We are proud to celebrate the honoring of the Haub Law Rising Star Awards. The Rising Star Award is given annually in recognition of a legal professional who has impacted the field of law during the first fifteen years of the recipient's area of work. The Rising Star Awardees will have demonstrated a commitment to Haub Law, the legal profession, and an ingenuity of thought that has the potential for having substantial and lasting influence upon the legal profession.
This year we are proud to honor the following Rising Stars:
This class of Rising Stars truly embody what this honor stands for. Congratulations to all of our Awardees.
Mike Bauscher is a litigator who focuses his practice on eminent domain law. He advises municipalities and public-benefit corporations that are using condemnation to acquire interests in real property, guiding them in the planning process for acquisition of properties, the public hearing process, the commencement of acquisition proceedings, and defending against legal challenges (including federal constitutional challenges) to decisions to acquire properties. Bauscher also has extensive experience in valuation proceedings to determine the fair market value of properties taken by eminent domain and has been an integral member of many trial teams. He has prepared numerous appellate briefs in connection with condemnation and general litigation matters and has argued before appellate courts including the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the New York State Appellate Division. Bauscher is a former editor-in-chief of Pace Law Review.
Cayleigh Eckhardt began her career serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Malachy E. Mannion of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She was then hired directly into the EPA Region 1 Honors Attorney Fellowship program. EPA quickly promoted her to an Attorney-Advisor position. Her practice covers New England states, where she advises a range of matters under a number of statutes including the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act. Eckhardt has already successfully advocated before the Environmental Appeals Board. A significant portion of her portfolio is developing and defending Clean Water Act NPDES permits issued by EPA in NH and MA, including work on some of New England's last coal burning power plants. EPA has recognized Eckhardt’s superior service on more than one occasion, honoring her with a National Gold Medal Award for Exceptional Service for work related to a federal facility site among others. Eckhardt is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Pace Environmental Law Review and former Chair of NELMCC, and credits much of her success at EPA to the training she received at the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic and through Pace's unique and exemplary environmental course offerings.
Cherie Phoenix-Sharpe has been General Counsel to the Connecticut Lt. Governor, Susan Bysiewicz, since February of 2019. Prior to this appointment Phoenix-Sharpe was Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of New Haven under Mayor Toni Harp after 7 years as an associate with the New England firm of Murtha Cullia, LLP. Phoenix-Sharpe holds a law degree from Pace University and was the Student Bar Association president during her 2L year. She was the graduating class Adolf Homburger Humanitarian Award recipient and was the 2015 Pace Law School Black Law Student Association Alumnus Honoree.
Fatima Silva ’08 Managing Attorney at Silva Law Co-Host of Reasonable Doubt on Discovery Inc. Investigation Discovery Fatima Silva is a seasoned criminal defense attorney fighting for the accused in courtrooms across California's San Francisco Bay Area. Her passion for justice and unparalleled dedication to her clients led to her being selected to star on the true-crime television show “Reasonable Doubt”, where she partners up with a homicide detective to help families whose loved ones may have been wrongfully convicted of murder. When she is not on the road filming or advocating in a courtroom, Silva teaches trial skills to competitors of the San Francisco and Alameda County Mock Trial Competition. While at Pace Law School, Silva was Secretary of the Public Interest Law Scholarship Organization and participated in the National Moot Court Competition winning Runner-Up to Best Brief.
Kevin Sylvester ’15 Chief of Police at Ossining Police Department Attorney at Law Office of Kevin P. Sylvester, PLLC
Kevin Sylvester is a lifelong resident of Ossining, New York where he dedicated his career to community building and improving public safety at the neighborhood level. Sylvester has presented across the country and consulted with municipalities in the US and internationally on improving communications, government use of social media, and building community trust. He advocated for, and was instrumental in the passing of NY State legislation granting drivers licenses to people regardless of immigration status. In the era of police reform Sylvester facilitated and helped organize protests with Black Lives Matters advocates and other community groups. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, having served from 2002-2010. He also manages a solo law practice. In addition to professional responsibilities, Sylvester is an avid endurance athlete having raced in the New York City Marathon and Ironman Maryland. He is a board member of Ossining JCYS Baseball and Softball and serves as a youth baseball coach.