Class Notes

Fine Print

1950s

Barton Post W’52, L’55 was inducted into the College of Physicians and Surgeons, a rare honor for a lawyer. Post is a retired attorney and former President and Co-Founder of Professional Casualty Association, as well as a former Managing Partner of Post & Schell PC, which exclusively represented doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies insuring health care providers in litigation. In addition to occasional consulting with Post and Schell and his son’s firm, Post and Post, he recently has been devoted to trying to save several community hospitals in danger of closing due to financial problems.

1960s

Steven Gottlieb L’69, the longtime Atlanta Legal Aid Society Executive Director, was honored by the Georgia Supreme Court for a half-century of helping those in need of free civil legal services. Chief Justice David Nahmias presented Gottlieb with the court’s Amicus Curiae award. The Chief called the designation “one of the most prestigious awards bestowed” by the court on judges, attorneys, and others who have “provided exceptional service to Georgia’s judicial system and citizens.” Gottlieb began his career with Atlanta Legal Aid in 1968 as part of its first summer law student class. In 1980, he became its Executive Director, and he has become one of the longest-serving legal aid directors in the nation. During his tenure, Atlanta Legal Aid has expanded its core legal services and its geographic reach, responding to the legal needs of tens of thousands of Georgians each year.

Searle Mitnick L’69 received the Distinguished Maryland Real Property Practitioner Award, which was conferred by the Maryland State Bar Association’s Real Property Section in June 2022. The annual award recognizes a Maryland real estate attorney who best exemplifies the experience, client service, technical skill, integrity, collegiality, and courtesy that all real estate lawyers strive for in their professional lives. Mitnick was also named Baltimore “Lawyer of the Year” in Real Estate Law by Best Lawyers in America in 2021. He is the immediate past chair of the title insurance committee of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and he continues to practice full time at Gordon Feinblatt LLC in Baltimore.

David Swayze L’69 received the “Order of the First State” award from Delaware Governor John Carney. The honor recognizes outstanding efforts, knowledge, integrity, prudence and ability in serving the state of Delaware, and is the highest recognition the governor can give. Swayze is Senior Partner at Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze, which he joined in 2003 as a Director. He concentrates his practice in the areas of financial services regulation, Delaware trust law and administration, government relations and legislation, and environmental, administrative, and commercial law. Swayze is a member of the administrative law section and the banking law committee of the commercial law section of the American Bar Association. He is also a member of The Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the banking and environmental law committees of the Delaware State Bar Association. Swayze currently serves by appointment of the Governor and the Mayor of Wilmington, respectively, on the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council and the Wilmington Economic and Financial Advisory Council. He also currently serves by appointment of the General Assembly as Chair of the Delaware Sentencing Research and Evaluation Committee.

1970s

Joseph H. Cooper W’69, L’72 reports that his COVID-era picture book, Grandpa’s Lonely, Isn’t He? has been favorably reviewed. Kirkus Reviews wrote: “Grandpa’s Lonely, Isn’t He is an earnest kids’ story that aims to build resilience and optimism in young readers. Cooper’s debut illustrated picture book explores the changes and adjustments that families have had to manage during enforced separations during the COVID-19 pandemic… readers see an energetic, involved grandparent who builds construction sets, plays make-believe, and is just about the best playmate any young reader could hope for.” From Foreword Reviews: “Grandpa’s Lonely, Isn’t He? is a vibrant picture book about social distancing in which a child expresses curiosity and concern for his family… The products of the boy’s imagination, memories, and scenes after he is reunited with his grandpa are rendered in full, bright color. The color illustrations are intricate works of art… Even the black-and-white pictures include myriad clever components.”

Richard Walden C’68, L’72, PAR’06 joined Bothnia Consulting Group Ventures’ Board of Directors. The company’s mission is to create market leading, antifragile brands. For 43 years, Walden has served as Co-Founder and CEO of Operation USA, an international disaster relief and development agency that helps global communities overcome the effects of disasters, disease, violence, and endemic poverty. Since inception, Operation USA has deployed more than $450 million across 100 countries. The organization partners with groups including the United Nations, NASA, and the International Rescue Committee. Strategic partnerships include Honeywell, Milton Giving Fund, Sony Music Group, and Stryker. Celebrity affiliates include Julie Andrews, Barbara Streisand, Sharon Stone, Rosario Dawson, Bill Maher, George Hamilton, and Jackson Browne. As a Bothnia Consulting Group Ventures advisor, Walden oversees the social impact of its venture portfolios through a philanthropic lens. He plays a role in the development of its partnership funnel of globally minded financiers, private institutions, and high net-worth individuals. He intends to concentrate his efforts on ensuring the development of a CSR backbone focusing on underserved and emerging regions.

The Honorable Aida Waserstein L’73 was selected by Delaware Governor John Carney for induction into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame for 2022. Judge Waserstein was born and raised in Cuba. She spoke Spanish and Yiddish, but not English. After losing her mother when she was 11, she came to the United States as an unaccompanied minor at age 13. She lived in three foster homes over a period of six years. Both she and her brother were eventually reunited with their biological family. These life experiences gave her a strong desire to help others. Judge Waserstein served as a Delaware Family Court Judge for 21 years before her retirement in 2017. After retirement, she published three children’s books: My Name is Aida (and the Spanish version, Me Llamo Aidita), Amelia Finds her Voice: A Custody Story, and Joey’s Buddy, A Foster Care Story. The books offer hope, emphasize the positive value of being different, and inspire readers to contribute to society and serve others.

H. Ronald Klasko L’74 was named to the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of immigration law. Klasko is widely recognized by businesses, universities, hospitals, scholars, investors, and other lawyers as one of the country’s leading immigration lawyers. A founding member of Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP, he has practiced immigration law exclusively for more than three decades. A former National President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Klasko served as General Counsel for three Presidents and has been a member of its board of governors since 1980. He is the only person twice honored with the AILA Founders Award for his contributions to immigration jurisprudence. He is currently Chairman of the Administrative Litigation Taskforce, leading its initiatives on initiating litigation on key issues and educating immigration attorneys on how to litigate visa denials.

The Honorable Frederica Massiah-Jackson L’74 received the 2022 Justice Michael A. Musmanno Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. The annual award recognizes an outstanding individual who represents the spirit and ideals of the late Justice Michael A. Musmanno of the Supreme Court, who never stood aside complacently when he witnessed cruelty and injustice. Presiding over medical malpractice and products liability cases, complex commercial litigation, and personal injury matters, Judge Massiah-Jackson served on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1984 to 2021. She was the first African-American female judge to preside in civil jury trials in Philadelphia’s courts, and she was elected as the first African-American President Judge of any county in Pennsylvania and in Philadelphia. During her years as President Judge (2001-2006), the First Judicial District (FJD) administered justice with a $110 million overall budget, 2,500 employees, and 130 judges. Judge Massiah-Jackson was an effective leader, engaging the Philadelphia courts with innovative management and advances in technology. “Access to Justice” was the hallmark of the FJD as she enhanced the public perception of judges and the organization. Among many projects, she coordinated court employee appreciation events, increased the pay rates for court-appointed counsel fees, signed a Mitigation Protocol for representation in death penalty cases, opened an FJD Information Center, expanded Judicial Education initiatives, and implemented programs to promote race and gender fairness within courtrooms. Judge Massiah-Jackson is one of several women whose contributions are highlighted in the 2020 book, They Carried Us—The Social Impact of Philadelphia’s Black Women Leaders. She has received numerous awards and recognitions of service, including the 2013 Alumni Award of Merit from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

Roy Wepner L’74, PAR’02 joined the Madison, New Jersey, office of Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf as Counsel, where he continues to handle intellectual property litigation. He recently published a new book, How Terribly Strange Indeed. It was inspired by a single line in a 1968 Simon & Garfunkel song, “How terribly strange to be seventy.” The book explores how a couple of artists who were not yet 30 years old could possibly have known this— and whether they were right.

Jim Sandman L’76 became the Chair of the board of advisors at the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS). At the time of his appointment, he had been serving as a board member and a member of IAALS’ U.S. Justice Needs Advisory Committee, and as an engaged partner across numerous areas of the research center’s work. Sandman is a Distinguished Lecturer and Senior Consultant to the Future of the Profession Initiative at Penn Carey Law. He is also President Emeritus of the Legal Services Corporation, the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States.

Marvin Benton L’78 was appointed Chairman for the Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Committee of the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Alumni Board of Directors. He was elected to a four-year term in July 2020.

Deborah Pierce CW’74, L’78, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Integrity Staffing Solutions, Inc., was selected by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) for inclusion on the Global Power 150—Women in Staffing list for 2022. This annual list recognizes women for their achievements and influence in the global workforce solutions ecosystem. In its eighth year, the 2022 list profiles 100 women selected from the Americas and 50 selected globally who have made significant contributions to the success of their companies. During her career, Pierce has held in-house counsel positions with several Fortune 500 Companies and was Regional Solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor for Region III. For the last 10 years, she has been at Integrity Staffing, which is headquartered in Newark, Delaware. Integrity Staffing operates in 24 states and specializes in high volume seasonal staffing for major retailers, online merchandisers and financial institutions.

Lawrence Burnett L’79 has retired. During his career, he represented asbestos workers in 13 jurisdictions and tried medical malpractice cases for patients, doctors, and hospitals. Burnett now volunteers for Legal Aid, helping survivors of intimate partner violence get divorced. He also enjoys composing “weird music.”

Glenn Carberry L’79 retired from active practice following 40 years at the New London, Connecticut-based law firm of Tobin, Carberry, O’Malley, Riley, and Selinger, P.C. During his career, he has received the prestigious AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, was listed for 15 years in published editions of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in land use and zoning law and was named a Connecticut Super Lawyer in the practice area of public utilities. In 2020, the Connecticut Law Tribune named him Best Mentor at its annual awards dinner. Carberry joined the firm in 1982 after working as an Associate for Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C. He became a Partner in 1984 and served as the Managing Partner for 35 years. He worked primarily in the areas of land use, public utilities, and business services, acting as Connecticut counsel for national telecommunications companies, developers, and business firms. Carberry also served as the Vice President of the Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce in the 1980s and was a graduate of the Chamber’s first Leadership Program Class. He was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in 1988 and has written more than 100 guest editorials on business and international relations issues for newspapers and other publications over the years. Additionally, Carberry was the President of the NFA Foundation, a Trustee of the Norwich Free Academy, and a strong local advocate for people with autism. He was principally responsible for bringing the New York Yankees minor league baseball team to Southeastern Connecticut and obtaining governmental support for the construction of Dodd Stadium in Norwich. As a result of his many community efforts, he was named the Citizen of the Year by the Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce and received the William Crawford Distinguished Service Award from the Eastern Connecticut Chamber. After writing about travel for The Day newspaper and publishing the travel book EPIC Destinations, Carberry launched a travel website and online magazine in 2021 called “The Traveling American”– www.thetravelingamerican.com. It reports on his experiences over the past 20 years traveling to more than 60 countries and visiting numerous World Heritage sites. He is looking forward to dedicating more time to his writing and exploring new places with his wife, Kimberly, and his children, Christopher and Caroline.

M. Kelly Tillery L’79 joined Saxton & Stump’s Philadelphia office as a shareholder on the intellectual property litigation team. Tillery has developed his IP practice for the last 43 years, representing clients nationally and internationally on matters involving business trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. He has also handled matters involving domain names, names and likenesses and proprietary or confidential information, advising clients in the entertainment, software, technology, and manufacturing industries. Throughout his career, he has tried many IP and business cases in the state and federal courts of over 40 states and has been recognized by prominent lawyer rating services such as Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, and most recently as the “2023 Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation – Intellectual Property for the Philadelphia area by The Best Lawyers in America. A drummer in his spare time, Tillery was handed a trademark case from one of the partners that involved the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He left Obermayer Rebmann in 1982 to co-launch his own firm, Leonard Tillery & Sciolla LLP. In May 2005, Tillery left to join Pepper Hamilton LLP and stayed with the firm through its 2020 merger with Troutman Sanders.

Kenneth Warren L’79, founding partner of Warren Environmental Counsel, was elected President of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL) for the year 2022-2023. The College is a professional association of experienced lawyers recognized by their peers as preeminent in the field of environmental law. ACOEL members are dedicated to maintaining and improving the ethical practice of environmental law, the administration of justice, and the development of federal, state, and tribal environmental laws. Selected from attorneys representing governmental agencies, public interest groups, academic institutions and private companies, ACOEL members collaborate on public interest projects, educational programs, and analyses of existing and potential environmental laws. Warren draws on over 35 years of environmental law experience to provide counsel to his clients. His practice includes regulatory, litigation, and transactional matters involving water resources and water rights, water quality, waste, air, environmental cleanups, and sustainability. He is also an experienced environmental litigator who has tried numerous cases to verdict and through appeal.

1980s

Steven Cousins L’80 was recognized by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis with the National Service to Youth Award. The award recognizes his role as a Founding Board Member of the St. Louis Internship Program, which has provided results-oriented career and college readiness experiences for area youth for more than 30 years. He also won Armstrong Teasdale’s inaugural Groundbreaker Award. Cousins retired from the firm in 2018 after 38 years and now provides consulting services as President and CEO of Cousins Allied Strategic Advisors, LLC. Cousins contributed tremendously to the firm’s history and success, as well as to the broader St. Louis community through his extensive civic and charitable service. He was the first African American lawyer at Armstrong Teasdale in 1980; the first associate to lead a department at Armstrong Teasdale when he created the Financial Restructuring, Reorganization, and Bankruptcy practice area in 1984; the first African-American to serve on the firm’s Executive Committee, a position he held for 15 years; and among the first African-Americans in Missouri to be named to The Best Lawyers in America for his work in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law, where he’s been ranked consecutively for over 20 years. He received a number of additional national awards including recognition from Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the top five African American corporate bankruptcy lawyers in the country and was considered a significant rainmaker and mentor while at the firm.

Gary Born L’81 wrote a novel called The File, published in March by Addison & Highsmith Publishers/Histria. The book follows Sara West, a beautiful 28-year-old graduate student on a scientific expedition in Africa who stumbles upon a cache of World War II Nazi files in the wreck of a German bomber hidden in the jungle. The files reveal the location of a multibillion-dollar war-chest, secretly deposited by the Nazis in numbered Swiss bank accounts at the end of World War II. The story that follows is a nail-biting thriller, with a captivating heroine who is pursued across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe by relentless Russian and American hitmen. Reviewer Crime Fiction Critic wrote, “The File by Gary Born, a captivating, fast-moving novel with a carousel of intriguing characters, that will satisfy the most discriminating action thriller junkies.” Gina Haspel, the former Director of the CIA, wrote, “A thoroughly enjoyable, engrossing thriller with a captivating young, beautiful American botanist at the center of the fast- paced action. The suspense will keep you guessing and eagerly awaiting a sequel.” Born, a Partner at Wilmer Hale, is widely regarded as the world’s preeminent authority on international commercial arbitration and international litigation. He is an adjunct professor at Penn Carey Law.

Francine Griesing L’81 rebranded her Philadelphia law firm, Griesing Law, LLC, to Griesing Mazzeo Law. The name change recognizes both of the firm’s founders, Griesing and Jessica Mazzeo. Mazzeo has served as the firm’s Chief Operating Officer since 2017. After Mazzeo became a licensed lawyer in 2022, Griesing felt that it was time that the firm name reflected the journey that she and Mazzeo had embarked on since the firm launched in January 2010. The firm grew its original team from three to seventeen and expanded offices to Arizona, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. A Florida office will be opening soon. Griesing Mazzeo Law offers legal services in six areas: alternative dispute resolution, commercial litigation, corporate transactions and compliance, employment, ethics and responsibilities, and trust and estates.

Randy Mastro L’81 joined King & Spalding’s New York office as a Partner. He previously served as the Chair of the Litigation Practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher for more than 20 years and was a longtime member of both its Management and Executive Committees. He also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Civil Division in the Southern District of New York, where he received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, among other accolades. Mastro has argued more than 100 appeals in federal and state appellate courts throughout the country, and he routinely ranks among the nation’s leading litigators and trial lawyers in ranking directories and other prominent surveys of corporate counsel and other practitioners. Chambers USA recently named him “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” and Law360 has recognized him as an MVP for trials. Mastro has a diverse practice representing clients across many industries and categories of dispute. Among many high-profile matters, he won a two-month RICO trial barring the enforcement of a $9 billion Ecuadorian judgment against Chevron that The American Lawyer called “The Case of the Century.” He also won a monthlong trial against the SEC, obtaining the dismissal of all charges against high-profile entrepreneur Lynn Tilton, thereby defeating the largest individual enforcement action the SEC ever brought before its in-house tribunal. In addition, Mastro led the successful effort to defeat New York City’s controversial West Side Stadium project, and he represented New Jersey’s Governor’s Office in conducting a high-profile investigation into allegations concerning the “Bridgegate” controversy. Over the past two years, he won breakthrough Supreme Court victories in COVID-19-related cases, overturning New York’s fixed-capacity restrictions on “houses of worship” and the state’s eviction moratorium – both “firsts” in convincing the Supreme Court to void such COVID regulations.

James Beck L’82 received a lifetime achievement award from the Pennsylvania Defense Institute (PDI) in recognition of his career of exemplary achievement, scholarship, and advocacy. Beck is a Senior Policy Analyst at Reed Smith’s Philadelphia office and focuses on complex personal injury and product liability litigation with the firm’s global Life Sciences Health Industry Group. He oversees the development of legal defenses, master briefs, and dispositive motions in numerous multidistrict litigation matters and other mass tort actions. He drafts major appellate briefs in significant product liability and related matters, including amicus curiae briefs. Beck is the founder and co-host of the award-winning Drug and Device Law Blog. Beck’s award recognizes his commitment, dedication and tireless work on PDI’s amicus and product liability committees, including successful amicus briefs in the recent Mallory v. Norfolk S. Ry. Co. and Albert v. Sheeley’s Drug Store, Inc. decisions. He also led PDI’s development of suggested standard jury instructions for Pennsylvania product liability cases. Before that, Beck authored a successful amicus brief in the groundbreaking Tincher v. Omega Flex, Inc. decision, in which the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned 35 years of erroneous product liability precedent. Beck has presented many seminars and education programs for the legal community and frequently serves as panelist and speaker at PDI conferences and events. Beck is also a member of the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC) and has sat on its case selection committee since 1997. He has written more than 80 amicus briefs on product liability issues for PLAC, and he has also authored amicus briefs for AdvaMed, the American Bar Association, the American Medical Association, several state medical associations, the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Washington Legal Foundation, the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, and for PDI itself. He is the lead author of the Drug and Medical Device Product Liability Deskbook (Law Journal Press) and edits the ABA’s Mass Torts Litigation Committee newsletter.

Ned Abelson L’83 won the 2022 Lexology Client Choice award in the “Environment, USA” category. The Client Choice awards recognize law firms and lawyers around the world that provide excellent client care and quality of service that is above and beyond the other players in the market. Only one winner is selected in each category/market based on in-house counsel input. Abelson is Director at Goulston & Storrs, an American Law 200 firm and is a nationally recognized environmental lawyer known for his expertise in Brownfields redevelopment, transactional work, and environmental insurance. He is particularly well-regarded for his work with real estate developers, investors, tenants, and lenders to maximize the value of and successfully manage potential risks associated with contaminated properties. Abelson currently serves as Co-Chair of NAIOP’s Brownfields Redevelopment Subcommittee and is a member of the MADEP Superfund Advisory Committee and its Indoor Air Workgroup. He has received numerous awards and rankings throughout his career, including The Best Lawyers in America (Environmental Law) for the past 17 consecutive years (and multiple Lawyer of the Year awards); Chambers USA (Environmental) for the past 20 years (Band 1 since 2006); Boston Magazine’s inaugural 2021 Top Lawyers (Land Use and Zoning); Who’s Who Legal (International Leading Environmental Lawyer) and Thought Leaders USA for the past 11 years; and Massachusetts Super Lawyers for 18 years.

Howard Yaruss L’83 began teaching economics—a subject of fascination for him since college—following his law career. This experience led him to write a book that brings together his best classroom hits, anecdotes, and analogies: Understandable Economics, which was published by Prometheus Books in September 2022. Yaruss resides in the Upper West Side of New York, where he serves on his local community board, is active politically, and looks forward to hearing from classmates.

U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon L’84 was ranked in the top 15 of Pennsylvania’s most influential female leaders in The Pennsylvania Power of Diversity: Women 100 by City & State Pennsylvania. Rep. Scanlon was elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District in 2018 in a special election. She worked to receive funding for projects at Philadelphia’s shipyard and Boeing’s Ridley Park facility to create local jobs, and her congressional priorities include voting rights, economic growth, education, and gun safety. Rep. Scanlon, a former attorney at the Education Law Center of Philadelphia, serves as Vice Chair of the House Administration Committee.

Nathalie Joannes LLM’85 was appointed General Counsel for Vallourec, a multinational manufacturing company headquartered in France. Joannes was most recently Executive Vice President Legal and Compliance & General Counsel at LEO Pharma.

Joseph McMenamin M’78, L’85 joined the broad-based civil law firm of Christian & Barton, LLP, in Richmond, Virginia, where he will continue his legal practice focused on digital health law and distance care matters.

Amy De Shong L’86 was elected President of the American Academy for Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) Pennsylvania Chapter. Since 2003, De Shong has been a Fellow of the AAML, a national organization of more than 1,650 highly skilled family law litigators and negotiators. She is a Partner at Wisler Pearlstine, LLP, and lectures, writes, and plans courses on family law matters for the AAML PA Chapter, the Montgomery Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. In practice for 36 years, she is one of Pennsylvania’s leading family law attorneys. De Shong has counseled hundreds of people on all aspects of divorce, child custody, distribution of assets, support and alimony, as well as marital settlement agreements, pre and postnuptial agreements, cohabitation and partnership agreements, family business agreements, protection from abuse matters, and more. Since 2012, she has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America by U.S. News and World Report for family law. Additionally, she has been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List for many years. De Shong was also named the Best Lawyers 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in the Philadelphia region. In addition to the AAML, De Shong is also a member of the Montgomery and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.

Charles “Chuck” Hehmeyer L’86, an attorney at Berman & Simmons, made history in November with a unanimous $25 million federal jury verdict in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on behalf of a motorcycle driver who was catastrophically injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer. The verdict is a record high award for a Maine attorney trying an out-of-state case. Hehmeyer and his family moved from Philadelphia to Maine a year ago. Berman & Simmons is Maine’s largest personal injury firm, with 20 lawyers and over $1.25 billion recovered for clients.

Michael Ceramella L’87 became an Assistant Professor of Finance at Friends University. He was most recently an Adjunct Professor of economics at Hesston College and a business teacher at Wichita South High School.

Matthew “Matty” Lopes, Jr. L’87 received the 2022 Neil J. Houston, Jr. Memorial Award from Justice Assistance, a nonprofit organization that has been in the vanguard of providing criminal justice services and improvements to the Rhode Island community since 1978. The award is recognized as the most prestigious of its kind presented within Rhode Island’s criminal justice system. Lopes is a principal and founding member of the law firm Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC, where he focuses on government and legislative affairs. He was recognized for his body of work as a Special Master and for his influence on the improvement of standards in correctional systems across the country, particularly in California. He also leads the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice, as well as its government relations and communications subsidiary. He represents organizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies to nonprofit businesses, including organizations within the transportation, pharmaceutical, education, food service, health care, and insurance industries, among others. For most of his 35-year legal career, Lopes has been actively involved in the court oversight of correctional systems and is a nationally recognized Special Master in correctional reform litigation. In 2021, Lopes was selected for inclusion into The National Black Lawyers Top 100 in Rhode Island, an honor given to a distinct group of lawyers who have demonstrated superior skills in their fields of law or who have excelled in areas promoting diversity. In addition, he has been named to The Best Lawyers in America list for over 10 years and recognized as Rhode Island’s 2021 Best Lawyer “Lawyer of the Year” by his peers and clients for his work in government relations.

Ferrier Stillman L’87 was honored with the 2022 Women in Business Trailblazer award from the Center Club. The award recognizes women who have demonstrated outstanding achievement through professional accomplishments in business, serving in leadership roles at nonprofit and other community organizations, and providing opportunities for other women to fill similar roles. Stillman practices family law and health care law at Tydings & Rosenberg LLP. She has represented clients in complex domestic relations cases throughout Maryland for decades. Stillman also represents senior housing and long-term care facilities as well as other health care providers before state and federal regulatory agencies, as well as in commercial transactions and litigation. In 2017, she was elected to the board of directors of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and to its Executive Committee in 2020. Additionally, Stillman was named to The Daily Record’s 2022 Family Law Power List, and she has also been named to the publication’s Circle of Excellence, a distinction as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, three times. Maryland’s Top 100 Women was created to recognize outstanding achievement by women as demonstrated through professional accomplishment, community leadership, and mentoring.

John Groarke L’88 has returned to Washington, D.C., as an Assistant Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College. For the past 25 years, he served abroad as a senior American diplomat, most recently as Charge’ d’Affaires and Deputy Chief-of-Mission at the U.S. Embassy in South Africa.

Stacy Hickox L’88 joined the law firm of Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, P.C. as Counsel in its Washington, D.C., office. She focuses on discrimination, retaliation, and disciplinary issues for employees. Before joining the firm, Hickox was an Associate Professor and Associate Director at the Michigan State University School of Human Resources and Labor Relations. In those roles, she taught both at the undergraduate and master’s levels, as well as several courses in the Labor Education and Human Resources Executive Education programs. Her research focused mainly on the Americans with Disabilities Act and resulted in 25 published articles, with several concerning accommodations for people with disabilities, as well as issues of alternative dispute solution, bullying, and workplace harassment. Hickox was the founder of and a faculty advisor for Spartan Fair Chance, a collaboration with the Northwest Initiative in Lansing, Michigan to promote employment among clients with criminal records. She was also involved in the creation and oversight of the Michigan Employment Clinic, an online clinic that addresses barriers to employment faced by people in the state with disabilities or criminal records.

Ernesto Lanza L’88 rejoined Ballard Spahr LLP’s office in Washington, D.C. He most recently served as Attorney-Advisor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he was Acting Director for the Office of Municipal Securities. Lanza first joined Ballard Spahr in 1991 as a public finance Associate. He rejoined the firm as Of Counsel, focusing on similar banking-related issues in the public finance group and the municipal securities regulation and enforcement practice. Lanza is an authority on securities regulation and enforcement, having been a primary author of a number of the municipal market’s disclosure regulations. He is also the architect of several market-related rules, like secondary market trading transparency, rules governing municipal advisers and other securities-related rules.

Scott Burns L’89 was recognized in the Best Lawyers of America 2023 list for his mass tort litigation/class actions and product liability litigation defense practices. Burns has been selected for inclusion since 2012. He is a Partner at Tydings & Rosenberg LLP.

David Crichlow L’89 was recognized by Crain’s New York Business as one of its 2022 Notable Diverse Leaders in Law. Crichlow is National Chair of Katten’s commercial litigation practice and a member of the firm’s board of directors and executive committee. He currently serves on the board of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Crichlow has also been honored as among the Notable Black Leaders and Executives by Crain’s New York Business and named to the list of Most Influential Black Lawyers by Savoy magazine—distinctions that spotlight both his legal career and civic involvement.

Howard Krooks L’89 was elected Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar. His one-year term began in July. The goal of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar is to cultivate and promote expertise and professionalism in the practice of law affecting people as they age and individuals with special needs. Krooks is a Partner in Cozen O’Connor’s Boca Raton office and has more than three decades of experience dedicated to estate planning, elder law, and special needs practices. He is a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation as accredited by the American Bar Association. Krooks is a past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and is a past chair of the New York State Bar Association Elder Law Section. He has developed a professional practice devoted to seniors and special needs individuals, representing clients and their families in connection with estate planning, asset preservation, supplemental needs trusts, and estate and trust administration. His written work has been featured in Guardianship Practice in New York State and Estate Planning and Will Drafting in New York, both published by the New York State Bar Association. He was lauded for his efforts on behalf of NAELA to enact the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, which President Obama signed into law in 2016, and he received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the New York State Bar Association Elder Law Section for his efforts. He also received the Outstanding Member of the Year Award from the Florida Bar Elder Law Section.

Grant Palmer L’89 was elected Chair and Managing Partner at Blank Rome and began serving at the beginning of the year. He continues his previous roles of Managing Partner and CEO at the firm, which he assumed in January 2019. He previously served as firm-wide Litigation Department Chair and Commercial Litigation Practice Group Leader. He has served on many leadership committees at Blank Rome, including the firm’s Executive Committee, Partner Board, and Lateral Recruiting Committee. He founded and then chaired the firm’s Pro Bono Committee for 16 years and was involved in the implementation of mandatory pro bono requirements in 2014, which resulted in record-breaking participation and hours. He commits significant time to numerous professional and community organizations.

Fernando Santiago L’89 received the Cornell New York State Hometown Alumni Award, which recognizes New York state natives who return to their hometowns after graduation and make a positive impact on their local communities. Santiago grew up in Spencerport, New York, and earned his undergraduate degree at Cornell University. He began serving on nonprofit boards 22 years ago, starting at Foodlink, which fights hunger, food insecurity, and their causes. He also holds leadership roles at PathStone Corp., which helps people build self-sufficiency through affordable housing development, workforce training, strengthening farmworkers, and promoting social justice; Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, which provides a home-away-from-home for families while their children receive medical care; and the Monroe County Bar Association. Santiago and his wife, Arline Bayo Santiago L’90, began their legal careers in Philadelphia and returned to the Rochester area after starting their family. He co-founded Santiago Burger LLP, focusing his practice on litigation in New York State and federal courts. Santiago has been listed by The Best Lawyers in America organization and was recognized as one of Rochester’s “40 Under 40.”

Denny Shupe L’89 joined Victor Rane as a Partner in its Philadelphia office. He was previously a Partner at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis. A retired Air Force command pilot, Shupe represented airlines, airports and airplane manufacturers as an attorney at Schnader Harrison for 33 years. His practice focuses on advising clients on transactions and representing them in litigation for matters such as product liability and mass torts.

1990s

Richard Lafont L’90 joined the New York office of Freedman Normand Friedland LLP as Counsel. He is a general commercial litigator with vast experience handling banking, real estate, and complex commercial disputes. Lafont represents clients in federal and state, trial, and appellate courts as well as various arbitral forums.

Jim Bucking L’91, after more than 30 years specializing in labor and employment litigation at Foley Hoag LLP, has been named Co-Managing Partner of the Boston-based firm. In his new role, he works alongside Co-Managing Partner Jeffrey Collins in running Foley Hoag’s day-to-day operations and long-term planning. On top of running the firm’s labor and employment practice, he has chaired the labor law sections of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Bucking started at Foley Hoag as a summer associate in 1990 and has since built a national reputation representing employers and corporations in union and complex employment litigation.

Matthew Biben L’92 joined King & Spalding’s New York office as a Partner. As a litigator, Biben focuses on banking, regulatory, and enforcement matters, and he represents individuals, financial institutions, and FinTech companies in a broad array of civil disputes, securities, and bankruptcy litigation, and complex matters involving regulators. He regularly handles internal, domestic and international investigations and acts as counsel in litigated disputes with government agencies, including the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Reserve Board, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, New York State Department of Financial Services, State Attorneys General and various foreign regulators. Biben was most recently a Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he was Co-Chair of its Financial Institutions Practice Group. He is a Benchmark Litigation “Litigation Star” and is recommended nationally by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 US. At Penn Carey Law, he sits on the Board of Advisors and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law for the last 28 years, teaching seminars in legal philosophy, federal crime, and corporate law and governance. Biben is also a member of the board of directors of the American Arbitration Association and is an active member of the New York legal community, serving as a commissioner on the State of New York Commission on Judicial Nomination and sitting on the boards of the New York Legal Assistance Group, the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and the New York Law Journal’s Board of Editors.

Rebecca Bratspies L’92 has a new book titled Naming Gotham: the Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York Place Names. (History Press 2023). In this book, Bratspies introduces readers to a quirky history of New York City. If you’ve ever been stuck in traffic wondering who on earth Major Deegan was, this is the book for you. New York City’s many roads, bridges, neighborhoods, and institutions bear the names of a colorful assortment of people from key periods in the city’s history. Learning about the people iconic Gotham landmarks are named for is a unique window into the history of the greatest city in the world. But the names in this book tell only a small sliver of the City’s story. To date, New York City has chosen to commemorate mostly white men. In a city as diverse as New York, that fact is telling. It reflects the historical balance of power in the City—both in terms of who had the power to name things and who got to define what counts as history. As Bratspies was researching and writing this book, that began to change. Most significantly, the Shirley Chisholm State Park, named after the first Black woman elected to Congress, opened in 2019. This shift in who the City memorializes reflects the changing narrative that New Yorkers tell themselves about their city. You can learn more at www.RebeccaBratspies.com. Bratspies is a longtime resident of Astoria, Queens, and a professor at CUNY School of Law.

Scott Coffina L’92 returned to Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads following his position as the Prosecutor of Burlington County, New Jersey. He was previously a Partner at the firm for 10 years and rejoined as a Partner at the firm’s Cherry Hill office in the litigation department and white collar and government investigations practice. He represents corporate, university, and individual clients in government enforcement actions, internal investigations, litigation, crisis management, and political-legal controversies.

Daniel Rikard L’92 was appointed General Counsel of Novolex, which develops and manufactures diverse packaging products for multiple industries in the foodservice, delivery and carryout, food processor, and industrial markets. In his new role, Rikard manages Novolex’s legal matters and risks and leads the company’s legal organization. He brings extensive experience at both public and private manufacturing companies, joining Novolex from The LYCRA Company, a privately owned global fiber and materials manufacturer, where he served as Chief Legal Officer. Previously, Rikard spent 10 years as General Counsel at Polymer Group, Inc., a U.S.-headquartered, publicly traded manufacturing company, before founding a boutique business law firm focused on corporate strategic transitions and outside general counsel services.

Jay Clayton ENG’88, L’93 was elected to the board of directors for American Express Co. Clayton is Senior Policy Adviser and Of Counsel at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. He served as Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 2017 to 2020. During his time with the SEC, Clayton oversaw a crackdown on initial coin offerings, with the agency frequently taking the stance that the offerings were unregistered securities sales. While serving as Chair, he served on the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, the Financial Stability Board, the International Organization of Securities Commissions and the Financial Stability Oversight Council. After leaving government service, Clayton returned to Sullivan & Cromwell as Of Counsel and a Senior Policy Adviser. He spent more than two decades with the firm and served on its management committee. In August, Clayton joined Electric Capital, a company that recently raised $1 billion to finance cryptocurrency and blockchain-based startups, as an adviser. Clayton also serves as an adviser to at least two other crypto companies: cryptocurrency infrastructure company Fireblocks and One River Asset Management LLC. Additionally, Clayton serves as a nonexecutive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Apollo Global Management Inc. He also serves as a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee.

Jason Isralowitz L’93 wrote the book, Nothing to Fear: Alfred Hitchcock and The Wrong Men, which was released in January 2033 by FMP Publishing, an indie company that specializes in pop culture books. The book is about Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 film The Wrong Man, the real-life case that inspired the film, and its connection to the history of wrongful convictions in New York. The book’s release date coincided with the 70th anniversary of the false arrest of Queens musician Manny Balestrero, whose story is told in the film. The book includes many new revelations about the ordeal of Manny and his wife, Rose, and argues that Hitchcock adapted the case into one of the greatest and most prescient movies about criminal justice ever made. Both the case and the film remain very timely given the hundreds of exonerations of wrongfully imprisoned defendants in recent years. More information about the book can be found at www.nothingtofearbook.com. Isralowitz is a Partner at Hogan Lovells in New York.

The Honorable Abdul Kallon L’93 joined Perkins Coie’s Litigation and Labor & Employment practices as a Partner in Seattle. He will also serve as an advisor on federal court advocacy. Judge Kallon was most recently a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for the past 12 years. During his time on the bench, Judge Kallon presided over a broad range of civil and criminal cases, including complex employment and commercial litigation and cases focused on constitutional rights. He served on the Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosures, the Federal Judicial Center’s Advisory Committee on District Judge Education, and as a mentor judge for newly appointed judges.

Clint Odom L’93 joined the advisory board at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. The board offers expertise on strategic priorities, raises the visibility of the school, and supports aspirations of inclusivity. Odom is the Vice President of Strategic Alliances & External Affairs at T-Mobile.

Nelson Thayer, Jr. L’93 was named First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero. Thayer joined the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in 1993 through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. As a Trial Attorney in the Division’s Criminal Section, he investigated and tried hate crime and law enforcement brutality cases across the country, including U.S. v. Davis, the first capital civil rights prosecution and conviction. In 1998, Thayer joined the Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuting a wide variety of crimes as a member of the Narcotics Unit, and in 2002, transferred to the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he served as a line prosecutor and then as Deputy Chief of its public corruption unit. In 2005, he took a leave of absence to prosecute war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, where he spent six years prosecuting and convicting at trial eight high-level Bosnian Serb military commanders for their roles in the 1995 genocide of more than 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica. Upon returning to the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2011, he served as Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton branch office, then as Deputy U.S. Attorney, responsible for overseeing the office’s mission in New Jersey’s 12 middle and southern counties. In 2015, he returned to the Office, where he served in the National Security and Cyber Crime unit. Thayer has received numerous Department of Justice and agency awards, including the Department of Justice Director’s Award twice, the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Director’s Award, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director’s Award, and the Department of Justice John Marshall Award.

Jennifer Brandt L’94 was elected Secretary of the American Bar Association Family Law Section at the ABA’s annual meeting in Chicago. Brandt also serves as a member of the ABA FLS Finance Committee and is the Section’s Liaison to the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism. In Philadelphia, Brandt is Chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Family Law Group and has significant experience representing parties in divorce, custody, and support/alimony matters throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She assists parties with paternity issues, adoptions, and matters concerning assisted reproduction technology, negotiates prenuptial, post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements, and mediates and arbitrates family law cases. She is the editor of Family Law Focus, a legal blog addressing current issues in family law. Brandt lectures regularly and plans courses for attorneys and other professionals on the topic of family law for organizations such as the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and New Jersey ICLE. She also teaches a course on divorce for Main Line School Night in Lower Merion, PA. Brandt is an active member of the Family Law Sections of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Camden County Bar Associations. She is Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Children’s Rights Committee and serves as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an organization of select lawyers dedicated to expanding knowledge and advancing justice.

Susan Lustbader Frankel L’95 joined Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York, as Associate General Counsel. She is responsible for healthcare transactions for the entire health system, as well as medical staff matters. She earned her LLM in Health Law in 2017 and was previously a transactional and regulatory healthcare attorney at Brach Eichler LLC. She was named to The Best Lawyers in America Ones to Watch for 2023.

Jeremiah “Jeremy” Garvey L’95 presented a webinar titled “Corporate Coffee Break: What Companies Should Do Now to Prepare for State Data Privacy Laws.” In 2023, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia are joining California as their comprehensive privacy data laws come into effect, and businesses that collect personal information from consumers in these states will need to understand the significant impact of these laws. In the presentation, Garvey discussed the highlights and key points of the new state laws; applicability of the laws and how to determine which companies they will affect; the differences and similarities between the laws in each state; and practical steps companies should take to get a head start on compliance, such as creating a data map and updating commercial contracts. Garvey is Co-Chair, Capital Markets & Securities at Cozen O’Connor’s Pittsburgh office. He focuses his practice on securities-related transactions and corporate governance, specifically in connection with private capital financings and public offerings, and the organization, funding, and ongoing representation of emerging growth technology companies and venture firms.

Jennifer Arbittier Williams C’92, L’95 joined Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan LLP as a Partner. She advises clients on matters involving cybercrime, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and national security issues. Williams had a distinguished 20-year career in public service at the Department of Justice, culminating in her most recent position as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She previously served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, overseeing the daily operations of the entire office, as well as Chief of the National Security and Cybercrime Unit. In addition, Williams is credited with helping create and lead the Threat Intervention and Prevention Network, a first-of-its-kind program that helps organizations assess and mitigate potential threats. Williams serves as an adjunct professor at Penn Carey Law.

Elizabeth Forminard L’97, a longtime in-house lawyer at Johnson & Johnson, was promoted to manage the law department globally. She joined the company’s executive committee in October. She has been at Johnson & Johnson for the past 16 years, and since 2019, had served as the General Counsel for the company’s pharmaceuticals business unit.

Elizabeth Preate Havey L’97 was appointed General Counsel and Secretary to the National Constitution Center. She was also elected President of the The Pennsylvania Society, becoming the first woman to lead the organization. An active member of the community, Havey also serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, the Belmont Charter School Network, and the Mid-Penn Bank Advisory Board. She is a member of the Forum of Executive Women and the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Republican Party. As a Partner at Dilworth Paxson’s Philadelphia office, she is a transactional attorney specializing in public and project finance matters involving tax-exempt and taxable bond issues for issuers ranging from municipalities, authorities, school districts, private universities, and hospitals. Havey also counsels municipalities in the monetization through sale or lease of municipal assets such as water/sewer systems. She represents corporations and nonprofit organizations in corporate governance matters, employment agreements, service agreements and general corporate and securities transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and reorganizations. In addition to her transactional practice, Havey assists clients with their government relations needs, utilizing her longstanding professional relationships with key political players at the state, local, and federal levels.

Aron Izower L’97 joined Eisner, LLP as a Partner in the firm’s corporate and entertainment groups at its New York office. He focuses on transactions for media and entertainment clients and has expanded his practice of corporate transactional work into a specialty of serving media companies, as well as high-net-worth individuals and executives, primarily in the entertainment industry. He led private equity investment deals for Ithaca Holdings, a holding company for Scott “Scooter” Braun, an entrepreneur, talent manager and entertainment executive. Izower also advises other entertainment luminaries in a variety of transactions, including endorsement deals, joint ventures, reorganizations, and other corporate work. Clients include Braun, Ithaca Holdings, David Bolno, and David Grutman, musicians/entertainers/entrepreneurs Drake and Will.I.Am (Xupermask), and model/entertainer/entrepreneur Ashley Graham. Before joining Eisner, Izower was a partner at Reed Smith, where he practiced general securities and corporate law for several industries, including health care and life sciences, crowdfunding, venture capital funds, and investment banks. He honed his expertise in corporate transactions and served on the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee, retirement committee, and opinion committee.

Leslie Effron Levin L’97 was named a 2022 Super Lawyer. She is Special Counsel to Cuddy & Feder LLP and serves as Vice Chair of the firm’s Trusts, Estates & Elder Law group.

Priscilla “Sally” Mattison L’97, Of Counsel to Bernard M. Resnick, Esq., P.C., spoke on the “State of the Industry” panel at Lebanon Valley College’s 18th VALE Media Industry Conference. She previously participated in the Entertainment and Sports Law Panel held as part of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School’s Pre-College Academy.

Thomas Dybdahl L’98 wrote the book When Innocence Is Not Enough: Hidden Evidence and the Failed Promise of the Brady Rule, published in January 2023 by The New Press. The book explores the Brady rule, which was meant to transform the justice system. But reality intervened. The opinion was poorly reasoned. Its claims to precedent were dubious at best. It clashed with the foundations of the legal system. Those flaws would be Brady’s undoing. This work of narrative nonfiction details the promise and shortcomings of Brady through deft storytelling and attention to crucial cases, focusing on the infamous 1984 murder of Catherine Fuller in Washington, D.C. Eight young Black men were sent to prison for life after the prosecutor, afraid of losing the biggest case of his career, hid evidence that would have proven their innocence. The book chronicles the evolution of the Brady rule from its unexpected birth to the legal challenges that left it defanged and ineffective. But it ends by pointing a path toward promising reform efforts that offer a blueprint for a legislative revival of Brady’s true spirit. He was a staff attorney at the Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia.

Michael Gold L’98 was promoted from Executive Vice President of Civil Space Business Development and External Affairs to the position of Chief Growth Officer at Redwire Corporation. Redwire Corporation is a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, with valuable IP for solar power generation and in-space 3D printing and manufacturing. As Chief Growth Officer, Gold leads Redwire’s business development, marketing, and external affairs team, positioning the company for long-term growth, expanding adoption, and integration of Redwire’s cutting-edge capabilities across civil, commercial, and national security space sectors. Gold is also the Treasurer of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and has served on its board of directors on several occasions. Additionally, he serves on NASA’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Independent Study Team.

Joseph Pierce L’98, WG’98 was elected to the board of directors for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. He joined the Board’s Corporate Governance and Nominating, Compensation and Benefits, and Technology committees. Pierce is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of AMB Sports and Entertainment at The Blank Family of Businesses. In that role, he counsels and advises across all areas of the organization, including the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and the PGA Tour Superstores. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in San Antonio.

Jason Polevoy C’94, L’98 joined Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s real estate practice in the New York office. Polevoy previously served as Counsel at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP. For more than 20 years, he focused on the office, retail, hospitality, life science, industrial and multifamily sectors. Polevoy assists clients with commercial leasing, sales and acquisitions, joint ventures, debt and equity financing, and restructurings and workouts. In 2020, he worked with other Patterson Belknap attorneys in analyzing U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning commercial evictions and foreclosures during the pandemic. The analysis found that New York lenders faced barriers on the ability to “dispose of the collateral” during the pandemic.

Andrea Canepari LLM’99, a diplomat who was former Consul General in Philadelphia and Ambassador in Santo Domingo, recently edited the book The Italian Legacy in Philadelphia: History, Culture, People, and Ideas, published by Temple University Press in the United States and by Treccani in Italy. In September, the Art Gallery of Temple University Rome hosted the photographic exhibition, “The Italian Legacy in Philadelphia,” based on images from the volume. The selection of photographs was divided into the categories of people, places, and culture. They were intended to celebrate the history, impact, and legacy of the Italian community in Philadelphia, retracing the dynamics of the city since the arrival of Italian immigrants and their continuation of lively interactions with people and institutions in the city.

Lori Marino L’99 returned to ITT Inc., a Connecticut-based industrial manufacturing company, as General Counsel. She first joined ITT in 2013 and served as Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for six years. Marino had served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary since 2019 at New Senior Investment Group Inc., a real estate investment trust. She is also a fellow for the American College of Governance Counsel, where she advises company board directors about various issues, including shareholder activism and engagement, internal investigations, litigation, and government and regulatory matters.

Brandon Moore L’99 was promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Gaming Leisure Properties, Inc (GLPI). He was previously Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at the company. Moore joined GLPI close to its inception in 2014 as Senior Vice President and General Counsel and previously served as Vice President, Senior Corporate Counsel at Penn National Gaming, Inc. (now PENN Entertainment, Inc.) from February 2010 to 2014 where he was a senior member of the legal team responsible for a variety of transactional, regulatory, and general legal matters. GLPI is engaged in the business of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements.

2000s

Jennifer Driscoll-Chippendale L’00 joined Robinson & Cole LLP’s new Washington, D.C., office as Business Litigation Counsel. She brings over two decades of experience, both domestically and internationally, working on antitrust matters and compliance work such as False Claims Act and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigations.

Robert Drobnak L’00 was promoted to co-lead Nixon Peabody LLP’s global finance practice, which includes the corporate trust and leveraged finance teams. He is a Partner at the firm’s Chicago office. As a member of the leveraged finance team, Drobnak has worked on everything from middle-market transactions to large-cap deals. His regular clients include private equity portfolio companies and corporate borrowers with commercial and acquisition financing, securitization, and distressed investment legal needs.

Tehmina Jaffer L’00 joined Disney Branded Television as Business Affairs Executive Vice President. In this role, she leads all aspects of business affairs, negotiations, and contract administration for Disney Television animation and Disney Branded Television live-action content created for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior. Jaffer was previously at Anonymous Content, where as President of Business Affairs and Operations, she oversaw all business operations for the company, including human resources, facilities, and IT, in addition to business affairs. Her new role marks a return to Disney, as prior to Anonymous, Jaffer was Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for Disney+, overseeing business affairs for global scripted and unscripted series content, partnering closely with Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Television, Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic, and Lucasfilm. In 2019, Jaffer was named one of Hollywood’s Top 20 Dealmakers by The Hollywood Reporter.

Angelique Kaounis L’00 was elected Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP’s Century City office in Los Angeles. As a litigation and intellectual property attorney, she represents clients in a range of commercial litigation, with a focus on trade secret misappropriation cases, business torts, and contract disputes.

Thomas Hazlett L’01 was promoted to Partner at Ballard Spahr’s Philadelphia office. His litigation practice deals with commercial disputes, antitrust, intellectual property, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. He also handles intellectual property work in life sciences.

Richard Hernandez L’01 was promoted to General Counsel and Senior Vice President for the NFL’s New York Giants. He started with the Giants in January 2022 as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. He was previously a Partner in McCarter & English LLP’s business litigation, antitrust and sports law division for more than 17 years, including in a 2021 case where he represented the NFL in a disability discrimination lawsuit. In that suit, the NFL was sued after a league official wouldn’t let a New York Jets player use a protective shield to protect his eyes.

Kathleen Johnson C’96, ENG’96, L’01 joined Fox Rothschild LLP’s office as a Partner in the firm’s Exton, Pennsylvania office. A member of the intellectual property department, Johnson, who is a registered patent attorney, advises clients in a range of intellectual property areas, including strategy, acquisition, counseling and litigation. Her work also covers matters such as the acquisition of trademarks and patents, protection of trade secrets and copyrights, licensing of intellectual property and management of IP portfolios. She was previously an attorney at Troutman Pepper.

Andrea Kirshenbaum G’98, L’01 was appointed by the Board of Judges of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to the Court’s Civil Rules Advisory Committee. The advisory committee, composed of Pennsylvania attorneys, will initially be tasked with reviewing, revising and updating the Court’s Local Rules. The committee’s collective feedback and recommendations are then to be shared with the Court’s Civil Rules committee for consideration. Kirshenbaum also joined the Philadelphia office of Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, as a Shareholder. She previously served as Principal and Chair of Post & Schell’s employment and labor practice group and was also a member of the firm’s appellate department. She defends employers nationally in federal and state court litigation involving all major employment statutes, represents them in related government investigations, and counsels them on compliance with these statutes. Kirshenbaum focuses a significant portion of her practice on wage and hour-related compliance and litigation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable state laws governing wages and pay practices. She also defends clients in complex class action litigation involving a variety of federal and state statutes as well as claims under the common law. Kirshenbaum has industry experience with clients in the construction, commercial real estate, energy and utilities, financial services, health care, hospitality and retail, information technology, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and professional services industries, among others. She regularly writes and presents on legal and regulatory developments impacting the workplace and serves as the wage and hour columnist for The Legal Intelligencer. Kirshenbaum also serves as a board member of the Duke Philadelphia Regional Board, the Asperger & Autism Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, the Committee of Seventy, as well as Vice President of the board of directors of OROT, a special education initiative in the Philadelphia region’s Jewish day schools.

Paul Bond L’02 joined the board of directors of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of cyber identity crime. As a Partner at Holland & Knight, Bond is a member of the firm’s data strategy, security, and privacy practice group. He handles major cybersecurity and hacking litigation in the business-to-business and employment contexts, and he represents clients in government investigations in these areas. Bond is also an adjunct professor at Rutgers Law School.

Aaron Comenetz L’02 received the Assistant Attorney General’s Award of Distinction for his significant contributions both to litigation and investigations across the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and to the professional development of his colleagues through training and mentoring. Comenetz, a trial attorney, previously received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the Department of Justice’s second-highest honor.

Donald Meier L’03 joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as a Partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. He is a corporate and transactional attorney deeply experienced in a wide range of consumer finance industry-related transactions including M&A, outsourcing arrangements, marketplace lending programs, purchases and sales of loans and loan-related assets such as servicing rights, critical vendor agreements including servicing and subservicing contracts, as well as corporate governance matters. Meier regularly represents banks, fintechs and other nonbank financial services providers including mortgage companies, money transmitters, and investors in consumer financial services companies.

Ariella Feingold L’04 was elevated to Partner at WilmerHale’s Boston office, where she practices transactional and labor and employment law.

Jin Hee Kim L’04 joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as a Partner in the firm’s New York office. She focuses on finance work, including large-cap syndicated loans and privately placed leveraged acquisition financing, among other areas of financing. She was previously a Partner at Allen & Overy LLP.

Su Ming Yeh L’04 received the 2022 Philadelphia Bar Foundation Award, and she was honored at the 2022 Access to Justice Awards Benefit. The award recognizes a public interest attorney who is dedicating his or her life to equal access to justice by working in the nonprofit legal services field. It acknowledges exceptional leadership, dedication, and accomplishment, and includes a $2,500 prize. Yeh is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project. During her almost twenty-year career there, she has improved the lives of thousands of people by protecting the rights of incarcerated people, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and countless others who suffered abuse behind bars.

Victoria Anderson L’05 was elected Partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. At the firm’s New York office, her practice focuses on employee benefits and executive compensation – namely, qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation arrangements under 409A, 457 plans, 403(b) plans, and health and welfare plans. She represents public and private companies on benefits issues related to mergers and acquisitions, with an emphasis on post-transaction plan integration, golden parachute analysis, and executive compensation issues. Anderson also has thorough knowledge of HIPAA’s Privacy and Security Rules and provides practical advice on HIPAA compliance and breach notification issues.

Dave Foster L’05 was selected by the Hoover Institution for the 2022-23 class of its Veteran Fellowship Program. It includes 11 veterans, representing four branches of the U.S. armed services. Veterans were selected based on demonstrated leadership qualities, success in their professional careers, and their shared values with the Hoover Institution, especially the commitment to advancing freedom. Foster served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for seven years. He is the founder and CEO of BDP Impact Real Estate, a social-impact real estate investment and development company headquartered in Philadelphia.

Craig Gargano L’05 joined New Jersey-based Archer & Greiner PC as a Partner in its home office of Voorhees. A public finance attorney, Gargano has more than 15 years of experience working with municipalities throughout the state. He generally represents municipalities, counties, school districts, public agencies and authorities throughout New Jersey as bond counsel, trustee’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel on a wide range of financings. He was previously an attorney at Parker McCay PA.

Matt Ritter L’05 launched a new podcast, “Man of the Year,” with fellow comedian and New York Times-Bestselling author, Aaron Karo. Ritter and Karo are part of a childhood friend group from Long Island that meets annually, for the past 35 years, to vote on which friend had the best year. The tradition inspired the podcast, which seeks to help listeners combat loneliness, make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and build their own amazing friendship traditions. Ritter, who was previously host of Wondery’s top workplace show, “Safe For Work,” and Karo were interviewed by the New York Times about the podcast. Ritter asks listeners interested in supporting the podcast to subscribe and leave a five-star review on Apple, and he also welcomes suggestions on friendship-related topics, for future discussion, on social media via @manoftheyearpodcast.

Jay Spader L’05 was named Chair of the Corporate & Business Department in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Denver office, where he is a Shareholder. Spader has been an integral part of the firm’s Corporate & Business Department for a decade. He represents both lenders and borrowers in a wide range of complex financing transactions with an emphasis on private equity-backed leveraged buyouts. He has been recognized by Chambers USA as a “Notable Practitioner” in the Banking & Finance category and was recently awarded the firm’s 2022 Shareholder Mentor of the Year Award. Since joining the firm, he has led the growth of Brownstein’s Corporate Finance practice, which has been recognized by Chambers USA as a “Band 1” practice for Banking & Finance in Colorado.

Staci Yablon L’05 joined Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP as a Partner in the litigation department at the firm’s New York office. She leads international financial institutions and global corporations through complex commercial disputes, white collar and regulatory matters, and government and internal investigations. Yablon frequently represents major financial institutions in government investigations, including by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control. She also advises a range of clients on compliance-related matters, and on economic sanctions and anti-corruption matters in connection with potential mergers and acquisitions. Yablon regularly writes and publishes thought leadership content on topics including compliance programs. She was previously an attorney at Winston & Strawn.

David Castleman L’06 joined Otterbourg PC as a Member in the restructuring and bankruptcy department. He was previously a Partner at Raines Feldman LLP. His practice focuses on federal equity receiverships and complex litigation in both state and federal courts. Recognized for his experience in cryptocurrency insolvencies, Castleman was recently appointed as receiver regarding a $250 million alleged internet-based Ponzi scheme in a case brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the Southern District of New York. In this, he helped in the recovery of more than $100 million for the benefit of claimants, including over $60 million in cryptocurrency held overseas in the first year of the receivership.

Matthew Davis L’06 joined Structure Law Group, LLP’s business litigation team. At the firm’s Los Angeles office, Davis represents corporate and individual clients in complex litigation matters in California and federal courts involving business disputes, breaches of contract, fraudulent sale of goods and securities, commercial landlord/tenant disputes, consumer class actions, and corporate member and partnership lawsuits.

Meghan Rohling Kelly L’06 joined Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s New York office as a litigation Partner. Kelly has previously anchored trial teams on a variety of legal disputes, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology matters. She was previously a Partner at BakerHostetler.

Arnaud Lafarge LLM’06 joined Squire Patton Boggs as a Partner in its corporate practice in Paris. Lafarge is an experienced private equity and corporate lawyer, advising funds, private and listed companies and management teams on a wide range of complex, cross-border transactions. He also offers expertise in public M&A and securities law. Dual-qualified, in New York and Paris, Lafarge has been Partner at Lamy Lexel, based in Paris and Lyon, since 2019. After two years in the United States, including one year in New York during which he practiced at an international firm, he worked at other leading global law firms in France between 2007 and 2019.

Leila Vaughan CGS’99, L’06 joined Faegre Drinker as Partner in the investment management practice group in Philadelphia. She advises clients on investment tax matters, especially relating to private equity, regulated investment companies, hedge funds, lending funds, and real estate investment funds. Additionally, Vaughan provides counsel on tax aspects of fund structure, fund formation, portfolio investments, regulated investment company compliance, mergers and liquidations.

Paul Lanois LLM’07 was listed among the 2022 California Legal Awards’ “Lawyers on the Fast Track (under 40)” winners. The awards recognize lawyers and companies leading technology, innovation, and the profession as a whole. Lanois is a Director at Fieldfisher in the Silicon Valley.

Kirsten White L’07 was named Co-Chair of Fox Rothschild LLP’s Education Law department. White has significant experience providing labor and employment counsel to educational institutions, from independent schools to colleges and universities. She advises on school operations, including responding to and investigating alleged student misconduct; employment and governance matters; student health and safety issues; collective bargaining and National Labor Relations Act compliance as well as crisis management. The Education Law department consists of a multidisciplinary team of attorneys who offer clients a wide range of services for public and private school districts as well as higher education representation.

Michael Buchbinder L’08, WG’08 joined Rothschild & Co’s Global Advisory business as a Managing Director on the technology team. As a specialized senior investment banker, Buchbinder focuses on clients in the education technology industry. His expertise includes advising on M&A transactions for companies that provide software, content, and services to learners and organizations across the lifelong learning continuum, with key end-markets including K-12, higher education, corporate training, talent management, and B2C learning. He is based in New York. Previously, Buchbinder was a Managing Director and led the education technology franchise at Oppenheimer & Co. In th&at capacity, he advised on M&A and private placement transactions, with successful outcomes including public company acquisitions, private equity add-ons, and new platform investments.

Misha Isaak L’08 joined Stoel Rives LLP as a Partner in the firm’s Portland office. Isaak was most recently an attorney at Perkins Coie LLP, and from 2015 through 2020, he served as Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel to former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. As General Counsel, Isaak represented the Governor in state litigation including cases involving the treatment of incarcerated transgender individuals and hoteling foster youth. He oversaw the appointment of the state’s most diverse bench of state judges in Oregon history. He also managed executive branch relationships with the state’s nine federally recognized tribes. During his tenure, he oversaw a state settlement with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs that returned hunting and fishing rights taken in an 1865 treaty with the U.S. government. That settlement eventually led Congress to nullify the treaty. In private practice, Isaak successfully defended the University of Oregon in a lawsuit from an injured former football player for the school’s Ducks team. The high-profile, lengthy trial seeking a $125 million award generated intense local and national press coverage.

Jason Zack L’08 was elected Counsel at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP’s Miami office. His practice focuses on intellectual property and general complex litigation. Zack advises clients nationwide regarding development of new brands, clearing trademarks, and prosecuting trademark applications. He also works with clients to enforce existing brands, including cease-and-desist actions, as well as initiating and defending disputes in federal court and the T.T.A.B.

Jonathan Fortney L’09 was elected Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP’s New York office. As a securities litigation attorney, he has experience in a wide range of complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on securities litigation, corporate control contests, and shareholder actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duties.

Ann Lilienthal L’09 was featured as a Law360 Rising Star. She is a Partner at Morrison Foerster LLP’s Washington, D.C., office. She was recognized for taking the lead in high-profile deals, including her work on a team that advised the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. on aspects of $190 million in financing a 12-fiber pair subsea cable system. She also worked on a team that represented lenders who financed Recaudo Bogota’s mass transit project in Colombia.

Deuel Ross L’09 presented oral argument to the U.S. Supreme Court in the redistricting case Merrill v. Milligan in October. His opening line, “There is nothing race-neutral about Alabama’s map,” became widely popular on Twitter and in media coverage about the case. Ross defended a unanimous three-judge district court panel’s ruling that Alabama had unlawfully discriminated against Black voters when it failed to create a second “majority-Black” district in the latest round of redistricting. It was Ross’s first high court argument. He is Senior Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, where he has spent the past nine years, with a particular focus on voting rights cases in Alabama. He previously challenged the state’s absentee voting rules and voter ID law.

2010s

Phillip Berenbroick L’10 became Senior Counsel to Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. He was previously Counsel on the House Judiciary Committee, where he worked to advance the priorities of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law. Berenbroick helped develop a breadth of legislation addressing key issues, from tackling the rise and abuse of market power online, to modernizing the Administrative Procedure Act, to supporting local newspapers and broadcasters during the pandemic. He also conducted oversight of federal agencies and investigated mergers that raised significant antitrust concerns.

Jia Jia Huang L’10 joined Goodwin Procter LLP’s Los Angeles office as a Partner in the firm’s technology practice. She advises clients on intellectual property and technology-related transactions while also counseling clients on the development, licensing, and commercialization of IP assets. She also leads the IP and technology aspects of corporate transactions like mergers, buyouts, corporate financing, and capital markets transactions. Huang was previously at Latham & Watkins LLP.

Jennifer Ying L’10 spoke on a panel titled “Litigation Trends & Forecasts” at Centerforce’s IP Strategy Summit: East. She discussed determining whether defensive patenting is an effective strategy as companies aim for litigation avoidance through portfolio management; conducting freedom to operate searches and obtaining clearance opinions; preparing for international litigation or ITC; implementing a proactive defensive strategy; and clearing the confusion surrounding change at the PTAB. Ying is a Delaware Partner at Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell. An intellectual property litigator, she focuses on patent and trade secret disputes in federal and state court. Her experience encompasses all aspects of litigation from outset to trial and through appeal in both lead counsel and co-counsel roles. In addition to patent disputes, Ying has experience in areas including trade secrets, unfair competition, contract and licensing disputes. Ying also serves on the firm’s diversity committee and is Assistant Treasurer of the Delaware State Bar Association’s executive committee. Additionally, she maintains an active pro bono practice, has handled civil rights cases through the Delaware ACLU, and has served as a guardian ad litem to help dependent and neglected children secure permanency.

Luke Burns L’11 joined Reed Smith as a Partner in the firm’s global energy and natural resources group. Based in Houston, Burns counsels energy companies and other clients on a broad range of energy-related transactions and projects. Previously with Baker Botts’ global projects team, Burns works on acquisitions and divestitures of onshore and offshore upstream oil and gas assets, joint development arrangements, and both hydrogen and LNG projects. In recent years, Burns also developed a focus in energy and commodities-related cryptocurrencies, adding strength to Reed Smith’s offering in digital assets in the industry sector.

Kate Unger Davis GED’06, GED’08, L’11 was named to The Legal Intelligencer’s list of 2022 Lawyers on the Fast Track. She is a Partner at Dechert, where she handles products liability and mass tort litigation for pharmaceutical companies including Purdue, Johnson & Johnson and Bayer, as well as medical device companies and others. She helped win several recent cases, including for Bayer and Johnson & Johnson. In 2021, Davis scored a decisive victory for a private equity firm in negotiating its dismissal from over 50 personal injury claims relating to the alleged effect of gas used to sterilize medical device products. She is also defending a class-action lawsuit alleging the presence of heavy metals in baby food. Within Dechert, Davis mentors widely and conducts an average of a dozen training sessions for newcomers and trainees each year. As a member of the Philadelphia Hiring Committee, she is involved in the recruiting, interviewing and selection process for several offices. Davis has also dedicated more than 1,200 pro bono hours involving impact litigation and direct client services at the firm, and she helped spearhead a successful campaign to free pro bono client Mark Whitaker, who spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Ashley Prime DeLuca L’11 was promoted to Partner at Ballard Spahr’s Philadelphia office. As a real estate attorney, she focuses her practice on the acquisition, disposition, and development of retail, industrial, office, multifamily, hotel, and condominium properties, and the representation of retail and office landlords and tenants. Additionally, she received a 2022 Cornerstone Award from the Lawyers Alliance for New York in recognition of her exceptional contributions of pro bono legal services to nonprofit organizations. The award recognizes her pro bono work on behalf of Community Health Initiatives to help the organization secure funding and space to construct and operate a community health center to serve residents of South Brooklyn.

Sarah Hammer WG’99, L’11 was nominated by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to be Secretary of Banking and Securities. She is Managing Director of the Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance and Senior Fellow of the Harris Alternative Investments Program at the Wharton School. In those roles, her focus is on private capital investments and financial technology. She also is an adjunct professor at Penn Carey Law, where she teaches an upper-level juris doctor course on financial regulation. Previously, she worked at the U.S. Department of Treasury as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions and as Director of its Office of Financial Institutions Policy. In those roles, she led and directed the department’s policy responsibilities involving financial institutions and overseeing the Federal Insurance Office and the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Compliance Policy (cybersecurity).

Shannon Hedvat ENG’07, GEN’08, L’11 was promoted to Special Counsel at Kramer Levin’s New York office. Hedvat works on intellectual property matters, particularly patent, copyright and trademark litigation across numerous technology sectors, including satellite radio transmission, telematics, internet architecture, computer security, software, devices used in the semiconductor industry, microcontrollers, and LEDs. She has assisted in the defense and enforcement of clients’ rights at every stage of litigation, playing a key role on trial teams, taking and defending depositions, drafting trial and appellate briefs, and preparing expert witnesses for depositions as well as direct and cross examinations at trial. Hedvat also advises clients on transactional matters and contractual negotiations implicating intellectual property rights and counsels startup and emerging growth companies in various technology sectors.

Benjamin Salvina L’11, SPP’11 joined Dilworth Paxson’s Philadelphia office as an associate in the labor and employment department. He represents clients across many industries on a range of labor and employment matters, including disability discrimination claims, retaliation claims, and medical marijuana. Salvina has experience working with clients throughout every stage of the legal process, from legal counseling to appearing before a jury in court. Having represented both employees and employers, he applies his holistic insight to address individualized client matters. He also has experience communicating complex legal concepts to ensure clients’ understanding of the legal process from beginning to end. Salvina has represented clients before state and federal courts and numerous administrative agencies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Robert Slack L’11 joined Fenwick & West LLP as a Partner in the firm’s regulatory practice in Washington, D.C. He was previously a Partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP for the past 11-and- a-half-years. His practice will continue to focus on issues surrounding economic sanctions, export controls, and trade and compliance matters. Slack has significant experience working with global investigations and audits, designing export sanctions and compliance programs. He also has experience working with technology companies, multinational organizations and businesses in a range of industries—including financial, telecommunications, and manufacturing businesses.

Heather Suchorsky C’08, L’11 joined Abell Eskew Landau LLP (AEL) as Of Counsel. AEL is a boutique law firm specializing in white-collar criminal defense, government investigations and enforcement matters, False Claims Act and qui tam cases, and healthcare regulatory and compliance counseling. Suchorsky spent the previous five years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey as a white collar and gangs prosecutor. She most recently served in the Office’s Economic Crimes Unit, which handles complex financial crimes. Before that, Suchorsky served in the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit, where she specialized in the investigation and prosecution of violent, organized street gangs.

Ron Tanner C’07, L’11 joined Venerable as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. In his role, Tanner supports registered insurance product securities matters, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and the corporate secretary function. Additionally, he provides advice to the firm’s corporate functions and compliance staff and assists with post-acquisition business integrations and strategic initiatives. Prior to joining Venerable, Tanner served as Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel for FS Investments, where he led securities regulation, financial reporting, and corporate governance efforts in addition to orchestrating fund mergers, product development efforts, and preparation of securities documentation and corporate governance.

Robin Weiss C’07, L’11 was promoted to Partner at Conrad O’Brien’s Philadelphia office. Her practice primarily involves commercial and toxic tort litigation, professional and products liability matters, and representation of court-appointed receivers and monitors in fiduciary litigation, federal enforcement actions, and clawback litigation. She has also worked on appeals to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Since joining Conrad O’Brien, Weiss has become a key member of the firm in complex cases. She is involved in smoking- and health-related litigation and asbestos matters.

Dwayne Bensing GED’09, L’12 was promoted to Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware. He joined ACLU-DE in 2020 as an in-house staff attorney. Bensing had previously served three years with the U.S. Department of Education’s office for Civil Rights and two years with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights division. Bensing’s work with the ACLU has included many civil rights projects, including education equity for students and protecting the rights of incarcerated people and free speech. He also has litigation experience involving LGBTQ-related issues.

Audra Amarosa Cohen C’09, L’12 joined Goodwin Procter LLP’s New York office as a Partner in the firm’s private investment fund practice and real estate industry business unit. She has more than 10 years of experience advising sponsor clients on all aspects of fund formation, fundraising, negotiations and ongoing compliance in connection with real estate funds, real estate credit funds, private equity buyout funds and infrastructure funds. Cohen has advised sponsors on compliance with the Investment Advisers Act and other matters, fund-related aspects of real estate and M&A transactions, liquidity transactions, internal sponsor governance, and economic arrangements. She was previously a Partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in the firm’s private funds practice.

Lynne Evans L’12 was named to The Legal Intelligencer’s list of 2022 Lawyers on the Fast Track. As a Partner at Duane Morris, Evans is a trial lawyer and counselor with significant experience representing financial institutions, corporate and government entities and individual clients in matters in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Her areas of practice include complex commercial litigation, matters involving breach of contract, negligence, fraud, RICO, breach of fiduciary duties, consumer class actions, and internal and government investigations. She chairs the firm’s Philadelphia office inclusion committee and serves on the firm’s diversity & inclusion committee and Philadelphia office recruitment and retention committee. She also serves as a team leader for the firm’s FinTech industry group. In addition, she is deeply committed to formal and informal mentoring of junior attorneys on professional development goals and opportunities, matter management and client development strategies. Evans is also involved in pro bono work at the firm, and her service has included representing a client in a successful application to obtain guardianship of an adult, intellectually-disabled son; representing a client in a successful naturalization application and interview process, resulting in extension of citizenship to client; and representing a client in application to obtain a clemency pardon after the client served 21 years in prison for conviction based solely on false confession.

Alanna Newman L’12 was promoted to Special Counsel at Duane Morris LLP’s New York office. As a member of the firm’s trial practices group, Newman focuses on complex commercial litigation, investigations and intellectual property disputes, including matters involving trademark and copyright.

Mark Nylen L’12 was elevated to Partner at WilmerHale’s Boston office, where he practices transactional and corporate law. Nylen focuses on corporate matters, working with both private and public companies on transactions including M&A, venture capital financings and joint ventures. He advised Gemini Therapeutics Inc. on its acquisition of Disc Medicine Inc. in August and PerkinElmer Inc. on its $591 million acquisition of Oxford Immunotec Global PLC in 2021. Nylen joined WilmerHale in 2015 from Paul Hastings LLP.

Matthew Rothman L’12 was appointed General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases. Rothman joined Aclaris in 2018 and has served in a number of roles of increasing responsibility within the legal department, most recently as Vice President, Legal and Compliance.

Bonnie David L’13 began serving as a Master in Chancery on Delaware’s Court of Chancery. She was formerly Counsel for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s Wilmington office. She has represented corporations and directors in actions before both the Court of Chancery and Delaware federal court, appearing in cases disputing transactions, contracts, corporate governance, and corporate statutes. During her time at Skadden, she had served as a director for the Delaware Bar Foundation’s governance board, the treasurer for the Court of Chancery’s historical society and an associate member of the Delaware Supreme Court’s board of bar examiners.

Melanie Foreman C’08, L’13 was elevated to Shareholder at Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin. At the firm’s Philadelphia office, she focuses her practice on litigation related to products liability, premises and municipal liability, and commercial transportation. Foreman was also elected Vice President of the Temple American Inn of Court, a legal association devoted to excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility and legal skills. Previously, she was Treasurer of the association. Additionally, Foreman was elected to the board of trustees of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. She is also involved with Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance.

Eric Hague L’13 was named to the Duane Morris partnership. He advises clients in the Middle Atlantic region on a wide variety of matters involving wealth transfer and tax planning and estate and trust administration. In 2020, he was a graduate of the inaugural class of the Mid-Atlantic Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and he serves on the tax committee of the Probate and Trust Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Kimberly Klayman L’13 was promoted to Partner in Ballard Spahr’s Philadelphia office. Klayman represents privately held emerging companies, venture capital, private equity funds, family offices, and corporate venture groups investing in high-growth companies. She also works with companies throughout the corporate life cycle, including pre-formation and general corporate counseling, venture capital financings, and mergers and acquisitions.

Gabriel Valdes L’13 joined Sidley Austin LLP’s Miami office as a global M&A and private equity Partner. He was previously a Partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Valdes focuses on mergers and acquisitions, buyouts, divestitures, and other corporate transactions in the private equity sphere. He offers clients guidance on a range of corporate matters in a variety of industries. Valdes is also an adjunct professor of law at the University of Miami School of Law.

Rebecca Blake L’14 was promoted to Special Counsel at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. At the firm’s New York office, she represents clients in complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts. Blake is also active in Kelley Drye’s pro bono program.

Eric Feinstein L’14, WG’14 was elevated to Partner in Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz’s New York office. Feinstein joined the firm in 2014 after law school. He represents a range of public and private clients across multiple industries, including banking, financial services, and technology. He represented Amgen Inc. in its $4 billion acquisition of ChemoCentryx Inc. and Adobe Inc. in its $1.3 billion acquisition of Frame.io Inc. in August 2022 and 2021, respectively.

John Sheehan L’14 was promoted to Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s Philadelphia office. His experience includes representing private equity and strategic buyers as well as their investors, advisers, and executives.

Mathew Golden C’11, L’14 was elected to Partner at Delaware firm Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP. In the firm’s corporate litigation group, Golden focuses on corporate and commercial litigation in Delaware’s Chancery Court.

Ananth Padmanabhan LLM ’14, SJD’19 was appointed Dean of the Vinayaka Mission Law School in Tamil Nadu, India. Padmanabhan is currently a Sloan Fellow at Stanford University. After graduating from the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, he worked as a disputes lawyer for six years in the Madras High Court before deciding to pursue the one-year LLM program at Penn Carey Law. Upon graduating in 2014, he was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship to pursue the SJD program. During the non-residence phase of his doctoral program, Padmanabhan worked with the Carnegie Endowment in New Delhi, partly motivated by the incredible technology law and policy training he had received while in residence and during his LLM year. After completing the doctoral thesis, he switched to a full-time academic career while also serving as a university leader. He then decided to pursue the mid-career program at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Padmanabhan’s research interests are in the fields of technology policy, intellectual property rights, and innovation scholarship. He has authored a leading treatise, Intellectual Property Rights: Infringement and Remedies (LexisNexis, 2012), and co-edited the volume India as a Pioneer of Innovation (Oxford University Press, 2017). He also co-authored a chapter on Big Data in a recent volume on Regulation in India: Design, Capacity, Performance (Hart Publishing, 2019), which examines the public law and regulatory dimensions of new technologies. He engages in broader public conversations on the impact of technology through his opinion pieces in Hindustan Times, The Print, Livemint, Indian Express and other media.

Steve Stoute L’14 was installed as the 25th President of Canisius College in October 2022. Stoute chose “Leadership for the Future: Renew. Inspire. Serve. Empower. (RISE)” as the theme of his inauguration. His inaugural address called on the Canisius community to renew its commitment to justice, inspire a new generation of leaders, serve all they encounter with love, and empower others to do the same. The Canisius College board appointed Stoute as the College’s 25th President in February 2022. His tenure began July 1. Stoute is the former Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff at DePaul University in Chicago. In these roles, he served as the University President’s senior adviser. His responsibilities included facilitating the implementation of the university’s strategic plan, leading transformative institutional projects, as well as serving as administrative liaison to the board of trustees on key executive and strategic matters.

H.T. Flanagan L’15 was promoted to Counsel at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s Dallas office. He is a member of the firm’s banking and finance practice. Flanagan was also included in the third edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2023.

Roger Stronach C’11, L’15 was elected Partner at the Delaware firm Ross Aronstam & Moritz LLP. He focuses his practice on corporate and commercial disputes in the Chancery Court, the Complex Commercial Litigation Division of the Superior Court, and the Delaware Supreme Court. Stronach concentrates on litigation arising from M&A and other large corporate transactions, issues of corporate control, and other issues of entity governance. He also represents corporate and commercial constituents in proceedings concerning issues of entity formation and dissolution, information access, and valuation.

Douglas Wentzel L’16 was elected Partner at Knobbe Martens’ Orange County, California office. He represents clients in district courts across the country and before the International Trade Commission and Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Wentzel’s cases have covered a broad spectrum of technologies, including wearable physiological monitoring devices, transcatheter heart valve repair devices, respiratory therapy products, digital cinema cameras, automotive shock absorbers, microdermabrasion systems, and more.

Matthew Lembo L’17 married Sarah Samuels on April 23, 2022. Lembo is an IP litigation associate at Perkins Coie LLP’s New York office, and Samuels is employed by AlfaSense, a worldwide market intelligence platform in New York City.

William Xiong C’11, L’17, an attorney at Ballard Spahr LLP in Philadelphia who practices transactional finance law, received a 2022 Cornerstone Award from the Lawyers Alliance for New York in recognition of his exceptional contributions of pro bono legal services to nonprofit organizations. The award recognizes his pro bono work on behalf of Community Health Initiatives to help the organization secure funding and space to construct and operate a community health center to serve residents of South Brooklyn, New York.

Akbar Hossain L’18, LPS’18 was appointed Secretary of Policy and Planning by Pennsylvania Govenor Josh Shapiro. Hossain, who had been serving as Executive Director of the Shapiro-Davis transition team, previously served as Policy Director on Shapiro’s gubernatorial campaign. In that role, he led the development of the governor’s issue agenda and coordinated with key stakeholders across the commonwealth. Prior to joining the campaign, Hossain was a white- collar government investigations attorney. In his pro bono practice, he represented immigrants seeking asylum in the United States and low-income tenants in eviction proceedings.

Adam Neuman LPS’17, L’18 was named in The Athletic’s “College Sports 40 Under 40: Top young coaches, players, execs, influencers changing the game.” Neuman is the Chief of Staff, Strategy & Operations and Deputy General Counsel at the Big Ten. He was described as “the right-hand man” for Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, and “a major player behind the scenes in one of the most powerful conferences in college sports.”

Louis Capozzi III C’16, L’19 joined Jones Day’s Washington, D.C., office as an associate in the firm’s issues and appeals practice. Capozzi most recently clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, and also clerked for the Honorable. J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2020-2021); and the Honorable. Anthony Scirica of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2019-2020).

2020s

Jacob Abrahamson L’20 joined Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP’s litigation & dispute resolution team in Louisville. He assists in the representation of a broad range of clients in appellate matters and commercial disputes. Abrahamson was previously a law clerk for the Honorable John Bush in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and for the Honorable Danny Reeves in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He also served as a legislative intern for the Office of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell in Washington, D.C.

Amelia Clegg LLM’20 won the 2022 American Inns of Court Warren E. Burger Prize for Writing, a competition designed to promote scholarship in the area of professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence. The award, which comes with a $5,000 prize, recognizes Clegg’s essay “All Lawyers Are Equal, But Some Are More Equal Than Others: Incivility Towards Female Attorneys from within the Legal Profession.” The winning essay calls attention to the legal system’s sexism against women attorneys. Drawing on empirical data, case law, and anecdotal evidence, the paper argues that male attorneys and both male and female judges exhibit strong animosity toward women. This animosity takes the form of both nakedly hostile sexism and so-called “benevolent” sexism, which expresses views about women that seem positive on the surface but have stereotypical beliefs at their core. Media depictions of female lawyers, whether in the news or Hollywood, create the “fertile soil in which sexism continues to thrive and grow,” Clegg writes. The consequences include sexual harassment, a significant pay gap, and an exodus of women attorneys from the profession. Clegg is an associate at Blank Rome LLP in New York and specializes in general litigation. She is also a member of the New York American Inn of Court. She serves on the American Inns of Court’s National Advocacy Training Program Alumni Advisory Council and as a member of the Editorial Board for The Bencher, the American Inns of Court’s flagship magazine. Clegg is also a member of the New York City Bar Association and The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

Devlin Carey SPP’20, L’21 joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Pittsburgh office. In the firm’s litigation group, he practices in a variety of litigation practice areas, including commercial, energy and natural resources, environmental, and employment and labor. Prior to joining Babst Calland, Carey was an associate with Shearman & Sterling in New York City.

Evan Elam L’22 joined the Atlanta office of Stites & Harbison, PLLC as a member of the torts and insurance practice group. Prior to joining the firm, he was a summer law intern at the First Court of Appeals in Houston in 2021. He also served as an intern for Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky in 2018.

Jordan Konell L’22 joined the Pennsylvania labor, employment, and workers’ compensation law firm Willig, Williams & Davidson as an associate in the Philadelphia office. Konell focuses his practice on labor law. He previously served as a law clerk with the firm, assisting union-side labor attorneys with research, writing, and litigation preparation as well as authoring legal briefs. Prior to joining the firm, Konell served as a law clerk at both Region 4 and the Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation Branch of the National Labor Relations Board. He gained valuable experience conducting legal research and investigating claims of unfair labor practice, as well as drafting appellate briefs on behalf of the General Counsel.

Peter Neal L’22 married Naomi Biden C’16, granddaughter of President Joe Biden, on the South Lawn of the White House in November 2022. It was the nineteenth wedding in history to be held at the presidential residence.

Oliver Paprin L’22 joined the New York City Law Department as an administrative law and regulatory litigation attorney. The agency employs more than 800 attorneys who handle about 80,000 cases each year.

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