THIS IS US

FROM VANTAGE POINTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS GENERATIONS, AS THEY MAKE THEIR MARK IN A RANGE OF PRACTICE AND BUSINESS SETTINGS, ALUMNI REFLECT ON LIFE IN THE LAW.

BARBARA BURGER ’85 General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer Zimmer Partners, LP

It’s been a few decades since Barbara Burger took Contracts at St. John’s Law. But she still uses the basic principles she learned in that 1L class as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Zimmer Partners, LP.

“Every course I took at St. John’s taught me how to think like a lawyer,” Burger says. “I learned to think critically, examine a problem, and work through the various outcomes. That’s an invaluable skillset in business as well as law.” Tapping that skillset, today Burger oversees all legal and compliance matters for a $4 billion asset management firm.

The work is challenging, she says, and no two days are ever the same. “As the hedge fund’s General Counsel, I’m involved in all legal decisions as well as most business decisions,” Burger explains. “I’ve developed business acumen over the years that my CEO has come to rely on. So, my day-to-day can range from advising on trading issues, drafting fund documentation, and negotiating employment contracts to participating in Board calls, communicating with investors, and negotiating purchase agreements, among other duties.”

In her leadership role, Burger also has the opportunity to build new skills at the intersection of law and business. “Our parent holding company has expanded into insurance and reinsurance, and I’m learning a whole new business, which has been exciting,” she says. “Being in house, it’s rewarding to have one client and feel totally invested in the success of the company.”

As she advises and guides Zimmer Partners, Burger reflects on lessons she learned at the outset of her career. “It may take a while to find out what you really enjoy doing and what you’re good at,” she shares. “I started my career as a municipal bond lawyer, and some of the things I learned as a first-year associate still resonate with me today. Every task, however mundane, is an opportunity to learn and to develop new skills. If we’re fortunate, our careers span many decades and there is a constant ability to reinvent ourselves. That’s a wonderful thing.”

MEGHAN CANNELLA CARROLL ’07

Vice President, Labor Policy & Health National Football League

On any given Sunday (or Monday, or Thursday, and even some Saturdays), millions of people don jerseys and, from stands, sofas, and stools, cheer on their favorite professional football teams. Working behind the scenes to bring those beloved clubs and players to the field is Meghan Cannella Carroll, who serves as Vice President, Labor Policy & Health at the NFL.

Carroll’s work revolves around the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, which governs the relationship between, and the rights and obligations of, the league, its 32 teams, hundreds of players, and the players association. “My team negotiates and drafts the Collective Bargaining Agreement,” she says, “and I provide legal advice and counsel to the league and teams concerning compliance, dispute avoidance, and dispute resolution under the Agreement.”

It’s an important role that Carroll took on after spending her early career as a commercial litigator and then rising through the ranks in NFL labor relations. “I work with really smart and interesting people in the league office and clubs,” she shares. “I’m also part of a team of talented lawyers and great people who I enjoy collaborating with every day. It’s very gratifying to watch NFL games knowing I played some small part in a wonderful American tradition.”

St. John’s Law is another source of pride for Carroll. She is the daughter of alumni Nicholas Cannella ’75 and Joanne Welty ’76 and is married to Robert Carroll ’05. Along her career path, she has drawn on skills and relationships forged at the Law School. “I learned practical skills from terrific professors that prepared me to succeed at a big New York law firm,” she says. “I also participated in Moot Court, which helped me develop my writing skills and get comfortable arguing on my feet. And I built strong relationships with incredible alumni mentors.”

Recalling those St. John’s ties, Carroll encourages the next generation of students to foster tangible skills and make meaningful connections. “No matter what career path you ultimately choose, knowing how to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively is an incredibly valuable skill,” she notes. “The St. John’s alumni network is an amazing resource. We’re all lucky to be members of a group of accomplished lawyers and people. Cultivate those relationships. You’ll always value them professionally and personally.”

DAVID ESKEW ’04 Co-founding Partner Abell

Eskew Landau

Llp

For David Eskew, love of the law has a through line from his days as a St. John’s Law student, to his 12 years as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA), to his current work as a partner at Abell Eskew Landau LLP, the boutique law firm he founded with other former AUSAs to represent clients in complex government investigations.

“I fell in love with evidence, civil and criminal procedure, and constitutional issues at St. John’s,” Eskew recalls. “To its credit, the Law School takes a very practical and ethical approach to educating its students. I not only learned the material, but also grew as a person who understood and cared about my role in the greater society and profession. For someone with those leanings, there is no better job than being an AUSA, where procedural issues, evidentiary issues, and constitutional issues all converge in high-stakes, complicated, and sometimes cutting-edge cases.”

While in government service, Eskew worked on civil matters in the Eastern District of New York and on white collar criminal cases in the District of New Jersey. It was a unique amalgam of professional experiences. “When people go to work at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, it’s usually a dream job and they do one or the other—civil or criminal,” he explains. “But I had the opportunity to do both. As a result, today, I’m extremely comfortable representing individuals and corporate entities in all stages of a government investigation, even when it includes potential civil and criminal penalties.”

As he builds his business, Eskew also values time away from work spent with his wife, Kiera LoBreglio ’05, who he met at St. John’s, and their young family. He also looks forward to what lies ahead. “As it is in life, it’s impossible to plan everything you’ll do in your career. I could not have, and would not have, predicted when I was in law school that I would eventually start a law firm with two of my closest friends from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. It’s only because I had the courage to leave government work and embrace an unexpected and risky opportunity that I’m now running my own firm, focused on doing the work that I love.”

HON. HILARY GINGOLD ’85 Surrogate Judge New York County

In January, in the beautiful courthouse rotunda at 31 Chambers Street in lower Manhattan, Hon. Hilary Gingold was sworn in as New York County Surrogate by fellow St. John’s Law alumna Hon. Joanna Seybert ’71. The ceremony marked another milestone in Judge Gingold’s long career in service to the greater good.

In this latest role, Judge Gingold draws on early experience as a social worker and on work in the law that includes presiding as a Civil Court Judge; serving as principal court attorney in Bronx Supreme Court and as principal law clerk in Queens Supreme Court; supervising foreclosure training at the Queens Volunteer Lawyers Project; and running her own law practice.

“I’ve never forgotten that the law is a public service, a calling to preside honorably and dispense justice to the best of my abilities,” Judge Gingold says. “As a Surrogate, I’m committed to resolving the business of death and dying so families and individuals can move on with the facts of life as they struggle with the realities of grief. I also oversee proceedings when they need a guardian appointed. And I enjoy working with families as they celebrate life events, such as adoption. It’s an honor to be able to preside over these matters.”

Considering the roots of her commitment to service, Judge Gingold credits her likeminded deans, professors, and classmates at St. John’s Law. “Many of my classmates have also become judges,” she notes. “Most, if not all, have worked actively in their communities to help those in need. In every instance of my career, I’ve worked with, or for, fellow alumni who participate in pro bono, help the underserved, teach, mentor, and give back. The concept of paying it forward is the first skill I learned at St. John’s, and it’s my hope that I continue to master it.”

With that goal set and in sight, Judge Gingold offers inspiration for today’s St. John’s Law students: “The beauty of the legal profession is that, on any given day, you can reinvent your path. You can become a litigator; you can learn to do transactional work; you can change course and go into business or become a professor—all provided you keep an open mind and a fearless heart. To embrace the unknown is to create a better future for all.”

AURA M. GOMEZ LOPEZ ’15 Assistant Chief Counsel

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Aura Gomez Lopez knew she wanted to be a government trial lawyer. So, at St. John’s Law, she built on foundational 1L classes by taking upper-level courses focused on advocacy skills. Those skills served her well after graduation, when she spent five years working as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the New York City Law Department’s Family Court Unit. Today, she continues to employ that same skillset as an Assistant Chief Counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“I’m a trial attorney, and I’m responsible for reviewing evidence, assessing cases for trial litigation strategy, drafting motions and legal memoranda, preparing for witness cross examination, crafting legal arguments, and conferencing cases with opposing counsel,” Gomez Lopez says, offering a glimpse of her Department of Homeland Security duties. “I handle cases involving complex legal issues and requiring legal research, but I enjoy the challenge. I get to explore different areas of law and take the opportunity to learn from colleagues and friends.”

As she works in service to the public, Gomez Lopez appreciates the time she spent learning the law hands on at St. John’s, where she participated in the Child Advocacy Clinic and the Bread & Life Immigration Clinic. She also gained practical skills as a member of the Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute’s internal competition team.

“Whenever I’m asked, I tell St. John’s Law students to take advantage of every opportunity,” Gomez Lopez shares. “If you have a chance to research a complicated legal issue, draft a motion for a clinic, or work on an appeal, take it! Don’t shy away from a good challenge. It’s scary to take charge of a situation, but you’re always a better person at the end. Even if you fail, you’ll always be happy you tried. Taking advantage of any opportunity that comes your way is how you grow as a person, and as an attorney.”

CHRISTINA KWOK ’15 Corporate Counsel Beiersdorf

While Beiersdorf might not be a household name, the international company is home to popular skincare brands like Coppertone, Eucerin, La Prairie, and NIVEA. For Christina Kwok, it’s also an exciting place to work as Corporate Counsel.

Kwok started as Junior Counsel at Beiersdorf just over five years ago, after working at a Manhattan law firm. “I enjoy that there’s something new I can learn about the business every day,” she says of her current Corporate Counsel role. “My day-to-day changes quite a bit. I can spend time approving marketing claims and social media posts, negotiating contracts with vendors, or working crossfunctionally on regulatory and quality topics. I recently completed a real estate transaction, which was definitely a new and challenging project. Understanding how my role impacts larger business purposes is a rewarding feeling.”

Kwok developed the practical knowledge and skills she relies on at work when she was a student at St. John’s Law, where she took courses in international business transactions, tax, intellectual property, and entertainment law, among other offerings. She also participated in the Law School’s in-house Securities Arbitration Clinic and served as copresident of the student-run Corporate and Securities Law Society. “I gained the confidence to pursue field placements with Chanel, where I worked for two semesters, and with Authentic Brands Group, where I worked for one semester,” says Kwok. “Both were formative experiences that set a foundation for my work at Beiersdorf.”

Now, closing in on a decade of law practice, Kwok has some advice for St. John’s Law students looking to build their networks and launch their careers. “Don’t be afraid to explore and ask questions,” she advises. “Law school is daunting, and meeting alumni can seem challenging. But persevere. It’s important to make connections and put yourself out there. Try different opportunities that spark your interest. No one person has the roadmap to being a partner or general counsel. Take the time to set your own professional goals. A job doesn’t feel like a job if you truly enjoy what you do.”