Elisabeth Haub School of Law Alumni Magazine 2021 by Pace Law School

Haub Law ALUMNI MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021

Message from the Dean

OF NOTE 4 Supporting the Frontlines Amelia A. Gould Representation in Mediation Clinic 6 A Cooperative Agreement 9 An International Collaboration 9 Amplifying Student Voices 10 LULC Proves that Dillon’s Rule is Dead 12 A Generous Scholarship 13 Distinguished Professor of Law: Bennett Gershman 15 Co-Authors: Prof. David Cassuto and Tala DiBenedetto 16 A Tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg 17 2020 Haub Visiting Scholars 18 Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy 19 Getting to Know Anthony Desiato 20 Environmental Law & Policy Hack Competition 21 Teaching and Learning in a Time of Pandemic 22 A Winning Essay 24 Making Progress in an Altered Landscape 24 25 Nominate Haub Law for a Cy Près Award 25 Revisiting History Education in the Hallways of #HaubLaw 25 Jefferson Award Winner: Professor Vanessa Merton 26 Career Corner with Jill Backer 27 Leading by Example 27 STUDENT PROFILES

• Gabrielle Marangell • Kimberly L. Roc • Aaron Rudyan • Kseniya Zilberman

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EVENTS

FA C U LT Y Haub Law Faculty Publications (2020) Do You Want Another Pandemic? DigitalCommons@Pace Article Excerpt: The Right Family 2020 Goettel Prize for Faculty Scholarship A Lifetime Achievement Article Excerpt: Title IX & Menstruation

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

• Dean Emerita/Professor Michelle Simon • Associate Dean/Professor Jill Gross

DEAN OF HAUB LAW

MAGAZINE EDITOR & WRITER

DESIGN

Horace Anderson

Jessica Dubuss ’09

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tom Carling, Carling Design, Inc.

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

PLEASE ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Jessica Dubuss ‘09 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI COMMUNICATIONS

Jessica Dubuss ’09 DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS

Arianne L. Andrusco

Haley Brescia Audra Gale Justin Gottuso Tareian King Mark Meeker, Esq. (Dec. ‘09) Jill Backer Rex Bossert Professor Bridget J. Crawford Professor Jill I. Gross

Jörg Meyer Photography Don Hamerman Photography Liflander Photography Haub Law Faculty & Staff

Haub Law Alumni Communications 78 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603 plsalumni@law.pace.edu The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent 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, gender or gender identity, race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, 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, gender or gender identity, race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

ALUMNI Class Notes In Memoriam Letter from the Alumni Board President

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ALUMNI PROFILES

• Joe & Jonina Sauer ’13 • Caymary O’Garro ‘16 • Filippo P. Fantozzi LLM ‘20 • Gerald Stein ’93 • Achinthi Vithanage LLM ’18 • Caesar Lopez ’12 • Trisha Sircar ’07

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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Haub Law Alumni,

"Though we had to evolve to a new norm, the Law School did not miss a beat."

One year ago, I wrote to you in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In March 2020, the entire law school switched to distance education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. What was not clear at the time was that this was the way legal education all over the country would continue for the remainder of that semester, as well as the following academic year. Our Pace community has always been resilient and this was proved again by our students, faculty, and staff with the abrupt switch to online learning. Each and every person in our community faced this change with tremendous fortitude, flexibility, and determination. Though we had to evolve to a new norm, the Law School did not miss a beat. While we were unable to celebrate with the Class of 2020 in person, we had a wonderful and touching virtual graduation celebration in their honor, which you can learn more about on page 28. I look forward to the time—hopefully soon—when we can all be together again in a larger group, traditionally celebrating the graduating classes. Following the George Floyd tragedy in 2020, we asked hard questions and had open and honest discussions concerning policing, systemic discrimination, structural racism, implicit bias, and the race relations in this country. We asked ourselves how we as lawyers can use the law as a tool to pursue social change. While there is much more to come, as a preliminary step, the Law School has developed a social justice agenda, which includes expanding our social justice curriculum, building on the longstanding work of our Criminal Justice Institute, Immigration Justice Clinic, Legal Services Externship, Civil Rights courses and externships, and environmental justice initiatives. We will continue to educate ourselves, and participate in national conversations on race and policing, join in antiracism efforts, and facilitate additional opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff to become involved in community social justice efforts. We will also grow the pipeline of diverse law students and law faculty. Haub Law remains committed to the pursuit of racial and social justice in the United States and in the world. This commitment is in our DNA as a law school and will continue beyond the present moment. Within the pages of this magazine, you will learn of some of the (virtual) highlights of our 2020. The first annual Elisabeth Haub School of Law Environmental Law & Policy Hack Competition was held. We virtually conferred the 2019-2020 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy in memoriam on environmental defenders who have lost their lives defending their land and the environment from destructive industries. Professor Bennett Gershman was recognized by Pace University as a Distinguished Professor, which is the highest honor the University bestows upon faculty. Our Alumni Board supported our students with letters of encouragement and gift certificates. These are only some of the many examples of the positives that 2020 did bring. In this year’s magazine, you will notice, we highlighted the reality of a year of legal education during a pandemic. We spoke with Professor Darren Rosenbum and his niece, 3L, Rachel Rosenblum, on teaching and learning in a time of pandemic. We interviewed Dean Emerita and Professor Michelle Simon on teaching amidst a global pandemic. Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development, Jill Backer, gave tips on how to network in a time of social distancing. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor Jill Gross, shared her experience during the pandemic.

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And, also within these pages, you will note that we continue to attract top-notch students with a variety of backgrounds. For example, Aaron Rudyan is originally from Los Angeles, CA. He chose Haub Law because of its stellar reputation in environmental and energy law, because of the opportunity to participate in the Haub Scholar’s program, and its location. While at Haub Law, Aaron took advantage of so much that Haub Law has to offer, including as a member of Pace Environmental Law Review and a participant in the Federal Judicial Honors Program. After graduating, Aaron will be starting as an associate at Milbank LLP in NYC. Another student, Kimberly Roc, attended a summer justice program for young women and started to think about pursuing a career in law. Kimberly researched Haub Law, became interested, and ultimately selected it after visiting campus, learning of the School’s strong alumni network, and directly hearing from Haub Law alumni on their experiences. She is currently president of the Black Law Students Association and interested in pursuing commercial litigation and criminal defense after having positive experiences with the moot court and mock trial programs at Haub Law. As you read this year’s alumni magazine, please take note of the breadth and depth of our alumni successes. We remain grateful and proud of our alumni community. Our alumni have provided internship opportunities and post-graduate employment for our students, have given us sage advice when consulted, have kept us abreast of their amazing career and personal accomplishments, and have generously donated to the Law School. Our alumni are critical to the success of our institution and we thank you for your continued support. I also want to acknowledge that with the pandemic came tremendous loss, which spared no community, the Law School included. Haub Law mourned and continues to mourn members of its community lost to the coronavirus. Within the pages of this alumni magazine, we acknowledge these losses and pay tribute to their lives and memory. As we are now in May of 2021, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law has much to be proud of. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked our environmental law program #1. This ranking is the latest major success for the program, which has consistently been rated among the very best in the country. In the past few years the environmental law program has recruited top faculty who are recognized scholars in climate change law, international human rights law and natural resources and food systems law. Additionally, U.S. News and World Report ranked our trial advocacy program #24. This is a huge accomplishment, and I wanted to thank our Advocacy Program leader Professor Louis Fasulo and his hard-working team for this truly deserved recognition, along with our talented students in the program. With 2021, also comes a sense of hope and looking to the future with the success of the vaccines. However, we know, we must not let our guard down too soon and remain safe and vigilant. I look forward to seeing you all at a future event when we can all be together again safely and in a more traditional way. Sincerely,

Horace Anderson Dean

SPRING 2021

Supporting the Frontlines

Student Amanda Fugel sewed masks and organized local food organizations to provide meals to frontline workers

ON TOP OF KEEPING UP with her law studies, student Amanda Fugel has dedicated significant time to responding to the needs of first responders on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. Amanda has sewn masks and organized local food organizations to provide meals. Amanda notes that, “[t]hese are chaotic and unfortunate times where the status quo has been suspended and the new norm changes daily. Our first responders are our first lines and I am very thankful for everything that they are currently doing for us. They are working 12 hour and in some cases even 18-hour shifts. Many of our first responders do not have the opportunity to go home for meals, and even when they do go home they are exhausted and I am sure go straight to sleep. I felt that contributing facemasks and PPE gear as well

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as a meal for them was the best way for me to contribute and ensure that our “front lines” are protected and shown appreciation for all of their efforts. Having a meal, brought to them provides an opportunity for them to take a short break from their hectic schedules.” Amanda entered law school because her father was a first responder during 9/11. After losing her father to pancreatic cancer, she realized that she wanted to pursue a career that would allow her to affect change and help others. “Up until my father's last day, he said that he did not regret a day of his service. He loved his career and giving back to others, and seeing his passion and commitment to our community as a whole is what made me realize that I wanted to pursue law. I chose to attend Haub Law because from the second I came to the campus I felt at home. I enjoyed the close-knit community here as well as the small class sizes. I knew that Haub Law was the perfect fit for me. I am the first in my family to graduate high school, college, and to enter into law school. Entering into law school was intimidating because I did not have someone to provide guidance, but I was very passionate about pursuing a career that would allow me to impact change and advocate for others, and that is what has helped push me through. I knew that pursuing law would be a challenge, but I am looking forward to it. I studied and made sure that I was prepared for my first semester of law school and thankfully, my fall 1L semester went very well. I am looking forward to continuing my studies at Haub Law.” n

“Having a meal, brought to them provides an opportunity for them to take a short break from their hectic schedules.”

Meet Flex JD Student Gabrielle Marangell

STUDENT PROFILE

OF NOTE

What brought you to law school? Before coming to Haub Law, I went to graduate school for climate change. While getting my degree I interned with Columbia University’s Water Center. It was in this role that I started to understand just how important environmental lawyers were in fighting for protections for clean drinking water. I decided to go to law school because I believe that a law degree will allow me to build upon my masters to guide public regulations towards greater environmental protection.

Why did you choose Haub Law? Haub Law was initially appealing to me because of the strength of the environmental law program. I knew before coming to Haub Law that I wanted to focus on environmental law, and being at a school with so many resources and connections in the field is amazing. I was also drawn to Haub Law because of the flex part-time JD program. Before starting law school, I was staying home full-time to care for my young daughter. I now have a newborn and a threeyear-old, and the part-time flex program allows me to stay with my children during the day and attend classes in the evening and on the weekends. Right now, this balance is perfect for my family. However, I also appreciate that the program offers flexibility, so that if my schedule were to change I could also take a class or two during the day.

Which professors have made an impact on you so far? My favorite class so far has been Civil Procedure, and I think that Professor McLaughlin deserves all the credit for making this class so memorable. Civil Procedure has the potential to be an extremely dry subject, but Professor McLaughlin’s energetic presentation and funny stories kept the subject relevant and relatable. Plus, my fear of being called on me always kept me on my toes! Another favorite professor of mine is Professor Waldman. Before starting law school, I was looking forward to most of the classes, except for constitutional law. The subject seemed intimidating and complex. However, I enjoyed every single class with Professor Waldman. She connected each topic to current events, and encouraged debate in our class discussions.

“I knew before coming to Haub Law that I wanted to focus on environmental law..." What was your career prior to law school? My first job after college was working in professional baseball. I started in sales at the Philadelphia Phillies and then moved to be a data analyst for the San Francisco Giants. I was fortunate to be at the Giants when they won the 2014 World Series, and now have a World Series ring. I left the Giants to go to get my masters in climate change at Columbia University. Then, after graduating, I stayed home with my daughter and now I am here!

What are some of your goals post-law school? Since I do not have any prior legal experience, I am really looking forward to participating in internships in environmental law to develop a better understanding of exactly what role would be the best fit for me. However, for now, I imagine myself working for a non-profit, fighting for clean energy regulations or protections for our drinking water—two areas that I was interested in before entering law school.

What are some facts people may not know about you? I am an Italian citizen, I can speak French, I played lacrosse in college, and I am a mom of two. n

SPRING 2021

OF NOTE

STUDENT PROFILE

Kimberly L. Roc JD Expected May 2021

Amelia A. Gould Representation in Mediation Clinic THE ELISABETH HAUB SCHOOL OF LAW at Pace Uni-

“Emotions run high, and the parties often have

versity has renamed its new Representation in Media-

long and complicated histories with one another. Many

tion Clinic in honor of Amelia A. Gould.

times, emotional barriers prevent the parties from

At the Gould Clinic, students under faculty supervision offer limited scope representation to pro se

help parties by providing a forum where all issues are

litigants whose cases have been referred to mediation.

addressed,” said Shalov, an adjunct professor at Haub

The Gould Clinic offers pro bono legal services to those

Law who also teaches Advanced Appellate Advocacy,

who could not otherwise afford them and gives prefer-

Forensic Evidence, and Mediation.

ence to minors and senior citizens. Clinic students interview clients, assess interests,

The district courts refer both civil rights cases and employment discrimination cases. A typical civil rights

analyze claims, negotiate with opposing counsel,

case may include complaints against police officers

research legal issues, and prepare documents in con-

filed by individuals claiming excessive force or false

nection with mediation proceedings. They then act as

arrest.

advocates in court-referred mediation proceedings. The clinic is named after Amelia A. Gould, of Nas-

Employment discrimination cases allow students to work with clients who claim they were treated

sau County, NY, who died in 2017 and left her estate to a

unfairly because of their race, color, religion, sex,

number of causes related to treating diseases, pro-

national origin, disability, or age. These cases would

tecting children, and providing services to the elderly.

include situations where the party (often times the

Gould’s estate made gifts to programs at Pace Univer-

only member of an identified group at their work-

sity including a $750,000 grant for the Gould Clinic.

place) was systematically denied opportunities for

The Gould Clinic receives referrals from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New

advancement. In all cases, students meet with and interview their

York, the United States District Court for the South-

clients, review documents, research applicable law to

ern District of New York, and CLUSTER, a community

best counsel their clients prior to the mediation.

dispute resolution center serving Westchester and

“In addition to the Gould Clinic, Haub Law offers

Rockland counties. The Westchester Surrogate’s Court

client-representation clinical programs in criminal

refers cases suitable for mediation to CLUSTER, which

defense, environmental protection, food law, immigra-

then refers pro se litigants to the Clinic.

tion, and investor rights,” said Haub Law Dean Horace

“Mediation is well suited for many Surrogate’s

advancing their case. Mediation is uniquely suited to

Anderson. “In clinics, student interns represent clients

Court cases as the conflicts are often a mix of legal and

who otherwise could not obtain legal assistance in

non-legal issues,” said Danielle B. Shalov, director of the

criminal matters, civil litigation, arbitration, mediation,

Gould Clinic.

and transactional matters,” he said. n

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What brought you to law school? During high school, I attended a summer justice program for young women. At that program, I learned about different areas of the law and practiced critical skills such as public speaking and critical thinking. I listened to other female attorneys and judges talk about their practice areas, and what doors opened for them after they received their law degree. As a young woman, it was empowering to see other women professionals thrive in an area like law. It motivated me to understand the various influences that law and policy have on nearly every part of our lives. As I got older, I began to realize how flexible a degree in law could be. I knew that by going to law school I could equip myself with invaluable knowledge and skills that would be applicable to any legal avenue I pursued.

Why did you choose Haub Law? Originally, I began looking into Haub Law for pragmatic reasons, but when I started doing more research about it, the decision was a no-brainer. When I visited campus, I could tell the environment was different from most law schools. I felt like although I was going into a field that was primarily adversarial in nature, I would still feel comfortable making new friends, or expressing my questions in class without judgment. I also admired the School’s strong alumni network. A few of my friends that attended Haub Law before me told me about their experience finding jobs by connecting with fellow alumni. It was comforting to hear that people who graduated from the School were looking out for those who needed advice transitioning into the field.

You are president of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA)—what has that experience been like? Being president of BLSA has been a rewarding experience within itself. BLSA was the first group I became involved in when I came to Pace and I learned so much from it. To this day, I am still making new friends and connections because of BLSA. I am happy that now as president, I can create environments for young black professionals to build relationships and talk about their similar experiences.

You helped organize a “Say Their Names” event in June—can you talk about that?

The “Say Their Names” event was coordinated with the rest of my E-board. It was the first time we all worked together on something right after we came into our positions. This program was in the midst of Black Lives Matter protests, and although it was a very difficult time, it was very important to us as law students to bring to light racial injustice issues, while also honoring those who have fallen victim to police brutality.

You are interested in pursuing a career in commercial litigation and criminal defense—what courses at Haub Law influenced this? I think that my moot court and mock trial experiences are what influenced my desire to pursue these areas of law. I was able to apply what I was learning in my classes by putting them into active practice. Also working through the different fact patterns we were given gave me a perspective on how to deal with legal issues related to commercial law and criminal defense, fostering my interest further.

In your opinion, what makes a good advocate? Someone who is always prepared. Throughout law school, I have learned how essential preparation is to success. I have learned that all the important qualities that come with being a good advocate such as confidence, thinking on your feet, and forming good arguments all come from being the person who is best prepared to deal with whatever is thrown at them. n

SPRING 2021

A Cooperative Agreement

STUDENT PROFILE

OF NOTE Aaron Rudyan

cess. Not only was I able to greatly improve my legal research and writing through drafting opinions, but I was able to study the interactions between the attorneys and the court. Although I will not be pursuing a litigation career, the skills I learned and honed will greatly help my future transactional practice.

JD Expected 2021

What brought you to law school? Prior to law school, I was a chemical engineer interested in renewable energy development in response to climate change. However, I quickly realized that the engineering aspect was only one of many factors in a coordinated effort to address climate change. Because law and policy play an equally important role, I decided to attend law school to gain the necessary legal insight into the rapid deployment of renewable energy across the country.

How has the pandemic altered your law school experience?

Why did you choose Haub Law? I chose Haub Law for three main reasons. First, it is a top institution with respect to environmental and energy law. I wanted to be able to learn from the best in the field. Second, I was offered an opportunity to participate in the Haub Scholar’s program, where among other things, I have received one-on-one mentorship with expert faculty. Third, I chose Haub Law due to its proximity and strong connections to NYC, one of the top locations for legal employment. What does being a Haub Scholar mean to you? Being a Haub Scholar carries two key meanings to me. First, it illustrates the accomplishments and potential of the recipients in the field of environmental and energy law. Second, it carries with it a duty to both the future of the program and Haub Law. We have a responsibility to carry the strong legacy of the School’s environmental program into our legal careers while maintaining strong connections and supporting future Haub Scholars. I believe it is a great honor to be named a Haub Scholar. How has your time on Pace Environmental Law Review been? My time on Pace Environmental Law Review (PELR) was both challenging and stimulating. By participat-

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"We have a responsibility to carry the strong legacy of the School’s environmental program into our legal careers..." ing in PELR, I was able to interact with environmental legal scholarship, which has allowed me to challenge my current understandings of how our environmental legal system operates. Similarly, I have strengthened my legal research and writing skills. Additionally, I had the opportunity to write and publish a Law Review Note discussing the ongoing common law climate change lawsuits in response to the devastating effects of the changing climate. You also participated in the Federal Judicial Honors Program—what was that like? The Federal Judicial Honors Program has provided me significant insight into the federal judicial pro-

Like most students, the pandemic has upended the traditional form of learning. It is no secret that online learning is difficult, especially regarding certain law school courses. Fortunately, however, the study of law relies on discussion and conversation, which can be effectively performed via virtual communications. Therefore, despite the switch to online learning, I have not felt a significant difference in the quality of the coursework. After graduation, you will be starting as an associate at Milbank LLP in NYC, participating in their first year transactional rotation—how did you decide to apply for and obtain that opportunity? I followed the on-campus interview (OCI) process to interview with Milbank. Through the outstanding help from the Career Services Office, I prepared and practiced for my interviews until I became comfortable with the interview process. I decided to participate in the OCI process for multiple NYC-based law firms because these firms work on relevant, high-impact matters within the energy sector. With multiple offers, I selected Milbank due to its reputation of community and inclusion and its prestige in the energy sector, mainly through their transactional practices. Outside of law school, what do you like to do? I am originally from Los Angeles, CA. Outside of my academic studies, I am a competitive indoor, grass, and beach volleyball player. Prior to the pandemic, I regularly competed in the world’s largest outdoor volleyball tournament every summer. n

ELISABETH HAUB SCHOOL OF LAW launched a new cooperation agreement with Universidad Cientifica of Peru in Lima to offer an accelerated Master of Laws (LLM) program. The program provides the opportunity for Cientifica students to enroll as full-time students in Haub Law’s LLM program after completing all but one year of their undergraduate LLB law degree at Cientifica. Cientifica students admitted to the Haub Law LLM program are eligible for a scholarship to apply toward tuition for the program. “This special program and relationship furthers the joint interests of the two schools in providing practical training in an accelerated path to practice, and it builds a bridge between the United States and Peru leading to greater multicultural understanding,” said Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson. The accelerated LLM program will allow students to share their varied experiences and training in areas such as sustainable development, conservation and many others. “Universidad Cientifica is an outstanding law school with a world-class environmental program,” said David N. Cassuto, a Haub Law Environmental Law professor and director of the school’s Brazil-American Institute for Law and Environment (BAILE). “I look forward to many exciting collaborations growing out of this partnership.” n

An International Collaboration ELISABETH HAUB SCHOOL OF LAW at Pace University and Jindal Global Law School at O.P. Jindal Global University in Delhi, India, have reached an agreement to collaborate through academic and personal exchanges in areas of law including environmental law and energy law. The agreement will enable both schools to teach courses for US and Indian students, conduct training seminars, and participate in conferences and symposia organized between the schools in various fields of law. It will also enhance joint research projects focused on the comparative study of law, and promote interaction between the Haub Law students and Jindal Law students. n

SPRING 2021

OF NOTE

Amplifying Student Voices Professor Bridget Crawford and 38 student and alumni co-authors publish law review article GROWN OUT OF WORK DONE by students in Professor Bridget Crawford’s Feminist Legal Theory seminar, Professor Crawford has published a dialogic style law review article, "Reflections on Feminism, Law & Culture: Law Students' Perspectives," 41 Pace L. Rev. 105 (2020) written with 38 co-authors, the majority of which are current law students and rest are recent alumni. During the classroom component of the Feminist Legal Theory seminar in an ordinary semester, Professor Crawford explains that, “the class has readings— mostly from a casebook—that allow us to examine the presumptions, methodologies and organizing principles of traditional feminist critiques of the law. Then, through examination of a variety of topics that have been of particular interest to feminist legal scholars, we will examine and critique the assumptions of feminist legal theory. Throughout the course, our examination is grounded by inquiring to what extent feminism and theories of gender, when applied to the law, accurately have met the needs of people of all colors, with a particular focus on women and other historically disadvantaged groups. In a non-pandemic year, we meet live as a group once a week for two hours. The course is discussion-oriented. In addition to the classroom meeting, students are required to participate in an asynchronous discussion of a topic that is chosen and led by a different small group of students each week. The groups are assigned by a random draw, and the students get together to decide what to focus the online discussion on. By allowing them to choose topics, they can have input into both course coverage and engage in a different way with their peers as organizers. Over the course of the semester, I was so impressed by the quality of student contributions in both the in person setting as well as the online discussion forum.” In March 2020, the entire law school switched to distance education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “None of us knew at the time, but that was the way legal education all over the country would continue for the remainder of that semester, as well

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as the following academic year,” remarked Professor Crawford. “I found that all of the Pace students faced the abrupt switch to online learning with tremendous fortitude and determination. We all tried to make the best of a difficult situation. As I communicated to my students at the time, no matter the forum or manner of course delivery, my first commitment remained to the student’s education and professional development. We got through the semester together, with understanding, patience and good humor.” Luckily, when the Law School switched to 100% on-line learning, the students who were taking the Feminist Legal Theory seminar already had developed a good rapport with each other from the classroom meetings as well as the online fora. The contributions to these online fora ultimately became the heart of the dialogic-style law review article, along with a framing essay and conclusion by Professor Crawford. Haub Law student and contributor to the article, Jackie Jonczyk ‘21, believes that “incorporating each student’s opinions in various sections of the article was a really great way to highlight the topics we discussed throughout the semester. In the process of contributing to each week’s forum, we had a great opportunity to bounce thoughts and opinions off each other. When one person would voice a specific opinion, someone could jump off that and add in their own take on the overall subject. Ultimately, that led to a work that represents our collective and individual thoughts and opinions. I have also been asked about the article quite a few times when interviewing, too! Interviewers have been interested in discussing the topic further and have commended me for being part of an article that is so unique. It definitely provides me with an edge on my resume.” Professor Crawford notes that one of the purposes of the article was to “showcase the extraordinary learning that was happening at Haub Law at Pace, both before and during the pandemic. The students made extraordinary contributions and moved the theoreti-

Pictured: Professor Bridget Crawford, Robert Rosenberg '21, and Jackie Jonczyk '21

cal conversation forward on a range of issues including menstruation and law, gender in the legal profession, gender dynamics in interpersonal relationships and a range of other issues. The students’ writings in the article show that feminist legal theory is not something that is only academic. It is a lens through which we can understand so much of law and life. Also, legal “theory” is not something that belongs only to pie-in-the-sky academics. We are all legal ’theorists‘ when we articulate the ways that viewpoints and ideas influence how legal cases are decided, what rationales judges give, what we aspire for the law to be, where it falls short, and what can be done to realize the law’s promise of equality. I was excited to share the students’ insights with the world in the form of scholarship that was accessible and reproducible. The students at the Pace Law Review kindly accepted the piece for publication, and I’m pleased that our “home” law review has published this unique portrait of law students’ reflections

at an extraordinary point in history. The article sets a precedent in so many ways.” Robert Rosenberg ‘21, another student in the class and a contributor to the article reflected, “I have never had a more collaborative, safe and thoughtful class. We became united by our commitment to creating and maintaining that environment, led by Professor Crawford, and I’m just really proud to have been a small part of that class and the little community we created during that time. And now, being a contributor to an article with Professor Crawford is a privilege and an honor. Professor Crawford cares deeply about the students and the material, and that always breeds good conversation within the class. The end result here was a published article,” commented Rosenberg, who also had accepted for publication the research paper he prepared for the class, Tax Credits vs. Corporate Social Responsibility: The Entertainment Industry’s Challenge to State Anti-Abortion Bills; it will be published by the Ohio Northern University Law Review. n

SPRING 2021

A Generous Scholarship

OF NOTE

LULC Proves That Dillon’s Rule Is Dead

Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus John Nolon

THE LAND USE LAW CENTER has always had a unique and successful academic model; integral to that model is immersing students in the fieldwork of the Center. Wrapping up in 2020, Professor John R. Nolon and a group of Haub Law students spent three semesters studying, researching, analyzing, and describing the relevant law of the 50 states regarding Dillon’s Rule. Professor Nolon notes that each of the students “made critical contributions” to this project. The culmination of their efforts is the article Death of Dillon’s Rule: Local Autonomy to Control Land Use, which will be published in the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law at Florida State University. Professor Nolon notes that, “for years, I have tried to encourage academics to pay attention to what we see in the field: that local governments are exercising their land use powers broadly to respond to emerging problems such as environmental degradation, unaffordable housing, unsustainable development,

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climate change, and, now, the pandemic. The general perception of many academics is that municipalities are governments of limited legal authority and that their powers are to be narrowly construed by the courts. These views are shaped by Dillon’s Rule, which was articulated by John Dillon, an Iowa Supreme Court Judge, in 1868. Dillon’s rule of narrow construction was embedded in an influential treatise on municipal law that shaped judicial opinion, municipal lawyers, and academics and remains powerful in many states today.” Professor Nolon reports that the research of the students “proved that 40 states have repudiated Dillon’s Rule of narrow interpretation of municipal powers regarding land use control. This flies in the face of the general understanding of municipal land use powers and is a major contribution to the literature. The effect of the Rule is to discourage proactive local control of sprawl, energy waste, climate change, and now the effects of the pandemic; we have frightened away Dillon’s ghost and liberated municipal lawyers and officials to act boldly as they confront the existential threats they face.” Vicky Gannon, Reference Librarian, worked with each of the students on the team to find provisions in state constitutions, statutes, and case law and to document their findings. The team of Haub Law students was supervised by student Emma Alvarez Campbell (JD Expected 2021). Emma notes that, during the summer of 2019, she was an extern at the Land Use Law Center and was paired up with Professor Nolon. “Professor Nolon had a suspicion that Dillon's Rule, which heavily constrains the power of local governments, was dying. In the previous summer one of the interns had done some research on Dillon's Rule, so I think it was something that was on his mind for quite a while. I basically took his inkling and ran with it. Throughout the summer, I researched where Dillon's Rule stood throughout the country. The research and writing continued through the spring of 2020 when

PACE UNIVERSITY'S Elisabeth Haub School of Law anwe gathered a team of students to check over and add to the research and complete the states I had not gotten to yet. In this final round of research, the team was instrumental in going through each state thoroughly. Professor Nolon was able to conclude that 40 states have repealed Dillon’s Rule in the land use context through renunciation in their constitutions, acts of their legislatures, or the decisions of their courts. I believe the goal is to show that local governments have flexibility in the way they plan, which is especially important in the wake of climate change. Basically, there is a lot that can be done at the local level and we want to encourage that. Based on all of the research, Professor Nolon’s research assistant, Jessica Roberts (JD Expected 2022), assisted him to put the research onto paper and submit the article for publication.” Emma describes her experience working with Professor Nolon and the team of students as wonderful. “The most significant aspect for me was Professor Nolon’s trust. His encouragement and the praise he awarded my work gave me so much confidence. Also, Professor Nolon's love for his work is contagious. He makes everyone around him better and more passionate about the work. Also, seeing how much work goes into a research project from start to finish was eye opening. I feel grateful to have seen this idea of his come to fruition, especially because it has the potential to greatly impact how local governments plan moving forward.” Professor Nolon notes that part of the Land Use Law Center’s model is to take students into the field with them, identify legal issues and barriers to their resolution, and have them research and identify solutions. “Students write reports that demonstrate their understanding of current legal issues and the impressive level of depth at which they can work to solve practical problems. This work and the descriptions of their work, along with their writing samples, are instrumental in securing jobs with law firms, companies, NGOs, and governmental agencies. And, notably, the professor benefits as well. I could not research the law so thoroughly or write the resulting articles and books of practical substance without this level of student support. As students graduate, we keep track of them and continue to learn from their engagement and growth in the practice of law. The relationships we form with our students are life-long and mutually beneficial.” n

nounced a scholarship endowment gift of $100,000 from Cassin & Cassin LLP, a law firm specializing in real estate, real estate finance, and private client matters. The endowment will be used to create a real estate law scholarship, awarded annually to a selected secondyear Haub Law student who maintains a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrates a financial need, and has an interest in real estate law. Recipients will be selected by the Law School in the summer of each year, with the first scholarship awarded in Fall 2021. “We are honored by the generosity of Cassin & Cassin LLP in providing this scholarship,” said Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson. “It will lend robust support to students in our program who have an interest in real estate, including those working with our innovative Land Use Law Center to foster the development of sustainable communities and regions through cutting-edge land use strategies.” Established in 1993, Haub Law’s Land Use Law Center offers conferences, seminars, clinics, academic law school courses, continuing legal education programs, videos and podcasts, and publications and resources on contemporary land use, real estate, and environmental issues. “We’re delighted to present this endowment to the Elisabeth Haub School of Law to help students who demonstrate the financial need to further their education,” said Joseph M. Cassin, Chairman and Founder of Cassin & Cassin LLP. “As the Firm approaches its 35th anniversary in early 2021, I cannot think of a better way to acknowledge this achievement then by giving back to such a fine institution. Today, and through the years, many Elisabeth Haub School of Law alumni have worked at the Firm, and they’ve all distinguished themselves as excellent attorneys and great contributors to the Cassin culture. We hope this endowment will help educate and nurture the next generations of fine minds the School produces.” n

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STUDENT PROFILE

JD Expected 2022

You were born and grew up in Russia—what made you decide to come to the United States?

Distinguished Professor of Law:

Bennett Gershman

It’s a long story! I was born in Nizhny Novgorod—a large city just outside of Moscow. I obtained my degree in history and was working as a news reporter at the local TV station. I loved it—it was so much fun! As a graduation present, my family gifted me a summer trip to New York, and here I am, 12 years later. The first years of living here were definitely challenging. I did not speak English well, and there were times where I did not have food to eat or a place to stay for the night. However, I believe all the struggles were worth it—I absolutely love living in the United States and never regretted my decision to stay here.

What brought you to law school? I had been working as a paralegal for about six years before starting law school. It was inspiring to watch attorneys I worked with develop arguments and strategies, write letters and briefs, appear in court, and resolve their clients’ issues. The law and the legal system in the US have also always fascinated me.

Why did you choose Haub Law? The School felt welcoming from the first open house I attended. I liked that it was not a large school— allowing for the staff, professors, and students to have much more frequent and close interactions. I was also awarded scholarships and was able to start pre-pandemic in January 2020 via the accelerated program and am expected to graduate in Spring 2022.

You are focusing on Health Law—can you talk a bit about that? So far, I have taken Health Law with Professor Flint and Healthcare Lawyering Skills with Professor Chananie. Many other courses interest me as well. I think Health Law is a fascinating area of law. The healthcare system in the United States is so massive and so unique with its advantages and flaws. In addition, the current events related to the pandemic showed even more of its flaws and benefits. I also had some experience in the medical field before law school, and I wanted to combine that experience with my newly acquired law skills and knowledge. I believe Health-

OF NOTE

Kseniya Zilberman

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care Law is an exciting field that will be getting more and more attention in the post-pandemic world.

Are there any standout experiences you have had with professors at the law school? That is a tough question! I have been blessed with wonderful professors since the first day of school. I was nervous about my Legal Skills class because English is not my first language. Professor Widulski, who taught the class, has been supportive, motivating, and encouraging. I ended up getting an “A” for my writing course! Dean Emerita Michelle Simon and Academic Dean Jill Gross have provided invaluable guidance with my courses and career choices. Professor Leslie Garfield Tenzer was just amazing with my contracts class, and I cannot wait to take her sales class. Professor Emily Waldman made constitutional law easily understandable and created exciting discussions during the class. Professors Flint and Chananie reinforced my interest in healthcare and provided extremely helpful and constructive feedback. Haub Law has great professors!

How has the pandemic changed your experience at Pace? The pandemic and switching to remote learning has had its challenges. Our accelerated January class was the first to experience remote finals and go full-time remote through the summer. I would like to acknowledge my peers from the January 2020 class for their tremendous support through the difficult pandemic times. I also want to thank the faculty and staff at the Law School for their guidance and support during these trying times. n

PACE UNIVERSITY HAS RECOGNIZED Bennett Gershman, a member of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law faculty, as a Distinguished Professor, which is the highest honor the University bestows upon faculty. This honor comes in recognition of a sustained record of extensive, extraordinary research and scholarship, outstanding teaching, and exemplary service to the University, community, and the faculty member’s professional field. Gershman’s body of work was strongly recommended by his department Chair, school Dean, and many Pace colleagues. He was strongly supported by the University Distinguished Professor Advisory Committee, endorsed by the Provost and President, and approved by the Pace Board of Trustees. “We are extremely proud that Pace University has recognized Bennett Gershman with its greatest faculty honor," said Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson. "He was instrumental in the founding of the Law School in 1976 and since then has selflessly provided us with the highest levels of teaching, scholarship, mentorship, leadership and friendship." Gershman has been a professor of law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law since its founding as the Pace Law School in 1976. Prior to coming to Pace, Gershman was a prosecutor in the New York State Anti-Corruption Office, where he argued cases in state and federal courts involving public and political officials charged with corruption. Gershman has written four books, over 75 articles in law journals, and hundreds of book reviews, essays, and op-ed pieces. His treatise, Prosecutorial Misconduct, initially published in 1985 and now in its second edition, has become a preeminent resource for scholars and practitioners seeking guidance on wrongful convictions. As a leading authority in the country on prosecutorial misconduct, Gershman is continuously called upon by the news media for his expertise. He is routinely quoted by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Wall Street Journal, as well as by a host of local publications. He has served

as an expert witness on prosecutorial misconduct in numerous criminal cases. He also has devoted much of his time to training prosecutors and judges. Attesting to his teaching effectiveness, Gershman has received the Outstanding Professor of the Year award from graduating students eight times in the past 20 years. His sensitivity to the student experience is evidenced by his book, The Law School Experience: Law, Legal Reasoning and Lawyering (2000; co-authored with Lissa Griffin), which seeks to demystify the experience of being a law student. Registration for his classes often closes quickly. n

SPRING 2021

A Tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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BY DEAN HORACE ANDERSON

Co-Authors

that the government disclose when any agency action will have a significant environmental impact, and harming billions of animals is a significant environmental impact, agencies should disclose the ways and means by which animals suffer and die in industrial agriculture and elsewhere. Once that information is made widely available, it may lead to genuine reform and less animal suffering.

A Q&A with Professor David Cassuto and 2020 Haub Law Alumna Tala DiBenedetto Professor Cassuto, you joined the Haub Law faculty in 2002, and over the years you have co-authored numerous articles and book chapters with current or former students—how did this start and evolve? I’ve always viewed teaching students to write as a big part of my job. After a few years of working with very talented Research Assistants, it occurred to me that co-authoring would be a great way to mentor as well as to give high-achieving students a major publication credit as they entered into the job market.

Tala, how did you find the process from a student perspective?

Professor David Cassuto

As a professor, what benefits do you feel students obtain from participating in the process of researching, writing, editing, and ultimately publishing a piece with a full-time faculty member? They learn early on that writing for a professional journal is very different than writing for a grade or even writing a law review note. Generally, I lay out where I think the argument should go and then we work together to make it happen. Then the writing goes through many edits—much more than they are accustomed to—in order to reach a level that does justice to the ideas and to our shared commitment to excellence.

Tala, how did you decide to pursue working collaboratively with Professor Cassuto? I was introduced to Professor Cassuto when I came to visit Haub Law prior to attending. I mentioned to the admissions office that I wanted to pursue animal law and I was then introduced to Professor Cassuto. After that, I went home and read some of his papers, committed to attending Haub Law and decided I was going to be his research assistant. He was on sabbatical my 1L year. Once he came back, I attended a presentation he was giving on the Brazil course and I walked up to him and basically told him I was going to be his research assistant. He was very nice about it!

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The experience was invaluable. Working with Professor Cassuto really taught me how to write, organize, and edit a paper. Through our conversations and his edits, I came to appreciate how thoughtful every part of a paper should be. Everything from word choices to crafting headings and organizing the paper in a way that clearly instructs the reader on what you're arguing and walking them through each step of your argument with proper citations. Working through the process of writing, editing, and submitting the paper helped guide me in preparing and submitting two of my own papers shortly after graduating.

Was this practical opportunity in line with the rest of your Haub Law experience?

Tala DiBenedetto And, that brings me to my next question, Professor Cassuto, you co-authored your recent article, Suffering Matters: NEPA, Animals, and the Duty to Disclose, 42 University of Hawaii Law Review 2 (2020), with former student Tala DiBenedetto—how did that process evolve? As Tala described, she did in fact end up becoming my research assistant. She came to Haub Law to do animal law and to work with me and I was very lucky that she did. The article was a collaborative process throughout. The article argues that since animals are part of the environment (an undeniable truth), and the National Environmental Policy Act requires

I really enjoyed my time at Pace. I was constantly impressed by how many opportunities there were to explore my interests in environmental and animal law. The professors are also wonderful. A few have stayed in contact and reached out when they came across an article or an opportunity they thought I would be interested. I think that says a lot. The opportunities and relationships helped me to get to where I am and I'm so grateful for that. I am currently a Legal Fellow at the PETA Foundation and feel grateful to continue my animal law work, where I get to do a wide range of legal work on a wide range of topics affecting animals.

Professor Cassuto, what are you currently focusing your research and writing efforts on? I am researching the animal impacts of zoonotic disease, both as to why they happen (intensive animal confinement) and how we respond (millions of animals subjected to laboratory experimentation to make a vaccine for a disease that would never have happened but for our mistreatment of animals). n

Originally published on September 18, 2020 TONIGHT WE ADD OUR voices to the outpouring of sorrow over the loss of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female justice on the high court and an unwavering defender of equal rights. Justice Ginsburg was extremely courageous in her long career, as well as in her various battles with cancer, up until the very end. We echo the words of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who said of Justice Ginsburg: “Our nation has lost a jurist of historic stature. We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her—a tireless and resolute champion of justice.” President Bill Clinton, who nominated Ginsburg to the high court in 1993, described her as the Thurgood Marshall of women’s rights. Recently, Justice Ginsburg also had earned the nickname “Notorious RBG” for her comments during public appearances and for strong dissents criticizing decisions she believed were insufficiently protective of equal rights and civil liberties. Early in her career, she forged a path to equality for women as a litigator in defense of civil liberties. Ginsburg became the first director of the ACLU’s women’s rights project in the early 1970s. She argued six cases before the Supreme Court and filed many amicus briefs there, advancing the development of the law on gender discrimination to the benefit of men and women. Ginsburg will perhaps be remembered most for her writings on women’s rights, including her opinion in United States v. Virginia in 1996, which said the staterun Virginia Military Institute’s all-male admissions policy was unconstitutional, and her 2007 dissent in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber, a dispute over gender pay disparity. In 2013, she became the first justice to preside over a same-sex marriage. Justice Ginsburg embodied all we could hope for as a role model and a beacon of social justice. She will be sorely missed and impossible to replace. n

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2019-2020 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy

OF NOTE

2020 Haub Visiting Scholars DURING THEIR TIME AT HAUB LAW, the Haub Visiting Scholars collaborated with faculty, guest lectured classes, and worked closely with students in the Environmental Law Program and others. As previously announced, funding for the Haub Visiting Scholars 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.

James R. May

Richard Wallsgrove

Distinguished Professor of Law and co-Founder

Assistant Professor, William S. Richardson School of

and co-Director, Dignity Rights Project and Environ-

Law, University of Hawaii

mental Rights Institute, Widener University Delaware Law School

“My experience as a Haub Visiting Scholar

"I am so grateful for the honor of having served as

was spectacular. From

a Haub Visiting Scholar. It goes without saying that

the first moment—

the Center for Global Environmental Legal Studies of

"talking shop" with the

the Haub School of Law at Pace University has done

Pace Energy & Climate

and continues to do some of the most important

Center's faculty and

work in the world in the field of Environmental Law.

staff—it was abundantly

My visit provided opportunity to share ideas, critique

clear that New York

paradigms, and consider emerging mechanisms (such

and Hawai'i face similar

as human dignity) for addressing the world's most

challenges in our clean energy transition. Based on

pressing environmental problems."

my new understanding of New York's efforts in this realm, I have shared a variety of ideas and information with Hawai'i legislators and advocates. As a junior faculty member, I am also particularly grateful to Pace's gracious faculty for spending so much time teaching me about the history of environmental protection in New York, and for speaking with me about their scholarship, and mine. On both fronts, the experience has helped sharpen my ongoing work on energy justice. My interactions with Pace students were equally enlivening. They asked terrific questions and shared interesting insights on topics ranging from environmental protests to energy financing.”

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THE ELISABETH HAUB SCHOOL OF LAW at Pace University conferred the 2019-2020 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy in memoriam on environmental defenders who have lost their lives defending their land and the environment from destructive industries. The award ceremony was held online via Zoom on Monday, October 12—Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The ceremony was preceded by a panel discussion featuring distinguished environmental advocates and activists. Watch a video of the event here. The number of attacks against environmental defenders continues to rise, with 212 killings documented by Global Witness in 2019. The world over, Indigenous Peoples bear the brunt of these killings and other attacks. Agribusiness, oil, gas and mining industries were named as key drivers of the attacks. “The Elisabeth Haub School of Law is proud that our top-ranked environmental law program trains lawyers to understand the intersection between human rights, the environment and the law,” said Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson. “We are honored to shine a light on those who have lost their lives defending their land and the environment.” Increasingly, laws and policies are being adopted that are likely to make it harder for citizens to take a stand against destructive projects by increasing the associated risks. “To protect environmental defenders, we need to strengthen the environmental rule of law around the globe and break unsustainable consumption patterns that fuel violations of human rights,” said Katrina Kuh, Haub Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law. “We are indebted to environmental defenders and they deserve our recognition and support.” “The Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy recognizes the innovation, skill, and accomplishments of lawyers, diplomats, international civil servants and other advocates who work to create the world environmental order,” said Liliane A. Haub, environmental advocate and Pace University Trustee. “It is our hope that by honoring environmental defenders with this Award, we are making a statement in support of those individuals and communities who are fighting and dying to create a more sustainable planet.” The distinguished discussion panel for the 20192020 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy comprised the following individuals, in order of appearance:

• Robert Chan, Executive Director, Palawan NGO Network, Inc. (PNNI), Philippines • Carlos Alfonso Negret, former Ombudsman, Republic of Colombia • Krystal Two Bulls, Northern Cheyenne/Oglala Lakota Director, LANDBACK Campaign, NDN Collective • Julie Anne Miranda-Brobeck, Head of U.S. Communications & Global Partnerships, Global Witness. Each year, a jury comprising eminent leaders in the field of environmental law and diplomacy solicits nominations and selects the recipient of the Award. For more information about the Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy, click here. n

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unlike many other superheroes, Superman is not driven by guilt or revenge. He is just someone trying to do the right thing because of the values his adoptive parents instilled in him.

OF NOTE S TA F F P R O F I L E

You also are a filmmaker, can you talk about the documentaries you have done?

Getting To Know Anthony Desiato 2012 Haub Law AlumnusDirector of JD Admissions Comic Book and Superhero AficionadoFilmmaker PodcasterHusbandFather, and More Can you briefly describe your journey to law school? I started right after undergrad at Fordham, and I arrived at law school with a general interest in Intellectual Property, but no specific plans about what I might want to do with my degree.

And, how did your podcasts evolve?

Why did you choose Haub Law? This is going to sound like I'm in Admissions mode, but the honest truth is that I came to visit for Admitted Student Day and just felt that it was the right atmosphere for me. The environment very much defied my expectations of what I thought law school would be like—stuffy, competitive, etc. It seemed like a place where I would be comfortable and thrive, and I'm happy to report that I was right.

Pictured: Anthony Desiato

As a student, what was one of your most memorable experiences while at Haub Law? Law review is definitely among my most memorable experiences. If I am being honest, a classmate sort of roped me into trying out, and I don't think I fully appreciated what a commitment it would be. It was a somewhat grueling, but ultimately worthwhile, endeavor, and I was a wiz at research and citation by the end of it.

Did you always envision an alternative career to the traditional practice of law upon graduating? I did not originally envision a career in law school admissions as a student. Shortly after graduating in May 2012, I started making videos for the administration on a freelance basis. Then, that fall, a full-time position in Admissions became available. I have been in that department ever since and am currently the Director of JD Admissions.

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During the summer after my 1L year, I found myself in need of a creative outlet and decided to grab a camera and film a documentary about my local comic shop, where I had worked for many years. It really awakened a calling in me, and I fell in love with filmmaking and nonfiction storytelling generally. I followed that up with two more human interest stories, one about a flea market vendor and another about an aspiring puppeteer. Most recently, I Kickstarted a film called My Comic Shop Country, which secured distribution in early 2020 and is currently available on Amazon, Apple TV, and Curiosity Stream. While the subject matter is comics retail, the film really taps into larger themes about perseverance and community.

Once again, my local comic shop proved to be the inspiration I needed. When the owner decided to close in 2015, I started a podcast called My Comic Shop History to chronicle the final days and relive the store's most memorable moments. I continued the show with looks at collecting behavior, conventions, and more. I cannot put into words how much I have enjoyed the art of podcasting; whether you are recording in person or remotely, there is a sense of connection during the recordings that is very powerful. I think that is why podcasts in general have caught on in such a major way. They are available on all of the major podcast platforms and I have been told that they really help pass a commute!

What is next as far as a documentary or more podcasts? Switching gears a bit, how did your comic book interest develop? My comic book fan "origin story" occurred in the winter of 1992, when a window display at a store in the White Plains Galleria caught my eye. They were advertising the landmark "Death of Superman" storyline. My parents bought it for me, and comics have been a major part of my life ever since.

Who is your favorite “superhero” and why? Superman, always. At the most fundamental level, I have always been drawn to that character because,

I do have plans for my fifth documentary, though the pandemic has me in a bit of a holding pattern right now. Podcasting has been keeping me busy, though! I have launched two new ongoing series: the Superman-centric Digging for Kryptonite as well as My Comic Shop Book Club.

What are you favorite ways to spend your time outside of work? Spending time with my wife and son, which I have gotten to do quite a lot of over the past year! During normal times, we enjoy going to the movies, trying new restaurants, and traveling. n

Environmental Law & Policy Hack Competition DURING 2020, the first annual Elisabeth Haub School of Law Environmental Law & Policy Hack Competition was held. The Hack Competition is an environmental law and policy problem-solving event that invites students to propose an innovative and practical response to a current environmental challenge and awards seed funding to support implementation of the winning concept. A team of students from Drake Law School won the first annual Elisabeth Haub School of Law Environmental Law & Policy Hack Competition. The students, Bradley Adams and Kathryn Leidahl, won a $2,000 prize that goes toward implementation of their proposal to tailor landscape ordinances to support Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s stormwater management. Law students around the country were challenged to propose policies that local governments can use to create vegetative spaces that will help to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The virtual presentation of team proposals and the announcement of the winner took place on November 13. This competition is intended to orient law students toward the development of practicable environmental policy; encourage students to collaborate with policy stakeholders, including from government and the community; catalyze the conceptualization and implementation of innovative solutions to pressing environmental problems; and further our commitment to advancing environmental protection. Students were invited to contemplate the complex law and policy questions posed by local management of climate-friendly vegetative spaces and to offer nuanced analysis and concrete guidance for a specific community or communities facing these questions. Teams were invited to select a specific jurisdiction upon which to focus or to make a proposal addressed to typical municipal laws. For more information about the judges and the competition, click here. n

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OF NOTE

Teaching and Learning in a Time of Pandemic A Q&A with Professor Darren Rosenblum and his niece, 3L Rachel Rosenblum Professor Darren Rosenblum joined the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University faculty in 2004. Professor Rosenblum teaches Contracts, Corporations and International Business Transactions. His scholarship focuses on corporate governance, in particular on diversity initiatives and remedies for sex inequality. He is also an opinion columnist for Forbes. In August 2021, Professor Rosenblum will join the Faculty of Law of McGill University. Rachel Rosenblum is a third year law student at Haub Law. She expects to graduate in May 2021, after which she will clerk for a family court judge in Passaic County, New Jersey.

Professor Rosenblum, you have been a professor at Haub Law since 2004—is it fair to say that 2020 has been your most unique year as a professor? DR: Certainly. Although in early 2020, I had been following the foreign news and saw that this was coming, I didn’t anticipate all the consequences. The few days prior to moving classes online, I took all the students outside, both because they were the first nice days of spring, but really because I knew it would be safer. It was improvised, but the students loved how playful it is to be outdoors. By my next scheduled class, Pace announced they were going remote. My first remote class involved challenging material, and I also had my daughter home. So between having to teach two sections of my hardest lesson for the semester while parenting my 10 year old at the same time, all remotely—it certainly was a challenge. Many other law schools shut down for two weeks to give their professors time to prepare and adjust, and then reopened remotely. I am happy that Pace did not give us that time. Being thrust

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into online teaching proved very effective. My skills teaching online improved fast because of how seamlessly Pace handled going remote.

Rachel, how did you feel upon initially learning about going remote? RR: I went to my crim pro class that week and then I left and went back to my apartment in White Plains. I had previously taken a class with Professor Crawford that was half distanced. So I had some experience. Then we got the email that Pace was going remote for two weeks. To be honest, at first, we all thought it would be a vacation almost and it would just be learning from home. Eventually we realized we weren’t going back. My roommate moved back home. I moved back home, which I was hesitant to do, but after talking it through with others and really thinking about it, I knew it was the best move for me.

Professor Rosenblum, prior to 2020, had you taught online classes? DR: I had taught online—but mostly makeup classes. This past spring, I taught 2 sections of contracts remotely and over the summer I taught corporations.

Rachel, was there anything you didn’t anticipate about online learning and as a result you had to change your learning style? RR: Nothing in particular, luckily I think I had a smooth transition from in-person to remote learning, and if anything I feel really grateful that it happened during my second semester of 2L, as opposed to my second semester of my first year.

Professor Rosenblum, how has online learning changed the way you interact with your colleagues at the Law School?

Our meetings are similar, but what I miss is lunches in the faculty lounge and casual encounters around the building when you get to catch up, learn what people are working on, and discuss classroom experiences.

I know there has been a lot of discussion about requiring students to have cameras on for classes versus not requiring the camera be on—how do each of you feel from the student and professor perspective? RR: In the spring of 2020, professors preferred we had cameras on, but didn’t mandate it or require it. We were all figuring this out as we went along. In the fall, it became clearer we needed the camera on for attendance. As we get further into remote learning, there is less leniency. A very small percentage of students don’t have their cameras on. I can’t image lecturing to blank screens. No nodding, no communication, no indication that the student understands. It halts discussion to not have the cameras on in my opinion, it can be frustrating. DR: My attitude generally in the classroom focuses on how law school is a professional school. In addition to the substantive matters we teach, we need to ensure our students learn how to be professionals. Figuring out how to translate that to the online setting has been challenging. Part of my expectation of students in the classroom is that they should always

be prepared. If you show up for a meeting as a lawyer you have to be prepared. In online classes, I tried cold calling on people. In some cases it worked, others it didn’t. It was a difficult moment for our students, who faced such disruption in the middle of their semester. I settled on some sort of middle ground: I insisted students keep their cameras on, but was forgiving when requested to excuse not having it on. We all have to adapt to this new norm. Now, having been in hundreds of zoom meetings with colleagues and colleagues from other schools, lawyers, all sorts of meetings, I have a sense of what that this new, online professionalism looks like. I try to inculcate my students with how does one behave professionally in an online meeting, which includes being visibly present and focused.

Would you choose to continue remote learning if COVID went away tomorrow? RR: I go back and forth about that. I have had both opportunities. Remote gives you an incredible amount of flexibility and extra time to do your work. You have more time for family. At the same time, being in person, you can’t replicate what it is like to be in the classroom with your professor and your peers, learning in that way. The issues of having your

Continued on page 24

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Nominate Haub Law for a Cy Près Award

Continued from page 23 camera on or being in front of your screen—those issues are taken away. The students are forced to participate. DR: I would not choose to have a class entirely remote. I think if I could I would choose a hybrid class in which we get to know each other in person and then have some classes be remote—that might work better. A certain set of material in both contracts and corporations does lend itself to asynchronous teaching. For more difficult material, it’s imperative to be able to read the classroom to see if people are following along with you. You need to see how the class reacts or watch them look confused. This is much harder with all the students on zoom—you can see their faces, but inevitably some are not looking at the camera. Nothing is as efficient as standing in a room and looking out in the classroom to see if your students are following along. Especially while teaching a complex topic, you need the confidence that the class understands it and are ready to move on.

Professor Rosenblum, you are starting at McGill in August 2021—what will that be like? DR: I will be teaching mostly business courses and law & sexuality. McGill’s Law Faculty is like Pace in many ways, especially with regard to its relatively small size. The thing that I love most about Pace, and expect to love about McGill, is that it is a small place in which everyone is a person, which makes a huge difference in the lives of students. At Pace, if a student is having a hard time, the faculty know about it because they truly know and care about their students. Faculty want to help their students succeed. This atmosphere is one of the many things that makes Pace so special.

Rachel, after law school you will be clerking for a family court judge in New Jersey, can you talk about that? RR: Elyse Diamond in the CCPD encouraged me to apply for this clerkship. Once I found out I got it, it was a very calming feeling to have a position after law school secured, especially given the current environment. I have always been interested in family law and I am looking forward to all of the experience that a clerkship will afford me. n

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A Winning Essay ALISHA FAHERTY PLACED FIRST in the NYSBA Professor William R. Ginsberg Memorial Essay Contest. Her article is titled: Tapped Out: How Newark, New Jersey’s Lead Drinking Water Crisis Illuminates the Inadequacy of the Federal Drinking Water Regulatory Scheme and Fuels Environmental Injustice Throughout the Nation. Alisha wrote this paper for the Pace Environmental Law Review, and focused on the Safe Drinking Water Act and the lead drinking water crisis in Newark, New Jersey. The paper describes NRDC’s lawsuit against the City of Newark for violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule. “When I found out that I won, I was excited and grateful. I hope that this article brings more public awareness to the environmental justice movement,” noted Alisha. n

Making Progress in an Altered Landscape On December 7-10, 2020, the Land Use Law Center held the 19th annual Alfred B. DelBello Land Use and Sustainable Development Conference. This year’s conference theme was "Making Progress in an Altered Landscape" and featured Richard Rothstein, author of The Color of Law, as the virtual Keynote speaker.

PROFESSOR Randolph McLaughlin was a featured speaker at the event “Black Heroines for Justice”—which took place on February 20, 2020. The event took place at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in Chattanooga, TN and discussed the 1980s Terrorism of the Ku Klux Klan in Chattanooga. Five African American women were shot and shot at by Klansmen in 1980. The men were later acquitted, however, eventually, the women won a civil case against the Klan. Today, only one of the women remains living, the other four deceased. Professor Randolph McLaughlin represented the women in their 1982 civil case, successfully using the Ku Klux Klan act to win an award of $535,000 for the women. The KKK act remained virtually forgotten for approximately 100 years until the 1980s, when McLaughlin rediscovered and successfully argued it. n

CY PRÈS AWARDS ARE AN IMPORTANT way to advance the interests of potential class members or honor the intentions of a deceased donor when complete dispersal of an award or trust is not feasible. Through cy près awards, litigators and judges can provide a collective, continuous benefit to the public interest. The Elisabeth Haub School of Law is home to the #1 ranked environmental law program in the nation— and also a first-rate clinical education program, so it is ideally situated to carry out the intended effects of settlements or trusts in areas of environmental law, sustainable and healthy regional food systems, access to justice, immigration, mediation, and investor rights, as well as to promote professional education. By training future leaders in environmental law and by using our clinics to provide low-income members of the community with otherwise unavailable legal representation, cy près gifts directed to Haub Law provide exponential impact.

Areas of Impact: Environmental Law: Since 1978, Haub Law has been internationally acclaimed for its outstanding environmental law program. Our dedicated faculty serve as national and world leaders in the field, while educating dozens of top environmental law students each year to be the next generation of leaders. Our alumni work in government environmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, law firms, corporations, and law schools and universities across the country and around the world. Clinics: Haub Law is home to strong clinical programs that allow students to gain direct experience as attorneys practicing under the careful supervision of clinic attorneys. Haub Law offers clinical programs in environmental protection, sustainable and healthy regional food systems, criminal defense, immigration, mediation, and investor rights. In these clinics, student interns represent clients who otherwise could not obtain legal assistance, in both litigation and transactional matters. Haub Law has already received a cy près award for its Investor Rights Clinic. Cy près funds allow us to continue and expand this vital work. Help us continue to make a real impact! Click here to learn more about our Environmental Law Program, and here to learn more about our clinical programs. If you have any questions, need documents or information, or are interested in designating the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University as a cy près award recipient, please contact Development Director Arianne Andrusco at aandrusco@pace.edu. n

February 2020 Education in the Hallways of #HaubLaw

Professor Michael Mushlin

OF NOTE

Revisiting History

An impromptu dialogue between Professor Tom McDonnell and a group of engaged law students.

SPRING 2021

Career Corner

OF NOTE

Networking in a Time of Social Distancing

B Y J I L L B A C K E R E S Q . / C I P P - U S, Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University

Jefferson Award Winner: Professor Vanessa Merton Merton has served as Elisabeth Haub School of Law’s Associate Dean for Clinical Education for 15 years, while creating the Access to Health Care and Prosecution of Domestic Violence Clinics. She currently directs the Immigration Justice Clinic, staffed by student attorneys authorized to practice under supervision, which provides free legal services to indigent noncitizens seeking to regularize their status, reunite with their children, and fight deportation. In 2017, the IJC assisted travelers detained at airports under the Trump Executive Orders and has spent recent spring breaks volunteering at immigrant detention centers on the southern border. Merton has received numerous awards, including the Law School's Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, the Graduating Class Award for Outstanding Law Professor, the Servant of Justice Award for advocacy for Haitian refugees, the Pace LALSA Alianza Award, the Pace Immigration Law Society Persistence Award, and the Excellence PACE UNIVERSITY HAS named Vanessa Merton, a profes-

in Teaching Award of the American Immigration Lawyers

sor at Pace’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law, a winner of

Association (the highest honor for an immigration law

the 2019-2020 Jefferson Award for Public Service.

professor), and she was named a “Lawyer Who Leads by

Your Online Profile. Google yourself and review the results with a finetooth comb. Start Early. Having no digital footprint is a mistake. Social Media. Obviously, social media is going to be a major part of your networking in the time of social distancing so your first step is to update and make your social media profiles robust. Reach Out to Colleagues. Spend this time reaching out to old supervisors and colleagues that you may not have been in touch with recently. Update them on your career and say hello. “Elevator Pitch.” Reaching out to old acquaintances and trying to create new ones is the perfect time to perfect your “el-

evator pitch.” An elevator pitch is nothing more than a brief synopsis of who you are and what you want. Online Seminars. Participate in online CLE seminars in practice areas in which you are interested and put those on your resume. Bar Associations and Committees. Spend some time online joining bar associations and perhaps more importantly, the committees of the practices to which you aspire. Your Networking Approach. Any networking, whether in person or online, should be approached with a well thought-out strategy. Review people’s LinkedIn pages and firm bios, and reach out to those individuals whose career path is one you wish to follow. Perfect Your Documents. This is a great time to work on your resume, writing samples, and even your cover letters (if you are seeking work). There are countless ways to increase your networking during this unprecedented time of social distancing. Doing so will pay dividends now and when we are all back together again. * This is an excerpt of an article originally published in Attorney at Law Magazine, a national online publication. You can read the original and full-length article here. n

Example” by the New York Law Journal. She is a found-

Leading by Example

recognize individuals from the Pace University commu-

ing member of the New York Immigrant Representation

IN THE FALL OF 2020, residence hall students in the Law School’s Dannat Hall were quarantined due to positive COVID-19 cases.

nity for their public and volunteer service, and dedication

Group convened and led by Chief Judge Robert Katzmann

The Alumni Board, led by its president, Mark Meeker, responded to outreach by Student Services to connect with the students.

to improving the quality of life in their communities. Each

of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Working closely with Student Services and the Development team at the Law School, Mark was provided with a list of all of the

Pace University’s Jefferson Awards for Public Service

year, the Jefferson Awards look for the unsung heroes—

For her work setting up a 200-student emergency

students living in the residence hall along with their email addresses. Mark emailed all residents, letting them know the alumni are

the selfless people who make the world a better place

operation to assist people affected by the 9/11 tragedy,

thinking of them and then he distributed all of the names to the Alumni Board officers and committee chairs and asked them to

through volunteering and community service efforts.

Merton received six national and local awards in 2002. She

send an email, too. Not stopping there, the Board also funded $10 gift certificates from a local vendor for each student. Student

began her legal education career at New York University

Services and Development also coordinated the creation and delivery of gift bags complete with not only the gift certificates, but

tireless dedication that help make the Haub Law com-

School of Law, and was a founding faculty member of

a gift from the Office of Student Services on the last day of quarantine. Mark notes, “We are all part of the same Pace family. The

munity so very special,” said Haub Law Dean Horace

CUNY Law School, and a Mellon and National Endowment

Board wanted to let the students know that we were thinking of them and were available to encourage and help them, not just

Anderson.

for the Humanities Fellow. n

during this tough period but throughout their law school journey and beyond.” n

“Vanessa Merton exemplifies the altruistic spirit and

NETWORKING IS A VITAL PART of being a successful practicing lawyer and, in turn, a successful law student. With the world as we knew it shut down until further notice, it does not mean that we have to stop our networking. Here are some practical things that attorneys and law students can do now, in this time of social distancing, that can be or lead to effective networking activities.

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EVENTS

A Virtual 2020 Commencement: The 2020 virtual celebration included a video of remarks from Dean Horace Anderson, Pace University President Marvin Krislov, U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion and numerous faculty members. Pace University’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mark Besca, conferred degrees virtually. The video also includes a virtual yearbook with photos and information about graduating students. For a graduation celebration program, click here.

Tax Alumni photo caption: Top row (L-R): Shamik Trivedi ’08, Michelle McCalla ’07, Michael Franchi ’05. Bottom row (L-R): Boris Sharapan Fabrikant ’08, Christiana Desrosiers ’18, Stephanie Nachtrieb ‘09

Tax Alumni Come (Back) to the (Virtual) Classroom

Earth Week Challenge 2020

Professor Bridget Crawford hosted her annual Tax Alumni Come (Back) to the Classroom event on Monday, November 2. This year, the event was held via Zoom. Six alumni participants joined Professor Crawford’s Federal Tax class and participated in a roundtable discussion, a Q&A with the student audience, gave concluding remarks, and even had breakout rooms where students were free to join any room they wished and move from room to room to interact further with the alumni. Students prepared for the class with a series of specific readings. As noted by Professor Crawford: “[t]he goals of the Tax Alumni Come Back to the Classroom Day are simple: showcase some of our alumni doing exciting professional work; encourage students to think about how a solid grounding in tax law and policy can be useful in any career; inspire students to connect some of what we learn in class to real issues that attorneys face every day; encourage students to think about careers in taxation in particular; connect alumni to each other.” This is the fourth year that Professor Crawford has hosted the event. Alumni participants for this year’s event included: Shamik Trivedi ’08, special counsel with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel (Large Business & International) where he advises the IRS on domestic tax matters, Michelle McCalla ’07, Director of Tax Accounting for WeWork, a leading global flexible shared space provider, Michael Franchi ’05, Portfolio Manager at UBS Asset Management in New York, Boris Sharapan Fabrikant ’08, Compass Real Estate, Christiana Desrosiers ’18, Tax Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), and Stephanie Nachtrieb ’09, Manager in Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax for KPMG LLP.

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the Haub Law community created an Earth Day challenge: in three words or less, what is the key to, or promise of, a zero-carbon future? Watch here.

Tax alumni (paraphrased) words of wisdom • Take classes that will be useful in the real world. (Christiana Desrosiers ’18) • Be nice, be kind and meet as many people as possible. (Boris Sharapan Fabrikant ‘08) • There are rare few people who are both passionate about what they do and good at what they do. Once you find them, hitch your wagon to them and learn from them. (Michael Franchi ’05) • Be flexible about where you expect your landing to be. (Michelle McCalla ’07) • A law degree will open a lot of different opportunities. (Stephanie Nachtrieb ’09) • Be curious. Leaving law school is not the end of your education. (Shamik Trivedi ’08)

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EVENTS 2020 Reunion Success! Our All Class Virtual Reunion was a huge success. Alumni spanning decades gathered for seminars and to mix and mingle. Programming included yoga, an Ethics CLE, a constitutional law discussion with Professor Bennett Gershman, a seminar on working parenthood during COVID, and networking socials grouped by graduation year. Thank you to all who participated—a great time was had by all!

P.L.A.N.

The Pace Law Alumni Network (P.L.A.N.) is an independent group of alumni 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. Despite the global pandemic, the group has moved its platform to virtual quarterly events held via Zoom and the events remain well-attended.

2020 Annual Law Leadership Awards Dinner Pace University's Elisabeth Haub School of Law held its 25th annual Leadership Awards Dinner on March 5, 2020 at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY. Presented with the Distinguished Service Award were Louis V. Fasulo '83, Director of Advocacy Programs at Haub Law and partner at Fasulo, Braverman and DiMaggio LLP; Hon. Terry Jane Ruderman '80, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District, and Associate Justice, Appellate Term of the Supreme Court, 9th & 10th Judicial Districts; and Jerold Ruderman, Senior Counsel at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker and long-time managing partner of the firm’s White Plains office. “At our Leadership Awards Dinner, we were thrilled to honor and celebrate three important members of our community,” said Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson. “Haub Law is deeply grateful for these individuals and their dedication and commitment to the Law School.” Professor Louis Fasulo has used his superb trial skills on behalf of both clients and the students at Haub Law. His enthusiasm and skill have fostered a love of trial work in countless students and have been the foundation of our highly regarded advocacy program. Judge Terry Jane Ruderman was one of the Law School’s first alumnae to rise to judicial office, where she has developed a strong reputation for her keen mind and fair judgment. Additionally, Jerold Ruderman has been a great friend of the Law School, providing counsel and guidance to several deans as a long-time member of our Board of Visitors, serving as a mentor to students and hiring many alumni. The Law School inaugurated its Leadership Award in 1995. The Distinguished Service Award is presented at the Dinner and honors individuals and/or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the legal community. Through sponsorships and a journal produced for the event, funds are raised that help to underwrite the law school’s academic programs, faculty and students.

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F A C U LT Y

DigitalCommons@Pace

Do You Want Another Pandemic? BY PROFESSOR NICHOLAS A. ROBINSON COVID-19 UPENDED ALL COUNTRIES, with tragic loss of life, continuing illnesses, and disrupted economies. Our social fabrics are torn asunder. Has our pandemic produced a global consensus: we do not want to experience this again. Consensus alone will not prevent a repeat. Beyond mutations of Sars-CoV-2, entirely new emerging infectious diseases are already among us. Environmental laws might avert another pandemic, but little is done to keep these viruses or bacteria at bay. Why? What should we do? Humans share many of the same infections with other animals. Wild and domesticated animals are hosts for viruses and bacteria that can infect humans. Science has yet to detect the some 700,000 viruses existing in fauna. When animals are healthy, a virus they host is stable. When humans disturb animal habitats, these viruses spill over to infect human hosts. This process is zoonosis. It happens all the time. We mostly ignore zoonosis. Popularly we think of illnesses as one-off events. However, HIV/AIDS, Avian Influenza, African Swine Flu, Zika or Lyme Disease each are zoonotic infections. There are more. Such infections go back 5,000 years. Popular memory recalls a few, like the Black Death (Bubonic plague) shed from rats, which raged throughout the entire 14th century, and still causes infections. The frequency of zoonotic diseases today is increasing for four reasons: (1) humans now number more than seven billion, (2) occupying ever more lands for development, disrupting the habitats of animals which then shed viruses and bacteria, which (3) find new human hosts to infect, and (4) these humans infect each other

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and travel globally in planes, ensuring a wide spread of the diseases. Governmental public health programs only address the fourth phenomenon. Climate change impacts will increase these disruptions. The horrors of pandemics explain why humans suppress their memory. After the Pandemic of 1918, which killed more people than World War I, the public’s thirst for getting on produced the “roaring ‘20s.” Will our economic recovery after 2021 roar back, purging society’s collective memories of Covid-19 while ignoring the next emerging infectious disease? We forget at our peril. In 1996, the microbiologist Dr. René Dubos wrote that “Modern man believes that he has achieved almost complete mastery over the natural forces which molded his evolution in the past and that he can now control his own biological and cultural destiny. … But this may be an illusion. Like other living things, he is part of an immensely complex ecological system and is bound to all its components by innumerable links.” Dubos predicted that: “at some unpredictable time and some unforeseeable manner nature will strike back.” Covid-19 did. It is 100% certain that a new zoonotic disease will afflict us. Enter the environmental rule of law. All countries have laws designed to keep ecosystems healthy. The Convention on Biological Diversity, which the USA has yet to ratify, is slowly aligning nations to address the first three basic causes of zoonotic spill-overs. When governments manage open space, in both protected areas like parklands or land use zoning, they keep natural habitats healthy and avert spill-overs. Through diligently using environmental impact assessments, governments can manage exposures to emerging infectious diseases. We should strengthen these laws. Public health, veterinary science, and conservation biology can cooperate more closely through “One Health” proposals. Stewardship of natural habitats can stabilize “Half Earth,” as recommended by Harvard’s Dr. Edward O. Wilson. Statutes, like New York’s Environmental Conservation Law, everywhere, define the frontlines for averting the next zoonotic infection. When will neglect or human error trigger the next pandemic? Will societies act to managing this risk? We have the choice. n

The Law School’s 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.

108,925 194,751 4,135,245

In 2020, Haub Law faculty articles were downloaded over 108,925 times from the Law School’s Digital Commons Articles from the three Pace Law reviews were downloaded over 194,751 times Total downloads for all time for the Law School collections surpassed 4,135,245 in 2020

The top three most downloaded faculty writings in 2020 were: Prosecutorial Ethics and Victims’ Rights: The Prosecutor’s Duty of Neutrality, 9 Lewis & Clark L. Rev. 559 (2005) (Professor Bennett L. Gershman) Sample Forms, in Estate Planning Law and Taxation, 4th ed. (2003) (Professor Bridget J. Crawford) Tampon Taxes, Discrimination, and Human Rights, 2017 Wis. L. Rev. 491 (Professor Bridget J. Crawford & Carla Spivack)

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The Right Family: Summary Chart

F A C U LT Y

The Right Family BY NOA BEN-ASHER & MARGOT J. POLLANS

The following excerpt is from Professors Noa Ben-Asher and Margot J. Pollans's 2020 article, The Right Family, which was published in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law.

Noa Ben-Asher

Margot J. Pollans

INTRODUCTION Most of the time, when we talk about the “social contract,” we consider the individual. The individual is the primary subject of constitutional rights and criminal prosecution. And yet, it is the family rather than the individual that the law so often champions. Indeed, it is the family over which the law obsesses. Pundits blame periods of crime and poverty on the disintegration of the family unit. Lawmakers design monetary policy to foster growth of family wealth via intergenerational wealth transfer. The Supreme Court has situated the freedom to marry at the peak of its LGBT rights jurisprudence. In this Article, we consider how legal and policy analysis vacillates between focus on the family and focus on the individual. We observe, through analysis of governmental policies and several recent Supreme Court decisions such as Trump v. Hawaii (2018), Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014), Kerry v. Din (2015), and Master-

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piece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2018), that both liberals and conservatives use the unit of the family when seeking to recognize and empower certain groups or actions, and they focus on the individual when seeking to disempower. We support the liberal positions on the four policies at stake in this Article. But more importantly, we offer a conceptual analysis that explains how conservatives and liberals operate in relation to each other when it comes to defending and empowering individuals and families. We observe that both liberals and conservatives rely on the sanctity and unity of family in crucial political struggles. Where they differ is over which families to celebrate and, consequently, when the family is the correct unit of legal analysis. Conservatives and liberals disagree on the political, racial, religious, and national identity of the “right” family. Our side-by-side analysis of recent policy debates surrounding the Trump administration’s Travel Ban, family separations at the southern border, agricultural subsidies, and the religious rights of closely held corporations reveals a troubling pattern. For some individuals, mostly Muslim and immigrant, one’s status as a member of a family is, at best, ignored and, at worst, exploited to punish. For other individuals, mostly white, Christian, and corporate, status as member of a family is elevated to justify what might otherwise appear to be undesirable government giveaways. Legal instruments regularly contract and expand families. Legal definitions of family control, among other things, marriage, taxes, zoning and cohabitation, sex, healthcare, estate planning, immigration, and social welfare benefits. While definitions of family are not uniform, the recognition of familial status is often associated with legal protections or benefits. It allows individuals to live together, share in one another’s eligibility for benefits, and inherit. Protecting the integrity and privacy of the family and encouraging creation of families are consistent policy goals across numerous

The Policy

Liberal Position

Conservative Position

Travel Ban

Family unity should be preserved.

National security threats caused by dangerous individuals trump family unity.

Southern Border Separation Policies

Family unity should be preserved.

Criminality threats caused by dangerous individuals trump family unity.

Agricultural Subsidies

The “family farmer” is a nostalgic myth. Lawmakers should redirect subsidies to real families.

The key social role of the family farmer justifies expanded wealth transfers to the industrial agriculture sector.

Religious Exemptions for Businesses

The “family business” is a mask for corporations and CEOs.

Family businesses are entitled to legal protections of their religious values.

areas of law. In some contexts, the law penalizes those who violate duties to their families. And, at an extreme, when individual actors are considered particularly bad, the law punishes an individual’s family as well. Over the course of the twentieth century, individual rights stemming from familial relationships have emerged in the Supreme Court’s liberty and equality jurisprudence, including the rights of parents, unwed fathers, and grandparents, as well as privacy and marriage rights. Scholars have recently turned to this dialogue between family law and constitutional law as an avenue to protect vulnerable families. This Article underscores the danger of limiting human rights to the context of the family. Political scientist Melinda Cooper recently observed that “[t]he history of

family is one of perpetual crisis.” Perhaps, too, so long as family remains a fundamental unit of social organization, the myth of family and of individuals’ relationships to the family serve as fodder for achieving other goals of social ordering. Muslims and immigrants are currently subjected to family-separating policies that are justified by condemnation of individual bad actors. Farmers and businessmen, by contrast, are rewarded by policies that expand the size and power of individual families. The decision between centering a policy on the individual or the family determines which groups of people are empowered and which are not. n For purposes of this excerpt, footnotes have been omitted. The full version of this article was published in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law: 39 Colum. J. Gender & L. 1 (2020).

2020 Goettel Prize for Faculty Scholarship PROFESSOR Leslie Yalof Garfield Tenzer was awarded the 2020 Goettel Prize for Faculty Scholarship for her article, “Social Media, Venue and the Right to a Fair Trial,” published by Baylor Law Review (71 Baylor L. Rev. 421 (2019)). The Goettel Prize was created in 2004 to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship by members of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University faculty. Each year, members of the tenured and tenure-track faculty are invited to submit their work for consideration (on an anonymous basis) by a selection committee of outside reviewers. This year's committee consisted of three distinguished law school professors: Professor Troy McKenzie of NYU Law School; Professor Michele DeStefano of University of Miami Law School; and Professor Richard Bales of Ohio Northern University Law School. Haub Law Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Operations, Emily Waldman, noted that, Professor Tenzer's winning piece "tackled a very timely and pressing issue: whether and how judges should recognize social media's potential influence on jurors." “It is an incredible honor to have been recognized among my scholarly colleagues at Pace, all of whom I so deeply respect for their thoughtful and provocative work,” stated Professor Leslie Tenzer. n

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Teaching Amidst a Global Pandemic A Q&A with Dean Emerita and Professor of Law Michelle Simon

Prior to March 2020, did you have experience with remote teaching? Before we shut down, I had very little experience with teaching remotely. I had taped a lecture or two over the years, but that was about it. I vividly remember the day we learned that we would have to teach our classes remotely for the rest of the semester-I was so overwhelmed that I started to cry!

Since March 2020, you have taught Civil Procedure, Torts, Conflict of Laws, and Legal Skills-what challenges do those courses bring whilst being taught remotely?

Every course brings its own challenges. When we shut down in March 2020, I had already been teaching those classes since January. So I knew all the students, and they knew each other. That made the transition a little easier. I have found especially with the first semester first year courses that it is difficult to get to know the students, and difficult to enter into any kind of Socratic dialog over Zoom. That can make a class like torts, which is really all about learning how to analyze, especially difficult.

As a professor, what has been the most difficult aspect of teaching law school courses remotely? I wish that one of my kids still lived at home so that when the technology becomes frustrating for me, one of them can just come over to my computer, calm me down, and fix the problem in seconds. And of course, like everyone who is working remotely, as soon as I start teaching—inevitably the dog starts barking or my granddaughter manages to open the door of my office and starts singing songs from “Frozen” at the top of her lungs. The way that you have to teach when you are teaching remotely is very different from in-person teaching. I tend to use a blackboard a lot, and I had to get used to either using the zoom “whiteboard” or preparing multiple PowerPoint slides for each class. And of course, making sure I am connecting with the students. When I am teaching live, I can feel the atmosphere in the classroom. I can tell when students are confused, or bored, or excited about a particular case or issue. That is much harder to do when each student is a little square on a computer screen. In addition, many students lack a quiet place to study, reliable internet or access to a printer. Some experienced a physical dislocation, faced health uncertainties for either themselves or family members, or became full-time caretakers for children, parents, or other family members while still trying to maintain a rigorous course load in law school. All of that needs to be taken into consideration when teaching students remotely.

What do you feel you have gained from the remote learning experience? First and foremost, it forced me to learn how to teach remotely. I was one of those people who probably never would have learned. I am naturally pretty organized, but you have to be extremely organized when teaching remotely. You have to think through the entire class before you teach it, to make sure that you have whatever slides, handouts, and other materials available to share with students. In Conflict of Laws, which is a difficult upper-level course, I was able to create a reverse classroom, where the students listened to asynchronous lectures and we were able to use the class time to go over problems. Teaching remotely forced me to really think about

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how I want to deliver the material, and helped me be more creative in my teaching.

What do you miss about the old “normal”? One of the things I have always loved about this law schools is its sense of community. That is what I miss the most. I miss going into the cafeteria and seeing my students. I miss being able to chat with them before and after class, or have them drop into my office. I miss seeing my colleagues and being able to chat informally about a case I’m having trouble teaching, or our families, or an article I’m thinking of writing. I miss my office, where everything stays in exactly the same place as I left it. I’m also sad about all of the parts of law school that the current students are missing, like being able to talk to each other informally, or get advice from upper-class students, or attend things like the Barrister’s Ball and all of the other events that balance out the stress that being a law student can create.

Let’s pretend that we are five years in the future and the global pandemic has ceased, what aspects of remote learning have you brought with you as a permanent fixture to your classroom? I think that I will continue to use the idea of a reverse classroom, and deliver more information through a lecture format, using the classroom setting to actually synthesize the law and analyze problems that use the law. I will also use PowerPoint more effectively as well as other techniques like “poll everywhere.” I will save a lot of paper because all of my handouts are now scanned and can be emailed. And it certainly will be easy to schedule a make-up class either by just teaching the class remotely or through an asynchronous lecture.

Outside of teaching, have you picked up any new hobbies during the pandemic? Early on in the pandemic, I learned that Carvel was delivering ice cream. So one of my hobbies was gaining fifteen pounds during the first six months of the pandemic, and then trying to lose them during the second six months of the pandemic! I also have a pottery wheel, and I was able to work on my throwing technique. (It still needs a lot of work). I tried to clean my basement, but it looks worse than ever.

Where is the first place you will travel post-pandemic? That is a hard question! My husband does a lot of work in London, and we have a lot of friends there, so I certainly want to go back there. My son bought a new house in Delaware, and I want to see that too. I also love Puerto Rico-we usually try to go every year but between the hurricane and the pandemic we have missed a few years. Ahhhhh-I’m starting to daydream again! n

A Lifetime of Achievement THE NEW YORK STATE Bar Association (NYSBA) honored Haub Law Emeritus Professor Merril Sobie with a special lifetime achievement award for decades of contribution to family law and children’s law. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore delivered opening remarks and presented the lifetime achievement award, as well as the 2020 Howard A. Levine Awards for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare, in a virtual ceremony on September 9. Professor Sobie is also 2000 recipient of the Howard A. Levine Award. NYSBA President Scott M. Karson delivered introductory remarks. Merril Sobie served as the first executive officer of the New York City Family Court, and as assistant to the director of administration of the Courts, First Judicial Department. He is a founding faculty member and has taught at Haub Law since 1978. He has specialized in family and children’s law and teaches Jurisprudence, Children and the Law, Advanced Family Law, and Comparative Family Law. Professor Sobie has authored two important books, New York Family Court Practice and The Creation of Juvenile Justice: A History of Children’s Law. He also published the official McKinney’s Commentaries to the Family Court Act and the Domestic Relations Law, and has authored numerous articles on children’s laws. “Professor Sobie was one of the original faculty members at the Law School, joining soon after it opened in 1976. Over the decades he has been an extraordinarily valuable faculty member, a mentor to students and fellow scholars alike,” said Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson. “We are thrilled that the State Bar is giving him the attention we know he richly deserves.” In addition, Professor Sobie co-authored the New York State Bar Association Study of the Legal Representation of Children, drafted the official Bar Association Standards and Commentaries for Representing Children, and drafted the New York Juvenile Delinquency Code. For many years, he was chairperson of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Children and the Law, and he is a fellow of the New York Bar Foundation. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Brooklyn College and a JD at New York University School of Law. n

SPRING 2021

F A C U LT Y

Title IX & Menstruation BY M A R G A R E T E . J O H N S O N , E M I LY G O L D WA L D M A N A N D B R I D G E T J . C R AW F O R D

“Until all students can attend school with the confidence that their biology is no obstacle to achievement, there will be continued need for advocacy around menstruation and education.”

The following excerpt is from Professors Margaret E. Johnson, Emily Gold Waldman, and Bridget J. Crawford’s 2020 article, Title IX & Menstruation, which was published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender. IN 2019, THREE SEVENTH-GRADE GIRLS staged a “cookie protest” with tampon-shaped cookies after a school principal denied their request to make free menstrual products available in school bathrooms. Social media brought wide attention to the girls’ cause (and cookies). The principal was forced to reconsider his argument that students would “abuse the privilege” of freely receiving such products. Cosmopolitan magazine even reported the story as an example of young women “taking over the world.” The Cosmopolitan story reflects an increasing public awareness of the ways that menstruation affects daily life. In 2015, four years earlier, menstruation had entered the public discourse in a new way: activists created an online petition in opposition to the tampon tax (i.e., the state sales tax on menstrual products). This petition garnered significant attention. It ultimately led to ongoing legislative efforts around the country, along with a parallel litigation campaign, to repeal these state taxes so that menstrual products can receive the same sales tax exemptions afforded to other necessities. The increased awareness about the existence and unfairness of the tampon tax helped inspire many people to discuss and advocate against other menstrual injustices such as lack of workplace accommodations for menstrual needs and lack of access to affordable products. Menstruation’s new salience in public discourse increased the number of charitable organizations and community groups organizing menstrual product drives for those who could not afford them. The dialogue raised awareness about the fact that transgender boys and men, as well as gender non-binary and intersex persons, menstruate as well. It also amplified existing litigation and advocacy. Plaintiffs brought new lawsuits seeking remedies for, among other things, being fired from their jobs for menstruating, or for being left isolated in a cell bleeding with no menstrual products, water, soap, or change of clothes. These efforts, too, in-

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spired change, with some states passing legislation that requires free products in settings like prisons, schools, and shelters. Activism around menstruation is often referred to as the movement for “menstrual equity,” a phrase originally coined by Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, one of the cofounders of Period Equity, which is a non-profit organization “dedicated to ensuring accessible, affordable and safe menstrual products.” The term has evolved to include education, health care, and anti-stigma advocacy. Underlying these commitments is the broader goal of “menstrual justice,” which involves addressing the stigma and taboo of menstruation, and the resultant discrimination toward and harassment of those who are menstruating. Students have been on the forefront of efforts to address menstrual stigma and make menstrual products available in their schools. The girls who staged the “cookie protest,” as well as other students, are mediasavvy. Students (and their adult allies) have also become increasingly vocal about the ways that menstruation can limit access to educational opportunities. This Article attempts to identify the particular intersections of menstruation with primary and secondary schools (as opposed to the university setting). The onset of menstruation typically ranges from ages eight to fifteen; thus, high schools, middle schools, and even some elementary schools will have menstruating students. These educational settings are particularly fraught: schools exercise tight authority and control over students; students are in close contact with each other; and many students are just beginning to menstruate and adjust to that process. In considering these intersections, this Article examines how Title IX does and should protect against menstruation-related disruptions in students’ school lives. The Article then locates these investigations within the larger intellectual landscape of feminist legal theory. In fact, the argument that Title IX can and does provide a rem-

Pictured: Professors Bridget J. Crawford and Emily Gold Waldman edy for menstruation-related discrimination does not represent a single feminist theory. Rather, the position builds on and challenges traditional feminist approaches to law, employing multiple feminist theories. This Article proceeds in three parts. Part I provides a brief overview of menstruation, discussing both the biology of menstruation and the long-held stigmas that surround it. Part II then frames the discussion of menstruation in the school context. It introduces four points of intersection: menstruation-related peer harassment; the failure of school policies (particularly those surrounding bathroom access) to accommodate the half of the student population that menstruates every month; the inaccessibility of menstrual products in schools; and the insufficient state of menstrual education. Each of these issues, as we show, impedes equal access to education. Accordingly, Title IX—which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally-funded schools and programs, and which has the ultimate goal of ensuring equal access to education—should address them. Currently, Title IX provides a starting point for dealing with these sorts of educational barriers, but to fully implement equal opportunity, Title IX regulations and guidance should go even further. Menstruation is a product of female biology and hence is sex-specific, even if not genderor gender-identity specific. As a result, barriers due to menstruation are barriers due to sex. Thus, just as Title IX regulations (and related guidance) were promulgated to address pregnancy, so too should regulations and guidance be adopted to address menstruation. Part III explores how arguments about Title IX’s application to menstruation-based disturbances in a student’s education connect with multiple feminist legal theories, showing how the arguments borrow from, depart from, and intertwine them. Formal equality has a certain cognitive appeal, but it is an incomplete foundation for addressing all of the issues identified above.

In particular, although formal equality arguments are relevant to situations involving menstruation-based harassment, they are less applicable to claims about accommodations and access to products. Similarly, anti-essentialist arguments are in tension with Title IX’s embedded sex binarism. Anti-stereotyping, anti-subordination, and intersectional arguments, by contrast, are more helpful. They challenge the notion of menstruation as a “private” matter (a characterization that stems from menstruation’s association with female bodies), invite consideration of the ways that privacy and stigma around menstruation operate as instruments of control over women and girls, and illuminate the ways in which sex overlaps with poverty and power in the context of schools’ policies toward menstruation. This Part further locates activism around menstruation in the context of third-wave feminist legal theory and suggests that menstrual advocacy can be understood as a unique engagement with law and social media in the service of legal and cultural change. Moreover, menstruation-related work has broader implications, demonstrating that laws in a just society must address the biological needs and experiences of half the population. The Article concludes by emphasizing Title IX’s potential role as a tool for addressing educational barriers caused by schools’ policies toward menstruation. Until all students can attend school with the confidence that their biology is no obstacle to achievement, there will be continued need for advocacy around menstruation and education. And by taking into account the biological fact of menstruation, lawmakers can help effectuate a society where all people can participate fully in public life. n For purposes of this excerpt, footnotes have been omitted. The full version of this article was published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender: 43 Harvard Journal of Law and Gender 225 (2020).

SPRING 2021

Haub Law Faculty Publications (2020)

F A C U LT Y

Way Forward–Reform Proposals (2020) (with Marta Andhov, Roberto Caranta, et al.)

Professor Margot J. Pollans

From Public Health to Public Wealth: The Case for Economic Justice, 108 KY. L.J. 387 (2020)

Professor Linda C. Fentiman

The Right Family, 39 Colum. J. Gender & L. 1 (2020) (with Noa Ben-Asher)

Professor Noa Ben-Asher

Of Mosquitoes and "Moral Convictions" in the Age of Zika: How the Trump Administration's Gutting of the Affordable Care Act's Contraceptive Mandate Jeopardizes Women's and Children's Health, 30 Health Matrix 85 (2020)

Professor Barbara Atwell article

Academic Affairs During a Pandemic A Q&A with Jill Gross, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

My role required me to quickly develop guidance and policies for faculty teaching remotely, help faculty deliver the same quality education through a different teaching modality, address student concerns related to the pandemic, support students who were struggling academically, and ensure a smooth transition for all.

What was your biggest priority when the shift to remote learning happened? My biggest priority was to ensure that our program of legal education continued seamlessly and at the same level of quality. Any decisions I made in this time were student-centered and were governed by compassion, equity and integrity.

Has that priority shifted as the months have gone on? My overall focus on compassion and fairness has not waned, but the immediacy and urgency of the challenges subsided.

How do you feel professors and students have adjusted to remote learning and the “new normal”? I am in awe of both the faculty and students for their patience, resiliency, adaptability, and community spirit during the “new normal.”

What have the biggest challenges been from your perspective?

You are the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Haub Law, can you speak a bit about what that entails? Sure. I am responsible for the entire academic program for all students, including curriculum, course scheduling and staffing, hiring adjunct faculty, overseeing the Registrar, the Office of Academic Success, and academic advising, addressing students’ academic concerns, and maintaining the integrity of all assessments.

How did that role shift once the pandemic started? When the pandemic started, the School had to shift, just about overnight, to an entirely remote platform. Coincidentally (and luckily), the University had just adopted Zoom as its primary videoconferencing program the very same week as the shutdown.

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Not being able to see both colleagues and students in person is a big challenge. Just walking around the school pre-COVID gave clues as to the educational experiences and overall spirit of the learning community. It can be difficult to build and/or maintain community via Zoom.

Do you foresee any changes you implemented during the pandemic becoming permanent in a postpandemic world? Yes. No doubt remote learning is here to stay. Although we are constrained by our regulators, I foresee a larger percentage of our curriculum will be delivered remotely in the future. I also foresee needing less physical space for law school functions. We have proved that many staff can perform their functions quite well remotely, and therefore I imagine we will be much more flexible in allowing staff to work from home if that works well for them. n

articles

Trauma-Centered Social Justice, 95 TUL. L. REV. 95 (2020) The Right Family, 39 Colum. J. Gender & L. 1 (2020) (with Margot J. Pollans) Professor David N. Cassuto article

Suffering Matters: NEPA, Animals, and the Duty to Disclose, 42 U. Haw. L. Rev. 2 (2020) (with Tala DiBenedetto) Professor Bridget J. Crawford articles

Blockchain Wills, 95 IND. L.J. 735 (2020)

article

Professor James J. Fishman article

The Private Foundation Rules at Fifty: How Did We Get Them and Do They Meet Current Needs?, 17 Pitt. Tax Rev. 247 (2020) Professor Bennett L. Gershman new edition

Rotunda’s Modern Constitutional Law: Cases, Notes, and Questions (12th ed. 2021) Professor Shelby D. Green

Reflections on Feminism, Law & Culture: Law Students’ Perspectives, 41 Pace L. Rev. 105 (2020) (with multiple student co-authors)

book

What Probate Courts Cite: Lessons from the New York County Surrogate’s Court 2017-2018, 53 U.C. Davis L. Rev. 2125 (2020)

article

The Ground on Which We All Stand: A Conversation About Menstrual Equity Law and Activism, 26 Mich. J. Gender & L. 341 (2020) (with Margaret E. Johnson, Marcy L. Karin, Lauren Strausfeld, & Emily Gold Waldman) Teaching with Feminist Judgments: A Global Conversation, 38 L. & Ineq. 1 (2020) (with Kathryn M. Stanchi, Linda L. Berger, et al.) Title IX and Menstruation, 43 HARV. J. L. & GENDER 225 (2020) (with Margaret E. Johnson & Emily Gold Waldman) Law Faculty Experiences Teaching During the Pandemic, St. Louis U. L.J. (forthcoming 2020) (with Michelle S. Simon) Wills Formalities Beyond COVID-19: An AustralianUnited States Perspective, 5 U. N.S.W. L.J. F. 1 (2020) (with Kelly Purser & Tina Cockburn) Basis and Bargain Sales: Income Tax and Other Concerns, 73 Tax Law. 801 (2020) (with Jonathan G. Blattmachr) e s s ays

Taxation as a Site of Memory: Exemptions, Universities, and the Legacy of Slavery, 73 Smu L. Rev. F. 222 (2020) The Common Law as a Force for Women, 61 B.C. L. Rev. E-Supp. I-63 (2020) Professor Jason J. Czarnezki article

Global Peace and Security without a Healthy Environment?, 4 Juridisk Tidskrift 785 (2020) other writing

Introducing mandatory sustainability requirements in the EU public procurement directives, in Sustainability Through Public Procurement: The

Historic Preservation: Stories and Laws (2020) (with Nicholas A. Robinson)

Landlord-Tenant Law Redux: New York’s “Rad” Landlord-Tenant Law Revisions, 34 Prob. & Prop. 17 (2020) (with Samuel Middleton & Britney L. Frates) Professor Alexander K.A. Greenawalt book chapters

What is an International Crime?, in The Oxford Handbook of International Criminal Law (Kevin Jon Heller et al. eds., 2020) Admissibility as a Theory of International Criminal Law, in The Elgar Companion to the International Criminal Court (Margaret M. deGuzman & Valerie Oosterveld eds., 2020) The International Court of Justice, in The Oxford Annual Review Of United Nations Affairs (Joachim W. Muller & Karl P. Sauvant, eds., 2020) Professor Lissa Griffin article

International Legal Cooperation and the Principle of Equality Among Nations, 23(13) Juris Poiesis 576 (2020) Professor Jill I. Gross articles

Arbitration Archetypes for Achieving Justice, 88 Fordham L. Rev. 2319 (2020) The Final Frontier: Are Class Action Waivers in Broker-Dealer Employment Agreements Enforceable?, 12 Arb. L. Rev. 96 (2020)

article

Professor Nicholas A. Robinson book

Historic Preservation: Stories and Laws (2020) (with Shelby D. Green) article

The Public Trust Doctrine in the 21st Century, 10 Geo. Wash. J. Energy & Env’t L. 83 (2020) The Next Pandemic is Here, Envtl. F. Nov.-Dec. 2020, at 30 book chapters

Establishing the Legal Ground for Environmental Rights in Sustainable Development: The Pioneering Work of Charles Okidi, in Blazing the Trail: Professor Charles Okidi’s Enduring Legacy in the Development of Environmental Law (Patricia Kameri-Mbote & Collins Odote eds., 2020) (with Jamie Benidickson) Evolutionary Roots Nurturing Equity Across Generations, in Legal Action on Behalf of Future Generations: New Paths (Emilie Gaillard & David N. Forman eds., 2020). The Charter of the Forest: Evolving Human Rights in Nature, in The Impact of Environmental Law: Stories of the World We Want (Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio, Elizabeth A. Kirk & Jessica Steinberg Albin eds., 2020). Dean Emerita & Professor Michelle S. Simon article

Law Faculty Experiences Teaching During the Pandemic, St. Louis U. L.J. (forthcoming 2020) (with Bridget J. Crawford) Professor Merril Sobie u p d at e s

Practice Commentary, McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Family Court Act and Domestic Relations Law (2020) New York Family Court Practice (Supp. 2020) (with Gary Solomon) Professor Leslie Y. Garfield Tenzer article

The Gen Z Juror, 88 Tenn. L. Rev. 173 (2020) u p d at e s

Criminal Defense Techniques (2020) (with Stuart Sacks and Alison Garfield) Lexisnexis Practice Guide: Minnesota Criminal Law (Leslie Y. Garfield Tenzer ed., 2020) Professor Emily Gold Waldman

u p d at e s

articles

Broker-Dealer Law and Regulation (Supp. 2020) (twovolume treatise with James Fanto & Norman Poser)

The Ground on Which We All Stand: A Conversation About Menstrual Equity Law and Activism, 26 Mich. J. Gender & L. 341 (2020) (with Bridget J. Crawford, Margaret E. Johnson, Marcy L. Karin, & Lauren Strausfeld)

Professor Michael B. Mushlin book chapter

COVID-19, in Rights of Prisoners u p d at e s

Rights of Prisoners (Supp. 2020)

Title IX and Menstruation, 43 Harv. J. L. & Gender 225 (2020) (with Bridget J. Crawford & Margaret E. Johnson)

SPRING 2021

ALUMNI Class Notes 1979

Harry Buck , CEO, Legal Outsourcing 2.0, moderated the Webinar, ACEDS (Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists) NY Metro Chapter: AI Series: The Process of Innovation in the Legal Tech Space. Judge Linda Jamieson was featured in the article Judge Linda Jamieson expects more court cases in Covid aftermath—read here.

1980 Susan L. Bender was recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Top Attorney in the field of Law and in acknowledgment of her professional excellence with Bender & Rosenthal LLP—read here. White Oak Global Advisors, LLC announced the addition of Bob Genise to White Oak Aviation, LLC, the aviation financing affiliate created to expand the firm’s offerings to the aviation market. Philip M. Halpern ’s book, The Burden of Proof: Preparing a Case from Intake through Verdict and on Appeal was published. In the book’s acknowledgements, the assistance of Shari B. Hochberg, a 2012 graduate of Haub Law is acknowledged for her devotion to the project. Additionally, the many law students and interns from Haub Law who assisted in researching the book were thanked.

1983 The Government Law Center at Albany Law School announced that Patrick Brown was chosen to oversee the Saratoga Institute on Equine, Racing, and Gaming Law, a long-running conference held annually in Saratoga Springs. Harold E. Kaplan , BBA ’72, JD ’83, a Florida Board Certified Health Law Attorney, also admitted in New York, was granted Pro Bono out of state lawyer status by the North Carolina State Bar enabling him to practice pro bono for Pisgah Legal Services in Asheville, NC. Harold was also recently elected

President of Blue Heron Point Property Owners Association, Inc. located in Lake Lure, NC. 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. Jerry Silber has been recognized by his employer, Verizon Communications, for his many pro bono efforts and “stretching beyond his core responsibilities to help achieve a greater result.” Jerry is Vice-President and Deputy General Counsel at Verizon Business Group and sits on its Executive Leadership Team. Jerry also is an Adjunct Professor at Manhattanville’s School of Professional Studies, where he teaches a graduate seminar on Communications Regulation & Ethics.

1984 Laura D. Barbieri concluded her three-year term as Chair of the Education and the Law Committee for the City Bar. Laura is Special Counsel with the Advocates for Justice Legal Foundation and Special Counsel with the Advocates for Justice Chartered Attorneys. Lisa Linsky received the Community Vision Award at LeGaL’s Annual Dinner Gala. The Dinner was held on February 27, 2020 at Cipriani Wall Street. Following his retirement from the practice of law in 2003, Noah Lipman, began a new career in education at the University and high school level. In 2018, he relocated to Texas in 2018. His law firm, Lipman & Booth, LLP (Christopher Booth class of 1989), continues to engage in the successful practice of criminal litigation on a nationwide basis with its primary offices located at 11 Broadway in Manhattan where it has been since 1984.

1985

Mary Chapyak generously made a gift to Haub Law in memory of her

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dear friend and fellow law school alumna, Donna Kramer, also Class of 1985, who passed away on October 4th. Mary recalls “we met during our first week as 1Ls in 1982, became fast friends and maintained a close friendship for 35 years.” Airlink, a nonprofit relief organization focused on mobilizing the aviation industry to ensure assistance reaches communities affected by disasters and other humanitarian crises around the world, recently added Patrick H. Dowling to its Board of Trustees. Olivia M. Gross joined Cullen and Dykman as a partner. She will practice in the firm’s construction and insurance coverage litigation practice. Previously she was an attorney with Newman Myers Kreines Gross Harris, P.C.

1986 Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim , a career transit and transportation professional who has led some of the largest transportation agencies in the country, joined HNTB as national transit and rail market sector leader and senior vice president. Hakim is based in HNTB’s New York City office in the Empire State Building and will work with clients across the country. Judge John H. Wilson published his op-ed Austin Tong Has Done Nothing Wrong in the Fordham Observer—read here.

1987 Christian Robert Cullen has been promoted from Senior Assistant County Attorney to Chief Assistant County Attorney with the County of Dutchess Department of Law.

Alumni Association Board of Directors OFFICERS

Adele Lerman Janow ‘90

Mark Meeker, Dec. ‘09 Alumni Association President

Sameera Ansari Kalra ‘09

Lisa E. Gladwell ‘10 Alumni Association Vice President Leanne Shofi ‘94 Alumni Association Secretary Gail M. Mulligan '09 Alumni Association Treasurer MEMBERS Patricia Bisesto ‘92 Michael Calandra Jr. ‘05 Jeremy Farrington ‘11 Hon. Sandra A. Forster ‘79 Stephen Forte ‘08

Michael Kremen ‘08 James M. Lenihan ‘91 Hon. Carole Levy ‘83 Director Emerita Caesar Lopez ‘12 Benjamin Lowenthal ‘14 Joseph Martin ‘91 Director Emeritus Joseph W. Mazel ‘97 Joseph Moravec ‘17 John Mulligan ‘88 Susan Mulliken ‘11 Diana Neeves ‘16

Michael Frankel ‘03

Jacqueline Parker ‘95

James A. Garvey III ‘80

Nicholas Pasalides ‘11

Rebecca Gigliotti ‘18

Raymond Perez ‘00

Michael G. Gilberg ‘07

Thomas Persico ‘18

Michael T. Goldstein ‘06

Christopher M. Psihoules ‘12

Jennifer L. Gray ‘06

Judson K. Siebert ‘85

George Haddad ‘15

Andrew Teodorescu ‘13

ALUMNI PROFILE

Joe & Jonina Sauer ‘13 We asked law student Audra Gale to connect with Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University alumni Joe and Jonina (Jo) Sauer and interview them regarding their law school experience and careers. Joe and Jo met in college at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. After college, the couple moved back to New York and pursued their respective careers. A few years later, now a married couple, they each made the decision to enroll at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Joe and Jo balanced busy lives while attending Haub Law—they worked, had full class schedules, and raised a family. In fact, their first child was born in between their 1L and 2L years. Currently, Joe is a litigator. He is senior counsel at Fullerton Beck LLP. Prior to this, he spent over five years working for the New York City Law Department as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York in the Bronx Tort Division, including as a trial attorney. Jo has taken the corporate route—she is currently a Senior Director, Associate General Counsel—M&A for Thermo Fisher Scientific, and before that she was a Mergers and Acquisition attorney at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP for over seven years.

Audra: Was there a specific class at Haub Law that impacted your law school and professional experience? Jo: Pre-trial civil litigation. It was a real “aha moment” for me. I made it to the second round of interviews with Judge Lisa Smith in White Plains and then didn’t get the job. I was like “what am I going to do?” Professor Greg McLaughlin had said to me, “well I'm going to bring in a bunch of practicing lawyers from different places and you should talk to each of them about their experience and how they got where they got.” Eric Stone came from Paul Weiss and I spoke to him and really enjoyed meeting with him. It was at that moment, I knew I wanted to work with him and lawyers like him. Professor McLaughlin encouraged me to reach out to him and I did. From there, Eric asked me to send my resume and then I didn't hear from him for probably three months. Later that year, I was walking past the firm’s offices and followed up with another email to him. I think he emailed me back in four minutes and the email said something like “yes, yes, you! Hold on, I've been meaning to get in touch.” I think that next week I had an interview. He said “if you can work full time, go to law school at night, and raise a child, you're going to be fine.” To come back to your

original question, it was that pre-trial civil litigation class that firmly made me feel sort of empowered that I would be able to do it and have the confidence to go after what I wanted and to become a successful attorney. I was offered a spot in Paul Weiss’ corporate law practice and that is how I ended up as an M&A attorney for the last seven years.

Audra: Were there any struggles you went through during law school? Joe: For me, it was just remembering how to be a student, having had all that time off, just kind of relearning the skills, studying. In some ways, having all that we had on our plates—jobs, kids—was difficult, but in some respects, it almost helped, as crazy as that sounds. You have to be so focused in the time that you do have so you don’t really procrastinate. It taught me to be efficient with my time and I believe that's one of the most important parts of being a lawyer in any kind of busy practice—to be efficient.

Continued on page 44

SPRING 2021

ALUMNI Continued from page 43 Audra: Did you have any favorite professors at Haub Law? Jo: That’s a hard question for me to answer because I had many really wonderful experiences. Professor Garfield Tenzer was tremendously encouraging and also took an interest in our lives. She was so encouraging and supportive and we still keep in touch. She definitely stood out for me, I think in part, because I could see myself in her. And that was really helpful for me—I had not always had women professors and women professionals around me and so that was inspirational. Obviously, also Greg McLaughlin. And we also had Professor Bean who led the clerkship program, again, just tremendously compassionate, bright, and thoughtful. I also was a research assistant for Professor Fentiman for one semester, which was also incredible. She has very close attention to detail and is very focused on the intellectual curiosity piece of law, which I appreciate. She was incredible. Overall, I had a string of great experiences with different folks.

Audra: Joe—what is your job like on a day-to-day basis? Joe: Primarily what I handle is defense litigation— personal injury defense, labor law cases, general liability. New York, about a year ago, passed the Child’s Victim Act, which revives all of these old, previously tolled cases stemming from instances of child sex abuse. I have been working on many of these cases along with a partner at my firm. We represent a number of institutional defendants. That is the biggest part of what I do at my firm. As far as my day-to-day, it has been turned on its head since March 2020. Previously, I was constantly in depositions, going to court, meeting clients, out doing site inspections. The times where I would be at the office were rare. That’s part of what I enjoy most about this type of practice—sitting at a desk all the time is not ideal for me. So, when you are in court, have a deposition on an interesting case, personally, I find those aspects the most interesting parts of the job. Now, everything is different. I do my depositions by Zoom. I miss that in person aspect. There is not a lot going to trial. Everything is on hold. I am at a great firm and I have been able to expand

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some of my practice areas. I have started getting into a little bit of real estate, a little bit of commercial, just to expand my horizons and my practice. Audra: Now, prior to joining Fullerton Beck, you were an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York in the Bronx Tort Division—what was that like? Joe: So, for me, I thought working for the City Law Department was about the best experience you could have coming out of law school. You know you are going to be a better lawyer by just going out, experiencing, and doing. Working for Corporation Counsel, I got experience right off the bat. The experience I gained was like none other. I was a few months in and I was teaching sixth year associates from big law firms how to do depositions. So it was great. Four years out, I was first chair on trial.

Audra: What the transition like going from your last job to a private sector firm? Joe: The trial skills I gained while working for the City put me years ahead by the time I made the transition. They were invaluable skills. As far as making the transition, the biggest adjustment is billing and accounting for your time. When somebody is not on the clock for billable hours, you are able to review a transcript fifteen times, know it front, and back. You cannot really do that the same way in private practice. I managed to do my transition very seamlessly. One of my bosses is a Haub Law alumna, Eileen Fullerton.

Audra: Jo—from law school, you started working at Paul Weiss practicing corporate law and mergers and acquisitions. Did you always plan on working in Big Law? Jo: I really thought I was going to go into public interest law. I could have seen myself at legal services. However, when I got the offer from Paul Weiss, it was too great to turn down for a host of reasons. I also felt “well I could go do this for two or three years that's not going to hurt my chances to do anything else. If it works out, great, if it doesn't work out that's okay too.” And when I got there, my sense was people were really smart, I enjoyed the collegial aspects of it, and it was a wonderful place to work. Of course, you have the challenges that you hear about at any big firm. It can be a tough business model. I have no regrets about staying as long as I

did. I got great training and now the opportunity to go do something completely different as associate general counsel at a company, which would have been a hard job to find, had I not spent seven years at Paul Weiss.

Audra: So M&A work was not always on your radar? Jo: No. I actually remember riding the train in to my first day at Paul Weiss, thinking, I had not even taken a class in corporations or partnerships. I really thought that I was going to be a litigator and so I remember going in, you know, to their incredible training program and I was one of the very few people who had not been a summer associate there. I didn't know any of the lingo and I felt like I didn't know anything. Somebody during that first day used a term I literally had no idea what it even meant or was and I felt like I could not do the job. And so, then Investopedia became my best friend. I would just look up things and try to figure them out. So, no, I definitely did not plan to be a corporate lawyer, but it worked. I just put my head down and that was my life for quite some time and eventually, I learned to speak the language! And again, I’m so glad this is what I ended up doing, but it’s not what I thought I was going to do with my degree.

Audra: Do you have any advice for current law students? Jo: I got my job because of the way that I behaved during law school. Somebody was willing to stick their neck out for me because of the way that I carried myself in law school and so, as much as I sometimes wanted to show up feeling and being less than professional, just because I was exhausted, I did not do that. I knew that every communication mattered. You just never know how it may affect you in the future. The world is pretty small in that way. Joe: I think that’s good advice. You run into the same people over and over again and you can build a reputation very quickly, good or bad. It is much harder to change your reputation than establish it properly from the beginning. How you conduct yourself is very defining in your career—every action of yours should be with that thought in mind.

Audra: My next question is for Jo, if you were not a lawyer and had to reimagine your life, what would you be doing professionally?

Jo: I mean if I could find someone who would pay for me to go to medical school and pay for my life while I was in medical school, I would totally go back and do that!

Audra: Joe—what are some of your passions and hobbies outside of work? Joe: I have run a few marathons recently. I did Ogden, Utah, Big Sur in California, St. George, Utah, Fort Collins in Colorado, Boston was the big bucket list one, and Marine Corps. in Washington, DC.

Audra: Do you have any advice or thoughts on women in the law? Jo: Law is a very very challenging field, and if you are at a place that sells time, fundamentally if it uses a billable hour system, I think there's a special challenge for women and parents. But I would hope that doesn’t deter people from trying professional experiences, even temporary ones. You should be able to say “I want to get this great experience; I want to do this thing.”—but you shouldn't have to sacrifice who you are or your other priorities for your profession. There are short-term sacrifices, which is sort of what I think we've done, but I don't think we have given up any of our “non-negotiables.” I would certainly encourage other women, particularly other mothers, to not give up on the “non-negotiables.” A company or firm that sees your value is going to let you have that part of your life if they want to keep you for the long term.

Audra Gale is a joint degree student pursuing her JD at Haub Law (along with the advanced certificate in environmental law and the advanced certificate in international law) and her master's degree in environmental management at Yale University. Her chief area of interest is environmental law with a focus on litigation. At Haub Law, she is the chairperson of NELMCC, a junior associate on the Pace Environmental Law Review, a Land Use Law Scholar, Treasurer of the Environmental Law Society, a Dean's Scholar for Torts, Contracts, and Legal Skills/Methods, a member of the mock trial team for the Kelly tournament, and a member of the VIS International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court competition team. After graduation, Audra plans to work in private practice at a large firm.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI Caymary O’Garro ‘16

HB: You are the In Rem Deputy Director with the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development—was working in government administration always on your radar?

We asked Haley Brescia, a 3L at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, to interview alumna Caymary O’Garro. Caymary graduated from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2016 with a Certificate in International Law. She also graduated from Pace University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Sociology. Caymary is currently the In Rem Deputy Director (TPT), Office of Development, NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development.

HB: You graduated from Pace University undergraduate with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Sociology—did your undergraduate experience at Pace impact your decision to attend Haub Law? CO: Absolutely. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I always felt that the Pace community was great to me and I learned a lot from my professors. So, when the time came to decide where to attend law school, my undergraduate experience absolutely impacted my choice to stay within the Pace University community. The location of Haub Law was also a bonus—you feel as if you are in the suburbs while also in a metropolitan city. Essentially, you have the best of both worlds.

HB: In your mind, what sets Haub Law apart? CO: The entire atmosphere and the professors. The professors truly care and look out for their students. They are there for you not only as faculty, but to help you through any difficult times you may experience. In my most difficult personal moments, I was able to reach out to my professors. They were always willing to work with me and make sure that I was getting the most out of my law school experience. I will always recommend both Pace University undergraduate and law school because of my positive experiences.

HB: What were some of your more impactful practical experiences during law school?

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CO: I had so many. I was able to intern for the Republic of the Marshall Islands Permanent Mission to the United Nations while in law school. The experience I was afforded during that opportunity was like no other. I also interned and was a fellow at the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board in the Administrative Prosecution Unit, which investigates police misconduct. It was there that I was able to experience the criminal justice-type work that I had focused on during my undergraduate studies. I also interned at a law firm in Antigua. I also went to Brazil with the environmental law program and I recommend this experience 110%! I wanted to take advantage of every single opportunity available to me during law school. If a practical experience opportunity presented itself, I took advantage of it.

HB: Which professor sticks out to you? CO: Professor Garfield Tenzer was amazing. I had her for torts. The way she would try to break things down for students to understand was amazing and she was always available. She was a great professor. I liked torts, but I really think it was because of her.

CO: My family is from Antigua in the Caribbean, and during law school, I was able to intern there at a firm with an attorney who used to be the chairman of one of the main political parties. Working with him, and then having experiences such as that at the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board, I then knew that I wanted to work in government administration. By the time I graduated, I knew I did not want to formally practice law, but I knew that my law school background would always be beneficial. I have truly enjoyed government administration as a career path. I encourage others to explore it. A law degree will always have benefits and you do not have to restrict yourself to practicing law in a traditional sense. Often times, it is easy to forget that other opportunities are out there. Take advantage of the diverse array of opportunities that Haub Law offers.

HB: Can you speak a little bit about your background? CO: I am the first in my family to be born in the States. My parents came to the United States with a high school education. When my dad came to the states, he rented a room. He then brought my mom to the Country. My dad is a welder by trade. He always worked hard and was eventually able to purchase our family home. His hard work has allowed me access to opportunities that I would not have had if I were born in Antigua. At the same time, because of that experience, and knowing where my parents came from, it pushed me to work hard in school. I was the first in my family to graduate college, and ultimately law school. This was important to me, especially knowing that I have younger siblings who would look up to me as a role model. My parents are my inspiration and I push myself to do my best because of them.

HB: What are some of your passions or interests aside from the work you do for the City? CO: Traveling. I am always eager to see new places and try new foods. Starting last year, I promised myself that I would travel to at least two new countries every year and travel back to Antigua. COVID happened and my travel plans have been put on hold, but I am scheduled to go to Ghana. I would also love to visit Nigeria, Greece, and Paris.

HB: Do you have any advice for current students? CO: My advice to any current student is to be open-minded and to take advantage of all practical opportunities. First, get a practical experience in the field that interests you most at that moment. Do this first because you will then be able to rule out whether you still want to do that or not. Next, make a list of all other things that might interest you and try to find practical experiences in those areas. Other than that, maintain great relationships at every job opportunity and experience you have. Remember the people you meet when networking—you never know when you may run into them again or what opportunity that connection may present. Keep in contact with your connections. Those relationships can open many doors to great opportunities throughout your career. Happiness is so important in any work that you do and always keep that front and center. Do not be afraid to try new things until you find out what work truly makes you happy. And, if you are able to travel—do it!

Haley Brescia is a 3L at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law pursuing an advanced certificate in environmental law. Haley has been involved with the Land Use Law Center since her 1L year, serving as a Land Use Scholar and a research assistant. She is also a member of Pace Environmental Law Review and currently serves on the executive board as the editor-in-chief. Upon graduating, Haley will begin her career practicing environmental law.

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ALUMNI ALUMNI PROFILE

1988

Filippo P. Fantozzi LLM ‘20

FILIPPO FANTOZZI is from Florence, Italy. As he grew up surrounded by nature in the Italian countryside, Filippo explains that he “witnessed firsthand the severe impacts of the current ecological crisis, from the collapse of biodiversity and the progressive disappearance of species, to increasing temperatures and water scarcity. As I attended a policy-making project hosted by my high school in 2012, I ultimately realized that the law could prove to be a powerful tool against the environmental challenges that are affecting our generation. These considerations pushed me to pursue a legal career focused on environmental issues.” Filippo went on to obtain a law degree in Italy at the University of Florence, as well as a law degree in France at Sorbonne Law School. He participated in a five-year intensive program aimed at orienting future lawyers towards international and European legal practice. It was after these degrees and several internships focused on environmental law—as well as years of pro bono legal experiences and activism in the climate justice field—that Filippo reached the conclusion that an additional year of in-depth legal analysis on climate issues would be particularly beneficial. Filippo notes that, “the number of LLM programs expressly focusing on climate change is still rather limited, and the renowned environmental specialization offered by Haub Law is among the best in the world. That is why I committed myself to pursue a full scholarship for the LLM program in Environmental Law—Energy and Climate Change law track—at Haub Law.” As far as his actual experience, Filippo says that the LLM program exceeded all his expectations. “I loved the opportunity to expand my legal education by debating and sharing different viewpoints with so many amazing, inspiring people. I especially appreciated the liberty I had in choosing my own specific areas of specialization in the field of climate gover-

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“The number of LLM programs expressly focusing on climate change is still rather limited, and the renowned environmental specialization offered by Haub Law is among the best in the world." nance.” What also sticks out to Filippo is that “everyone was extremely welcoming. The genuine sense of belonging and the community spirit that I experienced during my first day at Haub Law accompanied me for the academic year. I bonded immediately with my fellow LLM colleagues, and many of us are still regularly in touch, strengthening both friend-

ships and professional collaborations. Additionally, every member of the faculty at Haub Law that I had the opportunity to meet somehow enriched or challenged my perspectives in a very constructive way. I am particularly grateful to Professor Smita Narula, an outstanding and inspiring voice in the Law School community. She relies on a unique methodology perfectly merging academia and activism, focusing on both the environmental implications and the hidden human costs of the global decision-making process.” Filippo graduated summa cum laude in 2020 from Haub Law, achieving the goal he set out for himself. Today Filippo is the Junior Legal Associate at the Climate Litigation Network | Urgenda. He explains that: “[b]ased in the Netherlands, the Urgenda Foundation made history by securing the first ruling ever which forced a State to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions: in 2019, the Dutch Supreme Court found that the government’s failure to sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions constituted a violation of human rights. The Climate Litigation Network is supporting people and organizations around the world seeking to hold their governments accountable for their climate inaction.” Filippo really enjoys exploring the intersection between climate science and the law. “The opportunity to engage with committed activists and experts from all over the world is also invaluable. Moreover, it is extremely rewarding to be part of a team of passionate lawyers that are so proactively engaged in orienting and interpreting the law in a way that can help overcome the existential threat of climate change.” As far as advice for current and future students, Filippo notes that, “[a]s the climate crisis worsens, the current generation of legal practitioners is often struggling between choosing a more traditional career and fulfilling an almost visceral need to be part of the change that we so urgently need. Following an unconventional path can be challenging, but also extremely rewarding. That is why I believe that engaging in pro bono legal projects and grassroot activities can be a first, fundamental step in understanding how we can use our legal skills to better serve—and ultimately help achieve—the goals of climate justice.” n

Carolyn Cunningham received the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County’s 2020 Green Seal Award on December 1, 2020 in recognition of her decades of contributions to protecting our county’s environment and future. The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian Life) appointed Margherita L. DiManni as the company’s Deputy General Counsel. WWBA President Angela Giannini was selected as the recipient of the 2020 NYSBA Attorney Professionalism Award. Susan Vallario was named the new chair of Ramapo College of New Jersey, the school announced on Monday. Read more here.

1989 Nancy Grasso Barry was named the Chief of Operations of the Unified Court System.

was nominated by Governor Andrew Cuomo and later confirmed by the state Senate. Anthony Pirrotti, Jr. was appointed Chairman of the Ninth Judicial District Return to Jury Committee by the Administrative Judge for the Ninth Judicial District, Hon. Kathie Davidson.

1991 Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the appointment of Joan Schmidt as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Westchester County Legislator Lyndon Williams is now a Mount Vernon city judge following his appointment by Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. Judge Lyndon Williams was honored with an Award for Distinguished Service by the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

1992 Jeff Delaney was recognized as Lawyer of the Year in Energy Law in the Best Lawyers publication. Maya van Rossum , Delaware Riverkeeper and Founder of “Green Amendments for the Generations,” was selected by the River Network as a “2020 River Hero”—read more here.

1993 Robert J. Waine has joined the law firm of Rothman Gordon.

1990

Mount Vernon City Judge Adrian Armstrong is one of the newest judges of the state Court of Claims —read more here. Judge Armstrong

William N. DeVito was promoted to co-managing attorney in 2017. In the last year, he received the Good Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, Patriot’s Path Council at the Legal Services Award Dinner. Angelina Galiteva (JD ’93, LLM ’94) was officially elected as the Chair of the CAISO Board. Angelina is the first woman Chair in the history of the Agency. The California Independent System Operator Board of Directors governs the dispatch and policies of all of California’s electric utilities. Angelina is very appreciative to Richard Ottinger for his mentorship and support, along with the Law School. Angelina was previously profiled at length in our 2019 alumni magazine—you can read more about her Pace experience and amazing accomplishments here.

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time appropriately. My work experience definitely benefited me in those ways.

ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI Gerald Stein ’93 Justin Gottuso, a 2L at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, had the opportunity to speak with Gerald Stein, who is a partner with the international law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright where he practices antitrust law. Before he even knew what antitrust law was, Gerald was a student at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, graduating, cum laude, in 1993.

JG: A little bit about yourself first, where did you grow up and how did you decide to attend law school? GS: So, I grew up and currently live in Westchester County. I went to college at Tufts University up in Medford, Massachusetts. I took two years off between college and law school, during which I worked as a paralegal for a large law firm in New York. Then I did some traveling, and I started law school in August of 1990. When I entered college, I actually thought I was going to pursue either a pre-med or an engineering track. It took me one class in biology to knock me out and I decided quickly to change gears. I changed my major a few times and ended up as a political science major. My stepfather was an attorney, and my brother was in law school at the time. I had also taken a few pre-law classes at Tufts, including a constitutional law class and a politics in law class. Having enjoyed my experience as a paralegal, I made the decision to pursue law school.

JG: What attracted you to enroll specifically in Pace? GS: My older brother had a really great experience at Pace, and I wanted to be able to live at home while attending school nearby.

JG: Do you remember your first day of law school? GS: I remember one of my first classes was Property in the Problem Room, a large lecture hall in the library. I remember being in that class and just looking around, and the feeling hit me that I really was in law

JG: Which professors do you remember fondly from your time at Pace?

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"Legal principles are not static and are constantly evolving, and you need to be able to understand how to apply law to fact." school. I had taken two years off between college and law school, so for me, being back in the classroom environment was familiar, but I had decided to treat law school like a job. I was used to waking up at a certain hour, taking the train to work, working a long day, taking the train home; it was a good experience, it was very structured. The way I treated law school, having had that work experience, was no matter what time my classes were, I was at Pace at seven or eight in the morning when the library opened and I would stay on campus until six at night, and that was my day regardless of when my classes started or ended. By doing that, I was very disciplined in making sure I had all my readings done and was budgeting

GS: There are two professors that really stick out. One was Professor Julianna Zekan, she was my Contracts professor and also taught Secured Transactions, and I thought she was outstanding. She had practiced law before coming to Pace, so she offered a very practical way of learning the law; it wasn’t just learning theories, but it was applying real-life scenarios to the material, which I found to be very effective. And there was also Professor Stephen Zorn, who was the best professor I ever had. He taught Federal Income Tax, which was a required course at the time. Now, I’m not a math guy, so I had zero interest in tax, and this seemed like an area that I knew I was never going to practice, so I was not at all happy that we had to take Federal Income Tax. And then here comes Professor Zorn—who was a visiting professor—and the way he taught the Tax Code was just unbelievably effective. At the beginning of the course, he said, “I understand that some of you are not happy about being here because this is a required class and some of you have no interest in tax, but this is not just about tax, it’s about reading statutes. It’s about applying statutes to fact patterns.” And I have to tell you, that class really changed to this day how I read statutes or read cases, because he taught it in a very methodical way, which got me in the habit of reading the Tax Code and the various interpretations of the Tax Code. I learned a pattern of figuring out what the problem was, because it may not be on the first page of whatever you look at, you might have to dig around a little bit. And I’ll never forget his final exam. He came into class with a shoebox full of tax receipts and a fact pattern of his life the prior year, and this was not a typical year—he was on sabbatical. He taught for about half the year and then he traveled the world, so some of it was vacation and some of it was teaching. So, here are the receipts, and he had photocopied them for everyone, but to illustrate the point they were a crumpled mess in a shoebox, and he said to everyone, “Figure out my taxes.” He had income, he had business travel and vacation travel expenses, you had to figure out what was what, every country he was in had a different application of what the tax rate was, and that was the final exam. He allowed us to work with a partner, so my partner and I filed Professor Zorn’s tax return together. The partner I was working with, Brian Coffey, actually found some sort of tax break that would save the Professor a great deal of money. After we submitted our exams, Professor Zorn called us and asked us to

come to his office, and that’s never a good sign when a professor says that. We were both freaking out wondering what we could have done. We went to his office and he said to us, “You took certain deductions off my taxes, I want you to walk me through that.” We were both sweating bullets! We knew we hadn’t cheated or anything, but we assumed we were in some sort of trouble. After we walked him through the deduction, he turned to us and said, “I didn’t even catch that. You just saved me like two-thousand dollars!” And that’s how I got an A! My original point was that both those professors taught law in a very practical and effective way and I came away with a great experience. So, I would say those two professors really stick out to me.

JG: Do you have any advice for current law students? GS: Study hard and get good grades! But really, approach your professors if you’re not understanding something and don’t be afraid to discuss something with your professors. That was one thing I was able to take advantage of a lot at Pace, is the accessibility to the faculty. This is not the type of faculty that thinks they’re “too good” to engage with students or to help them after hours. In my experience, the professors were always accessible after class or office hours, or even passing them in the hallway. They were always friendly and happy to talk to you. I think a lot of students think legal concepts are black and white, where most of it is gray. It’s okay not to understand a concept, because chances are if you don’t understand it then ten or fifteen other people in the class don’t understand it either, and sometimes you just need that further explanation of a concept, and you should take the time to understand it. Legal principles are not static and are constantly evolving, and you need to be able to understand how to apply law to fact. That is what we do as practicing attorneys: we are faced with fact patterns from our clients and we have to figure out problems and we have to counsel and sometimes litigate—at least that’s what I do—so you have to understand the law and stay on top of it. I think it’s also important while you’re in law school to understand the world around you. These legal principles do not exist in a vacuum, so it’s important to stay up to date on current events and understand what’s going on in the world and how that might relate to a law. Because the law, I believe, evolves with civilization and society.

JG: After graduating from Pace in 1993 what did you do next? Continued on page 52

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Continued from page 51 GS: I worked for a law firm in Manhattan called Bower & Gardner that defended primarily medical malpractice and professional liability claims. I worked in the Appellate Group with maybe five or six others, and we handled all of the appeals of the firm, which was a lot of work because the firm did a lot of trial work and pretrial work, and in New York state we have interlocutory appeals. Because of our focus on appellate work, someone in our group always was “on call” for attorneys who were in trial—they would often call with questions regarding how to preserve an issue on appeal, and that was really nerve-racking because you had to provide an answer in a very limited time—this was before cell phones—so you had to provide an answer when they called back. But it was there that I met my very first mentor, Ed Guardaro, and he taught me what it was like to be a lawyer. It’s a lot of hard work and you have to pay attention to detail. Ed was a terrific mentor, and, in fact, still one of my mentors to this day. After Bower & Gardner dissolved, I went to Wilson Elser for a couple years (where I met my wife!), but I would say my real beginning as a litigator began when I started at Weil Gotshal & Manges as a thirdyear litigation associate. There, I met another mentor, Mike Stanton—he showed me how to litigate complex cases. Then, I went from Weil Gotshal to O’Melveny & Myers, where I met another mentor, Rich Parker, who really changed my professional career—he developed my interest in antitrust law, encouraged me to work at the FTC, and showed me how to network and get involved in the profession. I have three terrific mentors that provided me with guidance and advice throughout my career. That’s another thing I would say to current law students: establish a mentor relationship with somebody who you respect and who can give you that career advice and guidance, I think that’s very valuable to have.

JG: Currently, you are a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. What specific area of law do you practice with the firm? GS: Antitrust and litigation. A big part of what I do is counsel clients on their strategic business plans to make sure what they are doing—or want to do—is lawful under the US antitrust laws and not going to get them sued or investigated by the government. Most companies do want to act ethically and as responsible corporate citizens, so they want to make sure they conduct business carefully. I also provide antitrust merger analysis to clients who want to merge with or acquire another business. In addition, I represent clients who are being investigated or defending actions brought by the Federal Trade Commission (where I worked prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright) and the Department of Justice—these

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are the two US agencies responsible for enforcing antitrust law. And, finally, I represent clients in antitrust litigation involving a variety of antitrust claims, including price fixing, bid rigging, market allocation, exclusive dealing, unlawful tying, just to name a few examples.

JG: How has your experience at Pace influenced your career? GS: Well, without it I wouldn’t have a law degree! I would say my experience at Pace was a very positive one in that I found it a very collegial atmosphere, where the students were all helping each other and had one another’s back. We used to hear stories about how students at other law schools would tear out pages from textbooks. Back in the “old days” we had to research with books, and if a book wasn’t in the library then you couldn’t have that book. You couldn’t just go online and get it like today. So, when we would hear stories about cutthroat law students from other universities, we knew that was not Pace. My experience at Pace was that everyone was very collegial and everyone helped everybody out, including the faculty. I think because of that very positive experience that I had in law school I really enjoy practicing law. I’m in a job that I love, I’m in a practice group where we’re all very supportive and collegial, and I’m in a really good place, and I think part of that was formed by having a very healthy learning experience at Pace. My experience at Pace was very fostering and I enjoyed it a lot, and I think as a result of that I really enjoy practicing law.

JG: What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of being a lawyer? GS: What I really love is when a client comes to me or our group with a complicated problem and we are forced to really think about it and analyze and dig deep and come up with a solution. When we do that, and we work with the client to chart a course of action—whether it’s counseling or representing the client before an agency or in litigation—it’s that creativity that’s demanded and the excellence of mastering your legal area. When you do that in consultation with a sophisticated client and you get the results and the client says, “Hey thanks, really great job!” that’s what I really love about practicing law. That ability to take a complicated and complex situation, analyze it, help out the client, and get that result. It’s a good feeling.

JG: You mentioned earlier in our conversation that you were initially interested in pursuing either pre-med or engineering. If you had not decided to become a lawyer, what do you think you might be doing instead? GS: You’re going to find this hard to believe, but I’m fifty-four, and up until five years ago, I honestly thought I

ALUMNI could play shortstop for the Mets. That was my lifelong passion—I wanted to play baseball. I would’ve been playing shortstop for the New York Mets.

JG: What are some of your passions or hobbies? GS: Well, I enjoy baseball, and I played jazz saxophone through college and in some bands up until a few years ago, so I really love music and sports. I mostly enjoy spending time with my wife and our three children—I’m constantly on the field watching their games. We have a dog who brings us on hikes. At this point in my life, I’m relegated to softball and bike riding, so I do a lot of bike riding. I also like reading. I’m currently reading volume two of Robert Caro’s fourvolume set about Lyndon Johnson. I’m a slow reader, so I’m not yet at the point of the story where he is even a senator! But it is a fascinating story.

JG: Anything else you would like to share personally or professionally? GS: I mentioned I had three great mentors: Ed Guardaro, Mike Stanton, and Rich Parker. I met each of these mentors at different stages of my career and each has helped me immensely. As a result of that absolutely critical and terrific mentoring that I’ve had, I take it upon myself to help out junior lawyers and counsel them. I’m a Developmental Partner at my firm where I help counsel the junior lawyers concerning their career, life at the firm, or anything else. As a result of having that nurturing environment at Pace, I look at practicing law as a privilege. When I passed the bar and I hung my framed admission on the wall in my office, I’ll never forget—and this was almost thirty years ago—one of the partners came into my office and congratulated me for passing and being admitted. He pointed at the admission certificate hanging on the wall and said, “Never forget how hard you worked to get that. You will, during the course of your practice, be asked by clients or maybe even asked by colleagues to cut a corner or do something that you think is not right, or to maybe even lie, and you need to remember how hard you worked to get that, because if you engage in any of that, all of that hard work will go away in a split-second. And it’s not worth it. Remember the swearing-in ceremony and how proud your parents were. Stay true to yourself and be an honest and hardworking lawyer and you will be fine.” The last thing he said to me, and this part is all too true, was, “If you pick up the New York Law Journal,

every day there will be a report on a disciplinary proceeding against some lawyer who stole funds or lied to a client or did something wrong—don’t let that be you. It is a privilege to have a client come to you with their problem and ask you to represent them on it. Never forget that.” That was in 1994 and those words have stuck with me throughout my practice. And one last thing I’d like to add: something I tell a lot of folks just graduating law school is that it’s great to graduate and know exactly what you want to do or to follow a straight line, but, for me, and a lot of other people, it’s more of a zigzag. I’m a partner in a preeminent antitrust practice at a global law firm, but I never took an antitrust class in law school—I didn’t even know the Federal Trade Commission existed and I ended up working there for eight years! I knew I wanted to litigate, so I always sought out litigation opportunities. My career path is not for everyone, but the point is, had someone told me when I graduated law school that I was going to be an antitrust partner at an international law firm, I would have looked at them and said, “Well, first of all, I’m playing shortstop for the Mets, so I don’t know what you’re talking about. And second of all, antitrust? That’s crazy!” Now what I love about antitrust law is that it’s a very complicated area. You have to learn your client’s business, you have to roll up your sleeves and get elbow-deep into it. You work with expert economists, industry experts and very sophisticated counsel who might be opposing you. It’s like a game of chess you have to figure out, but that’s what I love about it. Your career may not be a straight line; it might be zigs and zags. As you go through the practice of law, starting from when you are a student, it is important to keep an open mind. Things will work out if you follow your interests, and then it becomes fun. I hear all too often from lawyers that practice is a “drudgery” or a “grind” or they don’t like it, and while certain aspects of that might be true, if you find what you really like about the law—and I’m fortunate enough to have found that—it is fun and invigorating.

Justin Gottuso is a current law student at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Justin is originally from Long Beach, New York. He is a Torts Dean’s Scholar and Teaching Assistant for the 1L section at Haub Law and is also a member of the Pace Law Review. Justin has an interest in pursuing intellectual property law and enjoys snowboarding with friends in his free time.

SPRING 2021

In Memoriam

ALUMNI

Ingrid Ann (Petersen) Reuter ‘84 died at home in New York City on Saturday, May 16, 2020. Read her obituary here. Michael J. Tomkovitch '84 died on May 16, 2020. Read his obituary here.

Henry G. Miller

Eric L. Balzer ’79

Phil Foglia ’80

Marilyn Davis '81

The Honorable Steven Milligram ‘81

Ingrid Ann (Petersen) Reuter ‘84

Joseph Wooley ’84 passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. He was a 1984 graduate of the law school and had his own private practice. You can read more here. Donna Kramer ’85 passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2020—learn more here. David Bushman ‘87 passed away on April 5, 2020 from COVID-19 complications. You can read his obituary here.

Nicholas Ward-Willis will serve as Chair of the Environmental & Energy Law Section of the NYSBA. He is a member at Keane & Beane P.C. His areas of practice include: Environmental Law, Land Development & Zoning, Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution, Municipal Law, Real Estate, and Insurance Defense and Civil Rights.

1994 Barbara Gionta was named 1st District Attorney by Rockland DA Tom Walsh.

Ruth Kassel ‘88 died on May 5, 2020. Upon graduation, Ruth practiced family law. You can read her obituary here. Michael J. Tomkovitch '84

Donna Kramer ’85

David Bushman ‘87

Henry G. Miller, a long-time Pace University Trustee and Senior Partner of the law firm Clark, Gagliardi & Miller, P.C., in White Plains, passed away on April 16, 2020 due to the coronavirus. He was 89. Learn more about Henry Miller’s life and tremendous impact on the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and the legal world here. Eric L. Balzer ’79 died suddenly and unexpectedly on May 28, 2020—read more about Eric’s life here. Phil Foglia ’80 died of complications from COVID-19 on April 21, 2020. He was 69. Phil began his legal career at the Bronx DA’s Office, later as a Special Assistant US Attorney in the SDNY, a partner at a private firm, the Executive VP of SEBCO, and in August 2019, he retired after a lengthy career with the Office of the New York Inspector General as Chief of Investigations and Special Deputy Inspector General. Additionally, Phil co-founded the Child Reach Foundation. You can read more here and here. Professor Ben Gershman notes: “The loss of Phil Foglia is immeasurable and incomprehensible. Phil was a leader at our law school as a student and alum, a champion in the fight against public corruption, and a hero to all Italian-Americans seeking to preserve their heritage. I am proud to remember Phil as my wonderful student and friend.”

H A U B L AW A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

Ruth Kassel ‘88

Dianne Rosen Pallmerine ’93

Richard Blassberg ‘00

Barbara Zernike '80 died on April 18, 2020. Read her obituary here. Marilyn Davis '81 died on April 20, 2020. Read here obituary here. The Honorable Steven Milligram ‘81, Orange County Supreme Court Judge, who was fighting the COVID-19 virus has passed away. Judge Milligram was a partner at Catania, Mahon, Milligram and Rider (now Catania, Mahon & Rider) and served eight years as Monroe Town Justice until his election in November to the Supreme Court justice seat for the Ninth Judicial District. He took office in January 2020. Several professors remembered Judge Milligram fondly—Jay Carlisle notes: "Justice Milligram was an outstanding student at PLS, an extraordinarily successful lawyer and achieved his lifelong goal of being elected and installed in January of 2020 as a Supreme Court Justice of New York. May he rest in peace." Professor Jim Fishman remembers Steve as a pleasant student who seemed to enjoy law school. He notes that he is “glad he attained his life’s goal to become a judge, but so sad he passed away so soon.” Professor Humbach notes, “I remember Steve very favorably, a person with many friends who was obviously on his way to going somewhere in the profession. It is tragic to see the arc of his career cut short.”

Dianne Rosen Pallmerine ’93 passed away on June 12, 2020. She was a very well-respected Elder Law Attorney and certified as an Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation, an organization accredited by the American Bar Association. Read more about Dianne and her life here. Ellen Belson ’94 passed away on June 21, 2020. After graduating from Pace, Ellen practiced elder law, wills, trusts, and estates in White Plains; she greatly assisted many elderly clients. Read more here. Richard Blassberg ‘00 passed away on September 23, 2020. You can read his obituary here. Professor Emeritus Carlisle notes that Richard “was an outstanding graduate of our Law School and dedicated his life to helping others. I will miss him very much.” Professor Bennett Gershman also fondly remembers Richard. “Richard was my savvy and cynical student. He was always the rebel. A fierce fighter against injustice and abuse of power, Richard's scathing portrayal of Westchester D.A. Jeanine Pirro ("The Jeanine Machine") is a classic account of an unhinged and ruthless prosecutor. Richard's journalistic dissection of the cronyism and corruption of Westchester County politics was courageous, and devastating. He has a special place in my life. His voice will be missed.”

Company. He is also an adjunct professor at Haub Law and a member of the School’s Board of Visitors. Mr. Brown was a featured alumni profile in our 2019 Alumni Magazine—read the full article here. Seth Mandelbaum was elected the chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Westchester Parks Foundation. Riebling & Payton PLLC, a new law firm specializing in criminal cases, has opened with offices in Mount Kisco, White Plains, Stamford and Manhattan. The firm is headed by two Haub Law graduates Stephen Riebling and Marcia Payton, who have been married for more than 20 years.

1997

Wayne A. Humphrey was elected to serve as Westchester County Family Court Judge.

1995 Eric M. Dessen (LLM ’95) started a new position as Con Edison’s Environmental Compliance Liaison. South Shore Conservatory announced the appointment of Karen Geer (LLM ‘95) as SSC’s new president.

Joseph W. Mazel was recognized by Attorney General Barr with the John Marshall Award for the Preparation or Handling of Legislation, the Department of Justice’s highest award for attorneys for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. Joe was one of the leaders of an inter-agency team that coordinated a multi-year effort to find a legislative solution to a public safety and national security threat posed by emerging Unmanned Aerial System technology. Specifically, the team drafted the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018, worked with the National Security Council to coordinate an administration position, led outreach efforts to Congress, and worked to convince dozens of skeptical members of Congress, and their staffs, about the importance of the threat and the need for legislation to combat it. Kathryn Pasternak has joined the Rotary Club of Marco Island Noontime —read here.

Jacqueline Parker is now Deputy Director for Consumer Fairness at Citibank. Previously, she was Of Counsel at Ballard Spahr. She is also an adjunct professor at Haub Law.

1996

Vernon Brown was named to Billboard’s 2020 Top Music Lawyers—read more here. Mr. Brown is CEO, V. Brown &

Mary E. Storella , formerly vice president and senior counsel, corporate transactions, at Celgene Corp., joined Lowenstein Sandler in Roseland as vice chair of the life sciences group and head of life sciences transactions.

1998 Chris MacFarland was featured in the article Chambers: Chris MacFarland is Avalanche’s hidden executive gem—read here.

SPRING 2021

Achinthi Vithanage

know her through Haub Law events. We both share an interest in oceans law and she continues to be a valuable mentor and friend. I am fortunate in that I have maintained close contact with almost all of my professors, which means I continue to learn and grow from them even after completing my degree.

LLM 2018

1999 John C. Lettera was featured in Commercial Observer’s article Under the Bridge: Tradex’s John Lettera Talks Three Decades of Bridge Lending— read here.

2000

Remediation Professionals Association (LSRPA) and the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station’s Office of Continuing Professional Education on Thursday, February 20, 2020, at the Rutgers Trayes Hall—Douglass Student Center in New Brunswick. Lorraine Diamond won the race for District Attorney in Montgomery County. Christopher Rizzo was listed in the New York Metro 2020 edition of “Super Lawyers” under Environmental Law.

2003 Meagan R. Brillault was listed in the New York Metro 2020 edition of “Super Lawyers” under Environmental Litigation. Ryan McGonigle welcomed his first baby to the world, Cynthia Bronislawa McGonigle, on April 22, 2020. Since September 2015, Ryan has been a partner at Hodgson Russ LLP in its Intellectual Property practice group in New York City. He is resident in the Firm’s newly opened New Jersey office in Hackensack. Brendan McGrath was sworn in as a Yonkers City Court judge by Mayor Mike Spano on January 1, 2020, at the city’s inauguration ceremony at Yonkers Riverfront Library. Christopher Soules has been named interim executive director of human resources and talent development for Stamford Public Schools.

2001 Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP and Brooks, Berne & Herndon PLLC sponsored the WCBA CLE NYS Bar Postponement—What Does This Mean and What Should Employers Be Doing?, which was on July 23, 2020. The panel was moderated by 2001 alumna Sheryl Sanford (Partner at Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP) and Haub Law’s Asst. Dean for Career and Professional Development Jill Backer was a panelist along with 2010 alumna Nicole Varisco (Partner at Brooks, Berne & Herndon PLLC). Jeffrey M. Casaletto , Member of law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., presented “Environmental Law for Attorneys and LSRPs” sponsored by the Licensed Site

Nicole A. Callahan joined the law firm of Hall Booth Smith, P.C. as a partner.

2004 Tara R. Di Luca was promoted to partner in 2019 with the firm Schiavetti, Corgan, DiEdwards, Weinberg & Nicholson, LLP. Phelps Hospital Northwell Health announced that former interim (acting) Executive Director Eileen Egan, RN, JD ‘04, will lead the hospital as its permanent Executive Director.

2005 James Hyer was a recipient of a New York State Commendation 2020 award. On June 29, 2020, New York State Senator Pete Harckham, in celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQQ) Pride Month, presented New York State Commendation 2020 awards to Rachel Simon and James Hyer during a special ceremony at Pace University. Simon is Pace University’s Interim Director of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity Programs and Coordinator of Pace’s LGBTQQ Center. Hyer, a graduate of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, is Administrative Law Judge for the Westchester Human Rights Commission and former board member of The Loft: LGBT Community Services Center in White Plains, NY. Learn more here.

H A U B L AW A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

Achinthi Vithanage is currently the Randolph C. Shaw Graduate Fellow in Administrative Law and a Professorial Lecturer in Law at George Washington University Law School. Immediately prior, she was a Visiting Associate Professor of Law and the Environmental & Energy Law Fellow at GW Law. Achinthi received her LLM in Environmental Law from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2018 and she is currently undertaking her SJD at George Washington University Law School. Prior to this, she received her combined Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of International Studies (Global Studies Major) from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Achinthi was born in Sri Lanka, but grew up most of her life and practiced law in Sydney, Australia.

Why did you choose to pursue an LLM at Haub Law? Haub Law was initially recommended by an American mentor of mine for the strength of its environmental law program. I subsequently spoke with a former LLM student, who provided some insight into the program. I was also intrigued by the international environmental law opportunities that were offered, particularly the UN Diplomacy Practicum, the connections to the IUCN Observer Mission and the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law.

What were some of the more memorable experiences that took place during your time at Haub Law? We had a tight little LLM student community consisting of Brazilians, a Philippino, an Ecuadorian, a Turk, a Nepalese, a Chinese, an American, and I was, of course, the Sri Lankan/Australian. We celebrated birthdays with cakes at school, we went on expeditions, and dined and lunched together on campus. One of my favorite events was hosting a “Friendsgiving” in the attic of the house I was residing in. My time at Haub Law brought some wonderful and animated characters together from all over the world. I enjoyed the friendships that we formed during those short 9 months.

Who were some of your favorite professors? My professors were definitely a highlight of my time at Haub Law and I valued each and every one of them. Professor Katrina Kuh had just arrived at Haub Law and I was in her first environmental law class. In fact, I ended up taking every class she offered during those

You are now pursuing your SJD—how has that experience been and what is your end goal?

9 months! To this day, she remains a role model for me as a strong, confident, and kind female professor who juggles family, scholarship, teaching, and every aspect of her life in the most admirable way. Her teaching style was very influential on my own teaching style. Professor Nicholas Robinson, who was my LLM thesis advisor, was instrumental in broadening my view on how to effect change in the world through global collaboration, intelligent action, and sheer persistence. However, his biggest contribution to my life was in supporting my interest in academia and academic scholarship. His guidance and advice led me to the GW Law teaching fellowship and countless other opportunities along the way. Professor Joseph Siegel’s Climate Change Adaptation class was one of the most useful seminars that I have ever attended. His vast experience in negotiations at the EPA, his calm and patient demeanor and the negotiations exercise he conducted in class is one that remains committed to memory. Professor Cecilia Caldeira was also a beacon of support throughout my degree. Her kindness and patience was truly appreciated. Last, but not least, Professor Richard Ottinger. He took me under his wing and we co-authored a paper together (along with a fellow classmate), that was presented at the IUCN Academy Colloquium in Glasgow and will be published soon. Since then, Professor Ottinger has remained a stalwart supporter of all my endeavors. I am fortunate to have the unwavering support of someone of his great stature. Finally, although Professor Emerita Ann Powers did not teach me, I came to

My SJD is focused on the international environmental law principle of intergenerational equity—the idea that we, as members of the current generation, should preserve the natural environmental of today for the benefit of future generations. I have been inspired by the engagement of youth in recent years in climate activism and on other environmental issues and I wanted to undertake a project that would elevate their voice on the international legal stage. To that end, I believe there is an opportunity for this principle to transform into something more concrete and legally actionable on the international legal stage and this endeavor hopes to achieve that. I hope that on completion of this SJD, it will be utilized to protect the rights of future generations to enjoy and savor the beauty of the planet that we are fortunate to inhabit today.

ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI

Do you have any advice for current students? Be available to the many doors that will open to you and be actively on the lookout for those open doorways. I did not intend to stay in the United States beyond the LLM degree, however the professors I met at Haub Law pointed out every open doorway on my journey. All it took was for me to be open, flexible, willing to listen, and take the first step to walk on through those doors. Do not be afraid to share your career hopes, desires, and expectations with your professors. They can only help you if they know where your interests lie. Finally, do not forget to appreciate those mentors, professors, and kind staff who make your educational journey the wonderful experience that it ought to be. Remembering their generous efforts to mold your success will keep you humble on your own journey.

What are some of your passions aside from the law? I love to dance and have been doing so since a very young age. I performed traditional Sri Lankan dancing for over 15 years, along with hip-hop, jazz, contemporary and Indian Bollywood dance. I also love playing team sports of which volleyball is my favorite. n

SPRING 2021

ALUMNI Caesar Lopez ’12:

Why I Give

skincare company. This position would not have been possible without my experience in the externship program at Haub Law.” The positive experiences and memories Caesar has from his time at Haub Law are abundant. “Externships were key. I loved my classes in Intellectual Property, Licensing, Entertainment Law, and Business

CAESAR LOPEZ FELL IN LOVE with the Haub Law

Planning. All of my professors were so passionate

campus immediately upon visiting the School.

about their practice that I enjoyed every single

“Location was an important factor for me. Additionally,

class I took.” Often overlooked, Caesar very much

I really liked that the Law School had relationships in

enjoyed the social side of law school. “I was able to

and around Westchester and NYC with prestigious

develop lifelong friends and a meaningful network

businesses, firms, and institutions. I ended up with my

of exceptional attorneys. The student organization

first job out of Haub Law at Beiersdorf, Inc., a global

aspect served me well also. I was also one of the four founders of the Pace Intellectual Property Sports and Entertainment Law Forum. This was rewarding because the law school faculty supported us in developing a new platform that piqued my interests in the intersection of law and sports.” As far as favorite professors, Caesar notes, “I may date myself, but he was known as Professor Anderson

2006 Michael T. Goldstein published an article in the ABA Health Lawyer regarding current antitrust policies and its impact on changing how healthcare is delivered. The article is titled—Re-Assessing Antitrust Policies and Actions Regarding Independent Physicians to Preserve Healthcare Competition: It’s Time to Revise the Rule of Reason Analysis. Michael also finished his term as president of his medical school Alumni Association. BNY Mellon Wealth Management has named Elizabeth Luk as Head of BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, which administers trusts for fiduciary clients where BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware serves as sole trustee, co-trustee, or directed trustee. Bernstein Shur , a leading New England law firm, announced that Hawley Strait has been elected by his colleagues to serve as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Alyse D. Terhune (McCathern) is Of Counsel with Lewis, DiBiasi, Zaita & Higgins. She is also Town Justice for the Town of Tuxedo (NY).

2007

Fast-forward to today, Caesar is the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Orlando City Soccer Club of Major League Soccer and Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League. “I oversee all legal, human resources,

Now, as an alumnus, Caesar remains very involved with Haub Law. Although he is based in Florida, he is intimately involved in the Alumni Board and willing to chat with any prospective students or current students about their careers. A regular donor to the law school, giving back is very important to him. “Simply put, I like to pay it forward and I believe we all have a duty to help the next generation of students make a

Sara (Olinger) Quiter joined the University of California Office of the President, in the Office of General Counsel. She serves as Senior Counsel, Environmental Health and Safety. The OGC represents the system of ten UC campuses, five medical centers and three affiliated national laboratories, including advising The Regents.

2008 Jennifer S. Echevarria opened her solo practice, Echevarria Law, PLLC, in July 2019 in Warwick, NY. She continues to concentrate her practice on employment litigation in the areas of discrimination and wage and hour, and immigration law. Shamik Trivedi has joined the IRS Office of Chief Counsel (Large Business and International) as Domestic Special Counsel. Shamik is based out of the IRS LB&I headquarters in Washington DC, and advises IRS examiners and field attorneys on strategic tax controversy issues. Previously, Shamik was a senior manager in the Washington National Tax Office of Grant Thornton LLP.

before he was Dean Anderson.”

administration, and government/external affairs.”

Matthew Mazzola joined Robinson+Cole as a partner in the firm’s Managed Care + Employee Benefit Litigation Group.

Samuel L. Brown was named to Law360’s Rising Stars for 2020, an annual compilation of lawyers under the age of 40 whose legal accomplishments transcend their age. Additionally, he was recognized by Benchmark as a leading litigation attorney age 40 or under in its annual 40 & Under Hot List. On June 21, 2020, Lisa Kelly and her husband Michael Lombardi welcomed their son Elliott Sahmyuel KellyLombardi.

2009 Lisa Denig has been named one of the New York Law Journal’s Attorney Innovators of the Year for her work to revamp the civil courts so litigants can choose to mediate instead of litigate. The NYLJ notes that “Our Innovation awards recognize creative and inspiring approaches and forwardthinking firms and individuals.” Lisa is special counsel for ADR initiatives with the Office of Court Administration.

Gail M. Mulligan joined the Rockland County Department of Personnel as the Human Resources Generalist in August 2019. On June 7, 2020, Gail and her husband Matthew Clement welcomed their second son, Colin John. Colin joins big brother Andrew, age 4. Oleg Nekritin appeared on behalf of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey as Amicus Curiae arguing that under the New Jersey Criminal Justice Reform Act, the State cannot charge people with a crime of 4th degree contempt for violating their pretrial release condi-

tions. The New Jersey Supreme Court agreed with the argument and ruled that the state of New Jersey can’t charge individuals criminally for violating pretrial release conditions. Mr. Nekritin notes that this should also result in convictions being vacated. Click here to read more. Additionally, Oleg also submitted a brief which resulted in a successful appeal that helped to create a new cause of action in the 3rd Circuit, which was recently followed by a court in the 2nd Circuit. Oleg summarizes the precedential cause of action as involving police officers who “conspire through silence” to deprive people of their civil rights. Read more here. Regarding his time at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, Oleg said, “I am forever thankful to my classmates at Pace who exposed me to a diversity of ideas and values and who challenged and helped show me how to truly be a critical thinker and a more importantly a truly empathetic person. Not a day goes by which I don’t think about them and my experience at Pace.”

Board of Visitors OFFICERS Kathleen Donelli '85 Board of Visitors Co-Chair Alfred E. Donnellan '81 Board of Visitors Co-Chair

The Honorable Alexander Hunter The Honorable Linda Jamieson '79 Dennis J. Kenny Diana B. Kolev '05

MEMBERS

Senator Shelley Mayer

Mayo Bartlett '92 Peter N. Bassano '87

The Honorable Sondra Miller

Brian T. Belowich '99

William M. Mooney III '92

Vernon J. Brown '96

Leslie Morioka '93

Steven J. Chananie '83

Richard L. O'Rourke '81

V. Gerard Comizio '80

Joseph Pastore III '91

Lisa M. Denig '09

Anthony Pirrotti Jr. '90

Anthony J. Enea '85

John J. Rapisardi '82

Christopher B. Fisher '94

Jerold R. Ruderman

John Flannery

Paul Saunders

Angela M. Giannini '88

The Honorable Anthony A. Scarpino Jr.

Peter S. Goodman '86 The Honorable Philip M. Halpern '80

Russell M. Yankwitt

difference.” n

H A U B L AW A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

SPRING 2021

ALUMNI PROFILE

ALUMNI Trisha Sircar ‘07 Tareian King, a student at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, interviewed alumna Trisha Sircar on her legal journey and career. A 2007 graduate of Haub Law, Trisha Sircar is a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. She focuses her practice on privacy, data, and cyber security law.

TK: Let’s jump right in—you are a partner at Katten, what do your day to day activities look like at the firm? TS: As a partner, I believe that you can sum it up to really wearing three hats. One of my roles is to grow and to maintain client relationships. We are in a client service industry and as a byproduct of this industry, client development is vital. Another role that we have as a law firm partner is to train our associates and to enable their development. This consists of giving them constructive feedback, overseeing their work and educating them so that they become successful lawyers. Finally, we have to do the work and maintain our knowledge regarding new laws, regulations, cases and enforcement actions. As lawyers, we have to counsel our clients on managing and mitigating the legal risks that they face. Within that, my practice includes, amongst other things, negotiating international data transfer agreements, drafting contracts, handling privacy and security related incidents, assisting my clients with regulatory audits and inspections, developing policies, procedures, guidelines and handbooks and training modules, assessing privacy and information security risks in connection with strategic transactions, onboarding new and secure technology, and assisting my clients with adherence to privacy and information security laws globally. As within any profession and role, there is a learning curve. With the pandemic, business development strategies have changed, however, relationships matter and continue to develop. You have to readjust your communication methods and be aware of your clients’ needs and boundaries. Also, I

paradigm shifts in society that are directly related to my practice—with a rush to a global remote work force, virtual learning, reliance on e-commerce capabilities and new healthcare privacy challenges, just to name a few examples. As more and more companies embrace capabilities to transact business from locations around the world, coupled with the pace of advancements in technology, laws and regulations around personal data and information security are constantly emerging and evolving. This is our new “normal”, well, for now. Although we cannot control everything, at least I can educate our clients on the ethical and legal use of personal data and how they can protect themselves and their reputation, their customers and their employees.

H A U B L AW A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

TK: Do you have advice for students who are interested in Big Law?

“It is important to be humble, diligent, creative and open to different possibilities.” believe that it is important to give back and more so during this time. I enjoy and strongly encourage lawyers to take on pro-bono work. In addition to helping others, pro-bono work allows lawyers to develop their skills and engage in meaningful opportunities with clients that would not ordinarily be available to them.

TK: What is it like working in privacy law during the pandemic? TS: I work in an area of law that is extremely dynamic and necessary in our global digital economy. I handle privacy, data and cyber security related issues globally and across all sectors. It is an area of law that is changing constantly. With the pandemic, we have witnessed many permanent

TS: Keep up with their grades and be well rounded. In addition, law school experiences (such as law review and moot court) and extracurricular community activities (such as young bar associations and community service), are also very helpful in gaining traction, exposure and experience to unique circumstances that will place students in a more competitive position. Big Law is very competitive and demanding; and we are currently experiencing an unprecedented event that is effecting all aspects of society with the global pandemic. Students should be open to different opportunities. If you do not get an offer at the law firm that you want, that should not discourage you, nor prevent you from being successful in the role that you may ultimately start your career in, nor does it preclude you from ultimately obtaining an offer from your dream job. There are a variety of different paths that you can take to arrive at your ultimate goal; and you may often find yourself veering off a path to explore other new opportunities. These opportunities may also pleasantly surprise you. It is important to be humble, diligent, creative and open to different possibilities.

TK: What motivated you to become a lawyer? TS: I had many role models in my life. They influenced me in my decision to become a lawyer, but I also saw how the law could help people. For me, it was a profession where I could give people a voice and educate them.

TK: What are your passions outside of law school? TS: I enjoy giving back, especially now more than ever. I enjoy participating in pro-bono projects for disenfranchised communities and working with children. Absent a pandemic, I love to travel, enjoy time with my family and my friends, concerts, theater, good television shows, and staying physically active.

TK: What is your advice to law students graduating in the pandemic? TS: We will all get through the pandemic. However, now is the time to be fiscally prudent. Move back home if you can. If you cannot get a job due to hiring freezes, think of other professions that can complement your skills. Students should assess what they can offer to the practice of law. It may even be a temporary unpaid internship that can turn into a permanent paid position, or a compliance or paralegal role that can turn into a legal role. The pandemic, although prolonged is temporary and I encourage students to think long-term. Networking is important. Ask questions and reach out to different people to gain different perspectives, advice and feedback. As an attorney, you are equipped with numerous skills that only you can capitalize on. I truly believe that you will eventually land somewhere with hard work, being pragmatic, and staying humble.

Tareian King is a 3L at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. She is president of the Pace International Law Society and a student ambassador with the New York City Bar Association. After graduating, Tareian will continue to work for the Africa Wealth Alliance, focusing on international business law, private equity and development in Africa.

SPRING 2021

ALUMNI Ashlea L. Palladino formed a partnership with Jamie G. Leberer to form Leberer & Palladino, PLLC. This partnership will continue the practice of matrimonial and family law in the Buffalo, New York region. Leberer & Palladino, PLLC is dedicated to family law and divorce in Buffalo, New York with practice areas centering on the most pressing family-related legal issues such as child custody and visitation, prenuptial agreements, child support, spousal support, division of personal and real property, military divorce issues, and much more. Kristen A. Wagner was featured in a Q&A write-up in the December NYSBA journal—read here.

2020 New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. He is an associate at Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP and concentrates his practice in Land Use and Zoning. Caesar Lopez was named to the 40 under 40 list for the Orlando Business Journal. Christopher Psihoules moved from his role as a litigation attorney at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to his current role as an associate at Norton Rose. He was also named to the Best Lawyers in America 2021 “Ones to Watch” list in Energy Law.

2013 Patrick Frawley was named Chief District Attorney by Rockland DA Tom Walsh.

is the founder of Vinco, a bar exam coaching company, she is also a writer and contributor at AbovetheLaw.com, and an adjunct at Haub Law. Nicholas R. Switach been named to the 2020 New York Metro Rising Stars® List for workers’ compensation. He is an attorney at Chartwell Law concentrating his practice on workers’ compensation defense, representing large self-insured & municipal employers, professional employer organizations, and construction companies through all aspects of litigation. He also deals with, and has written articles about, general municipal law including Section 207(a) and 207(c) claims. He is an associate attorney in the firm’s New York, NY office. Adam Weiss was selected to the New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars List. He is an attorney with Lever & Ecker, PLLC.

2014 William Wagstaff was selected to chair the judiciary committee to seek a new judge for the City of Mount Vernon, which now has a vacancy as a result of 1990 Haub Law alumnus Judge Adrian Armstrong being elevated to Judge for the New York Court of Claims. Read more here.

Michelle Simard (JD 2013) and Ben Lowenthal (JD ‘13, LLM ‘14) welcomed their baby, Lyle Lowenthal on July 7, 2020. Sarah Kettenmann ’s son Cody was born in 2020—pictured here with their dog, Tomba!

2010 Amarilda Brahimi was honored with a Sole Practitioner Award by Long Island Business News In The Law.

Joseph Sauer was promoted to senior counsel at the New York-based law firm Fullerton Beck LLP.

Miriam Lacroix hosted a Black Legal Wellness Forum on June 25, 2020. The forum was a free discussion about how the black community can better navigate legal issues across a variety of areas of law. She also hosted a Black Legal Wellness Forum on October 9, 2020, the focus was “The Black Vote Matters Because...” Opening remarks were given by Andrea Stewart Cousins and panelists included Ken Jenkins, Juanita Lewis, and Christopher Johnson.

Kerriann Stout ’s article In Search of A Silvery Lining: How The Legal Community Is Serving During COVID-19 was published in Above The Law. Kerriann

Marie Antonia Tigre (LLM ’14) had her book Gaps in International Environmental Law: Toward a Global Pact for the Environment, published.

Joseph Marutollo is currently Acting Chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

2012 Sarah Hollender married fellow Haub Law graduate Sam Capasso (JD ’10, LLM ’11). Brian W. Kennedy was named to the Long Island Business News 40 under 40 honoree list for 2020 and to the

2015 Darilyn Nadeish Octave was featured in an article discussing her background, academic successes, and her current work as an attorney—read more here. Cristina M. Riggio married a fellow Haub Law graduate, Craig P. Gambardella, Esq. (Class of 2009). Cristina and Craig met at their first law firm and five years later tied the knot with an intimate ceremony amongst their closest friends and family. Craig is currently a partner at Kucker, Marino, Winiarsky & Bittens in NYC. His practice focuses on complex commercial real estate litigation, L&T matters and rent regulatory law. Cristina is an associate with Cole Schotz PC in their real estate department. Cristina concentrates her practice on commercial real estate finance transactions.

2016 Peter Garcia ’16 is a senior attorney with FINRA. Lauren C. Enea , an associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP in White Plains and Somers, NY, was honored at Westfair Communications’ 2019 Millennial Awards. The awards celebrate a new era in the workforce, recognizing individuals who are leaving their footprints in the local business community. She also received the Outstanding New Lawyer Award—given by the WCBA. Her article Don’t Worry Honey, You Will Get My Diamond Ring When I Die: Steps you can take to Ensure it Actually Happens! was published—read it here. Lauren concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/ Estate Administration. Nicole Elizabeth Wiitala was recognized by Bloomberg Law: “They’ve Got Next: Labor & Employment Fresh Face Nicole Wiitala”—you can read more here. Nicole was also Class counsel in a landmark Title IX class action lawsuit against Dartmouth College brought on behalf of current and former female graduate students and undergraduates in Dartmouth’s Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences. The $14 million settlement, which also includes programmatic relief valued at an ad-

ditional $1.5 million, was approved by the Court on July 10, 2020. Nicole is an associate with Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP.

2017 Julio Borges (LLM ’17) had his article, The Politics of Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Risky Bet for Environmental Law and Policy in Brazil, published by the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review. Jonathan Campozano became a Vice-Chair for the Democratic Party in Westchester County—read more here. Elen Krut published her book Summer on a Poultry Farm. She is also the author of “Poems, Untold”, a collection of inspirational poems written by Elen to encourage, guide, reflect, and present a different perspective and observations to readers. Her blog article Legally Remote: Attorneys Surviving the Pandemic in Richmond County was published—read it here. City & State New York has named Wilfredo Lopez, Core Organizing Committee Member, Association of Legislative Employees, to the 2020 Labor 40 Under 40 list—see here. Logan O’Reilly was featured on Above the Law in an article titled Lawyering While Legally Blind—read here. The article was written by alumna and adjunct professor Kerriann Stout ’13.

every day’ in municipal law in the New Jersey Herald—read here.

2018 Lydia Rainey ‘18 has been hired as an associate attorney with Wesley Clark and Peshkin. She previously was an associate at Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP. Brizeyda Parada Umana is an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow who is currently placed with Catholic Legal Services in Miami representing detained immigrants. Brizeyda and her amazing work was featured in an article Changing the legal landscape in Miami—read here.

2019 Jeffrey Deskovic was named to the Peekskill Police Reform Task Force— read here. He has had several articles featured in a special Looking Back section on the David Vanguard, you can read them here, here, and here. Bahar Hashemolhosseini ’s paper on decoupling the economy from natural resources extraction was recently published by the Journal of Environmental Policy and Law. Maximilian R. Mahalek wrote the article From Euclid to Darwin: The Unavoidable Evolution of Zoning in the Post-COVID-19 World for the NYSBA— read here.

Jérôme Orlhac (LLM ’17) was listed in the New York Metro 2020 as a Rising Star in Insurance Coverage, Environmental.

SJD graduate, Tarini Mehta , was recently appointed as an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at the O. P. Jindal Global University’s School of Environment and Sustainability. Tarini notes that “[t]his is a new multi-disciplinary school offering an innovative program covering law, policy and science related to environmental conservation, sustainable development and climate change.” She will be teaching courses on environmental law, as well as the intersection between human rights and the environment. She also published an op-ed in The Statesman, New Delhi—read here.

Stephanie Tunic ’17 was featured in the article ‘There’s something new

Raquel Parks published her article, Microgrids: Legal and Regulatory

Hurdles for a More Resilient Energy Infrastructure, in the Fall issue of the NY State Bar Association’s publication, The New York Environmental Lawyer. The article previously tied for second place in the 2018 William R. Ginsberg Essay Contest. In The New York Environmental Lawyer publication, she mentions the positive influences of the Pace Energy and Climate Center and the Land Use Law Center in conceiving and guiding the article.

2020

Tala DiBenedetto ’s paper Coordinating NHPA and NEPA to Protect Wildlife was published in William & Mary Environmental Law Review, and her paper Wildlife as Culture—Using IHRL to Protect Global Biodiversity was published in New York International Law Review.

H A U B L AW A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

Rebecka J. Levitt ’20 was quoted in the article Push for Diploma Privilege in New York Intensifies as September Exam Looms—read here.

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

Robert Edelson ’s Law Review Comment has been published in the University of San Francisco’s Intellectual Property and Technology Law Journal, Volume 24, Issue 1 Articles (24 U.S.F. Intell. Prop. & Tech. L.J. 153). Robert notes that: “The comment discusses varying aspects of 3D-printing, in particular the use of Digital Blueprint Files to create myriad and non-myriad printed objects. I discuss the constitutional, regulatory, and safety aspects of allowing individuals to print 3D objects away from control and whether the government can regulate such activities. In addition, I propose the use of a scheduling system to cope with the safety concerns raised by the states.”

SPRING 2021

Ten Ways to Get Involved With Haub Law

LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Alumni, Last year, I wrote to you in the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A year later, as we continue to struggle against this virus, I want to start by expressing my sympathy for all the tremendous losses suffered during this time both within our community and beyond. As I write to you this year, it’s hard to believe that I’m nearing the end of my time as President of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. Four years ago, I began my first two-year term as President with a hefty agenda of what I wanted to accomplish. Now I’m proud to report that, over the course of my two terms, the Board has made great strides. We’ve stuck to our promise to increase our visibility and accessibility by publicizing in advance the dates and times of Board meetings, inviting and encouraging the Law School community to attend, and posting meeting minutes and bylaws on the Law School’s website for all alumni to access. Additionally, we’ve worked with the Law School to update the website’s Alumni Association page to include each Board member’s headshot and current employment information. These initiatives were important to me, as I believe transparency and involvement are what makes a representative organization, like the Alumni Association, successful. Over half of the Board’s current Directors have joined during the past four years, and new members bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm. During my time as President, we created a self-funded Board operating budget, and every Alumni Board member is encouraged to contribute. At the same time, we added the office of Treasurer to the Executive Board, and now that office works closely with the Fundraising Committee, prioritizing the Board’s financial goals. All five of the Board’s standing committees were revitalized and have taken on expanded roles, with every Board member serving on at least one. The Executive Board and Committee Chairs share in preparing each meeting’s agenda and in conducting the meetings. Additionally, the Social Committee now organizes and executes the Pace Law Alumni Network (“PLAN”) events. Despite the pandemic, PLAN events were held virtually throughout the year, continuing our ten-year streak of providing opportunities for Haub Law alumni to network and socialize. The Board has prioritized outreach to the law student population as well. When the students in Dannat Hall were quarantined due to positive COVID-19 cases, the Alumni Board responded. The Executive Board and Committee Chairs emailed all residents, letting them know the alumni were thinking of them. The Board also funded gift certificates from a local vendor for each student. I’m confident that all of these efforts have had a direct and positive impact on the Board’s involvement and will serve as the building blocks for even more engagement. I hope that our newer Board members will take these accomplishments for granted and push the Board to the next level. As my presidency ends, I plan to remain on the Board, committed to supporting the School and our alumni base in a positive and helpful way. I continue to welcome any suggestions that you may have regarding the Alumni Association. The best way to reach me is via email at mjmeeker311@gmail.com. It has been my pleasure to serve as the Association President and I remain grateful for the opportunity. Sincerely, Mark Meeker, Esq. (Dec. ’09)

H A U B L AW A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

BB BB

/friend @HaubLawatPace on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)

Volunteer

to speak to student groups, mentor students individually, judge a moot court competition, or let us know how you would like to be involved!

Network

with students and alumni on career development. Pitch Haub Law to hiring managers at your firm, organization, or agency (or contact Career Development to do it for you!)

Attend BB Update BB Utilize BB

Haub Law events, and pass along invites to fellow alumni

us on your professional and personal life

Career Development to view job postings and manage career transitions — not just for recent grads!

Represent

Haub Law at student recruitment events! This is particularly important outside the tri-state region. In Chicago? San Francisco? Miami? We need you!

Support

Haub Law financially. Did you know you can target your giving? Support the programs that mean the most to you

Consider BB Be BB

a proud alum!

Haub Law in your estate planning

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University congratulates the Class of 2021