2012 Commencement Speaker
Kenneth R. Feinberg
Founder, Managing Partner of Feinberg Rozen, LLP
Kenneth R. Feinberg has been key to resolving many of
our nation's most challenging and widely known disputes. He is best known
for serving as the Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim
Compensation Fund of 2001, in which he reached out to all who qualified to
file a claim, evaluated applications, determined appropriate compensation,
and disseminated awards. Mr. Feinberg shared his extraordinary experience
in his book What Is Life Worth?, published in 2005 by Public
Affairs Press. Just a few years later, Mr. Feinberg became Fund
Administrator for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund following the tragic
shootings at Virginia Tech. Mr. Feinberg also has served as Special Master
in Agent Orange, asbestos personal injury, wrongful death claims, Dalkon
shield, and DES (pregnancy medication) cases.
Mr.
Feinberg founded Feinberg Rozen, LLP in 1992. He has been involved in
resolving thousands of disputes involving a wide range of interests and
clients. In the commercial sector, Mr. Feinberg designed, implemented and
administered an ADR settlement Program involving Liberty Mutual Insurance
Company, Zurich N.A. Insurance Company and Hurricane Katrina and other
Gulf hurricane claimants. He also has served as Distribution Agent for AIG
Fair Fund claimants, and has been the Fund Administrator for a variety of
claimant funds totaling more than $1 billion. In his capacity as an
arbitrator, Mr. Feinberg helped determine the fair market value of the
original Zapruder film of the Kennedy assassination, and legal fees in
Holocaust slave labor litigation.
Mr. Feinberg has been
appointed to two presidential-level commissions because of his experience
and expertise, and has had a distinguished teaching career as an Adjunct
Professor of Law at Georgetown University, the University of Pennsylvania,
Columbia University, New York University, and the University of
Virginia.
In 2004, he was named "Lawyer of the
Year" by the National Law Journal (2004), and has been named
repeatedly as one of "The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in
America" by the National Law Journal.
Education:
B.A., cum laude, University of Massachusetts, 1967 J.D., New York
University School of Law, 1970, (Law Review)
Clerkships: Chief Judge
Stanley H. Fuld, New York State Court of Appeals 1970-1972
Leadership: Chairman of the Board of the RAND Institute of Civil Justice
Vice-Chairman, Board of Human Rights First Board, Bazelon Center for Mental
Health Law President, Washington National Opera
