Two highly respected attorneys and powerhouses in their respective fields were recently named to the Brooklyn Law School Board of Trustees: Dennis J. Block ’67, senior chair of Greenberg Traurig’s global mergers and acquisitions practice, and Lawrence A. Sucharow ’75, co-chair of Labaton Sucharow and a leader of the class action bar.
Block, who is widely recognized as one of the foremost M&A lawyers in the country, has been integral to major transactions including Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth, Procter & Gamble’s acquisition of Gillette, Westinghouse’s acquisition of CBS, and JPMorgan Chase’s acquisition of Bear Stearns. He has long been an active member of the Law School community, providing significant philanthropic support for students and serving as an adjunct professor for the last 18 years teaching corporate law. The Law School’s Dennis J. Block Center for the Study of International Business Law is named in his honor.
He also serves as an experienced advisor to companies, boards of directors, and special committees on corporate governance, M&A, and related matters. Prior to entering private practice, he was a branch chief for enforcement in the New York Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“I look forward to helping ensure that the next generation of Brooklyn Law School students have the opportunity to receive a world-class, affordable education that will prepare them for success, innovation, and service to others,” Block said.
Sucharow, an internationally recognized securities lawyer, has prosecuted hundreds of cases. His firm has recovered billions in groundbreaking securities, antitrust, business transaction, and product liability class actions, including a landmark case, In re Real Estate Associates Limited Partnership Litigation, which was the first securities action successfully tried to a jury verdict following the enactment of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.
Labaton Sucharow LLP is one of the top plaintiffs’ securities and antitrust class action firms in the world. The firm was recently named for the fifth time as a Class Action Practice Group of the Year by Law360, which also selected Sucharow as one of the 10 Most Admired Securities Attorneys in the United States and as a Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar. In 2012, Sucharow was honored with the Alumni of the Year award.
Sucharow has generously supported the Law School and has helped numerous students with scholarships. In 2013, he and his firm established an internship program in conjunction with the Law School’s Clinical Education Program, giving students an opportunity to gain real-world experience by providing pro bono assistance to defrauded individual investors.
“I am delighted to join the board of my alma mater,” Sucharow said, “and I am grateful for my time at Brooklyn Law School, which equipped me to confidently enter the legal field. I have remained involved with the Law School community for many years, but as a trustee I look forward to playing an even greater role in its continued success and investment in students.”
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Dennis and Larry to the board of Brooklyn Law School,” said Stuart Subotnick ’68, chair of the Board of Trustees. “Their knowledge, experience, and passion for the role of lawyers advances Brooklyn Law School’s 117-year commitment to preparing students for the most difficult of tomorrow’s business, economic, and sociopolitical challenges.”