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Alumni News and Notes
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news & notes
ALUMNI
Alums Represent Both Sides in Mob Case
Greenbergs Host First Alumni Leadership Council
Event
Cherrick Takes Job at Medical School
A Creative Way to Make Gifts to Cardozo
International Law Careers Day Panel
Yisroel Schulman '87 Wins Alumni Achievement
Award
Criminal Law Career Panel
BALLSA Honors Two
Members of the Classes of 1997 and 1998 Inducted
into Order of the Coif
Alums Represent Both Sides in Mob Case
Stories about the accused Mafia leader John Gotti, Jr., his case, and his
lawyers have appeared regularly in the metropolitan area press this year.
As most New Yorkers know by now, the case never went to trial because Gotti,
Jr. entered a plea deal with prosecutors this April that will send him
to prison and bring a $1 million fine. Apparently, Gotti, Jr. and his defense
team determined that this outcome was preferable to the possibility of
a longer sentence and years of legal battles. Interestingly, three Cardozo
alumni are involved in the Gotti case: one of the lead prosecutors is Marjorie
Miller '84, assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York;
Bettina Schein '86 is of counsel to Gotti lawyer Bruce Cutler; and Schein's
husband, Alan Futerfas '87 (at right), who is a private attorney, filed
an amicus brief on behalf of Cutler to prevent the prosecution's attempt
to disqualify Cutler's representation of Gotti, Jr.
Of the three, only Alan was available to share some of
his experiences with Cardozo Life. He first met criminal defense attorney
Bruce Cutler in his second year at Cardozo while working with lawyer Gerald
Shargel. (Upon graduation, Alan became an associate in Shargel's office
and later a partner.) Shargel's office was then in the heat of defending
John Gotti, Sr., which brought Alan into contact with some of the topflight
lawyers in the country, including Cutler. Of this renowned lawyer, Alan
has only praise. "He is a fabulous trial lawyer with a unique presence
in the courtroom. He knows how to get to the essence of arguments, is extremely
effective at cross-examination, and can reach the jurors. He believes in
the causes that he defends 1000%." In 1991, when the US government tried
to disqualify both Shargel and Cutler from representing Gotti, Sr., it
was Alan who wrote the motion to keep Shargel in; Bettina wrote the motion
for Cutler. Their motions were unsuccessful; Shargel and Cutler were disqualified;
and John Gotti, Sr. was subsequently given a life sentence.
Although Alan is now in private practice at the Law Offices
of Futerfas, he recently found himself re-involved in a Gotti prosecution.
Shargel and Cutler, who represent the younger Gotti, again found the prosecution
attempting to disqualify Cutler. This time, the amicus brief that Alan
wrote on behalf of Cutler was successful, and the Judge ruled to allow
Cutler to represent Gotti, Jr. The New York Law Journal ran at least two
major stories on this aspect of the case and Alan's efforts.
Alan worked his way through law school. During his first
year he took a job on the defense side, listening to surveillance tapes
in US v. Matthew Ianniello, which was a major organized crime case at the
time. "The experience was fascinating, I loved the work," he said. "I got
to meet some incredible lawyers like Shargel, Jerry Lefcourt, Jay Goldberg,
Fred Hafetz, and John Pollok, a premier expert on wireta
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p prosecutions."
While at Cardozo, Alan valued the support he received from his professors,
especially Peter Lushing. "He was very cognizant that success is more than
grades. He took a real interest in what I was doing in the field and talked
with me about the cases I was working on. I really enjoyed him," remarked
Alan and added, "I had Michael Ross for Appellate Advocacy. He was tough
but goodóthe lessons learned truly paid off when I argued before less-than-enthusiastic
judges." Before law school, Alan was a professional trombone player and
performed in a brass quintet for five years. He also is a graduate of The
Juilliard School.
Alan met Bettina after law school, in 1991, when they were both
working on an eight-defendent narcotics trial in Brooklyn. These days,
he handles all kinds of cases, from white collar crime, such as securities
investigations, bank fraud, and tax evasion to the occasional drug or organized
crime case.
When asked what advice he has for aspiring criminal lawyers, he pointed
to his good fortune to learn from some very gifted attorneys. "The best
recommendation I have is to get a wonderful mentor. Sophisticated criminal
law requires an apprenticeship, especially because you are dealing with
complicated ethical issues."
Greenbergs Host First Alumni Leadership
Council Event
Kathy Greenberg '82 and her husband, Alan "Ace" Greenberg,
hosted not one but two kick-off evenings for the Alumni Leadership Council.
The response to the ALC's inaugural event was so overwhelming that the
Greenbergs offered to host back-to-back cocktail receptions at their home,
enabling everyone who wanted to attend to do so. More than 200 alumni,
parents, and members of the faculty and board of directors attended one
of the two evenings.
According to co-chair Jon Henes '96, "This event was the
perfect start to the ALC's efforts to build a strong alumni community and
help lead Cardozo to national prominence. The Greenbergs' generosity is
truly inspiring." Co-chair Pam Henes '96 added, "Clearly the alumni are
poised to play a major role in shaping Cardozo's future."
To get involved, please write to the ALC, c/o Office of Alumni Affairs.
(From
left) Lisa Foy '93, Stephanie Gayden '93, Maxine Stein '94
(From
left) Rachel Warren '92, Shai Weisman '96, and Jeremy Novak '97
Dean Paul
Verkuil (at left) presented Kathy and Ace Greenberg with a copy of Andrew
Kaufman's biography of Justice Cardozo. Shown at right are ALC co-chairs
Jon Henes '96 and Pam Henes '96.
(From
right) Tricia Cohen '93 with Dean Verkuil and her parents, Edward and Joan
Cohen.
Cherrick Takes Job at Medical School
Ellen Cherrick '80, associate dean for placement, student,
and alumni affairs, has left Cardozo to become executive director, department
of surgery, New York Uni
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versity School of Medicine. In her new position,
Ellen serves as the chief of staff for the chairman of the department.
"Under Ellen's leadership, Cardozo's Center for Professional
Development initiated a variety of new programs, significantly increased
summer funding opportunities, expanded the internship program, and helped
us join the technological age by contracting with an online legal employment
service," said Senior Associate Dean Michael Herz. During her tenure, the
Center for Professional Development was cited in an ABA report as one that
could be a model for law school placement programs nationally. "Ellen showed
extraordinary dedication, initiative, and professionalism in what is one
of the most difficult assignments at the Law School, and we are all in
her debt," continued Dean Herz.
"As a member of Cardozo's second graduating class, I look
back with a tremendous sense of pride at the Law School's remarkable accomplishments
during its first two decades, and I look forward to continuing to share
in the many successes that I know lie in the Law School's future," she
said.
A Creative Way to Make Gifts to Cardozo
Jeffrey T. Strauss '80, a partner at Wachtel & Masyr,
LLP, recently directed a $100,000 gift to the Law School for scholarships.
"I was in the position to recommend Cardozo as the recipient of a charitable
donation in connection with the settlement of litigation in which I was
recently involved," said Mr. Strauss. The money will be awarded to second-
and third-year students based on their academic achievement during the
first year of law school.
International Law Careers Day Panel
International
Law Careers Day perennially brings out a large group of students eager
to learn what it takes to practice in that field. Among the panelists were
(from left) Lucille Roussin '96, Associate, Herrick Feinstein LLP, and
Paul V. LiCalsi of Gold, Farrell & Marks, LLP.
Yisroel Schulman ë87 Wins Alumni Achievement
Award
"He is a lawyer who fights the good fight because it is
the right thing to do," said James Sarna '90 of the Alumni Leadership Council
when asked about Yisroel Schulman '87, who was chosen the inaugural winner
of Cardozo's Alumni Achievement Award. Yisroel has been executive director
of the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) since its founding in 1990.
Under his leadership, NYLAG has expanded to be one of the major providers
of free civil legal services in the New York metropolitan area.
In a statement nominating him for the award, an alumnus
wrote, "He has devoted his career to pro bono legal services and has developed
a first-rate private pro bono law firm, earning the respect and admiration
of his clients and peers." Over the course of the years, Yisroel has also
employed a significant number of Cardozo students and alumni.
Dean Paul Verkuil, who presented Yisroel with an engraved
crystal gavel, noted, "Your profound commitment to public service and to
Cardozo provides a wonderful example to current and former students. We
are extremely proud of your achievements."
Many members of the committee remember Yisroel from the
Bet Tzedek Clinic, where he taught following graduation. Sarna said,
"He is a kind, caring, dedicated attorney who has devoted his life to assisting
the less fortunate. He does great work with little financial support."
According to Prof. Toby Golick, director of the Bet Tzedek
Legal Services Clinic, "When Yisroel returned after graduation as a supervising
attorney, he inspired many of his Cardozo students, helping them to seek
careers in public service or to continue to do volunteer work while working
in other areas of the law."
"I am thrilled and very honored to be the first recipient
of this
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award, which is an important acknowledgment from my peers," noted
Yisroel. "I am also very pleased with the formation of the ALC. It's an
important step toward getting alumni more involved, which aids in the Law
School's growth and continued success, and is ultimately good for all of
us."
Criminal Law Career Panel
Each year, many alumni return to the School to share career advice with
current students. At a panel on careers in criminal law, some who shared
their expertise were (from left) Mark Molina '93, Judge Esther Morgenstern
'84, and Labe Richman '82.
BALLSA Honors Two
The Black Asian Latino Law Students Association (BALLSA) held their
annual alumni dinner and honored Thurman Mathis '90, president of BALLSA
in 1989?90, and career counselor Vielka Holness of the Cardozo Center for
Professional Development for their contributions to BALLSA now and in the
past. Many alumni attended the evening and greeted current students and
members of the faculty. (All photo captions read from left to right.)
Thurman
Mathis '90, Arthur Rojas '93, and Vielka Holness
Paul
Palvi Mohammad '99, Caesar Perez '98, Brian Blake '98, and Rob Jones '98,
past president.
Myriam
Sanchez, Elissa Lubin, and Veronica Juarez, all of the class of 2000.
Susan
John '94, Rodney Pepe-Souvenir '93, and Averlyn Archer '93
Members of the Classes of 1997 and 1998 Inducted
into Order of the Coif
At a special ceremony presided over by Dean Paul R. Verkuil
and Senior Associate Dean Michael Herz prior to reunions, members of the
classes of 1997 and 1998 who finished in the top 10 percent of their class
were initiated into the Order of the Coif. Prof. Arthur Jacobson made remarks
in which he noted how quickly Cardozo has attained academic distinction.
He credited Cardozo's founding dean, Monrad Paulsen, for his commitment
to scholarly writing, Yeshiva University for providing a supportive environment,
and Jacob Burns for funding the Jacob Burns Institute for Advanced Legal
Studies.
According to the honorary society's constitution, new
chapters may elect members two years back from the date of the charter.
Members of the class of 1999 who qualify will be inducted at graduation.
Class
of '97: Don Cummins, Allan Blutstein, Amy Gitlitz, Jennifer Newcomb, Benjamin
Gruberg, Michelle Graham, Craig Sloane, Julie Nobel, Steven Brand, Debra
Nachlis, Russell Kestenbaum, Marzenna Pienkowska-Walden
Class
of '98: Po Yi, Jennifer Falstault, Steven Sparling, Jonathan Bayer, Michael
Overn, Seth Davis, Kenneth Dursht, Jay Heinrich, Ro
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ss Elgart
The Class of 1997
Tracey I. Batt, Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Rachel B. Berke, Associate, Fulbright & Jaworski,
Dallas, Texas
Jeffrey F. Bier, sales engineer/in house counsel, Richards
Mfg. Co., Irvington, NJ
Allan L. Blutstein, Social Security Administration, Office
of the General Counsel, NY
Captain Steven T. Brand, US Air Force, Office of the
Staff Judge Advocate, Texas
Ira L. Brandriss, staff attorney, US Securities &
Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
Andrew S. Burchill, Associate, Fulbright & Jaworski
Yaffa R. Cheslow, Associate, Schulte Roth & Zabel
Don M. Cummins, Associate, Axian Veltrop & Harkrider
Daniel R. Forman, Associate, Crowell & Moring, Washington,
D.C.
Amy Gitlitz, Associate, Shearman & Sterling
Beata Gocyk-Farber, Associate, Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen
& Hamilton
Michelle M. Graham, Associate, Kelley Drye & Warren
Sami B. Groff, Associate, Schulte Roth & Zabel
Benjamin R. Gruberg, Associate, Robinson Silverman Pearce
Aronsohn & Berman
Aviva M. Kallus, law clerk, Hon. Thomas B. Wells, US
Tax Court, Washington, D.C.
Russell J. Kestenbaum, Price Waterhouse Coopers
Michael G. Langan, Associate, Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan,
Griffinger & Vecchione
Douglass S. Lodmell, Lodmell & Lodmell P.C., Phoenix,
AZ
Rebecca F. Martin, law clerk, Hon. Andrew J. Peck, US
Magistrate Judge, Southern District of New York
Debra E. Nachlis, Associate, Kramer Levin Naftalis &
Frankel
Jennifer M. Newcomb, Associate, Graubard Mollen &
Miller
Julie B. Nobel, assistant district attorney, Office of
the District Attorney of New York County
Nathan A. Paul, Associate, Schulte Roth & Zabel
Marzenna Wanda Pienkowska-Walden, contract attorney,
Herrick, Feinstein
Sascha N. Rand, Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Lawrence A. Rosenbloom, Associate, Battle Fowler
Matthew D. Saronson, Associate, Debevoise & Plimpton
Ariel M. Sasson, Associate, Schekter, Rishty, Goldstein
& Blumenthal
Craig A. Sloane, law clerk, Hon. James S. Sledge, US
Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Alabama, Anniston, AL
Sydney R. Smith, Associate, White & Case
Karen M. Stecker, Associate, Hahn Loeser & Parks,
Cleveland, OH
Steven B. Stein, partner, Stein & Stein, Succasunna,
NJ
Marci B. Wilson-Moschetti, Associate, Stroock & Stroock
& Lavan
Linda Wong, Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
The Class of 1998
Nicholas Albano, Associate, McCarter & English, Newark,
NJ
Lynn C. Amari, Associate, Shapiro Forman & Allen
Troy A. Barsky, law clerk, Hon. Michael Zimmerman, Utah
State Supreme Court
Jonathan L. Bayer, Associate, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene &
MacRae
Michael Ben-Jacob, Debevoise & Plimpton
Eric N. Cohen, Associate, Mayer Brown & Platt
Ness Maurice Cohen, Associate, Rogers & Wells
Patricia Colligan, Associate, Law Offices of Kenneth
A. Vercammen, Metuchen, NJ
Seth B. Davis, assistant district attorney, Office of
the District At
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torney of New York County
Kenneth A. Dursht, Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom
Ross E. Elgart, Associate, Cadwalader, Wickersham &
Taft
Jennifer A. Falstrault, Associate, Tenzer Greenblatt
Sharyn F. Feinbloom, Associate, Kaye, Scholer, Fierman,
Hays & Handler
Inna Fershteyn, Associate, Bryan Cave
Vincent Filardo, Associate, White & Case
Jayson D. Glassman, law clerk, Hon. David W. Hagen, US
District Court, District of Nevada
Edward T. Goldstein, assistant chief counsel, US Army
Corps of Engineers
James A. Harris, assistant district attorney, Office
of the District Attorney of Bronx County
Natan Hecht, Associate, Security Capital Group, Inc.
Jay N. Heinrich, Associate, Kelley Drye & Warren
Alex Kriegsman, law clerk, Hon. I. Daniel Stewart, Utah
State Supreme Court
Yulan Li, Associate, Schulte Roth & Zabel
Joanna L. Miller, LL.M. candidate, New York University
School of Law
Jennifer M. Moak, Office of Legal Affairs, Administration
for Children's Services
Jennifer M. Newman, New York Life
Henrietta Margolis Nunno, visiting investigator, Forensic
Science Dept.,
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Mark M. Oh, law clerk, Hon. Jerry Buchmeyer, US District
Court, Northern District of Texas
Dina Opici, Opici Wine Group, Glen Rock, NJ
Michael P. Overn, Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Christina D. Porter, New York Life Insurance
Julia Reytblat, Associate, Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen &
Hamilton
Jessica Lynn Rothstein, Darby & Darby
Richard A. Simon, Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Steven S. Sparling, Associate, Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen
& Hamilton
Po Yi, Associate, Loeb & Loeb
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Stories about the accused Mafia leader John Gotti, Jr., his case, and his
lawyers have appeared regularly in the metropolitan area press this year.
As most New Yorkers know by now, the case never went to trial because Gotti,
Jr. entered a plea deal with prosecutors this April that will send him
to prison and bring a $1 million fine. Apparently, Gotti, Jr. and his defense
team determined that this outcome was preferable to the possibility of
a longer sentence and years of legal battles. Interestingly, three Cardozo
alumni are involved in the Gotti case: one of the lead prosecutors is Marjorie
Miller '84, assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York;
Bettina Schein '86 is of counsel to Gotti lawyer Bruce Cutler; and Schein's
husband, Alan Futerfas '87 (at right), who is a private attorney, filed
an amicus brief on behalf of Cutler to prevent the prosecution's attempt
to disqualify Cutler's representation of Gotti, Jr.
