Alums Reflect on Their Journey from Law School to the C-Suite
The College of Law has produced extraordinary leaders throughout our history. Today, our alumni include the President of the United States, elected and appointed officials at all levels of government, judges, public servants, C-Suite business executives (including Joanna Geraghty G’ 97, L’97, the CEO of JetBlue, who was profiled in the 2020 Stories Book) and nonprofit executives, entrepreneurs, writers, managing partners of global law firms, and so many others in positions of influence.
In past Stories Books, we have examined how College of Law alumni have navigated their way to the C-Suite and other positions of leadership and explored the impact of their law degrees on their careers.
This year, our fifth such feature, we are looking at leaders in the field of entertainment and sports law. This field, which is growing in popularity among current students, ranges from representing individual entities such as sports teams and entertainment venues to securing broadcast rights and programming, and beyond. We spoke with five Law alumni spread across different aspects of sports and entertainment law to hear about their unique careers and how their law degrees set them up for success in an ever-changing industry.
Elsewhere in the magazine, we speak with a 2023 graduate who has a Fellowship with the Toronto Raptors and a Lawyer in Love alum who also is a leader in sports and entertainment law.
From left: James Kelly L’99, Luke Cooper L’01, Kevin Whittaker L’02, Peter Alfano L’94 and Lon Levin L’80.
The College of Law’s Innovation Law Center (ILC) recently held the symposium “Venture to Victory: Pioneer Perspectives in Tech, Venture, and Private Equity.” The symposium featured five distinguished alumni guests representing the legal, and financial aspects of bringing a new high-tech company from early-stage funding to exit strategies. The panelists were:
Kevin Whittaker L’02, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Ripcord
The day’s events started with Cooper and Whittaker visiting the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries, the hub for the University’s innovation community, connecting the campus innovation ecosystem with a global network that supports innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives. University students involved in entrepreneurship, start-ups, and innovation were able to meet with Cooper and Whittaker and discuss strategies and career paths.
Later, the alumni panelists attended an informal lunch with ILC Research Assistants and leaders from the College’s Corporate Law Society and Intellectual Property Law Society (event co-sponsors). The students were able to interact directly with the alumni guests, getting invaluable career and networking tips.
The well-attended symposium was held in two distinct segments. First was a more traditional panel discussion led by ILC Executive Director Brian Gerling L’99. Gerling asked questions about career trajectories and the role of attorneys in venture capital (VC) investments and private equity (PE) acquisitions. The personal experiences of the alumni provided realistic perspectives and lessons learned that were shared with the students.
A role-playing negotiation scenario was the basis for the second half of the symposium. The alumni took on key roles in the negotiated exit for the CEO of a high-tech start-up company in the aerospace industry. Alumni representing the CEO, in-house counsel, the VC firm that provided the initial funding, the acquiring PE firm, and the law firm that represents the acquiring PE firm.
The result of this lively exercise was a realistic view of how legal professionals think and the guidance they provide firms and individuals involved in financial negotiations. A key takeaway was that today, lawyers need to work together rather than as adversaries for deals to be successful. The symposium ended with questions from the students and input from the panelists on the importance of building your network and connections.
Syracuse University College of Law was recently ranked #8 for Ultimate Bar Passage and #27 for first-time bar test takers by preLaw Magazine in the Winter 2024 edition of the magazine.
The Ultimate Bar Passage ranking is taken from 2017-2019 data and the first-time bar test takers data is from 2015-2019. The data was compiled by Jeffrey Kinsler in his article “Ultimate Bar Passage: Which Law Schools are Overperforming and Underperforming Expectations.”
“The College of Law places an emphasis from day one on being prepared for the bar exam,” says Kelly Curtis, Associate Dean of Academic and Bar Success. “We offer academic support in multiple formats throughout their time at the College and a targeted set of interventions in their final year leading up to the bar exam.”
Details on Academic and Bar Success can be found here.
Syracuse University College of Law’s Dineen Hall was ranked the 18th Best Law Building by preLaw Magazine in their Winter 2024 issue. The Best Law Buildings ranking reflects aesthetics (as ranked by the magazine editors), estimated square feet per student, and the hours per week the law library is open.
The College of Law recently held a swearing-in ceremony for on-campus and online student attorneys participating in one of the six law clinics this semester. Dean Craig Boise provided the welcome address while guest speaker the Hon. Deborah H. Karalunas L’82 administered the Student Attorney Oath. Judge Karalunas is also a College of Law adjunct professor teaching New York Civil Practice.
The College of Law Office of Clinical Legal Education provides a practical educational experience to second and third-year student attorneys while delivering much-needed, otherwise unavailable legal resources to the communities and people of Central New York.
The clinics are:
Bankruptcy Clinic*
Betty & Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic
Criminal Defense Clinic
Disability Rights Clinic
Sherman F. Levey ’57, L’59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic*
Transactional Law Clinic*
*Clinic is offered online for the Spring 2024 semester.
To kick off the New Year, two cohorts of Online JDinteractive Program students traveled to Syracuse for experiential Residencies before the beginning of the spring semester.
First year students came for their Legal Applications Residency, their second of six total Residencies through the course of their legal education. Meanwhile, second-year students returned to Dineen Hall for concurrent Residencies three and four, immersing themselves in Professional Skills courses tailored to their interests and career aspirations. This vibrant start set the stage for a year of profound learning and growth.
Legal Applications Residency
Prior to their second semester in the JDi program, first year students returned to Syracuse for the Legal Applications Residency. This problem-based course utilized experiential learning techniques to help students integrate the doctrinal subjects with practical skills. Students worked on interviewing, public speaking, negotiating, writing, and researching during their week in Syracuse.
JDi students attended a reception along with fellow Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman School of Management Online MBA Students to introduce the two online programs and network with other people also pursuing their degrees virtually.
Venturing beyond the classroom, JDi students also explored downtown Syracuse, met for dinner in small groups at local area restaurants, and ate local cuisine at the Salt City Market. They also had a networking event with the Student Bar Association (SBA) where they were able to meet with their On-Campus J.D. classmates.
Professional Skills Residencies
As they enter their second year in the JDi Program, students partake in Professional Skills Residencies spanning topics like negotiation, client counseling, trial advocacy, and more. Best of all, this one week fulfills the requirement for both the third and fourth Residential Courses concurrently with just one trip to Syracuse.
Over the six days of the residential experience earlier this year, students learned from professors and experts in their fields including the Hon. Jamie Baker, Director of the Institute of Security Policy and Law, Professor Beth Kubala, Director of the Veterans’ Legal Clinic, and Professor Todd Berger, Director of the Advocacy Program.
Teaching Legal Ethics in National Security, Judge Baker addressed the ethical challenges that arise in national security policy and legal practice from the perspective of someone with extensive experience in the field as a previous Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Judge Jamie Baker talks to students taking his Legal Ethics in National Security class.
Professor Berger provided an introduction to Trial Advocacy, coaching students to perform as trial counsel in a variety of simulated courtroom exercises. Students engaged in direct examination, cross-examination, an introduction of exhibits, opening statements and closing arguments.
Professor Todd Berger teaches Advocacy in the Bond, Schoeneck & King Courtroom.
Through the Administrative Representation for Veterans course, Professor Kubala provided students with the opportunity to represent real clients in an administrative process with a goal of changing a veteran’s character of service.
Professor Beth Kubala meets with JDi students in her office to discuss representation for veterans.
JDi students learned about navigating the complex regulatory requirements of the Army Review Boards Agency and applied those skills to assist our community’s veterans in upgrading their discharges to allow increased access to benefits.
To wrap up the week, students in the Media Training for Attorneys course took advantage of the resources in the Dick Clark Studios with a taped on-camera interview in a mock studio with camera, lights, and sound. This course builds life skills that all attorneys will need at some point in their lives, and it helps the students gain confidence in speaking and writing for a public audience.
Professor Kevin Noble Maillard works with JDi student in Media Training for Attorneys course in Newhouse’s Dick Clark Studios.
Embarking on the final stretch of their law school journey, upper-level Online JDinteractive (JDi) Program students face the pivotal and exciting task of selecting from a list of Advanced Legal Topics residencies that align with their interests. From busy cities in the United States to international landscapes of Geneva, Switzerland, and Rome, Italy, the options are as diverse as the students themselves.
JDi students arrive in Denver for a week of learning and networking.
This year, 17 JDi students selected to enroll in the Arbitration Residency, held in Denver, Colorado from January 2-5, 2024 at the turn of the New Year. Four Master of Law’s LL.M. students also elected to enroll in the course, enriching conversations from the perspective of foreign law graduates.
Four Syracuse Law LL.M. students enrolled in the Residential Course alongside their JDi classmates.
Jack Graves taught the class at the law firm of Sherman & Howard courtesy of Skip Netzorg L’76, providing an introduction to the law and practice of arbitration. Arbitration serves as a legally binding and fully enforceable mechanism for the resolution of commercial and other disputes. Expanding beyond the realm of U.S. federal law governing arbitration, participants delved into various institutional arbitration rules, elements of federal labor law, international laws overseeing arbitration, and an international treaty supporting the global enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards.
Jack Graves speaks to Residency class students about Arbitration law.
While not categorized as a skills course, the program significantly emphasized the practical aspects of arbitration. Students drafted effective arbitration agreements, navigated the enforcement of such agreements during dispute occurrences, conducted fair and efficient arbitration proceedings, and learned about enforcing the final awards issued by the arbitrator(s). By the end of the intensive course, students gained a solid foundational understanding of arbitration’s use in conclusively resolving legal disputes, coupled with insights into the common issues arising during the drafting and implementation of arbitration agreements.
Students gather for class time to learn about Arbitration Law.
In addition to newfound knowledge about Arbitration, students enjoyed an alumni networking event at the Wynkoop Brewery to meet our Powerful Orange Law Network in the local Denver area. They also enjoyed a fireside chat with Mark Neporent L’82 and Dean Craig Boise, providing advice about entering the legal profession and navigating through the transitions that inevitably follow, which in Neporent’s case included moving from law firm to in-house practice, and then to the C-suite of one of the largest hedge funds in the world.
Students gather for a “Fireside Chat” with Mark Neporent L’82 and Dean Craig Boise.
A few students opted to bring their families to Denver along with them to enjoy the city while they were in class. Spouses and children were able to attend the night and networking events and had a chance to meet their classmates and other families, fostering a sense of community and connection that extends beyond the confines of the program.
The Arbitration Residency held in Denver, CO and hosted by Sherman & Howard L.L.C. provided students with learning experiences, networking events, and time to explore the city.
As law school graduation loomed on the horizon, the prospect of Marlana Shaw-Brown G’17, L’17 moving across the country filled Adam Shoshtari L’17 with a sense of dread. That was until he realized that his classmate and best friend, Marlana, was the one for him.
Their story began in their 1L year when a mutual friend introduced the two at a Black Law Student Association (BLSA) meeting. From that moment on, they were inseparable—but just friends. They shared weekend getaways to Skaneateles, enjoyed countless dinners with friends, and spent many late nights poring over law books together. With graduation only a few short weeks away, Adam was faced with the very real possibility of losing his best friend. After graduation, he was headed to D.C. and Marlana across the country to Los Angeles. As Adam recounts, “I was falling in love with my best friend and could not imagine life without her.”
For Marlana, the seeds of legal ambitions were sown young. Nestled by her grandmother’s side, evenings spent enthralled by the TV show Matlock sparked a six-year-old’s declaration: “I want to be a lawyer!” With laser focus, she pursued her dream, beginning by enrolling in the Legal Studies Academy at Virginia’s First Colonial High School. However, the new experiences brought a shift in Marlana’s focus and Matlock’s courtroom drama gave way to the allure of entertainment law. For Marlana, her experiences at Syracuse Law led to positions at the Food Network and Netflix, ultimately leading her to NBCUniversal, where she now works in Legal Affairs counseling on all legal matters concerning the development, production, and delivery of scripted materials.
Adam’s journey was driven by a different yet equally powerful force: a passion for advocacy and writing. Though a career blending these skills with his love for technology never crossed his mind, fate had other plans. Through an opportunity to participate in Syracuse Law’s D.C. summer externship program, Adam was able to merge his love of advocacy and technology by externing with the Electronic Discovery Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to emerging issues in law and technology. That opportunity led to his current role as an Associate for Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Complex Litigation Strategic Counseling practice group.
Following graduation, Marlana and Adam spent the first few years of their relationship long-distance, only seeing each other every few months, but bonded by the friendship and foundation they built at Syracuse Law.
After three years of dating and with their dream careers in full swing, Adam was afforded the opportunity to join Shook’s Los Angeles office to be closer to Marlana and they were married soon after. So, what’s it like being married to a fellow lawyer? As Adam puts it “As lawyers, we love to argue our side of the case, so it’s about constantly reminding oneself that (most of the time), your wife is correct.”
Marlana and Adam’s story is one of passion, dedication, and a little bit of Syracuse magic. Their time at law school not only ignited their individual dreams but also brought them together, creating a love story as remarkable as their careers. As they continue to climb the ladder of success, one thing is certain: their journey began at Syracuse Law, and the memories and lessons learned there will forever hold a special place in their hearts.
For Marshall Read L’22 and Gabriella Kielbasinski L’22, the path to law school was quite different.
Gabriella, a Syracuse native, found law’s calling unexpectedly. Exposed to family court as a child, she had an attorney who made her “feel seen, heard, and advocated for,” igniting a lifelong desire to champion others. That experience solidified her purpose and inspired her to pursue a profession where she could advocate for those in need, just as her attorney did for her all those years ago.
Marshall’s journey was fueled by a different flame. As a student at Stephen F. Austin State University, he was a debater with a rebellious streak and saw public defense as the ultimate act of defiance: “There was nothing more punk rock than getting paid…to fight the man,” and so, he set his sights on law school.
Although their paths to Syracuse Law were distinct, both Gabriella and Marshall were driven by a shared desire to fight for the underprivileged. Fate brought them together even before their first class, at an Admitted Students event. Despite the brevity of their initial encounter, Gabriella still remembers how Marshall stood out in his beanie and flannel shirt amidst a sea of suits.
For Marshall, love-struck during their 1L Fall class election when Gabriella confidently captivated the room with her campaign speech for class president. He remembers a clear-cut moment of realization: “Wow, it’s her! She’s it!” For Gabriella, however, it wasn’t a single defining moment. Instead, it was the good morning texts during their first year of law school, the reassurance during the anxious months of bar prep, and Marshall’s unwavering support during hard times that showed her what true partnership looked like.
In December 2023, their bond deepened as they got engaged. Both find solace and understanding in their shared career path. As Marshall aptly puts it, “It’s nice to come home to someone who understands what your day has been like…there’s a grace and understanding.”
Both Gabriella and Marshall acknowledge the impact that Syracuse Law has made on their lives. Through their experience as law students, they received opportunities that led to fulfilling careers, made lifelong friends and mentors, and, most importantly, found each other. When offering advice to current law students, Marshall playfully offers: “Be nice to the smart ones with curly hair. They may be the one.”
1L Carly Bastedo prevailed over 1L Allison Carlos in the 14th Annual Hancock Estabrook First Year Oral Advocacy Competition.
The competition was judged by the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’91, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of New York, the Hon. Anthony J. Paris ’70, L’73, retired Justice of the New York State Supreme Court and Special Counsel at Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC, Daniel B. Berman L’82, Partner in the Litigation Practice at Hancock Estabrook, LLP, Mary L. D’Agostino, Partner in the Litigation Practice at Hancock Estabrook, LLP, and Erica L. Masler L’21 is an associate attorney in the Litigation Department at Hancock Estabrook, LLP.
Thirty-four first-year students participated in the competition.
Erica Masler – Mary D’Agostino -1L Carly Bastedo – the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks – the Hon. Anthony J. Paris – Daniel BermanErica Masler – Mary D’Agostino – 1L Allison Cartos – 1L Carly Bastedo – the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks – the Hon. Anthony J. Paris – Daniel Berman
