Rob Rickner

Rob Rickner grew up in Burlington, Vermont. He studied at the University of Vermont, including a year abroad at the University of Sussex in England, earning a BA in comparative religion, political science, and sociology. After graduating, he worked for two non-profit arts organizations.

Rob went to law school at Hofstra School of Law, where he was a member of the law review, was on the dean’s list every semester, earned awards in both property and criminal law, and graduated magna cum laude. Rob then earned a master’s degree at New York University School of Law, studying how technology and intellectual property influence, and often restrain, competition.

After finishing his master’s, Rob worked at two prestigious large firms, a mid-sized boutique, and a small civil rights firm. Rob founded Rickner PLLC in 2017 both to continue his years of civil rights work and to try new, innovative ways of litigating commercial cases.

Rob is admitted in New York state, the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

rob@ricknerpllc.com

Stephanie Panousieris

Stephanie Panousieris is originally from Dallas, Texas and is a 2020 graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She also holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, an MA in Social Justice and Human Rights from Arizona State University, and an Advanced Certificate in Public Administration and Public Policy from the CUNY School of Professional Studies.

Prior to law school, Stephanie worked for five years as a nonprofit consultant and grant writer and did a brief stint as a professional contemporary dancer in New York City.

At Cardozo, Stephanie was honored as a Berg Public Interest Fellow for her dedication to public service. She spent a year as a clinical student at the Innocence Project, which fights to exonerate the wrongfully convicted; a summer at the Center for Appellate Litigation serving indigent criminal defendants on appeal and in post-conviction proceedings; and a year in the Cardozo Civil Rights Clinic, which represents incarcerated individuals and victims of law enforcement misconduct. Following graduation, Stephanie worked for a small civil rights firm based in Los Angeles, California.

Stephanie joined Rickner PLLC in August 2020. She is currently awaiting admission to the bar.

stephanie@ricknerpllc.com

Masai Lord

Masai Lord is of counsel to Rickner PLLC. He graduated from St. John's School of Law, and West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He is a veteran trial attorney who has handled over a thousand cases in a wide variety of matters in state and federal court. He has conducted jury trials in both federal and state courts and also has negotiated settlements on civil rights and employment related matters. He is a tried and true New York litigator. With a father born in Bed Stuy and mother born in Barbados, Masai understands and appreciates the diverse and dynamic populations that make up New York City.

Masai also manages Lord Law Group PLLC, and worked as a public defender in Kings County in Brooklyn. During his tenure, Masai won more trials than any other attorney in the office. His aggressive motion and trial practice has resulted in most of his cases that were supposed to be tried actually being dismissed instead. He has also successfully litigated first amendment challenges to recent New York City legislation. As an expert in cross examination, Masai has been able to secure acquittals in some violent felonies and DWIs after the juries deliberated for only a few minutes.

Masai joined Rickner PLLC in August 2018, and he is admitted in New York state, the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York.

mlord@lordlawgroup.com