June 2011 Benchmark Column

THE THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL

Benchmark

THE THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWS PUBLICATION

C O LU M N JUNE 2011 • VOLUME 3 • NUMBER 2

National Champions Erin Moss and LaToya Palmer comprise the top client counseling team in the United States. The Detroit natives recently bested teams from 95 law schools across the United States, taking first place in the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division Client Counseling National Competition.

Cooley has done such a great job of teaching us the fundamentals of law. We had a lot of practical knowledge going into the competition that I don’t think the judges expected to see from law students.”

LATOYA PALMER

Judge & Juggler …of Life

Giving Back: Making a Difference in the Lives of Others

Recently re-elected Judge Tom Jaworksi (McAlvay Class, 1984), Eucharistic minister, racquetball junkie, hand-bell choir musician, avid outdoorsman and community volunteer, couldn’t be more content with his busy and full life.

The upbeat, 53-year-old simply believes that it is better to engage in new experiences than to sit on life’s sidelines.

David Whipple (Butzel Class, 1979) talks enthusiastically about his work, his teaching, and his community involvement, but it’s never about him. It’s always centered on how his work has affected the lives of others.

INSIDE > NATIONAL CHAMPIONS / ERIN MOSS & LATOYA PALMER > GIVING BACK: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS / DAN WHIPPLE > JUDGE AND JUGGLER …OF LIFE / TOM JAWORSKI > GROWING IN SO MANY WAYS / JUANITA BOCANEGRA

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SCHOOL NEWS

WELCOME TO THE BENCHMARK COLUMN

As we put away our coats and pack up our snow attire here in Michigan, I’m thankful that our diverse seasons have led us to days of warmth.

I’m also led to thoughts of another type of diversity – the diversity that makes up the Cooley Law School family.

Diversity is a key reason Cooley is so special. Whether measured by race, gender, ethnicity, culture, language, geography, or national origin, Cooley is the most diverse of all law schools. Cooley brings together different people with different backgrounds, goals, life experiences and values with wonderful results. The ability to learn from one another is what makes Cooley so great.

A majority of our students come from outside the state of Michigan. We have the most comprehensive part-time program in the nation, meeting the scheduling needs of traditional and non-traditional students alike. And we believe that a J.D. degree is the best advanced liberal arts degree available, regardless of whether you intend to

practice law or pair your legal knowledge with skills and experience in another area. All of these aspects allow for a diverse group of individuals who make up the Cooley Law School family.

This issue of Benchmark Column features many of the aspects of diversity that make Cooley so great. The experience of those featured in this issue ranges from students winning national awards and recent graduates who are seeking new challenges to veteran attorneys and judges who are making big differences in the community.

Their diverse successes are inspirational to all of us. I’m proud to call each of them and every one of you, fellow members of the Cooley family.

Sincerely,

James D. Robb, Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations robbj@cooley.edu

Among those gathering for the grand opening of the expanded law library were (left to right) Myron Lloyd, president of the Straker Bar Association; John Nussbaumer, associate dean for Cooley's Auburn Hills campus; Helen N. Levenson, head of Public Services for Cooley's Auburn Hills campus; Associate Dean Duane Strojny, who oversees all four Cooley libraries; Cooley President and Dean Don LeDuc. Photo by John Meiu

Cooley-Sponsored Ethics Symposium Featured on C-SPAN A commitment to ethics is at the core of a legal education at Cooley Law School. The school’s partnership with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, and the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Bar Association took that commitment to a national audience in March 2011 when its symposium entitled “Ethics in Our World” was featured on C-SPAN. The event opened with remarks from President Ford’s son, Steven, entitled “Lessons Learned from My Dad.” Ford talked at length about his dad’s struggle with the decision of whether or not to pardon Richard Nixon. In addition to knowing that it was the right thing for the nation, Ford said that his father also knew that pardoning Nixon would be the end of his political career.

“My dad knew in his mind it wasn’t about him, it was about the country,” Ford said.

Following Ford’s remarks, the event continued with insightful commentary from panelists who serve as leaders in the law, government, and homeland security.

Panelists included former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, State Bar of Michigan Vice President Bruce A. Courtade, and General Michael C.H. McDaniel, a professor at Cooley and the former deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Homeland Defense Division.

Each panelist highlighted very different instances where professional and personal ethics were tested.

But the main point all panelists agreed on was that doing the right thing according to one’s own conscience, despite possible negative personal repercussions, was a trademark of the truly ethical person.

Cooley Hosts Entertainment Law Seminar Featuring Rapper Eminem’s Lawyer Students at Cooley’s Ann Arbor campus were given first-hand insights into the work of attorneys who represent entertainers during a February 2011 seminar featuring Howard Hertz, the attorney at Hertz Schram, P.C., Bloomfield, Mich., who represents rapper and Detroit native Eminem.

“It was a great opportunity for our students,” said Joan Vestrand, associate dean and professor at Cooley’s Ann Arbor campus. “Having real-world professionals like Howard Hertz talk with our students offers them great insights into the legal profession and specific practice areas.”

Hertz specializes in entertainment law and is the lead attorney of his firm’s entertainment practice group. In addition to Eminem, Hertz has represented George “P Funk” Clinton, Elmore Leonard, and Atlantic Records.

Hertz reinforced that, more than anything else, relationships and experiences are vital in retaining artists, all of whom are seeking trusted advocates and advisors to protect them and their work.

Cooley students seemed to be in tune with Hertz’s message even before the event.

“The way I look at it is: Artists want to create,” Cooley student Charles Boike told AnnArbor.com just before the start of Hertz’s speech. “But they need someone to protect their legal interests — copyrights, negotiations, forming their own businesses, everything.”

“Dad would be so pleased today that this was the town square for such a fascinating discussion,” said Ford in closing the event, referencing the Ford Presidential Museum as the location of the event.

Cooley Student Wins Best Overall Advocate Award in Competition Besting 43 other students from law schools throughout the country, Anna White, a student at Cooley’s Grand Rapids campus, was named Best Oral Advocate at a recent regional competition for the Constance Baker Motley Moot Court Competition in Constitutional Law. The event, organized by the American Constitution Society, was held in Los Angeles March 11-13.

“Presenting an argument orally is the backbone of advocacy in the legal profession,” said Evelyn Calogero, associate professor at Cooley Law School and White’s coach for the competition.

“Anna has raw talent that she’s molded into a skill recognized by the judges in Los Angeles. Her success is the result of months of hard work, preparation, and practice,” Calogero said.

The competition presented students with an issue of constitutional law that concerns equality, liberty, and justice. The students, competing in teams of two, were then asked to write a brief and argue the issue. White was singled out for the Best Oral Advocate award and her team made it all the way to the semifinal round.

Auburn Hills Campus Doubles its Library Capacity; Total Volumes in Four-Campus System Now Second Largest in Michigan Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus has expanded its campus library, doubling the seating, group study rooms, shelf space, and square footage of the facility. The resulting increase in total volumes brings Cooley’s four-campus library system to more than 670,000 volumes, making it now the second largest law library in the state.

“Our goal with this expansion was to give students, lawyers, and members of the public a chance to not only have access to these resources, but to give them the opportunity to do so in a comfortable environment that provides an ideal setting to study and research the law,” said John Nussbaumer, associate dean at the Auburn Hills campus.

The expansion increased library seating at the Auburn Hills campus from 147 to 390, group study rooms from 9 to 19, shelf space from 8,100 to 15,912 linear feet, and square footage from 12,660 to 22,199 square feet.

At the March 2011 ceremony to officially open the expanded library, Myron Lloyd, president of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, announced that the library would now be home to the association’s historical documents and archives. The mission of the Straker Bar Association is to increase minority representation in the legal profession, support and encourage legal practice opportunities for minorities, and facilitate equal justice for underserved members of Oakland County, Mich.

President Lloyd also unveiled a framed portrait of Straker that will hang in the library. Straker was the first African-American attorney to argue before the Michigan Supreme Court. In Ferguson v Gies, 82 Mich 358 (1890), he successfully argued that the “separate but equal” doctrine, then followed by the U.S. Supreme Court, was unconstitutional under Michigan law.

To view the entire symposium, visit http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/298513-1.

ALUMNI DATABASE The user name will always remain the word alumni. The password changes each term and will be disclosed in issues of Benchmark and Benchmark Column. Please call the Alumni Relations Office at (800) 243-ALUM (in the Lansing area, call 517-371-5140, ext. 2038), or e-mail alumni@cooley.edu if you have any problems. The current password for this term is justice.

BENCHMARK COLUMN | JUNE 2011 | VOLUME 3 | NUMBER 2

FEATURE ARTICLE

Faculty Briefs Frank C. Aiello, Assistant Professor Appointed, to the Board of Directors of the Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy (http://heartofthelakes.org), the Michigan coalition of land trusts, for a term expiring November 2013.

Attended, the Second Symposium on Advanced Legal Topics in Conservation, on February 7-8, 2011, in Boston, Mass.

Brendan Beery, Associate Professor Accepted, for publication, “When Originalism Attacks: How Justice Scalia’s Resort to Original Expected Application in Crawford v.Washington Came Back to Bite Him in Michigan v. Bryant,” forthcoming in Drake Law Review (Constitutional Law Symposium Issue), Volume 59, Summer 2011.

MEET THE TOP CLIENT COUNSELING TEAM IN THE COUNTRY LATOYA PALMER (MAY 2012) AND ERIN MOSS (MAY 2012)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

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“Professional responsibility of lawyers and judges was the focus of this year’s competition, so the emphasis that Cooley places on professional responsibility issues in its substantive law classes really gave us an upper hand in the competition. We also went over the professional responsibility rules of conduct and what may be applicable in certain scenarios to prepare, and our coaches brought in other professors from various areas of law to help us look at some of the scenarios from different angles.” Erin Moss

Published, an Op Ed piece, “As With King George’s Colonial Governors, EFMs Breach the Social Compact,” Detroit Free Press (Online Commentary), May 1, 2011.

James L. Carey, Associate Professor Interviewed, and featured, in a front page article in the Detroit Legal News regarding the recent amendments to Michigan’s Limited Liability Company Act. Attended, the Michigan Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (the “MCACC”) Scholarship Awards ceremony held in East Lansing on April 14, 2011, where Matthew Marguerite, a Cooley Auburn Hills student, was awarded a $3,000 scholarship.

Prof. Carey is chair of the Cooley committee that selects students for consideration by the MCACC for scholarships each year.

Presented, the Legislative Update for the 23rd Annual ICLE Business Law Institute, a two-day conference of Michigan’s business lawyers, on May 6, 2011. Prof.

Carey prepared and presented materials on several legislative developments during the last year, including 39 new laws of interest to Michigan business lawyers.

Mark Cooney, Associate Professor Published, an article called “Are You a Hyphen-Happy Lawyer?” in the May 2011 issue of the Michigan Bar Journal.

Judith Frank, Professor

They became fast friends at Cooley’s freshmen orientation in 2009. Now, LaToya Palmer and Erin Moss are the top client counseling team in the United States. The Detroit natives bested teams from 95 law schools across the United States, taking first place in the American Bar Association’s (ABA) National Client Counseling Competition in 2011.

Simulating a law office consultation, the competition puts law students, acting as attorneys, together with a “client” seeking legal expertise. The students are given very little information about the consultation before the client’s arrival and are asked to conduct an interview with the client. They brainstorm with him or her to explore possible legal options to help the client achieve his or her goals.

Competition judges evaluate the students’ ability to establish an appropriate working atmosphere, listen, understand the client’s perspective, analyze the problem, and present various courses of action consistent with the client’s goals and objectives.

“I think our success is due to the chemistry that we have together,” said Moss. “We both had professional careers before we came to law school and dealt with clients in a very different setting. My background is in sales and LaToya’s is in human resources, so we really complement each other.

“We were told by the coaches and other competitors that we set a certain tone in the room that made the client very comfortable and allowed him to open up.

The judges also complimented us afterward, stating that we seemed to gel very well together.”

“We also received quite a few compliments from the judges on our knowledge of the law,” said Palmer.

“Cooley has done such a great job of teaching us the fundamentals of law. We had a lot of practical knowledge going into the competition that I don’t think the judges expected to see from law students.”

Road to the Nationals Just five weeks after the freshmen orientation in 2009, Moss and Palmer decided to try out for Cooley’s client counseling competition, an experience that prepared them for a later victory.

“We became gold medal finalists in the competition,” said Moss. “One of our coaches, Christine Church, told us that we were one of the best teams that she had seen. She didn’t realize that we were only fifthweek students and told us that we could potentially win a national championship. I think she thought about sending us to the regional competition, but realized that we would have been way out of our league without learning more substantive law.”

After Church’s encouragement, Moss and Palmer tried out for the Cooley competition again in 2010.

The students became gold medal finalists in the competition again and were selected to compete in the ABA’s regional competition in London, Ontario, along with two other student teams from Cooley, early in 2011.

Leading up to the regional competition, the three teams spent hours practicing each week.

“Professional responsibility of lawyers and judges was the focus of this year’s competition, so the emphasis that Cooley places on professional responsibility issues in its substantive law classes really gave us an upper hand in the competition,” said Moss.

“We also went over the professional responsibility rules of conduct and what may be applicable in certain scenarios to prepare, and our coaches brought in other professors from various areas of law to help us look at some of the scenarios from different angles.”

Their practice and dedication paid off, as Moss and Palmer advanced through multiple rounds at the regional and national levels to take the championship, besting 95 teams from law schools across the United States.

The team went on to represent, not only Cooley Law School, but the United States, in the International Client Counseling Competition at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, April 6-9, 2011.

Assistant Dean and Professor Christine Church, the team’s coach, was impressed and very proud of their performance at Internationals. “The team did very well, and although the team didn’t compete in the finals, as a result of the experience, Erin and LaToya have colleagues in countries around the world,” said Church.

“Many judges came up to me and let me know how well they thought the Cooley U.S. team did. They also expressed that they felt that the Cooley U.S. team could have been the International Champions.”

This isn’t the first time Cooley teams have done well. Cooley was in the final round at Nationals in 2010 and in the semi-finals in 2009.

“We are excited about how success in this contest has impressed future employers,” stated Church.

“A past Cooley team member, who came in third in the U.S. competition in 2010, has told us that the experience has sparked future employers’ interest and job opportunities.”

Hosted, an alumni event in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 6 for 25 alumni and new students.

Appointed, to the selection committee for the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.

Alan Gershel, Associate Professor Appointed, to a Warrant Task Force which reviews issues germane to the FBI’s automated warrant systems such as the National Crime Information Center’s wanted person files.

Presented, on corporate crime, at the Oakland County Bar Association’s In-House Counsel Forum at Delphi Corporation on April 5, 2011. The topic concerned internal investigations.

Christopher G. Hastings, Associate Professor Re-appointed, to the Executive Committee of the Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore.

Presented, along with Associate Dean Nelson Miller, a seminar on pro bono representation of plaintiffs in prisoners’ rights cases. The seminar is part of a wider effort to match Cooley students with lawyers practicing in the Western District of Michigan to handle prisoners’ rights cases that have survived summary judgment through trial.

Joseph Kimble, Professor Attended, the ClearMark Awards dinner sponsored by the Center for Plain Language and held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The redrafted Federal Rules of Evidence won a 2011 ClearMark Award. Professor Kimble was the principal drafter.

Agreed, to speak at a symposium on the new evidence rules to be held at William & Mary School of Law.

Continued on Following Page > KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS. ETHICS. | COOLEY.EDU

FEATURE ARTICLE DAVID WHIPPLE, ATTORNEY WITH KELLY, WHIPPLE, ZICK & KEYES P.L.L.C.

Joseph Kimble, Professor (continued) Finished, editing volume 13 of The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing. This issue is unique: it contains transcripts of Bryan Garner’s interviews with eight Supreme Court Justices on legal writing and advocacy. Professor Kimble has now served as editor in chief for six issues of the Scribes Journal.

Attended, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of Scribes—The American Society of Legal Writers.

GIVINGBACK

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS

Spoke, to students at California Western School of Law at a seminar before the Scribes board meeting.

Attended, the January meeting of the Standing Committee on Federal Rules.

Jeffrey L. Martlew, Associate Professor Wrote, three articles that were published in Nelson Miller’s recent book, Judging In West Michigan (Vandeplas Publishing, 2011) under the title “The Sound Working of a Reformer’s Heart.”

Daniel W. Matthews, Associate Professor Published, a textbook, Taxation of Intellectual Property, published by Vandeplas Publishing. The book will be used in summer 2011 in a newly developed Taxation of Intellectual Property class offered in Cooley’s graduate program.

Nelson P. Miller, Associate Dean and Professor Published, as author, the 900-page casebook Civil Procedure in Practice, by Vandeplas Publishing, for teaching Civil Procedure I and II. Published, as author, the book A Law Graduate’s Guide — Navigating Law School’s Hidden Career and Professional-Development Curriculum, by Bridge Publishing, for advising students on careers.

Published, as co-editor, the book Judging in West Michigan — the Community Impact of Effective Judges and Courts, by Vandeplas Publishing, for the Grand Rapids Bar Association’s 2011 Law Day celebration.

L. Patricia Mock, Associate Professor Coached, the 2011 Cooley Client Counseling team at the Regional ABA Client Counseling Competition in London, Ontario. This team won the title for Region VI. She then co-coached this team to victory, at the national competition held at the University of Oklahoma School of Law, after which they competed at the International ABA Client Counseling Competition held in the Netherlands.

David Whipple talks enthusiastically about his work, his teaching, and his community involvement, but it’s never about him. It’s always centered on how his work has affected the lives of others.

Coordinated, a program recognizing the Stone Community Outreach Project of the Sixty Plus, Inc., Elderlaw Clinic. The program received widespread community support and numerous media accolades.

Ask David Whipple (Butzel Class, 1979) about his work as an attorney with Kelly, Whipple, Zick & Keyes P.L.L.C., Port Huron, Mich., and he’ll tell you about what his clients were able to accomplish. Ask about his teaching at Walsh College and he’ll tell you all about what his students have been able to do with their lives. Ask about his work with the Boy Scouts, Little League, or his years on the local hospital board.

Attended, the 14th annual Otis M. Smith Scholarship Dinner sponsored by the Lansing Black Lawyers Association.

Attended, Reverberations of Domestic Violence – the 16th annual conference on domestic violence hosted by the Batterer Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan (BISC). Plenary sessions addressed ways communities can work together to analyze and end different forms of domestic violence, including elder abuse.

Attended, the Community Expo for the Children’s Defense Fund Summer Freedom School, a community initiative sponsored by the Black Child and Families Institute. She presented information and distributed literature concerning free legal services offered through Sixty Plus, Inc., Elderlaw Clinic for the elderly.

Michael Molitor, Associate Professor Published, a preliminary version of his textbook, Business Organizations: Statutes, Problems, and Cases, from Vandeplas Publishing, for use in the summer semester. The final version of the textbook will be published in time for the fall semester.

Whipple talks enthusiastically about his work, his teaching, and his community involvement, but it’s never about him. It’s always centered on how his work has affected the lives of others.

“I’ve always thought about what makes a successful attorney,” said Whipple. “I think you can make differences in individual lives and businesses through helping them make better decisions, but I also believe that a successful attorney will try and make a difference in his or her local community. So I’ve tried to do that with a number of public service positions and organizations that I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of.”

Published, an article in the UC Davis Business Law Journal (11 UC Davis Business L. J. 97, 2010), entitled “The Crucial Role of the Nominating Committee: Re-Inventing Nominating Committees in the Aftermath of Shareholder Access to the Proxy.”

Marjorie Russell, Professor Served, as an instructor in witness examination skills for the CDAM Annual Spring Conference, Novi, Mich., on March 17-19.

Continued on Following Page > BENCHMARK COLUMN | JUNE 2011 | VOLUME 3 | NUMBER 2

Starting out Originally from Port Huron, Mich., Whipple spent part of his growing-up years in Grosse Pointe, Mich.

“I wasn’t always sure that I wanted to become a lawyer,” Whipple admitted. “For a long time, I thought that I wanted to go into politics.”

So after undergraduate school, armed with a degree in social science, Whipple went to Washington, D.C. to work for the Food and Population Studies Institute as a lobbyist and organizer. His decision to go to law school followed a year later.

“Cooley was my first choice,” he explained. “I liked the Lansing area, and Cooley’s concept of practical education very much appealed to me.”

It was at Cooley that Whipple also met his wife, Janice.

“We met at Cooley in a study group. She fell in love with the bestlooking guy in the class,” he joked. “But he was already married so she ended up with me.”

Nearly 32 years later, the couple remains happily married.

“I guess you could say that I owe a lot to Cooley,” he added.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Marjorie Russell, Professor (continued)

Cooley graduate David Whipple believes in the importance of giving back.

Presenting, the Closing Paper, “Pulling the Presumption of Innocence from the Coffin and Getting it Into your Case,” at the NORML Legal Committee Spring Legal Seminar, in Aspen, Colo., in June 2011.

Serving, as the featured opening speaker/hands-on workshop: “Forging a Group Identity with the Jury, So You’re Their Leader and the DA is an Outsider,” in June 2011, at the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Annual Conference.

Serving, as the featured closing lecturer, on “Getting Juries and Judges to Fight for the Presumption of Innocence,” in June 2011, at the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Annual Conference.

Serving, as faculty for the Trial Lawyers College, in DuBois, Wyo., with a Death Penalty Seminar in June 2011, and for the Trial Lawyers College in July and September 2011.

Serving, as small group lead faculty, advanced preparation skills, with a lecture/demonstration on voir dire, at the CDAM/Cooley Criminal Defense Trial College, in August 2011.

Devin Schindler, Associate Professor

Born: June 26, 1951 in Port Huron, Michigan Education: Bachelor’s degree in social science from Michigan State University in 1973; graduated with honors from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1979 Family: Janice (wife), Meredith (daughter), and Dan (son) Professional activities: Member and past president, St. Clair County Bar Association

Community activities: Member and secretary-treasurer, Port Huron Hospital Board of Trustees Board of Directors, Blue Water Health Services Corporation Past president and current executive board member, Boy Scouts of America, Blue Water Council Past president, Greater Port Huron Area Chamber of Commerce

Adjunct professor of business law,Walsh College

Past president, Center for Human Resource

Panelist, Michigan Attorney Discipline Board

Past chairman, Port Huron Hospital Foundation

St. Clair County Representative, State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly

Appeared, on WGVU-TV’s newsmakers program in May, and discussed the continuing impact of the Pentagon Papers Case.

Served, on a panel discussion May 26, sponsored by WGVU-TV, and discussed the documentary “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers.” The other panel members were Congressman Pete Hoekstra, Gleaves Whitney (Director of the Haunstein Center for Presidential Studies), and Daniel Ellsberg (of Pentagon Papers fame.)

Otto Stockmeyer, Emeritus Professor

“I feel fortunate. My wonderful family and great profession have put me in position to reach out to others in a variety of ways. I can only hope that I’ve been able to share something of value along the way.”

DAVID WHIPPLE

Published, an article, “Using Multiple-Choice Quizzes,” in the Association of American Law Schools Academic Support Section newsletter The Learning Curve (January 2011).

Published, an article, “Do You SSRN?,” about the Social Science Research Network, in the Scribes newsletter The Scrivener (Winter 2011).

Published, an article, “Meet Scribes - A Society That Promotes Legal-Writing Excellence,” in the Michigan Bar Journal (March 2011).

Delivered, a paper “The Tortuous History of the Mutual-Mistake Defense in Michigan Contract Law,” at the annual meeting of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters, on March 11, 2011.

Christopher R. Trudeau, Associate Professor

Whipple also meets with high school and college students in the community who may have an interest in pursuing a law degree.

Admitted, to practice in the United States Supreme Court on March 30, 2011.

Giving back A year after moving back to Port Huron, Whipple decided to devote some of his time to teaching business law at Walsh College.

“I encourage kids to go into the law,” said Whipple. “So anytime I hear of a student who is thinking of going to law school, I invite them to call me and I spend time talking with them about law school and my experience in the private practice of law. In fact, one student I talked to graduated from Cooley about three years ago and she is currently a very bright associate in our office.”

Attended, the annual meeting of the Association of American Law schools in San Francisco in January 2011.

Twenty years later, Whipple feels extremely grateful that he was able to help students acquire some of the knowledge and skills they needed to achieve their goals.

Free time?

When he’s not busy at work or devoting his time to various organizations, Whipple enjoys playing golf, reading, and skiing.

“In 20 years, you touch a lot of students,” said Whipple. “And I never would have begun teaching if it weren’t for the good examples that I had in law school. The best part of teaching, for me, was when I would see that light bulb go on above a student’s head and knew they finally ‘got it.’ It’s a unique feeling and extremely rewarding.”

He and his wife have two grown children, Meredith, 29, who works as an international business consultant in San Francisco, and Dan, 27, who owns his own architectural firm in Los Angeles. Whipple and his family also enjoy traveling and have been to India, China, Russia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Europe.

Not only did Whipple devote his time to teaching students, but he also has served in various leadership roles in the community. Through the years, Whipple has worked with the Blue Water Council of Boy Scouts, Port Huron Hospital, the Port Huron Marysville Chamber of Commerce and the St. Clair Community Growth Alliance, to name a few.

“I feel fortunate,” said Whipple. “My wonderful family and great profession have put me in position to reach out to others in a variety of ways. I can only hope that I’ve been able to share something of value along the way.”

After they both graduated from Cooley in 1979, Whipple and his wife moved back to Port Huron and he joined what is now known as Kelly, Whipple, Zick & Keyes P.L.L.C. There, he has built a practice in business law and organization, probate and estate planning, health care law, business mediation and arbitration, real estate development and transactions.

William Weiner, Professor

Derek S.Witte, Assistant Professor Moderated, and presented 2011 Michigan ICLE Update on E-Discovery with Hon. Joseph Scoville and Jay Yelton of Miller Canfield , on Feb. 15, 2011.

Authored, “Negligent & Grossly Negligent Spoliation in the Wake of Judge Scheindlin’s Pension Committee Decision,” for Michigan ICLE 2011.

Presented, to the West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, “How to Get Fired in 140 Characters or Less,” on Jan. 20, 2011.

Presented, to the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Records Management Association, “eDiscovery Challenges Posed by New Technologies,” on Feb. 16, 2011.

Invited, to the Sedona Conference on the Future of Complex Litigation Part II, in Del Mar, Calif., on April 7-8, 2011.

Provided, commentary regarding electronic evidence for an article on a tragic suicide at Rutgers University and the subsequent criminal indictments. Aaron Couch, “Rutgers Suicide: Victim’s Roommate is Charged with Hate Crime,” in The Christian Science Monitor, April 20, 2011.

KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS. ETHICS. | COOLEY.EDU

TOM JAWORSKI, ALACHUA COUNTY COURT JUDGE, EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, STATE OF FLORIDA

Judge&Juggler…of life “IT IS BETTER TO ENGAGE IN NEW ExPERIENCES THAN TO SIT ON LIFE’S SIDELINES.” TOM JAWORSKI

Like the stained glass he so artfully creates in his spare time, Tom Jaworksi’s (McAlvay Class, 1984) life has been a mosaic of rich and diverse events in both planned and spontaneous ways.

The recently re-elected judge of Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit Court, Eucharistic minister, racquetball junkie, hand-bell choir musician, avid outdoorsman, and community volunteer, couldn’t be more content with his busy and full life. The upbeat, 53-year-old simply believes that it is better to engage in new experiences than to sit on life’s sidelines.

“If you fail, oh well; at least you tried,” he said.

It is this philosophy, coupled with a can-do spirit, which has guided nearly all of his pursuits, including his latest hobby, playing guitar.

Inspired by his son TJay’s (Thomas) fancy fretwork, Jaworski is working on mastering the instrument – all the while he contemplates scuba diving certification so he can also dive with his son.

Rooted in Faith, Family Jaworski is also deeply faith-filled. Raised in a large Polish-Catholic family in East Detroit, Jaworski credits his family with supporting his major undertakings, including attending the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

The idea of attending law school took root during his formative years, as Jaworski’s parents held a college education in high regard. Jaworski’s father died when he was 18, and his mother made sure the setback would not affect the children’s higher education pursuits.

While several of the women who attended the neighborhood church encouraged the young altar server to consider the priesthood, Jaworski always maintained his own designs on the future.

He enrolled at Michigan State University as a political science major and soon realized he wanted to become a lawyer, a vocation his mother had encouraged him to consider.

“I had known it (Cooley) was a great school,” he said. “My brotherin-law had graduated from there.”

Balancing Law School & Sports Jaworski was accepted into Cooley in 1980. One of his first classes was criminal law, which immediately piqued his interest.

Jaworski thrived in his classes. He also built some strong friendships while managing to find time for intramural hockey and softball.

He roomed with the late Michael Skinner (McAlvay Class), who also became a judge.

NAME: Tom Jaworski AGE: 53

There were lighter Cooley memories too. Like the time the letter carrier slid her postal truck into his lower-level Lansing apartment on a cold, February morning. No one, including the driver, was hurt. Jaworski and Skinner were at class, later learning of the incident that would become a campus-wide tale.

He graduated from Cooley in 1984 in the top third of his class, meeting his future wife at Church, Kritselis & Wyble, P.C., a firm they worked at during his last year of law school. They soon headed south to Gainesville, Fla., to be near family members.

Jaworski also began his career with post-conviction relief work at Florida’s Institutional Legal Services office, including civil rights cases and inmate representation.

He then moved to the Eighth Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s office in Gainesville, representing individuals who were accused of crimes, but still presumed innocent.

In 1989, he accepted a criminal prosecution position as an assistant state attorney in the Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s office.

“My whole career spun around; it went full circle.”

Itch for Judge In 1997, Jaworski joined the firm of DeThomasis & Buchanan and after a year, opened a solo practice in Gainesville. About three years into private practice, Jaworski said the “itch for judge” came knocking.

“I started seeing (campaign election) signs up for others running for county judge and thought, ‘that should be my name on those signs,’ so I went out and got a group together and ran successfully in 2004 in a three-person race.”

In the town of Gainesville, Jaworski now presides over a staggering 100+ cases a day.

“This is truly what you call the people’s court in every sense of the word,” Jaworski explained. “You’re dealing with people whose lives are going to be dramatically changed by the decision you make and I take that very seriously.

“Every case is important to every individual and deserves a fresh, attentive judge who is going to listen to their case and treat them courteously and with respect.”

Just into his new, six-year term, Jaworski said he has gained a deeper understanding and perspective of social justice.

EDUCATION: B.A. in Political Science, Michigan State University J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School

EMPLOYMENT: Alachua County Court Judge, Eighth Judicial Circuit, State of Florida

WHAT’S ON HIS BOOKSHELF? • Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

RESIDENCE: Gainesville, Fla.

• Seven Spiritual Laws of Success (CD during his commutes to work)

HOMETOWN: East Detroit, Mich.

• Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: It’s All Small Stuff • If (poem by Rudyard Kipling)

BENCHMARK COLUMN | JUNE 2011 | VOLUME 3 | NUMBER 2

“I think I’ve become a lot more compassionate about the frailties of life. I’m dealing with people who steal medicine because they can’t afford it and their Medicare doesn’t pay for it. It saddens me to see these older people in their 60s and 70s and they have no prior record, and they’re shoplifting a bottle of vitamins that cost $15. I take that into account when I sentence.”

Mythbuster He also tries to dispel a few myths about his work.

“There’s a perception that we’re up there calling balls and strikes and it’s an easy thing to do,” he said. “A lot of people jokingly say, ‘that’s easy; you just have to make the call and if you’re wrong, some appellate court will make it right. As a judge, you want to get it right and follow the law. We take it seriously.”

Sometimes an individual’s sentencing becomes a lesson in self-reflection that circles back to Jaworski.

“I was standing on a street corner last year campaigning along with my son when a tattooed man jumped out of his van, bolted toward us and said, ‘I just want to tell you that when you gave me that sentence, I thought you were too harsh but you made a difference in my life.”

Today, Jaworski remains close to his children, Thomas, 22, and Emily, 20, both now in college. He offers them the same advice he would to future attorneys.

“Pursue what you are passionate about,” he said. “Just because you get a law degree does not mean you have to be a practicing lawyer; it’s a good training ground for any career.”

And give back to your community. Judge Jaworski is an avid volunteer for local children’s literacy programs. He enjoys going into the classroom and meeting young people, talking to them about justice, respect, and values.

He also makes sure he carves out time for stained-glass art projects, including a special box he made for his daughter’s high school graduation. He also made a heart with the made-up word, “Emski” -- his nickname for his daughter, Emily – fashioned into the design, and a guitar with “TJAY” embedded into the instrument’s neck for his son, Thomas.

So what’s next of the docket for Jaworski? It is hard to tell; just recently he performed a wedding ceremony in Tampa at a Renaissance Festival, aptly dressed in a kilt.

“I love the adventure of it all.”

FAVORITE QUOTATION:

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming...”

-Theodore Roosevelt

FEATURE ARTICLE JUANITA BOCANEGRA, ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR, OTTAWA COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Growing I N S O M A N Y WAYS

The daughter of migrant workers, Juanita Bocanegra knew at the early age of six that she wanted a different life.

She wanted to be an attorney.

The daughter of migrant workers who split the year between Michigan and Texas, Juanita Bocanegra (Kavanagh Class, 2008) knew at the early age of six that she wanted a different life. She wanted to be an attorney.

“I knew that attorneys helped people and that they worked in an office,” said Bocanegra. “I didn’t need to know any more than that.”

It was a lofty goal for a young girl who 12 years later would become the first in her family to graduate from high school, earning her degree from West Ottawa High School in Holland, Mich.

But it was only the beginning of a journey that she would ultimately take to reach her goal of becoming an attorney.

Life happens Bocanegra went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in international relations from nearby Grand Valley State University. The idea was to pair that degree with a law degree to become an international business lawyer.

But life had more in store for Bocanegra.

With a budding young family, she took a job as a legal assistant at Hann Persinger, a Holland, Michigan, law firm.

During her job interview with a partner at the law firm, she stated, “I’m going to be an attorney; I’m going to go to law school.”

“I think it surprised him that I was mentioning this career goal during the interview process,” said Bocanegra. “But that goal was part of who I was, and I wanted him to know that.”

“The people at Hann Persinger were great,” said Bocanegra. “If I had a question, I had a group of lawyers to go to. They helped me a great deal.”

As she learned the ropes in a new profession, she and her husband Jose began making plans to leave Michigan to return to Texas with their two daughters.

The move would have put the family near relatives and allowed her to attend a Texas law school.

A switch in careers After graduating from Cooley in 2008, Bocanegra accepted an offer from Rhoades McKee, a prominent firm in Michigan’s second largest city – Grand Rapids.

There, she focused on business, employment and family law. She had previously completed an externship at the firm.

“We thought long and hard about it,” said Bocanegra.

“But we liked Holland and would have been moving for someone else. In the end, we decided it was best to stay (in Michigan).”

“It was a great opportunity,” said Bocanegra. “But ultimately I sought a role that would dramatically increase my interaction with people.”

At about the same time, Cooley announced that it was opening a campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a 30-minute drive from her home. Now was the time; Bocanegra was going to start law school.

Bocanegra found that role in a position with the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office as an assistant prosecutor – located in her hometown of Holland. She started her work there in March, 2011.

Jam-packed schedule For the next five years, Bocanegra juggled work, family and studies.

According to the Holland Sentinel, Bocanegra was selected from an applicant pool of more than 300 attorneys. She is one of two bilingual prosecutors in Ottawa County.

“I’m not sure I ever had an hour just for me,” said Bocanegra when discussing her time in law school.

“Lunch hours were filled with paying bills, studying, and running errands.”

Bocanegra attended class on the weekends in Grand Rapids. Her family handled responsibilities elsewhere, including her husband, who took care of their children. It was a full-scale effort to make a legal education possible.

Bocanegra would even take vacation time before exams in an effort to focus on studying. She still went to work, but spent her vacation days studying in one of the conference rooms at the law office.

CLASSNOTES

“I feel as if this is a role that will enable me to contribute more directly to my community,” said Bocanegra. “I’m making decisions about charges and offers being made (to defendants).

In her new role, Bocanegra handles an array of cases that include matters involving domestic violence, drugs, breaking and entering, and embezzlement.

She will also be spending a great deal of time in the courtroom, a place that she says Cooley really prepared her to handle.

“Cooley has one of the best trial skills programs,” said Bocanegra. “I was already familiar with some of the forms and formalities from my days as a legal assistant. That background, paired with my training at Cooley, is serving me well.”

Right down the street, worlds away Today, Bocanegra works only miles from where she spent eight months a year as a youth, yet she is worlds away professionally.

“If there is a will, there is a way,” said Bocanegra in summing up her professional accomplishments.

When asked about how her family reacts to her success, she said, “My father really enjoys it.

His eyes got very big, very proud when visiting my workplace. He can’t believe that his daughter has a secretary.”

The proud father might have more to be proud of in the years to come. Bocanegra’s daughter Jasmin, age 12, has indicated that she wants to be a doctor and a lawyer. Most would attribute those lofty goals as being naive. Not Bocanegra.

“It can be done,” she said. “I know of people who have done it.”

Name: Juanita Bocanegra Title: Assistant Prosecutor, Ottawa County, Mich.

Age: 36 Born: In Mexico Family: Married to Jose, 39. They have two children: Jasmin, age 12, and Jaquelyn, age 9.

Community Involvement: Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, board of directors Education: B.A., International Relations, Grand Valley State University J.D.,Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Cooley encourages all graduates to contribute information to the Class Notes.

We want to learn about your law practice and other accomplishments in the legal profession. E-mail: communications@cooley.edu

1976 Cooley Class Drick, Jay R., a solo

1981 Dethmers Class Hamre, Paul E., chief judge of the Van Buren

1984 Carr Class Juroszek, John, has been named Reporter of

1989 Douglass Class Telgenhof, Allen R., has

1990 B.F.H. Witherell Class Schwinn, Christina Harris, a partner

practitioner in Howell, Mich., was elected and sworn in as a county commissioner for Livingston County, Mich., 2011-2012. He continues to operate his private practice of license restoration, landlord rights, and consumer rights. Phone: (517) 546-5601.

County (Michigan) Family, District, and Circuit courts, has been elected treasurer of the Michigan Judges Association.

Decisions for the Michigan Supreme Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals. In this role, he is responsible for editing and publishing decisions of the two courts. He also publishes Michigan court rules, evidence rules, and Supreme Court administrative orders. He previously served as legal editor for the Reporter of Decisions.

co-founded a firm, Telgenhof & Snyder, P.C., in Charlevoix, Mich. He focuses his practice in the areas of civil litigation, securities fraud, family law, criminal defense, and business formation and transactions.

Phone: (231) 547-3400; e-mail: atelgenhof@charlevoixlaw.com.

with the Pavese Law Firm in Ft. Myers, Fla., graduated from the Chamber of Southwest Florida’s Leadership Lee County program.

Participants in the program are chosen by a selection committee. Schwinn’s primary practice areas are employment law, business transactions, community association law, and real estate law. Phone: (239) 336-6292

1978 Marston Class Hoort, David, judge, 8th Circuit Court, Michigan, was elected treasurer of the Criminal Law Section for the State Bar of Michigan in September at the Bar’s annual meeting.

Judge Hoort also writes a judge/law-related blog at http://judgedavidhoort.blogspot.com/ that is published on the web edition of the Ionia Sentinel-Standard at www.sentinelstandard.com/.

Stupak, Bart, joined Venable LLP as a partner in the firm’s Legislative and Government Affairs Group.The former U.S. Congressman also serves as a Fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, and leads a study group on government investigations at the Kennedy School of Government.

1981 Long Class Larsen, Steven J.L., has joined the South Haven, Mich., office of Willis Law. He has over 30 years of legal and business experience in corporate law, contract drafting and negotiations, real estate development, new business development, management and strategic planning. He is also a licensed pilot.

1986 Mundy Class Royster, Larry, a 24-year veteran at the Michigan Court of Appeals, has been appointed as the court’s chief clerk. He now serves both as the chief clerk and as the Court of Appeal’s research director.

1987 Morse Class McBain, John, a judge in the 4th Circuit Court, Jackson, County, Mich., was named by the Michigan Supreme Court as Chief Judge of the 4th Circuit Court He was first elected to the bench in 1992. Previously, he was the Prosecuting Attorney of Jackson County.

1990 Wilson Class Kole, Jerome, is the new Region IV Administrator for the State Court Administrators Office. In this role, he oversees court operations in an area that includes much of the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan as well as all of the state’s Upper Peninsula.

1991 Turner Class Blinderman, Craig H., has joined the Hollywood, Fla., law firm of Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A. He is a personal injury litigator.

His 19 years of experience include more than 15 years’ experience in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) litigation representing both plaintiffs and insurance carriers.

Continued on Back > KNOWLEDGE. SKILLS. ETHICS. | COOLEY.EDU

ALUMNI MATTERS Savoy, Marc E., has joined the firm of Lissner & Lissner, L.L.P., in New York City, N.Y., in an Of Counsel position focusing on wills, trusts, estates, and elder law.

her own publishing company, Cashmere Cupcake Publishing, L.L.C., E-mail: cashmerecupcake@gmail.com

1992 Montgomery Class Groll, Catherine, was

2001 Blair Jr. Class Gregg, Randall, was

presented with Cooley Law School’s annual Frederick J. Griffith Adjunct Faculty Award in November 2010. She is a solo practitioner in Lansing, Mich., specializing in complex civil litigation, medical malpractice, negligence, police liability, serious personal injury, consumer protection law, and patient advocacy.

promoted to the position of general counsel for the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR).

He serves as lead counsel to the commissioner of OFIR and as the supervising attorney of the Office of General Counsel.

Harvey, Elizabeth A., was appointed to the Lakewood Family YMCA Advisory Board of Greater Cleveland. She is an attorney with the firm of Ulmer & Gerne, concentrating in appellate and critical-motion practice.

1993 Moore Class Deely, Ann, has been named a director on the Board of Greylock Federal Credit Union. She is a partner of the law firm Deely & Deely, in Lee, Mass. She specializes in domestic relations, probate law, and real estate.

1994 Person Class Cory, Lorrain (Chafin), was reappointed magistrate in the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas in Port Clinton, Ohio. She was first named to the post in February 2009.

Previously she served as a prosecutor for 14 years. In her current post, she presides over all domestic and dissolution filings and all postdivorce actions. She was also appointed as a magistrate for the court’s juvenile division.

1995 Steere Class Rice, Steve, is an assistant professor at Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Va. He recently had three articles published: “Conventional Logic: Using the Logical Fallacy of Denying the Antecedent as a Litigation Tool,” in 43 Akron Law Review 79 (2010), “Indispensable Logic: Using the Logical Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle as a Litigation Tool,” in 79 Miss. Law Journal 669 (2010), and “Conspicuous Logic: Using the Logical Fallacy of Affirming the Consequent as a Litigation Tool,” in 14 Barry Law Review 1 (2010).

Walters, Mark D., has relocated his office, Walters Law Firm, P.L.L.C., to 800 Bellevue Way NE, Ste. 400, Bellevue, Wash. 98004.

Phone: (425) 688-7620.

1996 Stone Class Chalgian, Douglas G., was

Porterfield, Nanette, has started

Schurman,Theresa, compliance official for HealthPlus of Michigan, was recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of the top 20 Michigan Women in the law. She has been employed by HealthPlus for 13 years, working in the firm’s Flint and Saginaw, Mich., offices. In her current position since 2001, she facilitates internal compliance training, handles reports of fraud and abuse, and develops compliance procedures.

Friend, Carol A., was appointed to the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts Board of Trustees in Detroit, Mich. She is a partner at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn L.L.P., and chair of the firm’s Business Immigration Practice Group. Ms. Friend concentrates her practice in the area of employment-based immigration, and represents national and international companies in obtaining authorization for employees to work in the United States and abroad. She has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America from 2009 to 2011, in DBusiness’ list of Top Lawyers in 2010 and 2011, and in Michigan Super Lawyers in 2010.

Wojcik, John, a Lieutenant Colonel, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on Jan. 15, 2011, for his outstanding leadership in the Michigan Army National Guard and the community.

1999 Flannigan Class Rice, Cinnamon, has joined the Farmington Hills, Mich.-based firm of Zausmer, Kaufman, August, Caldwell & Taylor, P.C., as an associate.

Previously, she was a senior trial attorney at Citizens Insurance Company of America. She is also a hearing panelist for the State Bar of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board.

2001 Wilson Class Keysor-Oudman, Candy, has been named as vice president personal trust officer, in the Wealth Management Department of Chemical Bank, in St. Joseph, Mich. She is responsible for administering estates, personal trusts, and investment management accounts for individuals and institutions.

Kretzschmer, Julie A., was named a partner in the firm of Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn, L.L.P. She practices in the Corporate and Securities Department in the firm’s Oakland County, Mich., office.

Tarsia,Thomas M., has joined the Dellutri Law Group, P.A., in Ft. Myers, Fla., as an associate. He specializes in foreclosure defense and bankruptcy.

Terranova, Erica G., has joined the firm of Bailey, Smith & Bailey, P.C., in Okemos, Mich.

She focuses on family law, criminal law, and debt settlement.

2005 Starr Class Classens, Matthew L., a general practice

Singleton, Judith C., operates a solo practice

attorney with Bishop & Heintz, P.D., in Traverse City, Mich., was awarded the Sixth Annual Pro Bono Service Award by the Grand Traverse, Antrim, Leelanau County Bar Association. He works primarily in the areas of criminal law, general civil litigation, and personal injury matters. Phone: (231) 946-4100.

in Middleville, Mich. She focuses primarily on estate planning, probate, real property, and adoptions. Phone: (269) 795-9422.

2006 Reid Class McReynolds Jr., Jule, has opened The

2002 Paterson Class Hubbell, Bradley, of Cooper & Walinski, L.P.A., was named to the 2010 Who’s Who in Toledo Area Law.

Willis, Shaun Patrick, of Willis Law, spoke at the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors’ Continuing Education Conference on Feb. 24, 2011. He and another attorney from the firm spoke on the Real Estate Commercial Brokers Lien Act. Willis Law has offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, South Haven, and Paw Paw, Mich.

2002 Chase Class Serrano, Cathy T., was named director of the Allen County Human Resources Department in Ft.Wayne, Ind. She has been an attorney and risk manager with the department since September 2006.

2003 Swainson Class Roggenbuck, Amanda, was appointed Tuscola County (Mich.)

Probate Judge. She assumes the remainder of the term for retired Judge Wallace Kent.

2003 O. Smith Class elected to become a fellow of Johnson, Felicia O., has

the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

He is one of less than 60 ACTEC fellows in Michigan.

He is a partner of Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices, with offices in East Lansing, Jackson, Battle Creek, and Jackson, Mich., and practices exclusively in the areas of estate planning and elder law. He is certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, and is the author of the Michigan Medicaid Planning Handbook, published by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

Gielow, Ben, joined the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International as its general counsel and government relations manager. Previously, he worked for more than five years as legislative counsel for U.S. Rep Vern Ehlers of Michigan who retired from Congress in 2010. Phone: (571) 255-7795.

been appointed commission counsel for the Wayne County (Mich.) Commission. She has served as assistant commission counsel for Wayne County since 2006.

Mathis, Robert, was selected as Pro Bono Service Counsel by the State Bar of Michigan. In this role, he oversees the growth and expansion of the State Bar’s pro bono initiative. He works with legal aid providers to coordinate statewide initiatives and build pro bono relationships with law firms, corporations, law schools, and bar associations. Phone: (517) 346-6412; e-mail: rmathis@mail.michbar.org.

2004 Cross Class Lyke, Kristina S., of the Law Office of Kristina S. Lyke, was honored as one of “Top 5 Under 35” by the Young Lawyers Section of the Ingham County Bar Association.

Prowse, Lisa, was promoted from senior adviser in Advisory Services to director of Legal Review and Strategic Legal Services at Business Intelligence Associates, of Portage, Mich.

2004 Needham Class Clark, Kristen M., has been named executive director of labor relations/personnel with Howell Public Schools in Howell, Mich.

2005 McAllister Class Meeks, Douglas, a principal with the firm of Cataldo & Meeks, P.L.L.C., in Lansing, Mich., was honored as one of “Top 5 Under 35” by the Young Lawyers Section of the Ingham County Bar Association.

Olson, Jennifer, was promoted from legal review team lead to associate director at Business Intelligence Associates of Portage, Mich.

2005 Boyles Class Chaidez, Jose, operates Chaidez Law Firm, P.L.L.C., in Maricopa, Ariz.

Dodson, Nathan A., was named a shareholder with Garan Lucow Miller, P.C. He joined the firm in 2005 as an associate in the Detroit, Mich.

Office. He concentrates his practice in the areas of premises liability defense, casino litigation, and sports and recreational litigation.

McReynolds Law Firm, P.C., 44 Broad St., Ste. 802, Atlanta, Ga. 30303. Phone: (404) 549-6619; e-mail: jule@mcreynoldslawpc.com.

2006 Edwards Class Hetu, Jennifer M., has joined Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn, L.L.P., as an associate in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, Corporate and Securities Department. She specializes in intellectual property and trademark law. Previously she was a trademark attorney at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Phone: (248) 566-8452; e-mail: jhetu@honigman.com.

2007 Fisher Class Bower, Ross K. II, an associate attorney with Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes, P.L.C., in Okemos, Mich., has been selected for inclusion in the 2011 Michigan Rising Stars list.

No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state earn this distinction.

2007 Boston Class Bailey, Joshua A., has joined The Finklea Law Firm in Florence, S.C. He is a partner, and practices in the areas of workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and criminal defense.

Kanner, Rachel J., is a claims counsel with Fidelity National Title Group in Omaha, Neb. Phone: (402) 498-7000; e-mail: rachel.kanner@fnf.com.

Lichterman, Michael, of Lichterman Law P.L.C., in Grand Rapids, Mich., recently became the only lawyer in west Michigan to receive the designations of Personal Family Lawyer and Creative Business Lawyer. Phone: (616) 827-7596; e-mail: mike@lichtermanlaw.com.

2007 Brickley Class Yucha, Nancy J., has joined the Troy, Mich., office of hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman.

She focuses her practice on business transactions and services, corporate counsel services, and real estate construction.

2008 Sharpe Class Harkness, Cullen C., joined the firm of Bodwin & Associates,, in East Lansing, Mich., as an associate attorney He formerly operated his own law firm, the Harkness Law Firm, P.L.L.C., for over two years. He practices in the areas of criminal defense, family law, and general civil litigation. Phone: (517) 332-5323; e-mail: cullenharkness@aol.com.

2008 Adams Class Frazier, Melanie T., has become a shareholder in the firm of Howard & Howard, P.L.L.C. She practices in the firm’s Royal Oak, Mich., office, focusing on litigation in the areas of trademarks, trade secrets, unfair competition, copyright infringement, patent infringement, and related contact claims.

Monto, Scott M., of Bay City, Mich., joined the law firm of Lambert, Leser, Isackson, Cook & Blunta, P.D., as an associate attorney. He was previously an associate with Trott & Trott, P.C., in Farmington Hill, Mich. He practices primarily in the firm’s civil litigation and commercial bankruptcy practice groups.

2008 T.G. Kavanagh Class Church, Michael, a sergeant with the Michigan State Police Traffic Safety Division, is the 2010 recipient of the Dr. Carl A. Gerstacker Trooper of the Year Award. This statewide award recognizes the MSP trooper or sergeant who symbolizes outstanding professional ethics, dedication to duty, and a concern for giving back to their community. He was recently promoted to a staff position in the MSP Traffic Safety Division,Traffic Services Section, as the Traffic Law Resource and Education Unit. He most recently served as a trooper at the Jackson Post since 1995.

In addition to his work, he provides pro bono legal assistance to community members, and was instrumental in the publication of the current edition of the Criminal Law and Procedure Manual used by police officers across the state. In addition, he has served as a legal instructor at the American Legion and Kiwanis Youth academies held each summer at the MSP Training Academy.

2009 Coleman Class Malone, Barry, received the Volunteer of the Year Award from Community Legal Resources. He represented the Friends of Eliza Howell Park, Inc., as an intervening party in a lawsuit over ownership of Eliza Howell Park in Detroit, Mich. His practice areas include land use and real estate, as well as representing business and government entities.

Yancho, Paul J., of Kalamazoo, Mich., married Kate E. Leishman on Dec. 11, 2010. He is employed by the Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

2009 Riley Class Adib-Lobo,Wafa, is an attorney with Wardrop & Wardrop, P.C., in Grand Rapids, Mich. She practices primarily in bankruptcy law. Phone: (616) 459-1225; e-mail: wafa@wardroplaw.com.

Antoine, Pierre-Richard, has joined the Bronx District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney.

King, Patrick, has opened his law practice, King Law Firm, L.L.C., at 510 E. Sixth St., Alton, Ill. 62002. He operates a general practice law firm with an emphasis in personal injury and workers’ compensation. Phone: (618) 4628405; email: kinglawfirm1@gmail.com.

2009 Souris Class Slais,Tim, is an assistant prosecutor with the Berrien County (Michigan) Prosecutor’s Office.

He formerly was a trooper with the Michigan State Police.

2010 Woodward Class Hanmer, Diane, has joined the Osage

Nattler, Gerlinda (Linda), has joined Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, as an associate attorney in the firm’s Ann Arbor, Mich., office. She focuses her intellectual law practice on patent prosecution and IP portfolio management, with particular emphasis on mechanics, electronic, hydraulics, and computerized processes. She has extensive experience in U.S., European, and German patent prosecution.

Rodenbo, Aaron, has joined Todd Courser & Associates P.L.L.C., in Lapeer, Mich., as an associate attorney.

Rysberg, Mark, has joined Hilger Hammond, P.C., in Grand Rapids, Mich., as an associate attorney.

Amira L.Vicari, has joined the law firm of Vonachen, Lawless,Trager & Slevin in Peoria, Illinois as an associate attorney. Her practice areas include: Bankruptcy (Creditors Rights), Collections, Business Transactions, and Civil Practice Litigation.

She is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court- Central District of Illinois.

Contact information: (309) 676-8986, avicari@vltslaw.com

IN MEMORY 1992 McGrath Class Sutton, Shawn Michael, 45, of Bay City, Mich., died March 11, 2011. He was a practicing attorney in Bay City for 20 years.

2004 Needham Class Northup-Thompson, Willette (Willie), died Dec. 8, 2010 at Eaton Community Hospice in Charlotte, Mich. She earned her LL.M. in Tax from Cooley in 2005. Willette was in private practice for three years before becoming Director of Graduate and Extended Programs at Cooley. Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice, 2675 S. Cochran, Charlotte, MI 48813.

2010 Woodward Class Tamburello, David Marc, Sr., 42, died March 11, 2011.

SAVE THE DATE UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS Networking Reception Friday, June 24, 2011 • 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Milwaukee, Wisc.

County District Attorney’s Office in Pawhuska, Okla., as an assistant district attorney.

Miller Time Pub 509 West Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53203

Zamiska, Sara, has been made a partner in

RSVP by June 21

the Law Office of Kleinhans Gruber, P.L.L.C., in Austin, Texas. Phone: (512) 961-8512.

Networking Reception

2010 J.Witherell Class Canan, Lindsay, joined Bos & Glazier, P.L.C., in Grand Rapids, Mich., as an associate attorney.

She focuses her practice on civil litigation matters, with an emphasis on personal injury, medical malpractice, and employment matters such as wrongful discharge and unemployment representation.

Church, Elliot, J.R., joined Kreis, Enderle, Hudgins & Borsos, P.C., as an associate in the firm’s Grand Rapids, Mich., office. His practice is focused primarily on business transactions and technology law.

Colak, N. Banu, joined The Hubbard Law Firm, P.C., as an associate with the firm. She provides legal services in the areas of business, corporate and municipal law.

Coyle, Emily M., has joined Plunkett Cooney as a member of the firm’s Banking, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of loan workouts and foreclosures, commercial real estate transactions, and loan documentation.

Fetkenhier, Kate, has joined the Gallagher Law Firm, with offices in Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids, Mich. She focuses on litigation involving mortgage and oil and gas disputes. She was recently appointed as a member of the Legal and Legislative Committee of the Michigan Oil and Gas Association.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011 • 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Detroit, Mich.

Mosaic Restaurant in Greektown 501 Monroe St., Detroit, MI 48226 RSVP by July 22

An Evening of Baseball, Dinner and Fellow Alumni Saturday, July 30, 2011 • 6:30 p.m.

Lansing, Mich.

Cooley Law School Stadium 505 East Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI 48912 Patio suite opens at 6:30 p.m.

Game time is 7:05 p.m.

First 40 RSVP’s by July 27

Networking Reception Thursday, August 4, 2011 • 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Toronto, Ontario Il Fornello 207 Queens Quay Terminal West Toronto, Ontario Canada M5J 2V7 RSVP by July 29

For more information and to RSVP contact the Cooley Alumni Association at (800) 243-ALUM (800-243-2586) in Lansing: (517) 371-5140, ext. 2038.

Mills, Helen E.R., has joined the law firm of Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes, P.L.C., in Okemos, Mich., as an associate attorney. She focuses her practice on municipal law, labor and employment law, and general litigation.

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ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY As part of Cooley’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Benchmark Column is now printed on an environmentally friendly paper helping to reduce our carbon footprint.

BENCHMARK COLUMN | JUNE 2011 | VOLUME 3 | NUMBER 2