Sachin Kohli '06

Segment Synopsis: Introduction. Family background, grew up in Rochester NY with parents who emigrated from India. Two siblings, older sister and older brother, both are graduates of UB. Sister is a graduate of UB Law School and undergraduate degree in Engineering School, brother also graduate from Engineering School. Kohli is a graduate of UB Law School, School of Management MBA, and Engineering School. Parents were very supportive. All of them had to have a baseline engineering degree. While at UB, he was an industrial engineering intern at IBM in Binghamton, was exposed to law tangentially and a sense of what Merger & Acquisition lawyers do. Sparked interest in JD/MBA program. Sister had graduated from the program. Wanted to practice business law and wanted a big city, figured it out early on. UB was top of the list as far as top choice for law school.

Keywords: Choice of Law; Choosing UB Law School; Father; Immigration; Internships; Mother; Siblings; Undergraduate Education

Subjects: EDUCATION; FAMILY HISTORY; UB LAW AS STUDENT

Segment Synopsis: Starting at UB law, student experience. Varied group of students, forming friendships. JDMBA: First year law school, second year management school, had an extra year, graduated 2006, finished after his law cohort. Formed relationships with two classes. Two key study groups and extracurricular activities. Picking classes focused business transaction law and cross-listed with business school. Fondest memory: great relationships formed studying in law library. Engineering undergrad set him up well for law school, analytic thinking skills. Favorite class: Acquisitions and Transactions class with Prof. Halpern. M&A transactions and talking to Halpern who was an excellent instructor. Reaffirmed his choice of M&A. Philip Halpern one of many professor who had an impact, Prof. Westbrook, Prof. Disare, Prof. Schlegel, key professors involved in finance and transactions. Grateful for mentorship.

Keywords: Choice of Law; Class Composition; Classes; Experience as Student; Graduate / Professional Training; Law Professor; Law Students; Mentors; Student Culture; Study Habits

Subjects: EDUCATION; UB LAW AS STUDENT; UB LAW FACULTY; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS

Segment Synopsis: Editor in chief of Law Review. One of his fondest memories of law school. Realized as a 2L the importance of Law Review. Preparation for the practice of law. Starting as a summer associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP. Proving himself and work ethic ingrained by parents and law school. Law School alumni were very helpful in securing position. Jeff Tannenbaum helped him enter his firm. Greatest professional achievement: has worked on many significant M&A cases for his clients. Dow and DuPont merger of two iconic companies $130 Billion transaction done in a fast time frame he is proud of. Other experience: as a summer associate, rotated through other three groups (bankruptcy group, tax group, and corporate group) to make sure he made the right choice. As a result he joined the M&A group at Weil. Importance of M&A work. UB Law's impact on professional and personal life. Areas impacted are alumni connections and work ethic. Enabled him to get to Weil. UB Law served him well. Professional opportunities changes: job cycles and economic cycles. Ability to pivot, be flexible and adapt. Instantaneous results and acceleration of the pace. Pandemic 24/7 work schedule with remote work. Separation between work and home. Would choose the same path again.

Keywords: Alumni; Areas of Scholarship; Buffalo Law Review; Career / Professional Experience; Choice of Law; Fondest Memory; Greatest Achievement; Internships; UB Law School; UB Preparation

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; UB LAW AS STUDENT

Segment Synopsis: Personal issues. Impact of law on personal life. Job is demanding, demanding hours. Wife is supportive, and three young children, 9,7,4. Push/pull between personal and professional. Working from home has helped. Professional satisfaction coming from the practice of law. Would encourage his children to pursue law and show them pros/cons. Committing to a path. Focus on the good. Law training working with others. Being asked legal questions not part of his areas of expertise. Teaches in the NY Program to get UB students exposure to the capital markets, finance and what lawyers do at large firms, how the markets work, providing opportunities for students to capitalize on and provides connections to the Law School and an ongoing relationship with Alumni Association.

Keywords: Alumni; Alumni Association; Career / Professional Experience; Children / Grandchildren; Relationship with UB Law; Relationships; Spouse; Teaching Law; UB Law School general

Subjects: PERSONAL ISSUES; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; TEACHING

Segment Synopsis: Describes high quality and caliber of students in NY program. On Alumni Board for the Law Review. Importance of NYC Law Alumni Program. One thing to change at UB Law? Ranking higher. Quality of the incoming students. Job Search, no barriers other than getting in the door, using Law School connections. Effect of Law School on relationships. Being a lawyer is just one component of who he is. The Law School is a special place and provides opportunities. Wonderful things about a law degree and the ability to pursue different things. Closing.

Keywords: Alumni; Alumni Association; Caliber of Students; Relationship with UB Law

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; UB LAW AS STUDENT; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS