Bob Kaufman’s vast experience in the public and private sectors, and his fifty-nine years of legal practice with Proskauer, have given him special depth in the areas of health and hospital law, the law of not-for-profit corporations, multinational corporate law and personal representation.
As a member of the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, followed by several years in the United States Senate as Legislative Assistant to Senator Javits and as a Senior Economist for the State of New York, Bob brought a broad public policy perspective to Proskauer. He has helped to change the face of health and hospital law by his work on the restructuring of New York not-for-profit hospital groups and on the legislative development of the New York hospital reimbursement system. He also spearheaded the first large hospital law department in a New York general practice firm.
Bob has been a strategist in major corporate acquisitions in the United States and Canada by the Pirelli Group and was Chairman of the Board of the Pirelli Group’s United States companies in the cable and tire industries. He also was Chairman of the Board of Old Westbury Funds, Inc., a mutual fund group advised by Bessemer Trust Company.
In addition, Bob represented family groups and their personal holding companies for three generations. He was also active in the representation of foundations and other not-for-profit organizations.
In public service, Bob has been President of the New York City Bar Association and the American Judicature Society, as well as Board Chair of the Times Square Business Improvement District and the Fund for Modern Courts, Vice Chair of the New York Community Trust and a director of numerous other not-for-profit organizations.
Bob is the co-editor of the widely praised four-volume Health Care Law Treatise, which was published by Matthew Bender in August, 1991.
magna cum laude
Decisions Editor, Brooklyn Law Review
New York City Bar (Past President, Former Executive Committee Chairman)
American Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
New York Women’s Bar Association
New York County Lawyers’ Association
New York Community Trust (Vice Chair Emeritus)
Times Square Business Improvement District (Past Chairman)
The Fund for Modern Courts (Chair Emeritus)
American Judicature Society (Past President)
National Association of Women Judges (Past Chair, Amicus Committee)
American Academy of Hospital Attorneys
American Law Institute
American Economic Association
Legal Aid Society (Former Executive Committee Member)
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (Former Executive Committee Member)
Volunteers for Legal Services (Former Executive Committee Member)
Best Lawyers in America 1991-2023
Who’s Who in America
Who's Who in the World
American Judicature Society, Justice Award, September 18, 2000
Fellow, The New York Bar Foundation
Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
National Association of Women Judges Award, 1998 and 2019
Federal Bar Council, Whitney North Seymour Award, 1995
New York City Bar, Association Medal, 1995
Fund For Modern Courts, John J. McCloy Memorial Award, 1997