On July 1, Cornell Law School and Cornell Tech welcomed David Reiss to their faculties as Clinical Professor of Law and Research Director of the Blassberg-Rice Center for Entrepreneurship Law. Reiss will be based at Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus and will co-direct the Law School’s Entrepreneurship Clinic, marking the first time the Law School has offered a clinical offering in New York City. Reiss will also teach in the Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship Program at Cornell Law and Cornell Tech.

The hiring of Reiss represents a significant milestone in the growth of the Blassberg-Rice Center for Entrepreneurship Law. Founded with the support of a transformative gift from Franci J. Blassberg ’75, JD ’77, and Joseph L. Rice III, the Blassberg-Rice Center for Entrepreneurship Law supports entrepreneurial initiatives through clinical training. Reiss will co-teach with Celia Bigoness, founding director of the Blassberg-Rice Center and Entrepreneurship Clinic. With Bigoness in Ithaca and Reiss in New York City, the Blassberg-Rice Center will provide free legal services to entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout New York State.

“Cornell Law has an outstanding record of clinical service to the community, and we could not be more grateful to the Blassberg-Rice family for their support in extending our students’ experience and pro bono service to New York City,” said Jens Ohlin, Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law at Cornell Law.

“We are thrilled to welcome David to our campus as he joins Cornell Tech’s new Blassberg-Rice Center for Entrepreneurship Law and the Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program,” said Greg Morrisett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost of Cornell Tech. “David’s legal background, extensive research and academic experience, and network in New York City will be a great inspiration to our students and help enhance these unique offerings on our campus.”

Reiss comes to Cornell from Brooklyn Law School, where he taught for over twenty years and founded the Community Development Clinic. In addition to teaching, Reiss is active in research, academia, and professional service. He was the research director of the Center for Urban Business Entrepreneurship in Brooklyn and is a research associate at the NYU Furman Center, a collaboration between New York University Law School and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Emerging Digital Finance and Currency and an expert on the intersection of real estate and blockchain technology. Reiss is the author of the forthcoming book ” Financing the American Dream: How to reform the mortgage market (Oxford University Press).

“To educate outstanding 21st century lawyers, law schools must keep pace with technological innovation while maintaining a focus on the fundamentals of the legal profession: research, writing and advocacy,” Reiss said. “Cornell Law School’s clinical program puts these two goals at the center as it educates the lawyers of tomorrow.”

“David is the perfect person to expand our clinical program to New York City,” said Bigoness. “He has extensive clinical teaching experience and a strong professional network with government agencies, community organizations and businesses throughout the five boroughs. He will provide a world-class legal education to our students on the Cornell Tech campus and support the local community by providing needed resources to entrepreneurs and small businesses.”

Reiss earned his BA from Williams College in 1989 and his JD, magna cum laudegraduated from NYU Law School in 1996. After graduating from law school, Reiss worked for five years as a management consultant at prominent law firms – first at Morrison & Foerster and then at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. He then taught for a year at Seton Hall Law School before joining the faculty at Brooklyn Law School in 2003.

“Because Cornell’s land grant mission serves the entire state, we are especially proud that our clinical students will have the opportunity to provide legal services in the city,” said Beth Lyon, director of the clinical program and associate dean for experimental studies. “By working at both locations, they will also have the opportunity to lead a successful statewide practice in diverse legal landscapes.”