Christine Kirwin Krackeler, who died on May 14, 2006, was a founding member of the firm. When Chris died, our law firm lost a woman of incredible talent, strength and courage.
Chris was a 1984 cum laude graduate of Albany Law School of Union University where her senior year she was the lead articles editor of the Albany Law Review in which she published. She was admitted to practice in New York Courts, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
After graduating from law school, Chris took a position as a law assistant at the Appellate Division, Third Department, New York State Supreme Court. Upon completing her clerkship, Chris entered private practice with a concentration in appeals and motion practice. She had argued before the New York Court of Appeals many times before her death as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and serveral New York appellate and trial courts.
Chris was also very active in the legal community, having served on the Attorneys' Character and Fitness Committee for eight years and as Chairperson of the Albany County Bar Association's Attorney Grievance Committee for five years. She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Torts and Insurance Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, and had chaired and lectured at many continuing legal education seminars on civil litigation.
In addition to her membership in the New York State and the Albany County Bar Associations, she was a member of the Capital District Women's Bar Association where she served on its Judicial Screening Committee.
Prior to entering the practice of law, Chris served on the North Colonie School Board and was President of the Board for two years. At the time of her death, Chris was serving on the Board of Trustees of Maria College in Albany and on the Trustee Counsel of Albany Capital Repertory Theater.
Chris had a keen intellect and she was known throughout the state as a superior practitioner in the area of appellate practice and motion practice. In 2006, she was honored by receiving the Prestigious Designation as a "Best Lawyer in America", in the field of appellate practice.
Chris Krackeler was energetic and compassionate with a zest for life that is difficult to describe. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. While she was a perfectionist at work, she was entirely devoted to her family and she fully understood and appreciated balance between family and profession.
While we will mourn her loss forever, the law firm looks back on her nearly ten years of service with a deep gratitude for having had the opportunity to love her, work beside her and learn from her. She will never be forgotten.