The National Law Journal names six NYU Law alumni and scholars to its 100 Most Influential Lawyers list
The National Law Journal (NLJ) has named six NYU Law alumni and scholars to its list of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America. This elite group of attorneys “who have shaped the legal world through their work in the courtroom, at the negotiating table, in the classroom or in government,” includes such heavyweights as U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Mary Jo White, nominee to chair the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and David Drummond, chief legal officer of Google.
In selecting the top 100 attorneys, the NLJ focused on accomplishments since 2006. Judges, members of Congress, and the president were not eligible. The six members from the NYU Law community are:
Robert Bauer
A Distinguished Scholar in Residence and Senior Lecturer at NYU Law, Bauer is a partner at the Washington, D.C. office of Perkins Coie. Bauer, who served as White House Counsel from December 2009 to June 2011, was recently appointed co-chair of the bipartisan Presidential Commission on Election Administration. Bauer is also general counsel to the Democratic National Committee and President Obama’s personal lawyer.
Sheila L. Birnbaum ’65
A specialist in mass torts, Birnbaum is a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York. She is also a trustee of NYU Law and a former professor of law and associate dean at the Law School. Special master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, Birnbaum previously mediated a $500 million settlement for 92 families of victims of the September 11th attacks.
David Boies (LL.M. ’67)
A trustee of NYU Law and chairman of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, Boies served as chief counsel of the U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee and counsel to the FDIC in its litigation to recover losses for failed savings and loan associations. He currently serves as co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs challenging the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8. Boies also represented former Vice President Al Gore in Bush v. Gore.
Kenneth R. Feinberg ’70
Founder and managing partner of Feinberg Rozen in Washington, D.C., Feinberg administered the $7 billion September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. He also directed compensation funds for victims of Agent Orange and helped settle claims from Hurricane Katrina. He has been hired by the Pennsylvania State University to mediate child sex abuse victims’ claims.
Thomas V. Girardi (LL.M. ’65)
A partner at Girardi Keese in Los Angeles, Girardi is a trial lawyer who served as co-lead plaintiffs’ counsel in the suit that resulted in a $4.85 billion settlement from pharmaceutical giant Merck for claims related to the use of Vioxx. He also obtained a $333 million settlement for 650 residents of Hinckley, Calif. in the toxic tort case made famous by the film Erin Brokovich.
Martin Lipton ’55
Chairman of New York University’s Board of Trustees, a trustee of NYU Law, and a founding partner of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Lipton is one of the nation’s top corporate attorneys. He is known for creating the Shareholder Rights Plan, or “poison pill,” for companies to fend off hostile takeovers.
Posted on March 26, 2013