The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University honored Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, with its 2024 Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence at a ceremony attended by district attorneys, fellow prosecutors and other members of the legal community on Pace University’s New York City campus September 23, 2024. Brennan was honored for her outstanding contributions to the field of criminal prosecution and excellence in prosecutorial practice, highlighting her innovative leadership in establishing alternative programs for combating the growing drug epidemic throughout New York’s five boroughs.

Appointed in 1998 by the city's five elected District Attorneys, Brennan has been a trailblazer as the first female to serve in the role and is now New York City’s longest serving Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

Under her leadership, her staff of approximately 200 legal and support personnel in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor have developed expertise to meet challenges posed by each new phase of the deadly opioid epidemic. She established the Heroin Interdiction Team, the Digital Forensic Services Unit, the Criminal and Investigative Analysts Unit, the Prescription Drug Investigation Unit, the Narcotics Gang Unit, the Money Laundering and Financial Investigation Unit, the Community Outreach Unit, the Discovery Compliance and Litigation Unit, the Post Judgment Litigation Unit, the Conviction Review Committee, and the Educational Outreach Committee.

Bridget’s work and the work of her Office is vital to our city, and we are all safer because of her leadership and commitment.

—Robert S. Tucker

During the presentation of the award, benefactor Robert S. Tucker, who was recently appointed FDNY Commissioner, expressed his gratitude and admiration for Brennan’s tireless work, noting how the opioid and narcotics crisis has grown in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Bridget’s work and the work of her Office is vital to our city, and we are all safer because of her leadership and commitment,” said Tucker.

In her role as Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Brennan investigates and prosecutes citywide, national, and international drug trafficking in partnership with city, state, and federal law enforcement. She blends tough and fair prosecutions with compassion and empathy. She has been a strong voice in calling attention to the rising rates of drug overdoses and has given needed recommendations for reducing these tragic deaths. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, more than 3,000 New York City residents died of overdoses – the highest number on record.

The Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor strives to reduce demand for narcotics by raising public awareness and facilitating alternatives to incarceration and drug treatment, and is in regular communication with providers in the fields of education and drug treatment. It is committed to ensuring that the criminal justice system is fair for all.

By intercepting large amounts of lethal narcotics at the top of the supply chain, and investigating and prosecuting high-level traffickers, the office prevents countless overdoses and street-level arrests. Brennan has been a longtime advocate of alternatives to incarceration and has worked with District Attorney Offices of the five boroughs to promote treatment alternatives, Judicial Diversion, Prosecutor-Led Diversion Programs and Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Court.

The Tucker Prize is yet one more accolade for Brennan, demonstrating her commitment to justice during her career of more than 40 years in public service. She has been recognized as Outstanding Prosecutor by the Criminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association, and for her leadership by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York County Lawyers Association, and numerous community organizations, enforcement agencies, and substance use treatment providers. In 2017, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Police Defense Foundation.

“Bridget’s tenacity in pursuing public safety, along with a commitment to fairness in the criminal justice system, and her forward-thinking mindset for developing strategies that reduce incarceration, are an inspiration for our law students pursuing careers in public service,” said Haub Law Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. “We are thrilled to honor her and shine a light on the impact she is making in our city.”

The Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence is awarded annually to an individual or a group of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of criminal prosecution and who demonstrate excellence in prosecutorial practice. Honorees are selected each year by a jury comprised of former prosecutors and faculty members from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. The award ceremony brings together prosecutors from across the region and state, civic leaders, members of the judiciary, New York City government and the Haub Law community to recognize these distinguished individuals for their work. The prize is made possible by the generous support of Haub Law alumnus and Pace University Board of Trustees member Robert S. Tucker. Past Award Recipients include Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and the Office of the Bronx District Attorney, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, former New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, and Richard A. Brown, the late Queens District Attorney.

View photos from the event

Shrey Jain

Class of 2025

Currently Studying: MBA in Business Analytics

Pronouns: He/Him

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Tell us about an extraordinary project you are presently working on for school or for fun.

I am on a mission to spread financial literacy. This summer, I dedicated my time to researching various macroeconomic and microeconomic data using one of Lubin's Bloomberg Terminals, sharing insights through regular posts. I plan to continue this work even after graduation. Overall, I would like to help others gain financial awareness. You can have a look at the article I worked on this summer (PDF).

Why did you choose your degree program?

I am pursuing an MBA in Business Analytics because of its broad applicability. To be an effective leader, one must have a bird's eye view of the entire organization. Business Analytics equips me with the skills to analyze data, identify trends, and make informed decisions. Additionally, it provides a macro perspective on overall business operations, enabling me to understand and navigate complex challenges.

Are you a part of any clubs? If so, which?

As a member of the Finance Club, I've had the privilege of exploring numerous opportunities that have enriched my understanding of the real financial world. One highlight was meeting Bill Ackman at an event, where I had the chance to ask him questions directly, gaining valuable insights from his experience.

What are your career goals?

My goal is to build a fintech startup and develop products for index option writing. Additionally, I plan to raise $100 million by 2030 and take the company public by 2034.

What do you do in your free time when you're not interning or taking classes?

In my free time, I read about unique business models and do research on microcap companies using the Bloomberg Terminal.

Surround yourself with quality people and build a strong network. A good network is not just for job or internship references, but for meaningful conversations, exchanging ideas, and sharing cultures. Building these relationships enriches your personal and professional life in ways that go beyond monetary gain.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students?

Surround yourself with quality people and build a strong network. A good network is not just for job or internship references, but for meaningful conversations, exchanging ideas, and sharing cultures. Building these relationships enriches your personal and professional life in ways that go beyond monetary gain. At the start, don't focus on earning money; instead, focus on investing in yourself and upskilling. In my life I have met quality people who have provided me with support, inspiration, and diverse perspectives that have shaped my journey.

Connect with Shrey:

• Connect with Shrey Jain on LinkedIn
• Follow Shrey Jain on Instagram
• Follow Shrey Jain on X

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The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is proud to announce that the 2024 Ottinger Award for Faculty Achievement has been awarded to Professor Vanessa Merton posthumously. The Richard Ottinger Faculty Achievement Award is awarded annually by the Faculty Development Committee, in consultation with the Dean, in recognition of a full-time professor’s outstanding service to the law school, the legal profession, or both. The award generally is based on the faculty member’s outstanding service during the previous academic year.

Professor Katrina Fischer Kuh, chair of the Faculty Development Committee, remarked: “While dealing with grave illness, Professor Vanessa Merton dedicated significant time and energy, at a moment when both were precious to her, to the Pace Immigration Justice Clinic. From spearheading outreach efforts to help recruit highly qualified candidates to lead the Pace Immigration Justice Clinic, to contacting alumni and colleagues for their continued support of the Clinic, to working with family to help establish and fund the Vanessa Merton Immigration Justice Fellowship, Vanessa displayed outstanding service of the highest order, as she did throughout her career. This recognition in the form of the Ottinger Award for Faculty Achievement is a small way in which we can honor the time and energy that Professor Merton dedicated to the IJC over the last year, which will greatly benefit the Clinic, its clients, our school, and our students.”

The Ottinger Award for Faculty Achievement is named in honor of Richard L. Ottinger, who served in the United States House of Representatives for eight terms, from 1965 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1985. Ottinger was Dean of the Law School from 1994 to 1999 and is the founder of the Pace Energy Project, now known as the Pace Energy and Climate Center. Learn more about the Richard Ottinger Faculty Achievement Award and other faculty designations and awards.

Professor Vanessa Merton began her legal education career at New York University School of Law, and was a founding faculty member of CUNY Law School, and a Mellon and National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow. She joined Haub Law’s faculty in 1989 and served as Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Executive Director of John Jay Legal Services, while creating and teaching clinics in Access to Health Care and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, and innovative programs aimed at providing legal services to those in need. In 2005, Professor Merton founded the Pace Immigration Justice Clinic and served as its Executive Director until early 2024. In this role she was a steadfast advocate for her clients and a role model for Haub Law students — providing representation on applications for asylum or family-based status, in removal proceedings at state and federal detention facilities, and on petitions for crime victims and juvenile immigrants. She assisted travelers detained at airports under the 2017 Trump Executive Orders, spent spring breaks volunteering at immigrant detention centers on the southern border, and established a 200-student emergency operation to assist people affected by 9/11. She was also a passionate advocate for protecting the rights of all American voters. Professor Merton passed away on July 15, 2024, and is fondly remembered as a teacher and mentor to generations of Haub Law students, many of whom she inspired to pursue careers in immigration justice or as public interest lawyers.

On September 12, 2024, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University Environmental Law Program held the second annual private environmental governance, sustainability, and ESG legal scholarship workshop. The half-day lightning workshop included an impressive gathering of environmentally focused scholars who spent the day workshopping new scholarship. This year’s workshop was developed by Haub Law Professor Josh Galperin, who also moderated the event.

“This year’s sustainable business focused workshop included presentations by eight scholars in the field,” said Professor Galperin. “All participants were engaged, provided thoughtful comments, and left with new inspiration for future impactful work. Sustainable business practices are vital to the future of our environment and gathering individuals in a workshop setting who are dedicated to that goal moves us closer to achieving it.”

This year’s workshop was held the day before the 'Profit & Purpose' Sustainable Business Conference, which each year, Haub Law partners with the Westchester County Association (WCA) to host. The ‘Profit & Purpose’ Conference is attended by business, nonprofit, and government leaders, focused on new opportunities in sustainable investing and real estate, navigating an evolving regulatory landscape, and the connection between sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. Numerous sustainable business workshop attendees also attended the Conference held the following day, capitalizing on the momentum of sustainability forward thought-sharing.

“Through all of our sustainable business focused activities we are providing a space for business, environmental, and legal professionals to gather and advance practical sustainable business practices, not just in Westchester County, but nationally and internationally,” said Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, Associate Dean of Environmental Law Programs and Strategic Initiatives, and Faculty Director, Sustainable Business Law Hub, Jason Czarnezki. “Whether it is at our workshops, conferences, or lectures where we showcase top scholars in the field or through our Sustainable Business Law Hub, which is supported by law students and scholars, we are focused on sustainable business practices as one of the keys to a healthy environmental future. Haub Law’s Sustainable Business Law Hub helps put theory into practice, this workshop serves to bolster that goal.”

The first annual private environmental governance, sustainability, and ESG legal scholarship workshop was held in spring 2023 in partnership with Vanderbilt Law School. The workshop has historically been and continues to be funded through the Sustainable Business Law Hub and the Haub Innovation Fund. Haub Law’s Sustainable Business Law Hub serves as an incubator space, student-training program, research endeavor, and think tank devoted to addressing global sustainability challenges through policy and research projects, relationships with the business community, and capacity building in private environmental governance. The Haub Innovation Fund is part of the generous naming gift to the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, which was made by the Haub Family, tireless environmental advocates and philanthropists.

For the third consecutive year, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University partnered with the Westchester County Association to host its Annual ‘Profit and Purpose’ Sustainable Business Conference at the Law School. The conference, held on Friday, September 13, brought together well over 100 business, nonprofit, and government leaders to discuss how businesses are innovating around climate change and social responsibility and inspire organizations to apply these principals to advance ESG in their practices.

The conference kicked off with remarks from Horace E. Anderson, Jr., Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and Michael N. Romita, president and CEO of the Westchester County Association (WCA). Dr. Stephen Hammer, Founding CEO of The New York Climate Exchange, delivered opening remarks, sharing the vision of its innovative center for climate solutions on Governors Island. Through its many partnerships, the Exchange leverages the collective power of education, research, workforce development, policy development, and public programming to advance climate action at the local, national, and global level. Referring to the conference, Hammer said, “Its these kinds of conversations that are so helpful because they make it very clear as to the challenges or opportunities on the ground.”

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The half-day conference offered four panel discussions featuring experts in energy policy, business strategy, finance, law and compliance, including two panels led by several Pace | Haub Environmental Law faculty and alumni.

Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, Associate Dean of Environmental Law Programs and Strategic Initiatives, and Faculty Director, Sustainable Business Law Hub, Jason Czarnezki moderated a panel titled, “What do ESG Lawyers and Sustainability Consultants Do?” which examined the rapid rise of sustainability and ESG expertise in law, accounting, and consulting firms. Haub Law alums Lauren Bachtel ‘13, Senior Counsel, Linklaters LLP; Zachary L. Berliner ‘18, Associate, Lowenstein Sandlers LLP’s Environmental Law & Litigation Group and ESG Practice; and Samantha Perlmutter ‘23, Sustainability Tax Staff at EY, along with Elizabeth Gousee Ballottee, Partner at PKF O’Connor Davies, joined the panel to discuss what services these professionals provide to clients such as advising on the role of directors in business sustainability, socially responsible investing and ESG ratings, voluntary reporting, and other voluntary sustainability regimes.

Another panel on “Greenwashing, ESG/Climate Disclosures, and The Chevron Doctrine’s Death” was moderated by Pace | Haub Environmental Law Professor Josh Galperin, and included Sustainable Business Law Hub Fellow Barbara Ballan, LLM ‘24, former Sustainable Business Law Fellow Maggie Pahl ’23, Environmental Attorney with Holland & Knight, and Brendan Reilly ‘04, Senior Legal Director of ESG Disclosures at PepsiCo. The panel addressed the laws and regulations that cover ESG disclosure, as well as consumer and securities greenwashing litigation, especially in light of recent decisions about regulatory authority from the Supreme Court, highlighting litigation risks.

The 2024 WCA Sustainable Business Conference offered key insights to help businesses start on a path to sustainability:

1. How Consumers Are Demanding Sustainability – and Why You Should Listen: Customers are choosing businesses that prioritize sustainability. This demand presents an opportunity for companies to innovate, build stronger brands, and attract new markets. Transparency and responsible practices are key to winning over today’s socially-conscious consumers.
2. New York's Clean Energy Push: Are You Ready for Challenges Ahead? The state's clean energy goals are revealing the complexities of transitioning to a sustainable future. While the journey has had its hurdles, progress continues, driven by policy changes. Businesses need clear timelines, flexibility, and resources to adapt.
3. The ESG Regulations You Can't Afford to Ignore to Stay Ahead of the Game: The landscape of ESG reporting is constantly changing. While Europe is ahead in standardization, U.S. regulations are catching up. Businesses should prepare to align with frameworks like SSB and TCFD, ensuring their sustainability practices are not only effective but compliant with emerging standards.
4. Is Your Organization Ready for Climate Risks? Here's What You Need to Know: From flooding to business interruptions, the impacts of climate change can be serious. Understanding these risks and planning for them is essential for resilience. Insurance and risk mitigation strategies can help protect businesses from climate-related disruptions.
5. Collaboration Is the Secret to Sustainability – Don't Miss Our on These Opportunities: Tackling sustainability challenges requires teamwork. Cross-industry collaboration, like Con Edison’s Clean Energy Networks and the NY Climate Exchange, offers opportunities to develop new solutions. Working together with other businesses, policymakers, and educational institutions can help create practical, effective strategies for a sustainable future.
6. Your Business Can't Ignore ESG Anymore. Here's Why: While addressing environmental issues may seem straightforward, social and governance challenges are just as critical. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is gaining importance in sustainability efforts, especially with policies like the Inflation Reduction Act’s "Justice 40" clause. Westchester businesses need to embrace the full scope of ESG to stay ahead.

Video recap of the 2024 conference Photos from the event

A special thanks to the 2024 conference sponsors:

• Bank of America
• Westchester County Office of Economic Development
• Chase
• Con Edison
• M&T Bank
• Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
• PKF O'Connor Davies
• Skanska
• Webster Bank

Remember Justin O'Neill? Justin is a student-athlete majoring in Computer Science at Pace University’s Seidenberg School. When we last spoke, Justin was finishing up his junior year and preparing for a summer internship at Staples. I recently caught up with Justin to hear about his internship experience which, in short, was phenomenal. Keep reading to learn more about Justin’s journey at Staples which (spoiler alert) is still unfolding…

Justin’s internship began on a positive note. He, alongside 40–50 other student interns, attended orientation at which they learned about Staples and about what to expect as an intern. Leaders from across the company shared information about its structure as well as key components of its culture. “Hearing from leadership about Staples’ goals and values really set the tone for the summer,” notes Justin. “And understanding more about the operational infrastructure was great context for me to have getting started.”

Justin was assigned to the Global Notification Platform Team which oversees communication related to all eCommerce transactions made on the company’s domain. As the only intern working with this small team, Justin was asked to contribute to a wide variety of projects with far-reaching and immediate impact. At times, he was surprised by the amount of opportunity he was given. “I had the perception that, as an intern, I would be assigned to less challenging tasks,” notes Justin. “Instead, I was given the opportunity to work on interesting and impactful projects.” Through working on such projects, Justin gained an awareness of the full lifecycle of his team’s process, including product initiation, development, testing, demoing, and going live.

Justin was also given his own project in which he was asked to engineer a solution to streamline a time-consuming process managed by the Staples Support Team. He met with the Support Team to learn about their needs and goals. From there, he built a system to address their pain points and create efficiency in the process. “It was really empowering to manage the project and make key decisions,” shares Justin. “I learned so much about collaboration, communication and creative thinking in this process.” Justin leveraged many of the skills he’s learned at Seidenberg to accomplish the project.

During his last week at Staples, Justin was given the chance to share his internship experience with Staples staff, members of senior leadership and other interns. He discussed the team he worked on, the skills he learned and was able to share a bit about himself. That this opportunity to reflect was part of his, as well as every student’s internship journey, was further evidence of a theme that was made clear to Justin all along – Staples’ deep investment in the intern experience. “I noticed this on day one with how comprehensive orientation was,” shares Justin. “And throughout the summer, there were many events organized to prepare students for the future.” Some of these activities included career readiness and resume building workshops as well as sessions focused on interview tactics and financial literacy. “All of these offerings, in addition to the incredible opportunities I was afforded through my team, made the internship an extraordinary experience!”

And Justin’s story at Staples continues.

At the end of the summer, he was asked to meet with a senior manager to interview for the company’s Rotational Program, wherein new hires are part of a 2-year program consisting of four 6-month rotations on different teams after which the individual can choose their path. Soon after the interview, Justin learned that he was selected for the Program, which will begin after he graduates. “I’m relieved to have a job lined up for when I graduate, as I know how challenging it can be to find work,” shares Justin, who is also incredibly happy to be returning to Staples. “I am thrilled to say the least!”

We, too, are thrilled and are excited to see what the future holds for Justin, in his senior year and beyond.