2010L
Christopher R. Riano is a
lecturer in law at Columbia University, teaching Constitutional Law Through the Lens of Higher Education. The course explores the intricacies of the most controversial aspects of the American Constitution and how they play out daily on college campuses across the country. Riano is the founder and CEO of The Riano Group L.L.C., a consulting practice dedicated to working for national and international institutions of higher education. It operates out of New York City and Washington. Riano
also serves as the inaugural chair of the board of visitors for the Student Affairs Committee of the Columbia University Senate and the co-chair of the GS Recent Alumni Leadership Committee.
2011L
James G. Ritter is an associate in
the Richmond law firm of Christian & Barton L.L.P. As a member of the energy and sustainability practice groups, he addresses electricity, natural gas, water and other public utility regulatory matters.
Raleigh, N.C., and she is stepmom to Brandon, 6. She works at K&L Gates, focusing on labor and employment issues.
Charlotte Wang ’08L to Domi-
nic A. Latella, on Nov. 11, 2011, in Totowa, N.J. She works in Arlington, Va., as an attorney for the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review for the Social Security Administration. Her husband is a self-employed swimming coach in Alexandria, Va. Over a dozen law alumni from the 2008L and 2009L classes attended and all of the bridesmaids were W&L law alumni.
Class Notes
exercise of national security power. It is available on the American Bar Association’s website americanbar.org.
Weddings Births & Adoptions Bridget A. Blinn ’04L to Brian
Spears, on April 16, 2011. They live in
Kathryn Knack Hagwood ’95L and her husband, Brent, finalized the adoption of their son, Tommy, born on Dec. 5, 2009.
Jonathan W. McCrary ’96, ’00L and his wife, Jackie, a son, Bates Walker, on Feb. 26. They live in Memphis, Tenn.
Sandra Ingram Speakman ’99L and Steven Speakman ’99L, twin sons, Benjamin Thomas and Elijah Lee, on Aug. 9, 2011. Their adoption was finalized on Nov. 15, 2011. They join sister Mary Grace, and the family live in Auburn, Ala.
Matt Pearson ’06L (far right, with team members, l. to r.: the Hon. Edwina
Richardson-Mendelson, administrative judge for the Family Court of the City of New York, Josephine Lea Iselin, attorney emeritus, and Jill Griset, McGuireWoods) received the 2011 Abely Pro Bono Award from Sanctuary For Families for his pro bono work on behalf of a domestic violence victim, originally from the Ivory Coast, whose young daughter had been kidnapped by the abuser. Pearson became involved when the extent of the cross-jurisdictional issues surfaced, and the case went to trial in North Carolina. The team’s tireless representation ultimately led to reunification of mother and daughter. “When I got the initial e-mail, I found this to be such a compelling story that I wanted to get involved and help,” said Pearson. “I also speak some French and thought that skill might be useful, since our client spoke no English. In the end, it was an incredibly gratifying experience to reunite our client with her daughter, almost a year to the day from when they left for the Ivory Coast and her ordeal started. I was very happy to have been able to be part of the team that got this resolution for the family.” About a month after the ceremony, Pearson and his wife, Ashley ’06L, celebrated the birth of their first child, William Riley, on Nov. 11, 2011. Pearson is an associate at McGuireWoods in Charlotte, N.C., where he works on complex commercial litigation and volunteers with the Charlotte-based Legal Services of Southern Piedmont.
J. Andrew Robison ’02L and Lindsey South Robison ’00, a
son, John Andrew “Jack” Jr., on July 14, 2010. They live in Birmingham, Ala.
M. Todd Carroll ’05L and his
wife, Erin, a son, Hayes Claxton, on May 5, 2011. He joins brother Hudson, 2. The family live in Columbia, S.C.
Rakesh Gopalan ’06L, and his
wife, Vidya, a daughter, Sahana Nisha, on Nov. 14, 2011. They live in Charlotte, N.C.
Ashley Everhart Pearson ’06L and R. Matthew Pearson ’06L, a son, William Riley, on Nov. 11, 2011, in Charlotte, N.C.
Summer
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