Advocate summer2013

summer 2013

Alumni Magazine of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW

AUWCL TENLEY CAMPUS

Welcome to Our New Home INSIDE: The Office of Career and Professional Development

DEAN’S ADVISORY COUNCIL APRIL

CHAIR: Kenneth G. Lore ’73 Partner, Bingham McCutchen, LLP Washington, DC MEMBERS: Justin S. Antonipillai ’97 Arnold & Porter Washington, DC Leigh Alexandra Basha ’85 Holland & Knight Washington, DC Gerald E. Battist ’66 President, GEB Associates Reston, VA The Honorable Dorothy Toth Beasley ’64 Senior Judge, State of Georgia Atlanta, GA Millard Bennett ’77 Partner, Stein, Sperling, Bennett, DeJong Driscoll & Greinfeig Rockville, MD Kirk H. Betts ’79 Partner, Betts & Holt Washington, DC Edward C. Bou ’58 Partner, Law Offices of Bou & Bou Washington, DC Joseph S. Bracewell ’91 Partner, Bingham McCutchen, LLP Washington, DC Louis M. Dubin ’87 President & CEO, LMD Worldwide, LLC New York, NY A. Martin Erim ’77 President & CEO, First Renaissance Ventures McLean, VA Mary Ellen J. Flynn ’88 Andalman & Flynn, PC Silver Spring, MD A. Manuel Garcia ’00 Managing Partner, Trireme Global Partners Washington, DC Ellen J. Gleberman ’79 Vice President & General Counsel Association of Global Automakers, Inc. Washington, DC Thomas C. Goldstein ’95 Partner, Goldstein & Russell Bethesda, MD Seth Grae ’88 President & CEO, Lightbridge Corporation McLean, VA

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Jeffrey N. Greenblatt ’73 Joseph, Greenwald & Laake Rockville, MD

Frank Menaker ’65 DLA Piper (retired) Washington, DC

alumni magazine

Eric Huang ’05 Assistant Attorney General Personnel and Labor Relations Office of Attorney General for DC Washington, DC

Joel L. Michaels ’75 Partner, McDermott Will & Emery Washington, DC

DEAN Claudio Grossman

Jacqueline L. Jackson, Esq. ’74 U.S. Dept. of Treasury (retired) Washington, DC Ronald Karp ’71 Partner, Karp Frosh Wigodsky & Norwind, PA Rockville, MD Deborah P. Kelly, Esq. ’88 Partner & Deputy General Counsel Dickstein Shapiro, LLP Washington, DC Chaya Kundra ’94 Partner, Kundra & Associates, PC Rockville, MD Rick A. Lazio ’83 Partner, Jones Walker New York, NY The Honorable Gerald B. Lee ’76 Judge, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia Alexandria, VA Howard Lee ’73 Managing Director, Cosmos Alliance Newington, VA Richard S. Levick ’87 President & CEO, Levick Strategic Communications Washington, DC Claudia Lewis-Eng ’95 Partner, Venable, LLP Washington, DC Karen M. Lockwood ’78 President & Executive Director, National Institute for Trial Advocacy CEO & Founder, The Lockwood Group, LLC Washington, DC Myron L. Marlin ’90 Director of Communications, Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, DC Deborah S. Meland ’83 Chief, Office of Review U.S. Department of Justice Washington, DC

Thomas F. Morante ’77 Partner, Holland & Knight Miami, FL Jeff Norris ’07 Counsel, Technology and IP Contacts Choice Hotels International Silver Spring, MD

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shelly Horn COnsuLtinG EDITOR Amanda Milewski ASSISTANT EDITOR Kristin Diamond

Douglas Panzer ’06 Law Offices of Douglas Panzer Philadelphia, PA

ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ALUMNI RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT Ruth Swanson

Robert F. Pence ’71 President, The Pence Group, Inc. McLean, VA

diReCtOR Of ALuMni ReLAtiOns Shelly Horn

Peter L. Scher ’87 Executive Vice President, JP Morgan Chase Washington, DC Lewis F. Shrensky ’68 Executive Vice President, Fort Myer Construction Corporation Washington, DC Terence E. Smolev ’69 Terence E. Smolev, PC Great Neck, NY Ray Thomas, Jr. ’06 Law Office of Ray Thomas, Jr. PLLC Washington, DC Penny Wakefield ’79 Arlington, VA The Honorable Reggie B. Walton ’74 U.S. District Court for DC Prettyman U.S. Courthouse Washington, DC Michael Weinstein ’95 Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, PA A Professional Corporation Hackensack, NJ Stephen S. Weinstein ’65 Stephen S. Weinstein, PA Morristown, NJ Ruth Wimer ’80 Partner, McDermott, Will & Emery Washington, DC

diReCtOR Of OPeRAtiOns And AnnuAL GiVinG Meaghan Cassidy diReCtOR Of CAPitAL CAMPAiGn Gifts Khadijah J. Al-Amin-El DESIGN Stein Communications

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DEAN’S MESSAGE

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DEAN GROSSMAN IN THE NEWS

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MOURNING THE LOSS OF PROFESSOR PAUL RICE

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NEW FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

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FACULTY IN THE NEWS

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stu d en ts in th e n e ws

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NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

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AUWCL IN THE NEWS

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n ew Ad VOCACY LLM e nhAnCe s L itiGAtiOn sKi LLs: by Jennifer Hawes

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MARsh ALL-BRen n An C OnstitutiOnAL LiteRACY PROJeCt

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LAw Li BRARY O ffeRs he inOnLine : by Adeen Postar

PHOTO CREDITS Rick Reinhard Hilary Schwab

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Au wCL PROG RAM h eL Ps AL uMni Re PAY L OAns:

WRITERS Maryam Ahranjani Kristin Diamond Brad Dwin Franki Fitterer Jennifer Hawes Shelly Horn Betty Lynne Leary Amanda Milewski Virginia Myers Adeen Postar Megan Smith Sherry Weaver

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h eRe t O h eLP: by Betty Lynne Leary

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Au wCL MOVes t O tenLeY C AMPus: by Betty Lynne Leary

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diVeR sitY n ews: An nuAL wOOds C Onfe Re nCe

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ALuM n i hOn ORs

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ALuM n i eV en ts sn APshOts

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JOHN SHERMAN MYERS SOCIETY GALA

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CLASS NOTES

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ALUMNI PROFILE: Andrew Sherman ’86

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ALUMNI PROFILE: Alain Bonavida ’05

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ALUMNI PROFILE: Melvin Hirshman ’55

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ALUMNI PROFILE: Eric Huang ’05

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PROFESSOR PROFILE: Michael Tigar

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ALUMNI PROFILE: Andrew Reilly ’91

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ALuM n i PROfiL e: Dolores Dorsainvil ’00

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IN MEMORIAM

GeneRAL infORMAtiOn – 202.274.4050 ALuMni OffiCe – 202.274.4163 alumni@wcl.american.edu news fAX – 202.274.4029 The Advocate is published by American University Washington College of Law. Change of address and employment can be sent via e-mail to alumni@wcl.american.edu or can be mailed to WCL at the following address: The Office of Development & Alumni Relations Washington College of Law, Suite 373 4801 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20016

by Jennifer Hawes

1 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

table of contents

t h e d e a n’s m e ss a g e

Dear Alumni and Friends:

It is my pleasure to share with you the most recent issue of The Advocate, which features exciting developments and news from American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL), one of the most vibrant and dynamic law schools in the world!

D E A N

“ We have embarked on the development of a new state-ofthe-art law school campus specifically designed to meet the needs of our community.”

As you may know, we have embarked on the development of a new state-of-the-art law school campus specifically designed to meet the needs of our community. Set to open in 2015 on eight spectacular acres adjacent to the Tenleytown-AU Metro stop, this marks the first time in our history that we are creating a law school campus from the ground up with legal education in mind from the onset. The convenience of being at a Metro stop will give our community and constituents – the legal profession, business leaders, government officials, scholars, alumni, and clients – better access to the law school while providing students with a direct line to the heart of Washington, D.C., home to leading law firms, government agencies, international organizations, NGOs, and other exciting institutions. The Tenley law school campus will boast advanced technologies, environmentally sustainable features,

actual courtrooms, and classrooms tailored to specific purposes. Rooms for clinics will give students a more realistic appreciation for what it’s like to practice law, and the new library will enhance the entire law school experience with study concepts for the twenty-first century. The new conference facility will offer flexibilities at the level of most convention centers with moveable walls, areas for break-out meetings, and more expansive catering facilities. See our Tenley Campus feature article starting on page 30 for more information.

I also am pleased to share with you that we signed an agreement with West LegalEdcenter, the nation’s largest Web-based CLE and professional development service, for the provision of online continuing legal edu­cation programs, drawing from the extensive array of programming at AUWCL. Additionally, alumni will enjoy special rates for West LegalEdcenter’s more than 200 new programs offered each month.

Our LLM in Advocacy, the latest addition to our three LLM programs, attracts both recent graduates as well as practicing lawyers seeking to hone their litigation skills. The program combines rigorous academic classes and practical litigation training, offering an array of courses, externships, and opportunities to pursue legal scholarship and teaching experience. The program also developed and received faculty approval of two new dual LLM degrees in Advocacy and either Law and Government or International Legal Studies, expanding even further the unique and exceptional educational experience of our students.

On behalf of the law school community, thank you for your ongoing support of our law school.

Together we will continue to develop even further American University Washington College of Law, one of the most exciting and innovative law schools in the world.

Wishing you the best,

Exciting curricular and programmatic developments continue to characterize our law school.

C laudio G rossman ,

dean

3 the ADVOCATE summer spring 2013 2013

students dean’s in the message news

d e a n g r o ss m a n IN THE NEWS

GROSSMAN AMONG TWENTY-FIVE FINALISTS NAMED MOST INFLUENTIAL IN LEGAL EDUCATION

Dean Grossman and Associate Dean Mary Clark are shown presiding over a Commencement ceremony. “Attending graduation is one of the great rewards of my job,” says Grossman.

The National Jurist has named twenty-five legal educators and one legal education public policy advocate to its 2012 list of the most influential people in legal education, including AUWCL Dean Claudio Grossman, who was ranked eleventh.

The magazine requested nominations from every law school in the nation, and received more than eighty-five. Its editorial team narrowed the list down to fifty and then asked 350 people in legal education, including every law school dean, to rate each nominee based on how much they influenced them in the past twelve months. The final list includes law school deans and professors.

ADDITIONAL HONORS FOR THE DEAN A SPECIAL AUWCL TRIBUTE TO JUSTICE GINSBERG

Hispanic National Bar Foundation Lifetime Leadership Award Dean Grossman was awarded the Hispanic National Bar Foundation (HNBF) Lifetime Leadership Award, at a ceremony held July 19, 2012. The awards dinner honored the outstanding contributions of Latino/a leaders in the legal community. The HNBF is dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community through education and the support of diversity in the legal profession. Similarly, American University Washington College of Law, which has been led by Grossman since 1995, is committed to the values of diversity and human rights.

Maryland Hispanic Bar Association 2012 Leadership Award Grossman also received the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association’s (MHBA) 2012 Leadership Award.

The MHBA Leadership Award celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of Maryland lawyers and others who excel in their professional settings; personify excellence on the national, state, or local level; and who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the legal profession and make unusual contributions to the Hispanic/Latino community and society at-large. Grossman received the award at MHBA’s nineteenth anniversary gala on September 13, 2012.

North American-Chilean Chamber of Commerce Award

The John Sherman Myers Society annual dinner was hosted by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court of the United States. Dean Grossman presented her with a framed copy of a quote by AUWCL Founder Emma Gillett (dean, 1913-1923) that read “The legal education of women would be a liberal education for men.” For more information on the dinner, see page 44.

Most recently, Grossman was selected by the North American-Chilean Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as the 2013 Chilean Academic of the Year. The North American-Chilean Chamber of Commerce is made up of top corporations in the country and has been dedicated to fostering the trade and commercial interests of the United States and Chile since its founding in 1918. Grossman is being recognized for his “extraordinary professional career in the academic world in pursuit of justice and human dignity in our hemisphere.” The award will be presented at the Chamber’s 2013 Annual Dinner in New York in September.

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dean grossman students in the news

AMER ICAN U NIV ERS ITY WA S HINGTON COLL E G E OF LAW

m o u r n s t h e lo ss o f PROFESSOR PAUL RICE

His remarkable AUWCL Tenure spanned 38 years

SELECT TRIBUTES AND REMEMBRANCES

from Professor Rice’s Students, Friends, and Colleagues

“ He loved where he worked and he loved the people around him.”

The AUWCL community mourns the loss of our beloved colleague, Professor Paul Rice, who passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Paul was a cherished and esteemed member of the AUWCL community, contributing thirty-eight years of his professional life to educating generations of AUWCL students with great care, rigor, and effectiveness, while producing scholarship recognized around the world as the best in the field. His many celebrated publications and dedication, both to his students and scholarship, brought great acclaim to our institution and will continue to serve his former students, the judiciary, and lawyers in the United States and around the world for many years to come.

A memorial service was held at the Katzen Arts Center on Sunday, July 15, 2012. The Paul Rice Scholarship, established by the Washington College of Law, supports students who distinguish themselves in evidence.

Contributions can be mailed to the following address: Washington College of Law, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, C/O Meaghan Cassidy, Director of Operations and Annual Giving, 4801 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 373, Washington, DC 20016.

Please make your checks payable to Washington College of Law and in the memo line, specify P. Rice Scholarship. You also may make a donation through the Office of Development and Alumni Relations Web page at wcl.american.edu/giving.cfm. In the description field, please designate that you would like your donation to go to the Paul Rice Scholarship Fund.

A NOTE FROM JANE B. RICE “ With our deepest gratitude, Paul’s family wishes to thank each and every one of you for sharing these memories. We have found joy, laughter, and consolation in reading them aloud. It brought us comfort when most needed. Paul loved his profession, he loved to see students developing that same love, and learning to meet the challenges within the law. You rewarded him immensely by opening yourselves to that. He loved where he worked, the people around him, and often marveled at his good fortune to have ended up where he was. In his place, I wish each of you a life of good fortune, tempered with gratitude for all that you have.”

“ I graduated from the Washington College of Law in 1977. Professor Rice introduced me to the fields of criminal procedure and evidence . . . My own teaching is modeled on his creative and penetrating Socratic approach to teaching. He encouraged me to earn an LLM at Harvard and to pursue an academic career. I only regret that I did not have the opportunity to express how much I owe to his mentorship and guidance. He was passionate, demanding, and intense and had a sharp mind, quick wit, and a great sense of the absurd and greatly loved his family.”

Matthew Lippman ’77

“ I’m deeply saddened to learn of his unexpected passing. Turns out I enjoyed Evidence, surely at least in part because of the personality and talent of the professor who taught it. He clearly relished teaching, and he was one of my favorites.”

Paul Levine ’84

“ I was blessed to have had Professor Rice for Evidence. I had heard the legend of the man shortly after I got to AUWCL, and once I knew that I wanted to litigate I knew I had to have his class. Professor Rice was brilliant, and he expected nothing less than brilliance in return.”

Jeff List ’12

“ Professor Rice’s course was every student’s red badge of courage. He set the bar high so that we would continue to do so. He was a passionate teacher, a treasure, and we shall miss him.”

Cecilia Duran Closs ’03

“ I hope his family knows how many students’ lives he affected, in the most positive way. I hope they know how blessed we feel to have learned from him. I hope they know that he leaves a hole so big in our community that I can’t imagine it ever being filled. I hope they know how much he is missed.”

Liz Jackson ’12

“ I remembered Professor Rice frequently as a prosecutor – every time I corrected my colleagues or opposing counsel (occasionally even the judge) on some evidentiary ruling. And every time I remembered him, I remembered the grade I got and couldn’t help but smile.”

Rishi S. Bagga JD ’06 / LLM ’10

wcl.american.edu/news/rememberingprofessorrice.cfm

7 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

faculty in the news

New Faculty Appointments americ an university washington college of law proudly welcomed three superb scholars to the faculty this year. the faculty members c arry on the long tradition of being scholars on one hand and talented teachers on the other. they share a love for the law, a passion for teaching and scholarship, and the conviction to make an impact on some of the most important issues of our time, championing what matters.

— Claudio Grossman, Dean

JORGE L. CONTRERAS

a ss o c i at e p r o f e ss o r o f l aw Prior to his appointment, Contreras was senior lecturer and acting director of the IP Program at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on the effects of intellectual property structures on technical standardization and scientific research. He serves as co-chair of the National Conference of Lawyers and Scientists and the ABA’s Technical Standardization Committee. His work recently has appeared in Science, Nature Climate Change, Berkeley Technology Law Journal, and Standards Engineering, and is forthcoming in Nature Biotechnology, Pace Law Review, and the St Antony’s International Review.

His frequent speaking engagements have included the Max Planck Institute in Berlin, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the American National Standards Institute, the European Commission Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry, and numerous academic conferences. He has been featured in the media regarding current issues in intellectual property law. Contreras earned his JD from Harvard Law School.

N. JEREMI DURU

p r o f e ss o r o f l aw A visiting professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia, Duru joined American University Washington College of Law in January 2013 to teach civil procedure and sports law. His research concentrates on the intersection of civil rights law and professional and collegiate sports. Duru is the author of numerous articles and book chapters exploring employment discrimination in the sports industry, and of a new book Advancing the Ball: Race, Reformation, and the Quest for Equal Coaching Opportunity in the NFL. His recent articles have been published in Wake Forest Journal of Law & Policy, University of Cincinnati Law Review, and Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal. Prior to teaching, Duru clerked for the Honorable Damon J. Keith, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and worked as an attorney for Wilmer Cutler & Pickering and for the boutique civil rights firm Mehri & Skalet, PLLC. Duru received his JD from Harvard Law School.

ANDREW E. TASLITZ

p r o f e ss o r o f l aw Taslitz teaches and researches in the areas of criminal procedure, evidence, criminal law, and professional responsibility, and has been named one of the best twenty-six law teachers in America in Professor Michael Hunter Schwartz’s forthcoming book, What the Best Law Teachers Do. Before teaching, Taslitz worked as an associate at a large law firm, then as a prosecutor in Philadelphia. He has published more than 100 works, including articles in such leading journals as the Michigan Law Review and the Georgetown Law Journal. His current research focuses on cognitive science in the areas of search and seizure and prosecutorial ethics. He is the author of eight books, notably Reconstructing the Fourth Amendment: A History of Search and Seizure, 1789-1868 and Rape and the Culture of the Courtroom. He recently has been appointed as the reporter for two Uniform Law Commission Committees on interrogations and eyewitness identifications. Taslitz received his JD from University of Pennsylvania Law School.

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faculty in the news

FA C U LT Y IN THE NEWS congratulations

to the faculty and staff honored at the annual Washington, D.C. networking reception last september Honorees included (from left): Jayesh Rathod, Jenny Roberts, Ben Leff, Adeen Postar, Bob Dinerstein, and Mary Clark.

FA C U LT Y Tenure and Promotions

ROBERT D. DINERSTEIN

p r o f e ss o r o f l aw , a ss o c i at e d e a n f o r e x p e r i e n t i a l e d u c at i o n Robert D. Dinerstein, professor of law and director of Clinical Programs, was promoted to associate dean of the law school’s Experential Education Program.

Dinerstein has taught at AUWCL since 1983.

Dinerstein specializes in disability law, and has made numerous presentations on, and written extensively about, clinical legal education and disability law issues. Among his many publications are his co-edited book, A Guide to Consent, and Lawyers and Clients: Critical Issues in Interviewing and Counseling (2009) (co-written with Ellmann, Gunning, Kruse & Shalleck).

JENNY ROBERTS

p r o f e ss o r o f l aw

MARY CLARK

p r o f e ss o r o f l aw , a ss o c i at e d e a n f o r fa c u lt y a n d a c a d e m i c a f fa i r s

Andrew Sherman ’86 (pictured above with Dean Grossman) hosted AUWCL alumni, faculty, and staff at Jones Day in Washington, D.C. for the annual Tenured Faculty and Promotions reception.

Professor Mary Clark was promoted to associate dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs. Clark teachs Property, Legal Ethics, and a seminar on Women’s Legal History/History of Women in the Legal Profession.

Prior to coming to the AUWCL, Clark was a visiting lecturer and research scholar at Yale Law School, and a Supreme Court fellow with the Federal Judicial Center. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Harvard Law School, she clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Montgomery, Alabama, before joining the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an appellate attorney, concentrating on issues of sexual harassment and disability rights law.

Professor Roberts teaches the Criminal Justice Clinic and Advanced Criminal Procedure: Plea Bargaining. Her scholarship explores the right to counsel with a focus on plea bargaining, collateral consequences of criminal convictions, and misdemeanor adjudications. Her articles have been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court, a state high court and lower federal courts, as well as in numerous briefs to the Supreme Court and other courts.

Roberts serves on the board of the Clinical Legal Education Association, and is the reporter for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Task Force on the Restoration of Rights and Status After Conviction. Prior to AUWCL, she taught at Syracuse and in NYU’s Lawyering Program, clerked in the Southern District of New York, and was a public defender in Manhattan. Roberts received her BA, cum laude, from Yale. She graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from

NYU Law, where she was an editor of the Law Review and an Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellow.

EZRA ROSSER

p r o f e ss o r o f l aw

Ezra Rosser joined the AUWCL faculty in 2006.

He has taught Housing Law, Federal Indian Law, Property, and Poverty Law. He has served as a 1665 Fellow at Harvard University, a visiting scholar at Yale Law School, and a Westerfield Fellow at Loyola University New Orleans School of Law. While in law school, he clerked at the DNA-People’s Legal Services, at the Office of Native American Programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and at the Native American Rights Fund. Rosser is on sabbatical and living in El Salvador this semester.

BENJAMIN LEFF

a ss o c i at e p r o f e ss o r Benjamin Leff teaches courses on U.S. federal tax law and the law of charitable and nonprofit organizations. His scholarship focuses on the regulation of nonprofits, and has recently been published in the Kentucky Law Journal and Seton Hall Law Review. Prior to joining the Washington College of Law, Leff was a visiting assistant professor at Harvard Law School, practiced tax law in Austin, Texas, and clerked in Federal District Court. He is a graduate of Yale Law School, holds an MA in religious studies from the University of Chicago, and a BA from Oberlin College.

11 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

faculty in the news

JAYESH RATHOD

a ss i s ta n t p r o f e ss o r Jayesh Rathod is an assistant professor of law at American University Washington College of Law. His areas of expertise and scholarly interests include immigrants’ rights, labor and employment, occupational safety and health, and the intersection of law and organizing. Prior to joining the faculty, he was a staff attorney at CASA of Maryland, representing low-wage immigrant workers on employment law and immigration matters, and participating in worker education, organizing, and advocacy efforts.

He also practiced in the litigation section at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, LLP, and was law clerk to the Honorable Louis F. Oberdorfer, of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Over the course of his career, he has worked with numerous nongovernmental organizations to advance the civil and human rights of communities in the United States and abroad.

ADEEN POSTAR

l aw l i b ra r i a n Adeen Postar joined the library faculty as the deputy director of the Pence Law Library in June 2004. Postar has had extensive experience in law firm, academic, and government libraries, working as the library manager at the Washington office of Blank Rome, LLP, coordinator for External Services at Edward Bennett Williams Law Library at Georgetown University Law Center and as a reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Postar was an adjunct professor at Catholic University School of Library and Information Science, teaching Legal Literature between 1993 and 1998. She also has been an active member of the American Association of Law Libraries and the Law Librarians’ Society of the District of Columbia, serving in various leadership positions.

Her current work includes the administration of the law library and she is the associate editor of the State Practice Materials: Annotated Bibliographies published by Hein.

i n t e r n at i o n a l b u s i n e ss

i m m i g ra n t s’ rights

MACARENA SAEZ

e d u c at i o n a l e q ua l i t y

civil rights social change

fa c u lt y d i r e c t o r , i m pa c t l i t i g at i o n p r o j e c t Macarena Sáez is a fellow in the International Legal Studies Program and teaches at AUWCL in the areas of family law and comparative law. Her main areas of research are gender discrimination in Latin America, and comparative family law.

Sáez is also the faculty director of AUWCL’s Impact Litigation Project. Sáez is a member of the executive committee of the Network of Latin American Scholars on Gender, Sexuality and Legal Education ALAS, an organization that provides training to law professors in Latin America on mainstreaming gender and sexuality perspectives in legal education. She is also a member of Libertades Publicas, an organization that promotes civil liberties in Latin America. Until May 2010, Sáez was AUWCL’s International Programs coordinator. Among other tasks, in that capacity she was responsible for implementing and directing AUWCL’s international JD Dual Degree Programs, and negotiating and drafting memoranda of agreement with foreign law schools. Before coming to AUWCL, Sáez was a faculty member at the University of Chile Law School, where she taught jurisprudence and worked actively in the law school’s curriculum reform.

She also has taught feminist jurisprudence at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law, as well as in other institutions in Latin America. Sáez recently traveled to Chile to participate in a conference on same-sex marriage organized by the University of Chile Law School.

With an LLM in Law and Government, International Legal Studies, or Advocacy from American University Washington College of Law, you’ll be better prepared to Champion What Matters anywhere in the world. You’ll learn at a top law school that stands at the crossroads of global and U.S. law in

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peace in the middle east

CHAMPION WHAT MATTERS. w c l . a m e r i c a n . e d u /a l u m n i free speech

the ADVOCATE summer 2013

STUDENTS IN THE NEWS

UN CAT PROJECT OFFERS

UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

by Jennifer de Laurentiis ’92 Founded in 2004, AUWCL’s United Nations Committee against Torture (UN CAT) Project is a one-of-a-kind experiential learning opportunity. Upperlevel students can deepen their knowledge of international human rights law and experience firsthand the UN CAT proceedings in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Project expanded in 2009 from six to ten students with the generous support of the Kovler Foundation.

The project’s application and selection process takes place during the spring semester and is widely advertised. During the fall semester, participating students assist in preparing for the official UN CAT meetings which are held in November.

The students take a for-credit seminar with specialized

2012 UN CAT Project participants at the forty-ninth Session of the UN Committee against Torture at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland: Back row: Lindsay Roberts, Erica Lynn Tokar, James Strait, Jennifer de Laurentiis ’92, Cindy Gierhart, Anna Nichols, Ivan Carpio, Professor Binny Miller Front row: Whitney Garrett, Arli Christian, Dean Claudio Grossman, Cyrena Khoury, Natalie Mazur

readings and instruction on the prohibition of torture and the universal system, co-taught by Dean and UN CAT Chair Claudio Grossman and his Special Assistant and UN CAT Project Coordinator Jennifer de Laurentiis ’92. Students research and synthesize vast materials concerning torture and human rights in pertinent countries, and draft extensive papers identifying potential compliance issues involving the operative treaty – the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

In November, the group travels to Geneva for the UN CAT meetings, witnessing firsthand the “dialogue” between the committee and state party delegations, identifying germane

developments and issues, and meeting regularly to strategize and conduct follow-up research.

The project also includes an annual AUWCL alumni dinner, site visits, and meetings with nongovernmental organizations.

Following the group’s return to AUWCL, students build upon this unique human rights experience by authoring articles, giving presentations, and participating in other campus and community initiatives to raise awareness and ultimately help eradicate torture around the world.

Inquiries about the UN CAT Project should be directed to Jennifer de Laurentiis at jdelaurentiis@wcl.american.edu

j d s t u d e n t s g i v e b a c k at Annual “In My Back Yard”

p u b l i c s e rv i c e d ay JD orientation week was filled with tours, sessions, and receptions to acclimate new students to American University Washington College of Law. Before orientation began, new students had the chance to join faculty, staff, and upperclassmen for “IMBY” or the “In My Back Yard” Public Service Day. IMBY is an annual event dedicated to improving the neighborhoods that members of the law school community call home.

Participation in IMBY counts toward the law school’s Pro Bono Honors Pledge Program, which recognizes graduating students who have completed a minimum of seventy-five hours of pro bono legal assistance and community service.

One hundred and eighty-six students (pictured above) participated in the 2012 day of service at organizations such as Bread for the City, Capitol Area Food Bank, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Life Pieces to Masterpieces, Martha’s Table, Rock Creek Conservatory, Sasha Bruce Network, So Others May Eat, Take Back Your Home, and Washington Parks and People.

“In My Back Yard exposes law students to some of the distressed communities in D.C. where people are in dire need of legal services,” explains David Steib, assistant director for the Office of Public Interest.

“The day inspires students to return to those communities to do pro bono service or public interest work with the skills that they learn in law school.”

“ it wa s m y f i r s t d ay i n d . c . , a n d i t ’ s e xc i t i n g t o h av e t h i s e x p e r i e n c e a s m y f i r s t i m p r e ss i o n .” H e n r i s s a B a s s e y, 1 L 15

the ADVOCATE summer 2013

students in the news

“ e v e ry y e a r , w e reaffirm through i m by t h at o u r s t u d e n t s , fa c u lt y, a n d s ta f f c a r e about giving back to those a r o u n d u s.”

The launch of the Brazil Program included (left to right): Breno Dias da Costa, the Brazilian representative to the OAS; Renata Brazil David, associate director, Brazil-U.S. Legal and Judicial Studies Program; the Honorable Peter J. Messitte, senior U.S. district judge; Mauro Vieira, ambassador of Brazil to the U.S.; and AUWCL Dean Claudio Grossman.

– T h a i s - Ly n Tr a y e r, 2 L a n d I M B Y c o o rd i n a t o r

au w c l l au n c h e s f i r s t - o f - i t s - k i n d IMBY participants volunteer at Martha’s Table and the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

IMBY allows those who participate to see the city while connecting with established members of the law school community.

One group of 1Ls, led by rising 3L Mary Bonventre and Professor Andrew Pike (pictured above), spent the day at Martha’s Table, an organization situated near the U Street corridor – a stone’s throw from D.C. landmarks like the Lincoln Theatre.

For nearly thirty years, Martha’s Table has been dedicated to alleviating the immediate effects of poverty in the D.C. area by providing nutrition, education, and family support services through workshops and a clothing operation. “ It was nice to get off campus, meet new people, and see the city before starting the school year.”

Alyssa Antoniskis, 1L

Students and staff donned hairnets and rubber gloves and got to work. They sliced and diced countless boxes of produce – tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots – to be used in meals for children in the organization’s school programs. They bagged and packed peanut butter sandwiches and desserts to be distributed as part of the grocery program.

They carried deliveries of donated books and even helped with computer work in the office. The law students were greeted by little waving hands and sent off with many “bye, bye, byes!” when delivering milk and lunches to Martha’s daycare kids.

“I was really impressed by Martha’s Table,” says Henrissa Bassey, a 1L who recently finished her master’s in public health. “I haven’t seen many nonprofits that were so adequately able to meet the holistic needs of their community. It was my first day in D.C., and it’s exciting to have the experience

at Martha’s Table as my first impression – that the organization exists and that the community can be supportive of that. It’s also great to know that other students care about public interest and volunteering.”

Amid the food preparation and cleanup at Martha’s Table, there was also valuable conversation. While new students introduced themselves and shared their personal and legal interests, Pike and Bonventre gave tips and advice on everything from conquering legal rhetoric to managing stress.

Before heading home, the group made an impromptu stop at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Over chili half-smokes, the group discussed the legacy of the restaurant, the history of the neighborhood, and navigating the city.

“It was nice to get off campus, meet new people, and see the city before starting the school year,” says Alyssa Antoniskis, a new student from Seattle. “I really feel like we got some great tips about things to be aware of.”

IMBY participants worked on projects throughout the city and ended their day of service at an event held at Cleveland Park Bar & Grill.

“In My Back Yard is not just a great orientation event but more importantly serves as an introduction to the AUWCL community and our values,” notes Thais-Lyn Trayer, a 2L Public InterestPublic Service Scholar and IMBY coordinator.

“Every year, we reaffirm through IMBY that our students, faculty, and staff care about giving back to those around us.”

IMBY and The Pro Bono Honors Pledge Program are an integral part of the law school’s focus on public interest work and community engagement.

BRAZIL-U.S. LEGAL AND JUDICIAL STUDIES PROGRAM In October, American University Washington College of Law announced the establishment of the unique Brazil-U.S. Legal and Judicial Studies Program, a comparative law program focused exclusively on Brazil and the United States and their respective legal and judicial institutions.

“The Brazil-U.S. Legal and Judicial Studies Program is the first program to offer a direct comparison of Brazil legal and judicial institutions with those of the United States,” says Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law. “We’re proud to host a program that helps its participants gain a firmer understanding of both legal systems.”

The program coordinates seminars on various comparative law issues for Brazilian judges, legal professionals, academics, and students, and also will assist those in the United States who want to have comparable introductions to Brazilian law. The program will tap into the collaboration of Brazilian lawyers who reside and work in the Washington, D.C. region, and Brazilian professors and judges who frequently visit the city.

The program also coordinates the law school’s existing activities in Brazil: most recently an international commercial arbitration program in São Paulo, a seminar on administrative law in Porto Alegre, and the Seventh Annual Symposium on International Trade, sponsored together with the Brazilian Association of International Trade in Washington, D.C.

the Fulbright Commission in Brazil to hold an event highlighting U.S. law schools for Brazilian audiences, and will also host Brazil’s Labor Court judges during their biannual convention, in Washington, D.C. Other anticipated projects include a weeklong seminar comparing Brazil and U.S. legal and judicial institutions, for students, lawyers, and professionals.

The new program is headed by the Honorable Peter J. Messitte, senior judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and a longtime friend and colleague of the Brazilian Judiciary and Bar. Messitte is a former member of the International Judicial Relations Committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference, where he chaired the Working Group on Latin America and the Caribbean. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean. Messitte speaks fluent Portuguese and has written and spoken widely about Brazil-U.S. legal and judicial topics for many years.

Renata Brazil David, associate director of the program and a Brazilian national, recently retired as director of legal affairs for the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. Brazil David holds an LLM in international trade law from the University of Essex in England and an SJD (PhD in law) from American University Washington College of Law. For further information, please contact Renata Brazil David, associate director, Brazil-U.S. Legal and Judicial Studies Program at: rdavid@wcl.american.edu.

This year, American University Washington College of Law will coordinate with the U.S. Embassy and

17 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

students in the news

Named ScholarshipS

Awards 2013

The Named Scholarships and Awards Program has long been one of the law school’s finest traditions, opening up exceptional opportunities for students and donors alike that link our community across generations. Through the generosity of American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) alumni and friends, each year students receive critical assistance to pursue their legal education.

This year’s dinner for more than 180 people was held on February 26 at the law school. Dean Claudio Grossman presented each recipient with a certificate in honor of their accomplishment.

We recognize and thank the donors and congratulate the students.

sc h o lars h ips Anonymous AUWCL Scholarship

Nicholas Papain ‘78 Family Scholarship

Arbenz Family Scholarship

Colonel Kenneth W. Patrum Esq. Scholarship

Mary C. Arends Endowed Scholarship

Paul P. Purta Scholarship

Kenneth ‘59 & Patricia Auberger Scholarship

Laura Reckman Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Gerald Battist ‘66 IP Endowed Scholarship

Elizabeth F. Reed ‘27 and Ernest E. Salisbury ‘33 Endowed Scholarship

Trishana E. Bowden Scholarship Centennial Endowed Scholarship James ‘80 & Leona Cobb Endowed Scholarship Michael Cochran Memorial Scholarship Grace Markel Daish Scholarship James C. Eastman ’66 Endowed Scholarship Emalee C. Godsey Endowed Scholarship Claudio Grossman International Scholarship Amanda C. Howe ‘01 Memorial Scholarship ILSP Alumni Fund Scholarship Inter-American Moot Court Scholarship Fred R. Joseph ’68 Memorial Endowed Scholarship John Karl ‘79 & Tyna Coles Employee Rights Scholarship Judge Seymour Korn Scholarship Leadership Endowed Scholarship Belva A. Lockwood Scholarship Arthur Matthews Memorial Endowed Scholarship Leonard & Miriam Melrod Endowed Scholarship Elliott S. Milstein Endowed Scholarship John Sherman Myers Alumni Scholarship Sandra J. Oakman Memorial Award Dora Palkin ’16 Memorial Scholarship Marcy C. Panzer & Manny D. Pokotilow ‘64 Scholarship for Evening Division Students

a m a n d a c. h o w e m e m o r i a l s c h o l a r s h i p

f r e d r. j o s e p h m e m o r i a l e n d o w e d s c h o l a r s h i p

Rebecca Gan ’01 and Dean Claudio Grossman congratulate this year’s scholarship recipient Mulan Cui ’14. This award was established in the memory of Amanda C. Howe ’01 by her mother Janet Howe and her classmates Rebecca Gan and Umesh Jani. The award is given to a deserving student in the Marshall-Brennan Program who has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to serving underrepresented members of the community.

Stephanie ’01 and Holly Joseph joined Dean Claudio Grossman to present Joe Hernandez ’14 with the Fred R. Joseph award. This award was established in memory of Fred R. Joseph, BA ’65, JD ’68 by his colleagues, classmates, family, and friends. It is a need-based award for students interested in civil rights, public interest or criminal law, and who have participated in one of AUWCL’s clinical programs.

john karl ’79 & tyna coles employee rights scholarship

m o r r i s & c l a i r e k r a u t h a m e r p r i ze i n d i s a b i l i t i e s l aw

Tyna Coles and John Karl ’79 with Dean Claudio Grossman pose with this year’s Employee Rights scholarship recipient Elizabeth Moran ’13.

The scholarship is granted to a student or students who, through academic extracurricular commitments, demonstrates great promise for a career advocating on behalf of employees in the workplace.

Professor Bob Dinerstein with Dean Grossman and Joan and Harold ’69 Krauthamer congratulate scholarship awardee Matthew Smith ’14.

Established by Harold in the name of his parents, this prize recognizes the student who has written the best paper in the disabilities law course at AUWCL.

Peter S. Ridley, Jr. ‘70 Endowed Memorial Scholarship Seymour J. Rubin Endowed Scholarship in International Studies Joy Schwan Best ‘84 Memorial Scholarship Paul J. Sedgewick ’24 Endowed Scholarship Murphy Family Endowed Scholarship Betty Southard Murphy ‘58 Fellowship in International Commercial Arbitration Stephen & Beatrice Dodd Toth Scholarship Ves Vorobyev Scholarship Edward J. Walker ’85 Endowed Clinical Scholarship AUWCL Anonymous Scholarship AUWCL Dean’s Merit Scholarship AUWCL Law Review & Journal Scholarship AUWCL Scholarship Fund AUWCL International Students Scholarship Mark K. Wilson ‘81 Memorial Endowed Scholarship Robert J. Wolddow ‘70 Memorial Endowed Scholarship Wilson & Amelia Young Memorial Scholarship Don Monroe Casto Award Morris & Claire Krauthamer Prize in Disabilities Law Myers Society Legal Rhetoric Deans Fellows David B. Newman Jr. ‘83 & Kathryn R. Newman Prize for Trial Advocacy Energy and Natural Resources Scholarship Fund

pa u l p. p u r ta s c h o l a r s h i p

e l l i o t t s. m i l s t e i n e n d o w e d s c h o l a r s h i p

Barbara Ciconte, Paul Purta, and Associate Dean David Jaffe ’93 pose with Ilene and Kent ’96 Brostrom, and scholarship recipient James Strait ’14. This award was established in honor of Paul P. Purta, former Associate Dean of Institutional Advancement. It is given to a student who has previously worked in a helping profession such as social work, counseling or the ministry, is religiously active and has financial need.

Dean Claudio Grossman poses with Elliott Milstein, former dean of AUWCL, and the scholarship winners, (from left to right) Rebecca Heinsen ’13 and Janyll Canals ’13.

19 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

alumni news

au w c l IN THE NEWS

The Honorable Michael Algeo ’83, of the Montgomery County, Maryland Circuit Court, confers with students (now alumni) Meghan Davoren ’12 and Jessica Letro ’12.

NEW ADVOCACY LLM ENHANCES LITIGATION SKILLS by Jennifer Hawes a lt h o u g h v e t e ra n p r o s e c u t o r s , m i d - c a r e e r c i v i l l i t i g at o r s , a n d r e c e n t l aw s c h o o l g ra d uat e s h av e d i f f e r i n g s k i l l s a n d interests, they can all benefit f r o m a m a s t e r o f l aw s d e g r e e i n a dv o c a cy ( a dv o c a cy l l m ) f r o m au w c l .

“As a result of intense economic pressures and a rapidly changing legal climate, law firms, government agencies, and other legal service providers are placing an increased emphasis on the practical skills lawyers possess instead of basing hiring decisions solely on scholastic achievements or theoretical knowledge,” explains AUWCL Dean Claudio Grossman. “The demand for specialized skills is increasing, while on-the-job opportunities to gain these skills are often lacking.”

AUWCL’s new Advocacy LLM addresses these demands, provides opportunities to expand litigation competencies and hone practical litigation skills while earning an advanced degree. Program participants have the flexibility to decide on an individualized curriculum best-suited for their own personal goals.

The nationally recognized Stephen S. Weinstein ’65 Trial Advocacy Program administers the Advocacy LLM Program. Professor David Aaronson, director of AUWCL’s Trial Advocacy Program, states, “The Advocacy LLM was created to take into account the real-life needs of students. It offers a rigorous academic component and a breadth of practical litigation training for students to improve their pre-trial and trial skills, learn new litigation strategies and tools, and strengthen their persuasive abilities.”

The Advocacy LLM Program is designed for recent law graduates as well as practicing lawyers. The

variety of courses offers opportunities for students to enhance their legal advocacy skills both in and out of the courtroom and to prepare for all aspects of litigation. Important focuses of AUWCL’s Advocacy LLM Program are the use of modern technology in litigation and the training of ethical trial lawyers.

“There are only a few trial advocacy-related LLM programs in the nation,” Elizabeth Boals, associate director of the Stephen S. Weinstein Trial Advocacy Program, points out. “None of them offer students the ability to tailor their education to meet their individual career goals through diverse course offerings and opportunities to co-teach, write publishable works, and participate in externships that provide unparalleled litigation experience,” she notes. The optional writing component allows students to produce a publishable research paper in the field of litigation and the co-teaching opportunity allows them to work closely with JD students and experienced trial advocacy professors. The externship option helps LLM students gain experience in the intricacies of the pre-trial and/or trial process by being paired with experienced practitioners in substantive areas of law in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, courts, and law firms engaged in pro bono activities.

The Advocacy LLM is a twenty-four credit degree program that students can choose to pursue full-time (and complete in one year) or part-time (and complete at their own pace, usually in two years). Program participants can choose from an expansive list of more than forty diverse litigation-based courses. “We offer everything from international commercial arbitration to environmental and criminal litigation. The expansive selection of courses allows participants to specialize their advocacy education in specific areas of study, such as criminal, civil, environmental, and IP litigation,” explains Boals.

The Honorable DeLawrence Beard, retired Chief Justice of Montgomery County, Maryland Circuit Court, presided over court as student Kate Weston ’13 questions a witness.

The LLM degree requirements include two required advanced courses: Ethics for Trial Lawyers and an advanced trial advocacy course. In addition to the diverse litigation-related courses, LLM students may select from among the following core courses regularly offered by the Trial Advocacy Program: Civil Trial Advocacy; Criminal Trial Advocacy; Evidentiary Foundations & Objections; Litigating in the High Tech Courtroom; Ethics for Trial Lawyers; Litigating in the Digital Age: Electronic Discovery; Pretrial Civil Litigation; Homicide Prosecution; Challenges and Obligations of Prosecutors; The Jury in Civil Litigation; Scientific Evidence and Expert Testimony; and Criminal Defense Externship Seminar. Each of these core Trial Advocacy Program courses are team-taught by two instructors, a judge and either a full-time faculty member with

Students (now alumni) presenting their case at the Criminal Trial Advocacy final trials.

litigation experience or an experienced litigator. Most courses are taught in small sections with a maximum class size of eight to fourteen students. Multiple sections of some of these courses are regularly offered.

“In today’s job market, law school graduates who possess solid litigation skills along with practical experience have an edge,” Aaronson asserts. “Also, lawyers looking to diversify their practices or make career changes have a viable option in AUWCL’s Advocacy LLM Program.”

For more details on the Advocacy LLM Program, visit the LLM Web site at: wcl.american.edu/trial/llm or contact Elizabeth Boals at: eboals@wcl.american.edu or 202-274-4073.

21 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

AUWCL in the news

au w c l IN THE NEWS MARSHALL-BRENNAN CONSTITUTIONAL LITERACY PROJECT AUWCL Professors Jamin Raskin and Stephen Wermiel ’82 launched the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project named in honor of the late United States Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall and William J. Brennan in 1999. Founded with the enthusiastic support of Mrs. Cissy Marshall and the late Mrs. Mary Brennan, this project mobilizes talented second- and third-year law students, as well as LLM students, to teach courses on constitutional law and juvenile justice in public high schools in the District of Columbia and Maryland. The national program is headquartered at the Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., and the program has expanded to licensed chapters in law schools across the country.

This movement for constitutional literacy is rooted in the belief that students will profit for a lifetime from learning the system of rights and responsibilities under the U.S. Constitution. Many citizens do not participate and feel disengaged from politics. The Marshall-Brennan Fellows work with teachers, administrators, and lawyers to teach students their rights as citizens, the strategic benefits of voting, how lawmaking occurs, and other fundamental constitutional processes.

During the 2012 to 2013 academic year, the AUWCL chapter trained and supervised forty-six AUWCL JD students teaching sixteen classes in eight D.C. public and public charter schools and three Prince George’s County public high schools.

During the 2012 to 2013 academic year, AUWCL served as the clearinghouse for eighteen U.S. law school Marshall-Brennan chapters and two international affiliates. The culminating event for national expansion was the National Marshall-Brennan High School Moot Court Competition, which was generously supported by AUWCL Dean Claudio Grossman and the Bernstein Family Foundation.

On April 6 and 7, 2013, sixty-six high school students from thirteen Marshall-Brennan chapters competed at AUWCL and the U.S. District Court for D.C. Students argued whether the First Amendment protects a student’s critical comments about her principal on a password-protected section of the school’s official Web site. Judges included former Marshall-Brennan Fellows and AUWCL alums (some of whom traveled from Arizona and New Jersey to judge), and the Honorable Juan Sanchez, of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; the Honorable Sharon Prost, of the Federal Circuit; and the Honorable Joel Schneider, of the District of New Jersey. Student competitors reported, “I never thought I could be a lawyer before this program,” “I would like to thank AUWCL for caring about us and making this program possible,” and “My Marshall-Brennan teachers are the best teachers I have ever had.”

Each year the Marshall-Brennan Project hosts the annual William H. Karchmer End-of-Year Celebration and Awards Ceremony at which the high school students demonstrate their intellectual achievement through the presentation of entries about constitutional rights in the form of essays, poetry, art, and t-shirt design. The Mary Beth Tinker Award is presented at the celebration to honor an individual or organization for “unswerving devotion to the rule of law and the rights of America’s students.”

 Pictured left to right: Judge Joel Schneider (District of New Jersey), 2013 Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Competition Award winners Shanna Washington, Jeremiah Bromell, Sumaiyyah Abdullah, and Ursula Simmer, Judge Juan Sanchez (Eastern District of Pennsylvania), and Judge Sharon Prost (Federal Circuit).

Students and Mary Beth Tinker (fifth from left)  enjoy the camaraderie of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy competition.

23 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

AUWCL in the news

Pence Law Library First to Offer

hein o nl ine to a lums

by Adeen Postar

Last fall, AUWCL’s Pence Law Library became the first law school in the country to offer its alumni access to HeinOnline’s Law Journal database. This database has more than 1,700 law and law-related journals with a broad range of coverage. Alumni can search the database by keyword, article title, author, subject, state or country published. Articles can be downloaded in a searchable PDF format.

Alumni access to HeinOnline is available through the CareerLink home page that can be accessed using a personal login and password. To request a CareerLink account, send an e-mail to careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu including your full name, date of graduation, degree program, and your primary e-mail address (which will become your CareerLink username). Registration may take up to two business days.

In addition to HeinOnline, AUWCL alums have access to several interdisciplinary article databases with thousands of journals, including JSTOR, Project Muse, and Academic Search Premier through the Pence Law Library. To access these databases, alums should e-mail Rebecca Vander Linde at vanderli@american.edu. She can arrange access to the AUWCL Alumni Online community at securelb.imodules.com/s/1395/index1col.aspx?si d=1395&gid=1&pgid=3&cid=40. Due to license restrictions, AUWCL cannot offer remote access to other subscription-based databases to graduates, but Pence staff welcome and encourage the use of the library’s Web site and catalog at library.wcl. american.edu/. The new Encore catalog interface

allows alumni to search the library’s collections to access content from many places, including articles from HeinOnline.

AUWCL alumni are welcome to use the library and its collections the old-fashioned way – by stopping in during public hours. Reference librarians are happy to assist graduates with research at their firms and offices for legal information and to provide assistance with complicated research projects related to legislative history, regulatory issues, international and foreign law, and other materials and topics. To contact a reference librarian, e-mail reflib@wcl.american.edu or send an instant message to AskPenceLibrary.

Alumni cards enable graduates to borrow circulating materials from the law library, after registering with the Circulation Desk and obtaining a barcode.

Cards are available in Room 373 in the law school.

Alumni may use electronic databases and resources anywhere in the library. Wireless access and several computers are available for patrons’ use.

Databases available include ProQuest Congressional, BloombergBNA topical materials, and the CCH Intelliconnect. The library also has a workstation that allows Westlaw access that can be used for research.

Visit the library’s Web site – library.wcl.american. edu/ – to learn more about its services and hours of operation.

AUWCL Program Helps Alumni Repay Loans (by Jennifer Hawes) For an increasing number of law school graduates, the option of pursuing their dream jobs in public interest law isn’t really an option. Faced with daunting student loans, they are forced to choose high-paying legal careers that will help them make a dent in their debt.

AUWCL’s Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program (PILRAP) is changing that scenario. The program lends a helping hand to eligible graduates who pursue careers in public interest law by paying all or a portion of their monthly loan payments. Since its introduction in 1988, PILRAP has awarded more than $2.5 million and benefited 200 alumni.

“PILRAP represents a huge commitment by AUWCL and Dean Grossman to help public interest lawyers,” says David Steib, assistant director of AUWCL’s Office of Public Interest. Fewer than half of all law schools in the United States offer loan repayment assistance for their students.

Last year, the average debt for PILRAP applicants was $159,000. This year it is $179,000, says Barbara Williams, director of AUWCL’s Financial Aid Office.

When combined with their undergraduate loans, it’s not unusual to see applicants with as much as $300,000 to $350,000 in debt, she adds.

In 2010, an updated loan repayment assistance plan was created to increase the assistance available and to dovetail with the new federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives any remaining federal debt after ten years of qualifying payments.

The resulting PILRAP-II, for alumni from the class of 2008 and beyond, is more accessible and inclusive, notes Steib. In PILRAP’s first year, only fifteen students

received funding. Last year, all ninety-nine eligible applicants were assisted and $400,000 was awarded

by AUWCL. PILRAP-II awards are calculated based on an applicant’s annual Income-Based Repayment (IBR) amount.

IBR is a federal student loan repayment option created in 2007 under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. For most borrowers, IBR payments are less than ten percent of their income.

PILRAP-II applicants earning less than $50,000 are eligible for loan repayment assistance up to 100 percent of their annual IBR obligation, while those earning between $50,001 and $75,000 are eligible for assistance on a pro-rated basis. Once in the program, a graduate remains eligible to receive funding for up to ten years.

To be eligible for the program, alumni must apply within three years after the January following their graduations and work full-time in public interest law. Because salaries or job situations may change, recipients must reapply each year to continue receiving funds.

“For those graduates who want to go out and change the world and help those who need public assistance, PILRAP offers them a lifeline to their dream job,” explains Williams.

AUWCL’s policy is to give an award to anyone who is eligible, asserts Steib. But the number of applicants is increasing and so, too, is the price of the program.

Alumni and friends can donate to PILRAP online at wcl.american.edu/alumni/giving.cfm, by mail or phone (202-274-4050) and designate their gifts to PILRAP.

25 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

HERE TO HELP

(by Betty Lynne Leary)

a v i s i t t o au w c l’s o f f i c e o f c a r e e r a n d p r o f e ss i o n a l d e v e lo p m e n t c a n m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e i n t o d ay ’ s t i g h t l e g a l j o b m a r k e t.

The economy is most certainly on the minds of students, who are preparing to start their legal careers and enter the job market.

“The superb legal education and skills provided by AUWCL is a lifelong investment in yourself,” says Dean Claudio Grossman. “The global economic climate has affected many segments including the legal profession, and has propelled all law schools, including ours, to develop even further innovative law school programs that best equip students with the knowledge and skills essential for a successful legal career in the twenty-first century.” The staff

of AUWCL’s Office of Career and Professional Development keeps a close eye on the legal job market with the goal of developing programs and initiatives to support both current students and alumni in their search for employment. Changes not only in the economy but also in hiring practices have meant new challenges for graduates.

“We have seen a sea of change in the way law firms recruit entry-level and lateral talent,” says Matthew Pascocello, director of career development and alumni counseling.  Stephanie Crosse, manager of Employer Relations (left), and

Matthew Pascocello (center) talk with Jarrad Wood ’15 about careers as Saray Noda ’13 leaves after her consultation.

“Firms are recruiting at fewer schools, constricting 3L hiring activity, and restructuring the path to partnership.”

According to the National Association of Law Placement (NALP), the nationwide class of 2011 had an overall employment rate of 86.6 percent, falling from a twenty-year high of 91.9 percent reached in 2007 just before the housing market began its precipitous tumble. Not quite half of those 2011 jobs were in private practice and, for the first time since 1997, jobs in small firms outnumbered those in large, one hundred-plus lawyer firms.

While the number of law school applicants has dropped nationwide, enrollment at AUWCL has remained steady. Pascocello says that prospective applicants are giving legal education “a hard second look” as they see the cost of legal education rising and the number of high-paying entry-level positions declining. But, as he points out, this isn’t necessarily all bad news.

“While the pool of applicants has shrunk somewhat,” he notes, “we now have students who are perhaps a bit more focused as to their reasons for attending.”

According to Traci Jenkins, assistant dean of the Office of Career and Professional Development, today’s typical AUWCL class is composed of a mix of students.

“We attract those who come straight from their undergraduate studies along with professionals who are looking to make a career change,” she says.

The office begins its partnership with students during orientation when they receive guidance on a variety of professionalism matters. That interaction continues later in the first semester when the office offers specialized programs and one-on-one counseling for the first-year students. Once the students complete their legal educations, Jenkins and her staff track the alums as they enter the job market.

“When I first came to AUWCL, our employment rates were higher,” Jenkins says. “Like many other law schools across the country in recent years, our alumni still have job opportunities but not at the same rates

due to the market constriction.” Employment statistics are reported to the American Bar Association nine months after graduation which allows time for students to take the bar exam and to accommodate the hiring dynamics of employers. Therefore, statistics on the class of 2012 weren’t available until March 2013. Jenkins oversees the office’s counseling initiatives and works with students and alumni on resume reviews, networking skills, and job strategies.

“Our school has always had an alumni counselor who works with graduates to provide individual counseling, specialized resources, and tailored programming for them,” Jenkins says. “We offer a combination of resources and we leverage technology so graduates can access information more conveniently.” Alumni can access the Career Development Listserv, CareerLink, Lexis, and participate in Webinars and roundtable discussions. The school also has a mentor database that connects alums for possible career development opportunities.

“You have to stay in the forefront of people’s minds.”

She also stresses the importance of persistence.

“Those who are successful are those who keep at it,” she says. “Do one thing per day to push your job search. There are plenty of opportunities to meet with professors and practitioners who come to campus. You have to make time to take advantage of these resources.”

For many alums, Matthew Pascocello becomes a familiar face in his role as alumni counselor. In addition to the job search resources and job postings provided, Pascocello helps to introduce alumni to each other to enhance networks, runs a dynamic Alumni Career Development Listserv, offers Webinars that reach AUWCL graduates worldwide, creates specialized programs for recent graduates, conducts mock interviews, reviews resumes, and works frequently with the Office of Alumni Relations to coordinate programming ideas and alumni outreach. He advises both students and alumni to keep a healthy perspective on what may seem to be a discouraging environment.

27 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

“Of course the current market is challenging, but to the extent that one is just starting out in a lifelong profession, you have to anticipate there will be many ups and downs,” Pascocello says.

“The frustrations you experience now will become part of your past and offer a slice of wisdom that will serve you in good stead in the future.”

Flexibility is, therefore, also critical. When the economy is strong and opportunities are plentiful, the focus of the job search tends to revolve around selection criteria such as compensation, job location, and who offers the best work-life balance. In a tight market, these criteria are still important but there is more of a willingness to sacrifice or be more flexible with these criteria.

“When you are in the midst of a job search, it can be difficult to step back and appreciate the fact that career development is a dynamic and fluid process,” Pascocello notes. He encourages job seekers, and happily practicing attorneys alike, to “never stop growing their careers” and to “take on some risk in building new skills and broadening their marketability.” He notes that AUWCL alumni have been an invaluable resource with their willingness to support the school and provide career perspective through the mentor database and participation in many OCPD career panels.

“Don’t feel that the first job you take will define your career for the future,” Pascocello advises recent graduates.

“Take some risk, learn all that you can, keep an eye on the next step, and realize that career development is a dynamic and fluid process.”

“Our alumni really step up to the plate in terms of helping our students and their fellow graduates identify opportunities and penetrate the market by sending our office discrete and public job postings, serving as contacts within organizations, signing up to be alumni mentors, and by offering informational and mock interviews to applicants and candidates.” For Dean Grossman, the relationship between current and future alumni is essential.

“Our alumni are important partners in ensuring the continued success of AUWCL students,” Grossman says. “Their ongoing commitment has led to the creation of externships and job opportunities as well as many need-based and merit scholarships. Our constant dialogue with the alumni community and their active involvement in AUWCL is a key undertaking and advantage of this institution.”

This active community is one that Traci Jenkins wants all students to be mindful of as they make their journeys through law school and beyond.

“Sometimes it doesn’t dawn on students that there are people here who are eager and willing to help you,” Jenkins says. “That’s the great thing about AUWCL. There is a whole community of people here who are always willing to help.”

AUWCL Programs Support Alumni (by Megan Smith)

in addition to the programs offered by the office of career and professional development, a number of other auwcl offerings can help alumni in their job searches or career transitions.

CLE PROGRAMS A wide variety of low-cost, onsite and online CLE programs are available to American University Washington College of Law alumni. More than sixty programs at the law school offered CLE credits last year, with more than thirty-one states applying for accreditation in timely and diverse topics such as labor rights, privacy issues, climate change, the global economy, and more. The networking opportunities at the law school’s CLE programs are many; professionals representing hundreds of different organizations attended these programs in 2012 and 2013. Alumni also enjoy an exclusive discount for an annual subscription to the law school’s online CLE Webcasts offered in many practice areas either live or on-demand at West LegalEdcenter,® the nation’s largest single source of online accredited CLE programs. On-demand Webcasts are available in topics ranging from an analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Affordable Care Act decision to a look at how new corporate structures of L3Cs, B-Corps, and flexible corporations support new businesses and jobs.

SUMMER PROGRAMS

“ D o one thing per day to push your job search.”

Traci Jenkins, assistant dean of the Office of Career and Professional Development

Alumni also can gain unparalleled access to highprofile organizations and intensive training by leading policy experts, while taking advantage of networking opportunities through participation in one of the law school’s 13 summer programs in Washington, D.C. The programs, available at a special discounted rate for alumni, allow attendees to brush up on their areas of practice or to gain training in a new field by focusing on cutting-edge topics in international arbitration, human rights, intellectual property, environmental law, and more. For example, last summer’s participants in the Health Law and Policy Institute learned from Cristina Meneses, attorney for the Network for Public Health Law (Eastern Region) and expert on health insurance exchanges. Meneses’ course, “The

Law and Politics of Health Insurance Exchanges,” featured guest lectures from experts who worked in establishing the health insurance exchange – a central part of the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance coverage strategy. “I got involved with the exchange in Maryland because it’s a good opportunity to influence decision makers and amplify the voices of patients,” said Meneses. Four new D.C. programs join the line-up of opportunities in the summer 2013 – Anti-Corruption Law (U.S. and International); Hospitality and Tourism Law; Litigation Skills, and Comparative Law (Brazil/U.S.).

LAWYER RE-ENTRY PROGRAM Alumni who are looking to resume, transition, or reinvent their professional lives can participate in the Lawyer Re-Entry Program, a unique program initiated by Dean Claudio Grossman to reclaim the talent of lawyers whose careers may not follow a linear model. Reduced tuition ensures that AUWCL alumni have access to this groundbreaking program – one of only two law school-based programs of its kind in the country. The program offers a series of sessions on: reclaiming professional identity, job search strategies and tools, legal research and writing, and technology.

Taught by experts in the field of attorney professional development, faculty, and Office of Career and Professional Development leaders, participating attorneys enhance and develop skills in a supportive environment while developing a powerful network of colleagues. One of more than 100 graduates of the program, alumna Lisa Henderson ’85, says she greatly benefited from the self-analysis and refreshers in legal writing and research offered by the program. She also appreciated the valuable networking opportunities the program provided. “The timing was perfect, and the school couldn’t have been more supportive,” affirms Henderson. “I had been looking to return to work, but my looking wasn’t focused.”

29

the ADVOCATE summer 2013

AUWCL Eyes Move to Tenley Campus

(by Betty Lynne Leary)

for the first time in our history, we are creating a law school campus from the ground up with legal education in mind from the very onset. our need for a new campus demonstrates, in itsel f, the vibrancy and creativity of auwcl.

— Dean Claudio Grossman DO YOU REMEMBER what it was like back in 1996 when American University Washington College of Law moved to its current location on Massachusetts Avenue? Compared to the Myers Building, which had been the law school’s home since 1964, the new space had plenty of room and was full of natural light thanks to two soaring atriums.

1996 4801 Massachusetts Avenue

Most thought they’d “died and gone to heaven with all of the new space,” as one faculty member put it, but in reality, the school was trying to put a square peg into a round hole. The building had been commercial retail space and offices, and over the years, it was retrofitted to create educational space. Classes take place in rooms with structural columns that hinder faculty and student interaction. Class sizes often are dictated by the space limitations of inflexible rooms that are either too large or too small. And with the entrepreneurial creativity of the school producing new programs, additional grant funding, new publications, and more jobs, the numbers of students, faculty, and staff continues to grow. The AUWCL campus has quickly spread across Massachusetts Avenue and is now housed in four separate buildings on both sides of the road.

“Our community has never believed in barriers, be they legal or literal, and our workplace shouldn’t have them either,” says Dean Claudio Grossman.

“Replacing an environment where we are separated by

1920 1315 K Street

1924 2000 G Street

four-lane roads will provide a geographical connection allowing our culture of collaboration to flourish.”

A NEED FOR COHESIVE SPACE When it became obvious to the administration that the law school was bursting at the seams, Grossman created the Space Committee, comprised of faculty and senior staff, to investigate whether a new building would solve the problem or if moving was a more viable option.

“There were questions, of course, in the beginning,” explains Billie Jo Kaufman, faculty chair for the Space Committee and associate dean for library and information resources. “Some people felt like we had just recently moved, while others have sentimental ties to our current space.”

Some faculty and staff recall that the move to Massachusetts Avenue was rather contentious with zoning battles and neighborhood residents fighting the planned move.

1964 Myers Building

very positive.” The outcome is that the community has been fully included in the planning stages and all that it entails.

“Being a librarian, I know how vital knowledge can be,” Kaufman affirms. “When people feel a part of the process, they feel more empowered.”

A MORE HORIZONTAL CAMPUS The move to Tenley will mark the fifth permanent home for the law school after locations on K Street, G Street, the Myers Building, and Massachusetts Avenue. The Tenley Campus will offer AUWCL more than eight acres and 310,000 square feet of room to stretch its wings. Three buildings, including historic Capital Hall, are already in place. Two new buildings, Warren and Yuma halls, will be constructed on either side of Capital Hall to form a U-shaped quad. Green space will abound with large lawns, gardens, and treelined walkways.

Once the Space Committee zeroed in on the Tenley Campus as a future home, Kaufman notes that the lessons learned from the last move helped pave the way for a much smoother path this time around.

“For the first time in our history, we are creating a law school campus from the ground up with legal education in mind from the very onset,” asserts Grossman.

“Our need for a new campus demonstrates, in itself, the vibrancy and creativity of AUWCL.”

“Officials at American University met many, many times with the neighbors in the Tenley Circle area,” she says. “The meetings were handled well and were

Warren Hall will serve as the main entrance and house the Pence Law Library, classroom space, and seminar rooms. Yuma Hall also will offer classroom space,

31 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

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Aerial view of American University campus in 1976, with the law school circled.

clinical space, faculty and program offices, and the main dining complex. Both buildings will connect with Capital Hall, a historically significant Washington landmark that features a white limestone façade and will include a formal reception area. It will house the dean’s office, the associate deans’ offices, Career and Professional Development, Financial Aid, the Registrar’s Office, and offices for all seventeen of the student publications.

three tiered and three with flat floors, will provide innovative and appropriate space for legal education.

In addition, ten seminar rooms will provide the most flexible of all the teaching spaces.

The Commons area will serve as the hub and heart of the campus. It will cross the quad space that connects Warren and Yuma halls and will feature an entrance lobby, amphitheater, ceremonial spaces, information meeting alcoves, and study areas. From this central space, students can access the library, classrooms, seminar rooms, conference center, dining areas, and group study rooms.

“AUWCL has been a leader in fostering collaborative, innovative learning, but our current space is simply in a traffic jam,” says Karen M. Lockwood ’78, commercial trial lawyer and ADR professional. Lockwood has experienced the overcrowded classrooms firsthand as an adjunct professor and says that, on some days, even a small, fifteen-person class has no place to meet.

“ Yes, we’re turning a chapel into a courthouse, and AUWCL will be the only law school in the country to have its own courthouse.”

Billie Jo Kaufman, faculty chair for the Space Committee and associate dean for library and information resources Classrooms will no longer be inflexible spaces with immovable walls and furniture bolted in place. Seven large, tiered classrooms and six medium classrooms,

“If I want to teach four groups of four in one of the seminar rooms today and then teach in a circle tomorrow, I will be able to do so,” explains Kaufman.

The layout of each space has been designed with the nuances of legal education specifically in mind.

“The Tenley Campus beckons us,” Lockwood stresses, “with designs that encourage students to relax in small groups, to confer, trade notes, work on an article, tease out a new moot court plan, or organize a team. Even the green areas outdoors encourage focused creative learning while, at the same time, remain wired to the Internet.”

Putting education into immediate practice will require nothing more than a short walk to the new AUWCL Courthouse to be located just west of Capital Hall in a historical building that once served as a chapel.

This rendering shows the Yuma Wing (left), Warren Wing (right), and the back of the “courthouse” in the center.

“Yes, we’re turning a chapel into a courthouse,” Kaufman says, “and AUWCL will be the only law school in the country to have its own courthouse.”

The new facility will feature a trial advocacy center with two small flexible spaces on the ground floor that can be configured as practice courtrooms and used for a variety of simulations. The Grand Moot Courtroom on the main floor will be the signature space with vaulted thirty-foot-high ceilings and stained glass windows on the sides. It will be used as a large classroom, for hearings and judicial proceedings, meetings, and panel discussions.

EXPANDED RESEARCH AND CLINICAL SPACE The print and digital collections of the Pence Law Library will be moved to Warren Hall where students, faculty, alumni, and visitors will find an expansive new reading room and several spacious study areas.

Covering three floors, the library will continue to be a central gathering space on campus for learning, research, and practice.

“We’re looking forward to having a lot more seating in the library and having our archives housed in a better environment,” Kaufman says.

The library’s namesake, alumnus Bob Pence ’71, says the library is not only an extremely important resource for materials relating to the practice of law but also increasingly more important as a gathering space.

“It is imperative for the library to serve as a place where students can get together comfortably to discuss cases and classwork and for the kind of learning that doesn’t take place in a classroom,” Pence says, adding that by building from the ground up, this will be the first time “we have a chance to control our own environment.” The new library space will be equally attractive to alumni and other visitors to campus.

“The new library will be a more conducive and enticing space than we’ve ever had for judicial and business law seminars,” Pence notes.

The top-rated clinical programs at AUWCL also will benefit from expanded space specifically designed for its needs. A network of law practice labs will be available for professors to teach a variety of skills and will allow AUWCL to embrace the new challenges of practicing law for years to come. Clients who come to campus for legal services will find it much easier to access AUWCL, thanks to the close proximity of the Tenley Circle Metro stop.

“Being one block from the Tenley Metro will be a significant improvement,” says Grossman. “Whether coming to the campus for schoolwork, to receive clinical services, or if you’re heading downtown to the courthouse, proximity to the Metro will make access to our campus – for faculty, staff, students, alumni, clients, and visitors – much easier.”

33 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

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

Students and Professor/Associate Dean A. Allen King, shown discussing coursework in King’s classroom circa 1970.

c l a ss r o o m s w i l l n o lo n g e r b e i n f l e x i b l e s pa c e s w i t h i m m o va b l e wa l l s a n d f u r n i t u r e b o lt e d i n p l a c e . s e v e n l a r g e , t i e r e d c l a ss r o o m s a n d s i x m e d i u m c l a ss r o o m s , t h r e e t i e r e d a n d t h r e e w i t h f l at f lo o r s , w i l l p r o v i d e i n n o vat i v e a n d a p p r o p r i at e s pa c e

View the JUNE 12 Ground Breaking Video at Tenley2015.wcl.american.edu

f o r l e g a l e d u c at i o n . 

Case preparation in the John Sherman Myers Hall law library

during the 1970-71 academic year.



Direct access to the heart of one of the most international cities in the world also will enhance the many international programs at AUWCL.

“Our new location will further integrate our international programs into the life of the city, creating opportunities for new partnerships with the many institutions located in Washington,” says David Hunter, member of the Space Committee and director of the International Legal Studies Program. “The campus will be designed to foster new collaborations among U.S. and international students, scholars, and practitioners in ways that will enhance the law school’s leading role in reflecting and promoting the rule of law in a globalized era.”

DESIGNED BY LAW SCHOOL EXPERTS The SmithGroup, an architectural firm with offices in Washington, D.C. and across the country, spearheaded the design efforts after many meetings with faculty, administrators, students, alumni, and the Dean’s Advisory Council. Veterans of law school design, the group has worked closely with the building planning group to stay true to the law school’s goals.

“They have worked with other law schools so they understood our vocabulary, and we didn’t have to explain to them what a law school needed,” Kaufman states. “They have been very engaging, available, and have taken people to the site to get a feel for what is planned.” The team is targeting a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Building Council with environmentally sustainable features including recycled construction materials, energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, innovative water management strategies, and sustainable noninvasive landscaping. We’ve been working with a LEED checklist from the very first meeting,” Kaufman adds. “It’s a significant piece of the project and the right thing to do for the environment.”

ALUMNI INVOLVEMENT, BENEFITS Alumni remain an important and vibrant part of the AUWCL community and have been instrumental in the planning process. Alumni regularly come to campus to attend meetings, to network with students, serve as adjuncts, and participate in programs.

“Right now, AUWCL is off the beaten path,” Huang says. “For a profession that requires travel to the courthouse and to law offices in the heart of D.C., access to the Metro will be great. It will certainly be more convenient and bring us closer to the profession that we’re in.”

“ I am less concerned about the amount of a donation than the actual rate of participation by our alumni. By participating in the campaign, we’re showing our awareness and support of the law school and its future.”

Huang notes that making donations to the capital campaign is a great way for alumni to help although he is focusing more on participation than specific donation amounts.

Eric Huang ’05

“Alumni have great ideas and having space to carry out these ideas will be great,” Kaufman notes. “They play a tremendous role and once the move is made to Tenley, their interaction with us will only increase.”

Eric Huang ’05 has served as chair of the GOLD Society (Graduates of the Last Decade) for the last seven years and also serves on the Capital Campaign Committee to help raise funds for the move. Huang, who works for the Office of the Attorney General in Washington, D.C., says the move to Tenley will increase AUWCL’s visibility in the community.

“I am less concerned about the amount of a donation than the actual rate of participation by our alumni,” he notes. “By participating in the campaign, we’re showing our awareness and support of the law school and its future.” The capital campaign is slated to run through 2014 with the goal of starting classes for the 2015 fall semester in the new location. The opening of the new campus will cement AUWCL’s position as a significant anchor in the Tenley area and as one of the most progressive law schools in the country.

“This area is already a distinctive and colorful part of town,” Grossman says. “With our own vibrancy and creativity, American University Washington College of Law will become a most valued neighbor bringing new spirit and life to the Tenleytown community.”

35 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

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AUWCL Needs You! join the l aw school’s most prestigious community of donors .

TH E O FFIC E O F

d e v e lo p m e n t & a l u m n i r e l at i o n s The John Sherman Myers Society and the GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Society are comprised of prominent community leaders, alumni members, and corporations that are dedicated to the success of Washington

IS HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE

two new

College of Law. Their financial support significantly enhances the quality of legal education at the law school.

The generosity and foresight of these individuals paves the way for the future of AUWCL.

All members of the Myers and GOLD societies enjoy:

EXCITING ALUMNI BENEFITS!

•

Invitations to exclusive events;

•

Parking and CLE assistance for all Continuing Legal Education and special events;

•

News and communications from Dean Claudio Grossman;

CLE WEBCASTS

•

Commemorative items emblematic of your membership;

•

Special recognition in AUWCL’s Honor Roll of Donors;

•

And many other great opportunities.

The Office of Special Events and Continuing Legal Education is proud to offer CLE Webcasts in diverse practice areas either live or on-demand at West LegalEdcenter ®, the nation’s largest single source of online accredited CLE programs. As an AUWCL alumnus, you’ll receive exclusive discounts for this service. You’ll be able to access the law school’s wide-ranging and cutting-edge CLE programs as well as more than 200 programs each month on WLEc with an annual subscription discounted at a fraction of the cost. For more information visit SECLE online at wcl.american.edu/secle today!

We encourage you to join the Myers Society or GOLD Society. With your commitment, you will become an important part of a community of donors who are making it possible for AUWCL to meet the challenges of providing the highest caliber of legal education to its students. To learn more visit wcl.american.edu/alumni/

HEINONLINE!

giving.cfm.

Go Green: Give online at wcl.american.edu/alumni/giving.cfm.

For more information: Washington College of Law Office of Annual Giving 4801 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20016 202.274.4050

The Pence Law Library has arranged for AUWCL to be the first law school to provide its alumni access to the Law Journal Library through HeinOnline! This database has more than 1,700 law and law-related journals with a broad range of coverage. Alumni can search the database by article title, author, subject, state or country published, or by using keywords. Also, articles can be downloaded in a searchable PDF format. Alumni access to HeinOnline is available exclusively through the CareerLink home page that can be accessed using your personal login and password.

If you do not have a CareerLink account, you may request one by sending an e-mail to careerdevelopment@wcl.american.edu including your full name, date of graduation, degree program, and your primary e-mail address (which will become your CareerLink username). Registration may take up to two business days.

myerssociety@wcl.american.edu

w c l . a m e r i c a n . e d u /a lu m n i

the ADVOCATE summer 2013

DIVERSITY N E W S  The Pathways: To Judicial Clerkships, Government, and Firm Life panel consisted of (left to right) the Honorable Zuberi Williams ’01, Edna Ruth Vincent ’89, L. Jackson Thomas ’76, and Portia Brown ’01.

Seventeenth Annual Sylvania Woods Conference

o n a f r i c a n a m e r i c a n s & t h e l aw : A Focus on Alumni in the Workplace: Experiences & Expectations

by Sherry Weaver The program portion of this year’s conference consisted of two non-moderated panel conversations among alumni from across the decades and engaged in various types of legal work.

During “Pathways: To Judicial Clerkships, Government, and Firm Life,” which focused on more traditional approaches to practice, panel members considered the management of skills transfer across practice areas, and the practice and utility of networking, and compared the professional challenges of the past with those of the present and future. The panel included Portia Brown ’01, special assistant to the directors of criminal and civil enforcement at the Department of Justice; L. Jackson Thomas ’76, assistant United States attorney; Edna Ruth Vincent ’89, a principal in the firm of Colten, Cummins, Watson & Vincent; and the Honorable Zuberi Williams ’01, an administrative law judge for the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings.

Because the second panel represented a wider spectrum of professions – nonprofit, military justice, high-level federal appointment, and international humanitarian law – each panel member contextualized the contents of their toolbox of legal skills – writing, legal analysis, reasoning, for instance – to their particular area of work. The panelists for “Pathways: To Some Other Rewarding Ways that Worked” were Kelly Brinkley ’00, chief operating officer, United Way of the National Capital Area; Major Louis “Jamie” Boston Jr. ’00, chief, military justice, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Military District of Washington; the Honorable Vanessa Allen Sutherland ’96, chief counsel, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation; and Natacha Thys ’98, senior legal advisor, Africa Division, Rule of Law Initiative, American Bar Association.

 The conference planning committee presented Professor

Isaiah Baker with a special recognition award in honor of his retirement from the law after thirty years. Pictured, Professor Baker (left), Professor Angela Davis (podium), Sherry Weaver, director of Diversity Services, Khadijah Al-Amin-El, director of Capital Campaign Gifts, and Barbara Williams, director of Financial Aid.

 Joseph Hairston ’60 presented the alumni award named in his honor to Dolores Dorsainvil ’00.

 Preston Michael Smith ’13 is presented the

Rising Star Award by last year’s recipient Ada Esedebe ’12 (left) and Barbara Williams (right), director of Financial Aid.

The Each-One-Reach-One Networking reception that followed the panel discussions allowed for participants to interact with one another in a less formal setting. Throughout the reception and dinner, a slide presentation of photos from previous Woods Conferences was shown and accompanied by the music of Loide Jorge ’06.

The conference ended with the annual awards dinner, at which the Woods family was represented by Mrs. Geneva Woods, the judge’s widow; her daughter, Sebrena; son, Sylvania Jr.; a granddaughter, other members of the family, and friends. During the evening, individuals were recognized for their contributions to the law school and the profession.

First, the conference planning committee presented a special recognition award to Professor Isaiah Baker, who is retiring from the law after thirty years. The presentation was made after heartfelt, and shared, remarks by Professor Angela Davis.

Joseph Hairston ’60 presented the alumni award named in his honor to Dolores Dorsainvil ’00.

Next, as the result of an election among members of the Black Law Students Association, Preston Smith ’13 was presented the Rising Star Award by last year’s recipient Ada Esedebe ’12 and Director of Financial Aid Barbara Williams. Finally,

 Jacqueline Jackson ’74 presented the North

Star award to Jill Cummins ’88 in recognition for her many years of service as treasurer of the Black Alumni Association and as a founding member of the Dean’s Diversity Council.

Jacqueline Jackson ’74 presented the North Star Award to Jill Reid Cummins ’88, in recognition of her many years of service as treasurer of the Black Alumni Association and as a founding member of the Dean’s Diversity Council.

The Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee ’76 introduced the alumni-introductions portion of the evening.

The Honorable Reggie B. Walton ’74, who recently was appointed presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court by Chief Justice John Roberts, gave closing remarks. The evening ended with Chimnomnso Kalu ’10 leading the group in “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” the AfricanAmerican anthem.

For the first time, the planning of this conference included the collaboration of the Black Alumni Association. All agreed that the desired takeaways from the Seventeenth Sylvania Woods Conference on African Americans and the Law were the creation of a comfort level among alumni and students that will enable continuing supportive dialogue, and a moment of reunion among African-American alumni that will further embrace them and encourage their enhanced participation in the life of the law school.

39 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

diversity news

A L UM N I

honors AUWCL honored alumni at various Founders’ Events this spring in recognition of outstanding achievements in their careers.

Three Public Interest/Public Service awards were given by the Public Interest Committee to recognize the accomplishments of individuals in the following categories: a current second-year or third-year AUWCL student (EmilyRose Johns ’13), an alumnus or alumna whose work is primarily in the United States (Gary C. Norman LLM ’11), and an alumnus or alumna whose work is primarily abroad or in international law (Lisa Piper ’99). The Cicchino Awards recognize and honor those students and alumni whose devotion to, and creative service in, the public interest exemplify the highest ideals of the Washington College of Law. Pictured left – EmilyRose Johns ’13 and Gary C. Norman LLM ’11; Pictured right – Lisa Piper ’99 with Professor Rick Wilson.

AUWCL honored alumna Judy Smith ’86 at this year’s 2013 Women and the Law Leadership Luncheon and Award Ceremony, held April 17 at The Cosmos Club. Smith is the founder and president of Smith & Company, a leading strategic and crisis firm, as well as the inspiration behind the hit ABC television show “Scandal.” Pictured (left to right) are several of the past award winners: Penny Wakefield ’79, Pamela Deese ’83, Judy A. Smith ’86, Leigh-Alexandra Basha ’85, and Corrine Parver ’82.

Lydia Watts ’96 received the second annual Equal Justice Foundation Alumni award at the twentieth annual Equal Justice Foundation auction on April 4. She was honored for upholding excellence in public interest law and for her contributions to the WCL public interest law community. Lydia is pictured left, with Dean Claudio Grossman.

Vincent Eng ’95 (right) was honored by the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) at the sixth annual Founders’ Day dinner on March 28. The dinner united alumni and students from AUWCL for a dialogue on community progress and emerging issues. William Xu ’14 (pictured left) noted, “We were proud to present the Distinguished Alumni Award to Vincent, partner at the Veng Group, who has made significant contributions to the Asian American community, including the appointment of Asian Americans to federal judgeships.”

The First Annual Health Law Society Dinner recognized Corrine Parver ’82 for her successful contributions in the field of law. Parver was the founder and motivation behind the Health Law program at AUWCL.

The awards are given annually in honor of Peter M. Cicchino, who passed away in 2000. Cicchino was not only a brilliant scholar and teacher, but also a brave and creative public interest lawyer. Among many other accomplishments, he founded the Lesbian and Gay Youth Project at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.

The International Trade & Investment Law Society, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, and Dean Claudio Grossman hosted the International Trade and Investment Law Society Distinguished Alumni Dinner on April 22. The seventh annual event honored Ricardo Ramirez ’95, member of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (pictured, center, with Jorge Vera ’13 and Padideh Ala’i, professor of law).

Tom Morante ’77 (center) was honored at the fourth annual Business Law Society Distinguished Alumni Dinner at Bistro Bistro in Washington, D.C. on April 25. Morante was chosen for his support and commitment of AUWCL and his success in the business and international law arena. Pictured with Morante are the two Business Law Society students who planned the dinner – Elizabeth Waysman ’14 and Benjamin Ross ’13.

41 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

alumni news

Events

snapshots This past year the Office of Development and Alumni Relations was busy with multiple receptions and programming for alumni. Additional receptions are planned for this spring and summer. To find upcoming events, visit AUWCL’s social media sites (see back cover) or visit the alumni Web calendar at wcl.american.edu/alumni. For more information, e-mail alumni@wcl.american.edu.

Multicultural staff, alumni, and students gathered together for the semi-annual First Thursday Networking Reception on March 7 at Clyde’s of Gallery Place. Alumnus Thomas Brunet ’12 (center) and Michael Gonzalez ’12 (right) are pictured with a newly admitted student.

Alumni and newly admitted students get to know each other at the New York City networking reception on March 5 at the 21 Club.

Pictured left to right: Phebe MacRae ’94, admitted student Vanessa Ortiz, and Patricia Levin ’94.

It was SRO (Standing Room Only) at the Young Alumni networking reception at Acadiana in Washington, D.C. on December 6, 2012. Pictured left to right are Leila Levi ’10, H. Briana Levine ’11, and Richard Rodriguez ’11.

Professor Stephen Wermiel ’82 (second from left) poses with Benjamin Moss ’10 (left), Elisabeth Myers ’93 (right) and two admitted students at a networking reception at Ruth’s Chris of Crystal City on March 19.

Alumni (pictured left to right) Martha Plante Frydl ’08, Kira Epstein ’08 (judicial clerkship advisor in the Office of Career and Professional Development), Vanessa Martin ’08, and Sharon Sullivan ’09 celebrated the holiday season at a networking reception on December 13, 2012 at P.J. Clarke’s in Washington, D.C.

(From left) Alumni Juan Fernandez-Barquin ’08, Henry Roque ’08, Natalie Rico ’08, Natalie Lamela ’08, and Ana Laura Olman ’06 gather over drinks and conversation at Ruth’s Chris of Coral Gables on February 21.

Ryan Alvarez ’09 and Cori Racela ’09 (at left) speak with two admitted students at the Palomar Hotel in Los Angeles on March 13.

Alumni Laxmi Raman Rees ’04 (left), Guinevere Jobson ’07, Trey Rees ‘04 (center left), Steven Ragland ’02 (right) share a photo with Associate Director of Admissions Brooke Sandoval (right center) at the San Francisco networking alumni and newly admitted students reception on March 12 at Town Hall.

Millard Bennett ’77 and Leigh-Alexandra Basha ’85 met with students, including Chelsea Zimmerman ’14, Michelle Winters ’14, and Saray Noda ’13, during the fall 2012 Dean’s Advisory Council Speed Networking event at AUWCL.

JD and LLM December 2012 graduates celebrated their success at AUWCL with friends, family, faculty, and staff on November 28.

(Left to right) John Giust ’95, Dan Dusfenre ’02, and Oluwole Coker LLM ’97 enjoyed dinner and networking opportunities at the alumni and newly admitted students dinner at The Palm in downtown San Diego on March 14.

43 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

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John Sherman MyerS sOCIETY

cel ebr at e s at t h e

Supreme Court of the United

States

The Supreme Court of the United States Great Hall was illuminated by the AUWCL seal.

Dean Grossman posed with AU Provost Scott Bass and his wife Elyse Jacob.

President Kerwin (center) and Professor Andrew Popper (right) welcome alumnus Bob ’71 (left) and Suzy Pence to the gala.

a l um n i , s t u d e nt s , fa c u lt y , staf f , and f riend s of au w cl c e l e b rat e d t h e t w e nt y- e i ghth anniversary of the j ohn sher ma n m y er s s o c i e t y w i t h a g a la d inner at the su p reme cou rt of th e un i t e d s tat e s .

Although the Supreme Court was under construction, John Sherman Myers Society members Millard Bennett ’77 and son Timothy S. Bennett ’99 posed for photos on their way into the dinner.

The dinner was hosted by the Honorable Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who generously spoke to attendees. Dean Claudio Grossman presented her with a framed copy of a quote by AUWCL founder Emma Gillett (dean, 1913-1923) that read “The legal education of women would be a liberal education for men.” Ginsburg then spoke from her heart about her connections to the law school and women in the law.

Associate Dean Mary Clark presented the Myers Society Scholarships to current students Nicholas Bead ’13 and Christianne Cannon ’14. Both students spoke briefly about their hard journeys to law school and how much the scholarships meant to them now and in the future.

Grossman updated the group on the exciting plans for a new Tenley law campus; AU President Cornelius Kerwin added more information about the additional plans for the AU campus expansion; and Tom Morante ’77 congratulated the Myers Society members on a successful year.

The John Sherman Myers Society was established twenty-eight years ago and named in honor of Dean John Sherman Myers and his wife Alvinia Reckman Myers. It includes faculty, alumni, and friends who support AUWCL through annual gifts of $1,500 or more.

The program concluded with Loide Jorge ’06 singing “God Bless America,” a fitting tribute in the halls of the Supreme Court.

For more information on the Myers Society, or to make a gift, e-mail MyersSociety@wcl.american.edu.

Loide Jorge ’06 mesmerized the crowd with her strong rendition of “God Bless America” at the end of the formal program. Also pictured are members of the Olivera Music Trio.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg graciously addressed the crowd.

Tom Morante ’77, chair of the John Sherman Myers Society, spoke about AUWCL’s legacy.

Several Student Bar Association leaders, including 2012-2013 SBA President Abby Duggan ’13 (front row center) attended the John Sherman Myers Dinner as guests.

Pamela Deese ’83 posed with her husband Michael Deese during the cocktail hour.

Associate Dean Mary Clark (at the podium) introduced and congratulated the two John Sherman Myers award winners Nicholas Bead ’13 and Christianne Cannon ’14.

45 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

alumni news

ts n e v i e n m alu g n omi c p hold the date! u

j u ly

october

July 15, 6:30 PM Seattle Area Alumni Dinner with Dean Billie Jo Kaufman Location: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

October 30, 6:30 PM New York Alumni Reception For AUWCL alumni and AU alumni who practice law

celebrating a l e g a cy d o n at i o n

The American University Washington College of Law is honored to pay tribute to the generosity of the late

Patricia F. ’59 and Kenneth J. ’61 Auberger and share news of the Patricia F. and Kenneth J. Auberger

au g u s t August 8, 6:30-8:30 PM ABA Alumni Reception, San Francisco Location: Lark Creek Steakhouse

Scholarship program. During their lifetimes, the Aubergers,

november November 7, 6:30 PM First Thursday Multicultural Reception Washington, D.C.

loyal members of the AUWCL John Sherman Myers Society for more than two decades, named AUWCL beneficiary of their charitable estate plans.

This remarkable commitment remained unknown to AUWCL until the Aubergers’ recent passing. Through the Patricia F. and Kenneth J. Auberger Scholarship program, generations of AUWCL

september September 10, 6:30 PM Washington, D.C. Area Alumni and Tenured Faculty Reception September 20, 7:00 PM John Sherman Myers Annual Celebration and Dinner Exclusively for members of the Myers Society who donate $1,500 or more per year to AUWCL Location: United States Institute of Peace Washington, D.C.

scholars will benefit from increased opportunities toward academic excellence. Originally from New York, Patricia and Kenneth Auberger moved to Washington following their 1951 marriage.

Kenneth began what would become a five-decade career with the federal government, starting in the U.S. General Accounting Office.

Kenneth moved to the Farm Credit Administration where he rose to the rank of acting director of the Office of Administration. Looking for opportunities to enhance talents in the fields of management and the law, Kenneth obtained two graduate degrees from American University, where his experiences as a student shaped much of his professional career.

We invite you to consider your own legacy at the Washington College of Law. To learn how to make your philanthropic dreams a reality and how charitable estate planning can benefit you and your family, contact Seth Speyer, director of Planned Giving, at 202.885.5914, speyer@american.edu or visit american.edu/plannedgiving.

For details on these and other alumni events as they become available, please visit our Web calendar at wcl.american.edu/calendar and click on “Alumni” or e-mail alumni@wcl.american.edu. Visiting a location on the date of an alumni event? Please join us! Alumni are invited to attend all events.

47 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

alumni news

ALUMNI NEWS

CLASS NOTES w e l c o m e t o w h at i s p r o b a b ly t h e m o s t w e l l - r e a d s e c t i o n i n t h e a dv o c at e , o r a n y a l u m n i m a g a z i n e f o r t h at m att e r . m o s t o f t h e i n f o r m at i o n f o r c l a ss n o t e s i s g at h e r e d f r o m p r e ss r e l e a s e s a n d m e d i a a l e r t s s e n t t o t h e au w c l a l u m n i o f f i c e . yo u a l s o c a n s u b m i t i n f o r m at i o n a b o u t p e r s o n a l o r p r o f e s s i o n a l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s f o r t h e c l a ss n o t e s s e c t i o n by e-mail to Send us your class notes!

Share your good news with fellow alumni. Send your information to alumni@wcl.american.edu and place “Class Notes” in the subject line.

Please include your name, class year, and degree information.

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Join our Group on Linkedin!

Join our expanding alumni group Washington College of Law Alumni Group (official) on linkedin.com.

Tweet with us!

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Share and find event photos at Flickr.com/photos/wclalumni/.

Join us at regional and local events.

N E W:

alumni@wcl.american.edu.

C l a ss N o t e s a r e ava i l a b l e o n l i n e o n o u r A l u m n i N e w s

Pa g e at

wcl.american.edu/alumni/News.

Check out our upcoming events on page 46, and be sure to check our Web site and Facebook page to see if AUWCL is planning a reception near you.

Read the monthly e-newsletter!

Washington College of Law has a monthly e-mail newsletter -@WCL- that includes information about the law school’s exciting programs, events, and developments. Please view the latest edition of @WCL online at wcl.american.edu/news. If you are not already receiving the newsletter please sign up today!

I n f o r m at i o n i n c l u d e d i n t h e s e c l a ss n o t e s wa s g at h e r e d f r o m Au g u s t 2 0 1 1 t o J u n e 2 0 1 3 . A d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m at i o n w i l l b e i n c l u d e d i n t h e n e x t i ss u e o f t h e m a g a z i n e . E v e ry e f f o r t h a s b e e n m a d e t o e n s u r e t h e a c c u ra cy o f t h i s l i s t .

P l e a s e r e p o r t i n a dv e r t e n t e r r o r s o r o m i ss i o n s t o alumni@wcl.american.edu.

Got Questions?

We have the answers!

Visit the Alumni Relations Web pages for answers to the most-asked questions! Want to audit a class?

Need your transcripts? This and much more can be found at wcl.american.edu/alumni.

49 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

students in class the notes news

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SUPER LAWYERS – AUWCL Classes 1967-1982

SUPER LAWYERS – AUWCL Classes 1982-1999

Sanford Z. Berman ’67

Houlon, Berman, Bergman, Finci, Levenstein & Skok, LLC

Family Law

Marcia M. Maddox ’82

The Maddox Law Firm, PC

Family Law

Ronald L. Ogens ’67

Offit Kurman

Family Law*

Sherry A. Quirk ’82

Schiff Hardin, LLP

Energy & Natural Resources

Leo A. Roth ’67

Brault Graham, LLC

Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice

Melissa Rhea ’82

Jack H. Olender & Associates, PC

Personal Injury Plaintiff: Medical Malpractice

William E. Artz ’68

William E. Artz, PC

Personal Injury Plaintiff: Medical Malpractice*

Benjamin S. Vaughan ’82

Armstong, Donohue, Ceppos, Vaughn & Rhoades, Chtd

Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice

Susan S. Magazine ’69

Schuman & Felts, Chtd

Family Law

Bruce M. Bender ’83

Axelson, Williamowsky, Bender & Fishman

Worker’s Compensation

Lawrence S. Lapidus ’70

The Lapidus Law Firm, PLLC

Personal Injury Plantiff: General

Patrick J. Kearney ’83

Selzer Gurvitch

Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights

Marvin D. Miller ’70

The Law Offices of Marvin D. Miller

Criminal Defense

Donald F. King ’83

Odin, Feldman & Pittleman, PC

Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights

John K. Zwerling ’70

Zwerling, Moseley & Sears, PC

Criminal Defense

Christopher C. Fogleman ’84

Gleason, Flynn, Emig & Fogleman, Chtd

Business Litigation

Morton A. Faller ’71

Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, PA

Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights

Bruce W. Henry ’84

Henry & O’Donnell, PC

Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights

Ronald A. Karp ’71

Karp, Frosh, Wigodsky & Norwind, PA

Personal Injury Plantiff: General*

Leigh-Alexandra Basha ’85

Holland & Knight, LLP

Tax

David E. Sher ’71

Sher, Cummings and Ellis

Criminal Defense/White Collar

Brian M. Hirsch ’85

Hirsch & Ehlenberger, PC

Family Law

John B. Tieder Jr. ’71

Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP

Construction/Surety

Benjamin Boscolo ’86

Chasen Boscol: Injury Lawyers

Worker’s Compensation

Thomas C. Brown Jr. ’72

McGuireWoods, LLP

Business/Corporate

Andrea Leahy-Fucheck ’87

Leahy & DeSmet, LLC

Civil Litigation Defense

Thomas Colucci ’72

Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, Emrich & Walsh, PC

Real Estate

Lewis S. Wiener ’87

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP

Business Litigation

Cheryl L. Hepfer ’72

Offit Kurman

Family Law*

Mary Ellen Flynn ’88

Andalman & Flynn, PC

Family Law

Steven D. Kupferberg ’72

The Law Offices of Steven D. Kupferberg

Criminal Defense

Deborah P. Kelly ’88

Dickstein Shapiro, LLP

Employment**

Toby G. Singer ’72

Jones Day

Antitrust Litigation/Mergers & Acquisitions**

Michael J. Lichtenstein ’88

Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, PA

Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights

Paul T. Stein ’72

Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll, PC

Family Law

Charlie C.H. Lee ’89

Moore & Lee, LLP

Construction Litigation

Jeffrey N. Greenblatt ’73

Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, PA

Family Law

Steven J. McCool ’89

Mallon & McCool, LLC

Criminal Defense/White Collar

Kenneth G. Lore ’73

Bingham McCutchen, LLP

Real Estate

Edna Ruth Vincent ’89

Colten Cummins Watson & Vincent, PC

Family Law

Linda D. Schwartz ’73

Paley Rothman

Real Estate

Paul E. Hagen ’90

Beveridge & Diamond, PC

Environmental

Steven A. Hamilton ’74

Hamilton Altman Canale & Dillon, LLC

Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice

Howard R. Cheris ’91

Armstrong & Cheris, Chtd

Criminal Defense

Gerald Ira Holtz ’74

Gerald I. Holtz, LLC

Personal Injury Plantiff: General

Matthew R. Nicely ’91

Thompson Hine, LLP

International

Burt M. Kahn ’74

Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA

Personal Injury Plantiff: Medical Malpractice

Brian K. Pearlstein ’91

Brodsky Renehan Pearlstein Lastra & Bouquet, Chtd

Family Law

Gerald A. Schwartz ’74

The Law Offices of Gerald A. Schwartz

Personal Injury Plantiff: General

Michael K. Lowman ’92

Jenner & Block, LLP

Securities & Corporate Finance

James E. Savitz ’75

Savitz, Parker, Hollman, Simon, Hahn & Delisi, LLC

Real Estate

Mimi L. Magyar ’92

Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd

Family Law

James W. Taglieri ’75

Cadeaux, Taglieri & Notarius

Personal Injury Plaintiff: General

Richard L. Nagle ’92

Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle, PC

Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice

Marcia C. Fidis ’76

Pasternak & Fidis, PC

Estate Planning & Probate

Linda A. Rahal ’92

Trow & Rahal, PC

Immigration

Susan M. Pesner ’76

Pesner Kawamoto

Real Estate

Pauline A. Schneider ’92

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP

Bonds/Government Finance

Constance K. Robinson ’76

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP

Antitrust Litigation**

John R. Jacob ’93

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP

Healthcare

W. Randolph Teslik ’76

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP

Civil Litigation Defense

David A. Martella ’93

Barry H. Helfand, PA

Criminal Defense

Millard S. Bennett ’77

Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll, PC

Business/Corporate

Anne Marie Jackson ’94

Ain & Bank, PC

Family Law*

Teresa A. Brooks ’77

Polsinelli Shughart, PC

Healthcare

Paul C. Cuomo ’95

Baker Botts, LLP

Antitrust Litigation

Colleen Mahoney ’78

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP

Corporate Governance & Compliance**

Thomas C. Goldstein ’95

Goldstein & Russell, PC

Appellate

H. Kenneth Armstrong ’79

Armstrong, Donohue, Ceppos, Vaughan & Rhoades

Personal Injury*

John S. Irving ’96

Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

Employment & Labor

Jeffrey S. Jacobovitz ’80

McCarthy Sweeney & Harkaway, PC

Criminal Denfense/White Collar

Danny Onorato ’96

Schertler & Onorato, LLP

Criminal Defense

John Patrick Kudel ’80

Kudel, McGann and Del Pino

Criminal Defense

David M. Simpson ’99

David M. Simpson, PA

Criminal Defense

Henry F. Brandenstein ’81

Venable, LLP

Real Estate

Steven T. Blomberg ’82

Gimmel, Weiman, Ersek, Blomberg & Lewis, PA

Business Litigation

James R. Cannon ’82

Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, PA

International

*Top 100 D.C. Super Lawyer **Top D.C. 50 Women

51 the ADVOCATE summer spring 2013 2013

class notes

alumni profile: ANDREW SHERMAN

’8 6

Leveraging Knowledge to Unlock Value and Potential (by Megan Smith)

Over the years, American University Washington College of Law alumnus Andrew J. Sherman ’86 has served as a legal and strategic advisor to dozens of Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of emerging growth companies through his work as a partner at Jones Day. He has represented and counseled U.S. and international clients in all stages of growth – from rapidly growing start-ups to multi-billion dollar international conglomerates. He has even been recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the top ten minds in small business. Sherman is also an author and professor.

Whether he’s practicing law, speaking to students, or writing his latest book, Sherman sees himself as an educator. He frequently returns to American University Washington College of Law, and has been a regular lecturer during the past ten years. “I’m happiest when I’m educating,” he says. “And I can educate in a boardroom, in a classroom, behind a podium, or through my writing. I’m happiest when I’m teaching others some skill set and strategy.”

Sherman credits his own American University Washington College of Law professors – some of whom still teach at the law school – with inspiring him to be a good educator. “I was inspired by the classroom experience. I looked up at the podium and saw that my professors really cared – how much I learned, and how well I learned it,” explains Sherman. “I’ve never stopped wanting to emulate the great teaching they provided to me in the classroom. The passion and commitment of professors can make or break the law school experience.”

In 2012, Sherman released his twentieth book, Essays On Governance: 36 Critical Essays To Drive Shareholder Value and Business Growth. According to Sherman, “At a time when our faith and confidence in our nation’s political and business leaders has reached historic lows, now is the time to reconnect with what it really means to lead and govern properly. Essays On Governance features a collection of thoughts and insights for today’s leaders and board members of companies both large and small, public and private. Boards of non-profits, NGO’s and universities can also find guidance, as can global government and political leaders.”

Using his own experience as well as real examples, Sherman reveals how companies of all sizes can effectively manage their intellectual property (or “harvest their intangible assets”) to remain both competitive and innovative. “We’re now in an economy where 70 to 80 percent of companies have no inventory, little physical assets, and are exclusively driven by intangible assets. Yet, they don’t take inventory of their intangibles. These aren’t companies whose primary value is driven by desks or chairs – they’re companies whose value is driven by brands and know-how. My book challenges corporate leadership to devote more time, energy, and attention to management of these assets.”

According to Sherman, the current state of the economy is not one in which companies can afford to waste intangible assets if they want to thrive. So, he says he has become a “champion of wasting less and doing more” with these assets. “This has become not just a book but a mission,” he notes. “You can have all the intangible assets you want, but you’d better use what you create to make shareholder value.”

“Sherman takes a positive approach,” wrote Professor Andrew Popper in a review of Sherman’s book.

“He focuses on utilization of resources, maximizing benefits while protecting interests, creative approaches, and novel strategies for those who appreciate the value of information technology and intellectual property – or those who are about to realize they possess an untapped resource.”

1970

John Kenneth Zwerling was recognized as Best Lawyers’ 2011 Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar Lawyer of the Year.

1972

William L. Schmidt, a private practitioner in Centreville, Virginia, received the Tradition of Excellence Award of the General Practice Section of the Virginia State Bar. Schmidt has been in private practice for thirty-nine years and has been active in the Fairfax Bar Association, the Fairfax Law Foundation, and the Virginia State Bar. He is a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation. In addition, he devotes countless hours to civic organizations including the Fairfax District of the Salvation Army, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, and the City of Fairfax Band. For the past nineteen years, he has served as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army at the same location in Fairfax, Virginia, and was featured on the front page of USA Today on December 24, 2009.

1973

James T. Brett was appointed by President Barack Obama as chair of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID). As PCPID chair, Brett leads a group of disabilities advocates from across the nation as they work to provide guidance and advice to the president on issues affecting people with intellectual disabilities. Brett is president and chief executive officer of The New England Council, the nation’s oldest regional business organization.

1974

Wayne R. Mielke is a private practitioner in Wellsburg, West Virginia, and is mental hygiene commissioner for the Circuit Courts of Brooke and Hancock counties. He has practiced in many areas of law, including criminal, juvenile, child abuse and neglect, and all types of civil cases.

1976

Angela Desmond, senior director of External Relations with the Center for Audit Quality, was named to Stanford Who’s Who. The Center for Audit Quality, founded in 2007, is a membership-based policy organization that serves investors and the capital markets by advancing audit quality across the public accounting profession. As senior director, Desmond is responsible for identifying and executing strategic and policy initiatives as well as strengthening outreach to a wide range

of domestic and international stakeholders within the profession, regulatory authorities, business community, institutional, and individual investors.

Joseph J. Giunta is senior counsel at Proskauer in the firm’s Los Angeles office. He concentrates his practice on mergers and acquisitions, proxy contests, tender offers, restructurings, recapitalization, and leveraged buyouts. Prior to joining Proskauer, Giunta was with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Florm, LLP, for twenty-five years, where he was managing director and general counsel of prominent crises communications firm, Sitrick and Company. He was one of the founding partners of Skadden’s West Coast M&A practice.

James Kilbreth, counsel at Verrill Dana, was named a Local Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation’s 2011 edition.

This is the second consecutive year Kilbreth has achieved this recognition. Kilbreth was recognized for his practice in environmental, energy litigation, which focuses on complex commercial and regulatory litigation, including antitrust, securities, environmental and energy matters.

Vernease Herron Miller is chair of Pfeiffer University’s Department of Health Administration and director of Healthcare Programs. In addition, Miller is a full professor of health law and administration. A member of Pfeiffer’s faculty since 1999, Miller was chosen in 2005 as the first professor in Pfeiffer’s 125-year history to be granted a sabbatical leave.

During her sabbatical, she served as faculty fellow with the Institute of Emerging Issues at North Carolina State University. Miller is board chair and managing director for the Carolinas Association for Community Health Equity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of disparities throughout North and South Carolina.

1977

Maria Henderson is president of The Florida Bar Foundation, a Fellow of the Foundation, and a member of its Legacy for Justice. The Florida Bar Foundation is a statewide charitable organization that works on behalf of Florida’s legal profession to expand access to justice. Henderson is an insurance consultant at Akerman Senterfitt, in the firm’s Tallahassee, Florida office.

Jay Lenrow is of counsel at Adelberg, Rudow, Dorf & Hendler, LLC, where he focuses his practice on real estate law, corporate law, construction law, and real estate finance.

Previously, he served as a principal in Lenrow, Kohn & Oliver, PC, the firm he co-founded. Lenrow also has served

53 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

students in class the notes news

as assistant attorney general for the state of Maryland and vice chairman of the Maryland Commission on LandlordTenant Law Reform. He was associate general counsel for McCormick Properties, Incorporated and vice president/ general counsel of Combined Properties, Incorporated.

1979

Dov Apfel received the 2011 Dan Cullan Memorial Award, a national lifetime achievement award conferred by the Executive Board of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Apfel was honored for his commitment to excellence in advocacy, his devotion and service to the children and families he represents, and for his service to the organization. An author and lecturer for more than twenty years, Apfel has helped educate lawyers throughout the United States about how to prove when negligent care caused brain damage in a newborn, as well as advised medical professionals about how to improve and comply with standards of obstetric care. A partner in Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC, based in Baltimore, Apfel has written two seminal law review articles discussing litigation criteria adopted by physician groups in an attempt to limit their liability for brain injuries resulting from negligent care during labor. He is a founding board member and former chairperson of the Medical Negligence Section of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association and a former co-chair of the AAJ’s Birth Trauma Litigation Group.

David R. LaVance Jr. is on the Board of Directors of Integrated Environmental Technologies, Limited. LaVance is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Scivanta Medical Corporation, a medical device company that is focused on the development of a highly specialized cardiac monitoring system. LaVance specializes in developing life sciences and other emerging technology companies, as well as in advising companies about mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic alliances.

Elitza Meyer, assistant general counsel and assistant secretary at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), a nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal services to economically disadvantaged individuals in New Jersey. An active VLJ volunteer, Meyer received the 2010 Bernard Kutner Award from the Essex County Bar Association and VLJ’s 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award. She has held several board positions, including

membership on the board of the New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association.

Nina Shea is a senior scholar at the Hudson Institute, where she directs the Center for Religious Freedom. For ten years prior to joining Hudson, Shea worked at Freedom House, where she directed the Center for Religious Freedom, an office that she had helped found in 1986 as the Puebla Institute. She has served as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom since its founding in 1999. She was first appointed to the commission in 1999 by then-Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and was reappointed in 2007 and 2010 by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH). For more than a decade, Shea has worked for the advancement of religious freedom and other human rights in U.S. foreign policy as it confronts Islamist extremism as well as authoritarian regimes. For seven years, until 2005, she helped organize and lead a coalition of churches and religious groups that worked to end a religious war against Christians, traditional African believers, and dissident Muslims in South Sudan. In 2004 and 2005, she contributed to the drafting of the Iraqi constitution’s religious freedom provision. She has authored and/or edited three widely acclaimed reports, Saudi Arabia’s Curriculum of Intolerance (2006) and Update (2008) and Saudi Publications on Hate Ideology Invade American Mosques (2005), each of which translated and analyzed Saudi governmental publications that teach hatred and violence against the religious “other.” She regularly presents testimony before Congress, delivers public lectures, organizes briefings and conferences, and writes frequently on religious freedom issues in The Wall Street Journal, National Review Online, Huffington Post, and other publications. Her 1997 book on anti-Christian persecution, In the Lion’s Den, remains a standard in the field.

Howard L. Sollins, a principal in OberKaler’s Health Law Group, was named to the Maryland Super Lawyers 2011 issue. He was recognized in the Health Law category. He also was recognized as one of the best in the healthcare field in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA. Sollins has more than three decades of experience in the world of healthcare law and is recognized as one of the top lawyers in the field according to such services as Best Lawyers in America, Chambers and Super Lawyers. His practice includes matters involving federal and state regulations; Medicare, Medicaid and other reimbursement; structuring business transactions and contracts; licensing, survey and certification; certificate

of need; fraud and abuse; corporate compliance; and e-health and technology. Prior to joining OberKaler, he was an assistant attorney general for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. He is a past chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Health Law Section.

1980

Jonathan Blatt, a fixed-income security professional, oversees high-yield bond sales and trading operations at Global Hunter Securities, a New York City investment bank focusing on the energy, China, healthcare, metals and mining sectors.

Previously, Blatt was with Stone Tower Capital, where he was responsible for trading all bond positions as well as half of the bank loan positions in their multi-billion dollar hedge fund.

He has been trading fixed-income securities since 1984 when he joined Bear Stearns. He was a founding member of Chase Bank’s high-yield desk; opened the New York office of BB&T Capital; and founded Fieldstone’s sales, trading, and research business. Before moving to the financial services industry, Blatt was an attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

John Kudel, a solo practitioner in Rockville, Maryland, and of counsel to Karp, Frosh, Wigodsky & Norwind, PA, is president of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA). MSBA is a voluntary association of 24,000 Maryland lawyers.

During his one-year tenure, Kudel will focus on member service, professionalism, and civility. Prior to attending college, Kudel was a police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., where he worked in the Narcotics and Internal Affairs divisions. After graduating from the University of Maryland, he worked as a white-collar crimes investigator in the Office of the State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland. Kudel is a past president of the Bar Association of Montgomery County and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, and the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association. He represented Montgomery County in the American Bar Association House of Delegates in 2002.

From 1986 to 2000, he was an associate professor at the University of Maryland, University College teaching in the Paralegal Studies Program.

William Stang is a managing partner in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office of Fox Rothschild, LLP. Stang oversees day-to-day office operations and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee, which sets overall firm policy. He has

more than twenty years of experience in resolving business disputes. He handles general and complex commercial matters for a variety of clients, including middle-market businesses, small to medium-size manufacturers, and healthcare practice groups. He has substantial trial and appellate experience in federal and state courts as well as in AAA arbitrations. He is a past chairperson and current member of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Committee, 2008 Class of Fellows and Attorneys Against Hunger Committee.

1981

Virginia Arthur is provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Previously, Arthur was associate provost for Faculty Affairs at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), where she led strategic planning efforts, launched a diversity initiative, faculty development, revision of the liberal arts core, and the collective bargaining agreement with the faculty. Before joining UNI, she had been a faculty member in the Department of Management at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. In addition to her juris doctor, she has completed graduate coursework in human resource management, personnel selection and organizational behavior from St. Cloud State University and in education psychology, finance, and accounting from the University of Minnesota. In addition, she is a certified public accountant.

Charles Blau, a partner at Blau & Blau in Springfield, New Jersey, is president of the National Association of Independent Free Appraisers (NAIFA). NAIFA, which was established in 1961, is an association of professional real estate appraisers with headquarters in Chicago. Blau concentrates his practice on real estate tax appeals.

Kevin Fay was named one of the Northern Virginians of the Year by Northern Virginia Magazine. He is president of Alcalde & Fay, a government and public affairs firm. He has been a volunteer for the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter for almost two decades and has served as chairman of Washington, D.C.’s Annual Leukemia Ball, which has raised more than $3.5 million. He is the founder of the Congressional Honors Program, which educates members of Congress about blood cancer issues, success rates, challenges, and research advancements to emphasize the need for research funding. Fay also has served

55 the ADVOCATE summer spring 2013 2013

class notes

alumni profile: ALAIN BONAVIDA

A Fast Start

’0 5 as a member of the Fairfax County Park Authority and as a liaison to the Fairfax County Public Schools.

(by Betty Lynne Leary)

The year 2005 marked many new beginnings for Alain Bonavida. With his new bride on one arm and a fresh degree from the Washington College of Law in hand, Bonavida moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles to establish his law practice and begin the next chapter of his life.

Tackling contract work while building up his client base, Bonavida was contacted by Joseph Fahs who saw Bonavida’s ad for legal services on the online network Craigslist. Fahs was being sued

by Georges Marciano, the founder of Guess? Incorporated and Fahs’ former employer. Marciano alleged in his lawsuit that Fahs and four other employees committed fraud and conspiracy to deprive Marciano of more than $400 million in money, art, wine, and other assets – an allegation that grew to a claim of more than $500 million in alleged damages. Bonavida was the first attorney in this matter defending Fahs from Marciano’s ever-growing allegations of a mass conspiracy to harm him.

“No one wanted to take on Marciano because of his resources, but I thought the case sounded interesting,” Bonavida says. And thus started an eighteen-month, merry-go-round of events that included seventeen changes of counsel for Marciano. Bonavida countersued on Fahs’ behalf for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Other employees of Marciano’s were eventually sued as well, and these parties also retained counsel and countersued Marciano.

In July 2009, after hearing many hours of live testimony and reviewing dozens of exhibits, a jury found Marciano liable to each of the claimants for a total award of more than $370 million. It was the largest jury verdict awarded in the country in 2009. “Mr. Fahs was being victimized by a wealthy and powerful person, and I welcomed the challenge. Justice was served,” Bonavida says.

“It was an amazing experience and a litigator’s dream. But since it was my first case, I thought, where do I go from here?” he adds laughing.

Bonavida obviously had a good answer to that question, because he has built a respected boutique litigation firm in Beverly Hills with an emphasis on business disputes and litigation matters focusing on breach of contract and fraud causes of action, plaintiff labor and employment matters, privacy rights, defamation claims, and select personal injury claims. He enjoys interesting and challenging cases “that some attorneys tend to avoid,” and he can be reached via the firm’s Web site at www.avbesq.com.

As a law student at AUWCL, Bonavida got hooked on fighting for the underdog in the Clinical program. “I was in the Civil Practice Clinic my entire third year of school,” he explains. “My clinic partner and I worked all year on a very difficult custody case for a woman and her small child.

We went to trial and won full custody for her plus child support.”

Bonavida found the rigors of law school to be a challenging experience, especially during the first year, but adds, “I loved going to law school. AUWCL is very student-centric and the professors always have open doors. They are extremely helpful, phenomenal people.”

Bonavida enjoys sharing his AUWCL experiences with West Coast residents who are either newly admitted to the school or who are considering attending AUWCL. He also makes himself available to assist AUWCL graduates with transitioning back to Los Angeles, including assisting with job searches.

Mark I. Gruhin, co-managing partner of the Washington, D.C. office of Saul Ewing and co-chair of its Venture Capital/ Private Equity Practice, has been named to the 2012 International Who’s Who of Life Sciences Lawyers and the 2012 International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers.

Gruhin has thirty years of experience as a corporate lawyer.

He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, securities regulation, and government contracts. He serves numerous industries with a particular emphasis on the life sciences and technology sectors. In addition to his legal practice, Gruhin has been involved in several start-up businesses, including Careerbuilder.com.

Carol A. Melton was named to the St. Augustine-Ketterlinus High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. Melton is in senior management at Time Warner, overseeing the company’s public policy offices in Washington, D.C., London, Brussels, and Hong Kong. In 2006 and 2009, she was named one of Washingtonian magazine’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Washington.” She is a trustee of the Committee for Economic Development and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Federal City Council. She received the NCTA Vanguard Award for Government Relations and also was honored by AUWCL’s Business Law Society in spring 2012.

1983

Kevin Blauch is a partner in the New York office of Sidley Austin, LLP. Blauch works in the Structured Finance and Securitization Practice. He has extensive experience handling commercial mortgage-backed securities transactions.

Rick Lazio is a partner at Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, LLP, heading up the firm’s New York office. Lazio’s practice focuses on affordable housing and related housing finance and he heads the firm’s Housing and Housing Finance Industry Team. He serves clients in the real estate, banking and financial services, and government relations practices. Previously, he was president and chief executive officer of the Financial Services Forum and was a member of the Executive Committee of JPMorgan Chase. He also served as managing director with the Real Assets Group of JPMorgan Asset Management. Prior to his career in financial services, Lazio served four terms in the

United States House of Representatives, where he chaired the House Banking Subcommittee, was Deputy Majority Whip, and Assistant Majority Leader.

David C. Van Gilder’s law firm, Van Gilder & Trzynka, PC, was named the Pro Bono Public Law Firm of the Year by the Indiana Bar Foundation. The award recognizes “extraordinary contributions that are made toward ensuring that legal services are available to persons who otherwise could not afford them.” The lawyers at Van Gilder & Trzynka have volunteered many hours toward delivery of legal services in Fort Wayne and its members have been leaders in developing and strengthening local legal service organizations.

1985

Thomas S. “Monty” Fusco is of counsel in the Litigation Group at Fish & Richardson, focusing his practice on Section 337 International Trade Commission (ITC) investigations.

Previously a supervisory attorney for the ITC, Fusco has more than twenty-three years of experience with the commission.

Fusco oversaw approximately one-third of all the Section 337 investigations in the Office of Unfair Import Investigations.

Prior to his position as a supervisory attorney, Fusco was a senior litigation attorney in the division. He started his career at the ITC as an attorney and advisor for an administrative law judge.

1986

Christine C. Ferguson was appointed by Rhode Island Governor Lincoln D. Chafee as the Rhode Island Health Benefits Exchange Director. The Benefits Exchange, which will be operational in 2014, is an online marketplace through which uninsured people, individuals, and small businesses can shop for health insurance. Ferguson was deputy chief of staff for the late U.S. Senator John H. Chafee (R-RI) in the 1990s and later was Massachusetts public health commissioner under then-Governor Mitt Romney. Ferguson will retain her academic appointment at George Washington University, where she is a professor in the Department of Health Policy. In addition, she directs George Washington University’s School of Public Health and Health Services’ Stop (Strategies to Overcome and Prevent) Obesity Alliance, a collaboration of consumer, provider, government, labor, business, health insurers, and quality-of-care organizations that seeks strategies to combat obesity.

“I try to attend all the alumni events I can as the school tries to build more of an AUWCL presence here on the West Coast,” Bonavida says. “I loved law school and I like to share that. It was the best educational experience I ever had.”

57 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

students in class the notes news

Stephen Rabinowitz is a member of the executive team of Zavee, LLC, a South Florida company that offers local merchants highly customizable marketing tools and provides cash back rewards to shoppers and diners, while encouraging them to write reviews and share their experiences.

Rabinowitz is a shareholder and practice team leader at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, where he represents developers, lenders, and investors in complex real estate transactions.

A resident of Larchmont, New York, Rabinowitz also is a working musician and guitar collector.

Karen L. Sears is managing attorney in the New London office of Connecticut Legal Services Incorporated. Sears joined Legal Services in 1987 as a staff attorney. Most recently, she was part of its Consumer Law Project for Elders, working to help elderly clients solve consumer law problems that threaten their ability to continue to live independently.

Sears has been involved with training and working with attorneys employed by Pfizer Incorporated who are providing pro bono advice to elderly individuals who are facing consumer law problems.

1987

Louis Dubin is executive vice president of St. Joe Company, one of Florida’s premier real estate development companies.

Previously, Dubin was president and chief executive officer of LMD Worldwide, LLC. Tobias Moyer is a solutions engineer at Advanced Discovery, a leading provider of e-discovery services to clients worldwide in both the legal and corporate communities. In this position, Moyer is responsible for client consulting for best uses of technology workflow for e-discovery matters.

Previously, Moyer practiced in the Antitrust and Litigation departments at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s Washington, D.C. office, where he managed large, complex, multifaceted e-discovery matters. He is the founder and served as the chief executive officer of DroidLaw, LLC, which specializes in legal reference mobile applications.

1988

Mary E. McClymont (LLM) is president of the Public Welfare Foundation, based in Washington, D.C. Previously, McClymont was executive director of Global Rights, president and chief executive officer of InterAction, and held a number of executive positions at the Ford Foundation. Her interest in global and domestic social justice issues has been

manifested through her work as the national director for legalization of the Migration and Refugee Services division of the United States Catholic Conference, as senior staff counsel for the National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and as assistant director for Corrections at Georgetown University Law Center’s National Street Law Institute.

Jane Sanchez is director of Library Services and Content Management at the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO).

In this position, Sanchez provides management support for implementation of strategic programs and operations in the Federal Depository Library Program, in partnership with depository libraries and in collaboration with other GPO business units. Sanchez has thirty-five years of library and information management experience with the federal government and the private sector. Previously, she managed nine operational divisions at the Department of Justice (DOJ), providing research to support the DOJ’s litigation and senior management offices for the attorney general and solicitor general. She has seventeen years of experience in the private sector, working for BNA Corporate Headquarters, where she developed and implemented several digital information initiatives.

Jeffrey Schimelfenig is president of the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association. The LGBT Bar is an association of lawyers, judges, law students, and other legal professionals and is an affiliate of the American Bar Association.

1989 Richard A. DeTar, who chairs the Real Estate Litigation Group, co-chairs the Real Estate Industry Team and is the managing principal in the Easton and Cambridge, Maryland offices of Miles & Stockbridge, PC, was elected to serve on the firm’s Board of Directors. DeTar represents clients in matters involving land use, real estate disputes, and corporate/business litigation. His land use practice involves zoning, annexation, special exceptions, variances, and critical areas issues before administrative agencies and courts. His real estate practice involves representing purchasers, sellers, real estate agents, builders, and developers in connection with contract disputes. His corporate/business practice focuses on corporate and partnership breakups, shareholder derivative actions, and a wide variety of breach of contract

and business tort disputes. In 2011, DeTar was included on the Maryland Super Lawyers list in the area of Real Estate Litigation.

Barbara Fuller, a private practitioner, was honored with a leadership award for her dedication to the legal needs of the Murfreesboro, Tennessee community. Before starting her private practice, Fuller was a staff and managing attorney for the Murfreesboro office of the Legal Aid Society, where she represented low-income, elderly, and disabled clients on various legal matters including housing, consumer, health, social security, and divorces involving spousal abuse.

She began her legal career as a Nashville assistant public defender and also has worked as the house director for Nashville Dismas and as the executive director for Dismas Incorporated.

Christopher Grigorian is a partner at Foley & Lardner, LLP, in the firm’s Public Policy Practice and on the Automotive Industry Team. Based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, he focuses his practice on federal motor vehicle safety law, representing motor vehicle manufacturers and tier one parts suppliers on issues including product recalls, compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards, defect investigations, and other compliance issues under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and TREAD Act. He also maintains an active antitrust and trade regulation practice, counseling corporate and trade associations across numerous industries including healthcare; consumer goods and automotive; on issues related to distribution and pricing; relationships with customers, suppliers, and competitors; and related DOJ/FTC investigations. Previously, he was a partner with Arent Fox, LLP, and a trial attorney and senior trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, where he received the Tax Division’s Outstanding Attorney Award.

Cynthia Jones, professor at the Washington College of Law, received the 2011 University Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in a Full-Time Appointment.

Peter Quinter, a shareholder in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami offices of GrayRobinson, was recognized by Chambers USA for his work in International Trade: Customs.

1990

Scott C. Frost, of the Business Litigation Group in Howard & Howard’s Chicago office, was named to the 2011 list of Illinois Super Lawyers by a survey of Law & Politics Media, Incorporated. Only 5 percent of the attorneys in Illinois were named to the Super Lawyers list.

Daniel J. Horwitz was appointed by New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. Horwitz is a partner at Lankler Carragher & Horwitz, LLP. He previously served as a New York County district attorney in the Frauds Bureau. Prior to his legal career, Horwitz was a legislative director to U.S. Representative Thomas J. Downey (D-NY).

Michael McAdams is head of the Board of Advisors at NDB Energy, Incorporated, an emerging independent oil and gas company. McAdams leads the Advanced Biofuels Association, which represents many of the top companies from around the world, as it engages the federal government at all levels to secure a level playing field for its member companies. He spent fifteen years in a variety of roles with British Petroleum, PLC, including serving as the associate group policy advisor to then-chairman of the Board Lord John Browne. In addition to his work at BP, McAdams has been an active independent wildcatter and worked in the private sector for a number of advocacy organizations. Earlier in his career, McAdams served as legislative director to U.S. Representative Ralph Hall (R-TX), where he was responsible for Energy and Commerce Committee issues. He was a field coordinator for President Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign and served on the staff of U.S. Representative Ray Roberts (D-TX).

1991

Anne Ciesla Bancroft, general counsel at Exelon Business Services Company, was nominated by her employer to participate in the 2011 inaugural class of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). The LCLD mission is to promote diversity in the legal profession. The LCLD Fellows Program is a yearlong professional development program targeted at high-potential attorneys that focuses on relationship building and leadership skills. One of the key initiatives of the program is mentoring of the Fellows by LCLD members and, in turn, mentoring law students by LCLD Fellows.

Anthony B. Covington is the state’s attorney for Charles County, Maryland. He is the first African American to assume the post, garnering almost 65 percent of the votes in the 2010 Democratic primary. He began his legal career in the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office in 1991 and after eighteen months moved to work at the Charles County prosecutor’s office until 1997 when he moved to private practice. He rejoined the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office in 2003.

59 the ADVOCATE summer spring 2013 2013

class notes

alumni profile: MELVIN HIRSHMAN

’5 5

Championing Maryland’s Legal Community

(by Betty Lynne Leary)

When Melvin Hirshman ’55 took the reins as bar counsel of Maryland’s fledgling Attorney Grievance Commission in January 1981, there were three attorneys on staff and one open position that needed to be filled. Within two weeks, two of the three attorneys quit.

“I didn’t know what I’d gotten myself into,” Hirshman recalls laughing. “My wife told me I should look at the glass as half full instead of half empty. She reminded me that I’d always wanted to have my own law firm and hire my own attorneys. Here was an opportunity to do just that.”

Hirshman’s inauspicious beginning as bar counsel led to a storied career in which he served as the watchdog and champion of Maryland’s legal community. He retired in June 2010 after almost thirty years of overseeing the discipline of Maryland lawyers and, in some cases, finding alternatives to discipline. During his tenure, Maryland’s cadre of lawyers grew from 10,000 to more than 34,000.

“The Maryland bar is an excellent bar,” Hirshman says. “Over the years, as the number of bar members increased, the number of grievances went down exponentially.” Hirshman notes that many grievances arise from a lack of communication and that with so many electronic devices at a lawyer’s fingertips, keeping a client informed is pretty easy. “Communication with a client is so important,” he stresses. “Even to just say that there’s nothing new to report.”

Hirshman nurtured an interest in ethics from the early days of his career. He kept copies of the original Canons of Ethics and enjoyed studying the particular ethical problems faced by litigation attorneys.

“It’s an interesting field because it crosses every area of practice,” Hirshman explains. “Now they even offer ethics classes in law school.” Ethics classes aren’t the only things that have changed since Hirshman walked into the Washington College of Law more than fifty years ago.

“I just walked right in and registered,” he says chuckling. “There was no LSAT in those days, not nearly as many applicants, and tuition was $900 a year!” Hirshman enjoyed law school at AUWCL describing it as a valuable learning experience with small classes and a wonderful group of professors. And while students today have much more to choose from in the curriculum than did Hirshman, he doesn’t envy the price tag that comes with it. “It’s unfortunate that it’s gotten so expensive,” he says.

Although he is retired, Hirshman hasn’t stopped working. He continues to provide expert testimony on legal ethics, professional responsibility, law office management, conflicts of interest, and unauthorized practice of law. Hirshman reflects on his career noting he is proud not only of the work that created a body of interesting disciplinary cases, but also of a number of colleagues who turned into very excellent, ethical lawyers. “I tried to do it every day for as long as I could,” he says. “And to borrow words from a Supreme Court justice, ‘I did the best I could with whatever God-given talents I received. Hopefully I made more friends than enemies.’”

Caroline Tso Chen is the director and supervising attorney of the Santa Clara University School of Law Low Income Tax Payer Clinic. Previously, Chen was a senior attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service in San Jose, primarily practicing international corporate tax. She also worked at Ernst & Young, practiced as a litigation associate and an assistant district attorney in New York, and clerked for the Honorable Deborah Robinson, of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

John Izzo has founded a grant writing and fundraising consulting firm, Community Grants Associates in Boston.

The firm works with municipalities, school districts, institutions of higher education, and nonprofits throughout the United State to attract additional funding for projects and operations from federal, state, foundation, or corporate resources.

Matthew Nicely, a partner at Hughes Hubbard, was named among the top international trade lawyers for the Asia-Pacific region in both the Global and Asia-Pacific editions of Chambers’ guides to leading business lawyers.

Nicely practices in the International Trade Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at AUWCL.

1992

Catherine Ellingsen is senior vice president, human resources at Republic Services, Incorporated. Ellingsen began her career with the company, (Allied Waste) in 2001 as corporate counsel, labor and management. During subsequent years, she was promoted to managing corporate counsel, associate general counsel, and director of legal. In 2007, Ellingsen was promoted to vice president and deputy general counsel and held these same positions at Republic after the merger with Allied Waste. She holds the Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) Certification and has been a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1993. She served as a board member and the general counsel of the Arizona state chapter of SHRM from 2000 to 2003.

Jill Poznick Epstein is executive director of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Most recently, Epstein was the chief operating officer of the California Massage Therapy Council and, prior to that, served as chief executive officer of the Chartered Financial

Analysts Society of Chicago. She also held positions with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Retired Persons.

Terence Healy is a partner at Reed Smith, LLP, in the firm’s Global Regulatory Enforcement Group in the Washington, D.C. office. Formerly the senior assistant chief litigation counsel at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Healy was one of the top litigators in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, focusing on accounting fraud, revenue recognition, options backdating, insider trading, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and structured products. Prior to joining the SEC, Healy worked as a trial attorney in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. During his nine years with the department, Healy argued and won a certified appeal to the state Supreme Court on choice of law, which lead to the dismissal of a $500 million claim against the government. The claim was made after a private aircraft crashed in Indiana and it was unclear how to reconcile the differences between two – Washington, D.C. and Indiana – accountable legal jurisdictions.

Jeannie J. Hong is an associate judge with the District Court of Maryland, District of Baltimore City. She is a member of the Court Commission on Professionalism and the Family Law Committee, Maryland Judicial Conference.

In addition, she is a member of the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. Prior to being named to the bench, Hong was a staff attorney at the Child Care Administration, Department of Human Resources and an assistant state’s attorney for Baltimore City, where she was a prosecutor in the Juvenile Division (1994 to 1996), prosecutor in the Misdemeanor Unit (1996 to 1997), a prosecutor in the General Felony Unit (1997 to 2000) and senior prosecutor in the Vehicle Analysis Unit (2000 to 2002). She is a member of the American and Baltimore City bar associations, the Maryland State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, the Saint Thomas More Society, and the Community Affairs Committee at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. She served on the Board of the Coalition for Korean-American Organizations, and was an at-large delegate for the 2000 Democratic Party National Convention. She received the 1999 Award of Excellence, Women in Government Service and the 2005 Trailblazer Award from the National Asian-Pacific American Bar Association.

61 the ADVOCATE summer 2013

students in class the notes news

Gal Kaufman is a principal in the Estates & Trusts Practice Group at Offit Kurman. Kaufman has nearly twenty years of experience in estate tax planning and estate and trust administration. His expertise includes the full range of traditional trusts and estate matters to sophisticated tax analysis and planning, structured management arrangements for families, family businesses and family offices, and fiduciary and tax controversies. He works in the firm’s Bethesda, Maryland office.

Teresa McGhie is mission director for Angola in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She oversees programs supporting democracy and governance, local elections, economic growth, and the President’s Malaria Initiative. McGhie joined USAID in 2000 as a legal officer and most recently served as a regional legal advisor in Sudan, where she provided legal advice for USAID’s largest humanitarian program at the time and for USAID/Sudan’s complex development programs. She also served in the Regional Development Mission for Asia in Bangkok and the East Africa Regional Mission in Nairobi. Prior to her foreignservice career, she was an associate attorney with Sidley & Austin, LLP, in Washington, D.C., and with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in New York City. She also served as the assistant director of the International Legal Studies Program and director of the Summer Law Program in Chile at AUWCL. Thomas A. Sporkin is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of BuckleySandler, LLP, a financial services and criminal and civil defense law firm. Sporkin was previously chief of the Office of Market Intelligence (OMI) at the Securities and Exchange Commission, which he established and led in the aftermath of the Madoff fraud. The fiftyperson unit was charged with detecting ongoing unlawful conduct spanning across all SEC program areas. Under his leadership, OMI attorneys, accountants, and market surveillance specialists performed analysis and conducted investigations on intelligence collected from a variety of internal and external sources, including the SEC’s DoddFrank Whistleblower Office. By January 2012, OMI’s partnership with the Enforcement Division’s specialized units, regional offices, and home office associate director groups was responsible for the origination of more than half of all SEC investigations. Prior to serving as chief of OMI, Sporkin spent ten years co-managing Enforcement attorneys who conducted investigations into all SEC program areas, including improper FCPA payments, financial fraud, market manipulations, and insider trading.

1993

Marc Bardack is of counsel in the Business Liability and Insurance Law Practice Group at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP. Bardack’s experience includes work in the areas of personal injury and insurance law, and business and employment law. He represents insureds and self-insureds in motor vehicle accident, premises liability, construction defect, pharmaceutical malpractice, and food poisoning cases. He has handled cases involving trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and discrimination. A certified mediator and AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, Bardack is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He also is a member of the Atlanta Claims Association. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Sinai, an alumni admissions representative for Lafayette College, and is involved in the Jewish Foundation of Greater Atlanta, and the Epstein School.

John T. Bergin is vice president and senior counsel at Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram, PC, in Washington, D.C. Bergin focuses his practice in government contracts and complex commercial litigation and also represents clients on private and public construction projects. Construction projects include Major League Baseball and National Football League stadiums, power plants, schools, hospitals, and other types of projects both in the United States and abroad. Previously, Bergin was a partner in the Commercial Litigation and Construction practice groups in the Washington, D.C. office of Seyfarth Shaw, LLP. Susan Kayser is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Jones Day. Kayser has more than fifteen years of experience in intellectual property litigation and counseling, focusing on trademark, copyright, and false advertising. She is nationally recognized in her field, having been named in the Legal 500 U.S. survey as a leading trademark litigator in both 2009 and 2010 and also recognized in 2007 for trademark and enforcement portfolio work. She is a former law professor at The Catholic University of America, where she taught Trademarks and Unfair Competition.

1994

John McMickle is founder and president of JDM Public Strategies, LLC, a boutique public policy and communications firm. Prior to establishing the company, McMickle was counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee and was a partner in the Government Affairs Department of a major international law firm.

Lisa Tittemore is treasurer of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Tittemore is a partner and chair of the Trademark and Copyright practice groups at Sunstein Kann Murphy & Timbers, LLP, an intellectual property law firm based in Boston. Tittemore manages the litigation of complex intellectual property matters and advises clients on maximizing the value of their IP assets. She is frequently a presenter at continuing education programs concerning intellectual property issues and is the co-author of a text on copyright law. In addition to her work with the Federal Bar Association, she is co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Litigation Section and a member and volunteer in the International Trademark Association, the Pharmaceutical Trademarks Group, the Women’s Bar Association, and the Boston Patent Law Association.

Margaret M. Witherup is a member at Gordon Feinblatt, LLC, in the firm’s Environmental & Energy and Litigation practice groups. She concentrates her practice in all aspects of environmental law and business litigation. She has counseled landowners, prospective purchasers, and potentially responsible parties regarding environmental site assessments, voluntary and government-ordered site remediation, Brownfields redevelopment, water allocation and appropriation issues, and Superfund sites. Previously, Witherup was an assistant attorney general for the Maryland Port Administration.

Oliver Yandle is executive director of the Association of Legal Administrators, an international association based in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Previously, Yandle served as executive vice president of the Commercial Law League of America and executive director of the International Association of Defense Counsel. He has held senior director positions at SmithBucklin in Chicago, the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, both in Washington, D.C. He is active in the Society of Association Executives, where he holds the Certified Association Executive designation and the Association Forum of Chicagoland, where he serves as chair of the Board of Directors. He served as an adjunct instructor of legal analysis and writing at AUWCL.

1995

N. William Delker is an associate justice on the New Hampshire Superior Court, which is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the state. He was nominated by Governor John Lynch. Prior to his appointment, Delker served as a senior

assistant attorney general in the Criminal Justice Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office for thirteen years. He held various positions in the Attorney General’s Office, including chief of the Criminal Bureau, homicide prosecutor, and most recently, head of the newly formed Cold Case Unit. In addition, he prosecuted the capital murder case involving the murder of Manchester police officer Michael Briggs, which resulted in the first death sentence in New Hampshire in fifty years.

Tom Goldstein, partner at Goldstein, Howell & Russell, PC, was named one of America’s top fifty advocates in Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation’s Top Advocates, published

by Oxford University Press (2011). The book, which features hundreds of examples from famous cases handled by Goldstein and others, turns great written advocacy into fifty concrete techniques.

Miami resident Thomas J. Rebull was appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.

Rebull, a partner with Broad and Cassel, is chair of the City of Miami Civilian Investigation Panel. The panel was created and empowered by voters to conduct independent and impartial oversight of the Miami Police Department. Previously, Rebull practiced with Hector and Harke, LLP, was general counsel for Total Quality Management Group Incorporated, and practiced with Muller Mintz.

1996

Deborah Ben-Canaan is a partner and member of the In-House Practice Group at Major, Lindsey & Africa, LLC, in San Diego, California. She has ten years of in-house search placement experience at all levels from corporate counsel to general counsel.

Kimberly Reindl is senior counsel in the Communications and Information Technology Practice at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP. As senior counsel, Reindl advises clients on the FCC’s transaction approval process, foreign investment rules, auction and anticollusion rules, attribution rules, and ownership and control policies. She also counsels clients on complex technical matters involving radio frequency use and interference between services and in assessing regulatory issues regarding the development and licensing of new services. Previously, she practiced in the Washington, D.C. office of another large international law firm, where she represented wireless, cable, and telecommunications clients before the FCC and in transactional matters. Reindl is a

63 the ADVOCATE summer spring 2013 2013

class notes

alumni profile: ERIC HUANG

’0 5

Going to Bat for Young Alums

former member of the FCC’s Transaction Team, which was established in 2000 by the Office of the General Counsel to facilitate the review of major transactions before the agency.

(by Brad Dwin)

Ever since childhood, baseball has always been a passion for Eric Huang ’05. When he graduated from Princeton University in 2001 and landed a job with Major League Baseball, it appeared that all of the pieces were perfectly in place for him to live out the dream of working in professional sports. Or so he thought.

“I noticed that everyone around me, in every department, had a law degree. It became apparent that I wasn’t going very far without a JD, so I made the decision to apply to law school. I had every intention of focusing on sports and entertainment law . . . up until I got the wake-up call during my first year at AUWCL,” says Huang.

As it turns out, contract law and labor law – law school staples for attorneys in professional sports – did not interest him at the time. Instead, he decided to focus his studies on constitutional law, criminal law, and civil rights law. Huang recalls, “Constitutional law just jumped out at me during my first year. I felt like it was made for me.”

Following law school, Huang took the field as an appellate clerk and, later, as a prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Still a hard-core baseball fan, Huang as one of the District’s labor attorneys, pitches his way through labor disputes and slugs it out in pre-trial negotiations.

And while Huang focuses his career on the relationships between the District government and its employees, he channels his volunteer efforts into strengthening the relationships among the young graduates of the law school.

As the current chair of the Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Young Alumni Society, he engages young alumni in the life of AUWCL and keeps them in the loop on key AUWCL developments. Huang notes that the GOLD Society, which is a subset of the school’s prestigious Myers Society, serves as a vital link to recent graduates.

“Law is a very social field, and as chair of the GOLD Society, I make it a priority to increase networking between younger and older graduates, so that there are no missed opportunities – especially on the job front. In the current economy, it is important for younger alums to make connections with older, more-established alumni so that opportunities are not missed down the road,” explains Huang.

Huang also notes that members of the GOLD Society don’t have quite the “financial giving” ability of many of their older counterparts, another reason that creating quality networking opportunities is so important.

His extensive work and commitment to AUWCL’s alumni outreach efforts have not gone unnoticed by those at the school. “Eric was a leader as a student and continues to be a leader among alumni and a mentor to students,” affirms Trishana E. Bowden, former assistant dean for Development and Alumni Relations. “He is always the first one to volunteer to assist the school in our many endeavors. Eric is a true champion.”

Walter M. Shaub Jr. was nominated by President Barack Obama as director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE). He is deputy general counsel of OGE, a position he has held since 2008 and was a supervisory attorney from 2006 to 2008. Previously, he was an attorney with Shaw, Bransford, Veilleux and Roth, PC, where he focused on federal employment law. Shaub has served as a staff attorney at several federal agencies, including OGE from 2001 to 2004, the Central Office of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 2000 to 2001, the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1998 to 2000 and the VA’s Baltimore-Washington Regional Counsel’s Office from 1997 to 1998.

Cari N. Stinebower is counsel in the International Trade Practice Group in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office. She counsels clients on compliance with U.S. economic sanctions, FinCEN’s Bank Secrecy Act Regulations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and export controls. She works with financial institutions to develop compliance programs, conduct anti-money laundering and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) risk assessments, conduct internal investigations, and respond to governmental investigations. Previously, Stinebower served as counsel for the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s OFAC and as a program officer for OFAC, where she advised on sanctions and antiterrorism legislation, drafted United National Security Council Resolutions, and related executive orders. As a result of her work, Stinebower received the Secretary of the Treasury’s Certificate for her role in providing guidance in the war against terrorism, establishing a program targeting the Taliban, working with the interagency group to unwind the first sanctions targeting the government of Libya, and drafting the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. Vanessa Allen Sutherland, senior counsel at Altria Group, Incorporated, was nominated by her employer to participate in the 2011 inaugural class of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). The LCLD mission is to promote diversity in the legal profession. The LCLD Fellows Program is a yearlong professional development program targeted at high-potential attorneys that focuses on relationship building and leadership skills. One of the key initiatives of the program is LCLD members mentoring the Fellows and, the Fellows, in turn, mentoring law students.

Linda Woolley is president and chief executive officer of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). Previously, Woolley was DMA’s executive vice president of Washington operations, overseeing the association’s advocacy and lobbying efforts. Before joining DMA in 2008, Woolley worked in the environment section of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; headed up Washington operations for ITT Corporation, which at the time owned Sheraton Hotels, Hartford Insurance and large telecommunications operations; and founded LegisLaw Consulting, a public affairs consulting and publishing company.

Alexander Zapesochny is president and chief operating officer at iCardiac Technologies, Incorporated, a biotechnology company headquartered in Rochester, New York.

He also is co-founder of Marrow Drive Rochester and serves on the Board of Directors at Qmetrics Clinical Services.

Jeffery Zinn is general counsel of Barcoding Incorporated, where he was hired to create the corporation’s legal department. He began his legal career with Fila USA and then went on to work in the Baltimore office of Venable. He relocated to Boston for a positon with Lucash Gesmer & Updegrove, a firm that focused on representing start-up companies. He returned to Baltimore to create the legal department at ViPS, a healthcare analytics and information technology company, and after ViPS was acquired by WebMD, he took a position at Saul Ewing.

1997

Gabriel Berg announces the formation of Kennedy Berg, LLP, a boutique law firm of highly experienced commercial trial lawyers based in New York City. The firm was founded after Berg and James Kennedy tried a case against a Berkshire Hathaway company in front of an Omaha, Nebraska jury and won a direct verdict worth more than $100 million. The trial formed a working relationship that led to the formation of the firm. Berg, a successful trial lawyer, has prosecuted and defended claims for fraud, patent infringement, breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, and others. He has represented institutional clients, small businesses, and individuals in a variety of complex commercial matters.

Eric Buikema’s law firm, Cardelli, Lanfear and Buikema celebrated its twentieth anniversary last year. Based in Royal Oak, Michigan, the firm represents well-known corporations such as Otis Elevator, Westfield Insurance Company, Allianz Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual/Indiana Insurance

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Company, Barton Mallow, Harley Davidson Motor Company, Carrier Corporation, Pratt & Whitney Company, and Dana Corporation.

Jeffrey Michael Geller, a Towson, Maryland-based business and family law attorney, was appointed to Baltimore’s Circuit Court by Governor Martin O’Malley. Most recently, Geller worked at Miles and Stockbridge and prior to that spent four years with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender.

Chris Julius is director/assistant general counsel with US Airways. Previously, he was with the National Transportation Safety Board for fifteen years.

Neil M. McCarthy is senior counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Crowell & Moring, in the IP Litigation Practice.

McCarthy, who joined Crowell & Moring from Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton, has more than twenty-five years of patent law experience, including providing patent infringement and validity opinions focusing primarily on pharmaceuticals; conducting due diligence and patent landscape analyses; counseling in pharmaceutical litigation arising under the Hatch-Waxman Act; preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the chemical, medical device, and pharmaceutical areas; and participating in inter partes interferences. He began his patent career as an examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where he served as a primary examiner in the plastics molding and water purification technologies.

Jennifer D. Westerlund is a shareholder in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida office of Greenberg Traurig, PA. Her practice focuses on corporate advisory and transactional work for middle-market established companies nationally and internationally. Her clients also include foreign companies establishing a presence in the United States, entrepreneurs, and start-ups. She acts as outside general counsel and advises on strategic transactions to clients in a variety of industries and sectors including healthcare, energy, technology, insurance, and logistics services. Previously, she practiced in the Legal and Compliance Department of Paine Webber in New York and London and at Sidley Austin, LLP, in London.

1998

Eric Alterman is president, chief executive officer, and director of Flow Search Corporation. He has founded numerous companies including JED Broadcasting, New Brand Entertainment Corporation, MILCOM Technologies, Incorporated, and KickApps Corporation.

Janene D. Jackson is director of the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs in the Executive Office of Mayor Vincent C. Gray, of Washington, D.C. Diane Welsh is a shareholder and chair of the newly formed Government Relations and Regulatory Law Section at von Briesen & Roper, SC. In addition, Welsh is a member of the Health Care Practice Group and the Litigation Practice Group, where she focuses on government law (both legislative and administrative); HIPAA and HITECH; regulatory compliance, reimbursement and program integrity; public health law; ethics laws; appellate; constitutional law; and emergency preparedness. She also is part of von Briesen’s Strategic Risk and Crisis Management Team. Welsh was previously chief legal counsel of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and assistant attorney general for the state of Wisconsin. She serves on the Board of Directors for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services and is a member of the Legal Association of Women.

Alec C. Zacaroli is counsel on Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton’s Environmental Team. He works in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Zacaroli’s practice involves environmental litigation and regulatory counseling, focusing on federal and state air pollution control law. He has experience in Clean Air Act law and litigating and counseling clients with respect to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act, and other federal and state pollution-control laws. Prior to becoming an attorney, Zacaroli was an environmental journalist, working for daily newspapers and with the Bureau of National Affairs. He is the co-founder of 25:40, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children impacted by AIDS in Southern Africa.

1999

Margaret Pryor Chase, vice president and deputy general counsel at Fannie Mae, was nominated by her employer to participate in the 2011 inaugural class of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). The LCLD mission is to promote diversity in the legal profession. The LCLD Fellows Program is a yearlong professional development program targeted at high-potential attorneys that focuses on relationship building and leadership skills. One of the key initiatives of the program is LCLD members mentoring the Fellows and, the Fellows, in turn, mentoring law students.

Ann Daley is on the Board of Directors of The New England Council, a nonpartisan alliance of business, academic and health institutions, and public and private organizations.

Daley is vice president of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs for Pitney Bowes, in Stamford, Connecticut, where she advocates before government bodies on postal, financial services, healthcare, privacy, and other issues which support the company’s growth.

Derek Anthony Dyson, a shareholder at Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, PC, is president of the Energy Bar Association.

Jessica Rae, of the Community Law Program in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Children’s Legal Services Fellow. Rae serves children through the Transitioning Dependent Youth Project, which represents about thirty to forty needy children per year.

2000

Katherine Helbig is an associate at Calabro & Associates in New York City. Helbig concentrates her practice on landlord and tenant litigation, real estate transactions, general real estate litigation, commercial litigation, and judgment enforcement actions.

Grace M. Mora, an associate in the Miami office of Hunton & Williams, LLP, was named a 2012 Florida Rising Star in the June edition of Florida Super Lawyers magazine. She was recognized in the area of Employment Litigation: Defense.

Christopher Ornelas is chief operating officer for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), an advocacy association that advances radio and television interest in legislative, regulatory, and public affairs. Before joining NAB, Ornelas was chief counsel on communications and

technology policy in U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith’s (R-OR) office, overseeing all matters relating to communications, media, entertainment, and technology before the Senate Commerce Committee.

Rachel Wallace is director of the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. GIPA educates the international intellectual property community on the United States’ methods for protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights and complying with pertinent international treaties. GIPA also encourages global dialogue on emerging intellectual property issues and helps to control growing problems such as intellectual property theft. In 2011, GIPA provided training to more than 5,300 participants from the United States and 138 countries.

2001

Peter J. Corcoran III is an associate in the Intellectual Property Practice Group at Thompson & Knight, LLP. He works in the firm’s Dallas, Texas office. Corcoran, a former law clerk to the current chief judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, is experienced with patent law, practice, local patent rules, and procedures in the federal district and appellate courts. His trial and appellate experience includes pre-trial expert and non-expert discovery, motion practice, jury selection, and patent-infringement trials and appeals in the district and appeals in the district courts, U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Corcoran was formerly an associate at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, in Los Angeles and was a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He is a commander in the Engineering Duty Officer Corps of the U.S. Navy Reserves.

Stephanie Birbrower Greer is a partner in the Bankruptcy Practice in Dickstein Shapiro, LLP’s New York office. Greer has experience in complex restructuring matters and has represented both debtors and creditors in Chapter 11 cases.

Her practice focuses on representing clients in litigation involving bankruptcy-related issues. She is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute. Prior to joining Dickstein Shapiro, she practiced at Bingham McCutcheon, LLP.

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p r o f e ss o r p r o f i l e : MICHAEL TIGAR

An Attorney for the Ages (by Virginia Myers)

Michael Tigar is one of those shimmering names in law, a top litigator with a reputation as best and brightest. He’s taken on civil rights, government surveillance, and the death penalty. He was one of two lead counsel in the defense of Terry Nichols during the Oklahoma City bombing trial, turning his opposition to capital punishment into inspiration; the argument that Nichols had no intent to cause death resulted in a life sentence, rather than the death penalty.

In his first week at the Washington College of Law, Tigar was called upon to make the case to extradite Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who was fleeing persecution for war crimes in Spain.

Tigar’s client list reads like a “Who’s Who” of law history: Angela Davis, H. Rap Brown, John Connally, and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, as well as the Washington Post, Allen Ginsberg, and Leonard Peltier. He chaired the ABA’s 60,000-member Section of Litigation, and advised the African National Congress when it drafted a brand new constitution for South Africa. He has authored thirteen books, including an autobiography, as well as several plays. In 1999, the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice balloted for “Lawyer of the Century,” and Tigar came in third, behind Clarence Darrow and Thurgood Marshall.

Tigar has lectured at dozens of law schools. He joined the faculty at AUWCL in 1998 and is now AUWCL professor emeritus, teaches at Duke University Law School and has an appointment at Faculte de Droit et de Science Politique in Aix-en-Provence, France.

But Tigar, who turns 72 this year, isn’t interested in dwelling on his accomplishments. He is much too engaged in his current work. Among his passions is the UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic, which he founded in 2000 at AUWCL. The clinic promotes the rule of law within the Americas through international litigation of pivotal cases, and deals frequently with indigenous people. “We are quite able to understand what has been done to them,” he says of indigenous populations who have been displaced. “But what we don’t understand is what has been taken from them: land, possessions, culture, languages, traditions, the most intimate aspects of family life and social existence.” Once we understand this, he explains, “then we have to figure out a way to describe it persuasively enough to restore this to them.”

Tigar centered the Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic at AUWCL because the school lives up to its growing reputation as a center of international human rights law. “It’s a better fit here than at any other law school,” he notes. “Look at the building, look at who’s here, look at the countries represented,” he continues, pointing to leading faculty like Dean Claudio Grossman, Robert Goldman, Daniel Bradlow, and Richard Wilson.

This sort of international work is essential to training law students today. “Every law student in this law school, every single one will face an international law issue sometime in the first few years of their law practice, I guarantee it,” asserts Tigar. Besides, the work in all the AUWCL clinics makes a difference. Tigar uses political asylum as one example. “If you can litigate a certain number of asylum cases, you help raise expectations and raise awareness that, gee, you know, you start treating somebody unfairly, then some lawyer from AUWCL is likely to show up and punch your ticket.” Tigar, who continues to teach, lecture and write, has done his share of historic litigation already. He is counting on the students he inspires to carry it forward.

Zachary A. Kitts authored a paper, “Public Trust and the Role of Qui Tam Relators in the Regulatory Framework” published in the Journal of Law, Economics and Policy, 7 J.L. ECON & POL’Y (2011). Kitts is a partner at the Northern Virginia law firm Cook Kitts & Francuzenko, PLLC, where he focuses his practice on qui tam litigation under the federal False Claims Act and the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, and other commercial litigation matters.

the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Previously, she directed the Americas Programs at Disability Rights International, where she advocated for the rights of persons with mental disabilities. Hillman sits on the Board of Directors of the American Association of People with Disabilities. In 2003, she received the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Award as an emerging leader in the disability field.

Danielle M. Machata, an attorney shareholder at Godfrey & Kahn, SC, was named a 40 UNDER 40 award winner in the Central Region by The M&A Advisor. The 2012 40 UNDER 40 award recognizes emerging leaders of the mergers and acquisitions, financing and turnaround industries as selected by an independent judging panel. Machata practices in the firm’s Milwaukee office and is a member of the Corporate Practice Group and is co-chairperson of its Recruiting Committee. She focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures, and sophisticated commercial transactions. She is active in a number of community organizations, including the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee.

Alex Kaplan is a partner in the New York office of Sidley Austin, LLP. He represents corporations, individuals, and professional services firms in a variety of complex commercial litigation matters, as well as in regulatory and internal investigations. Kaplan has handled cases in federal and state courts, and in sponsored and private arbitration throughout the United States.

Charles Mahtesian, national politics editor for POLITICO and a blogger on the POLITICO Web site, received the Armenian Mirror-Spectator Award of Excellence. He has worked at the Congressional Quarterly, contributed to the books Politics in America and Congressional Districts in the 1990s, worked at Governing magazine, and edited three volumes of the National Journal’s biennial the Almanac of American Politics.

He is an expert on American politics, frequently providing commentary on major radio and television and radio shows such as National Public Radio, MSNBC, Fox News, C-Span, CNN, and the BBC.

2002

Jamie Abrams is a professor at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where she teaches torts, family law, and legislation. Abrams was one of the inaugural winners of the AUWCL Teaching Award for Pedagogical Innovation.

Alison A. Hillman de Velasquez, program officer for the Open Society Foundation’s Disability Rights Initiative, was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. As program officer with the Open Society Foundation, Hillman manages a grant-making program aimed at implementing

Tracy Marshall is a partner at Keller and Heckman, LLP, where she assists clients with a wide range of business and regulatory matters. Her practice areas include advertising and promotion; business counseling and transactional; intellectual property; privacy, data security and digital media; telecommunications; and trade and professional associations. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. She also is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia.

She is a contributing author of Beyond Telecom Law Blog.

Beau Pichon, who is an attorney with Savitz, Parker, Hollman, Simon, Hahn & DeLisi, LLC, was named the Frederick County Association of Realtors’ Affiliate of the Year. Affiliate members include lawyers, mortgage professionals, home inspectors, and professionals in other fields who work with real estate brokers. Pichon was honored not only for his outstanding service to the legal field but also for donating his time and talents to the association and the community. In addition to conducting real estate settlements, he drafts and reviews contracts and other real estate-related documents, and assists clients with complex real estate matters such as tax-deferred exchanges and mortgage debt forgiveness. Pichon has worked for the association’s Membership Committee, American Home Month, and has been involved with fixing up houses for disabled or needy families, instructing classes for association members, and writing articles about real estate legal matters for the association’s newsletter. He is active with Habitat for Humanity and conducts free settlements for Habitat homebuyers.

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Katherine Piper is senior counsel at Calpine Corporation, a major U.S. power company. She is a former law clerk for the Honorable Paul Mannes, of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.

Puja Satiani is counsel at Crowell & Moring, LLP, in the Washington, D.C. office.

Melinda L. VanLowe has founded The Law Office of Melinda L. VanLowe, PC. Her practice focuses on adults and juvenile clients who are subject to investigation or charged with criminal offenses and serious traffic matters; litigating uncontested divorce, custody, visitation, and child support matters; defending against or petitioning for protective orders; appealing administrative findings by the Department of Child Protective Services and other administrative agencies; and litigating other civil matters. Her practice is located in Merrifield, Virginia. VanLowe is a member of the Virginia Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board, the Northern Virginia Women Attorneys’ Association Board, the Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association, and the American Constitutional Society.

Theresa E. Weir is counsel at King & Spalding’s Washington, D.C. office. She represents clients on a wide array of matters, including healthcare regulatory counseling on Medicare reimbursement and compliance, administrative hearings before the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) and the Provider Reimbursement Review Board, and competition issues facing healthcare clients. She also counsels clients on data privacy and security matters that arise from federal and state laws, including HIPAA, HITECH, and state data breach laws and has substantial experience with HIPAA/HITECH compliance. She has been recognized as an outstanding healthcare antitrust lawyer by Nightingale’s Healthcare News.

Prior to joining King & Spalding, Weir was counsel at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.

2003

Barbara I. Berschler (LLM), an attorney with Press, Potter & Dozier, LLC, was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Small Business by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

Holly Bunting is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of K&L Gates. Previously, Bunting was an associate with the firm. She is a member of the firm’s Mortgage Banking and Consumer Finance Group with an emphasis on federal and state regulatory enforcement issues.

Brian M. Crepeau, a partner at the law firm of Resenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP, was named a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager for 2011 by Baltimore magazine. Crepeau was recognized for his skill in representing businesses and individuals in tax planning, business structuring, estate planning, and tax controversy matters before the IRS and state taxing authorities. He is a certified public accountant.

Melissa A. Pena, an associate in the New York City office of Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, PA, was selected to participate in the Meritas Young Lawyer Liaison Program (YLLP).

Meritas is a global alliance of more than 170 independent, full-service law firms in more than sixty countries. Meritas’ YLLP offers young lawyers peer-level contact at each member firm who can act as an entry point to the firm and the firm’s market. As a Young Lawyer Liaison, Pena complements the role of the Meritas member contacts and supports non-referral-related peer-to-peer interactions for purposes of networking, sharing best practices, and answering simple questions. Pena concentrates her practice in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and mortgage foreclosures.

Courtney G. Tito is an associate in the West Palm Beach office of McDonald Hopkins, LLC, a business advisory and advocacy law firm. Tito is an experienced litigator who focuses her practice on commercial litigation, mortgage foreclosures, receiverships, and other creditor’s rights litigation.

Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, she was a commercial litigator in a Miami law firm, and from 2006 to 2007, was a staff attorney for the Public International Law and Policy Group in Baghdad, Iraq. While in Iraq, Tito worked with legislators and the Federal Supreme Court in Iraq advising senior ranking officials on amending current legislation, drafting proposed legislation, and amending Iraq’s constitution.

2004

Jennifer Luong Clarke is an associate in Morgan Lewis’ FDA and Healthcare Practice in the Washington, D.C. office.

Clarke focuses her practice on matters relating to healthcare regulation, compliance, and enforcement issues. She has experience in government investigations and inquiries, particularly those undertaken by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Inspector General and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and by the U.S. Congress.

Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Clarke was a counselor on oversight for the HHS, where she was responsible

for matters relating to congressional investigations and inquiries, including audits performed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In this role, she developed strategies on the department’s response to Congress and prepared HHS witnesses testifying before congressional proceedings.

2005

Anthony Abbenante is vice president of corporate development at Vanoil Energy Limited and a vice president at Global Mining Management Corporation (GMM), a private Vancouver, British Columbia-based company that provides management services. Vanoil and GMM recently formed a strategic partnership to strengthen Vanoil’s ability to raise funds and provide the company with an experienced oil and gas team. In his current positions, Abbenante focuses on international legal and business affairs and corporate development activities.

Leila R. Abdi is a co-founder of and partner at Stratus IP Law Group, where she helps clients understand, manage, and leverage their intellectual property. She is experienced in developing strategic patent portfolios and prosecuting both U.S. and international patent applications. She has written and prosecuted many patent applications including those related to computer software, Internet applications, mobile applications and devices, e-commerce, database architecture and systems, computer networking and cloud computing, and telecommunication systems. She has represented both patent owners and third-party requesters in ex parte and inter partes reexamination proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.

Cameron W. Arnold is instructor of Legal Writing at Brooklyn Law School in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to joining the legal writing faculty, he was an associate at Arnold & Porter, LLP, where he worked in the litigation department focusing on complex civil litigation, criminal and civil appeals, products liability, consumer fraud, environmental law, and commercial and white-collar litigation. Before joining Arnold & Porter, he clerked for the senior judges of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Andrea Desoretz is an associate attorney in the Margate/ Fort Lauderdale office of Katzman Garfinkel & Berger.

She works in the firm’s community association Collections and Foreclosure Department. Previously, she represented community associations in all aspects of foreclosure and collections litigation with Kaye & Bender. Prior to her career

in the private sector, Desoretz was a trial attorney for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit’s Office of the Public Defender, where she represented indigent clients on misdemeanor, juvenile, and felony matters.

Mary Katherine Hayburn is an associate at Offit Kurman in its Family Law Practice Group. Hayburn’s practice focuses on complex family law cases, dedicating her time to assisting clients in matters involving divorce, child custody, visitation, spousal and child support, property division, division of retirement benefits, tax consequences of divorce, mediation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, negotiating and drafting of separation agreements, divorce litigation, and post-judgment proceedings. She is based in the firm’s Bethesda, Maryland office.

Jolsna John is president of the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA), a national minority bar association representing the interests of 6,000 lawyers and law students. Previously, John was president of NASABA’s charitable arm, NASABA Foundation.

Olivia T. Luk received the 2011 American Inns of Court Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Professional Service. The award was presented at the annual American Inns of Court Celebration of Excellence hosted by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor, at the Supreme Court.

Luk is an associate in the Litigation Department at Jenner & Block, where she concentrates her practice on complex civil litigation focusing on intellectual property/technology. She is co-coordinator for the firm’s Lateral Orientation Program, a member of the Women’s Forum Steering Committee, Associate’s Committee, and Associate Board of Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Debra Spinelli is an associate with Las Vegas-based Pisanelli Bice. In less than two years of existence, Pisanelli Bice has been named one of the “Best Law Firms” in America by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America.

Nikolas E. Tysiak is an associate with Babst Calland, in the Energy and Natural Resources and Business Services groups.

He practices in the areas of energy and real estate law, with a primary focus on transactions and ownership involving oil and gas, where he has extensive experience identifying and curing real estate titles issues in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Tysiak also maintains a general real estate practice. Prior to joining Babst Calland, he was with Jackson Kelly, PLLC, in Wheeling, West Virginia.

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alumni profile: ANDREW REILLY

’ 91

2006

The Life of Reilly COUNSELS ON U.S. CAPITAL MARKETS DOWN UNDER

(by Jennifer Hawes)

Andrew Reilly ’91 was met with a less-than-friendly welcome his first week of law school. Not at the Washington College of Law, but on the streets of Washington, D.C. Reilly, a Californian, had been trying to cross Wisconsin Avenue. “I had walked in a crosswalk, but to my astonishment, cars encroached, horns wailed, and fingers flew,” he recalls. The experience provided perfect fodder for a discussion in Professor Andrew Popper’s torts class the next day, where the subject was assault and battery. Relating his story, Reilly questioned whether he had been the victim of assault, as he had felt in danger of battery from the drivers. “Professor Popper and the students looked at me as if I were crazy,” says Reilly, who carefully explained to them that in California cars stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk because they have the right of way. “Given the recent shootings on Los Angeles freeways at the time, the professor’s quick reply was, ‘Yeah, then they pull out a gun and shoot you. Now that’s a battery!’”

Despite a bumpy start, Reilly enjoyed his years at AUWCL. He holds fond memories of Professors Kovacic, Pike, Popper, Robbins, Schwartz, Siegel, and Vaughn. “It’s great to see they’re still associated with AUWCL twenty years later,” he notes.

Reilly was working as an auditor for a major Los Angeles accounting firm when his best friend suggested he consider law school. “I found the national and international aspects of Washington and AUWCL more appealing for a professional life than Hollywood or other industries in South California,” he says.

These days, Reilly is a long way from Washington and California. Since 1997, he’s been living and working in Sydney, Australia. He, his wife, and two children have all become Australian citizens.

Reilly initially took a job with Jones Day’s Washington office, where he focused on corporate and securities law. Six years later, the company asked him to open a new office in Sydney.

“I was tired from working 3,000 hours, the relocation package was problematic and Australia didn’t seem exciting,” says Reilly, who considered the culture and climate too similar to Southern California.

He declined the offer. Another partner in the firm threatened to fire him if he didn’t relocate. “That push, together with my wife’s excitement about sunny Sydney got me to move,” he says.

In 2000, he became a partner and in charge of Jones Day’s Sydney office. In 2007, he moved across the street to Baker & McKenzie to establish a U.S. capital markets practice, becoming the first American lawyer to join that firm’s Sydney office.

Today, Reilly advises Australian companies on accessing the U.S. debt and equity capital markets.

His clients range from investment banks to large international companies, as well as small resources and life sciences companies.“In a little bit of a twist, I’m currently acting as U.S. counsel to an underwriter on an initial public offering in Australia by a medical device company that is incorporated in Delaware and based in California,” says Reilly. “While I recall learning at AUWCL that the only international law was public law, I now fancy myself as an international lawyer as I have learned and advise on the relevant securities laws of more than twenty countries.”

Joshua Apfelroth, a corporate associate with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in Manhattan, married Stephanie Benedetto in August 2011. She is a corporate associate with Baker Botts also in Manhattan, where they reside.

Christopher P. Murphy, a tax controversy associate for Bingham McCutchen, LLP, in Washington, D.C., co-authored Obtaining Information from the Government in Discovery and Disclosure-Related Damages Actions Against the Government, Portfolio 626, printed by Bloomberg BNA Tax & Accounting.

Douglas Panzer has opened his own law firm, The Law Offices of Douglas Panzer in Philadelphia, PA. Previously, he was corporate counsel for The Neat Company, and prior to that was an associate with Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Limited.

Jessica Sprovtsoff is an associate in the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Group in the newly established Ann Arbor, Michigan office of Schiff Hardin, LLP. Previously, she was an associate at Miller Canfield. Sprovtsoff’s practice covers all areas of business and commercial litigation with a focus on complex commercial cases and class action litigation, primarily antitrust. Before entering private practice, she served as a law clerk in the Eastern District of Michigan and for the Michigan Court of Appeals.

2007 Michael Bassik is managing director and digital practice chair for the United States at Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm. Bassik, an accomplished digital strategist with more than a decade of experience, has built several successful online public affairs practices and has been honored for his industry-leading work

by Yahoo!, the American Assocation of Political Consultants, and POLITICO. He has worked with a number of high-profile clients, including IBM, Google, the Democratic National Committee, John Kerry for President, Hillary Clinton for President, and Obama for America. Most recently, Bassik was senior vice president at Global Strategy Group and, prior to that, was chief digital officer for the radio network Air America Media. Earlier in his career, he established America Online’s political advertising division, serving as its director. He has appeared on Bloomberg Radio and NPR’s

Morning Edition and Weekend Edition. He also was featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the International Herald Tribune, BusinessWeek and Advertising Age. Karin Seubert practices with Jones, Brower & Callery, in Lewiston, Idaho, where she focuses on family law, real estate, probate, and general litigation. She is a member of the Idaho State Bar, the Second District Bar, and the tribal courts for the Nez Perce and Coeur d’Alene tribes.

2008

Fabiola Carrion is director of Government Relations at Planned Parenthood of New York City.

Parag Khandhar is a clinical fellow in the Community Development Clinic at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Previously, Khandhar was a staff attorney with the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Board of the Asian American Literary Review.

Tim McEvoy, an attorney for Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, authored a column for Jurist, an online legal news and real-time legal research service supported by the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. McEvoy’s column, “With Shortcomings, BP Settlement Agreement is a Step in the Right Direction,” was posted on May 25, 2012.

Chip Rosenberg is a clerk for the Honorable Charles Brower in The Hague, where he assists the judge with thirty or so private cases in which he is supported as an arbitrator. As international arbitration clerk, Rosenberg prepares bench memoranda, researches legal issues, and assists in drafting position papers for deliberations. In the position, he also serves as administrative secretary of the tribunal for the cases on which Judge Brower serves as the chairman of the arbitrational tribunal.

2009

Welles Campbell is an associate in the Estate and Wealth Planning/Estate Administration Practice Group at Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte, North Carolina. Campbell focuses her practice on assisting South Carolina clients in the areas of trusts and estates. She has extensive experience advising closely held business owners and works with high net-worth

Reilly returned to Washington in the fall, for the thirtieth anniversary of the International Legal Studies Program at AUWCL and Parents Weekend at Georgetown University, where his daughter is a freshman. No doubt, he’ll remind her to use care at crosswalks.

73 the ADVOCATE summer spring 2013 2013

students in class the notes news

alumni profile: DOLORES DORSAINVIL

’0 0

Mentoring, Legal Ethics and Professionalism

(by Megan Smith)

Dolores Dorsainvil ’00 regularly describes law school to her friends and family as the best three years of her life. “My time at AUWCL was phenomenal,” Dorsainvil describes. “I was fortunate enough to meet many of my closest friends there. Additionally, the professors at AUWCL really invested their time in my professional development. It was important for them to make sure that I understood the material, and that I also had direction in terms of what I wanted to do following law school.”

Dorsainvil is currently a senior staff attorney with the District of Columbia Office of Bar Counsel, where she investigates and, when necessary, prosecutes allegations of ethical misconduct of District of Columbia lawyers. “I didn’t go to law school thinking I would be an ethics lawyer or that professional responsibility would become my passion,” says Dorsainvil. “Following graduation from law school, I initially began working at a small law firm doing high-volume litigation work. I was later hired by the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland as an assistant bar counsel where I investigated allegations of ethical misconduct of Maryland lawyers.”

Dorsainvil is very involved in the legal community, regularly speaking at numerous continuing legal education seminars, serving in leadership roles for professional organizations including the American Bar Association, writing for publications, and writing her own ethics blog, The Gavel. “I really grew into this love of ethics. It is a field that is important because it touches every type of practice area,” explains Dorsainvil. “The more I educate lawyers about ethical matters and professionalism, the more lawyers will consider their conduct, and, hopefully, as a result there may be fewer lawyers to prosecute.”

Dorsainvil has received numerous awards, both nationally and locally, for her work in ethics and professionalism. These honors include being named among the “2012 Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40” by The National Bar Association, receiving professionalism awards from both the Maryland Bar Foundation and the American Bar Association, being named on the Maryland Daily Record’s VIP (Very Important Professional) List, receiving the Finalist award by the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Division for the National Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year, and being recognized as the International Women’s Day Awardee by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter for her international humanitarian efforts in her family’s homeland of Haiti. Most recently, she has received The Daily Record’s Maryland’s Top 100 Women Award and AUWCL’s Joseph H. Hairston Alumni Award.

Because of her law school experience, Dorsainvil says she strives to pay it forward whenever possible.

Dorsainvil teaches legal ethics as an adjunct professor at AUWCL, and serves as a mentor for her students. “I tell my students to keep an open mind, because there is so much you can do with a law degree.

Everything is not always black and white – or litigators versus transactional corporate attorneys. You might start down one career path and realize that your passion lies elsewhere because you stumbled onto something that really piques your interests.”

individuals on matters relating to estate planning, estate administration, and tax planning.

Michael Causey is an associate with Shaw, Bransford & Roth, a labor and employment firm in Washington, D.C. Jared Josephsen returned to law practice in the New York City office of Ropes & Gray, LLP, after a period of military leave to complete an overseas deployment to Egypt with his Army National Guard Unit. This was his second active-duty deployment. He served a combat tour to Iraq in 2003. His service in Egypt was part of a multinational peacekeeping mission during which he was a company executive officer, second-in-command of an eighty-eight-man infantry unit tasked to patrol the Sinai region and monitor the security situation. During the deployment, he was promoted to battalion assistant operations officer, where he acted directly on behalf of the U.S. commander for all aspects of planning and executing air, ground, and seaborne operations.

Alexandra P. Moylan is an associate at Pessin Katz Law, PA, where she focuses her practice in the areas of medical malpractice defense, insurance coverage, and general insurance defense litigation. After graduating from AUWCL, Moylan clerked in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.

Rabihah Scott is head of the Social Security Disability Practice Group at Price Benowitz, LLP, in Baltimore, Maryland.

2010

Jessica D. Burt is an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Stradley Ronon, an investment management/mutual funds practice group. Burt assists investment companies, investment advisers, and broker-dealers on regulatory and compliance issues. She also provides advice for investment management clients in all aspects of legal representation.

Julia Colarusso is an associate in the Franchise & Distribution Practice Group at Gray Plant Mooty in Washington, D.C. Her practice covers a wide variety of subject matters, including employment law, contract disputes, and other types of civil litigation. Previously, she was a research assistant to former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, for whom she researched and drafted reports on economic policy, healthcare reform, and energy initiatives. Colarusso also completed a one-year teaching fellowship in AUWCL’s Legal Rhetoric Program.

Josiah Young, Jesse Sommer ’11, Randy Seriguchi ’11, who comprise The People of Channel 38, a multimedia entertainment business, produced a parody music video during which they offer advice on how to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam.

2011

Melissa Brickell handles science and technology issues for the Senate Commerce Committee.

Jesse Sommer, Randy Seriguchi and Josiah Young ’10, who comprise The People of Channel 38, a multimedia entertainment business, produced a parody music video during which they offer advice on how to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam.

2012

Kevin Barnett is an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP. He works in the Government Contracts Practice.

2013

Daniel Honeycutt was a summer associate in the Birmingham, Alabama office of Burr & Forman, LLP.

Dorsainvil founded a bar exam mentoring project in 2005 that assists students of color to pass the Maryland state bar examination. She serves as chair of the project, which pairs graduates of area law schools with volunteer attorneys who provide general guidance and assist with the essay writing portion of the bar examination. “I’m so proud of the time and effort that the volunteer attorneys have put into this project,” says Dorsainvil. “Mentoring is something that is near and dear to my heart. I feel like I have had so many wonderful mentors that took the time to foster the kind of professional relationships that I needed, and directed me down the right path.”

75 the ADVOCATE summer spring 2013 2013

class notes

I N

m e m O r I A m

hal merrill christensen j o s e p h p . c r av e r o

’52 – April 18, 2012

’72 – March 13, 2011

wallace l. dunc an

’61 – February 22, 2008

william d. jackson

’62 – April 18, 2011

rebecc a lord

’75 – February 2, 2011

angus s. more jr.

’67 – December 30, 2011

william w. nickerson

’80 – January 18, 2011

w i l l i a m h . patt i s o n j r . frank h. pearl

’52 – August 9, 2011

’67 – May 4, 2012

e l i z a b e t h s l a c k p i g n at e l l o ronald pump

’96 – August 7, 2011

’73 – December 1, 2010

h a r o l d s c h m i tt i n g e r e v e ly n w i e n h o l z lewis a. wilson

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