Jerome Kern ’60, a preeminent telecommunications lawyer and business leader, has passed away, Dean Troy McKenzie ’00 announced on December 16. “Jerry was a dedicated member of the NYU Law community, and will be remembered for his sharp intellect, boundless generosity, and unwavering commitment to the Law School and its mission,” McKenzie said in his email announcement. A significant gift by Kern in 1998 catalyzed a fundraising campaign to re-endow the Root-Tilden Scholarship program, renamed the Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship, enabling generations of students to pursue public service careers.
Kern earned his BA from Columbia University in 1957 and graduated cum laude from NYU Law in 1960. At the Law School, he was a Root-Tilden Scholar, managing editor of the NYU Law Review, and a member of the Order of the Coif. His academic achievements were the foundation of a remarkable career in law, business, and philanthropy.
In 1965, Kern co-founded Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz before shifting to a career blending law practice, investment banking, and consulting. He served in leadership roles in media and telecommunications. As a senior partner at Baker Botts and advisor to Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) and Liberty Media, Kern played a pivotal role in landmark transactions, including the AT&T/TCI merger and the Time Warner/Turner Broadcasting merger. TCI CEO John Malone, a longtime collaborator, described him as “the dean of cable lawyers.”
Kern’s leadership extended to numerous executive roles, including CEO of Linkshare and chairman and CEO of On Command Corporation. In his later years, he led Kern Consulting LLC and served as a senior advisor to Moelis & Company, continuing to influence the media and telecommunications sectors.
In addition to serving on NYU Law’s Board of Trustees, Kern was chairman and CEO of the Colorado Symphony and guided that organization from the brink of bankruptcy to financial stability. His service also included roles with Citymeals on Wheels and the Institute for Children’s Mental Disorders.
“We mourn the loss of a remarkable leader and benefactor whose legacy will inspire generations,” McKenzie said.
Posted December 16, 2024