John Estes, a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Succeeds the 25 Year Tenure of Arthur Abbey ’59
The New York Law School Board of Trustees has elected John Estes ’95, a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, as its next Board Chair, succeeding the historic tenure of Arthur N, Abbey ’59, who served as Board Chair for the past 25 years. Arthur will continue to serve on the Board’s Executive Committee in the new position of Immediate Past Chair and Board Chair Emeritus. Gerald Crotty ’76 has been re-elected to the Board and will serve in the new position of First Vice Chair.
John commented, “I am deeply honored to be elected by my colleagues on the Board as the new Chair of New York Law School. For more than 25 years, Arthur Abbey has been an extraordinary Board colleague and leader. I will continue to work closely with him, our Dean and President, and the rest of the Board to ensure the School’s continued success. New York Law School is a vital part of New York’s civic fabric and has been an invaluable contributor to the strength of the profession. Our students are strong and passionate about their education and benefit from a world class education that produces terrific outcomes with bar passage, job placement, and opportunities for impact, particularly in the growth sectors of New York and more broadly. Our Board is composed of innovative leaders who have transformed their industries. Together with our Dean and President, Administration, and Faculty, they are committed to building both our programs and our tremendous and dynamic institutional culture.”
Arthur Abbey, the Board’s Chair Emeritus and Immediate Past Chair, said “John has been an invaluable partner to me, our Dean and President, and the entire Board, and we have long relied upon his exceptional strategic judgement and counsel. Our Board operates with a unique culture that fosters collaboration amongst the Trustees, and each Trustee is deeply invested in the School’s success through their innovative expertise, generosity, and time. Now as Chair, John will lead the Board and work with our Dean and President to provide even greater benefits to the entire NYLS community of students, faculty, alumni, and staff. His character, experiences, and collaborative nature will be a crucial asset for the Board going forward. I helped recruit John to the Board 13 years ago, and it was one of the best decisions our Board has made. I am grateful for his friendship and look forward to supporting his leadership on the Board.”
Anthony Crowell, Dean and President, said “John Estes is a tremendous leader, and he takes over at a critical juncture for higher education as Chair of New York Law School’s Board of Trustees. He joined the Board the same year I became Dean, and since then I have greatly relied on his partnership, strategic brilliance, wisdom, and unshakable connection and dedication to our students as we worked together to make New York Law School the thriving institution it is today. He succeeds Arthur Abbey, an inspirational leader and mentor to all of us for more than 25 years. Arthur created a foundation where the Board holds all of us accountable while providing indispensable support to the administration and faculty. This has empowered NYLS to have a thriving campus culture and outcomes that ensure our students have successful and impactful careers. I am grateful that Arthur will continue to be a leader and champion for our law school as he continues his service on the Board as Immediate Past Chair.”
Born in Brooklyn, John Estes enrolled at New York Law School as a part-time, Evening Division student, was a member of the Moot Court Board and Journal of Human Rights and graduated in 1995 with honors. He has spent his entire legal career at Sullivan & Cromwell, joining in 1995, being elected as partner in 2002, and now marking his 30th anniversary with the Firm. John focuses his practice on credit and leveraged finance and cross-border transactions, co-heading the firm’s Credit and Leveraged Finance Group. His global practice has taken him around the world and he spent more than a decade in Melbourne, Australia, where he served as the Managing Partner of the Australian practice from 2005 to 2010.
John joined the NYLS Board in 2012 and has served on the Executive Committee of NYLS’s Board of Trustees for 11 years. He has given very generously to the School, providing important scholarships dedicated to support working professionals in our Evening Division. He is also a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law at NYLS, focusing his courses on the practical aspects of effecting commercial and financing transactions. Read his full bio.
Arthur has an unmatched record of leadership and accomplishments as New York Law School’s Chair for a quarter of a century. The unwavering generosity and belief in New York Law School’s students led to a transformative gift from Arthur and his equally supportive wife Diane in 2023, inspiring the Law School to rename its main academic building as “Abbey Hall.” He remains a critical leader on the Law School’s Board, and he and Diane will continue to support new generations of students. The Diane Abbey Law Institute for Children and Families is a flagship program of NYLS and the home one of the nation’s leading family law programs.
The Board also re-elected Gerald “Jerry” Crotty ’76, who will serve First Vice Chair. Jerry is the President of Weichert Enterprise LLC, a private equity investment firm and has extensive experience in international business, government and the law. He was a senior executive at ITT Corporation after a distinguished public service career, in the administrations of Governors Mario Cuomo and Hugh Carey, including as Counsel and Secretary to Governor Cuomo. He was associated with the law firm of Hawkins, Delafield & Wood after graduating from NYLS. He has served on the NYLS Board since 1996 and has been one of the Law School’s most generous supporters advancing the institution in myriad ways over many years.
Mr. Crotty commented “I am honored to continue my service on New York Law School’s Board of Trustees as First Vice Chair. It has been a privilege supporting Arthur’s leadership as Chair for the past 25 years, and I am excited about our new chapter with John as our leader. Together with the Board, and the entire leadership of NYLS, we will continue to elevate New York Law School as a premier institution serving the New York and global economy.”