Carolyn Richmond '91
Judge William B. Groat Alumni Award
Carolyn Richmond is chair of the Hospitality Practice Group and a former co-chair of the Labor and Employment Department at Fox Rothschild LLP. Her practice largely consists of representing and counseling employers in the hospitality industry, specifically restaurants, hotels, caterers, nightlife, and fitness centers. In particular, Carolyn has developed a unique expertise in “tipping” and service charges and has often been called upon to counsel national and international operators with respect to redesigning gratuity systems as well as legal compliance issues. She counsels clients extensively with respect to workplace issues such as the hiring process, diversity awareness training, restrictive covenants, employee handbooks and other policy initiatives. As a litigator, she has also handled a number of high-profile cases concerning sexual harassment.
Carolyn is Chief Labor Counsel to the New York City Hospitality Alliance and is very active in all parts of the organization. She and her team have helped the organization since its inception more than five years ago developing their extensive member training programs.
Increasingly, Carolyn is called upon by her peers in the legal community to mediate difficult disputes in the wage and hour and discrimination areas. The respect she enjoys on both sides of the bar, and her deep understanding of the legal issues and needs of all parties for practical solutions, has made her a sought-after mediator.
Carolyn also served as General Counsel to B.R. Guest Restaurants & James Hotels, where she was responsible for the legal and business affairs for both expanding restaurant operations and the development of James Hotel properties. This experience gave Carolyn an insider's perspective into both the business and legal needs of her clients.
She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Cornell Institute for Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations, the President's Council of Cornell Women, the ILR School’s Dean's Advisory Council, the Alumni Board of Directors and a prior member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Hospitality Research.
Diane Rosen '78
Jerome Alpern Award
Diane Rosen is of counsel to Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP. Formerly of Weil Gotshal & Manges, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Alter & Rosen LLP, Diane specializes in real estate and corporate transactions, has expertise in U.S. copyright law and is a mediator and conflict coach with a specialty in custody and visitation.
She has been a member of the New York Bar since 1982. In addition to practicing law, she is the author of The Grownup’s Guide: Living with Kids in Manhattan and was the Founding Vice President of Girls Learn International, a non-profit organization that works to combat the global crisis in girls’ education.
Diane serves on the boards of Planned Parenthood NYC; the Cornell University Council, the ILR School Dean’s Advisory Council, the President’s Council of Cornell Women and the Cornell Council on Sexual Violence; the New York French American Charter School and the advisory boards of the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution and the Mt. Sinai Adolescent Health Center. She has previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Trinity School in Manhattan.