Major Gifts
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law is grateful to the following donors who have made recent major gift commitments as part of the Motion to Lead Campaign. Major gifts are gifts of $100,000 and up that are either designated for a specific purpose or support the Law School generally. If you are interested in learning about making a gift of any size, please contact Sarah Zimmerman at 312.503.1768 or sarah.zimmerman@law.northwestern.edu.
Anonymous: An anonymous gift of $150,000 will support two areas of the Law School that the donor feels are important to the student experience: the Center for Practice Engagement and Innovation and the Center for International Human Rights in the Bluhm Legal Clinic. This alumnus participated in the Clinic during law school and recognizes the value of that experience and the real-world impact of the work.
Anonymous: An anonymous gift of $150,000 establishes an LLM Tax Scholarship at the Law School. Established in 2002, the Tax Program prepares an average of 40 students per year as experts in the field of tax law. The nine-month program boasts a comprehensive curriculum, outstanding faculty and one of the lowest student to faculty ratios of any graduate tax program in the country. This LLM Tax Scholarship is the first donor-funded scholarship of its designation at the Law School.
Anonymous: An anonymous donor generously gifted over $200,000 to support Law School faculty and research.
Anonymous: Donors who will remain anonymous are generously participating in the 50 for 250 Legacy Challenge with a $300,000 commitment to the Law School. They have pledged $50,000 to the Law School Annual Fund and documented a $250,000 bequest to establish an endowed scholarship.
Steve Bahls (JD '79) and Jane Bahls: The Bahls’ generous donation of $200,000 establishes the Steve and Jane Bahls Scholarship, which supports students who attended a liberal arts institution for their undergraduate studies. Steve has been the President of Augustana College since 2003, and prior to this, he was dean at Capital University Law School and associate dean and professor at the University of Montana School of Law. Early in his career, he practiced corporate law with the Milwaukee firm of Frisch, Dudek and Slattery.
Jared Bartie (JD '93) and Ernest Greer (JD '91): Mr. Bartie and Mr. Greer have generously pledged to give $250,000 to establish a new endowed scholarship at the Law School. The Bartie-Greer Opportunity Scholarship will support Law School students who bring distinct experiences to their class, such as notable leadership skills or a history of resilience or achievement while overcoming hardship or other personal challenges. This wonderful gift will live up to its name in providing many future students with an incredible educational opportunity while also diversifying and enhancing our community.
Robert W. Bennett: Bob Bennett’s generous bequest gift will augment a scholarship that he established in 1984 at the Law School in honor of his parents, Lewis and Henrietta Bennett. Bob is a longtime member of the Northwestern Law community, joining as a faculty member in 1969 and serving as dean from 1985 to 1995. During his tenure as dean, Bob was instrumental in nearly tripling the number of endowed faculty positions at the Law School. Bob went on to hold one of those newly endowed positions when he was named the Nathaniel L. Nathanson Professor in 2002, a title he held until his retirement in 2016. Additionally, he has for many years taught law abroad in Qatar and South Korea.
Sharon Y. Bowen (JD ’82, MBA ’82) and Larry Morse: Ms. Bowen and Mr. Morse have documented a major gift bequest to support the newly established African American History and Culture Endowed Scholarship. Sharon is an Independent Director of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and has more than 35 years of regulatory, securities and public policy expertise. Sharon served as Chair of the Law Board and was on the Women in Law Panel in New York in April 2019. Sharon and Larry reside in New York City.
Honorable William J. Boyce (JD '88) and Maria Wyckoff Boyce (JD '88): The Boyces’ generous gift of $100,000 benefits the Law School Scholarship Fund. Justice Boyce was appointed to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in December 2007 after practicing law for 18 years at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. Ms. Boyce is a partner at Hogan Lovells, where she prosecutes and defends complex commercial and intellectual property cases in the energy and technology industries.
Richard O. Briggs (WCAS ’69, JD ’77): Dick Briggs' generous commitment of $200,000 establishes the Owen L. Coon Law School Scholarship, in memory of his grandfather, Owen L. Coon (WCAS 1915, JD 1919). Mr. Briggs served as General Counsel for Kubota Tractor Corporation for many years and currently serves as Of Counsel at Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. in its Los Angeles office. He is a life member of the Law Board and loyal supporter of Northwestern University.
Brodsky Family: The Brodsky family has generously supported the Law School through a $250,000 gift from Peoples Energy in honor of William J. Brodsky and his service to the WEC Energy Group Board of Directors. The gift establishes the Brodsky JD-MBA Scholars Fund, which will support JD-MBA students with financial need who have graduated from the Chicago Public School system or reside in the Chicagoland area. Mr. Brodsky’s three sons are alumni of the JD-MBA program: Michael B. Brodsky (JD-MBA '94), Stephen A. Brodsky (JD-MBA '97) and Jonathan P. Brodsky (JD-MBA ’00). Michael and Stephen are also members of the Law Board.
Carolyn J. Brown (JD ’68): Ms. Brown’s generous bequest will support the Law School Fund in honor of her milestone 50th reunion. In addition to her own philanthropy, Ms. Brown helped on the Class of 1968 Reunion Committee’s achievement of a new record by raising nearly $2 million in honor of their reunion. She has her own law practice, where she specializes in general business representation, business and individual tax planning and compliance and estate planning.
Tim Bryant (BA ’86, JD ’89) and Jackie Bryant (BS ’85): The Bryants have generously pledged $200,000 to support the Student Assistance and Relief (STAR) fund and the Law School Fund. Mr. Bryant is the General Counsel of private equity firm Adams Street Partners. He has been engaged with the Law School for many years, having chaired several reunion committees and served on the Law Board since 2013.
Antoinette Cook Bush (JD ’81) and Dwight L. Bush, Sr.: The Bushes have generously pledged $100,000 to the newly established African American History and Culture Endowed Scholarship. Toni is the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Government Affairs for News Corporation in Washington DC and was previously at Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom LLP for nearly 20 years. She served on the Law Board for five years and was on the inaugural Women in Law Panel in DC in April 2019.
Professor Steven Calabresi: Professor Steven Calabresi's generous gift of $100,000 establishes the Abraham Lincoln Lecture on Constitutional Law. Professor Calabresi endowed this lectureship in President Lincoln’s name to honor Lincoln’s extraordinary work as a lawyer and as the leader who ended slavery, and to recognize his personal connection to the Law School. Robert Todd Lincoln, President Lincoln’s first-born son, attended the predecessor to Northwestern Law during academic year 1865-66. Professor Calabresi serves as the Clayton J. and Henry R. Barber Professor of Law.
Richard Campbell (JD ’96) and Kathleen Dunn (JD ’96): Mr. Campbell and Ms. Dunn’s generous gift of $100,000 will support the Law School Scholarship Fund and the Bluhm Legal Clinic Fund. This is their second campaign commitment, following their major gift to support the Kirkland & Ellis Endowment in August 2012. Mr. Campbell is a corporate partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis. Ms. Dunn formerly practiced law at the Bucks County (PA) Public Defender’s Office.
Nicholas D. Chabraja (JD '67) and Eleanor Chabraja: The Chabraja’s generous $400,000 gift to the Law School Annual Fund will support scholarships and grants, student programs and services, clinical programs, and faculty at Northwestern Law. Nick also received his undergraduate degree from the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences and has been a loyal supporter of Northwestern University for many years.
Howard Chapman (JD '58) and Elizabeth Chapman (WCAS '57): Howard and Betsy’s generous gift of $200,000 will leverage the Today and Tomorrow Scholarship Challenge as authorized by J.B. and M.K. Pritzker and be added to the existing Howard and Betsy Law Scholarship Fund. In 2013 Howard and Betsy also made an extraordinary gift of $3,000,000 to establish the Howard and Elizabeth Chapman Professorship. The Chapmans live in Ft. Wayne, IL.
Thomas R. Cox, III (JD '90): Tom generously pledged $125,000 through the Arthur and Bonnie Ennis Foundation in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Children and Family Justice Center. The gift will support the Center’s many activities to promote justice for children, including immigration and asylum cases. Tom participated in the Clinic while a student at Northwestern and through those experiences came to appreciate both the power of clinical legal education and the need to increase access to justice for society’s most vulnerable populations. Tom runs his own criminal defense practice and resides in Dallas, TX.
Sharon (JD ’94) and Michael Deal (JD ’94): The Deals’ generous gift supports law students from underrepresented communities through the Law School Scholarship Fund. Michael serves as Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Amazon.com.
George R. Dougherty (JD ’87), Victor M. Casini (JD ’87) and LKQ Corporation: Mr. Dougherty and Mr. Casini facilitated a generous gift of nearly $130,000 from LKQ Corporation to support the Law School’s Law and Technology Initiative. The Initiative will help expand learning opportunities at the intersection of law and technology, including legal-services delivery technologies and laws and regulations governing technologies. Mr. Dougherty was formerly an equity partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in Chicago and is now pursuing a professional acting career. Mr. Casini is senior vice president and general counsel of LKQ Corporation.
Carla Drije: Dr. Drije made a generous bequest of $100,000 to support the Center on Wrongful Convictions. This is in addition to Dr. Drije’s pledge of $100,000, made in 2016, to support the CWC and the Jane Raley Memorial Fund. Dr. Drije is a retired educational researcher who has devoted much of her life to the pursuit of social justice. She lives in Chicago.
H. Carol Bernstein Eckstein (JD '85) and Martin R. Eckstein Family Fund: The Ecksteins have generously given $100,000 to support the Bluhm Legal Clinic through the Thomas F. Geraghty Fund, which supports a clinical fellow, and the Environmental Advocacy Center. Carol is Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel at CMC Materials, a global supplier of critical materials, primarily to semiconductor manufacturers.Bill Ericson (JD ’88) and Carmen Ericson (JD ’89): Bill and Carmen’s generous gift of $125,000 will establish the Ericson Innovation Fund and contribute to Women in the Law Initiatives at Northwestern Law. Through the Ericson Innovation Fund, Bill and Carmen are providing resources for a new Ethics and Regulation of Technology Conference, which will thoughtfully explore methods of regulating the tech space. Carmen and Bill are also inspired by Dean Yuracko’s commitment to helping women excel in the legal profession and are delighted to support her leadership as the Law School designs strategies to help women succeed.
Christine (JD ’03, LLM-IHR ’11) and Mike Evans: Christine and Mike Evans have, through their family foundation, again extended their support of the Christine M. Evans LLM-IHR Scholarship, which they established in 2016. The scholarship supports an international student with demonstrated financial need by providing full tuition and a living stipend, allowing the recipient to graduate debt free. A portion of their pledge also supports the Bluhm Legal Clinic. Ms. Evans is an adjunct professor at the Law School and serves as a member of the Law Board.
Drew Fine (JD ’87) and Susan Cook: Mr. Fine and Ms. Cook have generously committed an additional $100,000 to the John L. Taros (JD '87) Memorial Scholarship, which they helped establish in 2016. Friends of John L. Taros (JD '87) created the endowment to honor his memory and provide scholarship support to law students. Mr. Fine is a partner in the New York office of Milbank LLP.
Thomas G. Fitzgerald (JD '79, MBA '79) and Joyce Mancari Fitzgerald (MM '79): The Fitzgeralds’ generous gift of $250,000 benefits the T. G. & J. M. Fitzgerald Fund, which is used to support the Law School at the discretion of the dean. The Fitzgeralds live in Naples, Florida.
Anne Fredd (JD ’73): A Chicago-based attorney at Neal and Leroy, LLC, Anne Fredd has included a bequest in her estate plan to support the African American History and Culture Endowed Scholarship at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding student who demonstrates interest in or commitment to African American History and Culture.
Jerome Gilson (JD ’58) and Jamie Gilson (’55): The Gilsons’ generous gift of $125,000 will establish a scholarship to support students at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Jerry is a renowned expert in trademark law and the original author of the treatise Gilson on Trademarks. He has counseled clients for more than 50 years at Brinks Gilson & Lione, during which he has received countless awards for his contributions to the field.
Jeffrey A. Golman (JD ’80): Jeff’s generous $125,000 gift is split between the Law School Annual Fund and the Law School Scholarship Fund. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1977 prior to entering Northwestern Law. He is a longtime member of the Law Board. Jeff serves as Vice Chairman at Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. in Chicago where is responsible for business development for Mesirow Financial’s Investment Banking group.
Jerome S. Gutkin (WCAS ’61, JD ’65) and Anita Klein Gutkin (COMM ’63): Jerome and Anita Gutkin have generously committed $250,000 to support the Law School through an unrestricted planned gift and a pledge to the Law School Annual Fund. The Gutkins have been loyal donors to the Law School for over 40 years and currently serve on the Motion to Lead Campaign Cabinet. Jerome has been a member of the Law Board since 2014 and has participated in many class reunion activities. Jerome and Anita have four sons, two of whom are also Northwestern alumni, and reside in Phoenix, AZ.
Jeffrey C. Hammes (JD ’85): Mr. Hammes’ generous six-figure commitment to the Law School Annual Fund provides unrestricted support for scholarships and grants, student programs and services, clinical programs, and faculty at Northwestern Law. Mr. Hammes is a member of the Law Board and the Law Campaign Cabinet. He serves as the Global Chairman of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Honorable Dean Hansell (JD '77): Judge Hansell’s generous gift of $250,000 establishes the Dean Hansell LGBT Advocates Scholarship Fund, which supports students committed to work as LGBTQ advocates. Judge Hansell is a lifelong advocate of civil rights and was appointed to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California in June 2016.
Thomas Hawkins (JD '86): Tom’s generous gift of $200,000 will leverage the Today and Tomorrow Scholarship Challenge as authorized by J.B. and M.K. Pritzker to establish the Thomas W. Hawkins Scholarship Fund. Tom splits his time between Miami Beach, FL and Chicago, IL.
Mary Hayes (JD ’89) and Mark Anson, PhD (JD ’89): Mary and Mark have documented a $250,000 planned gift to support the Law School in honor of their 30th reunion. Their generous unrestricted gift will go to the area of greatest need. Mary and Mark serve on the Motion to Lead Campaign cabinet and Mark also serves on the Law Board. Mark is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Commonfund and Chairman of the Board of Commonfund Capital Inc. and Commonfund Asset Management Company. Mary and Mark have two children, Raven and Marcus (WCAS ’20), and live in Atherton, CA.
Bill Hochkammer (JD '69) and Marcia Hochkammer: The Hochkammers’ generous gift of $150,000 adds to the existing William O. and Marcia A. Hochkammer Scholarship Fund for students with demonstrated financial need. Mr. Hochkammer is a partner at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP with a focus on health care and alternative risk financing. He is a member of Law Board and the Campaign Cabinet.
Adam and Denise Hoeflich: The Hoeflichs have generously expanded their support for the Barbara Su Hoeflich Scholarship, deepening their commitment to Northwestern Law and to students who focus in family law and child advocacy. Adam Hoeflich is a professor of practice at Northwestern Law as well as a partner at Bartlit Beck LLP.
Stephanie Hosler (WCAS ’95, JD ’99) and Matthew Hosler, MD (JD ’99): The Hoslers have generously increased their pledge to fully endow the Hispanic/Latinx History and Culture Scholarship, which they established at the Law School in 2019. The recently established African American History and Culture Endowed Scholarship inspired them to start the scholarship to support Hispanic and Latin students. Ms. Hosler was a member of the Latino Law Students Association during her time at the Law School and is an active member of the Hispanic National Bar Association. She is a Partner and Global Leader of the Corporate Transactions and Finance Department at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP and Dr. Hosler is a pediatrician in St. Louis, Missouri.
John F. Jennings (JD ’67) and Stephen P. Molinari: Mr. Jennings and Mr. Molinari have generously pledged $250,000 to endow a scholarship for students who have demonstrated commitment to public interest law, with a focus on advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. Mr. Jennings served as subcommittee staff director and then as a general counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Education and Labor from 1967 to 1994. He founded the Center on Education Policy in 1995. Mr. Molinari received his law degree from Georgetown University and worked at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Institute on Drug Abuse. They reside in Chicago, IL.
Amy Rabinowitz Kaplan (JD '97) and Martin Kaplan: The Kaplans’ generous gift supports the Bluhm Legal Clinic Fund. Ms. Kaplan is deeply involved with the Clinic as a member of its Advisory Board and was a longtime volunteer with the Center on Wrongful Convictions (CWC). In 2012, she received the CWC’s Jane Beber Abramson award in recognition of her dedication to pursuing justice for the wrongfully convicted.
Frank S. and Julia M. Ladner Family Foundation: The Ladner Family Foundation pledged $100,000 to support the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth (CWCY). This generous gift will support the Center’s efforts to investigate, and litigate credible innocence claims of wrongfully convicted young people and prevent future wrongful convictions.
Mark R. Lisker (JD '95) and Caroline Lisker: Marc and Caroline’s generous gift of $200,000 will leverage the Today and Tomorrow Scholarship Challenge as authorized by J.B. and M.K. Pritzker to establish the Lisker Family Scholarship Fund. Marc and Caroline are members of the Law Campaign Cabinet.
Jordon Kruse (JD ’97) and Jacqueline Kruse: The Kruses have generously added $100,000 to the Kruse Family Scholarship, established in 2016 with Jordon's father Alvin Kruse (BA ’65, JD ’68). Jordon is managing director and co-portfolio manager of the Special Situations Group at Oaktree Capital Management, LP, a global alternative investment management firm. Jacqueline is a registered nurse with Carbon Health in Los Angeles where is focuses on the administration of vaccines for the COVID-19 virus. The Kruses serve on the Motion to Lead Campaign Cabinet.
John P. Lynch (JD '67) and Judy Godvin Lynch: John and Judy’s generous contribution of $200,000 established the John P. and Judy G. Lynch Scholarship Fund. John is a retired senior partner at Latham & Watkins. John has been an active member of the alumni community over the years, serving as co-chair of the Law School’s capital campaign in the 1980s. He received Northwestern’s Service Award in 1983. John is also a member of Marquette University’s Board of Trustees. John and Judy reside in Northbrook, IL and Florida.
Steven Matteucci (JD '82) and Genevieve Matteucci: The Matteuccis have augmented their support of admissions recruitment with another major gift to the Northwestern Advantage Fund, which makes it possible for admitted students from distant markets to visit the Law School. Their gift was motivated by the belief that prospective students will be compelled to attend the Law School once they spend time on campus and experience the Northwestern Law Difference first-hand. Mr. Matteucci is the Chairman of CTC| myCFO and is an active member of the Law Board and the Campaign Cabinet.
Kevin McClear (JD ’86) and The Clearing Corporation Charitable Foundation: The Foundation’s most recent gift of $150,000 brings the total for the Clearing Corporation Charitable Foundation Scholarship to over $1M. Kevin McClear (JD’ 86), Corporate Risk Officer for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE), has generously established and supported the scholarship since 2009, which is awarded to students who are interested in pursuing a legal career in financial services.
Thomas J. McDonough (BA '83, JD-MBA '86) and Jane McDonough: The McDonoughs have generously pledged $150,000 to the Northwestern Garage X-Factor program and law scholarships. Their gift establishes the McDonough Scholarship, which will support either first-generation law students or underrepresented students. Tom is the founder and managing partner of TJM Capital Partners, a Private Equity firm, and an adjunct professor at the Law School. His son Tommy is following in his footsteps as a current student at the Law School.
Retta A. Miller (JD ’85): Ms. Miller has documented a generous bequest of $100,000 to support the Bluhm Legal Clinic in honor of its 50th anniversary. During law school, Retta was Executive Editor of the Journal of International Law and Business, member of the National Moot Court Team and deeply involved with the Clinic. She is a partner at Jackson Walker LLP in Dallas, TX.
The Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Foundation: The Montgomery Foundation has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to the Law School over the past two decades having committed more than $1.8 million. In this time, they have supported several areas within the Bluhm Legal Clinic and established the Geraghty Juvenile Justice Fund, Montgomery Environmental Law Fellowship, Environmental Law and Climate Change Colloquium, and most recently, the Tom Geraghty Endowed Fund for Litigation Support. The newest fund honors Tom Geraghty’s leadership and steadfast commitment to clinical education by supporting litigation expenses for the vital advocacy work of Clinic faculty and students.
Marlene Nations (JD '82) and Harold Nations (JD '82): As part of the 50 for 250 Legacy Challenge, the Nations have generously committed $300,000 to the Law School. Their outright pledge of $50,000 will support the Law School Annual Fund and a planned gift of $250,000 will establish the Nations Family Endowed Scholarship. Marlene is Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel of Hollywood Park, the home of SoFi Stadium and YouTube Theater, and serves on the executive committee of the Law Board. Marlene and Harold are dedicated volunteers and loyal supporters of the Law School with platinum membership in the NU Loyal society.
John R. O’Neil (JD ’98): John’s generous gift of $100,000 will benefit the Law School Annual Fund and the Center for Practice Engagement and Innovation (CPEI), which ensures students are prepared to engage the practice of law at a time of fundamental change and dynamic evolution in the legal profession. John is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, heads the Investment Funds Practice Group, and is a member of the firm's global management committee.
Michael Osajda (JD '76): Mr. Osajda’s generous bequest of $100,000 will provide unrestricted support to the Law School. Mr. Osajda served as a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps, active and reserve, for 30 years, retiring as a Colonel. He was also former Lead Counsel at Motorola, Inc.
P. John Owen (JD '72): Mr. Owen’s generous bequest expectancy of $200,000 will be used to support scholarships and the Law School’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program which provides loan repayment assistance to Law School graduates who enter public interest and government jobs.
Devan (JD ’93) and Suchita Padmanabhan: Devan and Suchita generously made a $100,000 commitment to support the Law School’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), which provides assistance to Law School graduates who enter public interest and government jobs and encourages students to pursue careers in public service. Devan is a member of the Northwestern Law Board and is co-founder and partner of Padmanabhan & Dawson P.L.L.C. Devan and Suchita reside in Minneapolis.
Robert Parrillo (JD ’66) and Elizabeth Ackerman: The Robert Parrillo family has established the Lowden Hall Renovation Fund with a generous commitment of $250,000. Their gift will allow the Law School to remodel and improve Lowden Hall, in Levy Mayer Hall, including converting the fireplace to gas to restore its functionality.
Luis Pinedo (JD ’06) and Rivers Casino: Luis Pinedo, General Counsel of Rush Street Interactive, an affiliate to Rivers Casino, and Center on Wrongful Convictions (CWC) Advisory Board member, helped facilitate a generous gift of $260,000 from Rivers Casino to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The gift establishes the Rivers Casino Criminal Justice Scholarship, which will support students who demonstrate an interest in wrongful convictions representation, scholarship and justice system reform as well as the Rivers Casino Criminal Justice Award, which will go to a third-year student who has demonstrated exemplary work in the Clinic through the representation of underserved individuals, especially the wrongfully convicted.
The Jay Pritzker Foundation: The Jay Pritzker Foundation made a gift of $200,000 to support Law School students in securing summer employment and internships in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The gift helped place students in legal positions on a temporary basis to hone their legal skills and build a network of attorneys and professionals.
Qualcomm Incorporated: Qualcomm made an additional $400,000 commitment to support the Northwestern University Center on Law, Business, and Economics, which studies the impact of laws and regulations on economic growth and communicates the results of that research to academic, public policy and judicial leaders. Qualcomm creates intellectual property, semiconductors, software, and services related to wireless technology.
Ira H. Raphaelson (WCAS ’74, JD '77) and Andrea J. Raphaelson (COMM '75): Mr. and Mrs. Raphaelson have made a generous bequest commitment of $125,000 to support fellowships for recent graduates interested in public service. Ira is Senior Counsel at White & Case in Washington, DC and spent the first fifteen years of his career as an Assistant States Attorney and Assistant US Attorney in Chicago before serving as a Presidential-appointee in the Justice Department. He has been a longtime member (including formerly serving as Chair) of the Law Board and also serves as an adjunct professor.
Jeannette Reuben: The late Mrs. Reuben’s generous gift added additional funds to the Don and Jeannette Reuben Scholarship Fund for students in need of financial assistance. The late Mr. Reuben was a member of the Class of 1952 whose 58-year career in the law included serving as managing partner of Kirkland & Ellis, as well as founding the firm of Reuben & Proctor. Mr. Reuben was an active member of the Law Board and a trustee of Northwestern University.
Buzz Ruttenberg (JD ’66) and Biff Ruttenberg (KSM ’71):Buzz Ruttenberg and his brother Biff have committed to adding $120,000 to the scholarship that bears their parents’ names, the David C. and Sarajean Ruttenberg Scholarship. In addition to the family’s long-standing tradition of supporting scholarship at the Law School, their family arts foundation has donated many of the noteworthy pieces that can be seen throughout the Law School.
Anup Sathy (JD ’95) and Karyn Sathy: The Sathys have generously committed $150,000 to the Student Assistance and Relief (STAR) fund at the Law School. Mr. Sathy is a Partner at Kirkland and Ellis and is an internationally recognized practitioner in matters relating to corporate restructurings, workouts, and Chapter 11 reorganizations.
Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. (JD '98) and Sarah R. Scudder: The Scudders’ generous gift of $100,000 benefits the Law School Annual Fund. Mr. Scudder is a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Previously, he was a partner in the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he led the accounting practice. From 2007–2009, Mr. Scudder served in the White House as general counsel of the National Security Council under President George W. Bush. He is a member of the Campaign Cabinet.
James Serota (JD ’71) and Susan Serota: The Serotas have made a generous commitment of $300,000 as the first participants in the Law School’s 50 for 250 Legacy Challenge. Their blended gift includes a $50,000 pledge to the Student Assistance and Relief (STAR) fund and a $250,000 planned gift to further support the Louis H. Serota Scholarship. They established the scholarship in 1997 in memory of Mr. Serota’s father to provide financial assistance to law students. Mr. Serota is retired from Greenberg Traurig, LLP and is a lifetime member of the Law Board.
John Sikora, Jr. (JD ’91) and Lacey Sikora: With a generous $100,000 commitment, the Sikoras have supported the Student Assistance and Relief (STAR) fund and established a new scholarship for law students with financial need who are underrepresented and/or who are the first generation in their family to attend college. John is a partner and a member of the Litigation & Trial Department at Latham & Watkins LLP in Chicago.
Robert I. Spak (’02, ’05 P), Sharon G. Spak (’02, ’05 P), & Michelle Spak Saltzmann (BS ’02, JD ’05): The Spak family has generously established The Theodore Spak Endowed Scholarship to honor the memory of Theodore Spak (BA ’53, JD ’56, ’02 GP, ’05 GP) and support law students with financial need. This is the second Spak scholarship at the Law School, following the Joseph and Sophie Spak Scholarship, which Theodore Spak endowed in 1995 to honor his parents. The Spaks are proud to continue their family legacy at the Law School and expand their impact for generations of students to come.
R. Thomas Stanton (JD ’69) and Meg Harris Stanton: The Stantons’ generous $100,000 commitment supports Dean Kimberly Yuracko’s gender equity initiative at the Law School. Mr. Stanton is Senior Partner and Chair Emeritus of the global law firm, Squire Patton Boggs LLP. He has been a member of the Law Board for more than 25 years and recently served as a committee co-chair for the 50th reunion of his Law School class.
Nina G. Stillman (JD '73): Ms. Stillman’s generous gift of $250,000 continues to support the Melvin & Joyce Stillman International Program Fund, in honor of her parents. The fund supports international programming at the Law School, in particular faculty exchanges or student study abroad in Israel. Ms. Stillman is a well-known employment and occupational safety and health law defense attorney. She was the first female partner at Vedder Price and one of the founding partners of Morgan Lewis’ Chicago office.
William Streff (JD '74) and Kathleen Streff: Bill and Kathy’s generous gift of $200,000 will leverage the Today and Tomorrow Scholarship Challenge as authorized by J.B. and M.K. Pritzker to establish the Kathleen M. and William A. Streff Jr. Scholarship Fund. Bill and Kathy split their time between Bonita Springs, FL and Chicago, IL and he is a member of the Campaign Cabinet.
Constantine Trela (BA '76, JD '79) and Jean Trela: The Trela's have generously committed $300,000 to the Law School as part of the 50 for 250 Legacy Challenge. Their outright and planned gifts will support the Law School Annual Fund and the establishment of the Trela Scholarship, respectively. Connie is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago and has served as an instructor in the Supreme Court Practicum at the Law School.
Jeffrey T. Veber (JD '92) and Kimberly Veber: The Veber's generous $100,000 gift establishes the Veber Family Scholarship for law school students. Mr. Veber is Vice Chair of VedderPrice’s Executive Committee, and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and Global Transportation Finance team. He has over 25 years of experience representing clients in transportation finance matters. The Vebers live in Rye, NY.
James D. Wareham (JD '86) and Laura L. Wareham: The Warehams’ generous gift of $100,000 benefits the Law School Annual Fund, which supports the Law School's annual operating budget, funding numerous activities and programs. Mr. Wareham is a partner at Fried Frank, where he is Global Chair of the Litigation Department.
David Weinberg (JD ’93) and Lisa Weinberg: The Weinbergs generous gift supports the Law School Fund in honor of David’s 25th Reunion. This gift will support all areas of the Law school, including scholarships, student programs and services, clinical programs, and faculty. David and his family have been proud Northwestern supporters for many years, and his father, Arnold, graduated from Northwestern Law in 1967. David currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Equity Commonwealth.
Robert Wilson (JD '99) and Erin Wilson: The Wilsons’ generous gift of $250,000 will establish an endowed scholarship at the Law School in honor of Bob’s father, Ervin (BA ’42, JD ’45), and mother, Vida. The scholarship honors the Wilson family legacy by supporting students who graduated from the family’s alma maters, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bob is a partner in the corporate transactional group at Kirkland & Ellis, and both he and Erin attended college at Wisconsin. The Wilsons live in Winnetka with their two children.
