Around Syracuse Law

Robert L. Gang ’39, L’42, U.S. Army World War II and Korean War veteran and long-time Syracuse-area lawyer, has passed away at age 104

Statement from Dean Craig M. Boise

The entire College of Law community sends our deepest condolences to Bob’s wife Holly and his family and friends. Personally, I feel very lucky to have met and gotten to know Bob.  His dedication to the legal profession, to country and to service, his palpable commitment to family and community, and his smile were infectious.  I am grateful to Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic Director Beth Kubala for making sure that Bob stayed connected to his alma mater, and that we had a chance to learn from him.

Bob served from 1942 to 1951 as a U.S. Army infantry officer. After serving his country, Gang came back to Syracuse and practiced real estate law as a partner at the firm, Smith, Dolan, Gieselman, and Gang, and later at MacKenzie Hughes. Gang also served as Syracuse’s Assistant City Corporation Counsel. In all, he practiced law for 50 years, and continued doing pro bono work well into his 80s.

Bob is survived by his second wife, Holly, eight children, and 15 grandchildren. His sons-in-law, Ed Moses L’68 and Michael P. Williams L’95, and grandson Matt Moses L’97 all received their law degrees from Syracuse Law. 

Learn more about Bob Gang’s life in this article. Read his obituary here.

September 25, 2021 / Syracuse University Law School Alumni Weekend event titled “Serving Veterans at the College of Law and in the Community,” held at the Grand Hall, National Veterans Resource Center at Syracuse University. In addition, the oldest living Law School alum and veteran Robert Gang – shown here speaking to guests – was recognized in front of current faculty, alumni, students, and honored guests. Photo by Mike Roy

Gary Loope Wins the 13th Annual Hancock Estabrook LLP 1L Oral Advocacy Competition

Gary Loope prevailed over Gabriella Amaturo in the final round of the 13th Annual Hancock Estabrook LLP 1L Oral Advocacy Competition. The competition was judged by the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’91 United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of New York; Lee S. Michaels L’67, adjunct professor at the College of Law and senior firm member of Michaels Bersani Kalabanak; Timothy Murphy L’89, managing partner of Hancock Estabrook, and Christopher J. Baiamonte L’19, associate attorney at the Wladis Law Firm.

This year, 42 first-year students participated in the Hancock Estabrook 1L Oral Advocacy Competition.

Gary Loope with Judge Dancks
Judge Dancks with Gabriella Amaturo
Christopher Baiamonte, Lee Michaels, Gabriella Amaturo, Gary Loope, Judge Dancks, Timothy Murphy

3Ls Maureen Blennerhassett and Matthew Mayers Named the 2023 Feinman Fellows

3Ls Maureen Blennerhassett and Matthew Mayers have been named Feinman Fellows as Spring 2023 externs. Established by Matin Feinman L’86, the Feinman Fellows receive a financial gift to help defray expenses associated with taking on their spring externship, in recognition of their commitment and dedication to public service. Feinman is the Director of Juvenile Justice Training, The Legal Aid Society of New York City.

Blennerhassett’s Spring 2023 externship is with the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas, Capital Habeas Unit (CHU).  CHU is a federal office tasked with representing indigent men and women on Texas’ death row in late-stage appeals of their death sentences, filing federal habeas corpus petitions and applications for clemency.

Mayer’s Spring 2023 externship is with Legal Services of Central New York (LSCNY).  LSCNY is a legal aid organization whose mission is to promote equity and justice through law and policy, and advocates for juveniles whose rights have been violated in the context of incarceration.

Maureen Blennerhassett
Matthew Mayers

Tracy Costanzo L’25 and Amanda Hepinger L’24 Won the ABA Section of Taxation 2022-2023 Law Student Tax Challenge

Tracy Costanzo L’25 and Amanda Hepinger L’24 Won the ABA Section of Taxation 2022-2023 Law Student Tax Challenge, held in person at the Section of Taxation’s 2023 Midyear Tax Meeting. Both are students in the College’s JDinteractive online J.D. program.

Costanzo and Hepinger were one of six semi-finalist teams invited to the national competition. Overall, 62 Teams from approximately 48 law schools entered the Challenge.

An alternative to traditional moot court competitions, the Law Student Tax Challenge (LSTC) is organized by the Section’s Young Lawyers Form. The LSTC asks two-person teams of students to solve a complex business problem that might arise in everyday tax practice. Teams are initially evaluated on two criteria: a memorandum to a senior partner and a letter to a client explaining the result. Based on the written work product, six teams from the J.D. Division and four teams from the LL.M. Division receive a free trip to the Section’s Midyear Meeting, where each team presents its submission before a panel of judges consisting of the country’s top tax practitioners and government officials, including tax court judges. The competition is a great way for law students to showcase their knowledge in a real-world setting and gain valuable exposure to the tax law community.

Syracuse University College of Law Appoints Michael L. Olsan L’89 to its Board of Advisors

Michael Olsan L’89

(Syracuse, NY | January 18, 2023) Syracuse University College of Law has appointed Michael S. Olsan L’89, Deputy General Counsel Reinsurance for AIG, to its Board of Advisors, effective January 1, 2023. Prior to joining AIG in 2021, Olsan was a partner at White and Williams LLP in Philadelphia, PA representing the insurance industry. 

“Michael’s considerable experience, spanning more than 30 years, will help guide the College of Law in offering timely curriculum options and experiential opportunities for our students and be valuable in shaping the future of legal education at the College of Law,” says College of Law Dean Craig M. Boise.

“On behalf of the Board of Advisors, I welcome Michael to our group and am looking forward to working with him on furthering educational excellence at the College,” says Board of Advisors Chair Melanie Gray L’81. 

“The College of Law played a critical role in my professional career, and it is an honor to be able to give back in this way. I am grateful for the opportunity to call upon my extensive legal work experiences and provide the Board, as well as our students and faculty, industry insights and perspectives on the changing legal landscape,” says Olsan.

At White and Williams LLP, Olsan represented the insurance industry in coverage and reinsurance disputes in court and commercial arbitrations and counseled his clients on various insurance-related topics, including reinsurance transactions.  Olsan chaired the firm’s Reinsurance Group and Commercial Litigation Department and served as Vice Chair of the firm.

Olsan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College and his Juris Doctor summa cum laude from Syracuse Law, Order of the Coif. While at the College of Law, Olsan was Technical Editor for the Syracuse Law Review, a member of the National Trial Team, and a teaching assistant.

Kristin Walker L’08 Joins College of Law as Professor of Practice and Faculty Director of Externships

(Syracuse, NY | January 17, 2023) Kristin Walker L’08 has joined Syracuse University College of Law as a Professor of Practice and Faculty Director of Externships. Walker’s responsibilities include teaching Legal Writing and Advanced Litigation Skills; overseeing and teaching the externship placement seminars, and directing the Pro Bono Scholars Program.

“For the past four years, Professor Walker has taught several classes as an adjunct professor and helped direct our expanding externship program,” says Dean Craig M. Boise. “I’m delighted that she has chosen to join our vibrant faculty ranks.  Her practical experience will benefit our students enormously.”

Prior to joining the College of Law, Walker practiced law at local firms including William Mattar Law Offices Catalano Law, Alexander & Catalano, where she handled plaintiff’s matters, Barclay Damon, and Costello, Cooney, and Fearon where she managed numerous insurance defense and insurance coverage matters. Before that, Walker was an associate at McCarter & English LLP in New York City in the firm’s corporate, securities, and financial institutions practice group.

Walker received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, cum laude, in 2008 where she served as managing editor of the Syracuse Law Review. While in law school, she clerked for Judge David N. Hurd of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York and interned at the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Villanova University.

Kristin Walker

College of Law Taps Adrienne Graves as Director of Alumni Relations 

Syracuse University College of Law has hired Adrienne Graves as its Director of Alumni Relations. Graves brings more than ten years of experience in higher education and alumni relations. Graves will lead the Office of Advancement and External Affairs’ alumni engagement work, with the goal of meaningfully engaging College of Law alumni and promoting philanthropic support of the College of Law’s mission. In her role, Graves will report to Assistant Dean of Advancement and External Affairs Sophie Dagenais and be responsible for maintaining and growing the College’s relationship with the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association (SULAA.)

“Adrienne’s extensive experience in alumni relations, her strong marketing and communications background, and her passion for Syracuse University’s mission and vision will help sustain our positive momentum, deepen the College’s bond with our alumni, and inform new pathways for engaging them meaningfully in service of our students who will follow in their footsteps,” says Dagenais.

Graves comes to the College of Law from Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies where she has held director-level roles in alumni relations and undergraduate recruitment.

“Our alumni play an essential role in shaping and executing on our mission.  I am thrilled to welcome Adrienne to our team and look forward to capitalizing on her proven track record as a relationship builder as we cultivate our greatest ambassadors,” says Dean Craig M. Boise.

Graves holds a bachelor’s degree in in Communications; Public Relations and Advertising and a master’s degree in Professional Education with a Higher Education Concentration from LeMoyne College.

Use Study Aids for Successful Exam Preparation 

Students:  See our Study Aids webpage for access to many of the top legal study aids packages.  Students will find links to CALI lessons, the Aspen Learning Library, West Academic Study Aids and the LexisNexis Digital Library.