Young Lawyers Section

Randi Cohen, Esq.

Law Office of Randi M. Cohen

New York, NY

Randi (Melnick) Cohen believes in keeping things personal. “If you’re looking for a big, corporate firm to throw weight around and blindly bang on tables, I’m not your woman,” she explains. “But if you want someone who really understands your case, who will stand by you every step of the process, I can help.” Randi is a labor and employment counselor and litigator with over a decade of experience representing individuals and businesses. Her expertise is highly sought after by small and medium size businesses and her passion is advising, negotiating, and litigating on behalf of regular, everyday people from all walks of life. Randi litigates before federal, state, and administrative tribunals.

RANDI’S PROFESSIONAL ADMISSIONS • New York • Pennsylvania • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York

EDUCATION • New York Law School, J.D., cum laude • Muhlenberg College, B.A.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES • American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law • New York City Bar Association – Labor & Employment Committee; Women in Legal Profession Committee • National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), New York Chapter • New York Cares • Team for Kids.

Eva W. Cole, Esq.

Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP

Co-Chair, Antitrust/Competition Practice

New York, NY

Eva Cole is a litigation partner in Winston & Strawn’s New York office and co-chair of the firm’s Antitrust/Competition Practice Group.

Eva regularly represents clients in complex commercial class action and litigation, and in connection with a wide array of federal and state antitrust issues, including monopolization, price-fixing, wage-fixing, no-poach agreements, group boycotts, exclusive dealing, tying, price discrimination, predatory pricing, unfair competition and other restraints of trade. She regularly coordinates joint defense group efforts in cases involving conspiracy claims against multiple defendants.

Eva also has significant experience representing clients facing international cartel investigations and related follow-on civil class actions. She has helped clients navigate the difficult web of facing multiple, simultaneous government investigations around the world and has experience defending antitrust investigations brought by antitrust authorities in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Europe, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Singapore and New Zealand. She represents clients in both civil and criminal antitrust matters and, in addition to her representation of major U.S. and multinational corporations, she also represents individual executives facing criminal antitrust claims.

In this context, Eva has gained a great deal of experience assisting Japanese clients and is a core member of the firm’s Japan practice. Over the years, she has developed a deep and enduring respect for Japanese traditions and Japan’s unique business climate. She ensures that any client – whether in Japan or another part of the world – receives the same level of service as a client down the street. She also regularly acts as a liaison between non-U.S. based clients and their lawyers from other parts of the world to ensure global problems are handled consistently and efficiently.

In addition, Eva regularly advises companies with respect to antitrust compliance. Among other things, she helps companies develop antitrust compliance policies and training to help prevent antitrust problems. In particular, Eva has helped private equity funds with numerous portfolio companies and other types of corporations with multiple subsidiaries and affiliates develop comprehensive and consistent antitrust compliance programming.

In addition to Eva’s experience in the antitrust context, she has also represented clients facing consumer fraud and other business tort and breach of contract claims, as well as various constitutional claims. She has represented clients across multiple industries including consumer electronics, food and beverage, finance, sports and entertainment, and retail. Eva has represented clients in all stages of litigation, including appeals, and through trial as a first-chair litigator.

Eva brings personal attention to each and every matter she handles, recognizing that the best client relationships develop over time and mature into partnerships built on trust and familiarity. Clients benefit from her deep engagement, strategic thinking, practical approach, and efficient management of complex matters.

Michael DiFalco, Esq.

Aiello & DiFalco LLP

Garden City, NY

My priority for my clients is to guide them through an arduous court case to provide them with the opportunity to write the next chapter in their life. I tailor my approach to each client’s priorities and positions. I am always available in person, as well as by phone, email, or text message. To the extent that matters can be predicted, I will always provide a realistic perspective of how the law could be applied to the particular facts and circumstances of a case. Managing expectations and guiding clients to a fair and reasonable compromise or resolution is my paramount concern. Since I thrive on helping people and solving problems, I bring an optimistic and positive approach to practicing in a very difficult area of law. I believe in civility and I get along well with all of my adversaries as well as the judges and court attorneys. I’ve received referrals from my adversaries as well as opposing parties even after particularly challenging litigation because of how I conduct my practice.

Most cases settle. Negotiating a fair settlement requires knowledge of the facts and the law, while also understanding my client’s priorities. When matters cannot be resolved, I conduct hearings and trials strategically, pragmatically and professionally, so that fairness and the facts prevail. I spend most of my time helping clients avoid litigation and trial, but knowing how to obtain a successful determination through the courts is critical to leveraging a fair and appropriate settlement.

I believe being an active member of the legal community makes me a better lawyer. It keeps me current and makes me a better advocate for my clients. I am currently the Chair of the Young Lawyer’s Section of the New York State Bar Association and have served for several years as a representative for Long Island, as well as a liaison between the Young Lawyer’s Section and the Family Law Section for the NYSBA. I am a former Chair of the Young Lawyer’s Committee for the Nassau County Bar Association and am currently the Chair of Membership. I have presented numerous CLEs and published articles about specific issues in matrimonial & family law.

My client reviews on Avvo and Google speak for themselves, but I have been honored to receive acknowledgement from my colleagues and peers. was truly humbled to receive the 2017 Young Matrimonial Attorney award by the Matrimonial Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. I was named a Nassau Lawyer Young Lawyer of the Month and have consistently been named a New York Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2014-2020.

David M. Eskew, Esq.

Abell Eskew Landau LLP

Newark, NJ

David is an accomplished trial attorney, a seasoned criminal and civil litigator, and a trusted counselor to institutions and individuals. His practice focuses on government investigations and enforcement matters, white collar criminal defense, complex commercial litigation, data privacy and security, and regulatory and compliance advice. David has experience in both criminal and civil cases across a broad spectrum of white collar specialties, including healthcare fraud, qui tam matters, bank, wire and mail fraud, tax fraud, cybercrime, identity theft, bankruptcy, and general commercial disputes.

Prior to founding Abell Eskew Landau LLP (AEL), David had a distinguished career in public service serving in two U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. During his tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in the District of New Jersey, David held multiple supervisory positions, including most recently the position of Chief of the Health Care & Government Fraud Unit. In that role, David supervised a team of both criminal and civil AUSAs investigating and prosecuting cases against major multinational pharmaceutical companies, hospital systems, pharmacies, healthcare companies, doctors, and other medical professionals involving violations of Title 18 of the United States Code, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the federal False Claims Act, the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act, the Health Insurance Portability & Protection Act (HIPAA), and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. David was also responsible for managing New Jersey’s notable healthcare qui tam practice, making intervention and declination decisions on a wide variety of parallel civil and criminal healthcare investigations.

Over the course of his career in public service, David personally litigated and supervised hundreds of complex investigations and cases involving healthcare fraud, bribery, government fraud, computer fraud, securities fraud, bank and wire fraud, mortgage fraud, identity theft, tax fraud, civil rights violations, and environmental violations. He has tried a dozen federal cases of both criminal and civil violations, on both the prosecution and defense side.
With this extensive experience, David helps institutions and individuals navigate uncertain high-stakes government investigations and prosecutions, counsels providers on complex regulatory issues, assists practices in the creation, maintenance, and enforcement of internal compliance programs, leads clients to victory in whistleblower actions and complex commercial disputes, and zealously defends clients against criminal charges.

David has spoken at various conferences and panels addressing the DOJ’s white collar and healthcare enforcement policies and priorities, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the federal False Claims Act, parallel proceedings, and corporate compliance. David also taught a college course on Cybercrime.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, David was an associate at a prestigious international law firm in New York City where he focused on creditors’ rights and restructuring matters. He also served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Stuart M. Bernstein, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York.

Cristina M. Fernandez, Esq.

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

New York, NY

Cristina Fernandez is an associate in Axinn’s New York office with broad and significant experience in antitrust and competition issues, including litigation, transactions, and counseling. Cristina has represented clients in criminal antitrust cartel investigations, follow-on multidistrict class action litigation and arbitration, and civil litigation involving a variety of antitrust and unfair competition issues such as monopolization, exclusive dealing, and mixed issues of antitrust and intellectual property law. Cristina has advocated for clients in investigations by U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and competition regulators in Europe, Korea, Japan, and other jurisdictions.

In addition, Cristina guides clients through the antitrust-related aspects of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other large-scale combinations. Cristina also counsels clients on antitrust compliance issues, including advice regarding design of compliance programs.

Cristina has handled matters across a wide range of industries including healthcare, insurance, pharmaceuticals, technology, consumer products, and financial services. Prior to joining Axinn, Cristina practiced in the antitrust litigation department of an international law firm. She also interned in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. She earned her JD from Harvard Law School in 2012, where she was a member of the Harvard Journal on Legislation. She received her BA in Political Science, Phi Beta Kappa, from Emory University in 2009.

Johanna Rae Hudgens, Esq.

Winston & Strawn LLP

New York, NY

Johanna Rae Hudgens is a senior litigation associate in Winston & Strawn LLP’s New York office. Johanna focuses her practice on government antitrust and white-collar investigations, commercial litigation, and compliance program counselling. She has experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in complex and multidistrict litigation involving issues of monopolization, conspiracy, contract disputes, products liability, FCPA, corporate and executive liability, and the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property. In addition to representing businesses across the financial services, food and beverage, and technologies industries, Johanna represents individual clients across the U.S. in investigations and criminal matters involving white collar and antitrust issues.

Johanna also counsels multinational clients on a range of legal issues and advises clients in developing comprehensive compliance programs attuned to the risks represented in their industries and jurisdictions. Johanna combines her cross-practice expertise in matters with government touchpoints with an intimate understanding of client industries to achieve practical, business-forward outcomes in both civil and criminal matters.

Johanna is committed to both pro bono representation and public service, making it an integral part of her practice. Her pro bono representations include representing individuals at Riker’s Island alleging religious discrimination; a victim of human trafficking in connection with a criminal investigation and restitution proceedings; disabled recipients of Medicaid-funded home care services in a class action alleging violation of state and federal law; and student plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against their university, leading to a landmark settlement on the eve of trial. In addition to Johanna’s active pro bono practice, Johanna also serves as a mentor and coach for high school domestic and international moot court competitions in conjunction with the Justice Resource Center.

Prior to joining Winston, Johanna was a judicial clerk in the Eastern District of New York and was an associate in a leading international law firm as part of the firm’s dispute resolution group.

Alanna Kaufman, Esq.

Kaufman Lieb Lebowitz & Frick

New York, NY

Alanna Kaufman is an accomplished attorney with broad experience resolving civil rights and commercial disputes for her clients. A significant portion of Alanna’s practice focuses on workplace discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment. She is a committed advocate for women’s rights, and she has written and testified publicly about sexual harassment laws. Alanna also advises and trains companies on compliance with anti-harassment and anti-discrimination law.

Alanna has a client-centered practice. She works closely with her clients to identify their goals and how to achieve them—whether through litigation or pre-suit resolution. In addition to money damages, Alanna has helped clients obtain significant injunctive relief, including changes in discriminatory company policies and practices, through private litigation and negotiation.

Prior to KLLF, Alanna worked at the litigation boutique law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady, LLP where she practiced both civil rights and commercial litigation. Before that, Alanna completed a clerkship with the Hon. Esther Salas of the District of New Jersey. She also worked for several years as a litigation associate at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, where she focused on complex commercial litigation.

Alanna graduated from Columbia Law School in 2011, where she served as a staff editor of the Columbia Law Review, was named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and won the Robert Noxon Toppan prize in constitutional law. Alanna received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008. She is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.

Alanna was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

In her spare time, Alanna enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family, including her toddling twins.

Kathleen Y. Kim, Esq.

Winston & Strawn LLP

New York, NY

Kathleen is an associate in Winston & Strawn’s New York office with a broad complex commercial litigation practice with a focus on antitrust and patent matters. She regularly works with clients on high-profile antitrust and complex commercial MDL and class action litigation matters, and governmental investigations.

Kathleen represents clients across multiple industries and has experience in the banking, financial services, electronics, mobile technology, pharmaceuticals, and health care sectors, in matters involving allegations of price fixing, monopolization, group boycott, violations of consumer protection or unfair competition statutes, patent infringement and invalidity, and fraud, among others. Kathleen represents clients in individual, class, and/or multijurisdictional actions in state and federal courts, both during trial and appellate proceedings.

Kathleen received a B.A. in Government, cum laude, from Dartmouth College, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She also received an L.L.M. in International Criminal Law, cum laude, from the University of Amsterdam.

Kathleen leverages her prior experiences as a judicial intern for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y.) and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, as a Community Enterprise Clinic student attorney, and as an Editor for Columbia Human Rights Law Review, Jailhouse Lawyers’ Manual, in all facets of her practice.

Beatriz Marques, Esq.

Office of the New York State Attorney General Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Bureau Albany, NY

New York, NY

Beatriz Marques is an Assistant Attorney General at the Office of the New York. She received her LL.B in Law from the University of Bristol in the UK, and her LL.M in European Law from Université Panthéon Assas (Paris II) in France. Beatriz has a record of prestigious work experiences including Kreab a European Public Affairs firm, UNESCO in Paris, the United Nations in Nicaragua, the Central American Court of Justice, and a law firm in Central America, Consortium Legal. Beatriz is passionate about Competition Law and recently completed a Certificate of Advanced Studies in International Competition Law and Compliance at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland.

Rob Rickner, Esq.

Rickner PLLC

New York, NY

Rob Rickner grew up in Burlington, Vermont. He studied at the University of Vermont, including a year abroad at the University of Sussex in England, earning a BA in comparative religion, political science, and sociology. After graduating, he worked for two non-profit arts organizations.

Rob went to law school at Hofstra School of Law, where he was a member of the law review, was on the dean’s list every semester, earned awards in both property and criminal law, and graduated magna cum laude. Rob then earned a master’s degree at New York University School of Law, studying how technology and intellectual property influence, and often restrain, competition.

After finishing his master’s, Rob worked at two prestigious large firms, a mid-sized boutique, and a small civil rights firm. Rob founded Rickner PLLC in 2017 both to continue his years of civil rights work and to try new, innovative ways of litigating commercial cases.

Rob is admitted in New York state, the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Email Rob: rob@ricknerpllc.com

Jamie Alison Rosen, Esq.

Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Wolf, LLP.

New Hyde Park, NY

Jamie A. Rosen is an Associate at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP. Ms. Rosen is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and New Jersey.

Ms. Rosen’s practice is primarily focused on Mental Health, Health Care and Elder Law. As part of the firm’s Mental Health Law practice, the only family-focused mental health practice in the country, she helps individuals and families navigate the complicated legal and mental health systems. Ms. Rosen handles Article 81 guardianship proceedings, involuntary psychiatric treatment and retention hearings, Kendra’s Law applications (Assisted Outpatient Treatment), mental health warrants and Family Court Orders of Protection matters, as well as other civil litigation and negotiation specific to mental health and/or substance abuse issues. She also represents mental health and health care professionals, major hospital systems, and higher education institutions.

Ms. Rosen was selected as one of the 2018 Outstanding Women in Law – Emerging Leaders by the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. She has been designated as a “Rising Star” in New York Health Care Law by “Super Lawyers” since 2017 and was selected as a Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” for Elder and Health Care Law in 2021.

Ms. Rosen was a Guest Editor for the Family Court Review Special Issue on Mental Illness in the Family published in January 2016. Ms. Rosen also received attribution for her contributions to numerous articles that are published in professional journals and newspapers including the Nassau Lawyer, NYSBA Elder and Special Needs Law

Journal, NYSBA Health Law Journal, The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology of the Northwestern University School of Law, Family Court Review, NYSBA Family Law Review, the New York Law Journal, and The Risk Management Quarterly.
Ms. Rosen is an Adjunct Professor at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, co-teaching Law & Psychiatry in Spring 2020. She was also an Alumni Instructor to a group of second year law students enrolled in the skills course “Foundational Lawyering Skills” from 2015 to 2018.

Ms. Rosen received her J.D. from Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University with a Concentration in Child and Family Advocacy. She was an Associate Editor of the Hofstra Law Review and Vice President of the Hofstra Trial Advocacy Association.

Kristen M. Walsh, Esq.

Garfunkel Wild, LLP

Great Neck, NY

Kristen Walsh joined Garfunkel Wild, P.C. as an associate in 2020. She concentrates her practice on complex estate planning, asset protection and wealth preservation, trust and estate administration, and elder law. Ms. Walsh designs and implements estate plans that are specifically tailored for the needs and objectives of each of her clients. She drafts estate planning documents from the simple to the complex, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, family agreements, and advance directives. Ms. Walsh’s estate plans address estate and gift tax planning, elder care and special needs concerns, business succession planning, and lifetime and charitable giving. In trust and estate administration matters, Ms. Walsh is involved in the preparation of gift and estate tax returns and the preparation of both informal and formal accountings. She advises executors and trustees on their fiduciary duties and advises beneficiaries on their rights. Ms. Walsh also represents clients in both contested and uncontested Surrogate’s Court matters, including probate, administration, and accounting proceedings, and other trust and estate litigation matters. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Walsh was a Trusts & Estates associate at a prominent Long Island firm. She also previously served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Denis R. Hurley in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Publications • Proving the Family Tree: Navigating A Kinship Proceeding in Surrogate’s Court, The Nassau Lawyer, co-author (April 2020)
Education • Touro Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 2016) Salutatorian Dean’s Fellowship Notes and Comments Editor, Touro Law Review • Adelphi University, School of Social Work (M.S.W., 2010) • St. Joseph’s College (B.A., 2006)