Lippes Mathias LLP is pleased to share that partners Karl J. Sleight and Joan P. Sullivan, both members of the firm’s government & corporate investigations practice team, successfully represented the Independent Review Committee (IRC) comprised of all the deans of New York’s accredited law schools, in Lavine v. Hochul. et. al., a significant legal challenge involving a constitutional dispute over the delegation of nomination approval powers under the amended New York State Executive Law § 94. Lippes Mathias’ team effectively demonstrated that the plaintiff lacked standing, leading to the dismissal of the complaint, with the Fourth Department holding that the New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and the IRC properly raised the standing issue. The New York State Appellate Division modified the lower court decision by further holding that it should not have reached the underlying merits of the case. This decision reaffirms the IRC's authority to vet nominations in accordance with the statute. The brief filed at the Appellate Division was written by Sullivan and argued by Sleight. 

About Karl J. Sleight
Karl J. Sleight is a partner and member of Lippes Mathias LLP’s government and corporate investigations practice team. A former executive director of the New York State Ethics Commission and deputy assistant attorney general, Sleight has testified before the New York State Legislature and authored numerous op-eds in favor of ethics law reform and enforcement. Sleight has also served as special counsel to the New York State Legislative Ethics Commission and represents individuals and companies involved in enforcement actions. 

About Joan P. Sullivan
Joan P. Sullivan is a partner and member of Lippes Mathias LLP’s government and corporate investigations practice team. A former Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District’s Attorney’s Office, Sullivan worked in the Appeals Unit where  she argued cases before the Appellate Division and Court of Appeals.  She also served as a counsel to the New York State Ethics Commission and the Commission on Public Integrity, now known as the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government.  In private practice, Sullivan has successfully represented clients on appeal before the Appellate Division.     

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with nearly 200 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, and Syracuse, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla. and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Year after year, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.