Introducing New Board Members and Leadership Positions

Sanctuary for Families

[PRESS RELEASE] Sanctuary for Families is proud to announce the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors and the election of new leadership roles.

Contact: press@sffny.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sanctuary for Families Announces New Board Members and Leadership Positions

New York, NY — Sanctuary for Families, New York’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender-based violence, is proud to announce the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors and the election of new leadership roles.

Nefertiti J. Alexander, a partner at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, focuses on complex commercial and civil litigation, white-collar defense, and government investigations. She represents clients in high-stakes disputes involving business tort, breach of contract, antitrust, and securities fraud in federal and state courts and arbitration. Nefertiti frequently speaks on diversity and inclusion in law firms and has received multiple awards for her achievements. She was a 2021 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow and currently co-chairs Sanctuary’s Legal Advisory Council (LAC).  She holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from New York University.

Gregory Baker, a litigation partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, chairs the firm’s securities litigation practice and is a member of the firm’s management committee. A former senior counsel with the SEC’s Enforcement Division, Greg represents clients in government regulatory investigations and civil litigation disputes. He is actively involved in pro bono efforts and mentoring young lawyers.

Ingrid Bilowich-von Ahn, a Swedish-American lawyer and philanthropist, is co-founder and executive director of the ILVA Foundation. The Foundation’s ethos and focus areas are based on Ingrid’s work as a women’s rights advocate and her time as an Assistant District Attorney for Kings County, Brooklyn. Ingrid also serves on the Legal Advisory Council for Sanctuary for Families, the Board of the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women (CATW), and the Advisory Council for the Robin Hood Foundation. She holds a J.D. from Emory University School of Law and is completing her M.Sc. in nonprofit management at Columbia University.

Jeannette Boot, a partner in the Investment Management Group at WilmerHale, advises clients on derivatives products and trading agreements. She heads the firm’s Well-being Working Group and has been involved in promoting mental health and well-being in the legal profession. Jeannette has also been a member of the Wellbeing Pledge subcommittee of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs since 2019 and serves on the Board of Directors of the Lawyer Depression Project. She holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a master’s degree from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Diana Brummer, a partner in Goodwin’s Business Law Department and co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate Industry group, has extensive experience in commercial real estate transactions. She focuses on complex joint ventures, senior, construction, and mezzanine financings, acquisitions and dispositions, loan workouts, real estate recapitalizations, and development. Diana represents a diverse range of clients, including institutional investors, pension funds, private real estate funds, and REITs. She is also active in pro bono work and was a member of the Leadership Advisory Committee of the National Women’s Law Center. Diana attended Cornell Law School and the University of Illinois.

Michele Dinn, a former institutional investor who holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, is a long-time volunteer with mission-driven nonprofit organizations in the health and human services sectors. She serves on multiple committees within Sanctuary for Families and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society National Board of Directors, where she chairs the Investment Committee. Michele previously served on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society New York City-Southern New York Chapter Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Investment Committee.

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In addition to these new appointments, Sanctuary for Families is pleased to announce the new leadership roles for its Board of Directors:

  • President: Michèle O. Penzer
    Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
  • Vice President: Jamila Abston Mayfield
    Founder & CEO, The Jamila Mayfield Group, LLC
  • Vice President: Anita Kawatra
    Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Kallyope
  • Vice President & Secretary: Katharine Bieber Ogg
  • Treasurer: Francesca Odell
    Partner, Cleary Gottlieb

“We are thrilled to welcome such an accomplished and dedicated group of individuals to our Board of Directors. Their expertise and passion for our mission will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for and support survivors of gender-based violence. Our new board leadership further strengthens our commitment to governance excellence and strategic growth.”

Hon. Judy H. Kluger
CEO, Sanctuary for Families

About Sanctuary for Families

Sanctuary for Families is dedicated to the safety, healing, and self-determination of victims of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence. We provide a range of comprehensive services and work to end gender violence through outreach, education, and advocacy.

For more information, please visit www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org.

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Our Statement on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on EMTALA and Abortion Care

Sanctuary for Families

Statement from Sanctuary for Families CEO Hon. Judy Kluger on the Supreme Court ruling in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States.

Today, the Supreme Court issued its decision in the consolidated cases Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States, sending them back to the lower courts without a ruling on the merits but reinstating an injunction requiring Idaho to permit abortions in the case of major health crises. This decision ensures that, for now, women in Idaho can access essential emergency abortion care when their lives or health are at risk, affirming that medical professionals can provide life-saving treatments without fear of criminal penalties or losing their medical licenses.

However, as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted in her partial concurrence, “Today’s decision is not a victory for pregnant patients in Idaho. It is delay. While this court dawdles and the country waits, pregnant people experiencing emergency medical conditions remain in a precarious position, as their doctors are kept in the dark about what the law requires.”  

Statement from Sanctuary CEO Hon. Judy Kluger on the Supreme Court Ruling in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States:

“Today, the Supreme Court squandered an opportunity to stand against state-sponsored gender-based violence. While the decision allows pregnant women in Idaho to receive emergency abortion care for the time being, it also denies patients in Texas and around the country access to the same life-saving treatment.

Access to emergency medical services is particularly crucial for survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault, who often need urgent care during pregnancy. Sanctuary for Families is proud to have submitted an amicus brief demonstrating how abortion bans like Idaho’s disproportionately harm survivors. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for comprehensive healthcare rights and protecting against all forms of gender-based violence.”

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Media inquiries: press@sffny.org

Read our amicus brief on the impact that restrictive abortion laws have on survivors of gender-based violence.