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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Sanctuary Welcomes Denis McInerney, Partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell, as New Board President

Sanctuary for Families

New Board Members Include Garrard Beeney, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, Hon. Katherine Forrest, Partner

New Board Members Include Garrard Beeney, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, Hon. Katherine Forrest, Partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Jessica Tuchinsky, Partner at Simpson Thacher

Sanctuary for Families, New York’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence, announced that Denis McInerney, a Litigation Partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell, has been elected President of its Board of Directors, effective this month.

Mr. McInerney first joined Sanctuary’s Board in 2005 and served until 2010 when he stepped down to work for the Department of Justice, first as the Chief of the Fraud Section (2010 to 2013) and then Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division (2013 to 2014). He re-joined Sanctuary’s Board in 2015. Having served on a variety of Sanctuary Board committees over the years, including Audit (Chair), Development (Co-Chair), Finance, Nominating and Program, he brings a wealth of experience in Sanctuary’s work, as well as a deep commitment to helping survivors of gender violence.

Denis McInerney, President of Sanctuary for Families’ Board of Directors, said, “As Sanctuary celebrates its 35th year of service, I am awed and inspired by the legacy of my predecessors – the leaders and volunteers who have dedicated themselves to furthering Sanctuary’s mission of building a world in which freedom from gender violence is a basic human right. I am deeply honored to serve as its President and am excited to work with Sanctuary’s incredible staff and supporters now working on the frontlines of change.”

Three law firm partners have joined Sanctuary’s Board of Directors, effective this month:

Garrard Beeney, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell. Mr. Beeney is co-head of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Group and is regularly recognized as a leading lawyer for his counsel to clients on intellectual property and licensing transactions and litigation matters around the world.  He is a frequent speaker at IP, antitrust and legal forums and often contributes thought leadership pieces, particularly in the area of standard essential patents and world-wide licensing. He is the 2019 recipient of Sanctuary’s Law Firm Leadership Award.

Hon. Katherine Forrest, Partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Ms. Forrest was a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York and Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice before she rejoined Cravath in the firm’s Litigation Department. She is regarded as a leader in legal issues relating to technology, including the digital environment, high‑speed trading and content distribution.

Jessica Tuchinsky, Partner at Simpson Thacher. A member of the firm’s Banking and Credit Practice in New York, Ms. Tuchinsky represents leading financial institutions and investment banks with the arrangement and syndication of senior credit facilities, including acquisition, bridge and other corporate financings. She has significant experience in complicated financings in the leveraged finance, investment grade, and asset-based markets.

Hon. Judy Harris Kluger, Executive Director of Sanctuary for Families, said “On behalf of our organization and the thousands of survivors of gender-based violence that we assist each year, I thank our new Board President Denis McInerney for taking on this important leadership role and welcome new Board Members Garrard Beeney, Katherine Forrest and Jessica Tuchinsky. They are a formidable group. I look forward to their leadership, advocacy and counsel as we work together to help our clients find their way to fulfilling lives that are free from violence.”

Mr. McInerney takes over from William F. Gorin, Senior Counsel at Cleary Gottlieb, who served as President of Sanctuary’s Board of Directors since 2013. During Mr. Gorin’s tenure as Board President, he oversaw the search that resulted in new executive director Hon. Judy Harris Kluger; monitored Sanctuary’s growth from a $15.6 million to $26.2 million organization; and assisted in moving headquarters to a new lower Manhattan location. Mr. Gorin also led a strategic planning process which has resulted in the expansion of Sanctuary’s advocacy and outreach work; the growth of the Economic Empowerment Program and development of training alternatives to address the ever-changing challenges of poverty; increased survivor leadership; new legal programs for incarcerated survivors and survivors of campus sexual assault; and improved therapy treatments for children and families. Mr. Gorin will remain part of the Sanctuary family to co-chair the President’s Council with Stephanie Ferdman.

Judge Kluger said, “Sanctuary cannot grow and prosper without strong and dedicated board leadership. During Bill’s tenure, our programs expanded, and our organization thrived, allowing us to provide additional support to our neediest clients while also recognizing the hard work of our staff. He led our board with strength and commitment and was a passionate ambassador for Sanctuary to the wider public. We owe Bill an immense debt of gratitude for his extraordinary service.”

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Photo: Sanctuary Executive Director, Hon. Judy H. Kluger, and Sanctuary Board President Denis McInerney