In July 2025, New York Law School (NYLS) announced John E. Estes ’95 as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees. Estes first joined the Board in 2012 and has served for over a decade while contributing generous scholarships and teaching as a Distinguished Adjunct Professor at the Law School. He is a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the world’s leading law firms, where he has worked for 30 years. Read the full announcement.
Estes succeeds Arthur N. Abbey ’59, who held a historic 25-year tenure as Chair. During his investiture, Estes expressed deep gratitude for Abbey’s decades of leadership, and pledged to uphold NYLS’s core values in collaboration with Dean and President Anthony W. Crowell, the Board, and the entire NYLS community.
Reflecting on his journey from evening student to Board leader, Estes credited his professors and NYLS’s supportive environment for laying a foundation for his future. “The education at NYLS is life-changing,” he said. “I recall with fondness my professors who were so inspirational to me, and who armed me with all the tools I needed to find success in my law practice over the years.”
Today, Estes brings a clear and ambitious vision for NYLS’s next chapter. He deeply admires our faculty and believes that a student-centered community begins with a strong administration and strong support for faculty teaching, scholarship, and innovation. Below are a few key priorities he will lead the Board in pursuing:
Faculty expansion: “We have a world-class faculty here at NYLS. Supporting research for new ideas among the faculty are an ongoing objective. Recruiting faculty helps on a number of fronts, including attracting a highly credentialled student body and enhancing our reputation among the New York and broader legal communities.
Student and graduate excellence: “It starts and ends with the students. We need to arm our students with all the tools they need to pass the bar, succeed in practice, and embody the values that distinguish NYLS graduates: teamwork, intellectual curiosity, and fairness. We recently achieved accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which provides us with opportunities to expand our program offerings.”
Leadership amid technological change: “We need to strive to determine the best way to use technology to effectively deliver NYLS programming to our students, and to equip them with the ability to function effectively in a world of increasing technological capabilities—in particular, how to effectively use AI products in the practice of law.”
NYLS’s community presence: “We are in the heart of Tribeca and have the ability to more fully integrate into the local community, which can present terrific educational opportunities for our students. Taking advantage of our capacity and location can significantly improve the student experience, provide opportunities for additional revenue streams, and further enhance our reputation in the legal community.”
In addition, Estes flagged opportunities for institutional partnerships and joint academic programming, long-term fiscal stability, enhanced student experiences, and greater collaboration between the Board and faculty. As NYLS moves forward under Estes’s guidance, the community can look forward to continued strategic innovation and a deep commitment to the students at the heart of its mission.
“We have a fabulous institution, we’re progressing in a positive direction, and we have our best days ahead of us,” Estes concluded. “NYLS has staying power, and I am confident that we will continue to thrive through the current and future challenges we face. I’m excited to work closely with my Board colleagues, Dean Crowell, the faculty, and the administration to do everything we can to support our students.”
Estes speaking at the 2025 Alumni Celebration.
Estes speaking with Immediate Past Chair of the Board Arthur Abbey '59.
Estes and members of the NYLS community celebrate his investiture.
Estes welcoming NYLS's incoming classes at 2025 Orientation.