Law Alumni Weekend Returns to Dineen Hall!

Thank you for making Law Alumni Weekend 2021 a tremendous success. After last year’s 100% online gathering, this year’s event returned to Dineen Hall, with most events also available online. 

Across the weekend, more than 400 attended 19 events, featuring dozens of alumni and guest presenters, 10 honorees, and nine student organizations. “It was a joy to reconnect with so many of you in Dineen Hall after such a long absence, and from my perspective, the energy, enthusiasm, and sense of renewal were palpable,” says Dean Boise.

Of course, we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you to all who attended an event or get-together in person or online, moderated or served on a panel, engaged with students and fellow alums, or worked with us behind the scenes.

Many thanks also to our sponsors, including Lowenstein Sandler LLP (title sponsor); Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC; the Institute for the Study of the Judiciary, Politics, and the Media; Mackenzie Hughes LLP; the Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association; the Syracuse Civics Project; The Tully Center for Free Speech; and Wladis Law Firm. 

If you missed any of the programs, videos of Dean Boise’s State of the College Address, the annual United States Supreme Court Preview, and the Law Honors Awards and Alumni of Color Awards ceremonies are posted at alumniweekend.law.syr.edu.

And it’s not too early to start planning for LAW 2022. Be sure to visit law.syr.edu/honorsaward to submit candidates for the next Law Honors and Alumni of Color awards.

LAW 2021 Collage

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  1. LAW 2021 featured the final round of the 50th anniversary of the Mackenzie Hughes LLP Edmund H. Lewis Appellate Advocacy Competition. Pictured (L to R): The Hon. David E. Peebles L’75, US Magistrate Judge, US District Court of the Northern District of New York (NDNY); Hon. Brenda K. Sannes, US District Judge, US District Court of NDNY; 3Ls Cierra Thomas and Gabriella Kielbasinski (winners); the Hon. Frederick J. Scullin Jr. L’64, Senior US District Judge, US District Court of NDNY; Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’91, US Magistrate Judge, US District Court of NDNY; and Hon. Ramón E. Rivera L’94, Judge, NY Court of Claims.
  2. The Corporate Law Society’s“Inside the Minds of Inside Counsel” panel featured (L to R) Scott P. Boylan L’85, Partner, StoneTurn Group LLP; Lisa K. Levine L’96, General Counsel, National Women’s Soccer League; Aaron M. Tidman L’07, Global Compliance Counsel, Pinterest; and Assistant Dean of Career Services Lily Yan Hughes. Neena M. Patil, Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, joined via video.
  3. Michael Kaplan L’11 (far right), Partner at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, hosted a timely CLE presentation on “Virtually Litigating: Pros and Cons of Litigation Practices Developed During COVID-19.” Other panelists were (L to R) Kara Krueger L’11, Senior Counsel, National Grid; Allison B. Fiut L’11, Partner, Harris Beach PLLC; and the Hon. Mae A. D’Agostino L’80, US District Judge, US District Court of NDNY. 
  4. The Hon. James P. Murphy L’84, NYS Administrative Judge, Fifth Judicial District, delivered the keynote address at the annual Lunch with Judiciary and Alumni.
  5. The College of Law’s fifth annual United States Supreme Court Preview featured a keynote address from David G. Savage, Supreme Court Correspondent, The Los Angeles Times. The keynote was followed by a panel discussion that featured (L to R): Savage; Professor Gary Kelder; Bond, Schoeneck & King Distinguished Professor Cora True-Frost L’01; the Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby L’85, Chief US District Judge, US District Court of NDNY; Jesse Feitel L’16, Media Associate, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP; Associate Dean for Faculty Research Kristen Barnes; and Vice Dean Keith Bybee.
  6. The 2021 Law Honors Award Ceremony honored five recipients. Seated in the front row are: Professor and Director of the Cold Case Justice Initiative Paula Johnson; Carey Ng L’02, Assistant District Attorney, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Laurence Bousquet L’80, Partner, Bousquet Holstein PLLC; and Melanie Gray L’81, Partner (Ret.), Winston & Strawn LLP.  On the screen is recipient Joanna Geraghty L’97, President and Chief Operating Officer of JetBlue, who could not attend the ceremony. Standing at back are Mark O’Brien L’14, SULAA President; Richard Levy Jr. L’77, Co-Chair, SULAA Syracuse Law Honors Committee; Director of Alumni Relations Kristen Duggleby; and Dean Boise.
  7. The Law Honors Award reception is always a time to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, including this group of current students pictured with Law Honors recipient Melanie Gray L’81 (center right). 
  8. Alums, faculty, staff, and students convened at SU’s new National Veterans Resource Center for the event “Supporting Veterans in Our Community.” Attendees met student attorneys and learned about the work of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC). Also—in a special ceremony—Robert J. Gang L’42, the College’s oldest living alum, was honored with a proclamation from Rep. John Katko L’88 recognizing his Army service in World War II and the Korean War and his long dedication to the legal profession. He is pictured with VLC Executive Director Elizabeth Kubala and Holly Gang.
  9. LL.M. alums from across the years and around the globe reconnected with each other at the annual LL.M. Reunion and heard program updates from Assistant Dean of International Programs Andrew Horsfall L’10.
  10. Members of the classes of 2020 and 2021 got back together for a casual afternoon lunch reunion. 
  11. LAW 2021 concluded with the Fourth Annual Alumni of Color Awards Ceremony. The Hon. Ramon Rivera L’94, second from left), New York State Court of Claims, received the LALSA Legacy Award, and standing next to him is the Hon. Rodney Thompson L’93, Presiding Judge, Family Division, Superior Court of New Jersey, BLSA William Herbert Johnson Legacy Award. On the screen is Seuk Joon Lee L’99, Senior Foreign Counsel, Yulchon, the recipient of the inaugural Asian Pacific Islander Legacy of Excellence Award. Award. Standing next to Rivera is SULAA Board member and Inclusion Network chair Astrid Quiñones L’18 and next to Thompson is SULAA Board member Betina R. Miller L’96.
  12. Recent graduates returned to Dineen Hall to celebrate at the Fourth Annual Alumni of Color Awards Reception.