Syracuse Sun

Richard Alexander, a prominent figure in the legal field and a dedicated supporter of Syracuse University, has spent the last decade navigating both his professional career and his passion for academia. As a partner and former chair at Arnold & Porter, one of the nation's leading law firms, and as a member of Syracuse University's Board of Trustees, Alexander's guiding principle has been to foster talent and uphold strong moral values.

Reflecting on his experiences, Alexander stated, "During very dynamic and demanding times in academia and the legal profession, I have found some common challenges and opportunities. Among other things, universities and law firms are in the talent business." He emphasized that both institutions must focus on recruiting talented individuals to develop future leaders.

Alexander is proud of his tenure at Arnold & Porter, which included overseeing its merger with Kaye Scholer in 2017. Under his leadership, the firm surpassed $1 billion in revenue by 2021. The firm's commitment to core values such as client service excellence and diversity has earned it recognition from The American Lawyer's A-List.

"Our inclusion in The American Lawyer’s A-List is a reflection of the firm’s continuing commitment to providing extraordinary client service," said Alexander. This ethos was reinforced during his studies at Syracuse's College of Law.

Beginning his career with the federal government before joining Arnold & Porter, Alexander believes public service offers valuable experience despite being less lucrative than private sector jobs. His dedication to public service led him to establish a scholarship encouraging law students to pursue careers in this area.

Arnold & Porter's pro bono work remains significant under Alexander's influence. "We’re the firm that secured the constitutional right to counsel in Gideon v. Wainwright," he noted.

Kevin Toomey L’12 praised Alexander for maintaining excellence while fostering public service within Arnold & Porter. Toomey described this combination as unique among law firms.

Both Toomey and Alexander attribute part of their success to their education at Syracuse University. "Maybe it’s walking up the hill to the law school through the snow every day," joked Toomey about what makes Syracuse graduates resilient.

Alexander describes Syracuse's environment as having a "secret sauce" that instills grit and moral direction in its students. He acknowledges challenges faced by universities today but believes Syracuse continues to stand out by bringing together diverse perspectives.

To support diversity within legal education further, Alexander helped establish an endowed scholarship honoring Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75 for students committed to social justice.

Through all roles he holds or has held—be it within academia or law—Alexander remains committed to teaching young people about citizenship globally: “we are teaching young people to be citizens of the world.”