Event Invitations 2025

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The Next Frontier of Environmental Advocacy

Center for Rights and Justice (CRJ), Alexander Reinert, Wilson Dunlavey, Raya Salter, and Dr. Maria Antonia Tigre

The Center for Rights and Justice invites you to hear from three experts on environmental litigation and policy in a panel discussion moderated by Professor Alex Reinert. The discussion will be far-ranging, touching on domestic and international litigation, environmental policy, and climate justice.
- Wilson Dunlavey, a partner at the leading class action firm in the country, represents government entities, consumers, small businesses, workers, fishers, and residents in complex litigation against fossil fuel companies, automobile manufacturers, and other polluters.
- Raya Salter is the Founder and Executive Director of the Energy Justice Law & Policy Center and is an attorney, consultant, educator and clean energy law and policy expert with a focus on energy and climate justice.
- Dr. Maria Antonia Tigre is the Director of Global Climate Litigation at Columbia University's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and is a leading expert in the field of climate change law and climate litigation.
President Trump and Control of Administrative Agencies: The Firing of NLRB Commissioner Gwynne Wilcox

Gwynne Wilcox; Daniel Silverman; David Rudenstine; Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy; Public Interest Law Student Association (PILSA); American Constitution Society (ACS), Cardozo Chapter; National Lawyers Guild, Cardozo Chapter; and Cardozo Federalist Society

On November 18, Gwynne Wilcox will join Dan Silverman at Cardozo to discuss her lawsuit against Trump and his administration for firing her as an NLRB commissioner. This conversation will be moderated by Professor David Rudenstine.

On January 27, 2025, President Trump removed Wilcox from the Board prior to her term’s expiration in 2028. Wilcox was the first Board Member to have been removed in 90 years of the Board's inception in 1935. Wilcox filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Washington, DC, against President Trump challenging her unprecedented and unlawful termination based upon current statutory law and well-established Supreme Court precedent. The termination is unlawful under a 1930's SCOTUS decision that this court seems determined to overrule. Her case is still pending.

This event is being hosted by the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy, the Public Interest Law Student Association, and the Cardozo Chapters of the American Constitution Society, the National Lawyers Guild, and the Federalist Society
2025 Lemkin Award Ceremony

Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights (CLIHHR), Institute for the Study of Genocide, and Elyse Semerdjian

Please join the Institute for the Study of Genocide and the Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights for the biennial Lemkin Award Ceremony, honoring Raphael Lemkin, the originator of the term genocide and leading advocate of the UN Genocide Convention. The award recognizes the best non-fiction work focusing on genocide, crimes against humanity, and other gross human rights violations, as well as strategies for prevention. This year’s award winner is Elyse Semerdjian, for her work, Remnants: Embodied Archives of the Armenian Genocide.
The Trump Law Firm Intimidation Policy: A Look Inside the Wreckage

Jacob Burns Center for Ethics in the Practice of Law, David McGowan, W. Bradley Wendel, and Staci Zaretsky

The Trump Administration has engaged in what the ABA has called a “Law Firm Intimidation Policy”; intended to change how America's largest and most prestigious firms practice law.

Nine firms have “settled” with the Administration, while four firms have filed suit to enjoin the Administration's actions, and have won some early victories. Other firms have expressed their opposition to the admiration’s policy in various ways. After more than half a year, what lessons, if any, can be drawn from the bar's response to the Law Firm Intimidation Policy? Were predictions that the Administration's efforts would cause significant harm to the practice of law overblown, or is it too early to draw a conclusion? Finally, we will consider what, if anything the bar—and law schools—should do now.
Dean Melanie Leslie’s Office Hours with Professor Peter Markowitz

Melanie Leslie and Peter L. Markowitz

Join Dean Leslie and Professor Peter Markowitz for the Dean's Office Hours on November 12. They will discuss the shifting immigration landscape in the United States. The scale and nature of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agency's enforcement practices have been evolving rapidly in recent months. The shifts have had profound impacts on immigrants, their families, and the communities in which they live. The changes have also impacted the work of immigration lawyers, who are rapidly evolving their practices to meet the moment and best protect the immigrants they represent. The two will also answer questions raised by the student attendees.
DExit Averted? Corporate (Re-)Domestication After SB 21

Heyman Center on Corporate Governance, Gustavo Bruckner, Edward Rock, Eric Talley, Christopher Kupka, and Philip Richter

Please join us for a panel discussion on the long-term impacts of Delaware Senate Bill 21 on corporate (re-)domestication.

Corporate lawyers know Delaware as the home of most of America’s corporations, due to its relatively favorable laws, competent courts, and robust precedent. In recent years, other states have shown ambitions to compete with Delaware as new havens for corporate existence. In response, Delaware Senate Bill 21 has aimed to fend off challenges, address disadvantages of Delaware’s established system, and reassert Delaware’s dominance. In a panel discussion with prominent attorneys and scholars of corporate governance, we will explore the long-term impact of SB21 on this dynamic.

Moderator: Gustavo Bruckner (Pomerantz) Panelists: Edward Rock (NYU); Eric Talley (Columbia); Christopher Kupka (Fields Kupka & Shukurov); Phil Richter (Fried Frank)
The Voting Rights Act, Race, Redistricting, and the Future of U.S. Democracy

Wilfred U. Codrington III, Sophia Lankin, Michael Li, Jarret Berg, Carl Unegbu, and Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy

Join us for a timely and critical moderated conversation on the future of American democracy as leading experts on U.S. voting rights Wilfred Codrington III (Cardozo School of Law), Sophia Lankin (ACLU), Michael Li (Brennan Center for Justice), and Jarret Berg (VoteEarlyNY) unpack the ongoing legal battles shaping representation in the United States, most notably the fight over continued viability of the Voting Rights Act. The conversation will be moderated by Carl Unegbu.
Navigating the Complex Landscape of Surrogacy: What Mediators Need to Know

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution and Family and Divorce Mediation Council

Join legal experts Rebecca L. Mendel, Esq. and Denise E. Seidelman, Esq.—key drafters of New York’s Child Parent Security Act (CPSA)—for a thought-provoking CLE program examining how the CPSA revolutionized reproductive rights by legalizing compensated surrogacy. This session will delve into the law’s far-reaching impact on parental rights, ethical decision-making in assisted reproductive technology (ART), and the mediator’s role in navigating surrogacy agreements and related disputes.
Dismantling Hate: The Power of Dialogue

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution, Tamara Meyer, Arno Michaelis, and Daryl Davis

Join us for an inspiring conversation with three extraordinary individuals who have turned painful histories into catalysts for change:
- Tamara Meyer – daughter of German Jewish Holocaust survivors who now builds dialogue and healing across generational trauma
- Arno Michaelis – former leader in the White nationalist movement, who now works to prevent radicalization and promote compassion
- Daryl Davis – Black musician and racial justice advocate known for fostering friendships with members of the Ku Klux Klan, confronting hate with curiosity
A Conversation with Danielle Sassoon

Jacob Burns Center for Ethics in the Practice of Law, Cardozo Criminal Law Society, American Constitution Society (ACS), Danielle Sassoon, and Jessica A. Roth

Danielle Sassoon is currently a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Prior to her appointment as Interim U.S. Attorney in January 2025 by President Trump, Ms. Sassoon served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York for over eight years. Among her notable cases as an Assistant U.S. Attorney were the prosecution of Lawrence Ray for racketeering conspiracy, extortion, forced labor, and sex trafficking, related to his abuse and exploitation of his daughter’s college roommates and others. She also investigated and prosecuted Samuel Bankman-Fried and others for the multi-billion-dollar fraud on customers of FTX.com. In 2024, Ms. Sassoon was awarded the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Criminal Investigation. In 2023, she was awarded the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Top Prosecutor Award.
Dean Melanie Leslie’s Office Hours with Professor Jared Mayer

Melanie Leslie and Jared Mayer

Join Dean Leslie and Professor Jared Mayer for the Dean's Office Hours on October 20. They will discuss the economic impact of the tariffs and how American corporations are restructuring, often through litigation, as a result. The two will also answer questions raised by the student attendees.
Ukraine: The Judicial Challenge

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Dmytro Vovk, and Peter Goodrich

Schedule of Events

9:00 am-11:00 am: The Challenge of Putin’s Rewriting of History and Legitimizing the War Against Ukraine.

Nicolas Werth (Memorial) Putin’s Grand Narrative, from the Great patriotic War to the Invasion of Ukraine Dmytro Vovk (Cardozo Law) The role of Russia's weaponization of religion for the justification of the aggression against Ukraine and the international and national legal responses Nathaniel Raymond (Yale) The Deportation and Russification of Ukrainian Children

11:15 am-12:45 pm: A Legal Case Investigated in Co-Construction with Civil Society

Shulamit Almog (University of Haïfa), Breaking the Walls of Silence: Seeking Justice for Victims of Conflict-Related Violence in Ukraine François Croquette (Amnesty International), Amnesty International’s Evidence Lab

12:45 pm-1:00 pm: Closing Remarks

Peter Goodrich
The First Amendment & Censorship: Is This A New Era?

Cardozo Center for Rights and Justice, David Rudenstine, and Olivier Sylvain

Professors David Rudenstine (Cardozo) and Olivier Sylvain (Fordham) will discuss censorship both historically and today, and the role that the First Amendment plays in limiting government suppression of speech. Professor Alex Reinert will moderate the discussion.
Free, Prior, Informed Consent and Power Imbalances: Upholding Indigenous Rights on the Anniversary of Undrip

Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights (CLIHHR) and Fernanda Frizzo Bragato

Guest Speaker: Fernanda Frizzo Bragato - Professor of Law at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and a CNPq-funded researcher.

On the anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), this discussion addresses its crucial role in reshaping Indigenous rights across the Americas. Adopted in 2007, UNDRIP marked a historic shift by affirming Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination, autonomy, and free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) — challenging centuries of assimilationist policies. Yet, 17 years later, gaps persist. While UNDRIP inspired regional frameworks like the 2016 OAS Declaration, its promises often clash with extractive industries, state interests, and colonial power structures. Drawing on cases like Sarayaku v. Ecuador, and on a current mining project in Mura Lands in the Brazilian Amazon, Prof. Bragato will analyze:
- How UNDRIP redefined self-determination (without secession) and collective rights?
- The fight for binding consent in development projects?
- Why consultation processes remain fraught with coercion and broken trust
Michelle Adams on Detroit, The Supreme Court, and School Segregation

Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy, Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Alexander A. Reinert, Michelle Adams, and James Foreman Jr.

Join us for a special evening with Michelle Adams, the Henry M. Butzel Professor of Law at the University of Michigan, and former Cardozo Professor, as she discusses her acclaimed new book The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for School Desegregation.
Antitrust Fireside Chat

Heyman Center on Corporate Governance, Samuel N. Weinstein, Omeed Assefi, and Kevin Hart

Please join our fireside chat featuring Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi, Professor Samuel Weinstein, and Kevin Hart, Partner at Jones Day. The discussion will focus on the latest developments in antitrust enforcement policy at the U.S. Department of Justice. A networking reception with refreshments will follow the main program.
Documentary Screening Centered: Joe Lieberman

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution, Rachel Greenberg, Clarine Nardi Riddle, and Matt Lieberman

Join us for a special screening of a documentary focusing on the life and career of the late Senator Joe Lieberman.

Centered brings to life the remarkable journey of Joe Lieberman, the late Senator who made history as the first Jewish Vice-Presidential candidate—and nearly changed the course of American politics. Ever a trailblazer, Lieberman was known for his humor, his independence, and for prioritizing what he believed to be right — sometimes earning the ire of his longtime colleagues. In an era where the political divide seems wider than ever, Lieberman’s story is more urgent and relevant every day. The film explores his life and career in ways that challenge us to think about the future of democracy and how we can find ways to work together, no matter our differences.
Presenting the Jacob Burns Center Award for Professional Courage to Elizabeth (Liz) Oyer

Jacob Burns Center for Ethics in the Practice of Law and Elizabeth (Liz) Oyer

Liz Oyer served in the Department of Justice as United States Pardon Attorney from April 2022 to March 2025, overseeing the Office of the Pardon Attorney. In that role, she was responsible for reviewing applications from individuals across the country seeking pardons and commutations of sentence and preparing recommendations for the President concerning the exercise of his constitutional clemency power. The Pardon Attorney is a career-reserved position in the Senior Executive Service; it is not a political appointment.
Dispute Resolution: Why Ireland Works for International Business Law

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution, Hon. Loretta A. Preska, Hon Justice David Barniville, Sarah Murphy, Matthew York, and Simone K. Lelchuk

As international commerce becomes increasingly complex, the choice of forum and governing law is more critical than ever. This distinguished panel will explore how Ireland’s legal system - confidential and cost-effective and can provide businesses with efficient dispute resolution without lengthy court processes - offers a compelling and reliable jurisdiction for international dispute resolution.
CRJ Moot: Wright v. Talamantes

Center for Rights and Justice (CRJ), Alexander Reinert, Carolyn Kubitschek, Robert Mantel, and Michael Moore

Carolyn Kubitschek (founding partner, Lasner & Kubitschek), Robert Mantel (Crowell and Moring), and Professor Alex Reinert will serve as moot judges for Michael Moore (Law Offices of Michael Garth Moore), an attorney who will be arguing an appeal in Wright v. Talamantes, a civil rights case in the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Wright involves the constitutionality of an intrusive strip search of a minor without parental consent.
The First of All Freedoms: Free Speech, Antisemitism, and Lessons for the Jewish Community from the Dreyfus Affair

Jacob Burns Center for Ethics in the Practice of Law, Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights (CLIHHR), and Joel Swansin

Join us for a thought-provoking talk with Professor Joel Swanson of Sarah Lawrence College as he explores the intense debates over free speech and its boundaries within the French Jewish community during the Dreyfus Affair. At this pivotal time, French Jews debated extensively the question of whether there should be limits on speech in the name of protecting the Jewish community. By examining these historical debates and their outcomes, Professor Swanson will highlight parallels with the current discussions surrounding American Jews, pointing to historical precedents for lessons about how to approach current controversies. This event
The 2025 International Advocate for Peace Award Ceremony Honoring Zafra Lerman

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution and Zafra M. Lerman

Scientist, educator and humanitarian Zafra M. Lerman will receive Cardozo School of Law’s 24th International Advocate for Peace Award on March 6. The award, which originated in 2000, is presented annually by the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution to a person, organization or group that is exemplary in the field of conflict resolution.
Trauma-Transformed Law: The Why and How of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Practice

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution and Laura McGuire

From intake to deposition, mediation, and trial, legal clients are traversing one of the most re-traumatizing experiences of their lives when they decide to seek justice. Understanding how to address this from a personal and systems theory approach benefits survivors and attorneys alike, increasing client satisfaction, referrals, retention, and preventing longitudinal burnout. In this presentation, Dr. Laura McGuire, creator of the Certified Trauma-Informed ® Legal Professional program, will highlight some of the key areas of TIC in practice and offer additional insight into real-world application.
Dean Melanie Leslie’s Office Hors on the Trump Administration's immigration Enforcement Tactics

Melanie Leslie and Lindsay Nash

Join Dean Leslie and Professor Lindsay Nash to discuss the immigration enforcement tactics of President Trump’s second term. Topics will include the intersection between immigration enforcement and political speech, the administration’s expansion of summary removal processes, the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, and the administration’s recission of longstanding rules placing important constraints on immigration enforcement. The two will also answer questions raised by the student attendees.
Book Talk with Sarah Staszak

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution and Sarah Staszak

Princeton Professor Sarah Staszak will be here on April 1 to talk about her new book, Privatizing Justice: Arbitration and the Decline of Public Governance in the United States. The book examines arbitration's shift from a voluntary dispute resolution tool to a mandatory process favoring corporations. Staszak explores its historical and contemporary contexts, linking legal developments to broader institutional, political, and social dynamics.