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Class of 1997

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Sonya Olds Som, JD '97, was named Executive of the Year by the National Bar Association General Counsel Invitational (NBA GCI) at... Read Full Note

Sonya Olds Som, JD '97, was named Executive of the Year by the National Bar Association General Counsel Invitational (NBA GCI) at its third annual conference in New York City. A partner at Major, Lindsey & Africa, Som focuses on sourcing in-house counsel search opportunities for attorneys at all levels, from junior counsel to general counsel, in corporate legal departments in a wide range of industries by developing and maintaining relationships with general counsel, human resource leaders, and other C-suite executives. In addition to her work with the National Bar Association, Metropolitan Black Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, and the Minority In-House Counsel Association, Som serves as Midwest Chapter Co-Chair of the Cornell Black Lawyers Alumni Network. "I am thrilled to be recognized by the National Bar Association General Counsel Invitational as Executive of the Year," said Som. "As an African-American lawyer, it is my honor to use my position as an in-house counsel recruiter and partner at Major, Lindsey & Africa to assist in programming and promoting NBA GCI and other events that provide continuing legal education and relationship-building opportunities for NBA's members nationwide. The National Bar Association plays an important role in advancing the cause of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and it is my privilege to lead MLA's partnership with the NBA as we do our part to increase the number of African-American GCs and in-house counsel in our nation's legal departments."

Added 10/04/2018

Jennifer Silber Perkins, JD '97, joined the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in the firm's corporate practice group.... Read Full Note

Jennifer Silber Perkins, JD '97, joined the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in the firm's corporate practice group. Perkins regularly represents leading private equity sponsors in leveraged buyouts, dispositions, and other corporate transactions. She was previously a partner at Latham & Watkins, where she served as global co-chair of the firm's private equity practice. She has been recognized as a leading private equity lawyer by Law360, Chambers USA, and the M&A Advisor, which named her to its 40 Under 40 list of leading M&A lawyers. "Jen is a highly skilled attorney with an exemplary reputation in the private equity space," said Jeffrey C. Hammes, chairman of the global management executive committee. "Her commercial approach to sophisticated transactions makes her an ideal fit for Kirkland's private equity practice and our New York office."

Added 03/05/2018

Matthew Barnett Landon, JD '97, died on August 1st at the age of 46. During his career, Landon worked for Baker and McKenzie, the... Read Full Note

Matthew Barnett Landon, JD '97, died on August 1st at the age of 46. During his career, Landon worked for Baker and McKenzie, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB); with his wife, he was the owner and manager of four Thai by Thai restaurants in Northern Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Eed; sons Kenny and Nate; parents Lucia and Richard; stepfather Tim; brother Timothy; and stepbrother Joseph.

Added 01/01/2018

Julie Fergang Rosefsky, JD '97, died on June 6th, 2016 in New York City at the age of 45. She is survived by her husband, Steven;... Read Full Note

Julie Fergang Rosefsky, JD '97, died on June 6th, 2016 in New York City at the age of 45. She is survived by her husband, Steven; her children Eli and Maya; her parents Allen and Marsha; and her siblings Caryl and Yale.

Added 05/12/2017

Stephen B. Reynolds, JD '97, became the Deputy Chief for Cyber Law and Policy in the U.S. Department of Justice's National Security... Read Full Note

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

Vinod Surana, LLM '97, managing partner and CEO of Surana and Surana International Attorneys, was included in the 100 Legal... Read Full Note

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... Read Full Note

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 A. Shimkin, JD '97, has been selected as Cozen O'Connor's Fellow with The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Shimkin, who... Read Full Note

David A. Shimkin, JD '97, has been selected as Cozen O'Connor's Fellow with The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Shimkin, who is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation group who practices in its Los Angeles office, has been named as its 2016-17 Fellow with The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). LCLD, which was formed in May 2009, is an organization comprising corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners who are dedicated to creating a truly diverse legal profession. As a 2016-17 Fellow, David will participate in targeted leadership training events with the other member fellows throughout the program year. David focuses his practice on the defense of litigation in the areas of construction, hospitality, and environmental claims, and co-chairs the firm's Food, Beverage & Nutritional Products Industry Team. In addition to managing his active litigation practice, David has a longstanding commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the profession. He serves on the firm-wide Diversity & Inclusion Committee, co-leads the Hispanic/Latino Attorney Resource (Affinity) Group and is involved with the California Minority Counsel Program, Minority Corporate Counsel Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association, for which he is a deputy president of the Southern California Region.

Added 06/15/2016

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