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Class Notes

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CLASS	NOTE
2017	Brian D. Deinhart, JD '17, joined Cooper Erving & Savage as an associate in 2017. Based in Albany, New York, Deinhart focuses his... Read More
2011	Laura E. Sedlak, JD '11, joined Sills Cummis & Gross as an associate in the firm's Newark litigation department, where she focuses... Read More
2010	Sharice L. Davids, JD '10, announced her candidacy to represent Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives, promising to focus on... Read More
2010	Roald Nashi, JD '10, joined Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C., and Houston offices, where he represents... Read More
2008	Michael T. Avent, JD ‘08, was promoted to Perkins Coie's counsel position. Counsel position is a partnership track position awarded... Read More
2008	Bryn Lovejoy-Grinnell, JD ‘08, has joined Bousquet Holstein PLLC as Of Counsel in the firm's Matrimonial and Family Law Practice... Read More
2006	Jessica A. Myers, JD '06, was promoted to of counsel at Harter Secrest & Emery, where she handles a wide array of complex commercial... Read More
2004	Kristine M. Koren, JD '04, LLM '04, joined Mayer Brown as a partner in the firm's New York corporate and securities practice, where... Read More

Timothy D. Katsiff, JD '94, joined Ballard Spahr as a partner in the firm's securities litigation group. Prior to Ballard Spahr, Katsiff worked at Morgan Lewis & Bockius and Blank Rome, where he gained more than two decades of experience handling securities class actions, derivative actions, and merger litigation for clients including Deutsche Bank AG, Susquehanna Bancshares, and Pep Boys. "We are growing our litigation capabilities nationwide, and one particular area of focus is securities and corporate governance litigation," said Litigation Chair Geoffrey A. Kahn. "Our securities litigators are handling matters of significant size and scope for some of our largest clients. They will appreciate Tim's experience, his talent, and his range. We're happy to welcome him."

Added 05/12/2017

Mark T. Kim, JD '94, chief financial officer of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), joined the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) as deputy executive director and chief operating officer. A seasoned executive and public finance professional, Kim has served as a member of the MSRB's board of directors and chair of the audit committee. "Mark is a tremendous talent and I am thrilled he is joining our executive team," said Executive Director Lynnette Kelly. "He will help ensure that our internal operations are as efficient and cost-effective as possible as we prepare for the market-focused initiatives in the years ahead. Mark's proven management track record and knowledge of the municipal market will yield great benefits for the MSRB and its stakeholders."

Added 05/12/2017

Gordon J. MacDonald, JD '94, a partner in the commercial litigation practice group at Nixon Peabody in Manchester, New Hampshire, was unanimously confirmed to a four-year term as state attorney general. "Throughout his distinguished legal career, Gordon has demonstrated exceptional legal talent with the highest levels of respect for the rule of law," said Governor Chris Sununu, who nominated MacDonald on March 21st. "Gordon is widely respected across New Hampshire's legal community and has earned a sterling reputation for his legal talents and commitment to public service. I am confident that, upon confirmation, Gordon will ensure that the Department of Justice continues to provide the highest quality of representation for our state."

Added 05/12/2017

Richard J. Myers, JD '92, a member at Glankler Brown in Memphis, Tennessee, was named vice president of the World Cataract Foundation on March 6th. Myers, who has served on the board of directors for five years, focuses his practice in litigation, real estate and public law, and governmental relations; he also serves as city attorney for Oakland, outside counsel to Memphis, and special counsel to the city of Covington.

Added 05/12/2017

David M. Lisi, JD '91, joined Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman as a partner in the firm's Silicon Valley office, where he works with technology clients on securities litigation and data security. Lisi, who was previously a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig and a partner at DLA Piper, has extensive experience representing domestic and international companies in securities litigation and counseling, data security, commercial disputes, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Added 05/12/2017

Karen A. Johnson, JD '90, a senior funds attorney in the Boston office of Ropes & Gray, was elected to a three-year term on the Hingham (Mass.) Board of Selectmen, winning 57 percent of the vote in a three-way race on April 29th. As one of three Selectmen, Johnson is responsible for initiating legislative policy, setting fiscal guidelines, appointing a Town Administrator, and holding public hearings on community issues. Prior to her election, she served on the Town Administrator Bylaw Committee and on the Town Advisory Committee. "We have big challenges ahead of us in the coming years and we will need to make decisions that will define the landscape of the Town for decades to come," said Johnson, announcing her candidacy in January. "I am committed to digging into the details and representing the citizens of Hingham to the best of my abilities."

Added 05/12/2017

Maureen Katherine Molloy, JD '90, died on March 18th at the age of 84. By the time Molloy arrived at Cornell Law in 1987, she had been a practicing physician, a consultant in orthopedics to the Vermont Department of Health, and a clinical associate professor at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Following graduation, she practiced law in Ithaca for one year, then returned to Burlington, where she worked as a consultant in legal medicine from 1991 until her retirement in 2006. The author of numerous papers on law and orthopedics, Molloy was a former president of the Vermont Medical Society and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Vermont Bar Association. She is survived by her brother, Martin, and three nieces.

Added 05/12/2017

Eve L. Hill, JD '89, joined Brown, Goldstein & Levy as a partner in Baltimore, Maryland. For the past six years, Hill has worked as a deputy assistant attorney general of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, where she was responsible for oversight of disability rights enforcement, educational civil rights enforcement, Title VI interagency coordination, and the American Indian Working Group. She was part of the negotiating team for the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled; enforced accessibility requirements for websites and other digital technology; implemented Olmstead community integration requirements in employment and education; and enforced disability rights in education, testing, and health care. On March 23rd, she appeared before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch, testifying that "Judge Gorsuch's approach to disability issues reveals a lack of fidelity to the proper role of a judge. The notion of his elevation to our nation's highest court sends fear into the hearts of the many Americans who rely on federal protections to ensure that disability is not an unfair and unjust barrier to accessing jobs, housing, and education for themselves and their children."

Added 05/12/2017

John S. Pruitt, JD '87, a partner in the New York City office of Eversheds Sutherland, was honored with the 2017 Client Choice Award for Insurance. Pruitt guides insurance companies in every aspect of business, from responding to regulatory inquiries to developing new companies or buying and selling existing ones. In more than 25 years of private practice, he has advised life insurance clients on regulatory compliance, acquisitions, dispositions, and restructurings. Recognized as a 2016 Top Author by JD Supra's Readers' Choice Awards, Pruitt represents companies in internal investigations and regulatory enforcement actions, including broker compensation practices, finite risk reinsurance, rating practices, and insurance sales and marketing.

Added 05/12/2017

Rosemary Coron Llewellyn Rovick, AB '82, JD '85, died on January 22nd in Watsonville, California, at the age of 63. After Cornell Law, Rovick settled in Watsonville, where she began her career as a research attorney, first for the Superior Court of San Jose, then for the Superior Court of the County of Monterey; later, she joined The Grunsky Law Firm. She was active in numerous community organizations, including Project Purr, Wetlands Watch, and the Watsonville High School Mock Trial team. She is survived by her siblings Avril, Bridget, and Leif; and 12 nieces and nephews.

Added 05/12/2017

Kristen M. Lewis, JD '84, counsel in the Atlanta office of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, was named Georgia's 2017 Trust and Estates Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America. Lewis has extensive experience in estate planning and wealth protection, special needs trusts, trust and estate planning and administration, guardianships, fiduciary matters, trusts for pets, and charitable giving techniques. A member of the Special Needs Alliance, the Academy of Special Needs Planners, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, she is a nationally recognized expert on special needs trust planning for persons with disabilities.

Added 05/12/2017

Paul L. Caron, JD '83, was named dean of Pepperdine Law School on March 9th. Currently associate dean for research and faculty development, Caron arrived at Pepperdine in 2010 as a visiting professor, became a tenured faculty member in 2013, and assumed his deanship in 2015. He is the author of more than 50 books and scholarly articles and is the publisher of the Tax Prof Blog and the Law Professor Blogs Network. "Since his first days as a distinguished visiting scholar through his selection as a tenured professor and now his candid and strategic participation in this search process, I have admired Professor Caron for his keen intellect, generous outreach to others, and his sterling reputation within the national legal community," said President Andrew K. Benton. "It will be a privilege to work side-by-side with him to advance the Pepperdine School of Law, an entity we both hold in high esteem. He will be, I believe, a remarkable law dean."

Added 05/12/2017

David Barrie, JD '78, was appointed chairman of the board of directors of Advanced Battery Concepts on February 10th. Barrie, who has spent the last two and a half years assisting Advanced Battery Concepts with its technology licensing strategy, has years of experience in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, international business, and building for growth. A member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, he serves as an instructor for Cornell Law's annual transactional law competition and has presented programs on best merger and acquisition practices to corporate executives. "David brings a vast amount of experience to our team, and has already demonstrated his abilities with the successful negotiation of our first two technology licenses to global battery manufactures," said CEO Edward Shaffer. "We are very proud to have David as chairman to help ABC continue its license roll-out in 2017 with several potential licensees already engaged."

Added 05/12/2017

Honorable Robert Lydon Maider, LLB '58, died on February 5th in Gloversville, New York, at the age of 85. He was a third-generation partner at Maider and Smith, a Gloversville City Court Judge from 1968 to 1973, and Fulton County District Attorney from 1973 to 1976. He served as chair of the New York State Committee of Professional Standards; director of the City National Bank; trustee of the Gloversville Public Library; member of the Nathan Littauer Hospital Foundation; and counsel to the Senior Services Center of Gloversville. He is survived by his wife, Carol; children Laura and Richard; grandchildren Andrew, Emma, Kate, and Troy; and brother Richard.

Added 05/12/2017

Rocco Anthony Solimando, LLB '57, died on February 2nd in Guilderland, New York, at the age of 84. After Cornell Law, he returned to Utica to found Solimando, Giruzzi & Zamorski, where he practiced until 1972. He served as corporation counsel for the City of Utica from 1969 to 1971 before joining the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), remaining with the labor union for the next 32 years; at the time of his death, he served as a New York State arbitrator. Solimando is survived by his wife, Annabelle; children Peter and Rocco Jr.; and grandchildren Gina and Peter.

Added 05/12/2017

Honorable Frederick B. Lacey, JD '48, died on April 1st in Naples, Florida, at the age of 96. Following graduation, Lacey joined the Office of the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, where he successfully prosecuted Harold Adonis, a former aide to the governor of New Jersey, and Albert Anastasia, an enforcer for Murder Incorporated. Following a stint in private practice, Lacey became U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, where he obtained high-profile convictions against Hugh Addonizio, the mayor of Newark, and numerous officials and mobsters in Newark and Jersey City. In 1971, he became a U.S. District Judge, where he presided over thousands of cases involving corruption, espionage, terrorism, drug smuggling, and record company payola. He served on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; the Supreme Court Committee on the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; and the Judicial Ethics Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. During 15 years on the bench, Lacey also taught Civil Trial Practice and Evidence at Rutgers University Law School and Seton Hall University Law School. He was appointed independent counsel under President George H.W. Bush; was named a Special Master to oversee congressional redistricting in New York; became the court-appointed Monitor of Bristol Meyers Squibb, ultimately seeking the removal of its chief executive; and served for years on the NCAA Infractions Committee. He is survived by his children, Bob, Fred Jr., Jim, John, Kathy, Mary, and Virginia; 22 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren.

Added 05/12/2017

Kevin A. Wiggins, JD '96, has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing justice through rigorous research on the law, legal processes, and the law's impact on our society. The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation is an honorary organization of lawyers, judges, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and to the highest principles of the legal profession. The Fellows support the research of the ABF through their annual contributions and sponsor programming of direct relevance to leaders of the legal profession. As a member of Saul Ewing's employee benefits and executive compensation practice, Wiggins focuses his practice on consulting and representing clients in executive compensation, health and welfare plans, ERISA reporting and disclosures, and retirement and 401(k) plans. In April, he served as a panelist at the American Bar Association's Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Spring Symposium on "Transgender Issues Across Trans-legal Disciplines."

Added 04/13/2017

Benjamin St. John Allen, JD '16, joined Winstead as an associate in the firm's Dallas corporate securities/mergers and acquisitions practice. Prior to Winstead, Allen was an intern in the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas (May-August 2014); an intern at the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas (August-December 2015); and a summer associate at Sidley Austin (May-July 2015).

Added 02/17/2017

Karina Lynn Pulec, JD '13, died on October 30th in Denver, Colorado, following injuries sustained in a hit-and-run accident. After graduation, Pulec practiced at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati in Palo Alto and at Hogan Lovells in Denver, where she focused on corporate law. She is survived by her parents, Larry and Michele; grandfather Keith Pulec; boyfriend Scott Brackett; and several aunts and uncles.

Added 02/17/2017

Ghazal Tajmiri, JD '09, LLM '09, joined Blank Rome as a senior associate in the firm's Los Angeles corporate litigation group, where she focuses her practice on corporate litigation, including copyright and trade secret disputes, consumer and employment class actions, contract disputes, regulatory enforcement, and corporate investigations. Prior to Blank Rome, Tajmiri was a law fellow at the National Immigration Law Center (January-September 2010) and a managing associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (2010-16).

Added 02/17/2017

Adam M. Smith, JD '07, became a partner in the Lexington, Kentucky, office of Stites & Harbison, where he represents owners, contractors, and subcontractors in construction disputes; in addition to commercial litigation, Smith has experience in white collar defense, securities litigation, and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining Stites & Harbison, Smith was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton (2007-11) and Dewey Pegno & Kramarsky (2011-14).

Added 02/17/2017

Stephanie M. Chmiel, JD '03, became a partner in the Columbus, Ohio office of Thompson Hines. As a member of the firm's business litigation practice group, Chmiel focuses on class actions and complex civil disputes, with a broad range of experience in civil litigation matters in state and federal courts, including contract, product liability, tort, employment, and business tort disputes.

Added 02/17/2017

Gabriel Herrmann, JD '03, became a partner in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. As a member of the firm's litigation practice group, Herrmann focuses on complex business and financial-services litigation and arbitration, including disputes concerning commercial breach of contract, fraud and business torts, insolvency-related litigation, disputed interests in real property, shareholder derivative and securities litigation, antitrust and competition law, insurance, class actions, and mortgage and acquisition-related litigation.

Added 02/17/2017

Guohua (Annie) Wu, JD '01, senior partner in the Beijing office of Jincheng Tongda & Neal, was named one of "China's Top Female Lawyers" by Asian Legal Business. Wu leads the firm's outbound investment practice, serving as lead counsel to multinational companies, Chinese state-owned and private-owned companies, and international funds companies in high-profile mortgage and acquisition transactions. Active in promoting cultural exchange activities between China and the United States, Wu currently serves as "China Captain" for the Cornell International Lawyers Alumni Network and previously served as president of the Cornell Law School Alumni Association Executive Board of Directors.

Added 02/17/2017

Matthew L. Mitchell, JD '00, joined Partridge Snow & Hahn as of counsel in the firm's Boston office, where he represents employers in a broad range of employment-related matters, including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, wage-hour issues, and family and medical leave. Prior to Partridge Snow & Hahn, Mitchell was a partner at Holland & Knight. "Matt is a tremendous asset to our firm," said Managing Partner David Gilden. "The knowledge and energy he brings to the area of employment law expands our capabilities and provides further depth to our existing practice for clients in the Boston market and throughout Massachusetts."

Added 02/17/2017

Anthony C. Green, JD '99, LLM '99, was appointed chief legal officer of Annaly Capital Management, effective March 1, 2017. Green, who has served as Annaly's deputy general counsel since 2009, had previously been a partner in the corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions group at K&L Gates. "Anthony is very well prepared for this role," said Annaly CEO Kevin Keyes. "He has demonstrated his ability to successfully manage and navigate complex legal situations, and maintain a tireless work ethic as a highly respected member of our senior management team. The Board and I congratulate Anthony on his promotion. We are grateful for all of his contributions to date and look forward to him continuing to help drive Annaly's performance as the industry leader for years to come."

Added 02/17/2017

Robin J. Lunge, JD '95, was appointed by New Hampshire Governor Peter Shumlin to serve a six-year term on the Green Mountain Care Board. Since June 2011, Lunge has served as New Hampshire's Director of Health Care Reform, helping coordinate and oversee health care efforts around the state. "I cannot think of anyone more uniquely qualified or better prepared to join the Green Mountain Care Board and complete the important health care reform work ahead," said Governor Shumlin. "There is no one who has a better grasp on where we've been and where we need to go when it comes to health care reform in Vermont. Robin's depth of knowledge, incredible work ethic, and commitment to this state will serve the board well."

Added 02/17/2017

Hillary B. Smith, JD '95, joined the San Francisco office of Square as the company's general counsel. Prior to Square, Smith worked as general counsel of Zenefits; general counsel of SuccessFactors; general counsel of Right Media; and senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of DoubleClick. "Hillary has exceptional experience serving as general counsel at several technology companies, both publicly traded and startups, and she's a great fit for our team," said CEO Jack Dorsey.

Added 02/17/2017

David M. Watson, JD '94, principle at WatkinsActive, was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to serve a two-year term on the Arlington Redevelopment Board, where he is responsible for establishing policy, maintaining community relations, and advocating for the use of smart-growth principles. "My interest in serving on the Arlington Redevelopment Board is threefold: as a resident, as an elected representative, and as a planning professional," said Watson. "As an Arlington home and business owner, I am committed to the livability and vitality of the town, and understand the role that well-considered policies and good governance play in achieving those goals. As a Town Meeting member, I supported the adoption of Arlington's master plan and its vision for a modern Arlington, and recognized the need for updating policies to better support implementation of the master plan."

Added 02/17/2017

Penny Serrurier, JD '91, became co-managing partner in the Portland, Oregon, office of Stoel Rives, where she is responsible for long-term strategic planning, including the implementation of new tools and business processes. Serrurier, who has been with Stoel Rives since 1992, focuses her practice on nonprofit law, tax-exempt organizations, charitable giving, estate planning, and trust administration. She is a past recipient of the Portland Business Journal's "Orchid Award," the publication's annual recognition of women executives who have shown extraordinary business and civic leadership.

Added 02/17/2017

Sandesh Mahatme, LLM '89, chief financial officer and senior vice president at Sarepta Therapeutics, was appointed to the board of directors of Elcelyx Therapeutics on October 12th. Prior to joining Sarepta in 2012, Mahatme was senior vice president of corporate development at Celgene Corporation, where he focused on strategic initiatives, including emerging markets, acquisitions, licensing, strategic planning, and global manufacturing expansion. "We welcome Sandy's expertise as Elcelyx nears a critical data read-out this quarter for our drug candidate Metformin Delayed Release for patients with type 2 diabetes and we establish the path forward for Phase 3 development and potential commercialization," said Elcelyx President and CEO Alain Baron.

Added 02/17/2017

Bai Tao, JD '88, a partner in Jun He Law Office, based in Beijing, was given a lifetime achievement award by the Euromoney Legal Media Group on November 9th. Bai focuses her practice on corporate, inbound investment, intellectual property, real estate, anti-dumping, sports law, and dispute resolution. Prior to joining Jun He, she practiced at C&C Law Offices in Beijing and co-founded the Commerce & Finance Law Offices.

Added 02/17/2017

Charles H. Baker, JD '85, joined the New York office of O'Melveny as chair of the firm's sports industry group. Baker has represented a wide range of buyers and sellers of sports franchises in every major professional league, including the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and many European football leagues. He has guided the acquisition and sale of top professional franchises by investors in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. "We welcome Chuck Baker to O'Melveny," said Chair Bradley J. Butwin."He is one of the country's top sports and media lawyers – a leader in an area that continually outperforms previous years. He adds a dimension to our practice that is both rewarding and exciting."

Added 02/17/2017

Jeffrey C. Toole, JD '85, an attorney in the Cleveland office of Buckley King, was named a 2017 Ohio Super Lawyer. Toole focuses his practice on debt restructuring and insolvency matters in the manufacturing, retail, real estate development, health care, hospitality, and transportation industries. His wide-ranging experience includes representing creditors' committees, debtors, indenture trustees, leasing companies, secured lenders, and unsecured trade creditors.

Added 02/17/2017

Leslie Richards-Yellen, JD '84, joined the New York office of Hogan Lovells as Director of Inclusion-Americas, with responsibility for leading, developing, enhancing, and implementing the firm's diversity policies and programs. Prior to Hogan Lovells, Richards-Yellen was the chief diversity and inclusion Officer at Hinshaw & Culbertson and a partner in the firm's business and commercial transactions practice. "Leslie's experience in law firm diversity and inclusion, coupled with her personal passion for increasing diversity in the workplace, fits head-on with our firm's core belief in the value of building strong teams with different perspectives and life experiences," said CEO Stephen J. Immelt. "Through Leslie's leadership and contribution, we will build on our firm's comprehensive diversity strategy and initiatives to further enhance our inclusive culture, enabling all our people to achieve their full potential and better serve our clients."

Added 02/17/2017

Daniel W. Emery, JD '80, was elected president of the board of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, a bar association for attorneys and advocates who represent people with disabilities. Emery, who practices at Daniel Emery Law in Yarmouth, Maine, focuses exclusively on disability work. "Today, 11 million Americans and their families rely on Social Security Disability Insurance," said Emery. "I'm proud to serve as NOSSCR President, and I look forward to working with our dedicated members to help claimants and to strengthen Social Security Disability programs."

Added 02/17/2017

Greg Fryer, JD '79, a partner in the Portland, Maine, office of Verrill Dana, moderated a panel discussion on "Finding Capital: Where's the New Money to Fund Your Business Growth?" at the Mainebiz Momentum Convention in November. A corporate and securities lawyer with more than 30 years of experience, Fryer focuses his practice on capital formation and business management, advising a wide range of companies and investors, and is a member of Maine Angels, an important source of capital for growth companies in the region.

Added 02/17/2017

Jay Rakow, JD '77, joined Miller Barondess, based in Los Angeles, where he focuses his practice on media, entertainment, and intellectual property. Prior to Miller Barondess, Rakow was CEO of ProCon.org; senior executive vice president and general counsel of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; and senior vice president and general counsel of Paramount Pictures. "We are excited to continue the growth of Miller Barondess by adding Jay Rakow to our top-tier team of lawyers," said Partner Skip Miller. "Jay's vast experience, not only in high-stakes litigation and entertainment deals, but as a public company general counsel, CEO of a leading website, and advisor to prominent business leaders, will prove to be a great resource for our clients and colleagues."

Added 02/17/2017

Victor S. Elgort, JD '76, a senior member at Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, lectured on "Tax Mistakes Made in Distribution, Allocation and Entity Selection" and "Transfer Restriction Issues, Right of First Refusal, Impasse (Put/Call), Capital Call and Dissolution Provisions" at a one-day course presented by the National Business Institute. As chair of NMM's tax group, Elgort focuses his practice on business law and tax planning, including the structuring of partnerships and joint ventures, tax-saving real estate and business exit strategies, executive compensation, and domestic and international estate planning.

Added 02/17/2017

William H. Sorrell, JD '74, Vermont attorney general, became an honorary visiting scholar at the U.S.-Asia Partnerships for Environmental Law (PEL) at Vermont Law School. During this one-year appointment, Sorrell will share his experience and expertise in representing the citizens of Vermont in environmental and public health matters with U.S.-Asia PEL's partner schools and legal advocates in China. Prior to becoming attorney general in 1997, he served as the state secretary of administration and managing partner of McNeil, Murray & Sorrell. "Attorney General Bill Sorrell is a familiar and respected face on the Vermont Law School campus, and we are honored that he has agreed to work with us to advance environmental issues and advocacy," said Professor Siu Tip Lam, director of U.S.-Asia PEL. "We look forward to introducing him to our colleagues in China, where we are likewise committed to training environmental stewards and legal advocates to use the power of the law to protect the environment, public health, and welfare."

Added 02/17/2017

Carl F. Muller, JD '72, became a partner in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis. Muller, who represents management in employment law matters, general commercial litigation, and insurance defense, appears across Ohio in courts of common pleas, courts of appeals, and federal district courts. An experienced arbitrator and an educational speaker on employment law and litigation, Muller was named a 2017 Ohio Super Lawyer and a 2017 Best Lawyer in America.

Added 02/17/2017

Ira B. Stechel, JD '72, joined Akerman as a partner in the firm's New York office. Stechel focuses his practice on tax planning, tax controversy, and employee benefits. With over 40 years of experience, he represents a wide range of clients including corporations, partnerships, and individuals. A leading writer and lecturer on tax management, Stechel has contributed numerous articles to the Journal of Taxation, the Tax Management Real Estate Journal, and other leading professional publications.

Added 02/17/2017

Frank Lawrence Wiswall Jr., JD '65, was awarded the International Maritime Organization's International Maritime Prize, which is given annually to the individual or organization that has made the most significant contribution to the work and objectives of the IMO. Wiswall has served as chair of the Drafting Committee of the International Legal Conference on the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage on Board Ships (1974); vice-chair of the Legal Committee (1974-1979); chair of the Committee on Final Clauses of the International Conference on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (1976); chair of the Legal Committee (1980-1984); chair of the Committee of the Whole of the International Conference on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connexion with the Carriage of Certain Substances by Sea (1984); and a member of the International Maritime Law Institute governing Board (1992-present). "Dr. Wiswall's contribution to IMO's goals has been vast," said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. "In helping to provide the legal backbone for a regulatory regime that covers just about every aspect of ship design, construction and operation, and related issues like liability and compensation, wreck removal and ship recycling, he has played his part in our common goal of making shipping safe, secure, efficient and clean."

Added 02/17/2017

Kenneth Charles Anderson, LLB '61, died on October 9th in Baltimore at the age of 80. Anderson practiced as an antitrust lawyer for over 50 years and served as chief of the Special Regulated Industries Section of the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, where he was trial counsel in United States v. AT&T, the landmark case that resulted in the deregulation of the telephone industry. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; children Erik and Karin; six grandchildren; and brother Richard.

Added 02/17/2017

Richard H. McMahon, LLB '60, died on December 4th in Rome, New York, at the age of 86. After graduation, McMahon joined his father at McMahon and Grow, where he continued to practice until 2008. Over the years, McMahon served as treasurer of the Rome Bar Association; president of the Rome United Way; chair of the advisory board of the Rome Home; director of the Rome Savings Bank; and trustee of St. Peter's Church. He is survived by his children, Christopher, Johnson, Joseph, Mary Ellen, Pam, Richard Jr., and Timothy; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Added 02/17/2017

Shawkat Jamil Dallal, JD '59, died on July 3rd in New Hartford, New York. Following graduation, Dallal practiced law in Buffalo and Utica before becoming legal counsel to the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries in Kuwait. Returning to the United States, he taught at Colgate University, Mohawk Valley Community College, Syracuse University, and Utica College. He authored two books, including a historical novel based on his life in Palestine, and served on the board of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights. He is survived by his wife, Diana; children Donna, Steven, and Thomas; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters Montaha and Omaya; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Added 02/17/2017

Robert R. Douglass, LLB '59, died on December 6th in Greenwich, Connecticut, at the age of 85. After Cornell, Douglass joined the Binghamton law firm of George Hinman, a Republican national committeeman and political strategist for Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Douglass served as counsel and secretary to the governor from 1965 to 1972; he also managed Rockefeller's 1968 presidential campaign. After leaving government, Douglass was an executive vice president at Chase; a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; of counsel at Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy; a director of Rockefeller Center Inc.; vice chair of Urstadt Biddle Properties in Greenwich; and chair of Cedel International. From 1995 until 2015, he was the chair of the Alliance for Downtown New York, where he led the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. "He was a giant and a gentleman, and it is nearly impossible to overstate his influence on this neighborhood," said Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin. "Lower Manhattan simply would not be what it is today without him." Douglass is survived by his wife Linda; children Andrew, Brooke, and Robert Jr.; and seven grandchildren.

Added 02/17/2017

Honorable Walter J. Relihan Jr, AB '52, JD '59, died on January 11th at the age of 86. Relihan began his legal practice in the Binghamton law firm of Night and Keller. In 1967, he was appointed chief counsel of the New York State Office of General Services, and in 1971, he was appointed university counsel and vice chancellor for legal affairs for the State University of New York. At Cornell, Relihan served as university counsel, director of the Cornell Research Foundation, and member of the Cornell University Council and the Cornell Law School Advisory Council. In 1991, he was elected to the New York State Supreme Court, sitting in upstate New York and in New York City until 2007. After retirement, Relihan served as a member of the State Judicial Qualification Commission for the Sixth Judicial District and as an advisor to President Emeritus Frank T. Rhodes in the creation of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth, Susan, and Walter III; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; niece Laura; and a grand-niece.

Added 02/17/2017

John J. Considine Jr., LLB '55, died on October 16th in Rochester, New York, at the age of 85. Considine joined the U.S. Army as a special agent in the 66th Counter Intelligence Corps before beginning his practice in Rochester in 1957; at the end of his career in 2011, he was a partner at McConville, Considine, Cooman & Morin. He was an active member of the Monroe County Bar Association, as well as serving on the boards of religious, charitable, and business corporations. He is survived by his children, Kevin, Sarah, and Thomas; ten grandchildren; brother Thomas; and by many nieces and nephews.

Added 02/17/2017

Thomas M. Hampson, AB '51, LLB '55, died on November 9th in Rochester, New York, at the age of 87. Following graduation, Hampson worked as an associate at Harris, Beach, Wilcox, Rubin & Levey (1955-1962) and as a partner at Harris Beach (1962-1999). He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1955 and the United States Supreme Court in 1964. Hampson was passionate about jazz, hosting radio programs on WVBR, WCMF, WXXI, and WRUR. He is survived by his former wife, Margaret; children Douglas and Melissa; stepson Paul; two grandchildren; one niece; and three nephews.

Added 02/17/2017

Stanley Mailman, AB '50, JD '52, died on December 3rd in New York City at the age of 86. Following graduation, Mailman found a mentor in attorney Elmer Fried and went on to become an expert and scholar of immigration and asylum law. A strong advocate for the civil rights of immigrants, Mailman co-authored the 21-volume Immigration Law and Procedure and wrote a regular column on immigration in The New York Law Journal for 30 years. He was a past president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Consular Law Society; he served on the boards of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, the American Foreign Law Association, and the International Rescue Committee. Mailman received numerous AILA awards, including the Edith Lowenstein Award for excellence in immigration law and the Elmer Fried Award for scholarship. "Stanley was short in stature and a giant in immigration law," writes Cornell Law Professor Stephen Yale-Loehr, a co-author of Immigration Law and Procedure. "Personally, he was known for his unflappable ethics, and believed in the truth in all aspects of personal and professional life. He held himself to the highest standards, yet was non-judgmental in his relationships. He was a mentor to me and to a lot of people in immigration law." Mailman is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; sons Alex and Joshua; granddaughter Lydia; and brother Philip.

Added 02/17/2017

Neil Underberg, JD '52, died on January 4th at the age of 88. As an attorney in the commercial real estate transactions department at Rosenberg & Estis, Underberg represented major developers and educational and charitable institutions in New York and nationally. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; children Amy and James; four grandchildren; and siblings Judy and Stephen.

Added 02/17/2017

James M. Kieffer, LLB '49, died on December 17th at the age of 95. After Cornell, where he served as an editor of the Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif, Kieffer practiced law in Rochester. In 1960, he joined Sybron Corporation, where he ran the corporate law department before retiring in 1986 as chair of the board of directors. He served on the boards of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, and Park Avenue Hospital. He is survived by his children, Andrew, Elizabeth, Laura, and Michael; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Added 02/17/2017

Jack F. Sinn, LLB '48, died on December 8th in Brick, New Jersey, at the age of 94. After graduation, Sinn began private practice in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, where he worked until retiring in 1998, when he was the senior member of Sinn, Fitzsimmons, Cantoli, West & Pardes. He served as the attorney for the Borough of Bay Head, the mayor of Point Pleasant Beach, general counsel of Ocean County National Bank, director of Summit Bancorporation, and trustee of Point Pleasant Hospital. Over the years, he was also involved in many Point Pleasant civic organizations, including the Rotary Club, the First Aid and Emergency Squad, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Big Sea Day Parades. Sinn is survived by his wife, Joan; son Christopher; stepsons Kevin, Michael, Patrick, Stephen, and Timothy; grandchildren Austin, Avery, Blaine, Canyon, Caroline, Connor, James, Jarrett, Joshua, Madison, and Stephen; four great-grandchildren; sister Elaine; sisters-in-law Carol and Gerri; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Added 02/17/2017

Bernard R. Rapoport, AB '39, JD '41, died on October 28th at the age of 97. After Cornell Law, where he was an editor of the Law Review and a member of Moot Court, Rapoport began his practice at Proskauer Rose. In recent years, he served as secretary and treasurer for the Leon Lowenstein Foundation and established a Cornell Law scholarship in memory of his wife, Robyrta J. Rapoport. He is survived by his son, Michael.

Added 02/17/2017

Stephen B. Reynolds, JD '97, became the Deputy Chief for Cyber Law and Policy in the U.S. Department of Justice's National Security Division. In that capacity, Reynolds supervises and provides legal and policy advice relating to cybersecurity and efforts to deter, mitigate and prosecute conduct that compromises computers, computer networks and the Internet. Reynolds serves as one of the Justice Department's primary liaisons on cyber matters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense and National Security Council staff.

Added 01/31/2017

James Henry McConnell, JD '10, became a partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis, where he focuses on patent infringement litigation in federal courts and the International Trade Commission. McConnell has represented clients in a variety of industries including pharmaceutical and life science, computer hardware and software, smartphones, and wireless communications, working in all phases of litigation, including pre-suit analysis and strategy, discovery and depositions, summary judgment, trial, post-trial, and ITC enforcement.

Added 11/07/2016

Sean M. Akins, JD '07, became a partner at Covington & Burling, where he advises corporations, partnerships, international organizations, and tax-exempt entities on federal tax litigation. Akins has extensive experience litigating before the Tax Court, Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. District and Appellate Courts; he is also co-author of the second edition of Litigation of Federal Civil Tax Controversies (Thomson Reuters).

Added 11/07/2016

Parveet Singh Gandoak, LLM '06, joined Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom as counsel in the firm's Singpore office, where he represents multinational corporations and private equity sponsors in a range of corporate transactions, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, minority and control investments, secondary transactions and capital market offerings. He also advises clients on investments in India, China, and Southeast Asia.

Added 11/07/2016

Brody D. Smith, JD '03, a member at Bond, Schoeneck & King, was named a 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Star. Smith focuses his practice on environmental law, eminent domain, taxation of real property, land use, and municipal law. His clients have included automobile manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, utilities, natural gas providers, mining companies, national retail chains, universities, developers, and municipalities.

Added 11/07/2016

Sanjeeve K. DeSoyza, JD '02, a member at Bond Schoeneck & King, was named a 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyer and a 2017 Best Lawyer in America. DeSoyza represents private and public sector clients before federal and state courts and government agencies in employment discrimination, wage and hour matters, unfair competition, and contract disputes. He has extensive experience in collective bargaining negotiations, labor arbitrations, proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, and management of daily labor relations issues. DeSoyza counsels clients on compliance with equal employment opportunity, reasonable accommodation, wage and hour matters, workplace safety laws, handbook and policy development, effective workplace investigations, supervisor training, and performance management.

Added 11/07/2016

Craig Neal Yankwitt, BS '97, JD '02, died on September 5th following a battle with brain cancer. Following a clerkship with the Honorable Stefan R. Underhill, U.S. District Judge for the District of Connecticut, Yankwitt joined Silver Golub & Teitell in 2004, building a civil litigation practice that focused on representing individuals, classes of individuals, and business owners in actions against employers, business competitors, insurance companies, municipalities, state and federal governmental agencies, manufacturers, and suppliers of products, and became a partner in the firm in 2011. "Craig was one of the few lawyers of my generation who loved this profession and didn't begrudge it for the long hours and (oftentimes) little reward," wrote Mark Sherman in a tribute to Yankwitt. "He relished the opportunities to help people when they needed it most. It was truly a perfect calling for him. He had the unique smarts and sensitivity to prevail in personal injury law—being able to litigate very technical legal and medical issues, yet at the same time having the ability to patiently counsel clients through the emotional turbulence of a lengthy litigation during a trying time in their life." Craig is survived by his wife, Angelique Crain, JD '02, LL.M. '02, his son, Jude, his father, George Yankwitt, BS '64, LL.B. '67, and his brothers, Ian Yankwitt, JD '93, and Russell Yankwitt, JD '96.

Added 11/07/2016

Mathew M. Meyer, JD '95, received the 2016 Veterans' Voices Award from the Minnesota Humanities Center in a ceremony on September 11th. Meyer, who works in private practice in Minneapolis-St. Paul, advises clients on risk-management issues and provides strategic guidance to support their business interests. A Marine veteran, Meyer was honored for volunteering hundreds of hours of pro bono legal services to Reserve Component Service members as an ombudsman with the Defense Department Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program.

Added 11/07/2016

Philana W.Y. Poon, JD '92, executive director of legal and compliance at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, was named Woman Lawyer of the Year at the Macallan ALB Hong Kong Law Awards on September 9th. Poon, who is also company secretary, is responsible for safeguarding the club's interests, managing legal risks, and developing and implementing the club's compliance framework. Prior to joining the club, she was the group general counsel and company secretary of the HKT Trust and HKT Limited; in 2014, she was named Hong Kong's In-House Lawyer of the Year by Asian Legal Business.

Added 11/07/2016

Jon D. Litner, JD '88, became president of the YES Network on September 15th. Litner had previously been president of NBC Sports Group, president of SportsNet NY, and executive vice president/chief operating officer of the NHL. "We are truly pleased to welcome an executive with Jon's talent, experience, and outstanding record of accomplishment," said Jeff Krolik, president of FOX Sports Regional Networks. "We have every confidence that Jon will build on the YES Network's remarkable level of success." "Jon is an excellent choice for this crucial role," said New York Yankees President Randy Levine. "He has been a real leader in the sports industry in general and in the regional sports network space in particular, and is a great fit for our YES partnership with FOX."

Added 11/07/2016

Andrew McGaan, AB '83, JD '86, was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. McGaan is currently a partner in Kirkland & Ellis' Chicago office. During his time there, he has tried and won jury and non-jury cases throughout the United States in product liability, restructuring and other commercial cases. McGaan has also scored notable product liability victories. As one of the people who have been admitted into this premier legal association, Mr. McGaan is recognized as having a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.

Added 11/07/2016

Jonathan B. Fellows, JD '85, a member at Bond Schoeneck & King, was named a 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyer and a 2017 Best Lawyer in America. Fellows has a diverse litigation practice that includes commercial disputes, complex products liability, employment litigation, white collar criminal defense, civil rights, media law, and insurance. He has tried numerous jury cases to verdict in both state and federal courts and has handled over one hundred appeals, arguing in the First, Third and Fourth Departments of the New York Court of Appeals and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Sixth and Eighth Circuits. In 2009, he obtained one of the largest arbitration awards in the history of FINRA, a $40 million award against Merrill Lynch.

Added 11/07/2016

Eric E. Hobbs, JD '85, a shareholder in the Milwaukee office of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, was elected a fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation. Hobbs focuses his practice on labor and employment, with an emphasis on employment counseling, policy development, occupational safety and health, employment discrimination, litigation worker's compensation, wage-hour matters, and clergy abuse.

Added 11/07/2016

Jeffrey C. Toole, JD '85, an attorney at Buckley King, was named a 2017 Best Lawyer in America. Toole focuses his practice on debt restructuring and insolvency matters in the manufacturing, retail, real estate development, health care, hospitality, and transportation industries. Toole has represented creditors' committees, debtors, indenture trustees, leasing companies, secured lenders, and unsecured trade creditors.

Added 11/07/2016

Douglas M. Henry, JD '84, Managing Partner in the Boston office of Sherin and Lodgen, was named a 2017 Best Lawyer in America. Henry represents real estate developers, public and private companies, independent power producers, lending institutions, and other corporate and individual clients in the acquisition, permitting, financing, leasing, operation, management, and disposition of real estate facilities. His practice includes the representation of clients in connection with complex downtown and suburban development, affordable housing and community development, hotel and hospitality, office, industrial, and retail projects.

Added 11/07/2016

Victoria Potelicki Vance, JD '82, Partner in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis, was named a 2017 Best Lawyer in America. Vance, who joined the firm in 2009, represents health care providers, drug and device manufacturers, insurers, reinsurers, and underwriters on a broad range of claims, risk, litigation, investigatory, and compliance issues. Her practice includes monitoring, management, and defense of claims; responding to investigations and audits; and counseling on regulatory compliance.

Added 11/07/2016

Kevin J. Culligan, JD '80, joined Maynard Cooper & Gale as a shareholder in the firm's new Manhattan office. For more than 35 years, Culligan has focused his practice on the litigation, trial, arbitration, and appeal of intellectual property matters, concentrating on patent, trade secret, and unfair competition cases in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, and financial services.

Added 11/07/2016

Thaddeus J. Lewkowicz, JD '80, a member at Bond Schoeneck & King, was named a 2017 Best Lawyer in America. Lewkowicz has broad experience in all aspects of employee benefits, counseling employers on deferred compensation agreements, separation agreements, severance plans, welfare benefit plans, qualified retirement plans, remitted tuition plans, taxation of employer-provided housing, and other fringe benefits and cafeteria plans.

Added 11/07/2016

Karl S. Essler, JD '79, senior counsel at Bond Schoeneck & King, was named a 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyer. Essler focuses his practice on land use and zoning, real property litigation, and real property transactions. He has appeared before municipal boards for all aspects of zoning, land use, and zoning approvals, as well as handling real property litigation, including title, boundary and easement disputes, lease litigation, condemnation, tax certiorari, and environmental matters. In 2012, Essler successfully settled a $200,000 commercial lease default case using a pierce the corporate veil theory to reach the individual owner of the defunct tenant entity.

Added 11/07/2016

James N. Seeley, BS '76, JD '79, a member at Bond Schoeneck & King, was named a 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyer. For over 30 years, Seeley has focused his practice on trust and estates, advising clients on a full range of estate planning issues and techniques. He is counsel to several large family offices and has served as chair of the Onondaga County Bar Association's Estates and Surrogate's Court Committee; president of the Alzheimer's Association of Central New York; and chair of the MOST Foundation's Planned Giving Committee.

Added 11/07/2016

Allen D. Webster, JD '76, of counsel at Paul Frank & Collins in Burlington, Vermont, was named a 2017 Best Lawyer of the Year. Webster focuses his practice on estate planning and commercial tax law, including the use of revocable and irrevocable trusts, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and the sale of businesses. As a licensed certified public accountant, he also advises individual clients on a broad range of tax matters and represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service.

Added 11/07/2016

Carl F. Muller, JD '72, counsel in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis, was named a 2017 Best Lawyer in America. Muller represents management in labor and employment matters, general commercial litigation, and insurance defense. He defends employers in litigation involving sexual harassment, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, non-compete and confidentiality covenants, quasi-contract/promissory estoppel claims, employee handbooks, substance abuse policies, employment-at-will, whistleblower claims, retaliation claims, public policy torts, employee intentional torts, employee privacy issues, and disciplinary actions. He also represents businesses with matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

Added 11/07/2016

Joseph A. Regan, JD '72, Senior Counsel at Faraci Lange, was given a 2016 Leader in Law Award by The NY Daily Record. Regan focuses his practice on personal injury law, including medical malpractice, product liability, toxic torts, and automobile accidents. He has extensive experience litigating personal injury matters at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts, and has been listed in the medical malpractice law, personal injury litigation, and product liability litigation sections of the Best Lawyers in America Directory since 2005.

Added 11/07/2016

Randall M. Odza, BS '64, LLB '67, a member at Bond Schoeneck & King, was named a 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyer and a 2017 Best Lawyer in America. Odza represents clients before the National Labor Relations Board, the Public Employment Relations Board, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the United States Department of Labor. He also advises private and public sector clients in employment law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. He is a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

Added 11/07/2016

Duncan W. O'Dwyer, JD '63, an equity partner at Forsyth, Howe, O'Dwyer, Kalb & Murphy, was given a 2016 Leader in Law Award by The NY Daily Record. O'Dwyer focuses his practice on mortgage banking, real estate higher education, and commercial transactions. He has served as president of the Monroe County Bar Association and chair of the Continuing Legal Education Advisory Committee; trustee at Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary; and lieutenant colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

Added 11/07/2016

Honorable John (Jack) D. Meader, JD '62, was posthumously inducted into the Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame on September 12th. In his honor, the New York State Senate passed resolution J5770, praising Meader for "his extraordinary athletic accomplishments, which are a tribute to his skill, dedication and commitment" and noting his successes as a scholar-athlete at Nott Terrace High School and as a jurist in the New York State Guard, the New York State Department of Social Services, and the New York State Workers Compensation Board.

Added 11/07/2016

Honorable Clarence D. ("Rapp") Rappleyea, JD '62, died on September 4th in Albany, New York, at the age of 82. After graduation, Rappleyea practiced law in Norwich, where he was also city attorney. In 1972, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he remained for 22 years, serving as minority leader from 1983 to 1995. He was a trustee of the New York Power Authority, a member of the Advisory Board of the New York State Fair, and a board member emeritus of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, which created the Clarence D. Rappleyea Government Scholar in Residence Program in his honor. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughters Pam, Stacy, and Susan; seven grandchildren (including Jacob Vredenburgh, JD '11); four great-grandchildren; and siblings Linda, Richard, and Robert. His Daughter Pam Rappleyea Vredenburgh, BS '79, would like to send a special thank you to her Dad's classmates Steve Gilbert, AB '60, JD '62, Kim Levene, JD '62, Danforth Rogers, JD '62, and Mike Tomaino, LLB '62, for supporting them through this difficult time. A full obituary can be found at www.wilsonfh.com or at the following link: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressconnects/obituary.aspx?pid=181314367

Added 11/07/2016

Harold Edward Rosen, AB '56, LLB '58, died on September 7th in Naples, Florida, at the age of 81. Rosen began his career in the New York office of Kaye Scholer, where he went on to become a partner before joining Hartz Mountain Industries as principal, executive vice-president, and general counsel, leading the development of the Meadowlands. After his career in real estate, Rosen returned to law as a senior partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, where he worked until his retirement in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Alexa, Bari, Gary, and Jonathan; and sister Diane.

Added 11/07/2016

Douglas C. Pierson, AB '54, LLB '56, died on August 18th at the age of 84. In 1962, Pierson co-founded Pierson Wadhams Quinn Yates and Coffrin in Burlington, Vermont, where he practiced until his death. Over the course of his career, he handled well over 75 legal malpractice cases and defended Chevron USA and Standard Oil Company against allegations of violating the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act and Economic Stabilization Act of 1970. He served as chair of the Vermont Judicial Ethics Committee and as a town councilman and vice-mayor in Jupiter, Florida. He is survived by his wife, Pat; children Douglas Jr., Grace, James, and Ruthann; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and siblings Ann, Barbara, and James.

Added 11/07/2016

Harold Heenan Croghan, JD '53, died on September 29th in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 92. Following graduation, Croghan practiced law for 50 years, first in Kansas City and then as general counsel at Philips Industries, where he also worked as executive vice president and company director. He is survived by his children Catherine, John, Loretto, and Margaret; four grandchildren; and siblings Anne, John, and Mary.

Added 11/07/2016

Frederick G. Van Riper, JD '52, died on August 17th in West Milford, New Jersey, at the age of 88. After graduation, Van Riper spent two years in the U.S. Army before entering private practice in Ridgewood, New Jersey, where he served as village prosecutor for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters Anne and Suzanne; and three grandchildren.

Added 11/07/2016

Eric A. Poehlmann, JD '96, died in a hiking accident on August 24, 2016 doing one of the things he loved the most. His death was a terrible tragedy, and we are saddened by this unexpected loss. He was an avid hiker and soccer player, and he also enjoyed reading and travel. Poehlmann was an experienced trial lawyer and litigator at Downs, Rachlin, and Martin in Richmond, Vermont. He wrote Vermont's first anti- "patent troll" statute. Throughout his community, Poehlmann was not only known as an excellent attorney, but also as a devoted husband and father. Eric is survived by his wife, Jennifer, their son Andrew, and daughters Ava and Madeline. He is also survived by his parents, Harry and Eleanor Poehlmann, two sisters and Brother-In-Laws, and several nieces and nephews.

Added 10/16/2016

Hawaii Governor David Ige appointed Pankaj Bhanot, LLM '91, to his cabinet as the Director of the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) on September 1, 2016. Pankaj has worked in various roles at the department since 1999, most recently, as the Deputy Director of DHS. Since 1999, Pankaj has spearheaded multiple efforts to streamline and improve policies and operation, service delivery of benefits, employment and training programs, subsidized wage initiative, and contract management. He is currently leading the ‘Ohana Nui project (multigenerational approach to serving Hawai'i's families early and concurrently) and technology integration effort, to integrate public and child welfare programs into the DHS enterprise platform built using the 90/10 funding made available under the Affordable Care Act. Pankaj is a recipient of 2013 Governor's State Manager of the Year Award; 2013 DHS Manager of the Year; 2006 Governor's Award for the Distinguished State Service and 2006 DHS Employee of the Year Award. Pankaj lives in Honolulu with his wife and son.

Added 10/16/2016

Megan Anne Burns, JD '04, was named the Executive Director of the Focus Forward Project, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing men and women charged with federal crimes with an education and emotional outlet through a 12-week program. The program is offered in federal jails and for individuals out on bail under pretrial supervision. The course is designed to improve reading comprehension and teach life skills vital for success. Our small class size encourages honest discussion, in a trusting, supportive environment where participants are free to express ideas and share feelings. By creating a safe and unique community, participants are able to work through their struggles -- together -- and begin to focus on their future.

Added 09/28/2016

David C. Kully, JD '94, moved in September 2016 to private practice as a partner with Holland & Knight's Washington, DC office after 18 years with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. His career with the Antitrust Division, during which he served as Chief of the Litigation III section, included supervision of several high-profile antitrust enforcement actions, including challenging an e-books price-fixing conspiracy orchestrated by Apple, Inc. "We are delighted that Dave has decided to join Holland & Knight after his distinguished career with the Justice Department," said Steven Sonberg, the firm's managing partner. "He is one of the most accomplished antitrust lawyers in the nation, and his addition demonstrates our commitment to provide the highest quality services to our clients."

Added 09/15/2016

Osvaldo Garcia, JD '14, an associate at Cadwalader's Private Wealth Group, was awarded the New York State Bar Association's Pro Bono Service Award in the Young Lawyer category. Garcia, who focuses his practice on international and domestic estate planning, estate administration, trust administration, and family law, is the founder and director of the Cadwalader Black and Latino Association Immigration Clinic, which brings together Cadwalader attorneys and other experts to review cases involving undocumented immigrants. "My commitment to the immigration cause stems from my personal experience as an immigrant to the United States," said Garcia, who arrived in America as a 10-year-old. "This country allowed me to legally become a resident, obtain an education, and become a lawyer. I believe these opportunities have bestowed upon me a duty to make a difference in the lives of other immigrants who have not been as fortunate."

Added 09/01/2016

Judah Adam Druck, JD '13, joined Maslon Edelman Bormann & Brand as a member of the firm's litigation group, where he focuses on complex commercial disputes and product liability. Druck has represented financial institutions, corporations, and officers and directors in securities class actions and regulatory investigations in federal and state courts, as well as major manufacturers in product liability disputes.

Added 09/01/2016

Stuart P. Lott, JD '11, was awarded the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) credential by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists. A member of the banking and financial services and the financial services litigation and compliance groups at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Lott focuses his practice on advising banks and financial service companies on regulatory compliance and enforcement matters. "The establishment and execution of effective anti-money laundering programs as required by the Bank Secrecy Act continues to be critical to an increasing number of financial service providers," said Lott. "The CAMS designation will enable me to add value to the firm as we assist banks and other types of financial services providers with their AML compliance needs."

Added 09/01/2016

Anna E. Friedberg, JD '10, was named a 2016 Rising Star by The New York Law Journal. As a litigation associate at Ropes & Gray, where she focused on anti-corruption investigation and litigation, Friedberg served as lead co-counsel in Nunez v. City of New York, which led to an historic 2015 decision that called for reforms at city jails. Now, as Associate Managing Director at Exiger, Friedberg continues that work as the jail system's court-ordered deputy independent monitor.

Added 09/01/2016

Seth D. Kaufman, JD '10, joined Fisher Phillips as an associate in the firm's New York office, where he focuses on class and collective wage and hour cases, single-plaintiff employment discrimination and retaliation claims, and administrative charges and arbitrations. Kaufman regularly advises clients in all aspects of traditional labor matters, including collective bargaining, union representation elections, hearings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and appeals of NLRB decisions.

Added 09/01/2016

William C. Lavery, JD '05, was named a Rising Star by Law360 for his work on a price-fixing case that led the Federal Trade Commission to rule against itself. A partner in the antitrust and competition practice of Baker Botts' Washington, D.C., office, Lavery has more than a decade of experience representing some of the world's largest companies in major antitrust litigation matters, criminal and civil antitrust investigations, and mergers. He has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including computer hardware, foundry, energy, transportation, and agriculture.

Added 09/01/2016

Nancy Morisseau, JD '04, was inducted into the 1804 List of Haitian-American Changemakers and Ones to Watch by the Haitian Roundtable. Morisseau, a founding member of the Haitian American Lawyers Association, is a staff attorney in the New York Office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed. In March, Morisseau received the Haitian Lawyers Association's Advocacy Award for her work on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent denationalized by the Dominican Republic in 2013.

Added 09/01/2016

Michael W. Stockham, JD '02, was included in D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas 2016. A partner at Thompson & Knight, Stockham is a trial attorney who focuses on shareholder rights, corporate governance, securities fraud, class actions, merger litigation, partnership and corporate disputes, and white collar defense for companies and individual executives. Stockham has also been recognized by Texas Super Lawyers (2013-15) and Texas Rising Stars (2009-2012); in 2014, he received the Pro Bono Award of Merit from the Dallas Division Pro Bono Civil Panel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Added 09/01/2016

Jennifer Minear, JD '01, was elected treasurer of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) for the 2016-17 term. As a director in the immigration practice group at McCandlish Holton in Richmond, Virginia, Minear focuses on employment-based immigration with an emphasis on the healthcare sector, including J-1 waiver and green card processing for foreign medical graduates. She is the 2014 recipient of the Susan D. Quarles AILA Service Excellence Award in recognition of her service advancing the mission, development, and value of AILA for its members and the public it serves.

Added 09/01/2016

Guohua (Annie) Wu, JD '01, Senior Partner of Jincheng Tongda & Neal (JT&N) in Beijing, China received a "Client Choice Top 20" award from Asian Legal Business. Ms. Wu is ranked highly by Chamber & Partners as a "Recognized Practitioner" in her specialty, Corporate and M&A, she is recognized as an Asialaw Leading Lawyer, and she is also a two-time finalist for ALB's "PRC Deal Maker of the Year" award. Ms. Wu has vast knowledge in the industrial sector as well as extensive experience in capital markets and finance matters. She works to facilitate many private equity transactions and ensures that her clients (which include many multinational companies) obtain the legal protections they need.

Added 09/01/2016

Stephen E. Lee, JD '00, joined Goodwin as a partner in the Los Angeles office's private equity practice, where he focuses on private equity deals and M&A transactions with an emphasis on the manufacturing sector, including aerospace, automotive and medical devices, and technology. Lee structures and negotiates a wide array of transactions, including leveraged buyouts, asset and stock acquisitions, mergers, carve-outs of business divisions, and tender offers. "Steve's arrival is the latest step in our strategy to bring Goodwin's premier middle market private equity platform – which is already a recognized leader in Northern California, on the East Coast and abroad in London, Hong Kong, Frankfurt and Paris – to our Southern California clients," said A.J. Weidhaas, practice co-chair. "Steve's extensive network and significant experience in middle market transactions will be invaluable as we continue to hire and expand in Los Angeles."

Added 09/01/2016

Robert A. Fisher, JD '99, LLM '99, joined Seyfarth Shaw as a partner in the firm's Boston labor and employment department. Fisher, who previously worked at Foley Hoag, represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, with significant experience handling traditional labor matters in a wide variety of industries, including higher education, hospitality, technology, and construction. He regularly represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board in representation petitions and unfair labor practices proceedings. "Rob is a highly qualified traditional labor lawyer, equipped with the talent, skill set, and level of expertise consistent within our department," said Lisa Damon, chair of Seyfarth Shaw's labor and employment department. "The reach of his collective employment law knowledge and experience in single plaintiff, discrimination, and noncompete matters make Rob a natural fit for our firm."

Added 09/01/2016

David J. Passey, JD '99, joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton as a partner in the firm's New York tax, employee benefits, and trusts and estates practice group. Passey has more than 15 years of experience, focusing his practice on mergers and acquisitions, partnership transactions, real estate transactions, tax controversy, capital markets, and structured products. He works with both private and public companies regarding sales and acquisitions, and regularly advises private equity funds on formations and acquisitions. "We're thrilled that David has joined the firm," said Partner Keith R. Gercken. "His legal talent and understanding of complex commercial transactions, particularly as it relates to mergers and acquisitions and private equity funds, further enhances our capabilities in an area that is crucial to our clients' businesses."

Added 09/01/2016

Craig M. Price, JD '99, joined Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy as a special counsel in the firm's financial restructuring group. With more than 15 years of experience, Price is a leading restructuring practitioner representing debtors, lenders, funds, and borrowers in all aspects of financial restructuring, including Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings. Notable cases handled by Price include Chapter 11 filings by American Airlines, Lehman Brothers, and MF Global. "We are thrilled to welcome Craig to our team," said Dennis Dunne, leader of Milbank's financial restructuring group. "As the current economic cycle continues to have periods of volatility, it is important for us to maintain our strong presence in the distressed arena. His stellar credentials complement our financial restructuring bench as well as our litigation capabilities."

Added 09/01/2016

Vinod Surana, LLM '97, managing partner and CEO of Surana and Surana International Attorneys, was included in the 100 Legal Luminaries of India, a coffee table book published by LexisNexis. Surana, who focuses his practice on arbitration and mediation, has been "highly recommended" by Chambers & Partners for Corporate and M&A work in the Asia Pacific region, and has received the Viswa Yuva Ratna Award, the Yuva Pratibha Shodh Sadhana Samman Award, and the Rajasthan Yuva Ratna Award.

Added 09/01/2016

Grace H. Yang, JD '97, was included in 2016 Chambers USA as a national leader in alcohol beverage practice. A shareholder in the Tampa office of GrayRobinson, Yang focuses on multistate compliance issues for alcohol beverage and food vendors; multistate alcohol, hotel, restaurant and occupational licensing work; the representation of alcohol and hospitality industry members before local, state and federal administrative agencies; land use issues, including alcohol-related conditional or special use permitting and variance issues; drafting and negotiating various types of agreements; and other matters affecting hospitality industry members. In June, after completing a two-year term on the Hillsborough County Bar Association Board of Directors, Yang began her second term.

Added 09/01/2016

David S. Conway, JD '96, joined Connolly Gallagher as of counsel in the firm's Wilmington office, where he advises clients on a wide variety of commercial and corporate matters, including fiduciary duties and corporate governance issues, business start-up formations and choice of entity, domestic and international commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, recapitalizations, and other matters regarding Delaware corporations. Prior to Connolly Gallagher, Conway was an associate in the mergers and acquisitions practice of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Added 09/01/2016

Hollis S. French, JD '95, was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC), which oversees oil and gas drilling, development and production, reservoir depletion, and metering operations on all lands subject to the state's regulatory powers. In 2002, French was elected to the Alaska Senate, where he served for 12 years and was a member of the Senate Bipartisan Working Group and Chair of the Judiciary Committee; prior to joining the legislature, he had a long career in Alaska's oil industry. "I am pleased to appoint Hollis French to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission," said Governor Bill Walker. "AOGCC plays an integral role in the state's natural resource development efforts, and Hollis' experience in Alaska's oil industry will make him a valuable addition to the commission."

Added 09/01/2016

Honorable Raymond P. Sciarrino, BS '92, JD '95, was named the Republican nominee for Livingston County District Attorney, and will face incumbent Democrat Greg McCaffrey in the November election. "My view of a district attorney is that although they represent the people of New York, their job is to do justice," said Sciarrino, who was a Town of Leicester Justice from 2002 to 2013. "You must be able to look at all sides of a potential charge or case to make sure justice is done. Being a defense attorney and a judge allows me to see all the different aspects of a case."

Added 09/01/2016

Honorable Jeff Harris, JD '91, was appointed Circuit Judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. From 2009 to 2016, Harris worked as policy director for Gov. Nixon, and from 2003 to 2009, he represented the 23rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives, serving as House Minority Leader and as House Minority Whip. While in the House, he also practiced law with the Columbia law firm of Atwill and Montgomery. "Jeff Harris is an exceptional public servant who combines a brilliant legal mind with impeccable character, integrity, and ethics," said Nixon. "Often the best judges are ones who have excelled both in their legal careers and at the highest levels of government. Jeff will bring both real-world experience and an exhaustive knowledge of Missouri law to the position of circuit judge."

Added 09/01/2016

Thomas E. Gilbertsen, JD '89, joined Pierce Atwood as a commercial litigation partner in the firm's Washington, D.C., office, where he represents clients pursuing internal investigations and responding to enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Department of Justice, the International Trade Commission, and state attorneys general. "The firm was looking to bolster its antitrust and commercial litigation capabilities in the nation's capital, and I am really bowled over by Pierce Atwood's combination of elite pedigrees and agile, cost-effective platform — a relatively rare combination in today's legal market," said Gilbertsen.

Added 09/01/2016

Howard J. Castleman, JD '87, joined Holland & Knight as a senior counsel in the firm's Boston office, where he focuses his practice on fiduciary and probate litigation, tax controversies, and disputes involving closely-held companies. For the previous five years, Castleman was principal of Castleman Law, a litigation firm based in Boston and Newton; before that, he was a litigation partner with Holland & Knight, handling complex litigation with an emphasis on business disputes, fiduciary litigation, tax, and real estate matters. "We are delighted that Howard is returning to Holland & Knight," said Shari Levitan, chair of the firm's New England Private Wealth Services Group. "He's an excellent attorney with significant experience handling high-profile fiduciary litigation and will be an asset to our team both in Boston and nationally."

Added 09/01/2016

George John Socha Jr., JD '87, joined BDO Consulting as managing director in the firm's forensic technology services practice, where, he will assist corporate, law firm, and government clients with all facets of e-discovery, including information governance. "We are extremely pleased that George Socha, the widely renowned co-founder of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model, has chosen to join BDO," said Carl W. Pergola, executive director. "George has set the legal industry standard for the management and discovery of electronic records in litigation. His addition to the practice will enable us to continue to provide exceptional service for our clients."

Added 09/01/2016

John M. Baumann, JD '86, joined the board of the World Parkinson's Program (WPP) as chair of the patient mentorship program. Baumann, who was first diagnosed with Parkinson's 14 years ago, is the author of Decide Success (You Ain't Dead Yet), Roadmap to Success, Courageous Stories of Inspiration, The Art of Mentorship, and Adopting a Proactive Prevention Program. He has been a guest commentator on CNN Headline News and countless other TV and radio shows.

Added 09/01/2016

Eric E. Hobbs, JD '85, joined Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart in the firm's Milwaukee office. Hobbs, who has litigated before state and federal agencies and courts nationwide, focuses his practice on workplace safety and health, employment counseling and policy development, worker's compensation, wage-and-hour matters, multidistrict class actions, and employment discrimination litigation. "Eric is a first-rate attorney with niche workplace safety experience that will provide near- and long-term benefits to our clients, both in Wisconsin and nationwide," said Tim Costello, managing shareholder. "He has a depth of workplace safety knowledge that will help our team quickly react to and service our clients' needs. We are excited to welcome him to our office and the firm."

Added 09/01/2016

Michael J. Dick, JD '84, died on June 14th in Rochester at the age of 64. Michael retired in 2010 after working for more than 30 years in the New York State Senate, as a Hearing Examiner in Tompkins and Cortland county, and as a confidential law clerk in the 6th Judicial District for NYS Supreme Court Justices: Hon. Charles B. Swartwood, Hon. Walter J. Relihan and Hon. Molly R. Fitzgerald. He was implanted with an LVAD heart pump in 2011 and was hoping to receive a heart transplant. Dick is survived by his wife, Jennifer in Dryden, NY and daughter Emily in Virginia Beach, VA; as well as his father Richard; siblings Allison, Kimberly, Mitchell; and 12 nieces and nephews.

Added 09/01/2016

Melinda Gorman Disare, JD '80, a member of the Buffalo office of Bond Schoeneck & King, was elected vice president of the Bar Association of Erie County. Disare, whose term as president begins in June 2017, will be the sixth woman to lead the Bar Association since its founding in 1887. "As a newly elected officer of the Bar Association of Erie County, I am very proud to have been selected to participate in the leadership of an organization whose membership includes a diverse group of professionals who provide a broad range of legal services to individuals and organizations throughout our community," said Disare. Additionally, Disare was also recently recognized as a top lawyer in the 2016 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list and selected in The Best Lawyers in America peer-review publication for 2017.

Added 09/01/2016

Peter Friedenberg, JD '80, a partner in the real estate practice of Sherin and Lodgen, was included in the 2016 Chambers USA guide of law firms and lawyers, which calls him an attorney who "builds and engenders tremendous trust." Additionally, he was also selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2017. Friedenberg maintains a broad transactional real estate practice that involves acquisition, development, ground leasing, land-use permitting, financing, and disposition of properties, as well as facilities operation and management matters. His clients include public agencies, developers, lenders, educational institutions, nonprofit entities, and operating companies. He became a LEED Accredited Professional in September 2008.

Added 09/01/2016

Honorable James M. McGuire, JD '80, a former associate justice in the New York First Judicial Department of the Appellate Division and a former justice in the 11th Judicial District for the Supreme Court of the State of New York, joined Holwell Shuster & Goldberg as a partner focusing on complex commercial litigation. "Jim served the public with great distinction both as a judge and as an advisor to Governor Pataki before and after 9/11," said Partner Richard J. Holwell. "We are eager for him to bring his wisdom and litigation talents to our clients." Before coming to Holwell Shuster & Goldberg, McGuire was a partner at Dechert.

Added 09/01/2016

Honorable Shira A. Scheindlin, JD '75, a former U.S. District Court Judge of the Southern District of New York, joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan as of counsel. "Judge Scheindlin's great intellect and stature among jurists and lawyers, in tandem with her proficiency in complex civil litigation matters and electronic discovery, make her an ideal fit for the firm and our clients," said co-managing partner Alan M. Klinger. "Judge Scheindlin started her career with the firm and we are pleased to welcome her back to the Stroock family." "I am extremely happy to start the next chapter of my career at Stroock, where I will be working on client and pro bono matters as well as mentoring associates," said Judge Scheindlin. "I have remained in contact with Stroock attorneys through the years, lecturing on panels and working on bar association committees. Having begun my career at Stroock, I look forward to coming back and working with both associates and new colleagues."

Added 09/01/2016

Louis R. Pepe, JD '70, partner at McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter, received the Connecticut Law Tribune's Professional Excellence Award, which honors "not only success in the courtroom, but law firm and bar association leadership, advocacy roles, pro bono contributions, and service on state and federal bar panels." A former president of the Connecticut Bar Association, a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and an associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Pepe is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, and Who's Who in International Arbitration.

Added 09/01/2016

Michael H. Botein, JD '69, died on August 3rd in South Orange, New Jersey, at the age of 71. Following graduation, Botein became an instructor at Brooklyn Law and a senior attorney-advisor to the Federal Communications Commission. In 1977, he established New York University Law School's Media Center, where he taught until his retirement in 2014. The author of 15 books, including Regulation of the Electronic Mass Media: Law and Policy for Radio, Television, Cable and the New Technologies (West Group), and more than 90 articles, Bottein lectured at numerous law schools in the United States and abroad, sharing his expertise on internet access and freedom of speech as a Fulbright Senior Scholar. He is survived by his wife Kris, and children Liz and Matthew.

Added 09/01/2016

Thomas A. Russo, JD '69, MBA '69, who announced plans to retire after six years as general counsel for American International Group, will remain at AIG until a successor is chosen. "Tom has had many accomplishments during his six years at AIG, perhaps most notably, his having led the company through negotiations with the U.S. Treasury and Reserve Bank of New York to repay the government and U.S. taxpayers with a profit," wrote President/CEO Peter D. Hancock in a letter to colleagues. "Tom will also be remembered for building an exemplary and globally recognized legal team."

Added 09/01/2016

R. Franklin Balotti, LLB '67, died on August 2nd in Newark, Delaware, at the age of 74. Following graduation, Balotti joined the Delaware law firm Richards, Layton & Finger; three years later, he became a director. Balotti was a leader in the Delaware and national corporate bars, arguing landmark cases in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware. He served as president of the Bar Association of the State of Delaware; a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Governance; in numerous leadership positions in the American Bar Association; and as an adjunct professor at Cornell Law. The co-author of The Delaware Law of Corporations and Business Organizations, Balotti lectured extensively on Delaware law. He is survived by his wife, Marcia; children Alissa, Michael, and Richard; and two grandchildren.

Added 09/01/2016

Honorable Melvin Rosenberg, JD '67, died on October 18, 2015, at the age of 76. After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, Rosenberg arrived at Cornell Law, graduating in 1967. A career government employee, Rosenberg worked for the Internal Revenue Service, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Pittsburgh Office of Hearings and Appeals for the Social Security Administration, where he served from 1986 until his retirement in 2006. He is survived by wife, Cecelia; sons David and Samuel; and six grandchildren.

Added 09/01/2016

Frank L. Wiswall Jr., JD '65, was awarded the International Maritime Prize by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency with responsibility for the safety of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. Wiswall has served as chair of the IMO Legal Committee; chair of the Drafting Committee of the International Legal Conference on the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage on Board Ships; chair of the Committee on Final Clauses of the International Conference on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims; and chair of the Committee of the Whole of the International Conference on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Certain Substances by Sea.

Added 09/01/2016

H. Theodore Meyer, JD '62, died on March 7th in Vero Beach, Florida, at the age of 80. After graduation, Meyer moved to Pepper Pike, Ohio, where he joined the Cleveland-based global law firm Jones Day. In 1970, he became a partner and in 1985 he became partner-in-charge of the firm's Columbus office. Meyer served on the boards of the Ohio Business Roundtable, the Council for Ethics in Economics, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Children's Hospital in Columbus, Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio, Nature Conservancy (Ohio Chapter), New Albany Country Club, and Players Theatre Columbus. He is survived by his wife, Karen; children Gregory, Stephen, and Victoria; nine grandchildren; and sister Doris.

Added 09/01/2016

Alice K. Pringle, JD '62, died on July 29th at the age of 81. Following graduation, Alice and her husband, the late Homer S. Pringle, JD '62, moved to Boston, where she was one of nine women to pass the Massachusetts bar. In 1976, the family moved to Wilmette, Illinois, where she ran a record store until retiring in 1990. Pringle is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Susan; and four grandchildren.

Added 09/01/2016

Beatrice Silverstein Frank, JD '53, died on April 21st in New York City at the age of 87. After Cornell Law School, where she was one of two women in her graduating class, Frank began her career practicing law in New York City. She worked as director of the Channel 13/NYU Law School Consumer Help Center and taught at NYU Law School from 1973-2000 as a member of the lawyering faculty and as director of the Consumer Protection Clinic. Becker also served as vice president of the New York City Bar Association; director of the Children's Law Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and Washington Square Legal Services; and as a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the First Judicial Department and Mayor Edward Koch's Committee on the Judiciary. She is survived by her husband, Lloyd; children Fred and Margaret; grandchildren Adam, Celia, Nathan, Phoebe, Stanley, Tommy, and Zoe; brother David; and sisters-in-law Alicia and Jane.

Added 09/01/2016

Richard R. Huber, JD '53, died on April 2nd in Maumee, Ohio, at the age of 88. Following graduation, Huber returned to Ohio, where he spent his career practicing in Milan and Oberlin. A World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, he was a member of the Milan VFW and the Cornell Law School Alumni Association. Huber is survived by his daughter, Molly; sister Blanche; two nieces and two nephews.

Added 09/01/2016

Honorable John Oliver III, JD '53, died on April 16th in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 88. After graduation, Oliver returned to Canton, New York, where he established the Oliver Law Firm. He served as a judge of the town and village courts in Canton and was president of the New York State Association of Magistrates; he also served on the board of directors of Canton-Potsdam Hospital and the Canton Savings and Loan. Oliver is survived by his wife, Beverly; children Amy and John IV; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Added 09/01/2016

Honorable Francis X. Becker, AB '49, LLB '52, died on May 8th in Lynbrook, New York, at the age of 90. During World War II, Becker served in the U.S. Army Air Force, receiving the American Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal; he was also a Gold Glove Champion for the Army Air Force. After the war, he graduated from Cornell and Cornell Law, returned to Lynbrook, and opened a law practice focused on injury, insurance, and real estate. In 1980, after 14 years as mayor of Lynbrook, Becker was elected to the New York State Supreme Court for the 10th Judicial District of Nassau County, where he remained until his retirement 14 years later. He was president of the Nassau County Village Officials Association; president of the Cornell Law School Alumni Association; honorary chief of Lynbrook Volunteer Fire Department; and founder of Lynbrook Little League and the Lynbrook Youth Athletic Association. Becker is survived by his children, Anne, Christina, Damian, Elizabeth, Francis, Gregory, Hilary, Jane, Luke, Susanna, Teresa, and Timothy; 33 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Added 09/01/2016

John Merrell Dinse, LLB '50, died on July 14th in Burlington, Vermont, at the age of 91. During World War II, Dinse served with the U.S. Army's 94th Infantry Division, receiving a European Theatre Ribbon with four Battle Stars and a Bronze Star for bravery during the Battle of the Bulge. Following the war, he completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Rochester, graduated from Cornell Law School, moved to Burlington, and joined Edmunds & Austin, which later became Dinse Knapp & McAndrew, where he remained for the rest of his career. Dinse served as chair of Vermont's Judicial Nominating Board; president of the Vermont Bar Association; president of the Northern New England Defense Lawyers Association; chair of the Defense Research Institute; director of the American Board of Trial Advocates; and fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the American Law Institute, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Following retirement, Dinse served as a mediator and arbitrator in civil litigation matters and as a director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. He is survived by his wife, Ann; children Jeffrey and Pamela (Dede); grandchildren Alexander, Kyle, and Pamela; and several nieces.

Added 09/01/2016

Emanuel Kessler, JD '48, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2016 at the age of 96. After graduation from Cornell Law School Emanuel served as a distinguished Counselor at Law for 67 years along with his wife Muriel (Yarmark) Kessler, JD '48 at their New York Law Firm, Kessler & Kessler, Esqs. Kessler was an active community member and also served his country as a Lt. Colonel in the Army during WWII and, subsequently, in the Judge Advocate General Corps. He was an avid gardner and skilled canoeist and swimmer. In addition to Muriel, his wife of 66 years, he is survived by his daughter Eve Kessler, JD '85, son Steven, AB '78, JD '82 and five grandchildren, James, Jacob, Rachel, Michael and Alison.

Added 09/01/2016

Honorable Harold L. Wood, JD '48, died on April 14th in Fort Lauderdale at the age of 96. After serving with the Army Air Corps at the Tuskegee Airbase during World War II, Wood received a BA from Lincoln University, a JD from Cornell, and an LLM from New York University. A series of firsts followed: he became the first African American member of the Westchester County Board of Supervisors, the first African American member of the Mount Vernon City Council, the first African American Westchester Family Court Judge, the first African American Westchester County Court Judge, and the first African American State Supreme Court Justice for Westchester County; he retired from the Supreme Court in 1995. Wood is survived by his children, Dean, Gregory, and LaVerne; grandchildren Lauren, Michael, and Natasha; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Added 09/01/2016

Virginia Schwartz Mueller, JD '46, died on March 14th in Sacramento at the age of 91. Mueller, who began practicing law in 1946, spent 63 years as a prosecutor and defense attorney. She was Sacramento County's first female deputy district attorney, first female commissioner of the Sacramento-Yolo Port District Commission, co-founder of the Women Lawyers of Sacramento, and former president of the National Association of Women Lawyers. An advocate for the rights of women and children, Mueller was a member of the American Association of University Women, American Women for International Understanding, League of Women Voters, Sister Cities International, Soroptimist International, United Nations Association, World Affairs Council of Sacramento, and World Peace Through Law Center. She is survived by her children, Christian and Lisa; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Added 09/01/2016

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