Brian is a partner in Morrison & Foerster’s Investigations and White Collar Defense Practice Group. Before joining MoFo, Brian was Chief of the Market Integrity and Major Frauds (MIMF) Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section at the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). At DOJ, Brian supervised a team of roughly 40 federal prosecutors. He oversaw virtually all major fraud cases, with a special focus on investigating and prosecuting complex securities, commodities, and other major corporate fraud cases. Hear Brian detail his path from law school to Morrison & Foerster, the key moments that shaped his career, including clerking in Puerto Rico and time at the DOJ, and his advice to future lawyers.

Molly shares the experiences that shaped her career, including serving as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. As a student at Cardozo, Molly excelled, earning the Dr. Samuel Belkin Award for exceptional contribution to the growth and development of the law school and serving as the Editor in Chief of the Cardozo Law Review.

Amol Sinha is a nationally recognized civil rights leader who has dedicated his career to advancing racial justice, holding institutions accountable, and promoting and defending rights and liberties. Tune in to hear Amol detail his civil rights career, from studying constitutional rights and litigation at Cardozo to making a major impact as executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

Len is an executive, labor leader, and attorney with over 20 years of experience in entertainment and labor relations. He currently serves as the General Counsel / General Manager at San Francisco Ballet, where he oversees the legal, operations, and union labor relations functions for one of the world's premier ballet companies. With a collaborative and determined approach, Len has successfully led and transformed major entertainment unions, such as the American Guild of Musical Artists and SAG-AFTRA, where he has represented thousands of members and negotiated collective bargaining agreements with broadcast, commercial, entertainment, performing arts and related companies.

Join us as Phillip shares the pivotal moments and key decisions that led him to establish his own successful legal practice. He reveals the secrets to building a thriving business and provides a detailed look into the essential steps of the initial planning process. Phillip also reflects on his invaluable experience at Bronx Defenders, illustrating how it equipped him with the skills and knowledge to launch and manage his own firm. Whether you're a current law student or an aspiring entrepreneur, Phillip's advice is packed with insights that will guide you on your professional journey. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field.

Deans Melanie Leslie and Carey Bertolet Grand are joined by Cardozo’s student podcast Pod Curiam hosts Anna Lelonek and Greyson Cohen. The group welcomes Grayson Moronta '22, Labor & Employment Attorney at Seyfarth Shaw. Grayson shares how Cardozo sparked her passion for labor & employment law, the inspiration behind her outstanding Cardozo Law Review note on hair discrimination, and what she sees for the future of employment law. Plus, Grayson offers invaluable networking tips and advice for 1Ls just starting their legal careers. 

Glenn focuses his practice on corporate matters involving Delaware corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships. He discusses moving to Delaware to practice law and how the nation’s first state fits into the Corporate Law world, including a fun fact about the state’s bar admissions process, meeting his wife at Cardozo, and more.

Discover what inspired Julie and Michael to pursue music and entertainment law, the highs and lows of navigating the industry, and their experiences working with iconic artists like Jay-Z and Fleetwood Mac. They also dive into the art of negotiations and share invaluable advice for aspiring music lawyers!

Matias Ricardo Gallego-Manzano '16, a Litigation Associate at Bryan Cave, joins the Deans to discuss his career trajectory on the latest episode of SPARKS. Matias talks about crossing the border as a 4-year-old Latino-American immigrant and becoming a first-generation college student, his decision to leave his job as a teacher to become a lawyer, the rewarding aspects of pro bono work and the impact Cardozo's Immigration Justice Clinic had on his legal career.

From his early days handling licensing and clearance work at PBS to his transformative experience with Cardozo Law’s Intensive Mediation Advocacy Program (IMAP) under Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution founder Lela Love, Maurice shares how practical training prepared him to jump right into the field. A natural mediator at heart, he discusses his passion for problem-solving, the importance of “saying yes unless there’s a reason to say no,” and the key skills that make a great mediator.

The 2025 BALLSA honoree reflects on his time at Cardozo Law, sharing what inspired him to pursue a legal career. As he humorously puts it, “I’m an investigative journalist who is a terrible writer.” He dives into his approach to gathering evidence, the art of crafting clear and detailed reports, and why maintaining credibility is essential—both with clients and the government agencies he presents to.

Emma Guido Brill (Litigation Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler) and Jonah Brill (Tax Associate at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz) share how Cardozo shaped their personal and professional paths. From their top class recommendations to insights into life as a legal professional, they reflect on their biggest wins, minor missteps, and the lessons learned along the way.

Jaime was an honoree in Miami Dade Bar’s Young Lawyers Section 40 Under 40 awards (2025), a three-time Best Lawyers In America Ones to Watch for Litigation – Bankruptcy, and named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in both Florida and New York Metro! Learn about Jaime’s experiences from Cardozo to working as a law clerk and how he found his calling in bankruptcy and insolvency law.

We recorded this SPARKS episode live in the Moot Court Room with special guest Rachel Strom ’06, partner at Davis Wright Tremaine! Class of 2025 commencement speaker Talia Raoufpur ’25 joined the deans as co-host to interview Rachel about her fascinating career in media law—from representing clients like Sacha Baron Cohen to opening the Michael Cohen case to the public. Rachel also shared what she looks for when hiring, her experience as Dean Leslie’s property class TA, balancing motherhood and a legal career, and why perspective and owning your mistakes matter.