For these graduates, their connection to the Fordham Law didn’t just just shape their careers—it also played a formative role in their love stories. Whether they first crossed paths in classes and study sessions, or they found each other years later through their shared alma mater, these couples discovered their soulmates in the Fordham community. This Valentine’s Day, the Fordham Law Newsroom is celebrating love and the law, and sharing a few of their stories.
Anna Cui ’20 and Ami Arcot ’20
Married on October 19, 2024
For Anna and Ami, meeting at Fordham Law School was inevitable—when they were assigned their 1L sections, they both tried to form a Facebook group with their new classmates. “I will never forget how annoyed I was that he beat me to it,” says Anna. But her feelings quickly changed once they met on campus. When asked what drew her to Ami, Anna said, “His outfit on the first day of school, and his warmth and charm.”
Ami said he loved “her enthusiastic attitude, outgoing personality, and that she seemed to be a genuinely sweet person.” He and a few other students helped Anna launch the Artist Representation Society, a student organization at Fordham Law focused on the intersection of law and creative arts fields, and became part of the same study group.
Their classmates and friends have been an important part of their Fordham experience and their relationship. In fact, their classmates and study group members Sophia Dauria ’20 and Julian Constain ’20 were a bridesmaid and a groomsman at Anna and Ami’s wedding in October 2024.
Now, the recently-married couple are living in Chelsea, and they love playing fetch with their new “ball-obsessed” puppy, Asha. Anna works as a music attorney and Ami is a commercial litigation associate.
Lauren Khan ’17 and Akbar Khan ’18
Married on January 15, 2022
Lauren first met Akbar in 2017 when she interviewed him to replace her as managing editor of Fordham’s International Law Journal. Akbar ended up getting the role, but it wasn’t until the following year that the two met up again, this time to discuss a post-graduation job opportunity.
Akbar said he was immediately attracted to Lauren’s confidence, poise, and joy. “I was definitely a little intimidated too! But I felt pulled to her almost like I was being guided to her. The more we hung out the more sides of her I discovered—like her kindness, and her drive—the more I fell into her orbit.”
The couple lived together for a time in an apartment just across the street from the Law School, but later moved to Lauren’s hometown of Indialantic, Florida, a year after getting married in 2022.
They both now work in corporate law and Lauren recently signed with a literary agent for her novel about a lawyer in New York City. The couple has a 1-year-old son, Kayden, and a puppy named Lincoln (named after Lincoln Square). They are expecting the birth of a daughter in July. “I feel like the luckiest guy alive and am so excited for what the future holds,” said Akbar.
Alexandra White ’17 and Joel Kuzniecky ’17
Married on February 14, 2021
Fate intervened for Alexandra White and Joel Kuzniecky when they were randomly assigned seats next to each other on the first day of their property law class at Fordham Law, taught by Professor Carl Minzner.
“What began as a friendship quickly became much more,” said Alexandra. “I was drawn to Joel’s infectious confidence, intelligence, unwavering ambition, effortless charm and the way he made (and makes) me feel like the most important person in any room.” Joel was immediately captivated by Alexandra when they first met, describing her as “not only strikingly beautiful, but also sharply intelligent, with an infectious sense of humor, fierce drive, and a vibrant love of life that seemed to light up everything and everyone around her.”
The pair were married just a few years later in 2021, with the ceremony taking place on Valentine’s Day. What was originally supposed to be a wedding of more than 300 people, held at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan, ended up becoming an intimate 22-person wedding at Alexandra’s parents’ home in Harrison, New York due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Today, Alexandra practices as a matrimonial attorney at Rottenstreich Farley Bronstein Fisher Potter Hodas LLP and previously worked for a New York State Supreme Court matrimonial judge. Joel is an attorney in the investment management practice at Davis Polk. The couple lives on the Upper East Side with their almost 1.5-year-old daughter, Teddy.
Mark Getachew ’00 and DeNora Getachew ’05
Married on August 4, 2007
While Mark and DeNora Getachew did not meet at Fordham, it’s a big part of their love story. They first encountered each other in an elevator at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, where Mark was an associate and DeNora was on the recruiting team.
“It must be nice to leave work at 5 pm,” Mark quipped to DeNora. She responded, “Not for long, I’m planning to go to law school next year.” As a recent Fordham Law graduate, and because he was interested, Mark offered to help DeNora with her law school applications. Because she was interested, too, DeNora took him up on it… even though she’d already submitted her applications.
“I was drawn to Mark’s sense of humor, his charm, and his zest for life,” said DeNora.
“I loved DeNora’s boundless energy, optimism, compassion, personal strength, and confidence in herself,” says Mark. “[She] could not be deterred from pursuing and achieving her dream of becoming a lawyer and making an impact—all while being an amazing mother and partner.”
Mark and DeNora married in 2007 on the beach in Florida and are now raising three children while staying busy at work—Mark is now a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and DeNora is the CEO of DoSomething.org, the digital hub for young people and service. She helps 13-25 year-olds find ways to get engaged in their community and take action to change the world.
Douglas Menagh ’77 and Lucille Falcone ’75
Married on December 12, 1987
Doug Menagh and Lucille Falcone met at Fordham Law School in September 1972. “We were in the same section and had all first year classes together,” Lucille fondly remembered. They soon became a part of the same friend group, although “the first year of law school did not leave much time for socializing,” she recalled.
Twelve years after they graduated and began working at their respective practices—Douglas in criminal law and Lucille at a private practice—Douglas reached out to Lucille for some advice about a pro bono case he was working on. They got to talking, one thing led to another, and in 1987 they were married.
“I admired his free spirit and independence,” said Lucille about Douglas.
Lucille still practices law as general counsel to a real estate company and is earning her M.A. in classical painting. Douglas passed away in 2013, but his legacy lives on at Fordham Law today. Their daughter, Nancy, is following in her parents’ footsteps. As a 2L student, Fordham Law was the only school she applied to. “I was touched by that,” said Lucille.
Did you meet your spouse at Fordham Law? Send a note to lawcommunications@fordham.edu if you’d like to be featured in next year’s Valentine’s Day article.
