Alumnus/Alumna of the Month

Kenneth G. Standard (LL.M. ’71)

Read an Interview with Kenneth G. Standard.

Kenneth G. Standard (LL.M. ’71) is a member of Epstein Becker & Green (EBG) in the labor and employment practice. In addition to his duties as a member of the firm, Standard serves as general counsel and heads EBG's national diversity committee that includes members from each of its 11 offices nationwide. He is the immediate past president of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), the largest voluntary state bar association in the country. During his one-year term as President, Mr. Standard focused on maintaining and improving access to justice for all, maintaining the independence and accountability of lawyers and judges-including speaking out for the need to maintain the separation and independence of our three branches of government-increasing pro bono awareness, adding to the diversity of the profession, examining the challenges of leading a balanced life in the law, preservation of and respect for the rule of the law and our constitutional rights and the efficacy of the bar exam in measuring lawyer competency.

Prior to joining EBG, Mr. Standard was special counsel at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in New York City, and before that he served as assistant general counsel, Labor Relations, Environmental and Benefit Plans, at Consolidated Edison Company of New York City. Standard is also a former director of the Office of Legal Services of the New York City school system, and was vice-president and senior counsel of the products division of the Bristol-Myers Company. In addition to his extensive counseling experience, Standard has handled as lead or sole counsel more than 40 matters to decision in federal, state, and local trial and appellate courts and administrative agencies.

Standard serves as a director of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York City and as a member of its Board's executive, finance and audit, and governance committees. He has served on numerous other committees during his time as a board member and currently is the chairman of the board of the VNSNY Family Care Services sub. The Visiting Nurse Service of New York is the largest not-for-profit home health care provider in the nation, with approximately 10,000 employees serving over 25,000 patients annually with acute or chronic health care needs. Standard has also served as a director of the United Seamen's Service and is a former vice-chairman of the board of the Aspirin Foundation of America. He is a former director of the Harvard Club of New York City Foundation.

Standard is a former member-at-large of the New York State Bar Association's Executive Committee, former vice-president and former treasurer. He has also served on numerous NYSBA committees, including: Judicial Selection, The Law Governing Firm Structure and Operation (MDP), Association Governance, and Executive Director Search. Along with his duties as chair of the House of Delegates during his year as president-elect, Standard co-chaired the President's Committee on Access to Justice, formed to help improve access to the courts for all members of our society. As a member of the New York City Bar Association, Standard has served as chair or member of various committees, and he is a former voting member of Empire Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

Crain's New York Business named Standard one of the "100 Most Powerful Minority Business Leaders in New York" in its most recent compilation. Standard also is a popular public speaker, both nationally and internationally.