Kramer Levin Announces the Election of a New Partner in its Land Use Practices and Six Special Counsel

New York, January 2, 2007- Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP today announced the election of Elise Wagner as partner.  It also announced the election of Alexandra Kambouris Alberstadt, Avram J. Cahn, Gabrielle Gould, Steven M. Knecht, Yehudis Lewis and Karen Leo Mintzer as special counsel.

“We are pleased to recognize the contributions of these individuals,” said Kramer Levin Managing Partner, Paul Pearlman. “They are exceptional lawyers in their respective practice areas, as well as superior individuals.”

Elise Wagner, Land Use, Partner, concentrates her practice in land use, zoning and historic preservation law, and also has experience in environmental matters.  Ms. Wagner has coordinated the public review processes of major private development projects in New York City and has also overseen public review processes for public sector clients.  In addition, she has negotiated numerous multi-party transactions for the transfer of development rights, and has performed due diligence on the purchase and financing of major properties.  Ms. Wagner received her B.A. from Wesleyan University and her J.D. from New York University School of Law.  She is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Furman Center for Real Estate Law and Policy at New York University School of Law and a member of  the Board of Trustees of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester (Chappaqua, NY).  She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the New York University School of Law Alumni Association and the Environmental Review Board of the Town of New Castle (Chappaqua, NY).

Alexandra Kambouris Alberstadt, Financial Services Special Counsel, focuses her practice on the regulation and governance of registered investment companies and investment advisers and unregistered investment companies.  Ms. Alberstadt provides counsel regarding the Investment Company Act of 1940 and assists in the preparation and submission of exemptive applications and regulatory filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  She represents investment advisers with regard to regulatory and compliance matters.  She also represents registered and unregistered investment advisers in connection with the creation and operation of private investment companies - both domestic and offshore.  Ms. Alberstadt has represented clients in civil litigation, including administrative proceedings brought by the Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  She also serves as the Firm's informal liaison to the New York Legal Assistance Group.  From 1992 to 1993, she clerked for the Honorable Charles L. Levin, Michigan Supreme Court. She received her LL.M. in Taxation, from New York University School of Law; her J.D., summa cum laude, from Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University,where she was Editor in Chief of the Detroit College of Law Review; and her B.A. from St. John's College.

Avram J. Cahn, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Special Counsel, focuses his practice primarily on executive compensation and employee benefits arrangements.  Mr. Cahn advises clients on the full gamut of executive compensation matters, including equity, deferred compensation, golden parachute and other executive compensation arrangements.  He also counsels investment advisory clients on ERISA, tax and securities law considerations associated with plan investments and furnishing of financial services to benefit plans.  He assists clients with the establishment of employee benefit plans and ongoing compliance requirements for plans under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, COBRA, nondiscrimination and other laws.  He also advises clients with respect to the full range of benefits issues that arise in a transactional context, including drafting and negotiating representations and covenants, assisting in the post-closing transition and advising insurers regarding reps and warranty insurance.  Mr. Cahn received his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A. from Towson State University. 

Gabrielle Gould, Litigation Special Counsel, represents clients including financial institutions and major corporations in commercial matters including business disputes, securities fraud and general securities matters and investigations before regulatory authorities such as the Securities Exchange Commission, New York Stock Exchange, National Association of Securities Dealers and Chicago Board of Options Exchange. In addition, Ms. Gould represents clients in a vast array of disputes in state and federal court.  She is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.  She received her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she was a member of the Order of the Barristers and was Executive Editor of the Moot Court Honor Board and her B.A., with honors, from the University of Pennsylvania.  Ms. Gould is a member of the Securities Industry Association.

Steven M. Knecht, Employment Law Special Counsel, concentrates his practice exclusively on employment litigation and advisory matters.  Mr. Knecht represents employers in federal and state court actions, administrative proceedings, and arbitrations, and counsels clients on employment-related practices, policies, and contracts. He has litigated claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other discrimination laws. Mr. Knecht has also handled cases involving allegations of sexual and racial harassment, as well as disputes relating to employment agreements.  He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from New York University School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif; and his B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, from University of Michigan.  Mr. Knecht is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Yehudis Lewis, Litigation Special Counsel, is a general commercial litigator with particular experience in federal securities, mutual fund and counterfeit trademark litigation. Ms. Lewis is the Acting Secretary of the Federal Courts Committee for the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and is a member of American Bar Association and New York City Bar Association.  She is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York as well as the  U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.  Ms. Lewis received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, where she was the Salutatorian and Articles Editor for the Brooklyn Law Review.  She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Brooklyn College and her A.A.S., magna cum laude, from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Karen Leo Mintzer, Environmental Special Counsel, concentrates her practice on environmental matters. Ms. Mintzer advises clients subject to various environmental impact and land use review processes. She litigates claims relating to the environmental impacts of development projects and arising under hazardous substances laws, and counsels clients as to various permit and reporting obligations.  She also conducts environmental due diligence inquiries in connection with corporate and real estate transactions and negotiates environmental agreements in connection with those transactions.  Ms. Mintzer is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the  Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of New York.  She received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A, with honors, from Lafayette College.