"I will never be able to repay her" -Ed P

I love Vanessa! She was a wonderful office mate (mine was next to hers at Pace/JJLS) and over the years that proximity led to friendship and her mentoring me frequently about teaching, lawyering, thinking, writing, justice, and a host of other topics.

After leaving Pace, my private practice started with two separate clients in need of U.S. Supreme Court advocacy. I had participated in two SCOTUS cases as a law student, and many appellate matters in state and federal court, but I was not a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Fortunately we stayed in touch over the years and as always, Vanessa was wonderfully gracious and offered to sponsor my membership. We won one of the two cases (defending against certiorari), and it was instrumental in the launch of my private practice which now employs eight, with three full-time lawyers. Vanessa had a profound role in my personal and professional development and I will never be able to repay her for all that she was to me during those years.

There are many other plaudits I could offer and so few who could be considered her peer. The certificate below is in our conference room and I look fondly at her inscribed name often.

She’s among the very best.

Fondly,
Ed P