Introducing Our Summer Associate Class of ’22
Our team at Hamilton Clarke, LLP is pleased to welcome two outstanding rising 2Ls to our Summer Associate Class of ’22: Jafar Khalfani-Bey, and Brian Sutton. We thank Brian and Jafar for the tremendous effort and quality work they’ve delivered so far, and we look forward to what the future holds for these two associates.
Meet Jafar Khalfani-Bey
Jafar Khalfani-Bey (L) is a rising 2L at Columbia Law School who has hit the ground running this summer. He conducted legal research and analysis of recession-related issues before attending mediation with Partner Phillip C. Hamilton, Esq. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. As a result, Jafar helped the firm favorably resolve a four-year-old commercial real estate litigation matter this week, a mere three days prior to the commencement of jury selection in front of the Hon. Judge Sidney H. Stein.
A California native and alumni of the University of California, Davis, Jafar knew that he wanted to be a trial lawyer from a young age. At Columbia, Jafar enjoys spending time with his fellow BLSA (Black Law Student Association) Club members and members of the First Generation Professionals. Next year, Jafar hopes to write a note to be published and get involved in the Suspension Representation Project, a group that advocates for lesser punishments in schooling for inner-city New York youth.
Get to Know Brian Sutton
Brian Sutton (R) is a rising 2L at Fordham Law School. Like Jafar, he wasted no time in jumping into the litigious headwinds during his first week at our firm. Specifically, Brian has worked 8 to 10-hour days assisting Partner Lance A. Clarke, Esq. with legal research and writing in for our corporate client who is currently involved in a substantial conflict with his company’s board of directors. Brian also conducted legal and factual research in preparation for pre-sentence memoranda in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Born and raised in Queens, NY, Brian earned his Bachelor's from Stony Brook University. He now serves as the Public Interest Chair for the Latinx Law Student Association at Fordham Law School and as a Student Advisor for incoming first-years. Brian is passionate about challenging the structural barriers to progress that marginalized New Yorkers face, and ultimately hopes to work as a public defender.
Before law school, Brian worked with the GreenHouse Program on Rikers Island, providing therapeutic services to incarcerated youth. Brian also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia from 2017 to 2019. In Zambia, he partnered with the Department of Forestry to address food insecurity and livelihood diversification issues.
We are grateful for the hard work that Jafar and Brian have given so far, and we are excited to see what they accomplish this summer and beyond. To get in touch with our team at Hamilton Clarke, LLC, contact us online or at (646) 603-0522!