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Alumni Leadership
Chairman Emeritus
Arnold & Porter
Washington, DC
Richard’s practice involves some of the most significant enforcement, supervisory, and governance matters affecting the financial services industry. Richard represents financial services companies and their officers and directors, as well as accountants, attorneys, and other professionals, in significant enforcement or investigative proceedings brought by federal or state agencies. He has led the firm’s representation of clients in high-profile matters initiated by, among others, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Richard was the Managing Partner of Arnold & Porter from 2005 through 2015 and its Chair from 2016 through 2024.
Richard also serves on the Board of Justice in Aging, a national legal advocacy organization. Previously, Richard served in the Enforcement and Compliance Division of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Richard joined the College of Law Board of Advisors in 2013 and is a Syracuse University Trustee.
Chief Operating Officer
Oneida Indian Nation and Turning Stone Enterprises, LLC
Verona, NY
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Peter Carmen is the Chief Operating Officer of the Oneida Indian Nation and its enterprises, including Turning Stone Enterprises, LLC, Oneida Innovations Group, LLC and Verona Collective, LLC.
In this role, Carmen works closely with Oneida Indian Nation leadership to oversee the daily operations and administration for Turning Stone Enterprises, which includes Turning Stone Resort Casino, YBR Casino & Sports Book, Point Place Casino, The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, The Cove at Sylvan Beach, SavOn stores, Maple Leaf Markets, The Preserve hunting grounds, Salmon Acres fishing lodge, five golf courses, two marinas, two spas and dozens of restaurants. Carmen also oversees Oneida Innovations Group, which includes Oneida Technical Solutions, Oneida Network Infrastructure, Oneida Cybersecurity and CNY GO. His role also includes oversight of Oneida’s administration, including Finance, Legal, IT, Human Resources, Governmental Affairs, Security, Marketing and Supply Chain, and he works with Oneida leadership in overseeing the Oneida Indian Nation Police Department.
Since Carmen joined the Oneida Indian Nation in 2006, he has played an integral role in the development of the Nation’s business enterprises and administration. Over the last eighteen years, Oneida has exponentially grown its gaming, hospitality, entertainment, technology and government contracting footprints. Today, Turning Stone Enterprises generates an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion and is the largest employer in its two home counties, as well as being among the largest employers in the 18-county Central New York region. Turning Stone Enterprises has become one of the most awarded organizations regionally and is now routinely recognized among industry leaders nationally. It partners with a broad range of national gaming, real estate and retail companies, among others.
Before stepping into his current role in 2008, Carmen served as the Oneida Indian Nation’s Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Senior Vice President. Previously, Carmen was a partner, department chair and executive committee member at the law firm Mackenzie Hughes LLP, and he served a federal judicial clerkship with Chief Judge Neal P. McCurn of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Carmen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University, and he received a law degree from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1991, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Law Review and a member of the National Appellate Team.
Carmen joined the College of Law Board of Advisors in January 2022.
Partner
Dechert LLP
Washington, DC
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Vincent H. Cohen Jr. is a partner at Dechert LLP. He focuses on high-stakes litigation on behalf of individuals and corporations. As an experienced trial lawyer and investigator, he represents clients in sensitive government and internal investigations, government enforcement matters and complex civil and criminal litigation. Cohen is the former Acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia. Before leading the largest US attorney’s office in the nation, he served as the office’s Principal Assistant US Attorney for five years.
Vincent is recognized by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in the area of white-collar crime and government investigations for the District of Columbia and is listed by Legal 500 US for corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense. He was named a Rainmaker by MCCA in 2019 for being an exceptional diverse attorney whose business acumen and dedication to proactive client development set him apart as a leader in the legal profession.
In 2018 Vincent was named as one of Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Black Lawyers in America and was also listed as one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America by Lawdragon. In 2014, he received the Presidential Star Award from the National Bar Association for his contributions in the field of law, and in 2010, he was identified as one of the “Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under the Age of 40.” He has also received the Director’s Award from the US Secret Service for his contributions and commitment to the principles of responsible law enforcement, and Walker Memorial Baptist Church recognized him with the Public Service and Humanitarian Award for his work in ensuring equal justice for the people of Washington, DC through his selfless community involvement.
Cohen serves as an instructor teaching trial advocacy at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop and is a frequent lecturer at Syracuse, Georgetown, and Harvard law schools. He has served as general counsel and remains an active member of 100 Black Men of America Inc. (Greater Washington), an organization focused on improving the quality of life of minority youth in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. A former member of the Syracuse University men’s basketball team, Vincent serves on the Board Athletics and Finance committees. His Syracuse University service includes membership on the Office of Multicultural Advancement’s Advisory Council, and he is a former Member of the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. He received an inaugural Syracuse Law Honors Award from the College of Law in 2015, and in 2008 he received the Chancellor’s Citation for Distinguished Alumni Achievement in Law.
Vincent endowed an Our Time Has Come Scholarship in honor of his late father, Vincent Cohen Sr. ’57, L’60, an All-American basketball player at Syracuse before attending the law school and becoming a successful corporate attorney in Washington, DC. The elder Cohen was named a Syracuse Letter Winner of Distinction in 1982; a recipient of the George Arents Pioneer Medal, the University’s highest alumni honor, in 1986; was Chair of the 1992 Coming Back Together alumni reunion; and was named to the Syracuse Men’s Basketball All-Century Team in 2000. Vincent Cohen Jr.‘s sister—Dr. Traci Cohen Dennis ’90—is also an active alumna, who supports the memorial endowment.
Vincent joined the College of Law Board of Advisors in 2021.
Partner
Milbank LLP
New York, NY
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Mr. Diaz-Albertini is a partner at Milbank LLP in their New York City office. His practice focuses on complex finance and capital markets transactions, including leveraged sponsor buyouts, acquisition financings, the issuance of secured and unsecured high-yield debt securities, initial public offerings and follow-on equity offerings, and liability management transactions. He has represented clients in finance and capital markets transactions across a variety of industries including retail, financial services, technology, natural resources, pharmaceuticals, gaming, and telecommunications.
Prior to joining Milbank, he was a partner at a leading US law firm serving the financial industry where he principally advised clients on financing and capital markets transactions. He started his legal career as an associate at a Wall Street law firm where he spent several years representing investment banks, initial purchasers and syndicated loan groups in public and private debt and equity capital markets and leveraged finance transactions. Mr. Diaz-Albertini joined Milbank in 2021.
Mr. Diaz-Albertini graduated magna cum laude from Bryant University where he was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. He received his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law where he graduated magna cum laude, was a member of the Syracuse Law Review, the Order of the Coif and the Justinian Honor Society.
Mr. Diaz-Albertini was named a Rising Star by New York Super Lawyers and is recognized as a “Notable Practitioner” by ILFR 1000.
Antonio joined the College of Law Board of Advisors in 2020.
Partner
Barclay Damon LLP
Buffalo, NY
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Domagalski is an experienced trial lawyer in both federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. He is also Barclay Damon’s Construction & Surety Practice Area co-chair. Domagalski primarily concentrates his practice on large construction disputes, complex commercial and municipal litigation, employer defense, and counseling on labor, employment, and discrimination matters.
In addition to his own practice, Domagalski serves as the firm’s co-marketing partner.
Member
Co-Deputy Chair, Litigation Department
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC
Syracuse, NY
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Suzanne Galbato is Co-Deputy Chair of the Litigation Department at Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC in Syracuse, NY, where she litigates commercial, False Claims Act, employment discrimination, antitrust, and environmental cases. She also handles multi-district litigation and class actions; drafts and argues appeals in state and federal court; and represents clients in administrative hearings, mediation and arbitration. Her clients come from the healthcare, manufacturing, media, pharmaceutical, financial, defense, insurance, not-for-profit, small business, and education industries. Before joining Bond in 2000, Suzanne served for two years as law clerk to the Hon. Rosemary S. Pooler of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Suzanne earned her J.D. (summa cum laude) in 1998 from Syracuse University College of Law. She also holds an A.B. (1995, magna cum laude) from Harvard University. At Bond, she serves as a member of the firm’s Management Committee and is a former Chair of the Associate Committee, Recruiting Committee, and Women’s Initiative. She also has been an active member of the firm’s Diversity Committee. For several years, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association, and she has worked on the Law Honors Committee. Also for her alma mater, she coaches student advocates for competition, judges advocacy competitions, and speaks regularly about private practice, interviewing, mentoring, work/life balance and diversity.
Actively engaged with the local legal community, Suzanne is a trustee of the Northern District Federal Court Bar Association, where she participates in continuing legal education programs and bench/bar activities. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of Hiscock Legal Aid Society and served as Board Chair for three years. She also is a member of the New York State Bar Association Women in the Law Section and has served as Co-Chair of the Appellate Committee of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section. She also serves as a Board member of the Central New York Women’s Bar Association and the Onondaga County Bar Foundation. Suzanne provides pro bono legal services through various organizations and NYSBA has designated her as an Empire State Counsel for her pro bono work.
Suzanne joined the College of Law Board of Advisors in 2020.
Real Estate Attorney
Rochester, NY
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Sandra Wolk Gelb is a real estate attorney in Rochester, NY. Admitted to the New York bar in 1993 and US District Court Western District of New York and the US Supreme Court in 1997, Sandra worked for the Law Firm of Chamberlain, D’Amanda, Oppenheimer and Greenfield from 1994 until 2015. She also has worked at The City of Rochester Corporation Councils Office, the Trustees Office Western District of New York US Bankruptcy Court, and the University of Rochester Legal Department.
Sandra graduated from the University of Rochester, cum laude, in 1989 and the Syracuse University College of Law in 1992. She is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association, Real Estate Section, and she serves on the Parent Council and the Network Leadership Cabinet for the University of Rochester, where she is also a George Eastman Circle Member.
Sandra and her family have a long history with Syracuse University College of Law. Her grandfather, Robert Miller, graduated in 1929; her father, Allan Wolk, graduated in 1960; and her uncle, the Hon. Michael Miller, graduated in 1963. Her mother, Joan Wolk, also attended Syracuse University.
Sandra joined the College of Law Board of Advisors in 2020.
Retired, Partner
Winston & Strawn LLP
Houston, Texas
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Melanie Gray was Chair of the Bankruptcy Litigation Practice and partner in the Houston office of Winston & Strawn LLP prior to her retirement in early 2020. Before joining Winston & Strawn in 2013, Melanie enjoyed almost three decades with Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Melanie concentrated her practice in commercial litigation, with a special focus on complex bankruptcy cases.
Melanie has earned multiple recognitions for professional excellence and public service. She was selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America as a result of her exceptional accomplishments in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. In both 2013 and 2014, Benchmark Litigation named her as one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation and she is listed in the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers in America in the Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights category. In 2011, she received the Distinguished Alumna Achievement Award from Syracuse University College of Law. In 2010, she was recognized as one of Texas’s Most Powerful Women by Texas Diversity Council. Melanie has been named a Texas Super Lawyer in each year since 2003 and was named one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas in 2005 for her work in business litigation and bankruptcy. In 2003, she was recognized as a Woman Achiever by the New York YMCA and as one of ten Houston Women on the Move by Texas Executive Women in 2001. Litigation Management named her as a “Lone Star All Star” for being among the state’s “effective litigators and communicators with great judgment.”
Melanie has served in leadership roles in numerous legal organizations, including serving on the board of the Houston Bar Foundation, the Interdisciplinary Committee on Law and Accounting of the Houston Bar Association, the Texas Accounting and Lawyers for the Arts. In addition to being a Founder and an Executive Committee member of The Center for Women in Law, Melanie is widely known for her community service and contributions to the arts, education, and the advancement of women and serves (or has served) on the following boards: Baylor College of Medicine, Girls Inc., Greater Houston Community Foundation, Society for the Performing Arts, Foundation for Jones Hall, The Jung Center, Greater Houston Women’s Center, Legacy Community Health Services Endowment, Teen & Family Services, Post Oak School. Melanie is an inaugural Member of the Syracuse University College of Law Board of Advisors (2004). She is also a Life Trustee of Syracuse.
Melanie graduated from Syracuse University College of Law, is married to Mark Wawro—a partner with Susman Godfrey LLP, and has three children. Mark and Melanie were honored by the Anti-Defamation League at the 2015 Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award Luncheon.
Founder
Hedin LLP
Miami, FL
Frank S. Hedin, founder of Hedin LLP, serves as lead counsel in high-stakes class actions in the consumer and data privacy realms. Known as a creative thinker and exceptional legal strategist, Mr. Hedin is regularly called upon to tackle some of the most complex and difficult issues presented in these areas of law.
He recently achieved multiple significant victories on important issues of first impression pertaining to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (in litigation against Google LLC, Shutterfly, Inc., and Facebook Inc.) and the Michigan Preservation of Personal Privacy Act (in litigation against Crain Communications, Inc.).
Prior to establishing Hedin LLP, Mr. Hedin practiced at a Miami-based litigation boutique where he was a partner and head of the firm’s class action litigation practice, which he built from scratch in less than four years.
Earlier in his legal career, Mr. Hedin served as law clerk to the Honorable William Q. Hayes, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California.
Mr. Hedin earned his Bachelor of Arts from University of Michigan in 2008, and his juris doctor, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law in 2012.
Partner
Energy, M&A, Securities Enforcement and Regulatory
Sidley Austin LLP
Washington, DC
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KENNETH IRVIN, a co-leader of Sidley’s global Energy practice area team, represents clients on a variety of regulatory, enforcement, compliance, and transactional matters involving the U.S. wholesale electricity and natural gas markets, as well as with respect to the energy transition. Ken has extensive experience representing clients in regulatory and investigations proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and multiple state energy regulatory agencies, which includes handling FERC enforcement matters and self-reports. Ken regularly advises energy traders and marketers on physical and financial wholesale power and gas transactions, renewable energy credits, carbon emissions trading, renewable natural gas, mergers and asset acquisition approvals, regional energy market rules and tariff requirements, power purchase and sale agreements, and issues related to the design and operation of wholesale energy and capacity markets. Ken also advises energy companies, marketers, financial institutions, private equity funds and institutional investors and advisors on regulatory requirements under the Federal Power Act, the Natural Gas Act, the Public Utility Holding Company Act, and the creation and implementation of robust compliance programs.
Ken’s practice spans representing clients on federal and state commodity and energy, electricity, natural gas, oil, alternative energy, and emissions matters. In addition to helping clients ensure compliance with FERC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) requirements, Ken provides counsel on hedging and credit risks, contract structures and disputes, arbitrations, bankruptcy, non-performing assets, and regulatory issues involving energy and commodities trading.
Ken’s experience includes successfully defending clients on enforcement and anti-manipulation cases under FERC regulation, for investigations initiated by regulatory staff, whistleblowers, or self-reported. Ken also represents clients acquiring or releasing natural gas transportation and storage services; FERC v. bankruptcy jurisdictional battles, precedent agreements; asset management agreements under FERC Order 712; securing FERC approval for corporate reorganizations or acquisitions under the Federal Power Act section 203; PUHCA; handling complaint proceedings under FPA 206; and representing shippers in rate cases under the Natural Gas Act.
Kenneth joined the Board of Advisors of the College of Law in 2024
Entertainment Lawyer & Business Affairs Executive
New York, NY
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Stephanie A. Jacqueney is an Entertainment Lawyer and Business Affairs Executive with more than 30 years of experience in television and live production. She has worked with companies ranging from start-ups to major corporations. Most recently she did work for the American Broadcasting Companies, providing legal counsel for television news and programming, production and marketing clients.
Stephanie previously served as Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs for Madison Square Garden Sports & Entertainment LLC where she was the lead production attorney for MSG and its Radio City Entertainment division’s live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the New York Spectacular starring the Rockettes, as well as Super Bowl Halftime Shows and numerous other sports and entertainment large scale productions. She was also MSG’s lead intellectual property attorney and managed MSG’s intellectual property portfolio.
Before MSG, Stephanie held several positions with Time Warner Inc. including that of Vice President and General Counsel of Manhattan Cable TV, then the largest franchise cable television operator. There, Stephanie was responsible for all contracts, intellectual property, lobbying, and legislative analysis, as well as supervising in-house and outside counsel. Before going to Manhattan Cable TV, Stephanie was an associate with the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
In addition to her Syracuse University College of Law J.D., Stephanie also holds a Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. Stephanie is a member of the Board of the Alumni Association of Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology and the Cornell University Council, as well as a founding member of Cornell University’s President’s Council of Cornell Women. She currently serves on the Entertainment Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association and previously served on its Copyright and its Arbitration Committees.
Stephanie joined the Board of Advisors of the College of Law in 2020.
Executive Advisor to the Office of the CEO
Starbucks
Seattle, WA
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Zabrina Jenkins is executive advisor to the office of the chief executive officer. She is a member of CEO Laxman Narasimhan’s extended executive leadership team, providing strategic counsel and support in several key areas including corporate strategy, public affairs, talent development, inclusion & diversity (I&D) and legal and stakeholder engagement.
Prior to that, she was acting executive vice president and general counsel for Starbucks, leading legal and regulatory affairs, global security, and ethics and compliance for the company. Additionally, Zabrina serves as an executive champion to the Starbucks Black Partner Network and an advisor to the diversity committee for the Law & Corporate Affairs department. A Starbucks partner since 2005, Zabrina previously held roles as senior vice president, deputy general counsel, interim chief ethics and compliance officer, lead legal advisor for Teavana, and was a core member of the Starbucks 2018 Philadelphia incident crisis management response team.
Before joining Starbucks, Zabrina was an associate at the law firm of Garvey Schubert Barer in Seattle. During her tenure with the firm, Zabrina focused her practice on commercial litigation matters, including labor and employment law.
Zabrina is an active volunteer in both legal and civic organizations. Zabrina serves as an independent board director for Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (NASDAQ: ROIC). Appointed by Washington governor Jay Inslee in 2019, Zabrina is a Trustee for Central Washington University and a member of the Enrollment Management subcommittee. She also serves on the advisory boards of the Washington Leadership Institute and Loren Miller Bar Foundation. Zabrina previously served on the Board of Directors for Artist Trust and Central Washington University Foundation, and on the advisory board of the Central Washington University College of Business.
Zabrina received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Central Washington University, Master of Science degree from Syracuse University School of Education and Juris Doctor cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum 2019-2020 Fellows Program.
As a proud daughter of an Air Force pilot, Zabrina grew up living in various states across the country, eventually settling in the Lakewood-Steilacoom area of Washington state where she spent most of her childhood. In her spare time, Zabrina enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite Starbucks beverage is a tall Americano in the winter and a Nitro Cold Brew or Very Berry Hibiscus Starbucks Refreshers beverage in the summer.
Zabrina joined the Board of Advisors at the College of Law in 2024.
Partner, Chair, New York Private Equity
DLA Piper
New York, NY
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James Kelly is a strategic advisor to private equity funds and operating companies across many industries. He focuses his practice on representing private equity funds in all aspects of their investment activities, including Atlas Holdings, Bregal Partners, The Carlyle Group, Stellex Capital Management and The Wicks Group of Companies, among others.
He is recognized by The Legal 500 US in Private Equity Buyouts and has been recognized for numerous consecutive years by Chambers in New York M&A, has been featured in Buyouts, including a Buyouts Deal of the Year, The Deal, Bloomberg and Law360 as well as other leading publications, presented for Practicing Law Institute, Strafford and other education providers and received the Pro Bono Publico Award from The Legal Aid Society. Market recognition of the Private Equity practice at DLA Piper also includes: #1 legal advisor to investors (PitchBook), #1 global M&A deal volume for thirteen consecutive years (Mergermarket) and the #2 most active legal advisor in global buyouts deal volume (PitchBook).
His transactions include primary and secondary leveraged buyouts, add-on acquisitions, mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, divestitures and restructurings, including cross-border transactions involving numerous jurisdictions. He also regularly represents public and private operating companies and special purpose acquisition companies, across a variety of industries, including technology, software, video gaming, information, media, entertainment, business services, consumer goods and services, industrials and manufacturing, energy, engineering and infrastructure, food, agriculture, education, healthcare and life sciences.
EXPERIENCE
Represented Atlas Holdings in its leveraged acquisition of Foster Farms
Represented Bregal Investments in its leveraged acquisition of Juniper Landscaping
Represented Stellex Capital Management in its leveraged acquisitions of Peltram Plumbing Holdings, G2 Web Services, Lundquist Consulting and Fintellix India from TransUnion and its investment in PLH Group
Represented The Carlyle Group and its portfolio company iC Consult Group in its acquisitions of ICSynergy, SecureITSource and Kapstone Technologies
Represented Oaktree Capital Management, Assured Investment Management and Stellex Capital Management in the sale of PLH Group to
Primoris Services Corporation
Represented Starling Physicians in its sale to VillageMD
Represented Brookline Capital Acquisition Corporation in its business combination transaction with Apexigen
Represented InfoDesk in its sale to Cuadrilla Capital
Represented Aonic in certain acquisitions in the video gaming industry
Represented Global Risk Capital in its acquisition of Cleaver-Brooks
Represented Columbus McKinnon Corporation in its leveraged acquisition of Dorner from EQT Mid Market US
Represented Kaleyra in its acquisition of mGage from Vivial
Represented The Wicks Group of Companies in connection with numerous (x) platform acquisitions, including its leveraged buyouts of
Gladson from Lake Pacific Partners, Bonded Services from Berggruen Holdings, Antenna Audio from Discovery Communications and
Education Direct from Thomson Corporation, (y) add-on acquisitions by its portfolio companies, including for Invo its acquisitions of Autism
Home Support Services, Xcite Steps, Positive Behavioral Connections, ABA2Day, and School Steps, for Gladson its acquisitions of
Nutritionix, WebCollage from Answers Corporation, ItemMaster, Edgenet and Shotfarm and for Bonded Services its acquisitions of Bilton
Arts and Inception Digital Services and (z) exit transactions, including its sale of Invo to Golden Gate Capital, Syndigo to The Jordan
Company, Bonded Services Group to Iron Mountain and Penn Foster to The Princeton Group
Represented management in its buyout of Ideal Snacks from Swander Pace
Represented Cortec Group in its sale of Dr. Leonard’s to AmeriMark Holdings, a JH Partners portfolio company, its sale of Snyder Industries
to Olympus Partners and its acquisition of the biologics and spine division of Smith & Nephew
Represented Centre Partners in its leveraged acquisitions of Dekko Technologies and Pent Technologies
Represented JP Morgan Partners in its sale of TIW to Vodafone
Represented Benjamin Jacobson & Sons in its sale to Goldman Sachs
EDUCATION
Kelly received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington, and his Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law, magna cum laude, where he was lead articles editor for Syracuse Law Review, and Order of the Coif.
Mr. Kelly joined the College of Law Board of Advisors in July 2023.
President
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, NY
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Joanie Mahoney is the President of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), a position she has held since November 2020, becoming the first woman to lead the institution.
Before her leadership at ESF, Joanie served as the Onondaga County Executive for 11 years, where she earned national recognition for her environmentally focused policies and leadership, managing a county government serving 460,000 residents.
With a strong legal background, Joanie worked in private practice with Harris Beach law firm and served as a criminal prosecutor in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, where she gained invaluable experience in both civil and criminal law. Her legal expertise has been instrumental in her leadership roles, particularly in her work with public governance and policy development.
Joanie currently chairs the New York State Thruway Authority.
Throughout her career, Joanie has been recognized for her commitment to public service, legal integrity, and environmental stewardship.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University’s School of Management and a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University’s College of Law.
Joanie currently resides in Dewitt, NY, with her husband, Marc Overdyk, and they have four adult sons.
Vice President, U.S. Programs
Center for Reproductive Rights
New York, NY
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Benita R. Miller joined the Center for Reproductive Rights as Vice President, U.S. Programs in February 2024. Prior to joining the Center, Miller was the Executive Director of Powerful Families Powerful Communities and an Executive on Loan to the State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families overseeing a five-year demonstration project created to re-imagine New Jersey’s child welfare system through a human-centered design process that leverages the voice of community members as co-designers. She previously served as the President and CEO of Children’s Aid and Family Services in New Jersey. Prior to her work in New Jersey, Miller served as the Executive Director of Brooklyn Kindergarten Society where she expanded the agency’s early childhood education footprint from five to seven centers as well as building the first sensory gym co-located in New York City Housing Authority development.
While at ACS, she led initiatives and operations related to ensuring the safety, wellbeing and permanency of all children receiving foster care services as well as caseload reductions and trauma assessment tools in family foster care. Miller developed the Housing Academy Collaborative to better prepare youth transitioning from foster care to supportive housing and NYCHA developments. She also strengthened services being provided to expectant and parenting youth and secured support from the Center for the Study of Social Policy to develop policies and programming for young fathers who are in foster care.
She created the Office of Older Youth Services and Residential Care Monitoring and oversaw the third phase of residential care reduction for ACS and also facilitated the co-location of ACS staff at Riker’s Island to ensure that youth who are in foster care were being appropriately served while awaiting the disposition of criminal matters. Miller also developed the Case Monitoring and Compliance Unit to enhance safety and risk assessments of children and youth being reunified with their families.
Before joining ACS, Miller served as Director of Scholarships at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where among other responsibilities she implemented programs for undergraduate and law student scholars. She is the founder and former executive director of the Brooklyn Young Mother’s Collective and is the recipient of the Union Square Award and Petra Fellowship on behalf of her advocacy work with young parents. She was also recognized by the American Civil Liberties Union as one of the top nine advocates to influence Title IX implementation. She previously represented children and young people in child protective, delinquency and PINS proceedings in Brooklyn Family Court as a staff lawyer with the Legal Aid Society. Miller earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Print Journalism from Wayne State University where she was a Rosa Parks Scholar at The Detroit News. She earned her law degree from Syracuse University in 1996. She serves as a board member for many nonprofit organizations including for Strategies for Youth and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Ms. Miller joined the College of Law Board of Advisors in January 2022.
COO, Senior Legal Counsel and Senior Managing Director
Cerberus Capital Management LP
New York, NY
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Mark A. Neporent has been chief operating officer, senior counsel and a senior managing director of Cerberus Capital Management LP since 1998.
Cerberus is a private investment firm with more than $50 billion of assets under management in four primary strategies: distressed investing, loan origination to middle-market business, control and non-control private equity, and real estate. Neporent is responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm and serves on its operating investment, compensation, valuation and risk/compliance committees. He also is in charge of the firm’s media relations and serves on the Board of Directors of Cerberus Operations and Advisory Co. LLC. Neporent joined the firm from Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, where he was a partner in its Business Reorganization and Finance Group.
Neporent has 39 years of experience in the distressed securities, private equity, global credit and lending business. He began his legal career with Otterbourg, Steindler, Houston & Rosen PC in the Creditors’ Rights Department.
Neporent joined the Connecticut Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association in 1982 and ’83, respectively. He is a past member of both the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and the Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization, the latter of which is part of the New York City Bar Association.
Neporent has served on the boards of Hamburg Commercial Bank A.G., SuperValu, Ally Financial (formerly GMAC LLC), AMC Financial Holdings Inc., EXCO Resources Inc., MCI Inc., SSA Global Technologies Inc., Tandem Staffing Solutions Inc., Fiat Chrylser Automobiles (formerly Chrysler Holding LLC), CorePointe Insurance Co., and Kokusai Kogyo Co. Ltd.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University in 1979 and a J.D. with honors from Syracuse University’s College of Law in 1982.
Neporent joined the Board of Trustees in 2011 and serves on the Board of Trustees Executive, Finance and Facilities Committees. His Syracuse University service includes the College of Law, where he is a member of the Board of Advisors since 2006, and lectures in the Continuing Legal Education Program.
He and his wife, Lisa Neporent, have provided the lead gift for the establishment of the Neporent Café in Dineen Hall and helped establish the Fund for the Future: Syracuse University College of Law Scholarship Endowment, and continue to bolster the College of Law’s Scholarship and Financial Aid Fund and Law Annual Fund. They have generously supported other initiatives in the College of Law and Syracuse University.
The Neporents reside in Vail, CO.
Partner
Chair, National Security Practice
Co-Chair, Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.
Wiley Rein LLP
Washington, DC
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Hon. Nazak Nikakhtar is an international trade and national security attorney, a partner at the Washington, DC, law firm of Wiley Rein LLP, Chair of Wiley’s national security practice, and and Co-Chair of the CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) practice. She is also a trade and industry economist and a former Georgetown University adjunct law professor. Her practice focuses on international trade matters, customs compliance issues, World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, and supply chains. She is a prolific lecturer and a renown thought leader on economic competition, supply chain resilience, and national security readiness. Her industry expertise spans across a range of critical sectors including aerospace, advanced energy storage systems and electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, semiconductors, solar cells and modules, chemicals, critical minerals and rare earth elements, nuclear energy, e-commerce, financial services, and digital currencies.
From 2018 to 2021, with unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ms. Nikakhtar served as the Department of Commerce’s Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA). Ms. Nikakhtar also fulfilled the duties of the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In these roles, Ms. Nikakhtar shaped America’s international trade and national security policies as the U.S. Government’s top official for trade policy and economic competitiveness, supply chains, and export controls on dual-use items and technologies. Ms. Nikakhtar also served as the Commerce Department’s lead for CFIUS, where she shaped U.S. investment policy and implemented new laws concerning foreign investments and national security.
During her previous tenure at the Department of Commerce, Ms. Nikakhtar worked at ITA’s Enforcement and Compliance Unit where she led numerous complex trade cases, advised on legal and regulatory matters related to the enforcement of U.S. trade laws, and participated in bilateral negotiations on trade issues between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Ms. Nikakhtar also served at BIS advising on the defense industrial base. She has received several award medals from the U.S. Government for her work on behalf of U.S. economic growth and industry resilience.
Ms. Nikakhtar earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Economics degrees from Syracuse University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She externed for the Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
Nazak joined the Board of Advisors of the College of Law in 2024.
Co-Chairman
Loeb & Loeb LLP
New York, NY
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Mitch Nussbaum focuses on representing emerging growth companies and investment banks in initial public offerings of operating companies and SPACs, follow-on public offerings, shelf takedowns, registered direct placements, PIPEs and other private placements (144A, Reg D, Reg A, Reg S, etc.). Mitch also regularly represents public companies regarding their SEC and NYSE or Nasdaq listing compliance and has acted as outside general counsel, including corporate, securities, M&A litigation and business counseling, to hundreds of private and public companies as well as their officers and directors. He also negotiates and documents acquisitions, mergers, going-private transactions, reverse mergers, proxy contests, tender offers, control contests, fund formations and secured lending financings and has represented issuers and underwriters in hundreds of SPAC public offerings and business combinations for over 20 years. Mitch was responsible for developing the groundbreaking IPAC, which features many of the benefits of the SPAC, but offers increased flexibility on pricing and deal structure, along with a more rapid transaction cycle.
According to the IPO Vital Signs league tables, in most of the past 10 years, Mitch has been ranked as one of the top five attorneys in the country based on the number of public offerings he has completed on behalf of issuers or underwriters. Mitch has also been named among the top attorneys in the areas of corporate and M&A law in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.
Mitch and the Capital Markets Department routinely work seamlessly with colleagues in Loeb & Loeb’s Advanced Media and Technology, Life Sciences, Intellectual Property, Energy and Tax practices to provide depth and sophistication in those areas during completion of capital markets or corporate transactions.
In addition to his work with a broad array of U.S.-based companies in areas such as technology, life sciences and energy, Mitch’s practice has always been international in scope, representing companies from such countries as Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Greece, India, Israel, Russia, South Africa and the United Kingdom in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and other transactions within the United States. Most notably, Mitch is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of capital markets and mergers and acquisitions transactions for Chinese companies. He has represented many of the first privately held Chinese and Asian companies to list on the U.S. exchanges and, over the course of his practice, has represented more than 100 Asian companies that have listed on U.S. exchanges, as well as many Chinese-based companies that have been engaged in acquisitions in the United States. His broad experience counseling Asian companies includes helping these clients prepare for and respond to investigations and litigation as well as representing companies, special committees or independent directors involved in going-private transactions. Among his many distinctions, Mitch was ranked by Thomson Reuters as the No. 1 IPO lawyer for companies headquartered in China, based on deals closed between 2008 and 2012. Mitch’s activities in Asia over the years resulted in his spearheading and orchestrating the opening of Loeb & Loeb’s offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, and he continues to chair the firm’s Asia Practice.
Deputy General Counsel Reinsurance
American International Group Inc.
New York, NY
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Michael S. Olsan is Deputy General Counsel Reinsurance for AIG and leads the legal group for global reinsurance transactions. Prior to joining AIG in 2021 Olsan spent 32 years in private practice representing the insurance industry.
Michael spent 28 years with White and Williams LLP in Philadelphia, PA. He was an associate from 1993 to 1997 and was a partner from 1998 to 2021. While with White and Williams, Michael held various leadership roles, including Chair, Reinsurance Group, Chair, Commercial Litigation Department, and Vice Chair of the firm. He represented the insurance industry in insurance coverage and reinsurance disputes and counseled insurance companies as to reinsurance contract drafting issues. He tried over 50 cases in court and commercial arbitrations. Michael also did pro bono work in conjunction with the Support Center for Child Advocates, representing children suffering from abuse or neglect.
Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College, and his Juris Doctorate degree summa cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law. While at the College of Law, Michael was Technical Editor for the Syracuse Law Review, a member of the National Trial Team, a teaching assistant for legal writing, and Order of the Coif.
Michael’s wife Kim is a municipal bond trader and they have a 26-year-old son who also works in the insurance industry. In his spare time, Michael likes to spend time with family and friends and their Bichon Chloe. He is a soccer fan, and his favorite teams are Liverpool Football Club and the Philadelphia Union.
Partner
Goodwin Proctor
Silicon Valley, CA
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Cisco Palao-Ricketts is a partner at Goodwin Proctor in Silicon Valley. Palao-Ricketts advises start-up, emerging growth and public companies on complex tax, securities, employment and ERISA issues that arise in compensation arrangements. Located in Silicon Valley, his practice primarily focuses on counseling companies in the technology and life sciences sectors. He has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his achievements. Palao-Ricketts was born in Cuzco, Peru and lived there until he was about six-and-a-half years old as an American born abroad. In the early 1980s, he moved to Illinois and later graduated from the University of Chicago Laboratory High School and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
Palao-Ricketts earned his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 2003. He also holds an LL.M. degree from Georgetown University Law Center in tax law. Before becoming the father of three children, Palao-Ricketts contributed to the advancement of the California Bar by developing model answers and grading exams for prospective California lawyers from 2007 through 2011.
As an active member of his community, Palao-Ricketts spends his free time as a coach for PONY League Baseball, as a co-Den leader and Assistant Treasurer for the Cub Scouts in Los Altos, and as a contributor to the advancement of the Latino community and working poor through his affiliation with La Raza Centro Legal (LRCL), one of the oldest non-profits in San Francisco.
Following graduation from our College of Law, Palao-Ricketts has been committed to helping many students and graduates navigate through their interest in tax law and ERISA, bar exam preparation, and the transition to the practice of law.
Cisco joined the Board of Advisors in 2020.
Americas Chair, Global Co-Chair, and Global Co-CEO
DLA Piper
New York, NY
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Frank Ryan graduated from Syracuse University College of Law, earning magna cum laude honors and the Order of the Coif. Before law school, he graduated with a B.S. from Syracuse University and was a four-year varsity letter winner.
Frank is the Americas Chair, Global Co-Chair and Global Co-CEO of DLA Piper. Frank provides legal and strategic advice to domestic and multinational clients who draw on his experience in high-stakes litigation, intellectual property, media and sports, complex commercial and sovereign related issues. Frank’s clients turn to him as a go-to strategist and litigator for their most important matters. He has handled numerous jury trials and domestic and international arbitrations.
Frank is a member of DLA Piper’s Executive Committee and Global Board.
His wife, Melissa, is also a graduate of the College of Law.
Frank joined the Board of Advisors in 2017.
Senior Advisor
MBIA Insurance Corporation
Kiawah Island, SC
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Mitchell l. Sonkin is a senior advisor at MBIA Insurance Corporation. He served as managing director responsible for insured portfolio management and government relations. He was also a member of the company’s Executive Policy Committee, a Vice President of MBIA Inc. and a member of the Board of MBIA Insurance Corporation and Capital Markets Assurance Corporation. He is also Chairman of the Board of the ResCap Liquidating Trust, successor to ResCap and GMAC Mortgage Corporations.
Before joining MBIA, Mr. Sonkin was a senior partner at the international law firm, King & Spalding, where he was co-chair of King & Spalding’s Financial Restructuring Group and a member of the firm’s Policy Committee. He has over 40 years of experience in U.S. and international bond issuances, corporate reorganizations and debt restructurings and has served as a court appointed examiner. In particular, he has played a significant role in numerous municipal, utility, insurance, airline, healthcare debt and international debt restructurings including the Anglo/ French Euro Tunnel debt reorganization.
Mr. Sonkin has lectured and served on panels on such topics as distressed debt trading, utility restructurings and life insurance company reorganizations. Prior to joining King & Spalding, Mr. Sonkin was senior partner and co-chair of the Financial Restructuring Department at the Wall Street law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
Mr. Sonkin was a Founding Director of the East West Institute and served on the Board as a Director, Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel over several terms totaling 15 years and thereafter as a Director Emeritus. Mr. Sonkin is a member of the Steering Committee of the Mroz Global Leadership Institute at the College of Charleston, the successor to the East West Institute.
Mr. Sonkin is a cum laude graduate of the Temple University College of Liberal Arts where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and is a member of the Board of Visitors. He received his J.D. from the Syracuse University College of Law and has served on the College’s Board of Advisors since 2004. He is a member of the Bar of the State of New York and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Partner
Susman Godfrey LLP
Houston, TX
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Jim Southwick has spent his entire 30-year career in private practice representing plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial litigation and trials, principally involving, monopolization, international cartels, and shareholder rights. For the past 20 years he has been a partner in the Houston office of Susman Godfrey LLP, a commercial trial boutique with 160 lawyers and offices in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle. He began his career as an associate at Breed, Abbott & Morgan in New York City.
In the summer of 2019, Jim successfully led the month-long trial of the largest shareholder oppression case on record. Other significant representations include the Vitamin C Antitrust Litigation, where Jim was co-lead trial counsel in the first suit holding mainland Chinese companies in violation of US antitrust laws, resulting in the US Supreme Court’s June 2018 landmark ruling regarding how foreign governments’ statements about their laws should be treated by US courts.
Jim also worked extensively on suits against international money center banks for aiding the breaches of fiduciary duties at Enron, Microsoft’s monopolization of PC operating systems, News Corp.’s monopolization of certain advertising markets, and represented cities and counties in suits involving the public employee pension crisis.
A native of Fayetteville, NY, Jim received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of William & Mary in 1982 and a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 1989. He has twice received awards for outstanding achievement in antitrust litigation from the American Antitrust Institute.
Jim joined the Board of Advisors of the College of Law in 2020.
Partner, Antitrust/Competition
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Washington, D.C.
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David Wales is recognized as a leading antitrust lawyer and has over 25 years of experience in both private and public sectors. His practice focuses on providing antitrust advice to U.S. and international clients in a wide range of industries on all aspects of antitrust, including mergers and acquisitions, alliances, criminal grand jury investigations, dominant firm conduct, distribution arrangements, licensing and competitor collaborations.
Mr. Wales has the distinctive experience of serving as a senior official in both U.S. antitrust agencies. Most recently, he served as acting director of the Bureau of Competition (2008-09) during a three-year tenure at the Federal Trade Commission, where he oversaw all of the agency’s antitrust enforcement activity, including in the health care, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, technology, chemical, defense, retail and consumer product industries. He also served as counsel to the assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division (2001-03), where he was part of the small front-office team managing all of the agency’s merger and conduct matters. Mr. Wales also is co-chair of the Antitrust Council at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Wales regularly speaks and writes on antitrust issues and has held various leadership positions in the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section. Recognized as a leading antitrust practitioner, he is consistently ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Legal 500, The Best Lawyers in America, The International Who’s Who of Competition Lawyers & Economists and Best Lawyers.
Mr. Wales received his Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law (magna cum laude; Order of the Coif; Syracuse Law Review) and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University.
Mr. Wales joined the Syracuse University College of Law Board of Advisors in January 2022.
Partner
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Pittsburgh, PA
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Jim Zeszutek is the former Managing Partner of the firm’s Pittsburgh office and a Partner in the Litigation Department. He is Co-Chair of the Class Action Litigation and Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Practice Groups. Jim is involved in the defense of pharmaceutical and medical device products on behalf of the products’ manufacturers.
Jim has defended the Bjork-Shiley heart valve, breast implants, artificial hips and knees, endoscopic linear cutters, surgical staplers and tools, stents, fracture fixation devices, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and the OrthoEvra patch, among others. Jim is also involved in the defense of chemical and fiber products including products that contain asbestos, talc, benzene and acrylamide.
Jim presently serves on National Trial Teams for the defense of a client’s respiratory protection products and is National Coordinating Counsel for a manufacturer in the silica litigation, which is active in numerous jurisdictions. He represents banks and financial institutions in commercial litigation in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He has an active NCAA practice in which he represents coaches in hearings before the Committee on Infractions defending against allegations of NCAA Bylaw violations and has been involved in the Committee on Infractions hearings involving Syracuse University, Tulane University, Purdue University, The University of Tennessee and The Ohio State University, among others.
Jim also negotiates employment contracts for athletic coaches and physicians.
Terence J. Lau L’98
Dean
Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse, N.Y.
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Terence J. Lau was appointed the 13th Dean of the Syracuse University College of Law in 2024. He leads the College, which offers one of the nation’s first ABA-accredited hybrid online J.D. programs through JDinteractive, and serves as a Professor of Law.
Lau graduated from Syracuse Law in 1998 and began practicing in Detroit, Michigan, in the Office of the General Counsel at Ford Motor Company in the International Trade and Transactions practice group. His practice focused on three primary areas: distribution, mergers & acquisitions, and compliance with U.S. law for foreign affiliates and subsidiaries. After three years in this role, he was transferred to Bangkok, Thailand, where he served as Ford’s Director for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Government Affairs, responsible for all government affairs matters in the 10-country group of Southeast Asian nations.
In 2002, he started his academic career at the School of Business Administration at the University of Dayton in Ohio. He was tenured as a business law Associate Professor in 2006 and then took a year’s leave to serve as a Supreme Court Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States in the Office of the Chief Justice. After serving as Professor and Associate Dean, he was then appointed Director of Faculty Affairs and Corporate Engagement at the University of Dayton China Institute in Suzhou, China, in 2016. In 2018, Lau was appointed Dean of the College of Business at California State University, Chico (CSU Chico), where he helped launch the College’s first fully online MBA program. In 2023, interim Dean of the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management. In July 2023, he served as Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at CSU Chico before making the move back to Syracuse in 2024.
Lau has taught a variety of undergraduate, MBA, and J.D.-level courses in his career including new venture creation and entrepreneurship. He is the author of The Legal and Ethical Environment of Business, now in its Fifth Edition and has been adopted by over 200 universities and colleges. His research focuses on corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, and automotive distribution, and has appeared in Nevada Law Journal, DePaul Law Review, American Business Law Journal, University of Dayton Law Review, and William and Mary Journal of Women & The Law. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of The American Business Law Journal.
Lau is a former member of the Syracuse University College of Law Board of Advisors, a former Board of Directors member of Mikesells in Dayton, Ohio, and a former Board of Directors member of Capital Public Radio in Sacramento, California. He is admitted to practice in Michigan and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Assistant Dean for Advancement
Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse, NY
46th President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68, the 46th president of the United States. Biden, received a juris doctor from the College of Law in 1968. He is the first Syracuse University alumnus to hold the highest office in the country.
President Biden has returned to the University on many occasions, including to speak at the College of Law Commencement in 1994, 2002, 2006 and 2016. He was also the University’s Commencement speaker and received an honorary degree in 2009.
Biden has frequently spoken about his fondness for the University and the College of Law and their loyalty to him. “The type of loyalty that this school has extended to me is truly rare and genuinely welcoming,” he said during his 2016 address. “It was the same for my son, Beau, who loved Syracuse as well.” Biden’s late son, Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III, was a 1994 graduate of the College of Law.
President Biden received the University’s Chancellor’s Medal in 1974; the Law Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2003; and the George Arents Pioneer Medal, the University’s highest alumni award, in 2005. In 2018, he was honored with a prestigious Syracuse Law Honors Award from the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association and the College of Law. The award is conferred on alumni and friends of the college for extraordinary career accomplishments and service to the college, Syracuse University, the legal profession and society as a whole.
Hon. William Q. Hayes ’79 G’83 L’83
District Judge
Southern District of California
San Diego, CA
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Judge William Q. Hayes received his B.S. from Syracuse University in 1979. He was awarded his M.B.A from the Whitman School of Business and his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 1983. Judge Hayes began his law career as an associate at Scheid and Horlbeck in Denver, Colorado and later practiced at Stone and Associates, also in Denver. Judge Hayes left Colorado to become an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California in 1987. He became the Chief of the Criminal Division and served in that role from 1999 to 2003. Judge Hayes was appointed a District Judge for the Southern District of California on October 6, 2003 and continues to serve in that capacity. He maintains his chambers in San Diego.
Judge Hayes has served as an adjunct law faculty member at National College, University of Colorado at Denver, Thomas Jefferson School of Law and the University of San Diego School of Law. He has been a member of the Denver Bar Association, San Diego Bar Association, Rocky Mountain Business Law Association, and a Barrister of the Louis Welsh Inn of Court. He is currently a Master in the William Enright Inn of Court and a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers of San Diego.
Carolyn Dineen King
Senior Circuit Judge
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Houston, TX
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Carolyn Dineen King is a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Following her graduation from Smith College, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa and Yale Law School, Judge King practiced law in Houston, principally with Fulbright & Jaworski (now Norton Rose Fulbright), focusing primarily on corporate and federal securities matters. In 1979, she was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the Fifth Circuit. Judge King was the Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit from January 1999 through January 2006. She chaired the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States (which governs the federal court system) from 2002-2005. Judge King is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.
Awards and Recognitions include:
Distinguished Service Award, American College of Bankruptcy, 2014
Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award, 2007
Doctor of Laws Degree, H.C., Syracuse University, 2006
Margaret Brent Award, American Bar Association, 2005
Honoree of the Year, National Association of Women Judges, 2005
Appellate Judge of the Year, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, 2005
Doctor of Letters Degree H.C., University of St. Thomas, 2001
Outstanding Alumnus Award, Phi Beta Kappa Alumni of Greater Houston, 1998
Smith College Medal, Smith College, 1997
Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75
United States Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Philadelphia, PA
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Ted McKee was sworn in as a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on June 20, 1994, and became Chief Judge on May 4, 2010. He graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law in 1975 where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and earned several honors for outstanding academic performance. He began his legal career at a large Philadelphia law firm, but left there in 1977 to begin his career in public service. He has since been an Assistant United States Attorney, Deputy Solicitor to the Law Department of the City of Philadelphia, and General Counsel to the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Judge McKee was appointed to serve as a member of the National Academy of Science Committee on Law and Justice, and is one of the inaugural members of the Council on Criminal Justice.
He also serves on the Board of the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement. Judge McKee’s official travels have included Ghana and Russia, where he had the honor of addressing the Council of Russian Judges on the Independence of the American Judiciary.
Honorable Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. L’64
Senior U.S. District Judge
Northern District of New York
Syracuse, NY
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Senior Judge Scullin received his commission appointing him a United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York on February 10, 1992, and took the oath of office on March 13, 1992. On April 6, 2000, he became Chief Judge of the Northern District of New York. He became Senior Judge on March 13, 2006. Judge Scullin, a native Syracusean, attended and graduated from Niagara University in 1961 and Syracuse University, College of Law in 1964.
In November of 1964, Judge Scullin entered active duty with the United States Army, received training as a paratrooper and ranger, and thereafter served as an infantry commander with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Republic of Vietnam. He received numerous awards and decorations, and after release from active duty, continued to serve in the United States Army Reserve retiring in 1991 with the rank of Colonel.
Following military service, Judge Scullin entered the private practice of law with the firm of Germain and Germain, Syracuse, New York. Thereafter, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for Onondaga County. In 1971, he was appointed by the New York State Attorney General as one of the original prosecutors of the then newly-formed Statewide Organized Crime Task Force and in that capacity, served as the Assistant in Charge of the Albany Regional Office. In 1978, he was appointed by the Governor of the State of Florida as Chief Prosecutor of the Governor’s Council for the prosecution of organized crime. He returned to the private practice of law in 1980 and in 1982 was appointed the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, a position he held until his appointment to the federal bench. In that capacity, Judge Scullin supervised numerous investigations and prosecutions in drug trafficking, organized crime, and—most notably—public corruption.
Senior Judge Scullin is a former member of the Second Circuit Judicial Council and was the Circuit representative on the Judicial Conference of the United States, which is the policy-making body for federal courts throughout the nation. In addition to his regular duties as a District Court Judge, Judge Scullin was a member of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, having been appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist to a seven-year term which ended in May 2011. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court meets in Washington, DC and is in session throughout the year.
Senior Judge Scullin is a member of the Federal Court Bar Association (NDNY), Federal Bar Council, State of Florida Bar Association, the Onondaga County Bar Association (having served on the Board of Directors from 1988 to 1990), honorary member of the Board of Advisors, Syracuse University College of Law, the Law College Association of Syracuse University and is a past member and chairman of the City of Syracuse, County of Onondaga Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, member of the Board of Directors, Elmcrest Children’s Center, Christ the King Retreat House, and the Franciscan Collaborative Ministries Advisory Council.