Page 110 - NYLJ Professional Excellence 2021

Zelhof and a bill to exempt COVID-19 stimulus important work: “Envisioning a society
relief from judgment enforcement.
in which there is justice for all.”
During Jeanette’s tenure as executive During the course of her career, Jea-
« Continued from page 22 director for over 10 years, she over- nette has worked as a passionate advo-
13-cvCase 1:09-cv-08486-DC Document saw the tripling of MFJ’s budget and cate conducting fair hearings, defend-
(E.D.N.Y.); and Sykes v. Mel S. Harris staff, and she successfully executed a ing eviction proceedings, and bringing
& Assocs., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 170179 $1.8 million capital campaign to move impact and class action litigation and has
(S.D.N.Y. Nov. 16, 2015). Because of Jea- MFJ into new offices in lower Manhat- appeared in many forums, from admin-
nette, MFJ has also obtained landmark tan. As part of NYC’s historic universal istrative agencies to family, housing
decisions, including: Matter of Acosta access to counsel program for tenants, and supreme courts, and federal court.
v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Educ., 16 N.Y.3d 309 she brought on BOOM!Health’s legal As described by Lisa Cleary, manag-
(2011); Bowen v Rubin, 213 F. Supp. 2d 220 department and opened an MFJ office ing partner at Patterson Belknap, “Jea-
(E.D.N.Y. 2001). Consistent with Jeanette’s in the Bronx to reach New York’s most nette is a force of nature, indefatigable
desire to address large-scale problems vulnerable residents. She also brought and supremely passionate and dogged
confronting those in need, MFJ has also Partnership for Children’s Rights into about her commitment to the provision
been instrumental in advocating for and the MFJ fold to expand the organization’s of free legal services to low-income New
ensuring the passage of numerous laws education work for children with special Yorkers.” Throughout her laudable legal
and regulations that protect low-income needs. And under her leadership, MFJ career, Jeanette has served as a role
New Yorkers, including: the Exempt changed its name in 2017, and crafted model and inspiration to hundreds of
Income Protection Act, several pro-con- a new mission statement that reflects lawyers and has transformed the lives
sumer debt collection-related measures, Jeanette’s approach to the organization’s of countless low-income New Yorkers.

Rubenstein based in New York. Sanford Rubenstein.” Latham
tions of the renowned civil rights attorney
“Rubenstein’s career has been punctu-
« Continued from page 20 ated by many heart-wrenching, high pro- « Continued from page 89
Council Chair’s Award for Civil Rights. file cases in which he has represented who uniformly agreed to participate.
He is the author of a book entitled countless victims of wrongful acts. Yet, Some litigation teams have obtained per-
“The Outrageous Rubenstein” in which it is Rubenstein’s mastery of the trial out- mission from the court to allow internal
he writes about his experience as media side the courtroom—under scrutiny of firm observers, almost always happily
savvy trial lawyer fighting for justice a jury comprising the press, the public, granted. Other teams simply provided
and change. A profile of him published and policymakers—that sets him apart access to links to the proceedings, no
in American Bar Association Periodical from other civil rights attorneys.” permission needed.
“Minority Trial Lawyer” described him as: Sanford Rubenstein is a well-deserved
“Prolific, legendary, change-maker, and recipient of the New York Law Journal’s
even outrageous are all accurate descrip- Lifetime Achievement Award.
Oper-
ate from a position of confidence and
strength, rather than fear. Too often, the
Goldstein 2011 after more than a decade as a part- most innovative ideas never even make it
to consideration because someone with
ner at Covington & Burling, is also an avid
cyclist. She said she was glad to resume a brilliant solution didn’t share it for fear
« Continued from page 28 riding with friends after biking alone dur- of the reaction. Ask yourself, “what if I am
Goldstein said she tries to find the humor ing the earlier part of the pandemic. right?” rather than “what if I am wrong?”
in her work. “I would start team meetings “When you’re cycling, you have to be Once you’ve done that, find a place to
by having somebody recite the limerick of focused on what you’re doing because practice law that will encourage you to
the week or the poem of the week where of the safety issues, obviously, so your have a voice—and leaders and mentors
we would take, you know, a discovery mind can’t wander, you can’t be noo- who will help you manage it, so you know
dispute or a personal foible of our adver- dling over something at the office, so when to speak up and know when to tone
sary, and then we’d write a funny poem it really is a way of both getting great it down but always feel heard and valued.
about it,” she said. “It was just a great exercise and mentally disengaging,” she That will be the place in which you can
icebreaker for getting people into a more said. “And when I go back to my desk thrive and also the place where clients
relaxed frame of mind.” I’m really recharged and refreshed, which will receive the best innovative solutions
Goldstein, who moved to Dechert in is ideal.” to their most vexing challenges.

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