The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce that four new members have joined its Board of Visitors. All four members, Jerome Abelman’93, Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace ’89, Lauren Enea ’16, and Sapna Palla ’98, are distinguished Pace Haub Law alumni.
“We are honored to welcome four exceptional alumni and legal professionals to the Board of Visitors,” said Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. “Jerry, Susan, Lauren, and Sapna each bring a deep commitment to justice and a strong belief in the power of legal education. Their insight and leadership will help guide Pace Haub Law in the years to come and their unique expertise will be invaluable as we prepare the next generation of legal advocates.”
Sapna Palla ’98 is currently a partner with White & Case. Sapna concentrates her practice on Intellectual Property litigation matters and has spent over two decades representing clients in the Life Sciences and Technology industries in high-stakes patent, trademark, copyright, and complex commercial matters, including successfully litigating disputes in federal and state courts in a range of jurisdictions. She also has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. In addition, Sapna counsels and represents a variety of US and international clients regarding US intellectual property rights. Notably, she also counsels clients about patent law in Asia, including China and India. Sapna is an inaugural member of Judge Janet Bond Arterton's Intellectual Property American Inns of Court. She has also served as adjunct professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. She received her JD from Pace Haub Law and her undergraduate degree from Pace University as well. Sapna has lived and studied in both India and Tanzania and she is fluent in Hindi and Marathi and conversant in French.
The Honorable Susan Cacace ‘89 serves as the District Attorney of Westchester County, where her leadership is defined by her unwavering commitment to justice, public safety and community well-being. Judge Cacace began her distinguished legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County. In this role, she managed numerous felony trials and secured indictments in over 500 cases. She also made history by leading Westchester’s first dedicated animal cruelty unit, advocating for the welfare of voiceless victims and setting a precedent for innovative prosecution methods. Following nearly 15 years as a prosecutor, Judge Cacace transitioned briefly into private practice alongside her husband before being elected as a Westchester County Court Judge in 2005. Over nearly two decades on the bench, she presided over significant felony cases and established herself as a leader in the specialized courts. Notably, she presided over the county’s first Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) part and became the longest-serving presiding judge of the Sex Offense part in Westchester County history. Judge Cacace earned her JD from Pace Haub Law and her undergraduate degree from Pace University. She remains an active member of several professional organizations, including the Yonkers Lawyers Association, the Columbian Lawyers Association, the Westchester County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. Additionally, she supports community initiatives through her involvement with the Yonkers Lions Club and the Enrico Fermi Scholarship Fund.
Jerome (“Jerry”) Abelman ’93 was appointed as Group General Counsel and Director, Legal and External Affairs in May 2015 after joining the British American Tobacco (BAT) Management Board as Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs in January 2015. After 11 years as General Counsel, Jerry retired at the end of 2025. In his capacity as General Counsel, Jerry provided leadership to and oversight of a global department of approximately 1,000 lawyers and security professionals in over 100 countries. Prior to his appointment to the Management Board, Jerry held various roles including Regional General Counsel, Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong and Area General Counsel, Australasia, in Sydney. Before joining BAT, Jerry was with the law firm Chadborne & Parke LLP in New York and London. Jerry also served as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Reynolds American, Inc. from February 2016 until July 2017 when it was acquired by the BAT Group. Jerry received his JD from Pace Haub Law and his undergraduate degree from Tulane University.
Lauren C. Enea ’16 is a partner at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. In addition to her client successes, Ms. Enea plays a key role in the firm’s growth and recently led Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP’s expansion into a second office in Somers, NY. An active member of the local bar associations, Ms. Enea was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association (WCBA) Trusts and Estates Section. She is also the co-chair of the WCBA New Lawyers Section, a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County, and chair of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Elder Law and Special Needs Section Publications Committee and co-editor of the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section Journal. Ms. Enea was awarded the Outstanding New Lawyer Award in 2020 by the Westchester County Bar Association and the 2025 Shining Star Award from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. She was also named to the 2021-2025 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and the 2023-2026 Best Lawyers Ones to Watch list. Ms. Enea was recognized at Westfair Communications' 2019 Millennial Awards and as a 2022 Westchester Wunderkin by 914INC. She serves on the Pace Women’s Justice Center's Friends of Gail Advisory Board and is a board member of the Italian American Forum and Opengate Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through compassionate care, meaningful support, and opportunities to thrive. She received her JD from Pace Haub Law and her undergraduate degree from Quinnipiac University.
The Board of Visitors furthers the interests of the Law School by involving alumni and friends in significant issues of concern to the School, and by building a sense of community that fosters pride and participation. The Board is comprised of leaders in the legal community who serve as advisors to the Dean on a variety of issues involving legal education. The Board is also dedicated to fostering a strong interest in the mission of the Law School by helping to recruit outstanding students, hiring graduates, and encouraging financial support from public and private sources. The Board is currently co-chaired by Alfred E. Donnellan '81, Managing Partner, DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr, LLP and Kathleen Donelli ’85, Partner, Goldschmidt & Genovese, LLP.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University’s Land Use Law Center recently hosted the 24th Annual Alfred B. DelBello Land Use and Sustainable Development Conference, continuing its long-standing tradition of convening leaders in land use, environmental law, and public policy to address the challenges and opportunities facing communities today.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, in partnership with the North America Committee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations (CGA-NA), proudly hosted a special New York Arbitration Week program, titled “Greener Arbitration: Insights from the Next Generation of Legal Scholarship.”
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is proud to announce that ten policy motions led by Pace Haub Law students were officially adopted at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, held October 8–16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A cohort of four Pace Haub Law faculty members, five students, and six alumni traveled to Abu Dhabi for the 2025 World Conservation Congress where they negotiated revisions to motions, crafted new and urgent motions, presented at sessions, addressed the IUCN President, and continued their environmental advocacy.