BLS Alumni in the News

This week's NY Times had stories about several noted Brooklyn Law School graduates. The Music section had an article about Bruce Ricker, Class of 1970, who went on to become a filmmaker. Ricker’s first feature-length film was, “The Last of the Blue Devils,” a portrait of Kansas City’s old-time jazzmen released in 1979. He also produced several made for television documentaries, including “Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends” (2007), “Johnny Mercer: The Dream’s on Me” (2009) and “Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way” (2010). Ricker died on May 13 in Cambridge at the age of 68.

A second article, The Right Job? It’s Much Like the Right Spouse, is an interview with Barry Salzberg, Class of 1977, and chief executive of Deloitte LLP. Recollecting an early lesson about retrieving a case from the library in his first job, he goes on to discuss leadership and management style and other lessons he learned since graduating law school. His comments on what he looks for in hiring new associates are worthwhile reading for law students who want to improve their interviewing skills.

The third article is Guard Dog to the Stars (Legally Speaking) highlighting Martin D. Singer, Class of 1977. His firm, Lavely & Singer, has built a niche practice — shielding stars and their adjuncts from annoyance — into a Hollywood mainstay. Singer's firm, which does no criminal legal work, has become the legal protector of celebrity superstars like Charlie Sheen, Arnold Schwartzengger, Quentin Tarantino and Sylvester Stallone. Representation often involves the suppression of possible defamation of clients and disputes over commissions between them and their managers.