Albany Law School Welcomes Six Distinguished Alumni to Board of Trustees

Albany Law School is pleased to announce the appointment of six accomplished alumni to its Board of Trustees, further strengthening the board's leadership with graduates whose careers span law, business, finance, technology, government, and public service.

Joining the Board of Trustees are Joseph P. Breda, Esq. ’94, Donald M. Cepiel, Jr., Esq. ’95, Brian C. Cuneo, Esq. ’96, Benjamin J. Wolf  ’04, Glinnesa D. Gailliard ’07; and Matthew J. Laroche, Esq. ’10.

"These six alumni exemplify the excellence, leadership, and commitment to service that define Albany Law School," said Cinnamon Carlarne, President and Dean of Albany Law School. "Each has distinguished themselves professionally while remaining deeply connected to the law school. Their diverse perspectives and dedication to our mission will be invaluable as we continue to prepare our students to practice, serve and lead."

Each new member will serve a five-year term.

Joseph P. Breda, Esq. ’94 serves as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Partner of Cordell & Cordell, based in St. Louis, Missouri. Drawing on extensive experience in law, technology, and business, Breda previously served as President of Bloomberg Law after helping build the legal information platform during his tenure with Bloomberg. A cum laude graduate of Albany Law School and member of the Justinian Society, Breda earned his bachelor's degree from SUNY Brockport. His daughter, Olivia M. Breda, is currently a member of Albany Law's Class of 2027.

Donald M. Cepiel, Jr., Esq. ’95 is Associate General Counsel for Cyber & Product Security & Antitrust Governance at Schneider Electric, following a distinguished 29-year career with IBM, where he served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. Cepiel is a trusted advisor to senior executives on complex legal, regulatory, and enterprise risk matters while helping advance business objectives. A cum laude graduate of Albany Law School, he joined the Dean's Leadership Council in 2023. He earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Hamilton College.

Brian C. Cuneo, Esq. ’96 is a Private Advisor and Managing Director with Rockefeller Global Family Office, where he leads a team providing comprehensive wealth planning and advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, and family offices. His expertise includes investment advisory, trusts and estates, tax strategy, philanthropy, and multigenerational planning. Before joining Rockefeller, Cuneo spent 22 years with Ayco, a Goldman Sachs Company, serving in several senior leadership positions. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Albany Law School and his bachelor's degree in English from the University at Albany. His wife, Julie F. Cuneo ’24, is also an Albany Law graduate.

Benjamin J. Wolf, Esq. '04 is Counsel with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, where his practice focuses on trusts and estates, business litigation, and corporate law. Wolf recently completed his term as President of Albany Law School's National Alumni Association (NAA), serving from 2024 to 2026. He served on the Board of Trustees as the NAA representative from 2022 – 2026. While a student, he served as President of the Student Bar Association, was Note & Comment Editor of the Journal of Science and Technology, and received the Albany Law School Student Service Award. He continues to mentor Albany Law students and is active in the New York City Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

Glinnesa D. Gailliard, Esq. '07 is the General Counsel and Director of Legal, Risk & Compliance for the New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation (NYSTEC). She is an experienced and influential C-suite executive specializing in legal and compliance roles, directing and overseeing multiple departments, including in-house legal team and contract management specialists, to ensure all corporate contracts and agreements are properly managed. As a student, she was active in the Black Law Students Association, Non-Traditional Law Student Association, and Women's Law Caucus. Since graduating, Gailliard has remained actively engaged with Albany Law through the National Alumni Association, where she currently serves as President-Elect, and as a mentor to current students. She will serve as the NAA representative to the Board of Trustees. She earned her undergraduate degree in communications from the University at Albany.

Matthew J. Laroche, Esq. '10 is a partner in Milbank LLP's Litigation & Arbitration Group in New York, focusing on white collar defense, government and internal investigations, complex civil litigation, regulatory compliance, and cryptocurrency-related matters. A former federal prosecutor, Laroche represents financial institutions, multinational corporations, asset managers, boards, and individuals in high-profile investigations and enforcement matters. He graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School, ranking second in the Class of 2010, and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Albany Law Review. He also served on the Dean's Leadership Council from 2023 to 2026 and received the National Alumni Association's Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2018.

"The Board of Trustees is honored to welcome these exceptional alumni as our newest colleagues," said Dianne R. Phillips ’88, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "Each has built an impressive career while remaining deeply engaged with Albany Law School and the legal profession. Their leadership, insight, and unwavering commitment to our institution will strengthen the Board's work as we help guide the school's future. I look forward to working alongside them."