The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is pleased to announce that Imre Szalai, a nationally-known scholar focusing on arbitration and the Federal Arbitration Act, will join the faculty as a full Professor of Law with tenure beginning in Fall 2025. Professor Szalai will teach courses on contracts, commercial arbitration, civil procedure, and legal ethics.

Professor Szalai has served as a commercial arbitrator in numerous cases, and he has written books, book chapters, and dozens of articles about arbitration. He is particularly interested in the historical development of arbitration practices and arbitration law. Working together with his students, he has written several amicus briefs regarding arbitration matters, and his work has been cited by courts of all levels and during Congressional hearings. Most recently, Professor Szalai was the Jones Walker Distinguished Professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Prior to that, Professor Szalai practiced antitrust law in New York City, and he then handled complex commercial disputes with a law firm in Miami, Florida, representing clients in connection with court proceedings and arbitration matters across various jurisdictions.

“Professor Szalai’s unique interest in the historical development of arbitration will complement Haub Law’s strong alternative dispute resolution curriculum, which has become an area of prestige at the Law School,” said Dean Horace E. Anderson, Jr. “His impactful scholarship and experience will bolster the student experience and provide additional opportunities for students to explore and develop skills in alternative dispute resolution processes. We look forward to Professor Szalai joining the Haub Law community.” In the most recent U.S. News and World Report rankings of specialty programs, Haub Law was ranked #18 for Dispute Resolution.

“New York is the birthplace and the center of commercial arbitration in the United States – Haub Law’s location and history of excellence in the field of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution is unbeatable,” said Professor Szalai. “The level of student achievement and faculty scholarship at Haub Law is extremely impressive. I look forward to joining the active scholarly community, sharing my passion with students, and helping students explore and engage with the many professional opportunities related to arbitration that the region affords.”

Professor Szalai graduated from Yale University, double majoring in Economics and Classical Civilizations, and he received his law degree from Columbia University, where he was named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He is frequently interviewed and quoted in various media outlets, including the New York Times, the Economist, USA Today, the LA Times, NPR’s Marketplace, Forbes, CNN, Money, Time, and many others. Professor Szalai also maintains a blog about arbitration.

Haub Law recently announced the expansion of its faculty with the additions of Professor Lauren Roth, a health law and business law scholar, Professor Kate Skolnick, a seasoned public defender and criminal law scholar, and Professor Gregory Antill, a criminal law and philosophy scholar. The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is proud to have more than 130 legal experts as members of its full-time and adjunct faculty. Faculty members are lawyers with outstanding academic credentials and extensive legal experience. They are student-centered educators who bring their diverse practice experience to the classroom. Through either prior or ongoing active careers as attorneys—whether as litigators, counselors, regulators, legal reformers, policymakers, judges, clerks, or counselors—our faculty have unique perspectives informed by their work in multiple fields of law in the private and public sectors.

On Wednesday, May 22, the Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC) hosted its annual Cocktails for a Cause fundraiser at the waterfront Barley Beach House, gathering community leaders, advocates, and supporters to help raise vital funds for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse.

The event, which came at a critical moment as domestic violence cases continue to rise across Westchester County and nationwide federal funding for domestic violence services remains under scrutiny, served as both a celebration of resilience and a call to action. Guests enjoyed an evening of signature cocktails, raffles and auction items, and heartfelt stories that underscored the importance of PWJC’s mission and legal advocacy.

“Our work is more urgent than ever,” said Cindy Kanusher, Executive Director of PWJC. “Survivors in our region are still facing rising rates of violence and abuse, and it is essential that we remain equipped to meet them with legal tools, advocacy, and unwavering support. With the help of our community, we’re proud to serve more than 3,500 clients each year with free, trauma-informed legal services that protect lives and restore hope.”

The evening also featured heartfelt remarks from longtime PWJC ally and advocate Alayne Katz, Esq., whose tireless work to honor the legacy of her sister Gail—tragically murdered by her abuser—continues to drive awareness and change. Gail’s story was the inspiration behind PWJC’s original office, lovingly known as “Gail’s House,” and remains a powerful symbol of the justice PWJC continues to strive for every day.

“In early 2001, the Center memorialized Gail’s life by naming their offices Gail’s House, giving Gail a symbolic resting place,” said Alayne. “The then-Dean explained that the Center’s work with survivors of domestic violence could and would give full meaning to Gail’s too-short life. The Center has made good on that promise. They have become the largest civil legal services provider in this County, specializing in domestic violence and elder abuse. The Center’s services are often the difference between healthy families and broken lives and tragic fatalities.”

Also in attendance were Vedat Gashi, Chairman of Westchester Board of Legislators and Nancy Barr, Chair of the Human Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Families Task Force for the Westchester Board of Legislators.

“What people don’t necessarily understand is that elected officials… don’t necessarily know the subject matter like [PWJC] does… if we really want to understand the subject matter, we have to go to the experts,” said Nancy Barr, Chair of the Human Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Families Task Force for the Westchester Board of Legislators. “[Cindy] has done a fabulous job over the years of explaining why what you do at PWJC is so, so important. We have supported PWJC every year at the County Legislature, and we really believe in the partnership between government and nonprofits. This is a particularly fantastic partnership between a local organization and county government.”

This year’s Cocktails for a Cause raised over $16,000, ensuring that more survivors will gain access to emergency orders of protection, custody and divorce representation, and critical elder justice support.

PWJC thanks its generous sponsors, host committee, and every guest who helped ensure this mission continues.

Waves of Change Sponsor: The ICON Foundation of Keller Williams

Shifting Shores Sponsors: Jane Aoyama; Enea, Scanlan, & Sirignano, LLP; Jacqueline Hattar, Esq.; Law Office of Alayne Katz, P.C.

Ripple Effect Sponsors: Apple Bank; Falcon, Rappaport, & Berkman, LLP; Patricia Hennessy, Esq; Jackson Lewis; Orange Bank & Trust Company; PCSB Community Foundation

Host Committee: Lauren C. Enea, Esq. (Event Co-chair) Sarah DeRise; Jacqueline Hattar, Esq.; Cindy Kanusher, Esq.; Alayne Katz, Esq.; Alyson Kuritzky, Esq.; Stella King, Esq.; Jana Kosberg-Kleidman, Esq.; Samantha A. Lyons, Esq.; Melissa McMonagle; Amanda Rieben, Esq.; Rachel Shehy

Cocktails for a Cause 2025 photos

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Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law is proud to announce that Diego Gomez ‘22, Center Attorney at the Legal Hand Call-In Center serving Westchester County, has been named a 2025 Wunderkind by Westchester Magazine’s 914INC. The annual Wunderkinds list honors the region’s most dynamic and innovative young professionals under the age of 35.

When the virtual Legal Hand Call-In Center serving Westchester County launched at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2023, Diego Gomez was pivotal in its success. Initially, Diego started as the Center’s Manager and grew into the role of the Center’s Attorney. Through the Legal Hand Call-In Center serving Westchester County, highly trained non-lawyer Volunteers and law students provide free legal information, resources, assistance, and referrals (not legal advice) to virtual Visitors who live, work, or go to school in Westchester County. Volunteers work to help Visitors resolve important issues impacting their life in areas such as housing, immigration, family, domestic violence, public benefits, employment, and many more. Originally established in 2015 in New York City, Legal Hand also has virtual Call-In Centers in Suffolk, Nassau, Schenectady, and Albany Counties.

The 914INC. Magazine article on Diego notes that he has been at the heart of the Center and played a key role in its growth – helping establish it, expanding outreach, increasing community awareness and access to justice. Diego also trains and supervises Haub Law students and local volunteers on how to assist calls from virtual visitors and treat them with the same compassion as if they were a client present in the room. “It is incredibly meaningful to be recognized as a Wunderkind,” said Diego. “This work is about empowering people with knowledge and resources so they can confidently navigate legal challenges.”

The Legal Hand Call-In Center is an all-virtual resource center for community members, with office space on the third floor of Aloysia Hall at the Law School. Legal Hand works to prevent and resolve problems before they become legal actions and to empower neighbors to help neighbors. Law student and community Volunteers must complete a significant formal training process before participating and Diego is crucial in this aspect. The virtual help is language accessible with a language line available for callers who require translations, Diego provides pivotal in this aspect as well, as he is fluent in Spanish and French as well as English.

“I am proud to be part of a mission that centers community and justice and this is one step in the direction of bringing about change on a larger scale,” shares Diego.

Read about Diego in 914INC. Magazine