Connecting Our Community

1

6 4 2

7 8 5 3

Last year, alumni and friends gathered to renew connections and support the Law School at events on campus, around the world, and virtually. See a few highlights here, and explore more at law.columbia.edu/alumni.

Scenes from a year of Columbia Law events. 1, 2, and 3: Annual Stone Circle Luncheon 4: Donors and Scholars Reception 5 and 6: Alumni of Color Reception and Talk 7: Recent Graduate Alumni Reception 8: Harlan Fiske Stone Society Reception

The 45th Annual Stone Circle Luncheon Nearly 100 alumni representing the Classes of 1969 and earlier socialized and dined at the JW Marriott Essex House New York on October 7, 2019, during the 45th Annual Stone Circle Luncheon. Keynote speaker Maeve Glass ’09, associate professor of law, discussed “Finding America’s Constitution.” The Stone Circle Luncheon originated as an informal group of alumni and special friends whose affiliation was established from 1910 to 1924 during the deanship of Harlan Fiske Stone. By 1974, the luncheons had become a popular annual event.

Alumni of Color Talk and Reception Anne Williams-Isom ’91 reflected on her career of advocacy for families at Columbia Law School’s fifth annual Alumni of Color Talk and Reception, held January 23, 2020. She urged the audience of more than 125 alumni, faculty, and students to “look into the mirror and ask, ‘What does the world need from me? Am I a source of light or a source of darkness?’” Dean Lester introduced Williams-Isom at the reception, held at Andaz 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan, and announced that the Eric H. Holder Jr. Scholarship Fund, launched by George W. Madison ’80 at the first Alumni of Color reception, in 2016, was nearly two-thirds of the way to its goal of raising $1 million to provide financial aid to students of color.

Donors and Scholars Luncheon Fundraising for student scholarships is a top priority for Dean Lester. Thanks to the loyalty of many donors, student aid has increased under her leadership. At the annual Donors and Scholars Luncheon, held November 25, 2019, alumni speaker Annette L. Nazareth ’81, a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and a former commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, spoke about the importance of the cycle of philanthropy: A former scholarship student herself, she now supports Law School scholarships and other initiatives. Student speaker Ricardo Morales ’21 thanked donors on behalf of his fellow scholarship recipients. “I am so honored to be here and to have the opportunity to express my gratitude to the generous supporters who make the Columbia Law School experience accessible for students like me,” he said.

A GREAT DAY FOR GIVING

Alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends joined forces on October 23, 2019— Columbia Giving Day— to celebrate Columbia Law School. The record-breaking, 24-hour effort resulted in 765 gifts (surpassing the 2018 Giving Day gift tally by 237 gifts) and more than $1.4 million confirmed in support of the Annual Fund. Gifts surpassed the previous year’s tally by nearly 45%. Community-building activities and spirited giving challenges inspired fundraising throughout the day. In Jerome L. Greene Hall, students, faculty, and staff took photos in front of a custom banner featuring iconic Columbia Law imagery and enjoyed popcorn and other treats.

Alumni Awarded Law School’s Highest Honor at Winter Luncheon Franklin Thomas ’63 and Jim Millstein ’82—Columbia-educated lawyers with deep commitments to public service—received the Law School’s Medal for Excellence at the 2020 Winter Luncheon on February 28, 2020. Thomas led the Ford Foundation and the September 11th Fund and was the founding head of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, the pioneering communitydevelopment agency. Millstein is co-chairman of Guggenheim Securities, the investment banking and capital markets division of Guggenheim Partners, and served as chief restructuring officer for the U.S. Treasury Department following the 2008 financial crisis. Ira M. Millstein ’49, recipient of the Medal for Excellence in 2014 and founder of the Law School’s Ira M. Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership, was present to watch his son accept the honor. They are the only father-son medalists in the award’s history.

Columbia Law School Reimagines Reunion Although it was not possible to gather in person for Reunion Weekend this May, the Law School marked the occasion with a virtual community celebration that included a CLE panel webinar titled “The Administrative State Under Siege.” Reunion celebrant Gillian Metzger ’96, Harlan Fiske Stone Professor of Constitutional Law, moderated the discussion that featured Zachary Tripp ’05 and Thomas Merrill, Charles Evans Hughes Professor of Law. Several classes held virtual toasts and gatherings, and alumni traveled back to their 1L, 2L, and 3L years via a photo gallery on the Law School’s website.

Read more about Reunion 2020 plans on page 30, or visit law.columbia.edu/alumni/reunion.

More scenes from a year of Columbia Law events. 1 and 2: Winter Luncheon 3: New Jersey Reception 4: Tokyo Reception 5: Houston Reception 6: Association of American Law Schools Alumni and Faculty Reception in Washington, D.C. 7: Philadelphia Happy Hour 8: Taipei Dinner 9: Miami Dinner

1

3

7 4

5 6 2

8

9

ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

July 24, 2019 Columbia Law School National Bar Association Alumni Breakfast

July 31, 2019 Post-Bar Exam Celebration

November 8, 2019 Alumni Breakfast Series hosted by Len Hersh ’87 with Christina D. Ponsa-Kraus, George Welwood Murray Professor of Legal History

November 14, 2019 Recent Graduate Cocktail Reception

December 16, 2019 Harlan Fiske Stone Society Reception with remarks by Benjamin L. Liebman, Robert L. Lieff Professor of Law, director of the Center for Chinese Legal Studies, and director of the Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law

January 29, 2020 Public Interest/Public Service Council Reception

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

June 13, 2019 Annual Boston Cocktail Reception hosted by Paul Bork ’74 with Jody Kraus, Patricia D. and R. Paul Yetter Professor of Law

August 9, 2019 ABA Reception in San Francisco

September 24, 2019 Chicago Firm Breakfast hosted by Gabor Balassa ’97 with Dean Lester

October 2, 2019 Houston Reception hosted by Paul Yetter ’83 with Texas Supreme Court Justice Brett Busby ’98

November 12, 2019 New Jersey Reception hosted by Elise Holtzman ’90 with John C. Coffee Jr., Adolf A. Berle Professor of Law

December 9, 2019 Tokyo Alumni Reception with Nobuhisa “Nobu” Ishizuka CC ’82, LAW ’86, executive director of the Center for Japanese Legal Studies December 11, 2019 Seoul Alumni Reception with Dean Lester, Professor Liebman, and Jeong-Ho Roh ’88, director of the Center for Korean Legal Studies

December 12, 2019 Taipei Dinner with Dean Lester and Professor Liebman

January 3, 2020 Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Reception in Washington, D.C.

February 13, 2020 Palm Beach Dinner hosted by Richard Lee Stone ’83 with Merritt B. Fox, Arthur Levitt Professor of Law

February 19, 2020 Philadelphia Reception hosted by Steven E. Bizar ’88 with Richard Briffault, Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor of Legislation

March 4, 2020 Brussels Reception with Anu Bradford, Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization