FRANCIS J. AQUILA ’83 , a leader in mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance law,
has been elected chairman of Brooklyn Law School’s Board of Trustees. Aquila, a partner at
Sullivan & Cromwell, has been a member of the Board since 2008, serving as vice chair since
2014. He follows Stuart Subotnick ’68, president and chief executive officer of Metromedia
Company, who has been chairman for 16 years. Subotnick will remain on the Board as
chairman emeritus.
“It has been tremendously rewarding to serve as chairman of Brooklyn Law School’s Board
of Trustees,” said Subotnick. “Frank has been an invaluable partner in guiding our great Law School to national prominence.
I am confident that the school will continue to thrive under his leadership of the Board.”
“Stu Subotnick has been a great leader for our Board and our Law School, and I know I have very big shoes to fill,” Aquila
said. “I am honored that the stewardship of this distinguished institution has been entrusted to me, and I am excited to
continue working to move Brooklyn Law School’s mission forward.”
Aquila has been widely recognized as one of the world’s leading M&A lawyers. In December 2018, the Financial Times described him as “one of the most influential and high-profile M&A and corporate lawyers in the U.S.,” who has “played a
role in many of the largest and most complex deals.” The Wall Street Journal profiled him as one of the seven top dealmakers
of the year.
“Frank Aquila represents everything a person can achieve with a Brooklyn Law degree,” said Dean Michael T. Cahill.
“He has made us proud and will surely help us prosper. I greatly look forward to working with him.”