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A L S O I N S I D E :

Grads in D.C.; Vilsack’stake on running for president; excerpt fromLytton’s on HoldingBishops Accountable;reflections from the StateBar president; mother andson in school together..

The high stakes of faculty scholarshippg. 26

CHAIRMANE. Stewart Jones Jr., Esq. ’66Troy, N.Y.

VICE CHAIRMary Ann McGinn, Esq. ’83Albany, N.Y.

SECRETARYRobert C. Miller, Esq. ’68Clifton Park, N.Y.

TREASURERHon. Erik E. Joh, ’70Boynton Beach, Fla.

MEMBERSStephen C. Ainlay, Ph.D. Schenectady, N.Y.

William A. Brewer III, Esq. ’77Dallas, Texas

Hon. Anthony V. Cardona ’70Albany, N.Y.

Barbara D. Cottrell, Esq. ’84Albany, N.Y.

Benjamin D. Gold, Esq. ’06New York, N.Y.

J.K. Hage III, Esq. ’78Utica, N.Y.

Susan M. Halpern, Esq. ’83Denton, Texas

Harold Hanson, Esq. ’66Bonita Springs, Fla.

James E. Kelly, Esq. ’83Garden City, N.Y.

Peter C. Kopff, Esq. ’75New York, N.Y.

Betty Lugo, Esq. ’84Brooklyn, N.Y.

Hon. Bernard J. Malone Jr. ’72Albany, N.Y.

Jacqueline Mecchella-Bushwack, Esq. ’07New York, N.Y.

Thomas J. Mullin, Esq. ’76Rochester, N.Y.

William F. Pendergast, Esq. ’72Washington, D.C.

James T. Potter, Esq. ’80Albany, N.Y.

Rory J. Radding, Esq. ’75New York, N.Y.

Richard A. Reed, Esq. ’81Albany, N.Y.

Harry Robinson, Esq. ’65Cohoes, N.Y.

Hon. John L. Sampson ’91Albany, N.Y.

Thomas M. Santoro, Esq. ’72Miami, Fla.

Larry P. Schiffer, Esq. ’79New York, N.Y.

Eugene M. Sneeringer Jr., Esq. ’79Albany, N.Y.

Victoria M. Stanton, Esq. ’87Glenmont, N.Y.

Robert B. Stiles, Esq. ’76Rochester, N.Y.

Dale M. Thuillez, Esq. ’72Albany, N.Y.

Johnna G. Torsone, Esq. ’75Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, Conn.

Hon. Randolph F. Treece ’76Albany, N.Y.

Allen J. Vickey, Esq. ’05New York, N.Y.

Donna E. Wardlaw, Esq. ’77Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Stephen P. Younger, Esq. ’82New York, N.Y.

EX OFFICIOThomas F. GuernseyPresident and Dean,Albany, N.Y.

EMERITIHon. Richard J. Bartlett Glens Falls, N.Y.

Charlotte S. Buchanan, Esq. ’80Glenmont, N.Y.

Harry J. D’Agostino, Esq. ’55Colonie, N.Y.

Donald D. DeAngelis Esq. ’60Albany, N.Y.

Robert V. Gianniny, Esq. ’53Rochester, N.Y.

Jonathan P. Harvey, Esq. ’66Albany, N.Y.

Stephen M. Kiernan, Esq. ’62Voorheesville, N.Y.

Matthew H. Mataraso, Esq. ’58Albany, N.Y.

Hon. Thomas J. McAvoy ’64Binghamton, N.Y.

Frank H. Penski, Esq. ’74New York, N.Y.

Peter M. Pryor, Esq. ’54Albany, N.Y.

William E. Redmond, Esq. ’55Albany, N.Y.

Edgar A. Sandman, Esq. ’46Naples, Fla.

David S. Williams, Esq. ’42Slingerlands, N.Y.

John J. Yanas, Esq. ’53Albany, N.Y.

ALBANY LAW SCHOOLBOARD OF TRUSTEES2007-2008

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20 Five Grads in D.C.: Playing Albany’s Local Sport on a National Field By Paul Grondahl

Five alumni describe their paths from Albany to Washington, where theyplay in the major leagues of U.S. politics. Their stories include presidentialpolitics up close, partisan Congressional maneuvering, and high-rollinginternational negotiations.

26 Faculty Scholarship:Moving the School from Good to GreatBy David Singer

A law school’s national reputation significantly relies on the reputation of the faculty. The faculty’s ability to publish scholarly work drives theperception of the school at every level. In its recent efforts to elevate itsnational standings, Albany Law continues its pursuit for faculty greatness.

D E P A R T M E N T S

2 In Brief

13 Student Life

18 Alumni at Work

31 Faculty Work

33 Faculty Notes

38 Alumni News

43 Class Notes

55 In Memoriam

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PRESIDENT AND DEAN

Thomas F. Guernsey

VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Helen Adams-Keane

EDITOR

David Singer

CONTRIBUTOR

Nicole Soucy

MAGAZINE DESIGN

2k Design, Clifton Park, N.Y.

DIRECTOR, ALUMNI AFFAIRS

Christina Sebastian

AlbanyLaw Magazine is published twice a year.

80 New Scotland AvenueAlbany, N.Y. 12208-3494518-445-3211www.albanylaw.edu

S P R I N G 2 0 0 8

CorrectionsIn an article in the Fall ’07 issue titled “Prof. BowmarRetires After Three Decades,” we incorrectly stated howlong Prof. Bowmar was a faculty member at Albany LawSchool. Prof. Bowmar taught at the school for 40 years.

In an article in the same issue, titled “Law in the Family:Today’s Students Following Parent’s Path,” we mistakenlyomitted from the list Kathleen “Casey” Copps ’09, whohas two parents who graduated from Albany Law School:Carl D. Copps ’80 and Anne Reynolds Copps ’81.

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INBRIEF

Like any good presidential candi-date, two-term Iowa governorTom Vilsack ’75 can talk fluentlyabout pretty much any domesticor international issue, oftenattached to personal stories thathit the core of the matter.

A room filled with studentslast October 2007 leveled pointedquestions at the man who monthsbefore dropped out of the presidential race. But his chopswere still sharp for questions onIran, Sen. Hillary Clinton,Israel, ethanol, immigration,who owns Jerusalem, and otherhot topics of the day.

After an hour of questions,Vilsack seemed not onlyundaunted, but to be just warm-ing up. You got the feeling thatthe students had only scratchedthe Vilsack surface.

“But there’s no greater feeling,

and no greater pressure thanbeing in a courtroom in front of a jury,” Vilsack said towardthe middle of the session.

Asked about intellectualproperty, the ’75 grad offered anamusing tale about his trip toChina to promote a protectedprocess for producing Iowan’ssoy bean.

On gay marriage, Vilsacksaid he needed to “dodge” thequestion because his law firm,Dorsey & Whitney, was repre-senting six gay couples. But inthe end he couldn’t resist. “Weneed to look at ourselves…whatis the value we’re trying to promote here? I think it’s thenotion of commitment…. Howcan someone be married toBritney Spears for 54 hours andhave all the rights attached to it,like inheritance and life and

Thoughtful and Savvy, Vilsack ’75 Answers Any and Every Question Asked

death decisions in hospital situations, but a committed gaycouple for 25 years has none ofthose rights? We ought to have acivil system to support the valuecommitment.”

Earlier that day it wasannounced that former vicepresident Al Gore had won theNobel Peace Prize. Asked by astudent whether Gore shouldrun for president, Vilsack, whoat the time was national co-chairfor Sen. Clinton’s presidentialcampaign, offered an unrehearsedresponse that called for Gore tofollow his “passion” as an environ-mental advocate. By the time thesecond television interviewerasked him the same questionlater that day, Vilsack’s messagehad swelled to a confident, perfectly crafted reply.

At the time of his visit,Vilsack was heading a nationaltask force of 30 people to examine the science, economicsand politics of global warming.Vilsack has long been outspokenon energy and security issues, as governor and presidentialcandidate, and has called forreplacing the Department ofEnergy with a Department ofEnergy Security.

Vilsack was on campus toreceive the Albany LawDistinguished Alumni Award,which he accepted that eveningat the Barrister Ball. The annualevent is held to honor theSchool’s largest donors. –DS

Vilsack speaking to students on campus. That night he received theDistinguished Alumni Award.

“How can someonebe married toBritney Spears for 54 hours andhave all the rightsattached to it, like inheritanceand life and deathdecisions… but a committed gay couple for 25 years has noneof those rights?”

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INBRIEF

The Government Law Center staff. Back rowfrom left: Kelly Ashe, Administrative Assistant;Patricia E. Salkin, Esq., Associate Dean & Director;Sharmaine Moseley, Coordinator, Albany Citizens’ Police Review Board;and Bennett Liebman, Esq., Executive Director. Front row from left:Robert C. Batson, Esq., Government Lawyer in Residence; Louise Owens,Executive Assistant; Rose Mary Bailly, Esq., Special Consultant; AmyLavine, Esq., Staff Attorney; and Barbara A. Mabel, AdministrativeDirector. Inset: Michele Ann Monforte Publications Editor, and PaulMoore, Project Director, Shared Municipal Services Incentives Program.

Debating Voting Technology for Tomorrow’s Elections

A day-long symposium featuring election experts examined the currentlegislation driving election processes, the way these processes affect voters’rights, an historical context that led us to this moment in time, and whattechnology we may expect for the future. Speakers included Paul Herrnson,Director, Center for American Politics and Citizenship, various electioncommissioners in N.Y. state, and N.Y. State Sen. Martin Connor.Pictured at left is Matthew Masterson, U.S. Election Assistance Commission,who provided an overview of federal election voting strategies.

Government Law Center Celebrates30 Years as a Leading Think-Tank

The Annual Saratoga Institute on Racing & Gaming Law this yearattracted more-than-usual attention as the NYRA contract issue swirledaround it, among other gambling controversies across the state andcountry. The monthly Warren M. Anderson Legislative BreakfastSeminar brings in top decision-makers from all areas of governmentto talk about issues pending before the New York State Legislature.The newly-launched public authority initiative already has providedthought leadership on public authority reform. Two GLC-supportedblogs draw more than 3,000 visitors every week. And two-day symposia,like the upcoming event examining religion and land use, draw interestfrom scholars throughout the country and occasionally the world.

What started as a small Center 30 years ago with one full-timeprofessor acting as Director and a part-time staff person now boasts10 staff members, a government lawyer in residence, a SandmanFellow, consultants, and active involvement of faculty and dozens oflaw students each year.

Led by Patricia Salkin, Associate Dean and Director of the Center’88, with a 50-member advisory board, projects are wide-ranging. Forexample, in a partnership with AARP, the Center recently researchedissues on grandparent caregivers to promote and implement soundpolicies at all levels of government. Senior Citizens’ Law Day last yeardrew more than 500 seniors and care givers to spend a day at AlbanyLaw to learn about long-term care, choosing an elder law attorney,creating health care proxies and living wills, and more.

Partnerships with the city, county, state and federal level help drivethe Center’s engine, creating student opportunities that include gov-ernment internships locally and in D.C., in-house research intern-ships, workstudy programs and positions on the Government & PolicyJournal, a publication produced by the N.Y. State Bar Association.

One of the leading school-based government think tanks, given itslocation in New York’s capital, the Center expects continued growth.

a series ofregionalworkshopsheld last fallall acrossNew Yorkbringingtechnicalassistance

to over 1,000 local officials. The site—located at

www.assembly.state.ny.us—includes areas such as animalcontrol, consolidation of localgovernments, cooperative agreements between local governments, and solid wastemanagement, to name a few.

The project is part of thestate’s technical assistance provided under the SharedMunicipal Services Incentive(SMSI) Grant[s] Program,which also provides grants tolocal governments to promotesharing services.

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INBRIEF

Municipalities might like to sharethe more mundane servicesamong themselves but are oftenstymied by a myriad of local,state and federal rules that candeter their efforts. Sharingmunicipal water, for example,comes with great financial, engi-neering, health and safety issues.

The Government Law Centerstaff, led by project director PaulMoore and a team of students,have been working on severalfronts under a contract with theDepartment of State to helpmunicipalities undertake sharedservice projects. The most visible accomplishments are: acompilation of two dozen casestudies of shared service initiatives available at theDepartment of State’s web site(www.dos.state.ny.us); a series of“legal frameworks” for variouslocal government functions donein collaboration with the Legisla-tive Commission on State-LocalRelations and available on the State’s Assembly’s web site(www.assembly.state.ny.us); and

Project Helping MunicipalitiesConsolidate and Share Services

Paul Moore

Faculty and staff have been activelymaintaining several legal blogscovering a wide range of topics.

Law of the Land: Patricia E.Salkin, Associate Dean andDirector of the Government LawCenter, writes daily on currentlaws, policies and decisions thataffect the use of land, highlight-ing new court decisions, stateand federal laws and policies,and actions at the local govern-ment level that guide and/orimpact land use and communitydevelopment. The blog,http://lawoftheland.albanylaw.edu,generates more than 2,000 visitsper week.

Best Practices for LegalEducation: Mary Lynch,Clinical Professor of Law andCo-Director of the Albany LawClinic & Justice Center, servesas editor for http://bestpractices-legaled.albanylawblogs.org, asource for information on currentreforms, and an online place toexchange ideas on legal education.

Same-Sex Unions in theConflict of Laws: ProfessorStephen Clark’s blog,www.samesexconflicts.com,focuses on the interjurisdictionalrecognition of same-sex marriages,civil unions and domestic partnerships.

Community Benefits Agree-ments: Government Law CenterStaff Attorney Amy Lavinewrites about development projectsand strategies to link good jobs,affordable housing, social justiceand livable neighborhoods onhttp://communitybenefits.blogspot.com.

Albany Law Bloggers DrawThousands of Visitors Weekly

This blog receives around 2,000visits a week.

Applicant Numbers Rise while Numbers Fall Nationally

More than 2,300 applied from 47 states for 250 seats in the Class of 2011.This includes applicants from Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, from the warzone in Iraq, and five other countries. More than 110 people applied fromCalifornia. Minority applicants rose by 59%, and overall applications wereup by 25%. Nationally, law school applications are down by 1%.

This year the Admissions Office was moved and renovated, creating amore prominent campus presence for prospective students. Designed to feel like a downtown law firm, the suite is also home to the school’s newDiversity Office.

Pictured from left: Gail S. Bensen, Director of Admissions; LisaSwartwood, Office Assistant; Ashley Fluster, Admissions Secretary; andPershia Wilkins, Director of Diversity.

As a result of the insurancecompany’s decision, theHazelton’s literally went door-to-door soliciting donations tocome up with a down paymentfor the cancer treatments. TheHazelton’s community in GlensFalls, N.Y., even held fundraisersat the local high school to payfor his treatments.

“One of my treatments wasdelayed a week just so I couldscrape together $8,000,” heexplained. The good news wasthe chemotherapy was working.Although his long-range prognosisremained terminal, the chemo-therapy could help him live hisremaining years pain-free.

On Sept. 6, 2007, the Clinic submitted the appeal forinsurance coverage of the treat-ment Avastin/CPT 11. The letter included cited reports of“impressive results” of Avastin’salternate use found by the Brain Tumor Center at DukeUniversity Medical Center. It alsoexplained how the chemotherapyhad improved Hazelton’s qualityof life and likely expanded histime with his family and friends.In an affirmation documentaccompanying the Law Schoolappeal, Dr. Weaver said the“experimental” usage of cancerdrugs—Avastin/CPT 11 in particular—“has become verycommon among neuro-oncolo-gists across the country and is routinely approved by otherinsurance companies.”

Six days later, Empire BlueCross approved the treatment,finding it “medically necessary,”and would provide coverage

treat breast cancer. The FDA stillhas not approved the treatmentfor brain cancer.

In order to reach out to other patients in similar insurancedisputes, the Clinic postedmany of the documents relatingto the Hazelton case on the clinic’s Web site at www.albany-law.edu/clinic. Since then,Professor Connors has received anumber of emails from individ-uals who are using the medicalresearch conducted by Lindenbergand Labriola to support theirown insurance appeals.

As for Hazelton, he is feelingmuch better. He’s doing so wellthat he and his wife went toFlorida in February for vacation.

for Hazelton’s past and futuretreatments.

Medical-Legal Collaboration

With the Health Law Clinic’srecent successful case, ProfessorConnors says the medical-legalcollaboration not only helpsresolve legal disputes, but leadsto improved health outcomesfor clients. “Doctors and lawyersworking together can achievewhat neither can alone.”

The students who worked on this case—Donald J. Labriola’08 and Daniel M. Lindenberg’08—are planning on a career inhealth law.

Labriola even plans to launchhis own poverty law agency inAlbany.

“I want to focus my practiceon representing HIV/AIDSpatients facing discriminationand helping the elderly withinsurance problems.”

Aftermath

Months after the Clinic won theHazelton case, Avastin/CPT 11was approved by the FDA to

Doctors said he would die bythe end of 2007.

“My husband would not bealive today if it wasn’t for theHealth Law Clinic,” said FaithHazelton.

Faith’s husband, Edward J.Hazelton, has terminal, irre-versible brain cancer. After theywere initially denied coverage,they turned to the law school’sHealth Law Clinic to help thempersuade Empire Blue Cross andBlue Shield to pay for Edward’schemotherapy—a treatment thatcost $42,000 a month.

Fight for Coverage

After several different treatmentswere unsuccessful, Hazelton’sdoctor, Susan Weaver, requestedapproval of insurance coveragefor the cutting-edge treatmentAvastin/CPT 11—which wasoriginally developed to treat colon cancer. Empire Blue Crossrefused. Dr. Weaver tried severalmore times unsuccessfully.Knowing Hazelton had a limitedwindow of opportunity, shereferred the Hazeltons to theHealth Law Clinic in May 2007.

Professor Joseph Connors,director of the Health LawClinic, and students Donald J.Labriola ’08 and Daniel M.Lindenberg ’08 took on the case.

The Clinic’s initial informalattempts to resolve Hazelton’scoverage dispute were unsuccessful.

“The insurance companywould not even consider review-ing coverage before Mr. Hazeltonreceived treatment,” explainedProfessor Connors. “He had to payout-of-pocket for the treatment.”

Cancer patient Ed Hazelton surrounded by, from left, Donald J. Labriola ’08, Ed’s wife Faith Hazelton, Daniel M. Lindenberg ’08 andProfessor Joseph Connors.

Clinic Students Win InsuranceAppeal for Life-Prolonging Drug

By Nicole Soucy

“My husbandwould not be alivetoday if it wasn’tfor the HealthLaw Clinic.”

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Prof. Young speaking at a child-rights event.

Professor Donna Young spoke to a standing-room only crowd earlierthis semester on the gender differences in children’s labor at theLaw School’s symposium titled, “Lost Childhood: Child Soldiers,Trafficked Children, and Child Rights.”

Young focused on the different work that boys and girls areforced to perform, calling these distinctions a vehicle for under-standing the systemic causes of a global market in child labor.These gendered divisions of labor, Young said, help to reveal thecultural and financial motivators of child labor in different nations;understanding these gender patterns allows us to better approachissues like education, health care and property rights, for example.

The day-long event offered three sections led by panelistsaddressing the categories of: Child Soldiers; Victims of Trafficking;and Rights, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.”

Coordinated by the school’s Chapter of Amnesty International,under the leadership of Professor Maria Grahn-Farley and thechapter’s president Allegra Edelman ’08, with assistance from thechapter’s vice president Andrea Shaw ’08, sponsors included theAlbany Law School Diversity Office and Amnesty International.

Examining the Legal Issuesaround Child Soldiers, ChildTrafficking and Child Labor

Maria Grahn-Farley has beenappointed an associate professorof law. She was previously a visiting assistant professor of lawat the school last year.

Before joining Albany LawSchool, Grahn-Farley was a faculty adviser at HarvardUniversity and a visiting scholarat Boston College. She is currentlyan S.J.D. candidate at HarvardLaw School. She completed theLL.M. program (degree waived)at Harvard Law School in 2005and holds an LL.M. from theGothenburg University School of Economics and CommercialLaw, Gothenburg, Sweden. Herfocus is on International Lawand Human Rights, specificallyInternational Child Rights.

This past semester she raised

awareness on campus about thelegal issues surrounding childsoldiers and trafficked children byhelping to organize a symposiumwith the Amnesty InternationalChapter of Albany Law.

International Child Rights Expert Joins Faculty

Prof. Grahn-Farley speaking oncampus earlier this year.

Law School Hosts National BALSA Retreat

The National Black Law Students Association’s northeast division helda full-day academic retreat on the Albany Law campus last semester.A line-up of prominent speakers addressed issues around student debt,exam writing, Bar exam preparation, minority issues and career choices.The group watched the movie “They Had a Dream Too—YoungLeaders of the Civil Rights Movement.”

Some of the speakers included, from left, William Little ’05, John Higgins ’89 (standing), Rachel (Perez) Ryan ’05, and ChristinaRoberts ’01.

INBRIEF

“A well regulated Militia,being necessary to the security of a free State….”

“We regulate almost everythingthat can harm people: jobs,drugs, cars, even stop signs,”said Professor Paul Finkelman, opening his two-day gun confer-ence with a challenge for hearty discussion. “It seems the mostdangerous things we have getConstitutional protection….We’re all interested in a better andsafe society, but how you get theredepends on who you talk to.”

Finkelman’s statement wasfollowed by two days of debateculminating with the formerDetroit mayor Dennis W. Archeraddressing the issue of enforce-ment by likening it to cigarettes.“You can’t put a cop on everycorner, and if you did, theshooting goes on behind closeddoors in the home…. Look atsmoking today. It’s completelydifferent today because peopleshowed they cared. But with somuch going on in our lives, youdon’t react to gun control issuesuntil it hits a loved one.”

Archer, who served two four-year terms as mayor and now ischairman of the Detroit-based lawfirm Dickinson Wright, deliveredthe Edwin Crawford MemorialLecture as part of the 2ndAmendment conference titled“Fire Arms, the Militia and SafeCities: Merging History, Constitu-tional Law and Public Policy.”

“Why can’t we have reasonabledialogue in this country?” Archer

asked. “No other country hasthis feeling…. If the publiccould emulate what the schooldid here: reasonable dialogueabout the issue.”

Sanford Levinson called thesecond amendment “a drunkenuncle at a family reunion: he isentitled to be there.” He praisedHarvard Law’s Mark Tushnet,who also spoke at the program,for noting that the Constitutionwill not solve the problem in thiscountry. The issue, said Levinson,was about “who controls themeans of violence.” Levinson, theW. St. John Garwood and W.St. John Garwood Jr. CentennialChair in Law for University ofTexas at Austin School of Law,delivered the Edward C. Sobota’79 Memorial Lecture as part ofthe conference.

Albany Law’s Finkelman, thePresident William McKinleyDistinguished Professor of Lawand Public Policy and SeniorFellow in the Government LawCenter, directed the Octoberconference that also includedspeakers like: Carl T. Bogus,Professor of Law, Roger WilliamsUniversity Law School; Leslie F.Goldstein, Judge Hugh M. MorrisProfessor, University of Delaware;David Konig, Professor ofHistory and Law at WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis; TimothyD. Lytton, Professor of Law,Albany Law School; and Mark

Tushnet, William NelsonCromwell Professor of Law,Harvard Law School.

Stephen Teret, Director ofthe Center for Law and thePublic’s Health, Johns HopkinsBloomberg School of PublicHealth, looked at gun violenceas an epidemiology issue; MattBennett, Vice President forPublic Affairs, Third Way, tooka public policy approach, hisremarks entitled “Misfire: Howthe Debate Over Gun RightsIgnores Reality.”

Richard Jay Feldman, a formerlegislative director for the NRA,presented “Ricochet: Confessionsof a Gun Lobbyist” and releasedhis new book of the same title atthe event.

The conference was cospon-sored by the Government LawCenter, the Albany GovernmentLaw Review, and The Ohio StateUniversity. –DS

Gun Conference Stirs Passions of Both Sides, Hitting Issues beyond a Legal Solution

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From top to bottom: Conferencedirector Prof. Paul Finkleman;Dean Thomas Guernsey and Prof.Kathe Klare listened to the morn-ing speakers; Sanford Levinsondelivered the Sobota Lecture; andformer Detroit mayor DennisArcher spoke on guns in the cityfor the Crawford Lecture.

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Mae D’Agostino (below, left) andMelissa Mourges (below, right)both received the 2008 KateStoneman Award, an annualaward that started 14 years agocelebrating women’s achievementsin law. Far right, Mimi Netter ’72,who hosted the event.

INBRIEF

Keynote speaker Arlinda Locklearlikened the prejudice faced bywomen to the struggles faced byAmerican Indians.

Kate Stoneman and the storiesof pioneering women in law arethe subjects of the new PioneeringWomen Lawyers: From KateStoneman to the Present. Thebook, edited by Associate DeanPatricia Salkin, documents KateStoneman’s legislative triumphto become the first womanadmitted to practice law in New York. It is told through 12 keynote speeches deliveredon each annual Kate StonemanDay. These include N.Y. State

Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, the late Honorable ConstanceBaker Motley, Hon. MaryDonohue, and Jeanine Pirro. Italso includes a foreword writtenby Dean Thomas Guernsey,background history by KateStoneman Chair in Law andDemocracy Katheryn Katz, andan introduction by ProfessorMary Lynch.

The book's release coincidedwith the launch of a Web sitefocused on Kate Stoneman, and

ABA Book Commemorates School’s First Alumna, Web Site Launched

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Locklear, a Lumbee Tribe memberwhose career has focused onNative American rights, includingcases argued and won before theU.S. Supreme Court.

“Each tribe has its own storyof mistreatment,” she continued,citing the example of a reserva-tion’s water supply diverted foranother community, making the reservation inhospitable, asituation she legally fought, successfully flowing the waterback onto the reservation.

Her most personal battle, she said—“the story thatbrought her into the law” 30 years ago—was the 100-plustribal communities yet to be recognized by the federal government, despite inhabitingtheir lands for centuries.

Her own North Carolina triberemains unrecognized, thoughthe tribe has been there since1790. Without that recognition,they have no protection of theirrights to their land, culture anddiscrimination.

Locklear’s most “difficult lesson: that these battles maynot be won in your lifetime, andthat it’s “your place to simply

move it for-ward.”

The firstNativeAmerican toappear beforethe U.S.SupremeCourt, she hasargued several

“Every woman of my generationhas their own story of genderinequality and the law,” ArlindaLocklear told a mostly filled lecture hall as the keynote speakerfor the Annual Kate StonemanDay March 6.

“There are hundreds of variations of the Kate Stonemanstory in Indian Country,” said

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to Honor and Continue Her Triumphs

cases, winning all of them. Inthe Oneida Tribe of Indians ofWisconsin, she argued thattribes have a federal commonlaw right to sue for possession oftribal land taken in violation offederal law. The Court adoptedher argument as the basis for allother land claim litigation.

Award Winners

Mae A. D’Agostino and MelissaMourges ’80, lawyers with twovery different stories, alsoreceived Kate Stoneman Awards.

Mourges, co-chief of theDNA Cold Case Unit in theNew York County DistrictAttorney’s Office, described thefeeling of calling a 59-year-oldwoman to tell her they’ve foundthe man who raped her 32 yearsago, linking him to dozens ofother rapes around the country.Mourges has brought numerouspreviously-unsolved rape andhomicide cases to trial using the17,000 “sexual assault kits” thatwere saved long before DNAtechnology was accessible.

D’Agostino, a partner withthe Albany Law Firm D’Agostino,Krackeler, Baynes & Maguire,urged firms, and the larger legalcommunity, to start doing farmore for female lawyers, partic-ularly those with young families.A past member of Albany Law’sBoard of Trustees and a coach forthe Albany Law Trial Team for adecade, she teaches medical mal-practice as an adjunct professor.–DS

the 14th Annual Kate StonemanDay celebration on March 6.

The Web site, www.kate-stoneman.org, celebrates therebellious spirit of Stonemanand those who have followedher tradition. Site highlightsinclude Stoneman’s biographyand publications, featured eventsfor women in law, and the KateStoneman Awards program.Pioneering Women Lawyers: FromKate Stoneman to the Present canbe purchased at the American

Bar Association’s storewww.abanet.org/abastore.

Locklear, Nation’s Premiere Defender of Native American Rights, Delivers Keynote

Albany Law in the NewsNew York Times

“As far as I know, he’s the first politician since the Civil War to recognize how deeply embedded slavery and race have been in ourConstitution. That’s a profoundly important thing to say. But what’simportant about the way he said it is he doesn’t use this as aspringboard for anger or for frustration… . This is not a reparationsspeech. This is a speech about saying it’s time for the nation to dobetter, to form a more perfect union.” Professor Paul Finkelman in thearticle titled “Obama chooses reconciliation over rancor,” March 19, 2008.

Business Daily Africa

“It is high time ODM (Orange Democratic Movement) and PNU (Partyof National Unity) sat down and negotiated a way out of the crisis.It is good that respected personalities have shown interest in helpingmediate. That people like Desmond Tutu and President Kufuor areconcerned about Kenya is a sign that the crisis is of internationalconcern.” Professor James Thuo Gathii in an article titled “World heavy-weights push fast-track mediation,” January 8, 2008.

Forbes.com

“GMs are very sophisticated people. A lot of them may not think A-Rod is even worth what he already was getting.” Professor PaulFinkelman in the article titled “Why A-Rod's Not Worth It,” November 15, 2007.

Newsday“Closing off racing could potentially be a very risky political strategy.”

Bennett Liebman, coordinator of the Racing & Wagering Law Program,in an article titled “NYRA warns race tracks could be closed in dispute,”November 6, 2007.

TECH IN THE CLASSROOM360 miles away, but the professor still calls on you

Students from the Semester in Government program in Washington,D.C., are taking a Government Ethics course with adjunct professor

Luke Bierman, Legal ServicesDivision General Counsel, Office ofthe State Comptroller, New York.Every Thursday night the studentsgo to a class room at GeorgeWashington University Law Schoolto participate in the class via video-conferencing. Occasionally Biermanhas taught the class in D.C.; for thisthe Albany students participate viavideoconferencing.

Students Cut their Teeth in Moot Court Competition

Winners Kelly Pressler and Sebastian Vaneria (in the center) surroundedby the judges of the final competition. From left: Professor Sheldon Halpern;Judge Robert S. Smith, N.Y. State Court of Appeals; Judge Victoria A.Graffeo ’77, N.Y. State Court of Appeals; Judge David N. Hurd, U.S.District Court, Northern District of New York, and Judge Gary L. Sharpe,U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York.

For 10 weeks 33 two-person teams competed in a moot court settingarguing before a panel of three judges. In the end one team remained,winners Kelly Pressler ’09 and Sebastian Vaneria ’09.

The Domenick L. Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Competition focusedthis year on an intellectual property issue centered on the use oftrademarked terms sold for Internet advertising on search engine sites.

Other winners, all from the class of ’09, include: Matthew Skinnerand Kristen Wilson as finalists in the overall category, Gareth Hedges forbest oral advocate, and Andria Bentley and Kristin Dascher for best brief.

Also in attendance at the competition was former Professor Ann Horowitz, who funds the prizes for winners of the best writtenappellate briefs.

10

INBRIEF

11

Hardball on the Hard Court

Intramural league sports continue to fill the gym with the sound ofsneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor. Albany Law basketballteams such as The DA's and The Big Ticket tip off on Wednesdaysand Sundays. Student teams also use the gym to play floor hockey,soccer, dodgeball and rugby.

Answers from the last issueTop photo: Back: Gregg Gates ’78, Steve Bing ’78, Jane Beltzer’78, Mary Ann Gadziala ’78, Ilene Bergman ’80. Front: FredBurr ’78, Paul DerOhannesian’78 , Rick Meyer’78 , Al Berman’78, John Campanie ’78Bottom photo: Thomas Finnerty ’92, Julie Martin ’92, JohnLoturco ’92 and Andrea Carapella ’92

Fall ’07 Contest Winners: Donna Bogursky-LoTurco ’92,Huntington, N.Y.; Patrick Cartwright ’92, Albany, N.Y.; PaulHermann ’79, Saranac Lake, N.Y.; Deirdre Keating ’92, Albany,N.Y.; Rachel Samuels ’92, Latham, N.Y.; Jane Scott ’79,Latham, N.Y.; Todd Weber ’78, Saranac Lake, N.Y.

The first five alumni to correctlyname anyone in either photowin an Albany Law School cap.The first two to correctly nameall alumni in either photo,including graduation year, eachwin a Law School sweatshirt.

Submit your answers toChristina Sebastian, Director ofAlumni Affairs, at 518-445-3361or cseba@albanylaw.edu.?W

ho a

re t

hey?

IP Alumni Share Experiences, Career Advice

A panel of Albany Law alumni talked about their IP careers and offeredadvice to a few dozen students weighing similar paths for their own futures.

Panel members pictured above are, bottom row from left: Todd M.Friedman ’98, partner with Kirkland & Ellis; Irene A. Lippa ’06, at thetime an associate with Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts; Marc D. Schechter’78,Senior Group IP Law Counsel, IBM Americas Sales & Distribution,IBM Canada, IBM Latin America. Top row from left: Heather M. Hage’06, Intellectual Property Manager for the Office of Technology Transferat the Research Foundation of the State University of New York; StephenB. Salai ’74, Harter Secrest & Emery; Gail M. Norris ’83, Director forthe Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Rochester; StephenV. Treglia ’79, Chief of the Technology Crime Unit of the Nassau County(N.Y.) District Attorney’s Office (NCDA).

time we communicate I learnsomething.”

Halpern recalled Wallacestorming out of the classroomon her first day with him afterthe first three students he calledon “passed.” Last year she toldthe 6-foot 4-inch Duke that henever scared her. “He told me heknew this and said, ‘I know whoscares and who doesn’t.’”

“He was a big man in everyway,” said Professor DanielMoriarty, who worked withWallace for many years. “Hisviews were always firmly pre-sented. In arguments he was vigorous, and in friendships hewas grand.” Moriarty added onemore time, “He was a big man.”

“Anyone who had him willalways remember him poundingthe desk, declaring ‘Never nevernever comingle your funds’ and‘attach the wheels,’ said ProfessorDeborah Mann, once a studentof Wallace. “It’s indelibly markedin our brains.”

For now, Wallace spends a lot of time on his computer andoperating his Ham radio.“There are a lot of Hams here,”he said of his senior community,“and we love to get together.”That is, when he’s not thumpinghis drums to the jazz.

On Wednesday nights FrankWallace sits behind a drumsetdriving a 15-piece swing bandthrough Woody Herman andGlenn Miller dance tunes. “Peoplefrom all over South Texas cometo see us play,” Wallace said fromhis motor coach near McAllen,about a mile from Mexico’s RioGrande border.

The 86-year-old retired professor who tried some 200cases before joining the AlbanyLaw faculty in 1970, spends halfof the year with his wife Joyce’73 in their motor coach as partof a senior community. Thesummer months they live in theirother home in Altamont, N.Y.

“There are always problemsin these senior communities, andmy wife and I are two lawyers in the park, so these problemsseem to fall on our shoulders,”said Wallace, with amusement.

“A kind woman we know wasbeing sued and needed legal help.I came out of retirement todefend her. The warrior got backin the courtroom, and won.”

Wallace said he feels good.He can speak in detail about hisprofessor days at the law school.

“I retired in ’86, but thenthey asked me to come back asemeritus, so I taught a full loadduring the fall semesters for thenext four years,” he recalled.“Some retirement.”

When asked, he rattled offhis course names: civil procedure,property, negotiation, and conflict of law. “Don’t forgettrial tactics,” said his wife in the

background of the conversation. Born and bred in Schenectady,

he practiced law for 21 yearsafter graduating from AlbanyLaw in ’49. He spent most ofhis practicing career in Colorado,where he and others bought,among other things, a minorleague hockey team associatedwith the Toronto Maple Leafs.The franchise won the champion-ships for the Western League—“through no help from me,”Wallace quipped—before hesold his share.

“When I was leaving Denverfor Albany, a reporter from theDenver Post called me to write alittle article,” Wallace said. “Sheasked why I was leaving practicefor academia, and I told her for a little ‘psychic income.’Well, the headline of the storysaid, ‘Lawyer Leaves for PsychicReasons.’”

Susan Halpern ’83, an AlbanyLaw School trustee, has stayedclose to Wallace over the yearssince her days as his student.“After practicing for more thantwo decades, he still serves as aguide and mentor for me,” shesaid of Wallace, whom she andmany call “The Duke” due tohis resemblance to John Wayne.“We trade a lot of emails andshare a lot of thoughts. Every

12

What’s Frank Wallace Doing these Days?

By Dave Singer

“There are alwaysproblems in these senior communities, and my wife andI are two lawyersin the park, sothese problemsseem to fall onour shoulders.”

INBRIEF

Frank and Joyce Wallace at their home in South Texas.

13

exclaimed Phil. “She set out toaccomplish something she alwayswanted to do.”

After receiving his Bachelor’sat Boston College, Phil took ayear off from school. Inspired by his mom, Phil decided to follow in her footsteps and go toAlbany Law School. He beganclasses last fall.

During the past year, the twohave studied together, sharedtextbooks, and regularly atelunch together—a lunch oftenmade by mom. They don’t commute together: Pam lives inStillwater, N.Y., and Phil liveswith his wife in Glens Falls.

As Phil prepares for his secondyear at Albany Law, Pam is busygearing up for graduation andmore importantly, the bar exam.

As for Pam’s future plans,she’s not entirely sure what she’sgoing to do beyond graduation.

“I’m interested in family law,

Pam Perry ’08 knew she was saving her textbooks for a reason.She was convinced that one dayher older son, Phil ’10, wouldgo to law school. She was right.Not only did Phil decide toattend law school, he enrolledinto the same school as hismother—making Albany LawSchool history.

Pam, 41, a third-year law student, and Phil, 23, a first-yearstudent, are Albany Law School’sfirst mother and son to attendthe school at the same time,although over 1,600 studentshave been related in some way,from in-laws to spouses.

Pam, a single mother, saysshe always wanted to go to lawschool. She had been working in law offices as a paralegal sinceshe was 18, after she marriedand had Phil.

“I wanted to make my dreama reality,” explained Pam. “I had

learned many of my legal skillsthrough my job experience, and now I wanted to applythem as a lawyer.”

After her divorce, Pam enrolledin Empire State College to earn her undergraduate degree.She not only kept her paralegaljob while attending school, she raised Phil and her other son3 year-old Matthew.

“It was a real struggle to balance school, a full-time joband a family,” said Pam. “But Inever lost sight of my goal to goto law school.”

In the spring of 2005, sheapplied to Albany Law. On aFriday in mid-August, she receivedword that she was accepted.Orientation was on Monday.

“I quit my job after theacceptance call and enrolled,”said Pam.

“When she told me she wasaccepted, I was so proud of her,”

estate planning, and real estate.But after spending several yearscarefully balancing school, workand raising a family, I’m readyto take a vacation.”

Phil, however, has biggerplans for the two. “You neverknow, in a few years we mightstart our own law practice.”

STUDENTLIFE

Pam and Phil Perry often have lunch together on campus.

Mother and SonBecome ClassmatesBy Nicole Soucy

Cou

rtes

y of

Phi

lip K

amra

ss /

Alb

any

Tim

es U

nion

Inspired by hismom, Phil decidedto follow in herfootsteps and go to Albany LawSchool.

F A M I L Y L A W :

14

STUDENTLIFE

If there is one thing that everylaw student would agree on, it is that law school costs too much.After arriving in Paris, France,to complete a one-semesterstudy-abroad program, I wasshocked to discover that studentsin France, pay only minimaladministrative fees totaling lessthan $730 a year—including the mandatory state run sécuritésociale health care plan, to attendlaw school. However, I quicklyrealized that sometimes you really do pay for what you get.

The University of ParisX–Nanterre (UPX) was estab-lished in 1964 on the outskirtsof Paris as an extension of theSorbonne. Based on the Americanmodel, it was created as a campus (as opposed to the oldFrench universities which weresmaller and integrated into thecity) and welcomes approximately35,000 students a year. UPX

offers 181 different under-graduate, masters and doctoratedegrees and is particularlyrenowned in France for itsmathematics and law programs.

During the 2007 springsemester, I attended UPXthrough Albany’s exchange program and at the end of thesemester I was awarded a“Diplôme d’Etudes JuridiquesEuropéennes & Internationales”with honors. My courseworkincluded classes on the politicalhistory and structure of theEuropean Union, European andFrench law, international humanrights, international commerceand legal translation. All 15 credithours transferred back to AlbanyLaw.

Despite similar course topicsand class sizes, the differencesbetween the U.S. and French legaleducation systems are immense.And while the course materialitself was stimulating, the coursesthemselves often left much to be desired.

The French system deservespraise for providing higher education, including law school,to almost all French students forpractically nothing, but the lackof funding results in massive holesin the university infrastructure.

As an exchange student, dealing with the administrationwas both a necessity and a night-mare. Prior to my departure, Iassumed that the difficulties inobtaining answers to my questionsabout housing, health insuranceand class schedules were due tomy rusty French and the incom-patible time zones. But afterarriving, I realized my struggle

was only just beginning. I discovered the administration atUPX kept inconvenient andirregular hours. In addition, theclass structure itself was a shock.At Albany Law, most lectureclasses are structured aroundsome version of the Socraticmethod. At UPX, the lectureclasses are 100% lecture, withvery infrequent student partici-pation often in the form of abrief question and answer ses-sion. Students are expected totake copious, often verbatim,notes during class and thendigest them later. In general,there are no syllabi; classes oftenhave loose “plans” or outlinesthat some professors choose todistribute.

Furthermore, there are nomandatory books (on the brightside, no $700 bookstore bills)nor are there mandatory readingassignments. The suggestedreading list, if distributed at allby the professor, looks more likea law review article’s bibliogra-phy than anything a graduatestudent could tackle in a year,let alone a semester. The com-bined effect results in many stu-dents doing little more thanshowing up for class and strug-gling to transcribe every wordthat comes out of the professor’smouth. In the absence of someform of office hours, studentsare typically not given access to professors’ e-mail addresses andare instead left to sit outsidetheir offices, often for hours at atime, hoping that the professormight show up and have amoment to talk to them.

Law School in Paris and Albany:

Kepner in Paris.

“The French systemdeserves praise forproviding highereducation, includinglaw school, to almostall French students forpractically nothing,but the lack of fund-ing results in massiveholes in the universityinfrastructure.”

15

A Different Admissions System

French universities are requiredby law to admit anyone with aBaccalauréat. Because law schoolis open to all students withoutan additional merit-based application process, professorsuse exams to weed-out between15% and 70% of a given class.It is not unusual for a professorto fail an entire class. While thesystem does have a built in “rattrapage,” or opportunity toretake exams prior to the begin-ning of the next academic year,the process leaves professorscompletely unaccountable fortheir teaching. There is no formof teacher evaluation by the students and after discussing thegrading system at length withboth French professors and students, I think it is unlikelythat a professor would assumeany responsibility for the failureof an entire class.

The majority of the time, itwas not that the administrators,professors or university staff

were reluctant to help, moreoften I got the impression thatthey were left completely unableto help due to the red tapeinherent in an academic systemfunded and managed by thenational government.

Somewhat Flawed Facilities

Finally, the physical condition ofthe academic facilities at UPXprovides a stark contrast to thoseat Albany Law School. There are only a handful of printerswhich students have access to atUPX and on all but one of thoseprinters can students print any-thing from an e-mail account.While the majority of the aca-demic buildings were equippedwith wireless Internet access, theuniversity residences were not.The libraries on campus wereclosed on Sunday and the dedi-cated law library was little morethan a large room with 10 or 12tables and a dozen bookshelves.It was not unusual to walk intoa classroom at UPX and be

greeted by aged graffiti scrawledon the walls. Typically, the public restrooms lacked tissue,soap and paper towels. At thesame time, UPX is home to anOlympic size swimming pool, a state of the art fitness facilityand track stadium and while Iwas a student, there was a newresidence hall under construc-tion and extensive landscapingwork taking place throughoutthe campus.

After studying in France, I have a new appreciation forthe U.S. system. I realized thatthe administrative support atAlbany Law profoundly facili-tates the academic studies, and the practically unlimitedaccess to professors and coursematerials is something easilytaken for granted.

Despite all of the headachesand the fundamental differencesin the education system inFrance, I found my time in Paris invaluable. As the monthspassed I began to feel as thoughI actually belonged in Paris. Asmy French improved I found Icould keep up with both lecturesand the casual conversations of my classmates. My localboulanger began to greet me byname and on a handful of occasions I gave directions to alost Parisian. Academically, theopportunity to learn both the

French and European systemsfrom French and European professors, some of whom haveplayed important roles in theformation of the EuropeanCommunity, was an excitingexperience.

If given the opportunity torepeat my semester abroad, Iwould not hesitate. In my mind,the practical functioning of theFrench legal system is similar tothat of the U.S. system, butbecause the driving force of theFrench system is the Code Civil,the theory and methodologywere completely new to me. In aworld where foreign legal systemsare increasingly juxtaposed andintertwined, perspective isinvaluable and the semester Ispent at UPX has allowed me aglimpse of another legal approach.

In no way am I advocating infavor of the U.S. system wherethe sheer cost is completely outof control and prohibitive tolarge quantities of academicallyqualified students, nor am Iadvocating against the Frenchsystem, where access to highereducation approaches universality.But there is a tangible advantageto the maintenance of a linkbetween a student’s tuition dollars and a school’s success.The challenge now is to find themiddle ground.

LE BON ET LE MAUVAIS A D R I E N N E K E P N E R ’ 0 8

Kepner, after her semester in France, back at Albany Law’s library.

“I realized that the administrative support atAlbany Law profoundly facilitates the academicstudies, and the practically unlimited access toprofessors and course materials is something easilytaken for granted.”

16

Joe Rossi ’10 had enough problems. He was about to startthree years of law school, andfor that he had taken on anuncomfortable amount of debt.So when his roommate decidedagainst law school the day beforeorientation, Rossi was on thehook for the entire rent.

Sebastian Vaneria ’09 spenthis first year of law school commuting from the Berkshires.Two weeks into this same commute the following year,Vaneria had enough. “But Iwanted the right place and theright situation.”

Today the two roommatesthank their stars for stumbling

onto one another through variousword-of-mouth channels.

“Both of us have never lived onour own, so it’s a little different,”said Vaneria, a graduate of CentreCollege, Kentucky, who’s eagerto start his summer clerkship inthe general counsel’s office of theDepartment of the Navy.

“We had no furniture,” saidRossi, sweeping his hands to showthe sparse living room, “so we’vebeen buying pieces as we go.”Rossi, a Siena grad whose fond-ness for the region will keep himaround after law school, pointsto a chair and says they boughtit from “craigslist.” Vaneriapoints to the homey touch of

magnets covering the refrigerator.Something in the photo magnetsprompts him to mention thathis father, John Vaneria, a lawyerin New York City, graduatedAlbany Law in 1973.

Drop one floor down toJeremy Cooney ’10 and DanSchlesinger’s ’10 apartment.They have furniture. Nice tables,new chairs, a well-kept couch,cooking spices and a filled bookshelf lined with framedphotos that outline some oftheir own stories.

“I worked for a few yearsbefore law school,” said Cooney,the class president who workedfor U.S. Congresswoman Louise

STUDENTLIFE

L I V I N G T O G E T H E R I S

“We have little time to hang around as a group,” says Cooney, center, of his roommate Schlesinger, right, and twoother students who rent upstairs. His girlfriend and law student Ugelow, left, will visit occasionally, particularly ifCooney’s making dinner.

Under the Same Roofs at School and Home,

us were running out, some werecoming in. So we spent a fewminutes together commiseratingabout life in law school.”

Early in the year they had aparty together for their law schoolclass, where they all chipped into buy a used grill. But thatmight be the extent of their fraternizing, which, someagreed, can often make the bestkind of roommate.

Cooney’s girl friend LisaUgelow ’10 occasionally visits.She lives on the “College Suites”located next to the Law Schoolcampus, where she and threeother women share a suite of fourrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchenand a common living area. “It’s

Slaughter and then his alma materHobart College after graduating.

Schlesinger, a Pittsford, N.Y.,native, and Cooney met througha winding thread that included abest friend, a colleague’s mother’sacquaintance, and one othertwice-removed relation. Fromthere they met and spent a dayin Albany together looking atnearly 10 places before landingon their current apartment.

Despite the sharing of theirhomes, including the rent, heatand other related bills, the fourof them rarely hang around as agroup. “Everyone has differenthabits,” said Cooney. “The othernight we all ended up in thiskitchen at about 11:45. Some of

17

convenient,” she says, “but I’mlooking forward to living in anapartment or house off campus.”

So what are the problems?“His music,” Cooney quicklypoints out, laughing, adding thatSchlesinger, a philosophy andmusic major at Oberlin Collegeand an accomplished clarinetist,likes to practice in his free time.

Rossi laments that Schlesingerhas free time. “I come home fordinner, maybe take a nap, andthen go to the library until itcloses. Then I look for a classroomto study for a few more hours.”Vaneria nods to affirm Rossi’sschedule, and adds, “Joe’s theroommate everyone would want.”–DS

C O P A C E T I C

Vaneria, left, and Rossi enjoy a few moments before getting back to the books.

18

Kathryn Grant

Madigan ’78 is the

President of the

New York State Bar

Association. The

remarks below are

excerpts from her

talk she gave to

Albany Law School

students as the 2008

Alumna in Residence.

She is a partner

at the Binghamton,

N.Y., firm Levene

Gouldin & Thompson.

I relate much of my success in a male domi-nated profession to myathletic background.My ability to “talk the talk” and“walk the walk” has gained meentrée to many arenas deniedother women of my generationin my profession.

My Phi Beta Kappa key letme into the Boardrooms but itwas my background as a collegebasketball player and, even more so, my 10 years as a rugbyplayer, that gave me instantcredibility and respect.

I would hear those whispers,“She’s a rugby player.” Maybe itscared them a bit, that “elegantviolence.”

My team at CU Boulder wasone of the first in the country, theAlbany Law MsDemeanors—aname anointed after I graduated—was also one of the first law schoolwomen’s teams. The BinghamtonWRFC I started in 1978 is nowthe Binghamton University team.Even now I find myself drivingdown the Vestal Parkway pastthe University and see the

ALUMNIATWORK

Day in the Life of the State Bar President

Justice Sandra Day

O’Connor arrives with

the U.S. Marshall; we

drive to the Sandra Day

O’Connor Courthouse

in downtown Phoenix.

Quick tour of the

Courthouse, pose for

photo in front of the

Sandra Day O’Connor

statue.

Videotaping of the

NYSBA Gold Medal

Award presentation in

the ceremonial Court

Room, with inspiring

remarks by Justice

O’Connor (SDO).

Read just released U.S.

Supreme Court Lopez

Torres decision; review,

edit and approve NYSBA

Press Release; couple

of phone interviews.

9:30

a.m

.

9:45

a.m

.

10:0

0 a.

m.

11:0

0 a.

m.

State Bar President Reflects on the Field, and Her Career, In Lecture to Students

huge advocate of balancing workand life. The structure of largelaw firms make that balancevery hard.

An inhospitable climate inlarge law firms continues, especially for women lawyers ofcolor, which the ABA documentsin a report called the “VisibleInvisibility.”

We give lip service to runninglaw firms like a real business.But what business would toleratethe rate of associate turnover inmost big city firms? And whatbusiness model would ignore theneeds of 50% of their professionalworkforce, ie. women?

“If lawyers brought the sameimagination and creativity tothis problem that they bring tothe problems of their clients,this problem could be solved,”suggested the former Pace LawDean Stephen Friedman.

A law firm culture that honorsprofessionalism and quality oflife, as well as profits, requires atop-down commitment. Firmsalso need to commit to formal,accountable mentoring programsfor associates and women partners,

as well as effective training orcoaching in client development.

It takes different kinds oflawyers to create a healthy lawfirm culture—“minders, binders,grinders and finders.” Each contribute to the whole. Myfirm is unusual in that we have a bonus pool for significantcommunity and bar associationservice. It’s not huge, but itsends a powerful message aboutwhat we value as a firm. All of us, from the top down, are community leaders. Twelve of us are former county bar presidents, five of us formerNYSBA Section chairs, and thefirm is now supporting me atmy full-time volunteer job asNYSBA president.

All this doesn’t happen byaccident. It’s about communicat-ing and modeling that core firmvalue. We believe it makes usbetter lawyers and better humanbeings. We have the largest percentage of women partnersand associates in our region, andhave had progressive work/lifepolicies, some of which go backover 25 years, such as part time,

19

women’s team practicing or in agame and I want to jump out ofmy Jeep and join the scrum. But I am 54, so I think not.

I have many fond memoriesof Albany Law’s gym, whichserved as an essential part of ourstress management program.Surely we’re the only law schoolin the country with a gym inthe middle of it. I played on thewomen’s intercollegiate team myfirst year, but didn’t find it verycompetitive, so I switched to men’sintramurals, joining the team“Five Easy Pieces.” ProfessorsWatkins (“the Watt”) and Welshwere frequent spectators.

For women of my generation,there were four predictors ofprofessional success for women:1) Strong relationship with yourfather or a male mentor; 2) GirlScouts; 3) Same sex high schoolor college; and 4) Athletics.

I was fortunate to have all four.

Troubling trends today

Growth in minimum billablehours continues to increase,especially in large New York Citylaw firms. I have always been a

Madigan getting sworn in asNYSBA president by Hon.Thomas McAvoy ’64 last June inCooperstown, N.Y.

flex time, work at home option,part time/non-equity partner track,a Women’s Marketing Group,wellness programs etc. It is asuperb model of what is possible.

Advice to Young Female Lawyers

Be courageous in making choicesabout your career and personallife. Don’t be reluctant tochange direction as your needsand interests, as well as that ofyour family, evolve over time.Make work/life balance a priority.It’s not about the money. It’s not about the money. Toot yourown horn, as no one else will do it for you. Get out there andnetwork. Don’t be shy aboutself-marketing. And don’t beswayed by those who suggest (asothers did to me) that you can’tbe a part-time lawyer. Trust yourgut. Seek mentors in all areas of your life. Become a mentorwhen the opportunity arises.

Finally, take care of yourself.And then, as is our time-honoredtradition as lawyers, take care of those who cannot take care of themselves.

Tour of Phoenix Art

Museum with SDO.

1:00

p.m

. Travel to Paradise Valley

to home of SDO for tea

and conversation about

our respective athletic

exploits.

3:00

p.m

. Drinks around the firepit

at the Paradise Valley

Country Club and then

dinner.6:00

p.m

. Return to hotel.

9:30

p.m

. Brown bag lunch with SDO and federal

judges; discussion re: Lopez Torres;

SDO’s time with the Queen of England

during the Jamestown Anniversary

program; book signing by SDO for my

bar leader friends and NYSBA key staff.

No

on

It has been said that Albany possesses just one major league sport: politics.But five Albany Law School alumni who work in the United States Congress would

beg to differ with that homegrown view of politics in the state capital. Their careerpaths have carried them to Washington, D.C., and, they would argue, they’re playingin the true major league of politics in America.

They took the road less traveled and it led them from legislative internships in thestate capital while students at Albany Law and eventually—after a few detours to pursue other opportunities, typically—to interesting and challenging legal careers inthe nation’s capital. For them, the journey from Albany to Washington has allowedthem to observe presidential politics up close, to fend off partisan Congressionalmaneuvering, to participate in high-stakes geopolitical negotiations, to travel to foreign lands and, above all, to lay claim to a front-row seat of history in the making.

Here are their stories.

Playing Albany’s Local Sport on a National Field

By Paul Grondahl

20

It has been said that Albany possesses just one major league sport: politics.But five Albany Law School alumni who work in the United States Congress would

beg to differ with that homegrown view of politics in the state capital. Their careerpaths have carried them to Washington, D.C., and, they would argue, they’re playingin the true major league of politics in America.

They took the road less traveled and it led them from legislative internships in thestate capital while students at Albany Law and eventually—after a few detours to pursue other opportunities, typically—to interesting and challenging legal careers inthe nation’s capital. For them, the journey from Albany to Washington has allowedthem to observe presidential politics up close, to fend off partisan Congressionalmaneuvering, to participate in high-stakes geopolitical negotiations, to travel to foreign lands and, above all, to lay claim to a front-row seat of history in the making.

Here are their stories.

21

Richard Mereu ’90 had some-thing of an out-of-body experienceas he sat in a tent in Tripoli acrossfrom Libyan leader ColonelMuammar Qaddafi during alandmark meeting with a U.S.Congressional delegation. “It wasintense and incredible. I’ll neverforget it,” Mereu recalled of the2004 trip to Tivoli. “Qaddafiwas eccentric and passionatewhen it came to his discussionof the history of relationsbetween the U.S. and Libya.”

Mereu is chief counsel to U.S.Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.)and a staff director on a sub-committee of the House ForeignAffairs Committee. Mereu wasaboard the first U.S. militaryplane to land in the Libyan capital since the United Statesand Libya broke off diplomaticrelations in 1980. Congress sentthe delegation to Tripoli afterthe 9/11 attacks.

Mereu sat rapt in the tent asQaddafi spoke. “He was willingto consider diplomatic relationswith the United States becauseLibya was very poor and he

wanted his country to move forward economically and notremain shunned and isolated fromthe international community,”Mereu recalled.

That meeting was a precursorto Qaddafi renouncing hisnuclear, biological and chemicalweapons and dismantling hisstockpile of weapons of massdestruction. “It was a thrillinghistorical moment and one ofthe greatest achievements I’vebeen involved in during my timeworking on Capitol Hill,” saidMereu, who has spent 12 years onGallegly’s staff and has handledlegal matters related to theCongressman’s work on healthcare, immigration and foreignpolicy. In the past four years,Mereu’s work on the ForeignAffairs Committee has takenhim to more than two-dozencountries in the past three years.He’s currently engaged withEuropean countries working todefuse growing tensions in theBalkans and to resolve politicaldifferences in Northern Ireland.

Mereu has the highest possiblesecurity clearance and is privy to top-secret counterterrorisminitiatives as part of his job,which requires facets of legal

expertise he never expected to use.“I was involved in implementingthe 9/11 Commission’s recom-mendations and adding provisionsto the Medicare ModernizationAct of 2003. Both required ahuge amount of research, coali-tion building and effort to getlegislation passed in the Houseand Senate,” he said. “It’s excitingand satisfying to see the fruits ofyour labor when it becomes law.”

Mereu, who lives in Arlington,Va., with his wife and two chil-dren, credits an internship in thestate Legislature he completedwhile at Albany Law on puttinghim on the path to Washington.“It was an opportunity I wouldn’thave gotten at any other lawschool,” said Mereu, who workedfor Assemblyman Joe Pillitere, aDemocrat from Niagara Falls.

Mereu aimed to work in thenation’s capital and Albany Lawhelped him land a summer jobafter his second year at theFederal Trade Commission inD.C. That led to a full-timeposition after law school withthe FTC’s Bureau of ConsumerProtection. His work involvedforcing companies of high-profileproducts making unsubstantiatedclaims to modify their advertis-

ing and marketing materials.“The FTC was interesting

work and I improved my researchand legal skills, but I alwayswanted to make a contributionin terms of public policy,”Mereu said. In 2003, he waspromoted to staff director of the Subcommittee on Europe ofthe Foreign Affairs Committee.“I’ve been in the majority andthe minority and you have to be creative and build alliancesacross party lines if you want tobe effective on Capitol Hill,” he added.

Mereu has been involved incritical foreign relations anddomestic policy negotiationsover the years, but one of hismost memorable moments wassitting in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol for PresidentGeorge W. Bush’s State of theUnion address in 2002. “Thiswas a few months after 9/11 andhe talked about the Axis of Eviland I remember thinking as Iwas listening that this was a historic speech that would haveimportant foreign policy impli-cations,” he said.

Mereu has been summonedto the West Wing of the WhiteHouse for briefings and said it’s nothing like the TV showthat starred Martin Sheen. “It’sactually very sedate and thereare very few offices in the WestWing,” he said. “Working inCongress has been an incrediblyenriching, satisfying career and I’m doing things I neverimagined I’d do.”

“Qaddafi waseccentric and passionate whenit came to his discussion of thehistory of relationsbetween the U.S. and Libya.”

22

Amy Gaynor ’99 drafts bills,resolutions and amendments as an assistant counsel with theSenate’s Office of the LegalCounsel. Only, she works fromthe comfort of her home inDelmar, N.Y. Gaynor, who has a 2-year-old daughter, hastelecommuted to her job inWashington, D.C., for the pastfour years after joining the non-partisan Senate supportoffice in 2001. “Telecommutingis sort of a new trend in theSenate. After 9/11, it becameimportant that the institutionhave the capability to workremotely outside D.C.,” she said.“Telecommuting has worked outwell for my daughter, Norah,and our family. I do like it, but Imiss being in Washington, D.C.”

Gaynor is married toBenjamin Farber ’99. The classmates became law schoolsweethearts who married whileboth worked in Washington,D.C. In 2004, the couplereturned to Albany, where shegrew up and where her familystill lives, after he became anassociate attorney at PhillipsLytle in Albany, focusing on corporate and securities law.

Gaynor credited ProfessorPeter Preiser’s ConstitutionalLaw class with helping set hersights on a job in the nation’scapital, along with her positionas legal developments editor ofthe Law Review. “Law Reviewwas a great experience because

it gave me a significant amountof responsibility, which preparedme to move into the workingworld,” she said.

Gaynor knew she wanted toreturn to Washington, D.C.,where she lived while attendingCatholic University. She majoredin history and philosophy andworked part-time at the NationalArchives. “I liked the vibe ofWashington and was interestedin national politics, but I neverthought I’d work someday inCongress,” she said.

She first made a stop in New York City for a job withthe U.S. Department of Justice,where she worked as a trialattorney on immigration casesand deportation proceedings.After 18 months, she seized the opportunity with the U.S. Senate, where she is one of30 attorneys who work at therequest of individual senatorsand committees. She assists lawmakers in crafting their policyinitiatives into legal languagethat can stand up to constitu-tional and political scrutiny.

Gaynor’s areas of expertiseare education and health. Oneof her most challenging assign-ments was working on the NoChild Left Behind Act, whichran to more than 600 pages. Onthe other end of the spectrum,some of her work involves aone-sentence amendment to anexisting law. “We work hard andit’s nice to be recognized on theSenate floor by the senator who sponsored the bill and our

name also gets printed in theCongressional Record,” she said.

Gaynor telecommutes by frequent phone calls to Senatestaffers and a steady stream of e-mail to edit and refine billsthrough multiple drafts. She alsotravels to Capitol Hill severaltimes each year and has metsome of the senators she writesfor, including MassachusettsSen. Ted Kennedy, who files themost requests as chairman of thecommittee on health, education,labor and pensions.

“We try to make sure weaddress constitutional issues inour bills, but we also try tomake them readable and toavoid legalese,” she said. “Thedifference between how we writebills today and 30 years ago isthat we aim for precision andreadability so that an average person can understand it.”

Gaynor enjoys the satisfac-tion of using her law degree onbehalf of public service at thefederal level. “I look back at thecumulative effect of my workand I know there are many critical education and healthbills that became law that Ihelped write,” she said. “Wedon’t create the policy, but thesenators couldn’t make lawswithout us.”

“The difference between how we writebills today and 30 years ago is that weaim for precision and readability so thatan average person can understand it.”

John Sassaman ’92 didn’t setout to become the in-houseethicist for the Senate, but that’s his new position afterspending the past seven years ina similar post in the House ofRepresentatives. He began hisjob as senior counsel of theSenate Select Committee onEthics in February. He won’t bewearing a black-and-whitestriped shirt and carrying awhistle, although the positionrequires him to function as areferee of sorts when thornyethics issues arise, typicallyinvolving gifts and travel providedto senators and whether outsidebusiness transactions are appro-priate for an elected lawmaker.

“It’s an exciting place to workand it’s the sort of interesting,non-traditional legal career Iwanted,” said Sassaman, wholives in Bethesda, Md., with his wife Krista Harte Sassaman,who works in fundraising andP.R. for non-profit organizations,and their 5-year-old daughterMirren.

The job requires Sassaman to be a quick study. “Memberspresent us with complex

23

financial matters that we have to research thoroughly and thenbe able to convey quickly and ina way the member of Congresscan understand without a lot of legal jargon,” Sassaman said.“It requires strong analytical andcommunication skills.”

Soon after he began work onCapitol Hill, Sassaman assistedin one of the highest profilecases in recent history to facethe House Ethics Committee—which has the authority toinvestigate members—the expulsion of Congressman JimTraficant, a flamboyant andmaverick Ohio lawmaker.Traficant lost his House seatafter being convicted in a 2002 federal corruption andracketeering trial on charges oftaking bribes, filing false taxreturns, racketeering, and forcinghis aides to perform chores at his farm in Ohio and on hishouseboat in Washington.

“It was a real interesting experi-ence. Members aren’t expelledvery often,” Sassaman said.

Sassaman set his sights onWashington, D.C., after work-ing as a paralegal for a few years at a Georgetown law firmbefore going to Albany Law. Hewas inspired by a ConstitutionalLaw class taught by DeanMartin Belsky and challengedby his responsibilities as editor-in-chief of the Science andTechnology Journal at AlbanyLaw. He had a clerkship in theN.Y. State Supreme Court during his second year and later

landed a job clerking in theDistrict of Columbia Court ofAppeals that turned into a full-time job as a staff attorney forthe court. “Several Albany Lawalumni were very encouragingand helped me network once I got to D.C.,” Sassaman said.“There’s a real excitement toworking in Washington andbeing around high-profile political figures.”

Sassaman later worked forthe U.S. Court of Appeals’ federal circuit and as specialcounsel for the D.C. AttorneyGeneral’s Office before joiningthe House Ethics Committee in2001. He got in on the groundfloor, literally, with a street-leveloffice in the West Terrace of theCapitol that overlooks the Mall.But the stately setting belies thehurly-burly of a job in which amember of Congress typicallycalls Sassaman into the office for a brief, intense face-to-facediscussion on what does or doesnot constitute ethical conduct.Occasionally, things can gettricky when dispensing advice.

“I’ve had a Congressmanblow his stack when I recom-mend a no when they expecteda yes answer,” he said. “I giveoral advice in person and if theychoose not to follow it, they runthe risk of ethical and politicalproblems down the road. Theseare good people with a difficultlife traveling back and forthfrom Washington to their homedistrict ever week, with a lot ofpressure to raise campaign

money year after year. Yet with allthese pressures, they’re motivatedto do the right thing.”

For now, Sassaman prefersthe path of working in a non-partisan office that dispensesadvice in equal measure toDemocrats and Republicans. “I like the role of advisor andbeing all things to all people,”he said. “I never expected to stayin this job as long as I have, butevery week we get another ethicsissue we’ve never had to addressbefore. It keeps things lively.”

“I give oral advicein person and ifthey choose not to follow it, theyrun the risk of ethical and politicalproblems down the road….”

24

Christopher Wilcox ’06 set his sights on working inWashington, D.C., long beforehe entered Albany Law. In hissophomore year at St. LawrenceUniversity, he spent his springsemester in a Capitol Hillinternship under the auspices of American University. “Myfirst day in Washington was the day the Monica Lewinskyscandal broke,” he recalled. “It was a tough time to be aCongressional intern.”

Still, the experience didn’tdeter him and Wilcox completedadditional internships with U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert

and Senator Daniel PatrickMoynihan, who offered him apaid position. As Moynihan’sregional staff assistant, he frequently drove the senior senator from the airport inAlbany to his home in PindarsCorners, Delaware County. “Hewas a deep vault of knowledgeabout politics and history and I learned a lot talking with himon those drives,” Wilcox said.

Wilcox also undertook a legislative internship in the N.Y. State Senate and workedon campaigns in California andMichigan—all before he startedlaw school. At Albany Law, hewas a senior editor of the LawReview and completed summerinternships with the SaratogaCounty D.A.’s office in Albanyand Saratoga counties and withthe U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District. He alsoworked part-time during his second year with the N.Y. StateAttorney General’s CriminalProsecution Division in Albany.

A year ago, Wilcox landed a job in the Washington officeof freshman U.S. Rep. MichaelArcuri, who represents NewYork’s 24th District. Now, as legislative Counsel to Rep. Arcuri,he oversees the Congressman’sresponsibilities on theTransportation InfrastructureCommittee, which considersnational transportation and economic development policyand requests for local highway,flood control and water projectfunding. Wilcox also tracks

environmental, judiciary, taxand Indian affairs legislation. “It was fortunate that I took afederal Indian law class atAlbany Law with ProfessorRobert Batson. He’s an expert in that area and a great resourcewho still helps me out with his expertise if I get stuck on an Indian land claim issue,”Wilcox said.

Wilcox has to developexpertise quickly in numerousareas as Congressman Arcuri’slegislative Counsel. Work weeks of 80–100 hours are notunheard-of when important,complex legislation affectingArcuri’s district is up for a votein the House. “We might havethe economic stimulus packagecoming to the floor at the sametime that we’re reviewing severalproposals for large water andhighway projects and representa-tives from two Indian tribes arevisiting to discuss land claims,”Wilcox said. “It can seem like amonumental task and frustratingat times, but it’s exciting workwhen it all comes together andwe get a good law passed.”

“My first day in Washingtonwas the day theMonica Lewinskyscandal broke….It was a toughtime to be aCongressionalintern.”

25

Stephen Schaefer ’93 did notgraduate from Albany Law witha goal of working on CapitolHill. Now, he finds himselfassigned to one of the mostheavily scrutinized committeesin Congress. He is chief interna-tional trade counsel on theRepublican staff of the SenateCommittee on Finance, which,in addition to oversight of thenation’s customs laws and inter-national trade affairs, is chargedwith writing tax legislation andoverseeing Social Security,Medicare and other entitlementprograms. Schaefer joined thestaff of Senator Chuck Grassleyof Iowa as international tradecounsel in 2003 and was promoted to chief a year ago.

“I’ve always put my best intoeach job I’ve had, and good thingshave flowed from that,” saidSchaefer, who was executive editorfor production on the Law Reviewat Albany Law and has a master’sdegree in economics from New York University. “I feel so

privileged to have this opportunityto work for a senator I greatlyadmire in a job that employs mylegal training every day.”

Schaefer’s background in economics, coupled with aninternship at the U.S. Court ofInternational Trade in New Yorkwhile at Albany Law, launchedhim in the field. That led to atwo-year judicial clerkship at theCIT after graduation. Schaeferlater took a position as an associate attorney at White &Case in Washington, handlingcustoms and international tradecases. He left for a completechange of pace and taught variousclasses in international law atseveral universities in Bulgariafor the Civic Education Projectfor two years. He returned tothe States and took a job withthe U.S. International TradeCommission. He used a year’ssabbatical in that job to earn anMBA in France.

Working for the senior senatorfrom Iowa, Schaefer has been

involved in major legislation,including the implementation of eight international tradeagreements, the extension ofpermanent normal trade rela-tions to Ukraine and Vietnam,the imposition of economicsanctions with respect to Burma,and legislation to conformdomestic laws to U.S. obligationsas a member of the World TradeOrganization. He also served asthe Senator’s chief negotiator inthe development of the SAFEPort Act of 2006, as well as legislation to implement the recommendations of the 9/11Commission in 2007.

Schaefer serves as SenatorGrassley’s chief trade lawyer andprovides technical advice andpolicy recommendations basedon his understanding of issuesfrom both a legal and economicsperspective.

“The senator is very accessiblewhen I need him, but he’s alsovery busy,” Schaefer said. “Tradeis perhaps his favorite aspect ofthe Finance Committee’s broadportfolio. He’s a strong believerin both the economic andgeopolitical benefits of expandedinternational trade. He has veryclear policy objectives, and thatmakes it easy to serve him as a client. He also emphasizesbipartisanship, as does his counterpart on the committee,Senator Baucus. And that closeworking relationship extends to their staffs, which has madethis an even more rewardingexperience.”

Working for the senior senator fromIowa, Stephen Schaefer has beeninvolved in major legislation, includingthe implementation of eight interna-tional trade agreements, the extensionof permanent normal trade relations toUkraine and Vietnam, the impositionof economic sanctions with respect toBurma, and [more]…

COVERSTORY

“The college grad

from Clifton

Park no longer

comes here

automatically.

This is why we

need to be seen

as a national law

school.”

–Dean Guernsey

FACUSCHOLAR

FACUSCHOLAR

26

Moving the School from Good to Great

publishing. This has been hisconsistent message for severalyears now. To drive home hispoint, the Dean likes to list afew flagship achievements overthe past six years in the areas of student services, facilities, and the fiscal order of theschool. Now, he says, we need to strengthen the faculty. Thisincludes supporting current faculty to enable more scholar-ship, and attracting outside starfaculty to join the school.

“Things are much differentthan they were 20 years ago,”Guernsey explains. “Not onlyhas the pool of prospective New York students shrunk significantly, but we’re competingwith schools across the countryfor even the local applicant. Thecollege grad from Clifton Parkno longer comes here automati-cally. This is why we need to beseen as a national law school.”

Guernsey is quick to acknowl-

edge the traditional strength ofthe school—New York practice—calling it the institution’s “historical base…. That remainsstrong and we will keep itstrong.” He called attention to seven full time professorsdevoted to New York law, anumber probably twice that ofany other law school in NewYork state. “To survive, to thrive and become great, wehave to be that and more.”

Pursuing Critical Mass

Faculty who actively engage inscholarship promote the schoolthrough published materials,speaking engagements, confer-ences, bar events, and the media.These professors gain the institution credibility outsidethe academic world, reachinglaw firms and leaders who shapethe legal and public agenda.

Over the past three years,Albany Law School has pulledoff somewhat of a coup, landingthree high-profile professors withnational reputations in theirrespective fields.

Sheldon Halpern arrived firstin the fall of 2005. The Hon.Harold R. Tyler Jr. Chair in Law & Technology graduatedfirst in his class from Cornell LawSchool, served as general counselfor Viacom International, andmost recently as the C. WilliamA. O’Neill Professor of Law andJudicial Administration at TheOhio State University. Lastsemester, he was a visiting fellowat the European UniversityInstitute (EUI) in Florence,

Judges, lawyers, undergraduatepre-law advisors and lawmakersalso form their perceptions basedon information initially fed fromthe visibility of a school’s faculty.

Law professors create theirown value in the legal educationmarket by their capacity to produce innovative and usefulscholarship, and not, unfortu-nately, by their performance inthe classroom.

“Preparing students to begood lawyers needs to be ourhighest priority,” insists ThomasF. Guernsey, Albany Law’sPresident and Dean. “That willalways be our priority. To dothat right in a competitive arena,we need to continuously improvethe quality and reputation of the school. A great reputationattracts great professors, whichattracts great law students.”

To Guernsey, improving theschool requires increasing thequality and quantity of faculty

The Financial Cost of an Endowed Chair

Endowed chairs are powerfultools to attract top faculty.

• An endowment of $5 million, at a conserva-tive 5% interest rate, generates approximately$250,000 annually. Thiscovers the salary and benefits for a nationallyrenowned law professor,funding for a summerresearcher (a student), traveland research support.

• A $3 million endowmentwould earn $150,000 ayear. When a senior facultymember retires, that salarycan cover any shortfall eachyear with the endowedprofessorship.

• A $2 million endowmentwould not generate enoughincome to pay for a facultymember of a nationalstature, but it can be usedto reward and retain anexisting faculty member.

Prof. Sheldon Halpern

Law schools are judged by the quality and reputation of its faculty. The faculty’s

ability to publish scholarly work drives the perception of the school at every

level: their scholarship influences peers; peer surveys determine a bevy of

national rankings; rankings influence the quality of students a school attracts.

ULTYSHIP:

ULTYSHIP:

27

By David Singer

28

Italy, where, while carrying his Albany Law course load, hedelivered lectures to the legalcommunity in Europe and Israel on fair use, trademarksand other IP related issues.

Shortly following Halperncame Paul Finkelman, President William McKinleyDistinguished Professor of Lawand Public Policy and SeniorFellow, Government Law Center.Finkelman is a prolific writerwho’s frequently invited tospeak; this semester he deliveredan endowed lecture at HarvardUniversity on the African slavetrade, among more than a dozenother speeches. As one of themost cited legal historians in thenation (with 600 citations),Professor Finkelman appears intop media outlets weekly toremark on subjects like civilrights, steroid use in baseball,and constitutional law.

Cited by the U.S. SupremeCourt and numerous lowercourts, he was the chief expertwitness in the Alabama Ten

commandments monument caseand, as one of the top sports law experts, was a chief expertwitness in the lawsuit over theownership of Barry Bonds’ 73rd home run ball.

The most recent high-profilefaculty addition is Anthony Farley,the James Campbell MatthewsDistinguished Professor ofJurisprudence. Farley, a memberof the Boston College LawSchool faculty for 16 years, wherean excellence in teaching awardbears his name, specializes inconstitutional law, criminal procedure and legal theory. Hewas the 11th holder of theHaywood Burns Chair in CivilRights at CUNY School of Law.

Elevating Current Faculty

Supporting current faculty—whether it’s to help the younger,promising faculty or to rewardaccomplished, veteran profes-sors—needs to be part of anylaw school plan. While recruit-ing is half the battle, the otherhalf is often retaining your most

From left, Professors Gottlieb, Lytton and Salkin, talking with a student,

Tenured Veteran Explains His Persistent Drivefor Scholarship

“When you write an article, it’s a form of teaching,” said StephenE. Gottlieb, the newly named Jay and Ruth Caplan DistinguishedProfessor. “It expands your audience.”

Gottlieb, who earned tenure nearly three decades ago for hiswritings, can’t help himself. “My wife has told me more than oncethat when I retire, I probably will live the same way I do now.”

The same includes a steady stream of law review articles punc-tuated by an occasional hefty book tackling a specific angle onconstitutional law or the Supreme Court. Amid all this Gottliebhas written a body of work at the consumer level for the opedpages, public radio and other general media outlets.

“A lot of the writing I do is for my class,” Gottlieb said. “I remem-ber teaching civil procedure years ago, a new area of teaching forme at the time. I was trying to teach jurisdiction but I felt there wasan incoherence in the doctrine. What am I going to tell students?”

Rather than teach around these legal knots, Gottlieb selects afew to untangle through scholarship. While his early work wasconcerned with election law, his attention shifted to the SupremeCourt some 20 years ago.

“People need to know about Constitutional law, and what theSupreme Court is doing. It’s important. We write because wewant to get across what we think people should understand.That’s not much different than teaching.”

School Support

“Years ago there was conflict between support for teaching andscholarship. Now it’s become clear that they go hand in hand.The Dean has communicated a strong and consistent messagethat faculty scholarship matters—and he’s doing a lot to supportit,” said Gottlieb.

“Receiving an endowed position feels very good; the three newendowed chairs show that Dean Guernsey is serious about reward-ing scholarship activity,” said Gottlieb.

Gottlieb also mentioned the three new annual faculty awards—for scholarship, teaching and service—one which Gottliebreceived two years ago, demonstrated Guernsey’s commitment tosupporting faculty.

“It’s always good to get a pat on the back, particularly fromcolleagues, who warmly congratulated me,” Gottlieb said. “It’simportant to tell each other that we value each other’s work.”

In the meantime, Gottlieb is hard at work on an article on the“Roberts Court,” and six years deep into a book which he’s tenta-tively calling “The Fragility of Democracy.”

Despite the uncertainty of writing before seeking a publisher,Gottlieb remains undaunted. “All these years on a book is a risk,”he acknowledged. “But it needs to be written.” –DS

29

productive—subsequently yourmost visible—faculty. Recently,the Law School elevated threehigh-achieving professors to fillnew endowed chairs.

Stephen E. Gottlieb, the Ruthand Jay Caplan DistinguishedProfessor of Law, has been with the school since 1979 andcontinues to successfully publishscholarly works, at average ofone a year, plus books.

Timothy D. Lytton, theAlbert and Angela FaroneDistinguished Professor of Law,joined the faculty in 2000 as apromising star scholar and hasexceeded most expectations. A Yale Law School graduate,Lytton published this year aHarvard University Press bookcalled Holding Bishops Accountable:How Lawsuits Helped theCatholic Church Confront ClergySexual Abuse (see page 32). He was the editor of the 2005University of Michigan Pressbook Suing the Gun Industry: A Battle at the Crossroads forGun Control and Mass Torts.

Patricia E. Salkin, AssociateDean and Director of theGovernment Law Center, hasbeen named the Raymond andElla Smith DistinguishedProfessor of Law. Salkin is anationally recognized expert onland use law and zoning, writesa popular blog called Law of theLand, and has recent publicationsthat include New York ZoningLaw & Practice, Land Use in aNutshell, and Trends in Land UseLaw from A to Z: Adult Uses toZoning. She presents frequentlyat statewide and national landuse programs.

The Power of an Endowed Chair

The competition for top facultyhas never been more intense.Recruiting and retaining themremains the largest trick for anylaw school at every level.

“We’ve achieved many of ourgoals with the school,” saidGuernsey. “Now it’s time to raisethe profile of our faculty.” Hebelieves three exceptional scholars

School Recruits Farley for New Endowed Chair

Anthony Paul Farley, a specialist in constitutional law, criminalprocedure and legal theory, has been named the James CampbellMatthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence. Farley was avisiting professor of law at the law school last year. Previously, hewas an associate professor of law at Boston College Law School,where he was a faculty member for 16 years.

The Boston College Black Law Students Association honoredhim as the first recipient of The Anthony Paul Farley Excellencein Teaching Award, an annual teaching award bearing his name.

Farley’s work in legal theory and constitutional law hasappeared in chapter form in After the Storm: Black IntellectualsExplore the Meaning of Hurricane Katrina, Cultural Analysis,Cultural Studies & the Law, Crossroads, Directions & a NewCritical Race Theory, Black Men on Race, Gender & Sexuality, andUrgent Times: Policing and Rights in Inner-City Communities. Hiswork has also appeared in numerous academic journals, includingthe Yale Journal of Law and Humanities, the NYU Review of Lawand Social Change, the Cardozo Law Review, Law and Literature,and the Michigan Journal of Race & Law.

Farley received a B.A. from the University of Virginia and aJ.D. from Harvard Law School.

The James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor ofJurisprudence is named after the school’s first African-Americanalumnus, who was also the first black judge in New York State.Matthews attended Albany Academy, then clerked in a local attorney’s office, entered the law school in 1868 and graduated twoyears later. Along with being the first black law school graduate in New York, Matthews sued the Albany schools successfully, forcing the city to desegregate its public schools.

earned their recent distinctions through consistent, influential scholarship. Prof. Anthony Paul Farley

30

added to the current facultywould substantially raise theschool’s reputation to the nextlevel, where, he said, it should rightfully be today.

“We are so close to wearingthe ‘great’ monikor,” Guernseyonce told a group of alumni inHartford. “We need to finishwhat we have started.”

To recruit star-quality facultyfrom other schools requires theoffer of an endowed professor-ship, the strongest recruitmenttool a school can use. To do thismeans additional funding.

“The beauty of an endowmentallows a school to recruit newfaculty, or reward and retain exist-ing faculty, without increasingtuition, while increasing the size ofour faculty,” describes Guernsey.

“It took several years to reachthis point,” Guernsey says. “Nowwe’re poised to make a leap, andthe only way to do that is byraising the money to endow chairs,and then recruit the best facultywe can. We owe it to the students,we owe it to the alumni.”

Faculty Scholarship and Law School Rankings

Students applying to law schools typically go right to the U.S Newsand World Report rankings as their first source. The magazine’s lawschool ranking system has stayed fairly consistent, the reputationof faculty counting more than any other element in a law school.

A full 40% of the rank is based on a survey of every school’sdean and three faculty members. Last year 74% of those people atthe 184 accredited law schools voted. The survey is also sent to arandom group of lawyers and judges. Last year 29% of that groupresponded.

Other criteria considered include: selectivity (average LSATscores and undergrad GPA of entering students and proportion ofapplicants accepted), which is 25% of the score; placement success(employment rates after graduation and the bar passage rate) for20% of the rank; and faculty resources (average expenditure perstudent for instruction, library and services, as well as student-faculty ratio) for 15%.

A few other ranking systems exist, though they do not attractthe same attention as U.S. News:• Brian Leiter’s Law School Rankings: Lieter ranks schools

exclusively on the quality of faculty. Categories include: MostCited Law Professors by Specialty, 2000–2007; Top 35 LawFaculties Based on Scholarly Impact; Scholarly Reputation;Faculty Quality in Specialty Areas. Lieter is an endowed professorat the University of Texas School of Law.

• The Princeton Review: This publication surveys law studentswhile at law school. “None of these lists purports to rank theschools in terms of overall quality; but by using the lists…youwill be able to identify the attributes of a law school that areimportant to you,” states the Web site.

• The Deadwood Report: The latest to join the law school ranking game is led by a George Mason University Law Schoolprofessor who plans to measure faculty members only, based ontheir scholarship achievements, course load, and public service.

So while it can be argued that prospective law students might notcare about faculty publishing and other measurements of scholar-ship, the student does care about the school’s national rank. In theend, a school’s reputation relies on its faculty scholarship.

As one of themost cited legalhistorians in the nation (with600 citations),ProfessorFinkelman appearsin top media outlets weekly toremark on subjectslike civil rights,steroid use in baseball, and constitutional law.

FACULTYWORK

31

When Professor James ThouGathii returned to his homecountry of Kenya at the start ofthis school year to work on hisbook for the Oxford UniversityPress, he could not have antici-pated the internal ethnic violencethat would tear through hiscountry sparked by a troubledpresidential election.

While his writing focuses oncommercial issues in the thirdworld, specifically the Africancontinent, his weekly column inAfrica’s largest business publica-tion, Business Daily Africa, hasshifted from topics on economicpartnership agreements and rescuing failing companies tomediation strategies for reclaimingdemocracy and a call for leader-ship to address the thousands ofdisplaced families with children.

“There are thousands of children and young people whoare yet to report to school andthere is no hope for them insight unless there is an agreedsolution on return,” writesGathii, the Governor George E.Pataki Professor of InternationalCommercial Law. “It will be

unfortunate if displacementcamps become a breedingground for these young andlargely idle people for anotherround of chaos.”

While these topics appear to stray from the core of hisscholarship, they actually alignwell. His book, for example, isabout war, commerce and inter-national law. Gathii will tell youthat inter-tribal unrest and evenfirst world feuds all play crucialroles in any economic thinking.“One of the leading barriers ofregionalism in Africa is conflict,”he states as an example.

With an LL.B. from Universityof Nairobi and an LL.M. andS.J.D. from Harvard LawSchool—he was editor of theHarvard Human Rights Journaland special editor of the HarvardInternational Law Journal—Gathii’s homes lies on the outskirts of Nairobi. And whilethese areas are generally safe andstable, even affluent families infive-bedroom home communitieshave fled for safety as the conflict deepened.

“On the surface we can continue to live our daily, routinelives,” said Gathii. “But we allknow people and families whohave been forced from theirhomes, their entire lives uprooted.The Kenyan economy—one of the most advanced on thecontent—remains at risk shouldthis fighting continue.”

Gathii lives with his wife andtwo children. He has numerous

family members living in surrounding towns, includinghis parents and siblings, all ofwhom he says are doing fine atthe moment.

While his columns strive toprovoke, Gathii generally succeedswithout showing his own hand,with column headlines like:“Use unrest to diagnose what ailsKenya,” “Should failing compa-nies be rescued?” and “Demeritsof the EU trade agreements.”

When the topic involves thefirst world marginalizing thethird world, Gathii gets a littlemore pointed: “Developingcountries are afraid of ‘riggedcommerce’ not ‘free trade,’” andanother article maintains thatfree global trade has historicallybeen rigged in favor of industrialproducts and against agriculture,leaving poorer countries unableto compete with European andU.S. agriculture.

In early February, Gathiicalled for the two men vying forthe presidency and Parliamentto “make bold concessions…split the five-year term and savethe country.”

Anything short of this, saysGathii, “leaves the future ofKenya in grave doubt.” –DS

Prof. Gathii teaching last semester.

Prof. Gathii Writes His WeeklyColumn and Book from the Heart of Kenya’s Conflict

“But we all knowpeople and familieswho have beenforced from theirhomes, their entirelives uprooted. TheKenyan economy—one of the mostadvanced on thecontent—remains at risk should thisfighting continue.”

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My central thesis—that clergysexual abuse litigation hasenhanced policymaking—restson three causal claims. First, Iargue that litigation led thenews media to report clergy sexual abuse and to frame it asan issue of institutional failure.Second, I suggest that litigationand the news media coverage itgenerated placed this issue onpublic and institutional agendasand put pressure on policymakersto address it. Third, I contendthat litigation generated previ-ously undisclosed informationabout clergy sexual abuse thatinformed policy responses to it.Thus, the “impact” of privatelawsuits on policymaking con-sists of framing issues in termsof institutional responsibility,achieving agenda access, andgenerating new information.

I do not mean to suggest thatlitigation is always necessary tothese aspects of policymaking or

that litigation always advancesthem. Under different conditions,other institutions perform thesefunctions. In the Watergatescandal, for example, policymak-ing was shaped by a bold press,an aggressive special prosecutor,and an outraged Congress. More

recently, in the Enron scandal,policy responses to corporatemisconduct were heavily influ-enced by criminal prosecutions.In each case, institutions otherthan the tort system framedissues in terms of institutionalfailure, placed them on institu-tional policy agendas, anduncovered new information.

In the case of the clergy sexualabuse scandal, however, it appearsunlikely that either church orgovernment officials would haveimplemented policy reforms inthe absence of tort litigation. A steadfast desire among churchofficials to prevent public disclosure of the problem and toprotect offenders from prosecu-tion, combined with deferenceto the Church on the part oflaw enforcement and legislators,facilitated decades of child sexualabuse by priests. All this, as wehave seen, began to change withthe Gauthe litigation in 1984.

This is not to say that clergysexual abuse litigation was byitself sufficient to bring aboutchurch and government policyresponses. A number of factorscontributed to the efficacy of litigation in framing issues,achieving agenda access, andgenerating information.

First, popular culture in themid-1980s was highly receptiveto the litigation’s story aboutchild sexual abuse, clerical misconduct, and institutionalresponsibility. Public awarenessof child sexual abuse was fueledthroughout the 1970s and1980s by child-welfare advocates

and feminist activists.Concurrent with the Gauthe

case, a series of high profileprosecutions for ritual child sexual abuse in daycare centersswept the nation from Californiato Florida to Massachusetts. The late 1980s saw a series ofpopular televangelists takendown by sexual and financialscandals. Government and corporate corruption have beenrecurring popular concernsthroughout American history,and the post-Watergate 1980swere no exception. These culturalfactors made the frame of institutional responsibility forclergy sexual abuse culturallyresonant and, therefore, highlypersuasive. Media coverageenhanced the frame’s persuasive-ness by giving it prominenceand repeating it frequently.

Second, activists pursued policy reforms outside the context of litigation. Advocacyorganizations such as SNAP andVoice of the Faithful mobilizedmembers to publicize and lobbyfor their reform agendas. Churchinsiders—some with close ties to the church hierarchy, such asformer USCCB general counselMark Chopko, and others viewedas dissidents, such as canonlawyer Thomas Doyle—workedactively to develop detailedreforms and seek their adoption.

Third, church and govern-ment policymakers initiallyfailed to address the problemproactively despite their knowl-edge of it. This institutional failure constituted the legal basis

Holding Bishops Accountable: How Lawsuits Enhance Policymaking

By Professor Timothy D. Lytton

FACULTYWORK

In the case of the clergy sexual abusescandal, it appears unlikely that eitherchurch or government officials wouldhave implemented policy reforms in theabsence of tort litigation.

33

PublicationsProfessor Pam Armstrong edited The Redbook: A Manualon Legal Style by Bryan Garner(West Group, 2nd ed., 2006).

Professor Rose Mary Bailly’sarticle, “Guardianship—StoppingFinancial Exploitation in itsTracks,” was published inCapital Commons Quarterly(December 2007). She alsocoauthored Financial Exploitationof the Elderly (Civic ResearchInstitute, 2007) (coauthor E. Elizabeth Loewy, A.D.A.).

Professor Emeritus RobertBarker coauthored Civil Litigationin New York (LexisNexis 5th ed.,2007) (with Oscar G. Chase).The textbook is currently beingused at 17 law schools includingseveral outside of New York.

Professor Ira Bloom’s 50 pagearticle, “Powers of AppointmentUnder the Restatement (Third)of Property,” was published bythe Ohio Northern Law Reviewas part of its symposium issueon trusts and estates. His article,“Unifying the Rules for Willsand Revocable Trusts in theFederal Estate Tax ApportionmentArena: Suggestions for Reform,”has been accepted for publica-tion by the Miami Law Review.Professor Bloom’s revised 160page chapter on GST taxationwas published in Klipstein andBloom, Drafting New York Wills.He is also currently working onthe preparation of the 4th edition

of Drafting New York Wills forpublication in 2009. Prof. Bloomwill be the lead author of thework, which will expand tothree volumes.

Professor Melissa Bregercoauthored a two-volume treatiseentitled New York Law ofDomestic Violence (Thomson-West, 2nd ed., 2007) (withJudge Lee Elkins and JaneFosbinder). She also wrote “A Comparative State Analysis:Introducing the Construct ofthe Jury into Family ViolenceProceedings,” Chapter 37, pp. 306-312, in Family Law:Balancing Interests and PursuingPriorities (Lynn D. Wardle &Camille S. Williams, eds.) (Wm. S. Hein & Co., 2007).

Professor Stephen Clark’seditorial, “United ENDA’sflawed reasoning: Activists,politicians overstate viability ofinclusion and falsely defameincrementalism,” was publishedin the Washington Blade onNovember 22. He also launcheda Web site and blog about theinterjurisdictional recognition ofsame-sex marriages, civil unions,and domestic partnerships—www.samesexconflicts.com.

Professor Beverly Cohen’s article, “Disentangling EMTALAfrom Medical Malpractice:Revising EMTALA’s ScreeningStandard to Differentiate BetweenOrdinary Negligence andDiscriminatory Denials of Care,”is being edited for publication inthe Tulane Law Review.

FACULTYNOTES{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

for lawsuits against the Churchand a political opportunity thatallowed plaintiffs’ lawyers todrive the policymaking process.To be sure, as the scandal progressed, church leaders diddevelop new policies, lawenforcement officials becamemore aggressive, and legislaturespassed reforms. But at the outsetof the litigation in 1984, therewas a policy vacuum waiting tobe filled.

The causal relationships thatI have asserted between litiga-tion, on the one hand, and newscoverage, policy agendas, andinformation, on the other hand,are not unidirectional. Forexample, there was feedbackbetween litigation and news coverage. Litigation generatedand shaped news coverage whichin turn fueled more litigation by emboldening more victims to file lawsuits. News coveragealso made plaintiffs’ framesmore culturally resonant amongjudges and potential jurors insubsequent cases. Moreover, newscoverage of ritual child sexualabuse and corporate scandalsprior to clergy sexual abuse litigation accounted for much of the persuasive power of theplaintiffs’ frames in the firstplace. (Of course, the theme ofcorporate wrongdoing was itselfculturally familiar, in part, due

to tort litigation dating back tothe 1950s holding corporateentities liable for employee misconduct and product defects.)

Similarly, in terms of agendasetting, litigation helped tomobilize elites—victims, lawyers,and advocates—who, in turn,pursued further litigation as partof their strategy to achieve reform.

Finally, feedback effects also occurred with regard toinformation generation.Litigation uncovered new infor-mation through discovery andby encouraging church and government investigations thatproduced information subse-quently used by plaintiffs in laterlawsuits to support their claims.

By making causal claims, Ido not mean to suggest a straight-forward chain of causationbetween litigation and policyoutcomes. Rather, we should viewlitigation as one causal factor—within a complex interplay ofcausal factors and feedbackeffects—that prompted andshaped policy responses to clergysexual abuse.

Reprinted by permission of thepublisher from Holding BishopsAccountable: How LawsuitsHelped the Catholic ChurchConfront Clergy Sexual Abuse,by Timothy D. Lytton, pp. 191-192, Cambridge, Mass.:Harvard University Press,Copyright © 2008 by the Presidentand Fellows of Harvard College.

Lytton’s latest book published byHarvard University Press

34

Professor Patrick Connorsauthored two articles in his regular New York Practice columnin the New York Law Journal:“Cases Appear to Depart fromCourt of Appeals’ ‘Andrea’,”September 17; and “The DesertIsland Disciplinary Rule,”January 23. He also authoredthe lead article in the New YorkLaw Journal’s special section“Court of Appeals: Year inReview,” which was publishedon September 10. He publishedseveral sections of McKinney’sSupplementary PracticeCommentaries in: 1) CPLRArticle 31, Disclosure, 2) TheNew York Lawyers’ Code ofProfessional Responsibility, and3) the Surrogate’s CourtProcedure Act.

Professor Paul Finkelmanpublished Landmark Decisions ofthe United States Supreme Court,2nd ed. (Congressional QuarterlyPress, 2008) (With Melvin I.Urofsky); and Documents ofAmerican Constitutional andLegal History, 3rd ed. (2 vols.)(Oxford University Press, 2008)(Co-edited with Melvin I.Urofsky). He edited Congressand the Emergence of Sectionalism:From the Missouri Compromise to the Age of Jackson (PerspectiveHistory of Congress) (OhioUniversity Press, 2008) (Co-editedwith Donald R. Kennon). Hisarticle, “”Foreign Law andAmerican Constitutional Inter-pretation: A Long and VenerableTradition,” was published in the New York University Annual

Survey of American Law (2007).Prof. Finkelman also wrote theintroduction to FranklynJohnson’s book, The Developmentof State Legislation Concerningthe Free Negro (The LawbookExchange, Ltd., 2007).

Professor James Thuo Gathiiis currently in Kenya working ona book to be published by theOxford University Press, explor-ing international commercial lawand its relationship to economicdevelopment in the Third World,specifically sub-Saharan Africa.During his time there, ProfessorGathii wrote the following commentaries in Business DailyAfrica: “How Kenya can dealwith displacements,” January30; “The forgotten lesson of theAkiwumi Report,” January 23;“Use unrest to diagnose what ailsKenya,” January 16; “A 3-pointmediation plan to help Kibakiand Raila reclaim our democracy,”January 4; “Should failing companies be rescued?,” January3; “Demerits of the EU tradeagreements,” December 19;“Red herrings hang over sovereignbond,” December 12; “Competi-tion analysis crucial in mergers,”December 3; and “Developingcountries are afraid of ‘riggedcommerce’ not ‘free trade,’”November 16. These articles areavailable at www.albanylaw.edu.

Professor Stephen Gottlieb’sarticle,“What Federalism &Why? Science Versus Doctrine,”was published in PepperdineLaw Review (2007).

Professor Sheldon Halpernwrote the 2007/2008 cumula-tive supplement to his casebook,Copyright Law: Protection ofOriginal Expression (CarolinaAcademic Press, 2002).

Professor Lenese C. Herbertpublished the casebook entitledConstitutional CriminalProcedure (with A. Taslitz andM. Paris; 3rd ed. FoundationPress, 2007). Her article,“Othello Error: Facial Profiling,Privacy, and the Suppression ofDissent,” was published in theOhio State Journal of CriminalLaw (Symposium Edition:Racial Blindsight and CriminalJustice, 2007). In February, shewas a guest on “Equal Time,” anews/talk show on WLUR-FM,a Washington and Lee Universitystudent-operated radio station.She discussed her contributionto the forthcoming book Race to Injustice: Lessons Learned fromthe Duke University LacrossePlayers’ Rape Case (Michael L.Seigel, ed.), an interdisciplinarystudy of the 2006 rape allegationsagainst Duke University lacrosseplayers.

Professor Mary Lynchlaunched a blog entitled “BestPractices for Legal Education” at the American Association ofLaw Schools annual conferencein January. You can view it at:http://bestpracticeslegaled.albanylawblogs.org.

Professor Alicia Ouellette’sarticle, “Growth Attenuation,Parents’ Choices, and the Rightsof Disabled Children,” will bepublished in The HoustonJournal of Health Law and Policy(forthcoming 2008); “MoralReasoning in Judicial Decisionson Same-Sex Marriage” will bepublished in Philosophy and Sex(4th ed., forthcoming 2008);and “Lawrence v. Texas” will bepublished in Milestone Documentsin American History (Finkelman,et al., eds., forthcoming 2008).Her article, “Now and AlwaysOur Chief: The HonorableJudith S. Kaye,” was publishedin the spring 2007 issue of theAlbany Law Review.

Professor David Pratt publishedthe following articles: “Guidanceon Sections 403(b) and 409A”in the ABA Section of TaxationNews Quarterly, vol. 27, no. 1,fall 2007; “Focus On… Invest-ment Advice Under the PensionProtection Act of 2006” in theJournal of Pension Benefits(2007); “Focus On… DefaultInvestments and Section 404(c)”in the Journal of Pension Benefits(2007); “Focus On… ThePension Protection Act and thePBGC” in the Journal of PensionBenefits (2007); “Focus On...Employee Benefit ReformProposals” in the Journal ofPension Benefits (2007);“Health Care Reform: Can ItHappen?,”40 John Marshall LawReview (2007);

FACULTYNOTES{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

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“The Past, Present and Future of Retiree Health Benefits,” 3 Suffolk University Journal ofHealth and Biomedical Law 103(2007); “The Minimum Distribu-tion Rules” in the New YorkUniversity Review of EmployeeBenefits and Executive Compen-sation (Matthew Bender, 2007);and “The New Medicare Part DPrescription Drug Benefit,” 17 Albany Law Journal of Science& Technology 337 (2007).

Associate Dean Patricia Salkinwas selected by the AmericanPlanning Association as one offour leading land use law profes-sors to draft a letter to the nextpresident of the United Statesabout establishing an appropriatesustainable development agenda.Her letter, titled, “The Legacy ofthe 44th President of the UnitedStates–2020 Vision,” appears in the January 2008 issue ofPlanning and EnvironmentalLaw. Dean Salkin also publishedthe seventh edition of Land Useand Community Development:Cases and Materials, a casebookused by professors across thecountry. Her treatise, New YorkZoning Law & Practice, wasexpanded from three to four volumes. Her article, “CommunityBenefit Agreements: Opportu-nities and Traps for Developers,Municipalities, and CommunityOrganizations,” appeared as the lead commentary in thePlanning and EnvironmentalLaw (November 2007).

Salkin’s article, “Blogging onLand Use Law: Another LegalResearch Tool in the Internet”was published in the March2008 issue of the Zoning andPlanning Law Report.

Professor Laurie Shanks’ article,“Whose Story Is It, Anyway?—Guiding Students to Client-Centered Interviewing throughStorytelling,” will be publishedin the spring 2008 issue of theClinical Law Review.

Professor Evelyn Tenenbaumand Brian Reese ’09 coauthoredthe article “Memory-AlteringDrugs: Shifting the Paradigm ofInformed Consent,” which waspublished in the Septemberissue of the American Journal ofBioethics.

Awards andAchievements Professor Pam Armstrong wasnamed an editor of The Bencher,a bi-monthly publication of theAmerican Inns of Court.

Professor Ira Bloom attendedthe fall executive committeemeetings of Trusts and EstatesLaw Section in his capacity assecretary of the section, which isNYSBA’s second largest section.In 2008, Prof. Bloom will bechair-elect and in 2009 chair ofthe section.

Professor Patrick Connorswas appointed to the Office ofCourt Administration AdvisoryCommittee on Civil Practice in January.

Professor Paul Finkelmanwas named the ninth most cited legal historian according to “Brian Leiter’s Law SchoolRankings.” The study, whichmeasures the scholarly impact of faculty work, was based oncitations from 2000-2007.

Professor Sheldon Halpern wasappointed a visiting fellow at theEuropean University Institute inFlorence, Italy, where he givesseminars and talks for the legalcommunity and for doctoralstudents in the University’sresearch program.

Professor Lenese C. Herbertcompleted a visiting professorshipat Washington and Lee UniversitySchool of Law (2007–2008).

Professor Michael Hutter waselected a member of the Fellowsof the American Bar Foundation.The Fellows are an honoraryorganization of attorneys, judges,and law professors whose profes-sional, public and private careershave demonstrated outstandingdedication to the welfare of theircommunities and to the highestprinciples of the legal profession.

Professor Mary Lynch waselected to be a member of theAmerican Association of LawSchools Clinical Section ExecutiveCommittee at the organization’sannual conference in January.

Professor Alicia Ouellette wasappointed professor of bioethicsat the Mt. Sinai School ofMedicine/Union GraduateCollege Program in Bioethics.She was also named a co-editorof The Cambridge Dictionary ofBioethics, a multi-year project tobe published by the CambridgeUniversity Press (with Laurence B.McCullough and Robert Baker).

Associate Dean Patricia Salkinwas elected secretary of the State and Local GovernmentLaw Section of the AmericanAssociation of Law Schools. She also received the CapitalDistrict Women’s Bar AssociationDistinguished Member Awardin recognition of her significantservice to the community. Shewas also acknowledged for herservice as a mentor to youngpeople and newly admittedattorneys; and her advocacy forthe advancement of women insociety and in the legal profession.

PresentationsProfessor Ira Bloom discussedhis revocable trust research atthe American Association of LawSchools Section on DonativeTransfers meeting in New YorkCity. He was also invited tospeak on revocable trusts at aUCLA symposium on trusts and estates law to commemoratethe late Jess Dukeminier.

Professor Patrick Connorspresented an update on develop-ments in professional responsibility

FACULTYNOTES{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

36

for the justices and law clerks of the Appellate Division, ThirdDepartment on September 28.He also moderated an ethicsprogram for the New York StateBar Association’s (NYSBA’s)Public Utility Lawyers Programon October 26. He presentedupdates on New York practiceand professional responsibilityto the NYSBA Trial LawyersSection at their annual summermeeting in July. On August 14he conducted a telephone seminaron professional responsibilityand legal malpractice for theNYSBA and he presented theannual program on ethics andlegal malpractice at Albany LawSchool’s CLE in Saratoga Springson August 17.

Professor Paul Finkelmanwas the keynote speaker at the“Evil, Law and the State: Issuesin State Power and Violence”conference in Salzburg, Austria,in March. In February he wasfeatured on the PBS televisionseries, “African American Lives 2.”On January 29 he delivered theAnnual Richardson Lecture atBeloit College in Beloit, Wis. Thetopic was “The Closing of theAfrican Slave Trade, 1808–2008.”He spoke about affirmativeaction during Minister’s Week2008 at the Phillips TheologicalSeminary in Tulsa on January 22.In November he gave a CLEat the Indiana Supreme Courton the history of slavery andIndiana courts.

Professor Finkelman also presented the following:“Affirmative Action for theMaster Class: Slavery and theCreation of the AmericanConstitution” at the Universityof Toledo College of Law onJanuary 10; “Congress and theSlave Trade: A Long and WindingRoad” at Yale University onDecember 14; “Suppressing theAfrican Slave Trade: The Limitsof Legislation, 1794–1865” atPennsylvania State University’sCivil War Era Workshop onNovember 16; “Slavery, theCourts, and the UndergroundRailroad” at the Indiana StateLibrary on November 15; “WasDred Scott Correctly Decided?”at Seattle University School ofLaw on October 9 and at ArizonaState University on October 25;and “Who Was Dred Scott and Why Do We Care? (And What Was He Doing at FortSnelling?)” to Faegre & Benson’sDiversity Committee at the lawfirm’s offices in Denver andMinneapolis on September 5–6.Professor Finkelman also pre-sented “Was Dred Scott CorrectlyDecided?” at William MitchellCollege of Law on September 6and also during RhodesCollege’s Constitution DayCelebration on September 27.

Professor Finkelman was acommentator at the AmericanSociety for Legal History’sAnnual Meeting in Tempe, Ariz. on October 27. He was apanelist at Brigham YoungUniversity’s conference,

“Educational Choice: EmergingLegal and Policy Issues,” onOctober 23. His paper willappear in a future issue of theBrigham Young Law Review. He also presented at the 92ndAssociation for the Study ofAfrican American Life andHistory’s annual convention inCharlotte, N.C., on October 6.On October 2 he presented apaper on the closing of theAfrican slave trade at Lewis andClark University Law School inPortland, Ore.

Professor Peter Halewoodpresented a paper, “Torture,Terror, and the Body in Law,” atthe annual joint meeting of theLaw and Society Association andResearch Committee on Sociologyof Law at Humboldt Universityin Berlin, Germany, on July 25.

Professor Sheldon Halpernpresented a seminar on intellec-tual property issues for theIntellectual Property Instituteand Queen Mary College inLondon on January 4. Halpernspoke at John Marshall LawSchool’s conference entitled“Information Convergence: Atthe Boundaries of Access” onNovember 9. He was invited tospeak on copyright matters at aseminar for Israeli judges to beheld in Jerusalem in connectionwith Israel’s new copyrightstatute. He was also invited totalk about trademark issues inSaloniki, Greece.

Professor Michael Hutter wasinvited to speak at the AmericanBar Association—Family LawSection Conference in Memphisin fall 2007. The conferenceaddressed emerging issues in the admissibility and discoveryof electronic evidence. He alsospoke about the issues of admissibility regarding medicalproof at a conference entitled“Medicine for Judges,” sponsoredby the New York JudicialInstitute in White Plains, N.Y.

Professor Mary Lynch presented“The Impact of Best Practicesand Carnegie on ClinicalPrograms: Evaluating OurselvesInternally & Evaluating OurPlace in Legal Education,” withQuinnipiac Law School ProfessorCarrie Kaas at the Upstate New York Regional ClinicalConference held at SyracuseUniversity on December 7.

Professor Timothy Lyttonpresented a chapter from hisupcoming book, Holding BishopsAccountable: How LawsuitsHelped the Catholic ChurchConfront Clergy Sexual Abuse(Harvard U. Press, 2008), at theUniversity of Oregon School ofLaw on February 4. The chapterwas entitled “Framing ClergySexual Abuse as a Problem ofInstitutional Failure.” OnFebruary 2, he presented a paper,“Using Tort Litigation toEnhance Regulatory Policy-making: Lessons from GunIndustry and Clergy Sexual AbuseLawsuits and their Implications

FACULTYNOTES{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

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for Climate Change Litigation,”at an environmental law sympo-sium at the University of TexasLaw School. Professor Lyttonwas also interviewed on ChicagoPublic Radio’s “City Show”about gun control legislation onSeptember 20 and by the BostonGlobe about his research on clergysexual abuse on January 29.

Professor Alicia Ouellette presented “Restraining ParentalChoice to Size and ShapeChildren” at The Hastings Centeron December 10. In October,she presented “The Sale ofHuman Oocytes for TherapeuticResearch” at the AmericanSociety of Bioethics and theHumanities Annual Conferencein Washington, D.C. OnSeptember 28, she presented“Bioethics and Law, HospitalEthics Committees Swap Shop”at the Mt. Sinai Medical College–Union Graduate College conference at Union College.

Professor David Pratt madethe following presentations:“Retirement Plan Distributions”at the American Association ofLaw Schools Section onEmployee Benefits in January;“Employee Benefits Update,” atMoore Stephens North AmericaAnnual Tax Conference, inScottsdale, Ariz., in November;“Coordinating Retirement PlanAssets with the Estate” at theNew York State Bar Associationin Albany in December;“Employee Benefits Update” atthe CP America International

Annual Tax Conference in LasVegas in November; “403(b) PlanRegulations” at the AmericanSociety of Pension Professionalsand Actuaries Annual Conferencein Washington, D.C., inOctober; “Individual RetirementAccounts” at the NYU AnnualTax Institute in New York(October) and in San Francisco(November); “EmployeeBenefits Update” at the AlbanyChapter of New York EmployeeBenefits Conference” inSeptember; “Employee BenefitsUpdate” at the Albany Chapterof International Society ofCertified Employee BenefitsSpecialists in September;“Federal Health Legislation,International Foundation ofEmployee Benefit Plans” at theHealthcare ManagementConference in Williamsburg,Va., sponsored by the Inter-national Foundation of EmployeeBenefit Plans; and “PensionUpdate” at the AdirondackActuaries Club in June.

Associate Dean Patricia Salkinpresented the paper “MunicipalRegulation of Formula Retail:Creating and ProtectingCommunities” at the CaseWestern Reserve Law ReviewSymposium on January 25. OnJanuary 3, Dean Salkin presentedthe paper “The Genesis ofRLUIPA and Federalism:Evaluating the Creation of aFederal Statutory Right and itsImpact on Local Government”at the Annual Meeting of theAmerican Association of Law

Schools. The paper was coau-thored by Government LawCenter Staff Attorney AmyLavine ’07. On November 9,Dean Salkin presented the paper“The Kelo Effect in New York,New Jersey and Pennsylvania:Assessing the Impact of Kelo inthe Tri-State Region” during theLand & Power: The Impact ofEminent Domain in UrbanCommunities Symposium. Theevent was sponsored by thePolicy Research Institute for theRegion of the Woodrow WilsonSchool of Public & InternationalAffairs at Princeton University.She also presented a paper,“Land Use Law and HealthyChildren: Opportunities forStates to Assume a LeadershipRole in Promoting andIncentivizing Local Options,” at the First Annual Conferenceon Law, Ethics & the LifeSciences at the Louis D.Brandeis School of Law of theUniversity of Louisville onOctober 26. Also in October,Dean Salkin presented a coursefor Union College’s AdultLifelong Learning Program onthe Religious Land Use andInstitutionalized Persons Act.

Associate Dean Patricia Salkinparticipated in March in anational audio and web-basedCLE program for the Inter-national Municipal LawyersAssociation (IMLA) on theRelgious Land Use andInstitutionalized Persons Act.She also presented a paper onethics in land use at the Spring

2008 meeting of the AmericanBar Association’s State & LocalGovernment Law Section inCharleston, S.C.

Professor David Siegel andProfessor Patrick Connorspresented “New York PracticeUpdates” at the annual AppellateJudges Seminar held onNovember 18 in Saratoga Springsand at the New York StateJudicial Institute’s Conferenceheld on November 27.

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ALUMNINEWS{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

Albany Law School Reunion Weekend 2007

All alumni ending with class years of ‘2’ and ‘7’ celebrated their reunion from Albany Law during the weekend of October 12 and 13. Theweekend began on Friday with the annual alumni golf tournament at Albany Country Club; the cold, rain and wind did not deter the avidgolfers. The weather improved for Saturday’s activities, which were held under bright sunny skies. The alumni ruggers were victorious in theirmatch against the students and afterwards both teams celebrated under the picnic tent. Alumni had the chance to tour the law school, attend aCLE program and travel through the city of Albany on an amphibious tour that splashed into the Hudson River. The celebration culminatedwith dinner and dancing on Saturday night as alumni reconnected with classmates.

From left, Jessica Wilcox ’97, Justin Miller ’97,Carmen Vasquez ’97 and Marie RoccaprioreShanahan ’97 enjoy the dinner celebration inthe Law School’s East Foyer as they reminisceabout their days at Albany Law.

The 2007 Alumni Awards and Trustees’ Gold Medal award were presentedduring the Barrister Ball held at Albany Country Club on Friday,September 26. The recipients from left, include: Keiki M. Cabanos ’97,Outstanding Young Alumni Award; Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack ’75,Distinguished Alumni Award; Honorable Richard J. Bartlett, Trustees’Gold Medal Award; and Larry P. Schiffer ’79, Donald D. DeAngelisExcellence in Alumni Service Award.

The Class of 2002 and guests celebrated their 5th Reunion on theHudson River on the Captain JP Cruise line on October 20, 2007.

The Class of 1957 and their spouses and friendsgathered for the 50th Reunion photo duringReunion Weekend activities.

Marie Roccapriore Shanahan ’97 and NoelleKinsch ’96 reconnect during the alumni picnicunder the tent prior to the annual alumni vs.student rugby game.

39

Connect Online withClassmates

Stay connected to your classmates, friends and AlbanyLaw School; register by visitingwww.albanylaw.edu/alumni,and click on Online AlumniCommunity.

• Search for your friends, classmates and alumni who live in your area

• Update your contact information

• Submit class notes• Register for Albany Law

alumni events• Make a gift to the Albany

Law School Fund online• And more

Want online help?

Contact Ariane Putnam,Alumni Affairs Associate at 518-445-3220 oraputn@albanylaw.edu

Save the Date!Reunion Weekend 2008,

September 26–28Planning is already under way for alumni who graduated in a year ending in ‘3’ or ‘8’.Contact Christina Sebastian, Director ofAlumni Affairs, cseba@albanylaw.edu, to getinvolved with your class activities.

Bar Passers Celebrate

Eighty-six percent of Albany Law’s ’07 first-timetest-takers passed the July 2007 New York barexamination. Eighty percent of all Albany Law bar exam takers passed the bar this year, exceedingthe average rate for all of New York by more than9 percent.

The Law School honored more than 200 barpassers with a reception held at the Empire StatePlaza in January. Judge Anthony J. Carpinello ’73,Appellate Division, who addressed the group, congratulated our alumni who were among the750 lawyers admitted to the New York State Bar.That group is the largest number ever admitted tothe bar during a single ceremony by the AppellateDivision of the New York State Supreme Court,Third Department, based in Albany.

Appellate Division Presiding Justice AnthonyCardona ’70, Appellate Division Chief ClerkMichael J. Novack ’71, and Judge Carpinello ’73participated in the swearing-in ceremony. FederalMagistrate Judge Randolph Treece ’76 deliveredthe keynote address. Appellate Division AssociateJustice Edward Spain ’66 administered the oath ofoffice. The ceremony was extra special for JudgeSpain, who swore in his daughter Sarah Spain ’07.

From left, Carmen Warner ’07 and Erin Neale ’07.

From left, Glinnesa Gailliard ’07 and Joanne Casey,Director, Career Center.

From left, Mary Lynch, Co-Director of the AlbanyLaw Clinic & Justice Center, Michael O’Leary ’07and his mother, Joanne O’Leary.

ALUMNINEWS{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

ALUMNINEWS{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

From left, Maureen Brady ’84, John A. Michalek ’76 and CatherineCarey ’87.

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From left, Prof. Christian Sundquist, Montgomery Sibley ’81 andJoseph Koury ’80.

Albany Law School Alumni Events

Alumni continue to gather throughout the country to reconnect withtheir alma mater for a variety of reasons, including networking, social-izing, business development or to meet Dean Guernsey, faculty or staff.

Contact Christina Sebastian, Director of Alumni Affairs(cseba@albanylaw.edu or 518-445-3361) to learn more, or visitwww.albanylaw.edu/alumni for a calendar of events.

From left, Jennifer Hughes ’95, Jessica Giroux ’04, Michael Donohue’05, Mark Szymanski and Prof. Deborah Mann.

Buffalo Area Alumni • November 11, 2007Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, Buffalo, N.Y.

Washington, D.C., Area Alumni • October 25, 2007Chef Geoff’s Downtown, Washington, D.C.

From left, Michele Baptiste ’00, Joshua Vinciguerra ’99, Mark Lemire’01 and Keiki Cabanos ’97.

New York City Area Alumni • January 31, 2008The Waldorf-Astoria, New York, N.Y.

ALUMNINEWS{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

41

From left, Fei-Lu Qian ’03, Heena Shaikh ’04 and Nancy Kim ’05.

From left, Dionne Cuevas-Abreu ’98 and Carolyn Przybylo ’05.From left, John Halloran ’84, Gregory Getz ’80, Evelyn Petrone ’80,Martha Sokol McCarty ’80 and David Gladstone ’80.

White Plains Area Alumni • November 14, 2007Vintage Bar & Restaurant, White Plains, N.Y.

From left, Clorisa Cook ’04, Addisa Richards ’04, Joseph Nyland ’05 andNicholas Tuffarelli ’05.

42

When Deborah Paris ’78 quitpracticing law after 20 years topursue her painting full time, it was the conclusion of a long,internal struggle.

“Even after I was back topainting for several years, I feltlike I was two different people,”she said. “I couldn’t figure outhow to connect the two worlds.”

Part epiphany, part gradualinsight, soon enough Pariswatched her two worlds collide.“Painting is about visual ideas,”Paris explained. “Once you havea visual idea, the challenge is tocommunicate it in an effectiveway. Essentially you’re solving aseries of problems and you needto understand what’s workingand what’s not working on atechnical and emotional level.

“Once I realized how impor-tant my legal training was to myart, it set me apart from otherartists,” she said, emphasizing theweight of this personal discovery.“Since that breakthrough a few

years ago, I know these are skills I can’t live without. That’sbetter than feeling like two different people.”

Why Law School?

“I’ve always thought of myself asan artist, probably since I was achild,” Paris said from her Texashome which she shares with herhusband. “I didn’t consider anymajor in college except art.”

After earning her Bachelor ofFine Arts at the State Universityof New York at Albany, theJacksonville, Fla., native madethe unexpected decision toattend Albany Law School. “Iwas interested in representationalart, a type of art that, at thetime, earned no respect from theart world. I was disenchantedwith the art world at the time….I’ve come to appreciate my decision for law school and mytraining as a lawyer.”

After law school Paris joineda Tampa firm of 50 attorneys,where she was the first womanfor several years. From there shejoined another Tampa Bay firmas a real estate partner.

“Being the only woman presented an enormous learningcurve for everyone,” she said.“But, like everything else, theimportant thing was that Iworked hard and performedwell.” She soon left to start anew company with one partner,which then dissolved into a private practice for Paris.

During her early years at thefirm, Paris had no time for art.Just before she turned 40 shestarted painting again. “I beganto see that I needed to change

the direction of my life.” Shetentatively planned to wait awhile, save some money andthen take off as an artist. “I wishI could say I did that,” she said,chuckling. “But I didn’t. I justquit.” That was eight years ago.

Married now, she returned tothe art world with enormousenergy to produce. “I focus asmuch as I can on the painting, butit’s a business and there’s a lotinvolved.” This includes stayingconnected to numerous galleries,marketing, meeting show dead-lines, maintaining a blog, andordering supplies, to name a fewthings. Paris recently reduced afairly hectic schedule teachingworkshops around the country.

Southwest Art Magazine namedher one of the “Artists to Watch,December 2004.” In 2006 herwork was featured in two newbooks, Landscapes of New Mexico(Fresco Fine Art Publications)and Plein Air New Mexico (JackRicheson Art Publications). Sheregularly exhibits in galleries,museum shows and other eventsnationwide, and she has receivedthe Best and Brightest Award and the Pastel Society ofAmerica Award among manyothers. She has been featured inAmerican Artist, Southwest Artand The Pastel Journal.

“When I was contemplatingthe move to art full time, peopletold me they couldn’t see me asanything but a lawyer,” Paris said,slightly laughing. “Art is whatI’m most passionate about; it’sthe thing in my life that keepsme fascinated.”

See her paintings at www.deb-orahparis.com. –DS

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

Deborah Paris Shifts from Law to Art and Eventually Discovers the Connection

“Painting is aboutvisual ideas. Onceyou have a visualidea, the challengeis to communicateit in an effectiveway. Essentiallyyou’re solving aseries of problemsand you need tounderstand what’sworking andwhat’s not workingon a technical and emotionallevel….”

Paris’ “Rick’s Pool.”

43

1946

Honorable Carrol S. Walsh hasbeen named to the JohnstownHigh School Hall of Fame. He served as the Fulton CountyCourt judge and surrogate until 1977 and as a SupremeCourt justice in the FourthJudicial District until his retire-ment in 1990.

1954

Peter Pryor and his wife, Barbara,were honored with the Dr.James M. Bell HumanitarianAward from Parsons Child andFamily Center in Albany, N.Y.They were cited for more than40 years “enhancing the qualityof life for others.”

1958

Lt. Col. William Holzapfelreceived the 2007 DistinguishedCitizen Award by the GreaterElizabeth Chamber of Commercein recognition of his diligentwork as the city attorney of thecity of Elizabeth, N.J.

1964

Thomas Dolin has become theNew Scotland Town Supervisor.He served as Town Justice for 14 years, was the town attorneyfor Westerlo and worked foralmost 40 years in private practiceas a commercial lending lawyer.

1965

Judge Walter Gage retired fromthe Geneva, N.Y., city courtbench on Dec. 31, 2007, after16 years of public service. Hewill also be handing over most ofhis cases from his private practiceto his law partner.

1966

Judge Frederic Rodgers beganhis sixth term as judge inColorado’s First Judicial District,in Golden, Colo.

Judge Norman I. Siegel hasbeen named as a trustee to theSt. Elizabeth Medical Centerboard, in Utica, N.Y.

1970

Supreme Court Justice Frank B.Williams won re-election in the (11 county) Fourth JudicialDistrict in New York.

1972

Justice Bernard J. Malone Jr.has been appointed to theAppellate Division, Third Depart-ment by former Governor EliotSpitzer. He had been appointedto the Manhattan-based FirstDepartment by Governor Patakiin 2005.

1973

The Honorable David Demarestof Canton was re-elected toserve the Fourth Judicial Districtfor another term.

Helen Volk has authored andpublished revised editions of her three most popular books:De-Clutter, De-Stress Your Life,The Organized Garage Sale andFiling, 101. Her website iswww.beyondclutter.com.

1974

Stewart P. Glenn established anew firm, Glenn & BreheneyPLLC, in August 2006 inNewburgh, N.Y.

1975

Roger Cusick has joined thefaculty of Union College inSchenectady, N.Y. He will beteaching political science.

Astrid C. Glynn has been namedthe first female N.Y. StateTransportation Commissioner.She started her legal career as amaritime lawyer.

Johnna G.Torsone hasbeen namedto the Boardof Directorsof TheWestport

(Conn.) Country Playhouse.

1976

Bond,Schoeneck &King recentlywelcomedtheir newpartner, JohnR. Aldrich,

to the firm’s Albany office andEstate and Financial PlanningDepartment.

Hon. W. Dennis Duggan waselected to his second three-yearterm on the Board of Trustees ofthe National Council of Juvenileand Family Court Judges.

1977

Sharon Landers is currentlyAssistant City Manager of theOrange County City of Irvine,Calif. Since June 2007 she hasalso been the CEO of theOrange County Great Park.

CLASSNOTES{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

1978

Paul DerOhannesian II haspublished the 3rd Edition ofSexual Assault Trials (LexisNexisPublishing).

Andrew S. Fusco has beenappointed City of Auburn corporate counsel and CayugaCounty Bar Association president.

Nadine Pellegrini is working onher master’s degree in animals andpublic policy. Upon completion,she will return to her job as an assistant U.S. attorney inBoston, Mass.

Donald A. Williams has retired as Ulster County’s chiefprosecutor, a position he hasheld since 1999.

1979

James N. Baldwin, Questar IIIBOCES district superintendent,was elected to a four year term onthe Association of EducationalServices Agencies ExecutiveCouncil. This is a professionalorganization serving 553 educa-tion service agencies across thecountry.

Charles F. Crimi, Jr. has closedhis private practice to become ajudge for the Rochester, N.Y.,City Court.

Margaret Mary Cangilos-Ruizhas been appointed BankruptcyJudge for the U.S. Court ofAppeals for the Second Circuit inSyracuse, N.Y. She was formerlyhead of the bankruptcy depart-ment at Whiteman Osterman &Hanna in Albany, N.Y.

44

$50 million association, she leftfor the New York State NursesAssociation representing 30,000registered nurses across the state inall aspects of collective bargaining.“This was a job well-suited formy politics and my personality.”

While at the Association, sheserved on the board of directorsof Bailey House, where she grewintimate with the organization.When the top job opened, shejumped. “I was well over my headquickly,” Quattrochi said of herearly days. “I thought I kneweverything as a lawyer but run-ning an organization that servespeople with AIDS was a wholeother undertaking. I learned tobe humble.”

The mission is daunting anda matter of life or death forthousands of families, creating theimpetus for Quattrochi to stayat it for almost two decades now.Quattrochi has traveled in anexpert team to teach and learnfrom peers in South Africa andZambia, with another team, inCuba, where she praised theCuban system for providingcomprehensive care.

“The issues remain numerousand complex,” Quattrochi said.“How we teach HIV preventionin school must change. How weapproach prevention, which isrelated to a lot of other issues,including domestic violence,homelessness, drug use andmental illness. And of course,funding is needed for this work.”

She praised BinghamMcCutchen for their pro bonolegal help, as well as RichardsO’Neill and Bingham Dana beforethem, for providing around

In the Non-Profit Trenches, QuattrochiFights for People with HIV/AIDS

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

When Gina Quattrochi left her associate director position at the New York State NursesAssociation to head Bailey House,Inc., a non-profit providinghousing-assistance and servicesfor people with HIV/AIDS,Quattrochi jumped at thechance to use her legal skills foradvocacy, particularly in an areashe felt needed attention. At thetime, she had already lost severalof her friends to AIDS, includingScott Osadchey ’78.

Quattrochi never imaginedshe’d be there today, 17 yearslater. Her reasons are simple:“The work is important. Thebattles change and the politicalclimate changes. The epidemicstill rages in many parts of thecountry, including New York,and all over the world.”

Some 700 people withHIV/AIDS rely on her organiza-tion for housing and services.Serving four of the five boroughs,services range from permanentsupportive housing to mentalhealth and substance use servicesas well as a food pantry and special programs for formerlyincarcerated men and womenliving with HIV/AIDS.

Hardly a shoestring operationwith a $10 million annual budget,Quattrochi raises the funds forBailey House every year throughgrants and gifts. They also holdan auction annually, their flag-ship event for more than 1,000people, which brings in almost10% of the budget. Only-in-N.Y.auctioned items include: lunchwith Anderson Cooper, a weekat Val Kilmer’s Santa Fe Ranch,a night on the town with “All

My Children” star Thorsten Kaye,as well as artwork by artistsRobert Mapplethorpe, WilliamWegman and Herb Ritts.

Along with running operationsand fundraising, Quattrochispends considerable time advocating for state and federalpolicy. In 1993, she helpedestablish the National AIDSHousing Coalition and served as its President for three years.She has also served as Chairpersonof the New York City AIDSHousing Network and served on federal and state advisoryboards. Quattrochi has also beenan adjunct professor at the NewYork University Wagner Schoolfor Public Service for 10 years.

Over the years Quattrochihas seen the epidemic changedramatically, and, subsequently,the funding for the virus. Sheexplained, “In ’86 people weredying rapidly. We didn’t knowhow AIDS was transmitted. Inthe next phase, people with thevirus lived for three or fouryears. Then 10 years. And now,treatment can sustain their lives.These medical breakthroughsrequired us to evolve our servicesas the nature of the epidemic,and public sentiment, changed.”

A Winding Path

After Albany Law School,Quattrochi took an associateposition at the firm Jackson,Lewis, Schnitzler & Krupman,performing labor law for employ-ers. After four years, she left tobecome associate general counselfor the United Cerebral PalsyAssociation of New York State.

With three years at the

$1million in services since 1985. Quattrochi has a son, age 13,

and daughter, age 18, whom sheraised with her former partnerDr. Priscilla Lenes. A dabbler inkarate since her law school days,Quattrochi pursued it moreintensely at age 45, earning ablack belt three years later.

“My favorite thing is the full-contact fighting,” she said. “Youlearn the most about yourselfduring these times.” She calledherself an “in-fighter,” leaning onstrength and power, instead of apoint-fighter who relies more onagility and lightness. “I’m likethat at advocacy work too, but Ihave learned that sometimesdiplomacy works better.”

It may be her full-contactapproach that allowed her tobring the organization from a $3 million to $10 million operation. And it’s her ability to identify and forge her own stylethat will likely lead her to bringBailey House, Inc. to its next level.

[A]uctioned itemsinclude: lunchwith AndersonCooper, a week at Val Kilmer’sSanta Fe Ranch, a night on thetown with “AllMy Children” starThorsten Kaye, as well as artworkby artists RobertMapplethorpe,William Wegmanand Herb Ritts.

45

Fred Thiele has returned to hishome town of Sag Harbor, N.Y.,to serve the village as attorney.

1980

JanetCallahanwas selectedby theAssociationof Justices ofthe Supreme

Court of the State of New Yorkto speak at their 2007 annualfall conference in SaratogaSprings, N.Y.

Mark Gorgos, managing partnerof Coughlin & Gerhart inBinghamton, N.Y., has beenappointed to the GovernmentLaw Center Advisory Board atAlbany Law School. Gorgosconcentrates on commercial law, municipal and educationlaw, public sector labor law andcreditor bankruptcy matters.

Honorable Christopher G.Quinn has joined the Board ofDirectors of New Island Hospitalin Bethpage, N.Y. He is currentlya supervising judge for theNassau County District Court.

1981

James Caruso joined BartleMcGrane Duffy and Jones LLPin Troy, N.Y.

Judge Peter G. Crummeywas re-elected to a third term as Colonie Town Justice,Colonie, N.Y.

Justice Leslie E. Stein has beenappointed to the AppellateDivision, Third Department byformer Governor Eliot Spitzer.

During the early 70s, Marc D.Schechter ’78 trained in quantumtheory and relativity and spenttime in a laboratory at RensselaerPolytechnic Institute studyingelectromigration. In 1975 heearned his B.S. in physics andconsidered earning his PhD.

“I wanted to be a physicist oran electrical engineer but at thattime post doctoral positions inphysics were few and far between.”Schechter swapped the lab forlaw—intellectual property law.

“I had a few friends whowere working at the U.S. Patentand Trademark Office, and theyencouraged me to get into the IPfield,” said Schechter. “I figuredmy physics and engineeringbackground was a good fit forpracticing patent law.”

Schechter took his friendsadvice and enrolled into Albany Law studying intellectualproperty and tax law.

Intellectual property was notoffered as a concentration atAlbany Law School at the time,so Schechter created a self-studycourse with Professor MichaelHutter.

“Professor Hutter divided acasebook into 15 sections andwe met once a week for 15 weeksgoing over cases cover-to-cover,”explained Schechter. “It was an invaluable experience andone of my fondest Albany LawSchool memories having one-on-one teaching time withProfessor Hutter.”

After graduating from AlbanyLaw School, Schechter workedas a patent attorney at the lawfirm of Heslin, Irwin & Neiman(now Heslin, Rothenberg, Farley

& Mesiti) in Albany, then leftfor the IP law department ofPhilips Electronics in Tarrytown.

During his time at Philips,Schechter spent his days preparing patent and trademarkapplications in areas such asoptical fibers, silicon devices,dielectric and magnetic materials,and images sensors. At night, hespent his time in class earninghis M.B.A. from Pace University.

In 1987, after eight yearswith Philips, Schechter took aposition as senior attorney inIBM’s T.J. Watson ResearchCenter IP Law Department inYorktown Heights. He workedon patent applications, patentclearances, and patent litigationin technical areas such as speechrecognition, machine translation,data communication subsystems,liquid crystal displays, thin filmtransistors, image processingalgorithms and cache memoryarchitectures.

Schechter has now been withIBM for over 20 years, workinghis way up from research, tocorporate headquarters, back to research, and then to micro-electronics, software group,information technology services

and business consulting services.Now, in his current position assenior group intellectual propertylaw counsel for IBM AmericasSales & Distribution in Somers,N.Y., he oversees intellectualproperty law policies and organ-izations in the United States andCanada supporting Americas sales,marketing, technical solutionsdevelopment, and distribution.

“Our team advises seniormanagement and manages intellectual property law aspectsof customer transactions, marketing strategy, acquisitions,divestitures, patent litigation,OEM agreements, clearance andinfringement investigations forour division.”

Schechter said he depends ona team of nine highly experi-enced in-house patent attorneysas well as a number of outsidelaw firms to provide intellectualproperty support for IBMAmericas Sales & Distribution.“Our organization is a part ofIBM’s worldwide IP LawDepartment that includes otherbusiness units such as Systems& Technology Group, SoftwareGroup, Global Services, andResearch, and other IBM regionssuch as Europe and Asia.”

“Because of our strong intellectual property law team,IBM obtained over 3,100 U.S.patents in 2007. That’s morethan any other company for the15th year in a row.”

Schechter lives with his wife, Anne, of 31-years inThornwood, N.Y. He has threeadult daughters. –NS

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

Marc D. Schechter ’78

Engineer-Lawyer Leaves Lab, Now Manages IP Law Group at IBM

Today the brothers representsimilar clients around labor andemployment issues, but do notshare many clients. Collectivelythey range from large universitiesto health care institutions toautomobile dealers.

They shared a slew of professors at Albany Law School,relating stories about severalcommon professors, includingJack Welsh, David Siegel, MichaelHutter and Peter Preiser.

Jim said that one of the firm’spartners had recently finished acase in which former AlbanyLaw Dean Richard Bartlett alsoappeared. Jim remarked thatDean Bartlett always made apoint of asking about theMcGraths’ father.

Their cousin, Sharon RoglerTromp, graduated in 1994. Jimtold Mike that they may soonhave another cousin attendingAlbany Law School.

“I guess if you’re a McGrathattending law school, you go toAlbany Law.” –DS

us,” said Michael, continuingthe point. “He just thought I’dchanged a lot since the last timehe saw me.”

With six years between thetwo, the competition may notbe so fierce, though Jim didpoke fun of his older brother’snew haircut after Michaeldeclared, “I’m the smarter one.”

Not Identical, but Similar, Paths

With their father a Mobil Oilexecutive, the family of eightchildren spent their school years in Albany, Kansas City,Framingham, Mass., andStamford, Conn., where all eightgraduated from high school and where the brothers now livewith their own families.

They attended differentundergraduate schools—Michaelat Southern Connecticut StateCollege and Jim at the Universityof Virginia. During their separate times at Albany LawSchool, the brothers each lived

It would be hard to think James’86 and Michael McGrath ’80are anything but brothers, withtheir quick exchange of banter,their need to rib one another,and their knowledge of intimatefacts about each other.

“I have an Albany Law tablelamp and an Albany Law watch,”said Michael at the start of aconversation in Putney, Twombly’sNew York office, where bothbrothers practice labor andemployment law on behalf ofmanagement.

“You gave that same watch to Dad,” countered the youngerJim, referring to their fatherJames E. McGrath, Jr., a 1957grad of Albany Law.

“You had Moriarty forCriminal,” Jim reminded Michael,which prompted the olderMichael to relate a story aboutProf. Daniel Moriarty’s last classof the year, which involved asword and a riveting speech thatdrew a standing ovation.

Same law school. Same lawfirm. Same practice area. Samecommute from Connecticut.“We used to commute together,we don’t now,” said Jim. “Some-times we don’t see each other for two weeks. My wife will askme how Mike is, and she’ll oftenknow better than I do.”

“When I started here, therewas one partner who didn’t distinguish us,” said Jim, anoddity given their distinct physical differences. “He wouldtell Michael something about acase, and then assume I had thesame information.”

“I faced an arbitrator whodidn’t know there were two of

Brothers to the Tee, the McGraths Make it Seem Easy

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

“We used to commute together,we don’t now.Sometimes wedon't see eachother for twoweeks. My wifewill ask me howMike is, and she’ll often knowbetter than I do.”

with their grandfather in Albany.Both fondly recalled their dinners with their grandfather,particularly the “early-bird dinnersat Ponderosa.”

Michael married his wifeduring law school, while Jimmarried after school, spendinghis three law school years livingwith their grandfather.

After school, Michael appliedto a number of firms and landedan associate spot at PutneyTwombly. Jim took a summerassociate position at Putneywhile in law school, then appliedfor a full-time position afterschool. While he had beenassured a full-time position, hemistakenly received a formalrejection letter from the firm.While Jim told this story, heglanced at Michael as if to stillblame him for receiving the mistaken rejection letter.

“I was an associate,” Michaelsaid, an executive committeemember today. “I had nothingto do with any of it.”

James (left) and Michael McGrath, at Putney, Twombly’s New York office.

46

After 23 years in the ManhattanDistrict Attorney’s Office, fiveof them running the DomesticViolence Unit and now head ofthe Elder Abuse Unit, ElizabethLoewy ’84 sees haunting parallelsbetween the two cultures andtheir public perception.

“Like domestic violenceabout 15 years ago, there’s amisconception out there thatelder abuse is a family matter,and not a crime,” Loewyexplained. “In the heat of themoment, when they lose theircomposure, you hear the samekind of thinking” from defen-dants. Typically, youngerexploiters explain that “they’reentitled to an estate becausethey are the only living relativesor because they are in the will,”said Loewy, and “when the elder lives longer than expected,bad things happen.”

She’s received calls from lawenforcement professionals whoask, “Since the defendant is inthe will and is getting it anyway,doesn’t this preclude a theftcharge?” Loewy’s answer is con-sistently simple. “You don’t get itearly. And there is no exceptionin the larceny statute for familymembers or beneficiaries.”

The parallels aren’t coinci-dental, Loewy claimed. “Thebattering, the drug abuse—these problems don’t go away asdefendants age. And as babyboomers are moving into theirelder years, we have olderdomestic violence victims, aswell as older victims and defen-dants with addiction issues.”

Twenty-three years in thefamed D.A.’s office, Loewy has an

A Veteran Manhattan Prosecutor, Loewy Sees Parallels in Elder Abuse and Domestic Violence Crimes

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

endless collection of high profilecrime stories. Now, her storiesfocus on victims 60 years-plus,centered on domestic violenceor neglect, financial exploitationfrom family members or profes-sionals, and evictions by drugdealers who have taken over abuilding inhabited by elderly.Her cases still attract top mediaattention, including an ongoingcase involving the estate of BrookeAstor and her son accused ofrobbing the estate.

Ask Loewy a question andshe can’t help herself fromanswering briefly before firingback her own series of questions:What do you think? Where areyou from? How did you get intothis work? This is the inescapablehabit of a prosecutor who stillcarries her own caseload bychoice, as well as oversees dozensof assistant D.A.’s, in an Officethat prosecutes over 500 elderabuse cases a year.

At no time in her early yearsdid Loewy set out for this life.“I’m on the hiring board,” sheexplained. “I meet a lot of candi-dates who have known from theirearly years that they wanted to

“And as babyboomers are moving into theirelder years, wehave older domestic violencevictims, as well asolder victims anddefendants withaddiction issues.”

be a lawyer. I appreciate that butI wasn’t one of them….”

Far from it. Loewy, aftergraduating University ofPennsylvania, left her Albanyhome—her father was a professorat Rensselaer PolytechnicInstitute—for Manhattan theater,where two of her siblings havesince made their careers. “Whilein New York, my outlook slowlychanged…. I decided that bybecoming a lawyer I might beable to help do something tochange the world. I applied tosome law schools and decided togo to Albany Law.”

After her first year, she spenta summer at a law firm. “Thelawyers were terrific and it was agreat firm, but the work didn’tcome naturally for me.” Her next summer was spent at theManhattan D.A.’s office. “I wasrelieved and excited. I felt asthough I had found a calling—up until that point, I wasn’t surewhat I was doing in law school.”

In her second year she enteredand won the Gabrielli MootCourt Competition, recallingher advisor Professor MaryHelen Moses and her partnerJohn Hayes ’84. “That waswhen I realized, ‘I can do this.’”

Two decades of working withD.A. Robert M. Morgenthau,the daughter of a college professorwho moved the family to threedifferent cities before landing inAlbany, Loewy has never stayedin any one place this long.“With this job, a new and interesting issue presents itselfevery day” she said. “Any timeI’ve even thought about leaving,there has been a fascinating new

case or an opportunity to be inanother Unit. Working for Mr.Morgenthau has been a tremen-dous honor in every sense—otherwise I wouldn’t still be here.”

Married with two childrenand living in Westchester, muchof her days are spent on trial orpreparing for grand jury. A goodpart of her job also requirescommunity work. Again drawingthe parallel to domestic violence,Loewy said that elderly abuse iswidely underreported. “As headof the unit, it’s important for me to be out in the communityto raise awareness and generatereferrals.” –DS

47

Elizabeth Loewy ’84

48

Michael Norris has joined SentryGroup in Rochester, N.Y., as general counsel. He will beresponsible for managing alllegal affairs of the company.

Andrea M. Quercia is the vice president and general counsel at ITT Corporation inRochester, N.Y.

1984

JamesOrband, aBinghamtonattorney withHinman,Howard &Kattell, LLP,

has been elected chair of theBusiness Law Section of theNew York State Bar Association.

Elizabeth A. Roosa has joinedthe firm of Roosa & Roosa inBeacon, N.Y.

1985

Gloria Herron Arthur hasjoined the New York State BarAssociation and will serve as thedirector of Pro Bono Affairs.

Andrew Pelletier is still practicing law but has just published his third children’sbook, “The Toy Farmer” withDutton’s Children’s Books.

1986

Thomas Clements ofQueensbury has been namedpresident of the Warren CountyBar Association for 2007–2008.

Denise M. Fitzpatrick hasjoined the law firm of Sholes &Miller. Her practice focuses onmedical and legal malpractice,

She was an Albany City Courtand acting Albany CountyFamily Court judge beforebecoming an Albany CountySupreme Court justice in 2002.

1982

Matthew D.Babcock,ChiefOperatingOfficer, St.ElizabethMedical

Center, recently became a Fellowof the American College ofHealthcare Executives (ACHE),the nation’s leading professionalsociety for healthcare leaders.

Stephen T. Helmer wasappointed managing partner atMackenzie Hughes law firm inSyracuse, N.Y.

Richard A. Kaplan has beennamed one of the “Illinois SuperLawyers” for 2008 as conductedby Law and Politics magazine.He is an intellectual propertyattorney with Brinks HoferGilson & Lione in Chicago, Ill.

1983

Martin Finn has written chapters for the newly published“Mergers and Acquisitions Casesand Problems” with Prof. WendyDavis and Amy L. Dickson ’07.

Stephen Hicks has beenappointed senior vice presidentand chief legal counsel at MTM Technologies, Inc. inStamford, Conn.

Lawyers in America for hisaccomplishments in the field ofintellectual property law. He is a partner in the McDermottWill and Emery law firm inWashington, D.C.

Kevin M. Lang has joined theAlbany office of the internationallaw firm Greenberg Traurig LLP. He will be of counsel inthe Energy and NaturalResources Group.

1992

Colleen Babb was appointedexecutive assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sheis responsible for the School ofAdvocacy Bureau, which includescrimes in schools and juvenilecrimes outside of school.

Matthew Blank and his wife,Cori, recently opened their newstore, Mine! Mine! Mine!, in thevillage of Florida, N.Y.

James G.Cavoli hasbeen nameda partner inMilbank,Tweed,Hadley &

McCloy LLP’s Litigation Group,in New York City. His practiceencompasses a full range ofcomplex litigation, includingcivil and criminal enforcement ofthe securities laws, and interna-tional commercial arbitration.

Laura Egner has won the BrigidNolan Memorial Award for Pro Bono Service to Victims inDomestic Violence as presentedby The Legal Project of theCapital District Women’s BarAssociation.

insurance claims, personal injury,premises liability, contracts, realproperty issues and Article 78proceedings.

1987

Gardiner “Tad” Barone hasbeen made a partner in theMiddletown, N.Y., law firmBlustein, Shapiro, Rich & Barone.His experience covers civil trialand appellate cases, land use,development and planning.

Jeffrey McMorris has beennamed as attorney of counsel atthe Stanclift Law Firm P.C. in thefirm’s Glens Falls, N.Y., office.

1988

Andrea Cilli co-chaired theCapital Region and CentralNew York Bankruptcy BarAssociations 12th AnnualBankruptcy Conference inCooperstown.

Jan R. McConnaughey joinedthe Corporate, Business &Regulatory Legal Staff ofEastman Kodak Company asChief Counsel, ConsumerDigital Imaging Group and VicePresident, Legal Department,effective Jan. 2, 2008.

Nicholas Mesiti and David P.Miranda were named “NewYork Super Lawyers” by Law &Politics and the publishers ofHudson Valley magazine. They areboth with the firm of Heslin,Rothenberg, Farley & Mesiti,P.C., in Albany.

1991

Brian Ferguson was named in the 2008 edition of The Best

CLASSNOTES

49

in favor of younger, white engineers. The alleged retaliationincluded a poor evaluation,increased scrutiny and criticism,and relegation to menial taskson a project he invented. Thecase was of such note that itbecame the subject of a BusinessWeek magazine cover story.

“Regardless of the money, I get a good feeling taking onthese cases and protecting a person against a big companywith its large resources and topattorneys,” said Lucas, who hashandled a lot of cases involvingage and sex discrimination.“These cases involve a tremen-dous amount of preparation, the files are large and you havebehemoth summary judgmentmotions you have to defeat toget to trial.”

As a lawyer in a small firmgoing up against a conglomeratewith resources as deep as GE’s,Lucas has to work doubly hardto level the legal playing field.“The corporate lawyers try topaper you to death,” he said.The federal judges are oftenreceptive to defense arguments,as employment cases have, incertain areas, overwhelmed theirdockets. Trials in general are adisappearing event, Lucas noted: “We often hear about the disappearing jury trial thesedays as a result of mandatorymediation and the simple factthat 95 percent of cases usuallysettle before trial.”

Lucas credits his career choiceto an internship he landed whileat Albany Law with Cummings

Seeing the Litigator as the Cowboy, LucasWinds Up in Million Dollar Advocates ForumBy Paul Grondahl

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

Scott R. Lucas ’85 won a $12.5 million discriminationverdict nearly two years ago infederal District Court inConnecticut against GeneralElectric Co., representing formerGE employee Hemant K. Mody,a Ph.D. and chief engineer. Thelarge legal victory remindedLucas just how far he had comesince entering Albany Law anddeciding to pursue a legal careerafter earning a bachelor of science in management atRensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

“I had Frank Anderson forCriminal Law and I’d heard hewas a very tough grader. Hegave me an ‘F’ on my very firstquiz,” Lucas recalled with alaugh. “In engineering school,there was always a right andwrong answer, but in the lawthere never is. Instead of analyzing the questions on thatfirst quiz, I wrote short responsesthat I thought were the rightanswers. It was a real wakeup call.”

Fortunately, Lucas recoverednicely after failing his first quizin law school and he went on to become managing editor ofthe Law Review, an experiencehe credits with honing his legalanalytical skills.

Lucas is a founding partnerof Martin, Lucas & Chioffi, aStamford, Conn., firm with 10 lawyers. He heads its litigationpractice. He won a $1.3 millionjury verdict against CendantMobility Services Corp. inConnecticut State SupremeCourt in 2003 on behalf of hisclient, a top producer in the

relocation industry who wasdemoted and terminated despiteassurances by her supervisor afterher husband, formerly a Cendantemployee, went to work for arelocation competitor.

“It was a big case and a uniquetrial for Danbury, Conn., whichdoesn’t have many million-dollarverdicts,” said Lucas, whoseseven-figure verdicts earned him membership in The MillionDollar Advocates Forum, agroup of trial lawyers who havewon verdicts, awards and settle-ments in excess of $1 million.Lucas and his wife, Jane Cavalier,who has her own brand consultingcompany, have three childrenand live in Weston, Conn.

His 2006 victory against GE is currently on appeal after a judge reduced the verdictamount to $8.3 million. Lucassuccessfully argued that Mody,of Indian descent, was unlawfullyfired and otherwise retaliatedagainst after he complained heand others of Asian descent wereroutinely passed for promotions

& Lockwood, then the largestlaw firm in Connecticut, where he rotated through alldepartments and decided litigation was the area in whichhe wanted to work.

“It seemed to me the litigatorswere the cowboys of the profes-sion,” he said, “and I thoughtthat would be a great place toend up.”

And so he has ended up as alitigator, where he’s had a greatdeal of success, despite flunkinghis first law school quiz.

As a lawyer in asmall firm goingup against a conglomerate withresources as deepas GE’s, Lucas hasto work doublyhard to level thelegal playing field.

Scott Lucas ’85

50

When the FBI came to recruitstudents at Albany Law School,Vikki Motala Medrano ’91 faceda major career decision. “I hadspent a summer working in theD.A.’s office in Rochester and I liked it, but was intrigued bythe idea of becoming a SpecialAgent, so I pursued an openingin the Bureau,” she recalled.

Today, as a special agent with 16 years’ experience, she isstationed in the Los Angelesoffice with a new position in theasset forfeiture section. “It reallyhelps to have a legal backgroundfor this job,” Medrano said. She teams with special agentswith accounting backgrounds on bank fraud cases. Her jobincludes writing seizure warrantsso that a judge will allow thegovernment to seize cars, housesand other assets purchasedthrough criminal enterprises.

“There’s so much variety tothis work,” she said. “I was inthe violent crimes unit for fiveyears and worked on casesinvolving kidnapping, murderfor hire and extortion. Thehours were long and you got usedto being called out to a crimescene in the middle of the night.”

After completing her rigoroustraining at the FBI Academy inQuantico, Va., Medrano workedout of the Chicago office beforetransferring to L.A. because herhusband, also an FBI specialagent with an accounting back-ground, was assigned there.

During her years investigatingviolent crimes in L.A., the bestdays were when she helped quicklycrack kidnapping cases and was able to see the kidnapped

person returned to their family,unharmed. The worst days werethose in which the criminalskilled their victims, such as aring of Russian mobsters whomurdered repeatedly before lawenforcement solved the case.

One of Medrano’s morebizarre cases, at least for a lawyer,involved a plaintiff ’s attorney ina price-fixing case who beganstalking the defendant’s winningattorney and made threateningphone calls, sent harassing e-mailsand showed up at the lawyer’soffice, threatening murder.

“This was after some schoolshootings and people became veryconcerned about the threats….We arrested him within a week,” she recalled. The attorney wasconvicted and went to prison.

Another interesting assignmentfor Medrano was with the publiccorruption squad. “Some of thosecases are ongoing and will becoming to trial soon,” she said.

“You learn a lot about being aspecial agent on the job, becausethere’s no right way to solve acase. Everyone develops a personalstyle and how they decide to

gather the evidence they need,”Medrano said.

Medrano feels that being alawyer helps her each day in her work as a special agent. “Aperfect example is writing anaffidavit for a search warrant toget into a house,” she said. “Ilike to write and have the legalbackground, so I can write anaffidavit quickly. But that’s avery daunting task for somebodywithout legal training. I thinkbeing a lawyer helps me zero inon certain facets of a case, helpsme avoid legal pitfalls and allowsme to solve cases more quickly.”

Medrano has never fired hergun in the line of duty, althoughshe does keep current on trainingfor firearms and defensive tactics.When she goes to a crime scene,she wears the FBI “raid jacket,”like on TV.

“It’s been an interesting andchallenging job and I like what Ido,” she said, without voicingany regrets about choosing to go to work for the FBI insteadof waiting for an offer from aD.A.’s office.

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

Drawn to the FBI, Special Agent MedranoChose EnforcementBy Paul Grondahl

Vikki Motala Medrano ’91The best days werewhen she helpedquickly crack kidnapping casesand was able to see the kidnappedperson returned to their family,unharmed.

Ann Sharpe has taken a position with Cioffi, Slezak &Wildgrube, PC in Niskayuna,N.Y.

1996

John M.Bagyi, apartner inBond,Schoeneck &King, PLLCwas listed in

The Best Lawyers in America2008. This is the second consec-utive year Bagyi has been listedin the Management Labor andEmployment Law Category, andhe remains the youngest lawyerin New York State to receive thishonor.

Gregory D. Byrne was namedpartner with Pricewaterhouse-Coopers. He lives in New York,N.Y., with his wife LaurenTaylor Byrne ’98.

Jennifer J. Corcoran has joinedthe Balzar & Leary Firm inAlbany, N.Y.

Peter A. Lauricella has beenelevated to partner at the firm of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz,Edelman & Dicker LLP, inAlbany, N.Y.

Thomas Lavery has been promoted to senior associate atPattison Sampson Ginsberg &Griffin PC. His practice areasinclude contracts, commercialand civil litigation, and adminis-trative law.

51

Karl E. Manne has beenappointed as the Town ofHerkimer town justice. Hemaintains a general practice,which includes presentation ofclients in civil and criminal litigation, business and corpo-rate matters, bankruptcies andreal estate closings.

Johnnette Traill has beenawarded the Thomas E. DeweyMedal for Queens County asthe best prosecutor of the yearby the New York City Bar.

1993

Timothy M. Fitzgerald was featured in the Rochester BusinessJournal as the leader of the commercial real estate practicegroup at Harris Beach PLLC.

Christopher C. Gerard joinedAnderson Kill & Olick, P.C. in New York, N.Y., as a share-holder in the Trusts and Estatespractice.

Cheryl Hogan has received the Stanley A. Rosen MemorialAward for Pro Bono Service toVictims of Domestic Violence aspresented by The Legal Projectof the Capital District Women’sBar Association.

Christopher Potash, a partnerat Harter Secrest & Emery LLP,has been recognized as a leaderin the “Forty Under 40” program in the Rochester (N.Y.)Business Journal.

1994

Kimberly Y. Jones has beenelected to the Boston BarAssociation’s Council. She isCounsel at Foley Hoag LLP and focuses her practice on rep-resentation of corporate clientsand employers in labor andemployment law and litigation.

Christine Sabino Kiesel wasselected as the Accent onExcellence winner for 2006. Sheis the Statewide Child WelfareCourt Improvement Projectmanager, based in Utica, N.Y.

David Luci has been appointedgeneral counsel and vice presi-dent, corporate development for MacroChem. He will also be corporate secretary withresponsibilities encompassing allthe company’s legal matters.

Kristen Martin has beenappointed an officer of the UticaNational Insurance Group, as assistant vice president, andnamed compliance officer.

1995

Mark Grosky is owner andprincipal of Grosky Law Firm inClifton Park, N.Y. he specializesin trusts and estates and elder law.

Megyn Kelly is co-anchor ofFox News Channel’s “America’sNewsroom.”

Michelle Fasciana Rider hasbeen named partner in the firmRider, Weiner & Frankel, PC in New Windsor, N.Y. Also acertified public accountant, shehas been associated with thefirm for more than three years.

Kenneth D.Suzan hasbeen electedto partner-ship atHodgsonRuss LLP.

He is a member of the firm’sIntellectual Property & Tech-nology Law, International/Cross-Border, and E-CommercePractice Groups.

John Um has joined the lawfirm of Loeb & Loeb LLP inN.Y. He will practice in allaspects of advertising and marketing law with a particularemphasis in on-line media.

Molly Wilkinson has beennamed chief of staff of the U.S.Small Business Administration.She will lead the agency’s effortsto improve procurement oppor-tunities for small business.

1997

Christine H. Guido has joinedthe law firm of Rusk, Wadlin,Heppner and Martuscello inKingston, N.Y., as a senior associate.

Justin S.Miller hasbeen electeda member ofthe law firmof HarrisBeach and

practices in their Rochester, N.Y.,office. He is part of the PublicFinance & Economic Develop-ment Practice Group, the EnergyIndustry Team, and Municipali-ties and Quasi-GovernmentalAgencies Team.

CLASSNOTES

52

countered by a sound footing athome with his family. He livesin Larchmont with his wife, an investment banker, and their2- and 4-year-old children.

Herman started his career ata hedge fund in New Yorkbefore going to law school.Once in school, he gravitatedtoward law centered aroundbusiness transactions like mergersand acquisitions. After his secondyear he worked as a summerassociate at Willkie Farr &Gallagher, where he was hired as a full-time associate aftergraduating, working in NewYork and then for two years inWillkie’s London office. In ’99he moved to Brobeck, Phleger& Harrison in its N.Y. office,until the firm went under in ’03due to debt.

“Brobeck announced its dissolution on a Thursday andon Friday I was working atFreshfields,” Herman said, themove forecasting the frenzied paceat Freshfields that was to come.

$182 million—and amendedthe acquisition terms in a matterof hours,” said Herman.

Then came a series of lawsuits,including one from Hidary contending that their originaldeal should have been honored,and class action lawsuits fromshareholders claiming fiduciaryduty breaches by Everlast—and aiding and abetting bySports Direct.

“All this happened very fast,which required a lot of advance‘what if ’ planning,” said Herman.“And with each move came theheadlines, not just in the WallStreet Journal and Barron’s, butalso in local tabloids like theN.Y. Post (Everlast played wellfor N.Y. readers) and full-blowncoverage in the London press,home of Sports Direct’s profile.”

By the end of last summer,Herman said, the transactionclosed, and the remaining law-suits were all finally settled.“While not close to the largestdeal we’ve done, it broughttogether a lot of the key elementsof our public M+A practice, andthat is always a lot of fun.”

Herman is no stranger tocomplex M+A deals like Everlast.In the last two years he advisedLinde, the German gases company, in the sale of its U.S.healthcare business unit for$670 million, K+S AG in thepurchase of a Latin Americansalt producer for $488 million,and has advised private equityfirms ranging from WarburgPincus to KKR on transactionsin the U.S. and in Europe,including Permira’s and KKR’s2.1 billion Euros leveraged

When Sports Direct International,the United Kingdom’s largestsporting goods chain, moved into acquire the iconic U.S. boxingcompany Everlast for $30 pershare at the beginning of lastsummer, they didn’t expect twocounter-bids from the originalbuyout group, the investmentfirm Hidary, first at $30.55 thenfor $31.25.

“We thought the deal wascomplete when we signed andtopped Hidary’s original bid of$26.50 per share, but then gotword via an SEC filing and then from Everlast’s lawyers thatHidary had made a second,higher bid for the company,” saidMatt Herman ’94, a corporatepartner in Freshfields’ New Yorkoffice where he specializes ininternational mergers and acqui-sitions, private equity transactionsand securities offerings.

“We quickly convened meetings and calls with both the client and then withEverlast, and raised our bid to$33 per share—approximately

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

Herman Founds and Grows Freshfields’N.Y. Corporate Practice

buyout of SBS Broadcasting.While the recent credit crunchhas changed the mix of work,because the U.S. dollar hasremained relatively weak, thereis continued interest on the partof European corporations andglobal SWFs (sovereign wealthfunds) in U.S. M+A generally,and Freshfields’ global clientbase has Herman and his New York team busy. Hermancurrently has six significant dealsfor non-U.S. clients in variousstages of their transactions.

From the Start

He started at Freshfields fiveyears ago, when he launched the firm’s New York corporatepractice, which has grown tofive partners and 25 associatestoday, handling multi-jurisdic-tional mergers and acquisitions,private equity transactions, jointventures and securities offerings.

“I do about 25% domesticand 75% international, which isthe right mix for me,” saidHerman; however, he admits the travel associated with inter-national transactions (some 15long-haul trips a year to Europe,the Middle East, Asia and LatinAmerica) can get tiring at times.“People think that internationalbusiness travel is all glamour,but it gets a bit depressing whenthe American Airlines desk inLondon starts to know you byname,” said Herman. Somedeals have required him to fly to Europe every week, fromWednesday to Friday, for up toeight weeks at a time. And 10days in Dubai last Decemberwill take its toll, though it is

Matt Herman ’94

“And with eachmove came theheadlines, not just in the WallStreet Journaland Barron’s, but also in localtabloids like theN.Y. Post.”

53

1998

Lauren Taylor Byrne wasnamed managing director withAlvarez & Marsal in December2007. She lives in New York,N.Y., with her husband,Gregory D. Byrne ’96.

North Greenbush Town JusticeAndrew G. Ceresia has beenelected President of theRensselaer County Bar Associa-tion. In addition to his Townjudicial duties, he has alsoserved as an Acting City CourtJudge in Rensselaer, Hudsonand Albany City Courts.

Melissa M.Zambri hasbeen electedto the part-nership atHiscock &Barclay LLP

in Albany, N.Y.

1999

Alice M. Breding has accepteda position at the Piedmont LawFirm in Latham, N.Y.

Karen Folster Lesperance, alawyer with the Poughkeepsielaw firm McCabe & Mack, hasbeen appointed to the board of The Alzheimer’s Association’sHudson Valley, Rockland,Westchester chapter.

Jennifer Ploetz Williams hasjoined the law firm ofMackenzie Hughes LLP inSyracuse, N.Y.

2000

StephanieDiLalloBitterbecame aprincipal atthe law firmof Bartlett,

Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, PCin Glens Falls, N.Y.

Shannon D. Frazier has accepteda position at O’Connor,O’Connor, Bresee & First PC in Albany, N.Y.

Catherine Hedgeman, ofGeneration Next, has beenappointed by former First LadySilda Wall Spitzer to the newlycreated Young Leaders Congress.

Paul A.Konstantyhas been promoted tomembershipin the firmSteptoe &

Johnson.

David Levy has received theKurt Clobridge MemorialAward for Pro Bono Service aspresented by The Legal Projectof the Capital District Women’sBar Association.

John R. Vero has joined UnionCollege’s Board of Trustees asthe new president of the AlumniCouncil. He is also a member ofAlbany Law’s National AlumniAssociation Board of Directors.

2001

Bethlehem Town Justice RyanDonovan has joined the lawfirm of fellow Albany Lawalumni Greg Harris ’79 andMichael Conway ’95. The newfirm will be called Harris,Conway and Donovan, PLLC.

Maureen E.Maney hasbeen made apartner inthe law firmof Hancock& Estabrook,

LLP in Syracuse, N.Y.

2002

David C. Bruffett, Jr. has joinedthe Sugarman Law Firm, inSyracuse, N.Y., as an associate.

2003

Carin M. Cardinale has joined the firm of Towne,Bartkowski & DiFio Kean, PCin Albany, N.Y.

Peng Jiang is with Latham &Watkins’ Hong Kong office. He and his wife, Li Tang ’03,are expecting their first child inSeptember.

Kiley D. Scott has been namedpartner at the firm of TullyRinckey PLLC in Albany, N.Y.

Lovely Warren has been elected a City Councilwomanfor the Northeast District ofRochester, N.Y.

Kara Wilson has been appointedassistant district attorney,Oneida County, N.Y.

2004

Crystal Doolity has joined thefirm of Maynard, O’Connor,Smith & Catalinoto, LLP inAlbany, N.Y.

Jonathan Schopf has joined the firm of Pattison SampsonGinsberg & Griffin P.C. in Troy,N.Y., as an associate focusing oncivil and criminal litigation andreal estate law.

2005

Noelle M.Pecora hasjoined thePoughkeepsielaw firm ofMcCabe &Mack as an

associate attorney in the firm’strusts and estate department.

Brian D. Pilatzke was namedacting public defender in St.Lawrence County, N.Y.

Cheryl E. Sarjeant has joinedWhiteman Osterman & HannaLLP. She will work in the firm’scommercial real estate group.

Gregory Teresi has beenappointed to the position of corporate counsel for the city of Cohoes, N.Y.

Thais M. Triehy joined Hiscock& Barclay in Albany, N.Y., as anassociate attorney.

2006

Maxine Barasch is presidentand founder of the CapitalAlliance of Young Professionals,a networking vehicle for youngprofessionals.

CLASSNOTES

54

1936

Thomas T. Heney died on Aug. 31, 2007, in Scarsdale,N.Y., from complications ofAlzheimer’s disease. Duringlaw school he worked as areport and radio commenta-tor. He practiced law atStaley & Tobin in Albanyand then at Blake, Voorhees& Stewart in New York, N.Y.He joined the NationalSugar Refinery Company asGeneral Counsel in 1944and worked there until hisretirement in 1971. He is sur-vived by four sons, two daughters, sixgrandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

1937

John Joseph Biscone, ofRavena, N.Y., died Jan. 2,2008, at his residence. Heserved in the U.S. Navy dur-ing World War II and wasvery active in local war veter-an organizations. Mr. Bisconewas assistant county attorney for Albany County for 32years, town attorney for thetown of Coeymans for over30 years and village attorneyfor the village of Ravena for over 40 years.He also maintained a privatelaw practice over the years.Mr. Biscone is born the firstof 10 children. He is sur-vived by four children, 14grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, one brotherand one sister. His wifepassed away in 1991.

Andrew E. Schrafel graduatedfrom Tsinghua UniversitySchool of Law, in Beijing, with a Master of Laws degree inChinese Law.

Jon Thayer has joined the lawfirm of Block, Colucci,Spellman & Peller LLP in LakePlacid, N.Y.

2007

Melissa Ashline-Heil has beennamed City Planner for the Cityof Cohoes, N.Y.

JeffreyBarringerhas joinedthe firm ofMcGlincheyStafford,PLLC in

Albany, N.Y., as an associate inthe business law section.

1991

Kathryn (Kate) Tabnerannounces the birth of her sonWalker James Boardman onApril 16, 2007. He is the grand-son of John W. Tabner ’51.

1992

Johnnette Traill ’92 announcesthe birth of her first childMikayla.

1996

Jason J. Legg announces thebirth of Alyse Catherine, bornon Dec. 3, 2007.

1998

Lisa M. Penpraze announcesthe birth of her son Bryce on Dec. 6, 2007.

1999

Nia Alexandra (vonHockman)Chase and Christopher R. Chasewere married on Dec. 1, 2007.

2000

Karen E. (McGrory) Measeand Kevin L. Mease weremarried on Sept. 16, 2007, inSaratoga Springs, N.Y.

2002

Patrick K. Jordan and LauraM. Jordan ’03 announce thebirth of their son Finn Kellyborn on Jan. 5, 2008.

2004

Eric R. Gee and AmeliaCatalina were married onAugust 4, 2007, in Valatie, N.Y.

2007

Jacqueline MecchellaBushwack married MichaelBushwack on Sept. 8, 2007 in Rockland County, N.Y.

Jayme L. (Majek) Torelli married Christopher J. Torellion March 17, 2007.

Michelle E. Broadbent hasjoined Kowalczyk, Tolles &Deery, LLP in Utica, N.Y., as anassociate attorney.

Ryan T. Emery, a business andtrust attorney at MackenzieHughes, was recently admittedto the Florida Bar Association.

Matthew G. Favro has joinedthe law firm of Gary L. Favro ’76in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Julie M. Frances has joined thelaw office of David A. Harper,in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Victoria Hasseler Collins hasbeen admitted as a new attorneyto the New York State andVermont bars. She is employedas an associate attorney with thelaw firm of Weber, Perra &Munzing in Brattleboro, Vt.

MARRIAGES AND BIRTHS

CLASSNOTES

Alison Bates has a fellowship atthe Empire Justice Center inRochester, N.Y.

Jacqueline MecchellaBushwack has joined RivkinRadler as a first year associate inthe firm’s Health ServicesPractice Group.

Marisa Ann Filupeit isemployed as an attorney for theNew York City Administrationof Children’s Services.

Ronney Lynne Rosenberg, theDirector of Legal Compliance atthe New York MercantileExchange, Inc. in New York,N.Y., was named ComplianceCounsel.

55

1943

James H. Doran died on Oct. 28, 2007, at the V.A.Medical Center in Albany. Hewas a World War II U.S. Armyveteran, serving in the EuropeanTheater. He was awarded thePurple Heart for wounds receivedduring the battle of AnzioBeach. Mr. Doran practiced lawin Albany for 40 years. He issurvived by two sons, twodaughters and 10 grandchildren.

1948

Eugenie Elswood Gillespiedied at Mercy Medical Center onJan. 25, 2008, from numerousmedical problems. She graduatedfrom Albany Girls School in 1936and the University of Albany in1942. Shortly after graduation,Eve, as she was known to herfriends, volunteered for the SPARS(the U.S. Coast Guard Women’sReserves), spending World War IIas an ensign at their facility in Manhattan Beach, N.Y. Eve married William FrancisGillespie on August 28, 1948,the same year that she earned herJ.D. from Albany Law School.She had a lifelong commitmentto volunteerism, beginning withthe Coast Guard, the Associationfor the Help of RetardedChildren, American Red Cross,Chapter Chairman of theNassau County Branch and wasa tireless member of the Boardof the Center for DevelopmentalDisabilities in Woodbury, N.Y.,until her death. Eve was themother of five children and adevoted grandmother of seven.

INMEMORIAM{ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 }

Kenneth P. Whiting Jr. died atLourdes Hospital in Binghamton,N.Y., on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007.He served as an officer in theU.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Lawsin the Pacific Theatre duringWorld War II. After being honorably discharged from theservice in 1946 he attendedAlbany Law School. Mr. Whitingpracticed law in Binghamton for 18 years in the law firm of Travis & Whiting, until hebecame a Broome CountyFamily Court Judge in 1965. Hepresided as a Judge for 20 yearsand thereafter continued hisservice in Family Court as aJudicial Hearing Officer. JudgeWhiting is survived by his wife,Irene Whiting. They have fourchildren and six grandchildren.

1950

Cranston H.Howe died athis home inPoultney, Vt.,on Aug. 13,2007, after along battle

with Alzheimer’s Disease. Mr.Howe served in the U.S. Armyduring World War II. He was amember of the 104th InfantryDivision in the EuropeanTheater. He received a PurpleHeart for his wounds and aBronze Star for bravery. Mr. Howeopened his law practice in FairHaven, Vt., in January 1951.He practiced law until his retire-ment in 1998. He is survived byhis wife, Mary Jane, two sonsand two grandchildren.

1953

JohnSerbalik diedDec. 26,2007, at St.Mary’sHospital inTroy, N.Y.,

after being stricken at home. Heentered the U.S. Army AirCorps during World War II, andserved with the 483rdBombardment Group of the15th Air Corps, serving in Italyas a bomb loader. After the war,Mr. Serbalik attended SienaCollege and Albany Law School.Mr. Serbalik led the Serbalikand Serbalik Law firm ofMechanicville for many years.Mr. Serbalik owned and operat-ed many local businesses.Survivors include his wife of 61years, Leona, six children, 27grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.

Clarence G. Simmons, Jr. ofBrunswick Hills, N.Y., diedDec. 16, 2007, at St. Mary’sHospital, Troy, after a long illness.Mr. Simmons was admitted to the New York State BarAssociation in 1953 and practicedlaw, originally with his father inthe firm, Simmons and Simmons,in Troy, for over 50 years. Hewas active in local civic and professional organizations forover 60 years. Mr. Simmons issurvived by his wife, Marilyn,two sons, several step-children,and six grandchildren.

1954

Robert L. Harder of Glenmont,N.Y., died Jun. 9, 2007, at St. Peter’s Hospital. Mr. Harderpracticed law in Albany for over50 years. In 1999 he won amedical malpractice verdict ofover $2.5 million. During WorldWar II he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served on theU.S.S. Woodward 340 in thePanama Theatre. He is survivedby his brothers George W. Harder’54, John R. Harder ’62, andThomas E. Burke as well as eightchildren and 15 grandchildren.

1956

Eugene M.Karp diedJan. 30, 2008,at St. Peter’sHospital inAlbany, N.Y.Mr. Karp was

a member of the law firm ofKohn Bookstein & Karp from1961–1998. He was seniorcounsel with the Albany lawfirm of Whiteman Osterman &Hanna, LLP. Between 1961 and 1975, he served as adjunctprofessor of tax law at AlbanyLaw School and in 1976 wasawarded the school’s AlumniGold Medal for DistinguishedService. He had lectured on taxand estate planning topics forthe New York State BarAssociation and the PracticingLaw Institute and had spokenbefore many community organi-zations on legal issues affectingthe aging.

Mr. Karp had been a leaderin community organizations formany years, including active

2005

Dr.Christine A.Ingrahamof CliftonPark, passedaway onTuesday,

Aug. 14, 2007. She was born inRichmond, Va., Aug. 7, 1952.She lived with her family inHopewell, Va., but completedhigh school in Tehran, Iran, whileher father was on a businessassignment. Dr. Ingraham earnedher B.S. degree from MountHolyoke College in South Hadley,Mass., and then received herM.S. degree from BostonUniversity. In 1986, she earnedher Ph.D. in neurobiology from the University of NorthCarolina–Chapel Hill. She wasan assistant professor at AlbanyMedical College from 1991 to2001, when she left to pursue acareer in law. Since 2005 she hadpracticed in the area of patentlaw. Dr. Ingraham is survived byher husband, Donald, son Benand daughter Sarah, all of CliftonPark, N.Y., as well as her sisterKathleen Wagner of Lonetree,Colo., and numerous nieces and nephews.

56

1971

William H.Geary, ofVoorheesville,N.Y., died onDec. 17,2007, after abrief illness.

Mr. Geary worked for LewisEquipment and CromwellBusiness Forms prior to going tolaw school. While in law school,Mr. Geary sold real estate withPicotte Realty. He later was vicepresident and general managerof AYCO Corporation until 1974.At that time he founded, ownedand operated Rescom SecuritySystems until 1995. Mr. Gearythen owned and operatedCheckwise Payroll, LLC. He issurvived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy, his threechildren, eight grandchildrenand two great grandchildren.

Elliot J.Wachs diedAug. 26,2007. He wasa practicing attorney associated

with the law firm of Ackerman,Wachs and Finton in Albany.He was a member of the N.Y.S.Army Reserves, the TempleIsrael in Albany, the Albany CityLodge #540 Knights of Pythiasand the American and N.Y.State Bar Associations. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

1974

Thomas J. Neidl died on Dec. 23, 2007, at home sur-rounded by his family. Mr. Neidlbegan his career distinguishinghimself as a specialist in narcoticsprosecutions under AlbanyCounty District Attorney SolGreenberg. He then moved onto be deputy chief of CriminalProsecutions at the N.Y. StateAttorney General’s Office. Afterworking as a private defenseattorney, Mr. Neidl worked atthe Albany County PublicDefender’s Office. Mr. Neidl issurvived by his wife of 35 years,Linda. He is also survived byfour children, two grand children,his mother and one brother.

Arthur N.Spellmandied of cancerAug. 20,2007. Heserved in theAir Force

for nine years, reaching rank ofcaptain. He was the base com-mander at the former KetchumCorners Air Base in Stillwater.Mr. Spellman was named assistant public defender servingthe Northern area of SaratogaCounty later becoming theattorney for the Ballston SpaSchool System. He retired in 2003from Saratoga Springs FamilyCourt. He is survived by his wife,Cecile, two sons, one daughterand two granddaughters.

participation in the United JewishFederation of Northeastern New York, B’nai B’rith GideonLodge, the Albany JewishCommunity Center, andCongregation Beth Emeth.

He is survived by his wife Bea,his son Robert, his daughter SueNohai, a long-time employee ofthe Albany Law Clinic & JusticeCenter, his brother and threegrandchildren. He also leavesseveral nieces and nephews.

1958

Francis C.LaVigne died Aug. 24,2007, atMassenaMemorialHospital. Mr.

LaVigne enlisted in the U.S. AirForce during the Korean War.He continued as an officer in the Air Force Reserve, retiring whenhe reached 60 years of age. Mr.LaVigne opened his own lawpractice in Massena, N.Y., inJanuary 1960. He acceptedGovernor Cuomo’s nomination asan administrative law judge forthe state’s Workers CompensationBoard in 1991, retiring in 1998.He is survived by his wife, Dawn,nine children, five stepchildren,34 grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.

INMEMORIAM

SAVE THESE DATES

June 3

Government Law Center

30th Anniversary Luncheon

The State Room, Albany, N.Y.

August 17

Day at the Races

Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

September 26–28

Reunion Weekend

Albany, N.Y.

80 New Scotland AvenueAlbany, New York 12208-3494

www.albanylaw.edu

Nonprofit OrganizationUS PostageP A I DAlbany, NYPermit no. 161