Partner, Jaspan Schlesinger
LLP
In a tumultuous marketplace, business entities often need outside
professionals to help restore sound financial order to their bottom
line. The marketplace is flooded with individuals and
organizations who claim to have the skill-set to accomplish such a
herculean task. A select few of these individuals adhere to a
professional code of conduct designed to protect the entity and the
marketplace. These individuals are often members of a
professional organization known as the Turn Around Management
Association. The Turn Around Management Association is a
professional community of turnaround and corporate renewal
professionals who share a common interest in strengthening the
economy through the restoration of corporate value. Antonia
M. Donohue ’84 is not only a member of the organization, but also
serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Long Island
Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association.
Ms. Donohue chose to attend St. John’s Law School due to its
excellent reputation, strong alumni network and track record for
having a historically high bar pass rate. As an individual
with a strong faith, she was pleased that the Law School was an
entity under the umbrella of St. John’s University.
While attending alma mater, Ms. Donohue found herself inspired by
the faculty to be the best lawyer she could be. Two faculty
members specifically stand out - noting that Professor Edward T.
Fagan, Jr. would “bring the law to life each and every class” and
Professor Vincent Alexander’s “legal insight would challenge the
way you think about the case – and the law.” She learned that
she passed the bar exam while working alongside seven classmates at
a Brooklyn firm. She was confident that she would pass thanks
to her St. John’s Law legal education but relieved to learn the
positive result none the less. Today, Ms. Donohue considers
many of her classmates her closest friends.
In 2009, Ms. Donohue was named a recipient of the Long Island
Business News’ “50 Most Influential Women.” Honorees are
selected based upon their leadership in business, support for Long
Island’s non-for-profit organizations and commitment to the
community.
Ms. Donohue takes pride in balancing her responsibility to her
clients, her firm and her role as a mentor to individuals new to
the profession. Her advice to the Class of 2011 - “Be
enthusiastic when meeting with individuals interested in your
career. Be persistent, but respectful, in making connections
and following up on opportunities and be specific as to why you are
the perfect candidate for the position.”