Mar 4, 2008 -- Yeshiva University has appointed Andrew (known to many as Avi). J. Lauer as vice president for legal affairs and general counsel. “Avi Lauer combines the skills of a top flight attorney with a profound commitment to advancing our ideals and values,” Yeshiva University President Richard M. Joel said. “Avi will be a worthy successor to Marty Bockstein, who built the General Counsel’s Office into an important and well regarded resource for our institution.” Mr. Lauer is excited about taking on the vice president for legal affairs role at Yeshiva University. “This position offers the best of all possibilities: the ability to practice law, assist a growing and vibrant institution, and serve the Jewish and greater community,” he said. Mr. Lauer was most recently a partner at Thelen Reid Brown Raysman and Steiner LLP, a large international law firm, where he was active in its Labor and Employment Law department. He managed a large volume of client matters in all areas of the law and helped expand and supervise the firm’s Israel practice. Mr. Lauer served for almost a decade as senior counsel at Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP and as assistant general counsel at Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. Prior to Deloitte, Mr. Lauer also served as assistant district attorney in Kings County (Brooklyn) for several years, including working within the Trial Cadre of the Homicide Bureau. Mr. Lauer earned his law degree at Brooklyn Law School and he holds an LLM in Labor and Employment Law from the New York University School of Law. He is a frequent lecturer in the United States and abroad and was a contributing editor of the American Bar Association’s recent publication In House Counsel’s Toolbook on Legal Compliance Within Legal Departments and has written for The New York Business Law Journal and the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Lauer lives in Woodmere, NY with his wife, Aleeza, and their four children, Jennifer, David, Ashley and Elias and has been an active lay leader in the Five Towns (Long Island) and the wider New York metropolitan area for many years. He is the chairman of the board of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway and president of the Young Israel of Woodmere, the largest Young Israel in the United States. He has been involved as a pro bono legal counsel and active lay leader in many Jewish organizations including the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the Counsel’s Council and General Counsel’s Office of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Jewish Coalition of Special Services – Kulanu. He is also a member of the Long Island board of Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services.