James Bladen Halpern

1936 - 2024

On November 28, 2024, JAMES BLADEN HALPERN, died in his home in Bethesda, Maryland. He was born in Buffalo, NY on April 20, 1936. The cause of death was a long-time battle with chronic kidney disease and complications from Parkinson's disease.
His education began in Buffalo at Public School 56, where he was elected president of his graduating class. For high school, he attended Nichols School (a private preparatory school in Buffalo), where he had the nickname of "Judge," was elected president of his graduating class, and was editor-in-chief of the yearbook. He graduated from Harvard College (Cum Laude) in 1958 and Harvard Law School in 1961.
From 1961 to 1964, he worked in Washington, DC as a lawyer in the Corporation Finance Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission and, from 1964 to 1969, in New York City in the corporate group of the Proskauer law firm. In 1969, he returned to the SEC in Washington to serve as Chief Counsel of the Institutional Investors Study. In 1971, he embarked on his long-term career at Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn (now known as ArentFox Schiff), first as an associate in the corporate and securities group and then as a partner from 1974 until his retirement in 2003. In private practice, he represented domestic and international companies in a variety of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and public offerings. In addition, while at Arent Fox, he did pro-bono legal work for not-for-profit organizations, primarily Carlos Rosario School, where students learn English as a second language. In retirement, he served on the Board of Trustees of the Carlos Rosario School; provided pro-bono legal advice to not-for profit organizations; and continued his pursuit of knowledge, especially enjoying the study of short stories and playing Words with Friends.
He is survived by his wife of more than 45 years, Niesa Brateman Halpern and by his daughters Jennifer Ann Halpern (Wyckoff NJ) and Sheri Elizabeth Halpern (Atlanta GA), his son-in law Daniel Vranesich and Jennifer's and Daniel's children, Ian and Louisa, and his son-in-law, Joshua Youdovin. James B. Halpern is survived by his brother Charles R. Halpern and his wife Susan P. Halpern, both residing in Berkeley, CA. Philip Halpern (who was a justice on the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York) and Goldene Friedman Halpern, the parents of James Halpern, predeceased him, as did Jessie Malkoff Hackes, from whom he was divorced.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome a donation to the charity of your choice or the Justice Philip Halpern Fund at Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY. Arrangements entrusted to TORCHINSKY HEBREW FUNERAL HOME, 202-541-1001.