Former Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin Returns to Stroock

New York, NY, May 2, 2016 -- Former United States District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin of the Southern District of New York has joined the Litigation Practice Group of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP as Of Counsel to the Firm. She also will serve as an arbitrator/mediator under the auspices of JAMS.

Judge Scheindlin, who was appointed to the bench in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, has presided over numerous criminal and civil cases during her 21.5-year tenure with the SDNY. Among many important cases, her opinions in electronic case management are recognized as case law landmarks, and she is the co-author of the first casebook on electronic discovery.

Previously, Judge Scheindlin served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, a Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of New York, and General Counsel for the New York City Department of Investigation. Earlier in her career she spent many years in private practice.

“Judge Scheindlin’s great intellect and stature among jurists and lawyers in tandem with her proficiency in complex civil litigation matters and electronic discovery make her an ideal fit for the firm and our clients,” said Stroock co-managing partner Alan M. Klinger.  “Judge Scheindlin started her career with the firm and we are pleased to welcome her back to the Stroock family.”

Judge Scheindlin earned her B.A. from the University of Michigan, an M.A. from Columbia University, and a J.D.,cum laude, from Cornell Law School.  Following law school and a stint as a litigation associate at Stroock, she clerked for Chief Judge Charles Brieant, Jr. of the SDNY, and then was an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit for the EDNY.  She has been an adjunct professor for more than 30 years, having taught at Brooklyn and Cardozo Law Schools, and has lectured at the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, Stanford, Yale, Cornell and Columbia law schools.

“I am extremely happy to start the next chapter of my career at Stroock, where I will be working on client and pro bono matters as well as mentoring associates,” said Judge Scheindlin.  ”I have remained in contact with Stroock attorneys through the years, lecturing on panels and working on bar association committees.  Having begun my career at Stroock, I look forward to coming back and working with both associates and new colleagues.”

A frequently published author and lecturer, Judge Scheindlin has earned many honors during her distinguished career. She has been a member of the American Law Institute and the Judicial Conference of the United States Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and a board member of the New York County Lawyers Association and the Sedona Conference.  She has served on several committees of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and is a former chair of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association.  Her awards include the Fuld Award and the Brennan Award from the NYSBA, the Weinfeld Award and the William Nelson Cromwell Award of the NYCLA, the Judicial Recognition Award of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Jurist of the Year Award for the New York Criminal Bar Association.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP is a law firm providing transactional, regulatory and litigation guidance to leading financial institutions, multinational corporations, investment funds and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and abroad.  Our emphasis on excellence and innovation has enabled us to maintain long-term relationships with our clients and made us one of the nation’s leading law firms for almost 140 years.  Stroock’s practice areas include capital markets/securities, commercial finance, mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, private equity, private funds, commodities and derivatives, employment law and benefits, energy and project finance, entertainment, environmental law, financial restructuring, financial services litigation, government relations, insurance, intellectual property, investment management, litigation, national security/CFIUS, personal client services, real estate, structured finance and tax.

Contact: Wayne Kessler, Communications Manager, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP    Tel: 212.806.5448      Email: wkessler@stroock.com