Page 15 - 2024 OAD First Monday in October Journal

THE BENCH

CHIEF JUSTICE

Ellen R. Patterson

ASSOCIATE JUSTICES

Kathleen E. Cassidy is a partner at Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello P.C.,
where she defends individuals and companies in criminal and regulatory investigations.
She has defended clients in high-profile cases and investigations involving public
corruption and bribery, securities fraud, criminal antitrust, the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, campaign finance irregularities, RICO charges, real estate fraud, and
allegations of sexual assault. Kate is adept at helping clients navigate the stressful
process of a criminal investigation and is devoted to achieving the most favorable
result for her clients, whether that means going to trial or resolving cases on the best
terms possible without trial.

Kate has been on both sides of internal investigations – she has conducted investigations on behalf of the
Board or Audit Committee as well as represented employees being interviewed in internal investigations.
Kate is also experienced in representing students in University Title IX hearings, having successfully
defended students facing allegations of gender misconduct. Kate represents indigent defendants as a
member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Southern District of New York. Kate received her J.D.
from Columbia Law School and her B.A. from Yale College.

Maria Cruz Melendez is a partner in the White Collar Defense and Investigations
Group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She represents clients in U.S.
and cross-border investigations and civil and administrative proceedings conducted
by government and regulatory authorities in connection with the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, U.S. securities laws, and other domestic and international enforcement
matters. In recognition of her work, Ms. Cruz Melendez was named to Crain’s New
York Business’ 2023 list of Notable Women in Law and included repeatedly among
Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Global Litigators and 500 Leading Litigators in America.

For over a decade, she served as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District
of New York, including as deputy chief of the Civil Rights Section and Public Integrity Section. During
her tenure, she investigated, prosecuted, and supervised several major cases, including a long-running
investigation that culminated in the six-week jury trial and conviction on all charges of singer R. Kelly
for racketeering and other crimes related to criminal abuse of women and children. Ms. Cruz Melendez
devotes a significant portion of her time to pro bono and diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and was a
recipient of the 2024 Huntington Her Hero Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes women in law
and public policy who dedicate their careers to justice for women and girls.

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