policy Advisor to EPA Region 1 Regional Administrator.

Pace Law Board of Visitors OFFICERS

Philip M. Halpern ‘80

Kathleen Donelli ‘85 Board of Visitors Co-Chair

The Honorable Alexander Hunter The Honorable Linda Jamieson ‘79

Alfred E. Donnellan ‘81 Board of Visitors Co-Chair

Dennis J. Kenny The Honorable Nita Lowey

MEMBERS

Senator Shelley Mayer The Honorable Sondra Miller

Vernon J. Brown ‘96

William M. Mooney III ‘92

Christopher Carnicelli ‘93

Richard L. O’Rourke ‘81

Steven J. Chananie ‘83

Emily Masalski was honored at the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women’s Annual Awards Luncheon on May 23, 2018.

Sumantha (Sumi) Sedor was promoted to partner at Norton Rose Fulbright.

2009

Peter N. Bassano ‘87

Nicole Harkin’s book, Tilting, A Memoir, was published.

Joseph F. Schaller was appointed as New Rochelle Police Commissioner.

Ryan Naples taught a Legislative and Regulatory Process class at Pace Law. He currently serves as the Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

2008 Latrice Monique Walker , Pace Law graduate and NY Assemblywoman, was selected for the 2018 Albany 40 Under 40. She was also honored as a “distinguished alumna” at Purchase College on Friday, May 18, 2018 during the SUNY College’s 46th annual commencement.

On November 13, 2018, Christina Ciaramella D’Elia spoke with Professor Bridget Crawford’s class; her topic was The New York Law of Wills, Trusts & Estates. Ms. D’Elia, an attorney at Morris & McVeigh, is teaching a 2-credit Estate Planning class at Pace Law in Spring 2019.

Saad Siddiqui was named Fair Housing Director of the County’s Human Rights Commission by Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

Coloring Book: Vol. 1: Early American Styles.

Lauren Stiles was quoted in the CNN article about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

2003

2004

Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives has decided that she will not seek re-election to a fourth term. O’Connor Ives, a Newburyport Democrat, was elected to the Newburyport City Council in 2007 and Massachusetts State Senate in 2012.

Joseph Pastore III ‘91

V. Gerard Comizio ‘80

Jason Kaplan was promoted to counsel at Hughes Hubbard & Reed.

Kieran Lalor was re-elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 105th district.

Lisa M. Denig ‘09

Anthony Pirrotti Jr.

Mary A. Duty ‘09

John J. Rapisardi ‘82

John P. Ekberg III ‘90

Jerold R. Ruderman

Anthony J. Enea ‘85

The Honorable Anthony A. Scarpino Jr.

Christopher B. Fisher ‘94 John Flannery

The Honorable Alan D. Scheinkman

Peter S. Goodman ‘86

Russell M. Yankowitt

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ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI Vernon Brown ‘96 We asked Chelsea Aiosa (2L) to interview Vernon Brown (’96). Mr. Brown is Attorney/Business Manager at V. Brown & Company, Inc. He has established himself as one of the entertainment industry’s leading business managers.

CA: Why did you decide to go to law school?

VB: Prior to attending Pace, and deciding to pursue a career in law, I was a certified CPA working in the music industry. I noticed that over 50% of the individuals on the business side that I was interacting with were attorneys. I felt it would only serve as an advantage in my career to be an attorney.

CA: Why Pace Law? VB: I knew that I needed a flexible program. I was working full time. Pace Law offered me that kind of flexible program and the school was conveniently located as at the time, I was working in downtown White Plains and living in Westchester County.

CA: Do you remember your first day of law school?

VB: Absolutely. I had Civil Procedure with Professor Jay Carlisle. It was a bit intimidating. I listened as Professor Carlisle described what law school would be like, and how many students may not progress through as time went on. Professor Carlisle also spoke about the Socratic method, the amount of reading that the class and school itself would entail, then dove right into Civ. Pro, which at that point sounded like another language.

CA: What lessons from law school stayed with you?

VB: Also on my first day of law school, Professor Carlisle said that over the course of law school, professors would train our brains to think differently. At first, I thought this was odd—what did he mean by train your brain? But, as a 2L, I began to see myself transitioning into thinking about everything differently—thanks to law school. I began to

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see the torts surrounding me in everyday life and was able to better balance the two sides to many of life’s problems.

CA: What did you enjoy most about law school?

VB: I loved moot court, and especially the oral arguments. The oral arguments excited and invigorated me. I can’t say the same for the brief writing process!

CA: Did you have any favorite professors?

VB: Professor Carlisle and Professor McLaughlin.

They were my toughest professors, but also the very best. I am lucky to call them my friends and colleagues now.

CA: In your career, why did you choose to focus on the entertainment industry?

VB: The entertainment industry chose me. When I attended law school, I was already working in the entertainment industry, even while I was studying

to be a CPA. It was a natural progression to begin working in that field as an attorney as well.

CA: As a business manager, what is your day to day like?

VB: On a daily basis, I interact and deal directly with talent, but each day is very different. Often I am traveling. My company, V. Brown & Company, Inc. represents production companies, record labels and artists. Each one of those clients require a different way of thinking. Because of the industry, I must always look ahead of the current deal that is being transacted. Each deal is a domino to the next deal and if you don’t look ahead, you wind up in a situation which could close doors to other opportunities if you’re not thinking two to three steps ahead of the deal on the table. Besides negotiation, I do a lot of client education. Clients will see deals in front of them that look great, but as their attorney, you have to explain why maybe taking deal A is not the best because it could prohibit the client from more or other opportunities in the future.

A lot of this education requires keeping client’s expectation levels reasonable. Now, social media plays a huge role too in education of clients because publication of deals in the entertainment industry is rampant, but figures are never accurate. My job is to make sure everyone is aware of real, accurate numbers so clients are not caught up in what they have read on social media and the news.

CA: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

VB: Working hand in hand with artists and clients, setting a goal of a type of deal that my clients want to accomplish and accomplishing it is my favorite part of the job. As entertainment attorneys, we don’t make our clients stars. They make us stars. We have nothing to do with their creative rise to fame usually, other than a support role. I enjoy that support role. Watching a client creatively progress because they are talented is

satisfying and a motivation, as their star rises I get the opportunity to be creative in their legal work and think ahead with their continued success in mind. This allows both me and my client to build something separately for a common goal.

CA: You are also an adjunct professor at Pace.

VB: Yes, I am. I started teaching the Entertainment Law course on Tuesday evenings. And now, I continue to teach because I haven’t been asked to stop yet!

CA: Had you not become a lawyer, what do you think you would be doing?

VB: I can’t imagine life without negotiation. It is part of my DNA now. Perhaps I would be working in business or finance, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.

CA: What are some recent happenings in your career?

VB: Billboard announced that I am on the Billboard Hot 100 List of Entertainment Attorneys for the second year in a row. I also just reached a major settlement between Cash Money Records and Lil Wayne, which allowed the long awaited “Tha Carter V” record to be released. That negotiation was a very stressful process, which included litigation, relationship mending and repair, but was so rewarding; especially now to see the success that has come from the settlement and record.

CA: Anything new and exciting on the horizon for you?

VB: I have a newer passion in the last few years of becoming involved in both TV and film. In fact, I hope to executive produce some projects in the near future.

Chelsea Aiosa is second year law student. She is interested in elder law, trust and estates law and family law. Currently, she is a junior associate on Pace Environmental Law Review and a member of the Family Law society.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Saad Siddiqui ‘07 We asked student Nicole DiGiacomo to speak with Saad Siddiqui ’07. Saad was recently appointed the Fair Housing Director of the Human Rights Commission of Westchester County.

ND: Why did you decide to go to law school?

SS: I was in a unique position. I had graduated college and I had been accepted into graduate school for a degree track I wasn’t interest in pursuing.

Instead, I wound up getting a job with a test prep company doing teaching and marketing. During the course of my employment, one of my coworkers (who incidentally is now one of my best friends), told me of his plans to go to law school.

He got me thinking that it was something that I might want to consider doing as well.

ND: Who are your most memorable professors from your time at Pace?

SS: Professors Nolon, Dorfman, Goldberg, Gershman, Doernberg, McLaughlin, and Carlisle to name a few. The fall of my 1L year, I had Professor Nolon for Property. Admittedly, Property was not my favorite class, but Professor Nolon certainly made a favorable impression. In fact, he and I are part of a longstanding annual poker game that we play at his house with a few other guys from my graduating class. I was Professor Doernberg’s research assistant for two years. Both he and Professor Goldberg were at my wedding. Professor Carlisle did a tremendous amount to help me get my legal career started. I still call Professors Gershman, Dorfman, and McLaughlin to discuss cases. I was fortunate that I was able to develop close relationships with several of my professors. They have given me a lot of insight and guidance throughout my legal career.

ND: Do you keep in touch with any Pace Law alumni?

SS: Certainly, since I am married to one. My wife Samantha and I met at Pace. She graduated in 2008. Additionally, upon graduating law school, I wound up working for Mayo Bartlett, Class of 1992. Formerly an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County, Mayo had only been in private practice for a few years at the time. His wife, Judy Bartlett, was in-house counsel at New York Life

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“As cliché as it sounds, this is a marathon not a sprint. So, you need to make sure that you have a healthy work-life balance to stay in this for the long haul.”

Insurance Co. and my wife Samantha was her intern. The two of them got to talking and arranged for Mayo and me to meet. The next thing I know, I was an associate at his law office for the next year.

Mayo and I have been good friends ever since.

My law partner, Richard Ferrante, is also an alum.

We’ve been partners for almost four years. Rich has been practicing for fifteen years longer than I have. He has been as much of a mentor to me as a partner.

ND: What was your first job out of law school?

SS: As I mentioned before, I went to work for Mayo Bartlett after law school as an associate in his office. Mayo had a general practice with an emphasis on criminal law. I found that I really liked working on the criminal cases. So, upon his advice, I applied for an associate counsel position with the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County. Mayo was on the board of directors and thought I would get

ALUMNI

beneficial experience working there. In fact, he, Professor Carlisle and Professor Gershman were my references when I applied for the job.

ND: Can you talk about your current law practice?

SS: Rich Ferrante and I are partners at our own firm, Ferrante & Siddiqui, LLP. It’s a general litigation practice with an emphasis on criminal law; however, we also do immigration and family law.

We do a lot of trial work. We are also working on building an adoption practice. However, last year, I was appointed the Fair Housing Director of the Human Rights Commission of Westchester County, working in the administration of County Executive, George Latimer. As a result, I have taken a leave of absence from my law practice in order to pursue this opportunity.

ND: What have been some of your biggest struggles while practicing law?

SS: Maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Many of the cases I have dealt with in my legal career have been emotionally draining. As an attorney, I have had to watch most of my clients go through some to the worst moments of their lives, putting me in the position of not only having to advocate for their legal interests, but also providing emotional support for them. As a result, it is hard not to bring your work home with you, especially when you are building your own practice. Luckily, I have been blessed with a loving wife who has been very patient and supportive.

ND: Do you have any advice for current students?

SS: Always make time for yourself, your family, and your mental health. As cliché as it sounds, this is a marathon not a sprint. So, you need to make sure that you have a healthy work-life balance to stay in this for the long haul.

ND: What are some of your passions aside from the law?

SS: My family. My wife Samantha, our three-yearold son Asher and five-month-old son Zane. No matter how busy I am, I have to start and finish each day with my family.

Nicole DiGiacomo is a January 2019 graduate of Pace Law. Upon graduating, she passed the February 2019 bar exam. She is working for the Legal Aid Society of Rockland County in the Family Law Unit.

2010 Jessica Kordas , along with Pace Law’s Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development, Jill Backer, attended a conscious risk taking for women seminar at the Harvard club at the invitation of Barbara Hart, Managing Partner of Lowey Dannenberg.

Michael S. Goldenberg was promoted to partner at Braff Harris Sukoneck & Maloof.

Erin Flannery Keith ’09 and Brent Keith ‘09 welcomed their first baby, Conor Martin Keith, on May 1, 2018. After nine years at EPA Headquarters in DC, Erin started a new position at EPA’s Region 1 Office of Regional Counsel in Boston in September 2018. Brent is the Senior Policy Advisor for Lands at The Nature Conservancy. The fall 2017 Natural Resources & Environment magazine featured an article authored by Erin—Melting Ice, Shifting Seas: An Arctic Law Update.

Najia Sheikh Khalid has had an exciting two years—she became a mother and a law firm partner in 2017. Her daughter, Zarin Amal Sheikh Khalid, was born on 9/3/17.

Additionally, Najia was officially voted in as a partner at Wiggin and Dana LLP while on maternity leave.

Mark Meeker (Dec. ’09) was quoted in the Workboat.com article Marijuana ban may be keeping some from entering marine industry.

Donato “Dan” Palumbo was selected to present at the American Bar Association’s Family Law Fall Conference on Thursday, October 4, 2018, in Tucson moderating a panel discussion on “imputing income”.

He is an attorney with Shewmaker & Shewmaker, LLC in Atlanta, GA. Angela Sapienza-Martin was promoted to the position of Village Attorney in Scarsdale.

Cariann Sillman was named General Counsel of Villa Restaurant Group.

Taryn Rucinski was elected to a three year term as the Vice President/President Elect of the Law Library Association of Greater New York (LLAGNY). LLAGNY, a chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries, is a New York non-profit organization that was established in 1938. Its over 500+ members are dedicated law librarians from law firms, academia, federal and local courts and independent librarian environments.

2011

Bryn Goodman joined Fox Rothschild LLP as an associate in the firm’s Labor & Employment Department. Bryn focuses her practice on labor and employment law, representing employers and management in state and federal lawsuits and administrative actions.

Stephen Iannacone was on the Bronx TV show Today’s Verdict talking about HIPAA. Stephen is a personal injury attorney and also teaches in Pace Law’s Academic Support program.

2012

LLM (’12) and SJD (’17) Alumna Norah Bin Hamad was appointed to teach as a law professor at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU; Arabic: ‫ةريمألا ةعماج‬ ‫)نمحرلا دبع تنب ةرون‬. This is a public women’s university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, she was asked to submit her thesis for publication by the distinguished international publisher, Brill/Nijhoff.

George P. Burns, Jr. is now an associate with DLA Piper LLP.

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RICHARD COHEN IS A 1987 Pace Law alumnus. His son, Joshua Cohen, also attended Pace and graduated in 2010. Today, Richard and Josh work together at their New York City based real estate law firm Cohen & Cohen, LLP.

Like Father, Like Son:

A Pace Law Legacy

Although Richard and his son Joshua attended Pace Law more than 20 years apart, they shared many of the same positive experiences. They both had Professor Jay Carlisle and Professor Irene Johnson. And, they both enjoyed many of the same classes, including civil procedure and property law.

Richard Cohen graduated from Pace Law in 1987.

“I was actually attending law school in Los Angeles at Loyola Law School when we found out that my wife was pregnant with my son, Joshua. We decided to move back to New York and I would work with my father in his real estate development business on Long Island and attend law school at night. I transferred to Pace and did exactly that. I would work on Long Island during the day and then rush to White Plains for evening classes. There were many other highly motivated professionals in my night class. It was a very intense time, but a wonderful program. I was able to graduate first in my night division class, which made me very proud.”

Fast-forward to 2010, when, like his father, Joshua Cohen also graduated from Pace Law. “I chose Pace

Richard Cohen holds his son Joshua at his law school graduation in 1987. Little did they know, in 2010, Joshua would also graduate from Pace Law.

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“When it came time for me to choose a law school, I was proud to follow in his footsteps and attend Pace.”

ALUMNI Laura Jensen (JD ’11, LLM ’12) was presented with the Nicholas Robinson Award for Distinguished Environmental Achievement on May 31, 2018

because I saw what it did for my father and I knew Pace was a school that provided me with the best combination of what I was looking for: a conveniently located and highly regarded law school. I enjoyed the beautiful grounds, buildings and the community feel of the campus. Once I started, my initial reaction was validated by all of the welcoming faculty and great friends I made who came from all over the world.”

Joshua notes, “Pace provided an excellent opportunity for my father to pursue a legal career later in life, which was around the time I was born. Pace allowed him to support his family in the short-term by working during the day and attending classes at night, while also helping him acquire the skills and credentials to establish a successful career in the long term. Pace also brought our family to the Westchester, New York area. When it came time for me to choose a law school, I was proud to follow in his footsteps and attend Pace.”

Today, Richard and Josh work together at their

Courtney Chenette has been counseling, training, and representing municipalities across New York State, their police departments and school districts, on federal civil rights and anti-discrimination law for the past three years. She has accepted a visiting lecturer position at Hollins University in Virginia and will be teaching Race/Class/Gender & The Law, Voting Rights, and Constitutional Law courses.

J. Porter DeVries i s president of DeVries & Associates PC. His firm, located in Hawaii was recognized

by Law Firm 500 as the 9th fastest growing firm in the US.

firm, Cohen & Cohen, LLP. The firm, based in New York City, focuses on transactional real estate law. Richard

2013 Kimberly Bennett joined Fox Rothschild LLP as an associate in the firm’s Real Estate department. Kimberly represents buyers, sellers and developers in an array of real estate matters. She also represents municipal planning and zoning boards and obtains land development approvals for commercial developers and homeowners.

Ally Bernstein was featured in the Brit & Co article Ally Bernstein Is Lobbying to Make College More Affordable.

Kathryn L. Hough joined Black Marjieh Leff & Sanford LLP (BMLS), a full-service metro New York-based law firm, as an associate.

Hamutal G. Lieberman joined Farrell Fritz as an associate. Previously she was an associate at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP in New York City.

comments, “I was very proud of Josh when he graduated from Pace and was pleased and impressed with the legal education he received there. Today, it is wonderful having Josh work with me. Aside from his great work as an attorney, I am fortunate because I get to see him most business days.” It is safe to say that Josh feels the same. “I have been fortunate to be able to ‘learn the ropes’ from my dad these past 8 years. It is nice that we see each other every day during the week. We have lunch together and talk about what is going on in our lives and our work.” n

Brendan Lanigan joined the law firm of Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP. Brendan’s practice focuses on insurance defense litigation including construction law, habitational claims and other general liability matters.

Meghan Summers was named a partner at the law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP.

Kimberly Klein, associate in the Banking/Commercial Lending Group at Certilman Balin, was named to the Rising Stars list.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI Fatima Silva ’08 We asked 3L Michael Hand to interview alumna Fatima Silva ’08. Ms. Silva is a criminal defense attorney and has her own private practice, Silva Law, based in San Francisco. She is also co-host of “Reasonable Doubt”—a true crime documentary show on the Discovery ID network, where she investigates murder convictions on behalf of families who believe their loved ones have been wrongfully convicted.

MH: The show you are on is “Reasonable Doubt” on Discovery ID, correct?

FS: Yes, that’s correct.

MH: So I have been wondering—because I saw a few episodes of it and it looked like it is pretty travel intensive—how do you balance that with your legal work?

FS: It is very travel intensive. Each episode takes place in a different state. I had never done television before and with respect, hats off to those people because it’s not a nine to five job. There were days I was looking around at the crew going “we’ve been at it fifteen hours guys—when do we go home?” So that was very difficult because I don’t think it was something I anticipated. This past season, which was season two of the show but my first season hosting—was a juggling act for me. I was maintaining all my clients, all my cases while traveling about fifteen days a month. It is all just a matter of keeping in touch with your clients and the courts.

MH: The show is very interesting.

FS: Thanks. I was very interested in it because it’s a different side of the story. You know, all the crime shows that are out there you often hear from the victims, the victim’s families, and that’s important, obviously, but to have a show from the family’s point of view of the accused is very interesting because sometimes they’re the forgotten ones.

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People don’t realize they’re going through it too.

They’re trying to reconcile how their loved one is capable of the accused crime. I think it’s a very difficult predicament to experience. I think the most important part of the show is that it challenges viewers to start thinking as if they were potential jurors. Whenever you watch a show where it’s a wrongful conviction and the person spent twenty years in jail, it gets you thinking. The priority should be making sure that there is justice for everyone and that the right person is put in jail.

MH: I know there often is pressure on law enforcement to make an arrest.

FS: Yes, there is pressure. You can understand why that job is so important. My partner Chris Anderson was a former homicide detective and he will always talk about that. You get pressure from everywhere because if there’s a terrible crime people want an arrest. Some people won’t feel safe until there is an arrest, and people start questioning why an arrest hasn’t happened yet so it creates a situation where

a bad arrest can happen. And, of course, that’s where we come in.

MH: Why criminal law?

FS: I wasn’t originally planning on a career in criminal law, actually. It’s one of the great things about being a lawyer, there are so many careers inside of the profession. While I was in law school, I worked with Professor Merton in the immigration clinic. I always knew that I wanted to be a people’s lawyer. It was during this time that I learned a lot of essential skills that would be important throughout my career and I made sure to keep doing some immigration work. While I was doing this, I was offered office space by my mentor, James McGrail, who unfortunately passed away recently. This turned out to be a ploy of sorts by him as I learned that he wanted me to work for him and do criminal defense. He convinced me to go to court with him one day and after that I was hooked.

MH: So, you still maintain your private practice, Silva Law? FS: I do. It’s a challenge having the show and running an office, but I love to be involved locally and want to be able to make a difference in my own community when it comes to criminal justice. I will always try to maintain a local practice.

MH: I imagine your private practice and the show are very different.

FS: Absolutely. The show is very different from private practice because on the show, I have to look at the evidence in an objective light. We always start with the presumption of innocence, but I cannot ignore evidence to the contrary when it arises because these families are on a search for truth, not just someone to help them fight a case.

In my private practice, my loyalty and advocacy is solely to the client. Guilty or not, I fight on behalf of my client. But the show has definitely helped me become a better private attorney. For example, working side-by-side with a seasoned detective on

the show helps me view my private cases differently now. And working with the families on this show is a reminder that it’s important to try and address every concern and question a client or their family may have. I do this every day, and the justice system is so familiar to me, but that does not mean clients and their families understand everything going on. It is important to take the time to communicate the process and all possible outcomes with them. Peace of mind alone goes a long way.

MH: Outside of law, what are your other passions?

FS: Theatre and teaching. Up until last year, I coached a mock trial team for the local high school, and I also sang in a wedding band.

MH: I know theatre is an often cited skill and passion among lawyers and law students. Do you feel it has helped you?

FS: Absolutely, it really helps in presentation of evidence. How you present evidence can be everything in a trial. Even when the prosecutor has the facts on their side, you can still win if you present the evidence the right way.

MH: What advice do you have for those considering a career in criminal law?

FS: Really, the entire job is a fight. One where people don’t like you until they need you, then they understand the importance of defense attorney work. It’s an uphill battle, but that’s what makes it feel good when you win. The most important thing though is that you put up a good fight. As long as you put up a good fight, then you can be proud of the work that you have done.

Michael Hand is a current law student and 2019 JD candidate. During his time at Pace Law, he has been involved in a number of activities including editing for the school newspaper, “Hearsay”. After graduation, Michael would like to practice peacefully and adopt a dog.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI Lisa Denig ‘09 We asked 2L Ashley Unangst to interview 2009 alumna Lisa Denig. Lisa is the bureau chief of special litigation at the Westchester District Attorney’s Office. Her work as an appeals attorney blends her passion for criminal law and writing.

AU: What made you decide to go to law school?

LD: I’ve wanted to go to law school since I was a little girl and read “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I wanted to be Atticus Finch, which is funny because now I am on the other side; he was a criminal defense attorney and I am a prosecutor. I admired him and just the whole idea of what a lawyer did in that context. I sort of took the circuitous route. I didn’t go to law school straight after college. I actually didn’t go to college right after high school so I had some other things I did in between, but eventually always knew I would go to law school.

AU: What did you do in between high school and college and college and law school?

LD: I went to the High School for Performing Arts in Pittsburgh where I grew up and I was a dancer.

When I graduated I moved to NYC to pursue a theater career. I traveled all over the country dancing in musical theater productions and touring productions. I got to see the whole country and meet all sorts of interesting people. I had an experience most people don’t ever get to have, so I’m thrilled that I got to do that! I went back to college after I met my husband and got married and had children. I got my Political Science degree, started my second career as a…we’ll call it a government worker—I worked in politics. First in state government where I was a communications director for a state senator and then moved over to the county government where I was the chief of staff for the county executive in Putnam County. It was then that I went to law school at night.

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AU: That’s quite a journey! Did you already have your sights set on a particular area of law at that point?

LD: I’ve always wanted to practice criminal law.

Blame Atticus! I didn’t realize that I would be doing appeals in criminal law, but thankfully that incorporates both of the things I love—criminal law and writing. Not that I didn’t think about being a trial attorney, but I discovered both in law school and when I clerked for a District Court Judge that writing was really one of my strong skills that I should probably focus on. Thank goodness I am able to meld those two together as an appeals attorney in the District Attorney’s office.

AU: So, today you’re the Bureau Chief of Special Litigation at the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, what does your day-to-day look like?

LD: Lucky for me, the type of work that I do allows me quite a bit of flexibility in my day. So unlike a

“To be honest, the most rewarding part is I feel like I do justice for the people of the State of New York. I have always wanted to be the one who wears the white hat and has that type of role.” trial attorney who is controlled by the whims of trial work, my cases come to me in a box. After someone is found guilty, I get the entire trial in a box and then I have a due date for whatever appeal, motion, or writs I have to answer and I can lay out the time that I need to go through the record, to write the motion, put the answer in, get the exhibits, that sort of stuff.

I come in, I work on whatever motions or writs are in front of me with their due dates and researching.

I love my work, I really do, We call it the “Wild West of the Law.” The defendants raise all sorts of novel claims; there are all sorts of unique motions and requests that are made so you’re almost always doing something of first impression. You are creating your own argument; there is not a lot of stock, cut-andpaste kind of work, so that makes it really fun.

AU: What would you consider to be the most rewarding part of your job?

LD: To be honest, the most rewarding part is I feel like I do justice for the people of the State of New York. I have always wanted to be the one who wears the white hat and has that type of role. It’s very important not only to make sure that those who are guilty remain in jail, but it’s also very important that the process has proceeded properly, and that’s what a lot of post-conviction motions and writs are all about.

AU: So I just want to briefly switch gears to life outside of the DA’s office. What are some of your passions aside from the law?

LD: I teach seven spin classes a week, so that’s my second job and one of my passions. I love to spin

not only for my own health, but I also love teaching it—I love to get people active, I love to get them concerned about their health and doing something about their health, so I really feel like that’s an excellent balance against my legal side where I’m just sort of using my brain all day. I also volunteer with Hillside Food Outreach, which is a food pantry. I’m also involved with Habitat for Humanity.

AU: Had you not become a lawyer, what do you think you’d be doing right now?

LD: If I had to pick yet another career I could do it would probably be something in the fitness industry. I really enjoy helping people with their health.

AU: You know, I think that health and wellness is something key for all students in law school as well, finding that healthy balance between work and school and also managing to fit in self-care.

LD: There are a lot of issues around self-care, especially with lawyers who are known for obviously having a high stress kind of job and especially with women lawyers. Women who are always the givers and the caretakers don’t quite take care of themselves as well as they should. Even last year I taught a “Learn to Spin” class and tried to focus on wellness issues because I realized that our own self-care is a big problem that we need to address.

Ashley Unangst is a 2L, expected to graduate in 2020. She is primarily interested in Wills and Estate Law. Ashley is a junior associate on the Pace Law Review and works with Professor Bridget Crawford as a research assistant.

SPRING 2019

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ALUMNI

Held on October 3, 2018, the Ernestine C. Bartlett, Esq. ’81 reception honored Miriam Lacroix ’14 and Stephanie Ramos ’14

Hillary M. Nappi recently joined the Firm of Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie LLP as an associate focusing on complex commercial litigation.

James Patalano was featured in The New York Times article Three Friends, Two Homes, One Brooklyn House.

Meghan Riordan was recently elected President of the Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, SC. She is an attorney with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. On March 26, 2018, Nicholas A. Solitro and his wife, Kristen, became the proud parents to twins, Jack and Ella.

2014 Denise Acevedo Perez opened her own solo practice in 2015. In 2017, she was a speaker at the RI Bar Associations CLE Custody and Litigation Issues and in June 2018 she received the Rhode Island Bar Association Pro Bono Award. This past June she moderated a CLE Intro to Immigration Bond and Custody.

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Kristen Carroll transitioned from the Kings County DA’s Office Appeals Bureau to private practice.

She is an associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith in their General Liability group, specifically in the appellate practice group. In May of 2018, Kristen received the Best Buddies Community Hero Award from Best Buddies Long Island for her efforts in organizing a 5K fun run to coincide with the annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk, which raises money for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities.

Leonardo Munhoz (LLM ’14) has recently been doing consulting work and research of regulations regarding environmental issues at all levels of government, focusing on sustainable agriculture (i.e., cattle, soy, sugar cane and planted forests) and food security, especially through a deep analysis of forestry regulations such as the Forest Code, mainly as part of the Land Use Initiative Project (INPUT), which engages stakeholders in Brazil’s public and private sectors and maps the challenges for a better management of its natural resources. It also mobilizes agents of the productive chains in order to promote compliance with the new Forest Code and creating the next generation of low-carbon economy policies in Brazil. He has

PA C E L AW A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

also performed research on the availability of markets incentives mechanism in Brazil, aiming at the operationalization of the Environmental Reserve Quota (CRA), which will be the financial instrument for compensation of forests of native vegetation.

Further, he has attended meetings of Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Protocols (Cartagena and Nagoya), focusing on LMOs, synthetic biology, digital sequence, pollinators, geoengineering, risk assessment, illegal and unintentional transboundary movements and socioeconomic impacts. Also, he has spent time recently assisting the Brazilian government with the elaboration of position papers of those topics and monitoring their development in the CBD’s agenda.

And, monitoring of FAO meetings and publications on Biotechnologies and the interlinkages between food security, LMOs and sustainable production.

ing construction accidents, premises liability, transportation and other general liability matters, as well as estate planning and real estate.

Daniel Patrick joined Cuddy & Feder as an associate in the firms Land Use, Telecommunications and Energy & Environmental Practice Groups.

Minika Udoko is the diversity and inclusion specialist for the New York State Bar Association. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing and facilitating the New York State Bar Association’s efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in the Association and the legal profession through educational programming and outreach in coordination with the Association’s committees and sections.

Adrianna Rudzinsky joined the law firm of Landman Corsi Ballaine & Ford as an associate.

2015

The Fall 2017 Natural Resources & Environment magazine featured an article—Environmental Citizen Suits in the Trump Era—co-authored by Anthony Papetti, an associate at Beveridge & Diamond PC. Anthony spoke at a lunch discussion, sponsored by Beveridge and Diamond on October 15, 2018. The lunch, held at Pace Law, focused on diversity and inclusion in Environmental Law.

2016

Peter A. Garcia is a member of the Task Force on Puerto Rico and is currently a Senior Examiner at FINRA. Diana Neeves ‘16 was accepted into the 2018 class of the New York City Environmental Law Leadership Institute (NYCELLI).

Samantha N. Osgood joined Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP, a full-service Metro New York-based law firm, as an associate. Samantha’s practice focuses on insurance defense includ-

Nicole Wiitala was promoted from a Fellow to an associate at Sandford Heisler Sharp LLP.

2017

LLM graduate Júlio Borges was appointed to head the General Counsel’s Division responsible for the national intelligence and strategy on environmental litigation on behalf of IBAMA. Congratulations to Jonathan Campozano, past President of the Pace Immigration Law Society, and former lawyer with the Immigrant Justice Corps, working at the Empire Justice Center, on his victory in a difficult individual hearing. Jonathan succeeded in obtaining a grant of asylum for his principal client, a young mother who had experienced severe abuse; her young son; and her mother. Additionally, the government waived its right to appeal the ruling. Professor Vanessa Merton noted that “The gratitude and relief of this family cannot be imagined.

One of those very good days that immigration lawyers work so hard for but don’t often get to experience. ¡Felicitaciones, Jonathan!”

Additionally, a colleague from Pace Law’s IJC who is familiar with the case commented, “This was a very difficult case for an amazing family who deserves so much. The stakes were very high. Jonathan did an awesome job on this!!!!” Jonathan recently started a new position as an associate counsel with the New York State Senate in Albany.

Luis Leon continues to serve as the Westchester County Bar Foundation Fellow (2017–2019). Currently, he is working at the Westchester Hispanic Coalition in White Plains. Luis was recently featured in an article within the January 2018 publication of the Westchester Lawyer, which is the monthly magazine of the Westchester County Bar Association (see page 11). While at Pace Law, Luis was a student attorney with the Immigration Justice Clinic.

Keep In Touch!

Have you recently changed firms, careers, or made partner? What is your practice area? Do you want to connect with other alumni colleagues within your practice area? Do you have personal information you want to share— a marriage or birth? Where are you living? We want to receive these updates and help connect with you and connect you with others.

Submit your update to plsalumni@law.pace.edu.

Please include your name, year of graduation, and any relevant information. High quality photos are welcome!

You can also update your information online by visiting www.law.pace.edu/alumni-update-form.

Maria Dal Santo joined Capehart & Scatchard’s workers’ compensation department in its Mount Laurel, New Jersey, office.

Eric Grossfeld had his article Poverty of the Mind: East Ramapo’s Educational Emergency published in the Albany Government Law Review.

Kat Fiedler ‘17 was accepted into the 2018 class of the New York City Environmental Law Leadership Institute (NYCELLI).

LLM graduate, Iris Moriyama , attended the first Talano Dialogue held in Brazil last week, featuring the Fijian Ambassador to Brazil.

Jullee Kim’s (LLM 2017) thesis was published in the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review.

Anthony Sanfratello joined the firm Brown, Gaujean, Kraus & Sastow, PLLC (BGKS).

Nicole Maguire joined the law firm of Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper P.C. Logan O’Reilly was accepted to Georgetown University Law Center’s LLM program in Taxation.

2018

Stefanie A. Cerrone joined the law firm of Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP. Stefanie practices in the area of insurance defense litigation including construction law, habitational claims and other general liability matters.

Sarah Cinquemani received the Most Promising Pace Law student award at the Above the Bar Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

Christiana Desrosiers was accepted at Northwestern University School of Law’s LLM program in Taxation.

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced on October 1, the appointment of 25 law school graduates as assistant district attorneys, two of which are 2018 Pace Law graduates—Sara M. Aronbayev and Danielle Catinella.

Raquel Parks , Pace Law 3L, and Robert Reagan (LLM ‘18) won second place (tied with another entry) and third place, respectively, for their entries in the 2018 Professor William R. Ginsberg Memorial Essay Contest, an annual competition sponsored by the NYS Bar Association Environmental and Energy Law Section designed to challenge law students to analyze the environmental issues confronting us today. Ms. Parks’ entry, Microgrids: Legal and Regulatory Hurdles for a More Resilient Energy Infrastructure, will be published in the Pace Environmental Law Review (forthcoming). Mr. Reagan’s essay was titled The War on Coal is Over: Assessing Obama-Era Regulations and the Trump Administration’s Efforts to Date.

The fall 2017 Natural Resources & Environment magazine featured an article—Resource Wars: A Conflict of Interests in the Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area—authored

by Achinthi Vithanage (LLM ‘18), senior solicitor at NRG Legal in Sydney, Australia.

SPRING 2019

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LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Alumni, Currently, I am completing my first 2-year term as President of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors.

Last year, we took several steps towards making the Board more visible and accessible by publicizing the dates and times of board meetings in advance, inviting the law school community to attend, and posting meeting minutes on the law school’s website for all alumni to access.

Additionally, we’ve met one of our more ambitious goals by creating an operating budget for the Board. This newly created operating budget allows us to sponsor events and fund activities (such as the coffee and doughnuts for law students during exam week), plus we look forward to being able to award an alumni scholarship. I am proud to report that 100% of the Board’s members have contributed. To generate additional funds for this operating budget, we recently announced an exciting new opportunity for alumni and law firms to sponsor Pace Law Alumni Network (P.L.A.N.) quarterly events. You can sponsor either an individual event for $1,500 or four consecutive events for $5,000, with proceeds going directly into the Alumni Board’s Operating Account. If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit: www.law.pace.edu/alumniprogramming.

We are very excited that quite a few alumni have expressed an interest in joining the Board. The Nominating Committee put together candidate bios for the Board to review and seven new candidates have been nominated to join the Board. We’re looking forward to welcoming a large group of new members with new energy and new ideas. Additionally, several of our current Board members are up for renewal of their terms as well.

As always, I welcome any suggestions that you may have regarding the Alumni Association. The best way to reach me is via email at mjmeeker311@gmail.com.

I look forward to continuing to serve as the Association President.

Sincerely, Mark Meeker, Esq. (Dec. ’09)

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SAVE THE DATE

2019 All-Class Reunion Join us to see old friends and celebrate your connection to the Law School. All years are welcome as we recognize the reunion classes of: 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019 Friday • November 1, 2019 Pace Law, Tudor Room 78 North Broadway, White Plains, New York Stay tuned for additional information regarding the Reunion!

Please direct inquiries to (212) 346–1287 or DevelopmentEvents@pace.edu