Law school commencement is May 9 Law school students will receive the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at a special commencement ceremony Saturday, May 9, for the School of Law. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Chester Fritz Auditorium. This year's commencement speaker is Peter Pantaleo, New York managing partner, DLA Piper. Pantaleo is the Managing Partner of DLA Piper’s New York Office and a 1976 graduate from the UND School of Law. He serves as the joint global leader of DLA Piper’s employment, pensions and benefits group and chairs the firm’s U.S. labor and employment group. In addition, he is a member of the DLA Piper US LLP executive committee. In his practice, Pantaleo represents both domestic and international employers in labor, employment, and civil rights matters. While he has substantial experience litigating cases before courts, administrative agencies, and arbitration panels, the principal focus of his practice is advising employers in complex, politically sensitive labor and employment matters. He has represented employers confronted with traditional union organization as well as corporate campaigns. Pantaleo is recognized as an authority on European Union social policy, a subject on which he has written and lectured extensively. He regularly works with lawyers in the firm’s European, Asian, and Middle Eastern offices to assist clients with cross border labor and employment issues. He has lectured extensively at health care and hospitality conferences, including the American Federation of Health Systems Annual Conference on the emerging significance of corporate campaigns directed at investor-owned hospitals; American Gaming Congress on Title III of the ADA; and Institute of Directors on the European Union’s Directives on Worker Participation Schemes. He is a member of the firm’s US Executive Committee and is the managing partner of the firm’s New York office. In 2007, Mr. Pantaleo was inducted as a Fellow into the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. The College is an independent organization that recognizes those who, by long and outstanding service, have distinguished themselves as leaders in the field of labor and employment law. Election as a Fellow is the highest recognition by one’s colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication, and excellence. He has also been named a 2007 New York Super Lawyer. In 2008, he began serving a seven-year term as a member of the City University of New York board of trustees. Governor David Paterson nominated him for the post and the New York Senate confirmed the nomination. During the ceremony, Duaine Espegard of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education will deliver a message. The commencement ceremony is open to the public.