Nancy Ann Lieberman

Nancy A. Lieberman, a trailblazing lawyer in the field of Mergers and Acquisitions, passed away on April 12 in New York City. She was 66. Nancy was married to Mark Ellman for 25 years and was a loving mom to her son Eric Ellman. Nancy suffered a long battle with complications from pneumonia, but her strong will to live kept her going over the past year and a half of hospitalizations.

She graduated University of Rochester in 1977, as Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and graduated from the University of Chicago Law School, at age 22, in 1979. She clerked at the U.S. Court of Appeals in the 5th Circuit in New Orleans, followed by an LLM in Tax from New York University in 1981. She then started her 40 plus year career of distinguished service at Skadden Arps, Slate Meagher and Flom. She became the youngest partner in Skadden history.

Throughout her distinguished career, Nancy was profiled in major publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NYU Law School magazine, The National Law Journal, Crain’s, and was named a Dealmaker of the Year by The American Lawyer.

In addition to her renowned legal career, she was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and served on the Board of Trustees at the University of Rochester and University of Chicago Law School. She also was an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Law School. She was a co-founder of the organization New Yorkers to Cure Paralysis and was instrumental in changing NYS policies, a cause dear to her heart after a life-altering ski accident left her a quadriplegic in 2007.

Her proudest accomplishment is Eric, who currently attends Landmark College in Putney, Vermont.

Her love of flowers, fashion, and entertaining brought joy to everyone in her life. Her talent at building friendships touched so many, and will forever be her legacy.

She is survived by her husband Mark, son Eric, sister Jane Warren, brother Gary Lieberman, extraordinary caregiver and confidant Coral Jeffrey, brother-in-law Floyd Warren, nieces Erica and Caroline Warren, sister-in-law Lois Hofshi, and Spooky the Cat.

The entire family wishes to express tremendous gratitude to the staff at Mount Sinai Hospital and New York Hospital.

Donations on her behalf can be sent to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and to Landmark College.