Fordham School of Law: Notable Alumni and Their Impact

Fordham University School of Law, located in the heart of Manhattan, has a rich history of producing accomplished legal professionals. Its alumni have made significant contributions to law, politics, business, and public service. This article explores some of the school's notable graduates and their diverse achievements.

Overview of Fordham Law School

Fordham University School of Law is one of the eight ABA-accredited law schools in New York City. Originally located in the Financial District, it is now part of Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus. A new law school building was dedicated on September 18, 2014, as part of the university's Lincoln Center Master Plan. The school offers a comprehensive legal education, with 88.12% of 2023 graduates obtaining full-time, long-term, JD-required employment. Fordham Law provides various programs, including J.D., LL.M., and joint degrees.

Leaders in Public Service and Government

Fordham Law has a strong tradition of producing leaders in public service. Several alumni have held prominent positions in government at the city, state, and federal levels.

John N. Mitchell: Served as the United States Attorney General.
Malcolm Wilson: Served as the Governor of New York.
Vincent R. Impellitteri: Served as the Mayor of New York City.
Geraldine Ferraro: A political figure and advocate for women’s rights, she was also a U.S. Representative and the first female vice-presidential candidate for a major party.
Thomas Suozzi: U.S. Representative
Thomas Vincent Quinn: U.S. Representative
Bill Owens: U.S. Representative
Jerrold Nadler: U.S. Representative
Vito Fossella: U.S. Representative
Francis E. Walter: U.S. Representative
Felipe N. Torres: A trailblazing Afro-Latino leader, Torres was the first Puerto Rican judge appointed to the New York State Family Court and the first Puerto Rican assemblyman elected from the Bronx.

Judicial Pioneers

Many Fordham Law alumni have distinguished themselves in the judiciary, serving at various levels of the court system.

Peter T. Farrell: Served as a judge.
Samuel M. Gold: Served as a retired New York Judge.
Catherine M. Bartlett: Served as a Justice of the State Supreme Court.

Legal Luminaries and Advocates

Fordham Law has produced numerous accomplished attorneys who have made significant contributions to the legal profession.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Eunice Carter: A trailblazing figure, Carter was raised in a society with constrained expectations about race and gender, Carter triumphed far beyond the stifling conventions of her day. Indeed, by the 1940s her professional and political successes had made her one of the most famous black women in the United States.
Franklin H. Williams: A civil rights lawyer, world ambassador, national diplomat, and philanthropist whose commitment to combating racial injustice effected great change in American society-and around the globe.
Raymond A. Brown: Civil Rights Lawyer.
William Hundley: Lawyer for the Famous.
Archibald Murray: Led Bar Association.
Thomas Puccio: Ex-Prosecutor and Lawyer for Notorious Clients.
Brian Steel: A criminal defense attorney, gained notoriety during the 2022 YSL Records racketeering trial as the lead attorney representing rapper Jeffery "Young Thug" Williams.
Kei Komuro: Attorney at Lowenstein Sandler and husband of former Japanese Princess Mako (Mako Komuro).
Ruth Whitehead Whaley: The first black woman to enroll at Fordham Law, Whaley graduated at the top of her class in 1924. In 1925, she became the first black woman to practice law in New York state, and in 1933, she was the first black woman to practice law in her home state of North Carolina.

Leaders in Business and Corporate Law

Fordham Law alumni have also excelled in the business world, holding leadership positions in various corporations.

Finbarr O'Neill: Former CEO of J.D. Power and Associates.
Richard J. Bennett: Established himself as a nationally recognized corporate leader during his exceptional career at Schering-Plough Corporation, where he served as General Counsel, President, and Chairman.

Fordham Law School Awards and Recognition

Fordham Law School presents several awards to honor alumni who have made outstanding contributions in their fields.

The Medal of Achievement

The Medal of Achievement is presented to an alumnus or alumna of the Law School who has a distinguished career in law or business. Past recipients include:

1952: Hon. John T. Loughran
1953: George H. Coppers
1954: Andrew B. Shea
1955: Hon. Albert Conway
1956: Louis Stein
1957: Hon. Thomas J. Brogan
1958: Hon. Vincent L. Leibell
1959: Edward B. Schulkind
1960: Hon. Adrian P. Burke
1961: Henry M. Hogan
1962: Hon. William C. Hecht, Jr.
1963: Hon. Sylvester J. Ryan
1964: Henry Mannix
1965: Hon. James B.M. McNally
1966: Hon. Malcolm Wilson
1967: Hon. Joseph W. McGovern
1968: George A. Brooks
1969: Hon. John N. Mitchell
1970: Hon. Irving R. Kaufman
1971: Hon. William H. Mulligan
1972: Caesar L. Pitassy
1973: John B. Henrich
1974: Donald M. Dunn
1975: Denis McInerney
1976: Hon. Louis J. Lefkowitz
1977: William R. Meagher
1978: Harry J. McCallion
1979: Hon. David N. Edelstein
1980: John D. Feerick
1981: Paul J. Curran
1982: Hon. Joseph M. McLaughlin
1983: Hon. Lawrence W. Pierce
1984: Hon. Irene J. Duffy, Hon. Kevin Thomas Duffy
1985: Archibald R. Murray
1986: John R. Vaughan
1987: John D. Calamari
1988: Hon. John F. Keenan
1989: James F. Gill
1990: Hon. John M. Cannella
1991: Frances G. Berko
1992: Thomas R. Donahue
1993: Andrew J. Maloney
1994: Patricia M. Hynes
1995: Constantine N. Katsoris
1996: James E. Tolan
1997: Hon. Robert J. Callahan
1998: Hon. Loretta A. Preska, Thomas J. Kavaler
1999: Michael K. Stanton, Ernest E. Stempel
2000: William F. Harrington
2001: William P. Frank
2002: Thomas A. Moore and Hon. Jacqueline Silbermann
2003: George C. Ross
2004: Hon. Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
2005: Hon. Geraldine Ferraro
2006: Maureen Scannell Bateman and Hon. Denny Chin
2007: Denis F. Cronin and Margaret M. Hill
2008: Dennis J. Kenny
2009: John R. Costantino
2010: Joseph E. Geoghan
2011: John H. Wolff
2012: Hon. Arthur J. Gonzalez
2013: Mark H. Tuohey III
2014: James Quinn
2015: James S. Brown
2016: Hon. Cathy Seibel
2017: Mark J. Hyland
2018: Bradley J. Butwin
2019: Kim Koopersmith
2020: Michael K. Stanton, Jr.
2022: Joseph M. McShane, S.J.
2023: Megan Hogan
2024: Eric F.

The Richard J. Bennett Memorial Award

The Richard J. Bennett Memorial Award recognizes corporate leaders with the highest standards of ethical conduct, moral purpose, and selfless commitment. Honorees include: