The Washington and Lee University School of Law celebrated its 170th commencement on Friday, May 16, recognizing 110 graduates earning Juris Doctor degrees.
In her remarks to the class, Melanie D. Wilson, Dean of the Law School, praised the class for its intellect, grit, and compassion, thriving in the face of many difficult challenges. As has become her tradition, Dean Wilson also recounted by name many of the students and their accomplishments during their time in law school, noting that the class was made up of students who attended 80 different undergraduate institutions and hailed from 28 states, the District of Columbia, and eight foreign countries.
Dean Wilson drew inspiration for her address from words and deeds of the late civil rights icon John Lewis, recounting his lifelong, nonviolent, fight for equality.
“And, as John Lewis said clearly and through his lifelong acts – stand up for what you truly believe – and I would add — do so using the skills and knowledge
Special Honors at Thursday’s
Kali McKayla Venable — John W. Davis Prize for Law (highest cumulative grade point average)
Zoe V. Speas — Roy L. Steinheimer Jr. Commercial Law Award (excellence in Commercial Law)
Steven P. May — Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Award (effective trial advocacy)
John Michael Perryman — A. H. McLeod-Ross Malone Oral Advocacy Award (distinction in oral advocacy)
Nicolas Frank, Brooklyn Garrett Hills, Simon Dusan Rybanksy — Frederic L. Kirgis Jr. International Law Award (excellence in international law)
Saylor Victoria Snowden — Virginia Bar Family Law Section Award (excellence in the area of family law)
John Michael Perryman, Spencer Lee Thomas — Barry Sullivan
you now have as lawyers – with wisdom, analysis, and integrity,” said Wilson. “We need more leaders like John Lewis. As well-prepared W&L lawyers, you’re ready to lead in your own way.”
After the graduates were awarded their degrees, Dean Wilson introduced Angelica Didier Light ’75L as this year’s commencement speaker. Light was a member of the first class of women to attend W&L Law. She continued to shatter glass ceilings as the first woman attorney to practice in the law department of what was then called Norfolk & Western Railroad in Roanoke, where she practiced for 15 years.
In her address, Light drew a direct line from the civil rights victories of the 1960s to the ABA standards that forced the law school to open its doors to women, who today constitute roughly half of the student body each year. Jumping to the present, Light acknowledged the difficult political environment and its impact on the legal profession the graduates will now enter, where the rule of law is under threat.
However, Light noted that it is through their
Awards Ceremony
Constitutional Law Award (excellence in constitutional law)
Zoe V. Speas, James Warren Supplee — James W. H. Stewart Tax Law Award (excellence in tax law)
Matthew James Radford, Kali McKayla Venable — Thomas Carl Damewood Evidence Award (excellence in the area of evidence)
Spencer Lee Thomas — Criminal Law Award (excellence in courses of criminal law)
Zachary Clark Irwin — Business Law Award (excellence in courses of business law)
Sean David Bernstein — Administrative Law Award (excellence in courses of administrative law)
Ana Laura González Coria — Clinical Legal Education
exposure to the unique traditions of W&L Law that the graduates will find their path.
“That is the uniqueness of this three-year exercise at W&L, this small school in this small town — not only to learn the law but the importance of respecting others, especially your colleagues in the law, being honest and ethical in all of your dealings and working for the benefit of the entire community,” said Light.
Graduation festivities began Thursday with the annual awards ceremony, which was held in Holekamp Gym. Three students graduated summa cum laude, 16 graduated magna cum laude, and 20 graduated cum laude. Eleven students were named to Order of the Coif, an honorary scholastic society that encourages excellence in legal education. A list of honors and awards appears below.
The Student Bar Association Teacher of the Year and Staff Member of the Year awards were also presented at the awards ceremony. Speedy Rice was named Teacher of the Year, and Mary Ervin, executive assistant to the dean, won the staff award.
Association Award (outstanding externship student)
Gabriella Roberts — Clinical Legal Education Association Award (outstanding clinic student)
Kendall Alexandra Groza — Charles V. Laughlin Award (outstanding contribution to moot court program)
Katherine Anne Berman, Sydney Devon Layne — The Washington and Lee School of Law Women’s Law Award (outstanding contribution to women in the law)
Katherine Anne Berman — Calhoun Bond University Service Award (significant contribution to the University community)
Annelise Estelle Burgess, Ana Laura González Coria, Gabriella Roberts — Randall P. Bezanson Award (outstanding contribution to diversity in the life of the Law School community)
The Class of 2025
Taylor Kennedy, Madyson Kent, and Arianna Kiaei
Class officers Sara Fe’ White and Michelle Shaw-Patino present Angelica Light with a walking stick.
Trinity Chhay, Martin Flores, Jack Kellerman, and Annelise Burgess
Double General Katherine Berman ’22, ‘25L celebrates her law school graduation.
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
As with previous classes, graduates from the Law Class of 2024 have had great success on the job market. According to the annual 10-month employment report, 95 percent of the class secured a long-term, full-time job that either requires bar passage or for which a J.D. degree is an advantage. The overall employment rate for the class including all employment types and graduate school is nearly 98 percent.
CAREER PATHS
Class of 2024 by Sector
The Law Class of 2025 is set to follow in the impressive footsteps of the 2024 graduates, with 90 percent already employed at graduation in long-term, full-time J.D. required/preferred jobs.
Sabrina Callender-Clewett ’25L is from sunny Manhattan Beach, Calif. In 2019, Sabrina graduated from Colgate University, where she majored in philosophy and double minored in economics and environmental studies. After completing her undergraduate degree, Sabrina worked as a paralegal for three years at a large law firm in Washington, D.C. At W&L, she was a senior articles editor on the German Law Journal, a Legal Writing Burks Scholar for Professor Weiss, and a judicial extern in Rockbridge County Circuit Court. After graduation, she will join Alston & Bird’s Corporate Transactions and Securities group located in Palo Alto, Calif.
“After some soul searching, and many discussions with W&L Law alumni during my 1L summer, I set my sights on returning home to California. I knew I wanted to begin my career at a large firm and wanted to work in a corporate group. Those criteria alone were helpful parameters in assisting my job search and eventual decision. I cannot say enough nice things about the attorneys I worked with at Alston & Bird this past summer. Partners were not only accessible, but on multiple instances took the initiative to bring me in on calls and involve me in matters they were working on ... I am excited to join A&B’s Corporate Transactions and Securities group and continue growing my understanding and competency as a corporate attorney.”
Dillon Ebner ’25L is from Haddon Heights, N.J., a suburb outside Philadelphia, Pa. He attended Wake Forest University, receiving a B.S. in mathematical business. At W&L, he competed in a Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition at Tulane and is the vice president of the Jewish Law Student Association. After graduation, Dillon will work for Judge Rebecca Connelly in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg.
“I did not come into law school planning to clerk. Initially, I was interested in something sports-related. However, I fell in love with bankruptcy law and found that it lets me use the analytical skills I developed at Wake Forest in a practical way. I first took Bankruptcy during my 2L Spring with Caleb Chaplain, the career clerk for Judge Connelly. The course sparked my interest in the field and gave me a strong foundation. That summer, I worked for Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin, a boutique firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a bankruptcy practice. I was drawn to how bankruptcy intersects with so many different areas of law. No two cases were identical, and I enjoyed the variety and complexity. Clerking will be a significant step toward becoming a strong bankruptcy lawyer.”
Sara Fe’ White ’25L is from Pensacola, Fla. She attended the University of Florida, where she received a B.A. in history and criminology. At W&L Law, she has served as the Student Bar Association class president, the Phi Alpha Delta Chapter president, a lead articles editor on Law Review, a research assistant, and a sports czar. She will pursue a career as a JAG officer for the U.S Navy.
“I decided to pursue a career in JAG for several reasons. I am passionate about dedicating my legal career to public service. I have always wanted to serve our country and do something bigger than myself. That commitment, coupled with my passion for being on a team and working towards a larger goal, prompted my interest in becoming a JAG. In law school, I have had incredible educational experiences that influenced and confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in JAG. I am especially grateful to have explored my passion for criminal law in Dean Wilson’s Criminal Procedure class and Professor DiBiagio’s Federal White Collar and Criminal Law classes. I received incredible practical experience in Advanced Evidence with Professor Clarke, Litigation Immersion with Professor Belmont, and Trial Advocacy with Professor Munro. Additionally, I have been fortunate to work as a research assistant for Professor Miller. I intend to pursue the military justice litigation career track, with a goal to become a member of the Office of Special Trial Counsel.”
W&L Law was ranked 21st in Law.com’s Go-to Law Schools list of schools that sent the most 2024 graduates to “Big Law.”
Noah Brooks ‘25L is from Martinsburg, W.Va. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College where he received a B.A. in government. Prior to law school, he worked for the Virginia House of Delegates for three years. His 1L summer, he interned with Mayer Brown and Equitable Holdings in Charlotte, N.C. His 2L summer, he returned to Mayer Brown. At W&L Law, he was a member of BLSA and on Law Review. After graduation, he will work in the Charlotte office of Mayer Brown in its banking and finance group.
“When I came into law school, I had no idea what type of law I wanted to practice. My plan was to take many different types of classes to learn what I was interested in. I had no experience in finance. During my 1L summer, I learned how exciting and creative securitization and fund finance work can be ... I enjoyed sitting in on calls with attorneys and taking part in drafting documents, learning how legal strategies align with business objectives. The transactional courses I took in law school gave me a good foundation in corporate law. I knew by the end of my summer experience and after taking those courses that I enjoyed transactional work. I’m most looking forward to continuing to grow within the banking and finance group and taking on more responsibility as I transition from a summer associate to a full-time role. After spending the past two summers with the team in Charlotte, I’m excited to build on those relationships and contribute more meaningfully to the group’s work.”
Third-Year Law Student Argues Black Lung Benefits Case Before Fourth Circuit
Annelise Burgess ’25L argued the case as a student attorney in W&L Law’s Advanced Administrative Law Clinic, better known as the Black Lung Clinic.
ON THE EVE OF ARGUING A CASE IN FRONT of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Annelise Burgess ’25L took the advice of recent graduate Haley Carter ’24L on how she had prepared for her own appellate experience. She watched a movie.
“Haley watched ’My Cousin Vinny.’ I watched ’Legally Blonde.’”
Like Carter, Burgess knew that the best thing she could do after studying hundreds of pages of case files and participating in over a dozen moot arguments was to take some down time and reflect on what she dubbed “the coolest thing I’ve done in law school, and probably the most learning I’ve done in law school too.”
Burgess argued the case as a student attorney in W&L Law’s Advanced Administrative Law Clinic, better known as the Black Lung Clinic. For nearly 30 years, the clinic has represented coal miners diagnosed with pneumoconiosis, also known as Black Lung disease, in their pursuit of benefits from the coal companies they worked for. Cases in the clinic typically take many years to resolve, and Burgess’ case representing the spouse of a deceased miner was no exception, having been in the clinic’s hands since 2018.
A number of criteria must be satisfied before the various deliberative bodies involved in a Black Lung claim will award benefits. In this case, the administrative law judge had ruled that the clinic had not proved that the miner suffered total disability due to Black Lung disease. This decision was affirmed by the Benefits Review
Board
Burgess’ preparation for what would be her first ever court appearance was extensive. She put in about 175 hours working on the case this semester, including mastering the extensive case file and its complicated medical evidence. She wrote two dozen drafts of her oral argument, which she recorded and played back to herself while running so her narrative would be etched in her brain. Numerous moot court arguments with different W&L law professors helped her refine her argument and prepare for the different ways the judges might push their inquiry.
“I knew I would have a great practice experience working in the clinic,” said Burgess. “But I did not predict I would get a master class in appellate litigation.”
Despite the preparation, Burgess admitted to being nervous ahead of the court appearance. She drew some confidence shortly before the argument began when the clerk of court introduced her to the 60 VMI cadets who were in attendance on a school trip. Upon learning Burgess would commission in the U.S. Army following graduation to join the JAG Corps, the cadets cheered.
“It was fun to hear that in this solemn courtroom where you can normally hear a pin drop,” said Burgess.
Once the court session got underway, the extensive preparation took over. Burgess said her biggest challenge was to help the judges of the Fourth Circuit — who have extensive experience with Black Lung cases — remain focused on the narrow issue of the miner’s full disability.
“Their initial broad questioning on Black Lung claims was helpful in getting me to step back and explain the big picture, because I was almost too prepared to discuss this one aspect,” said Burgess.
The court typically takes several months to release a decision, and while the outcome in this case is far from certain, W&L Law students have prevailed in the federal appeals courts in the past, including the 2024 graduate Haley Carter, who won a case in the Third Circuit last year. While she awaited the decision, Burgess prepared for graduation in May and for her career as a JAG officer to get underway with a first job in Germany.
“I am grateful to the client for giving me permission to argue this case,” said Burgess. “It was quite the capstone to my 3L year.”
Criminal Justice Clinic Students Win Freedom for Client Due to Ineffective Counsel
Katie Heller ’24L and Nina Gagnon ’24L gained valuable practice experience before beginning careers as public defenders.
A CASE INVOLVING STUDENTS IN THE Criminal Justice Clinic concluded recently with the freeing of a client. The students, along with partners from other legal aid agencies, won the case after successfully bringing an ineffective counsel claim on the client’s behalf.
The case centered on an unaccompanied minor who came to the U.S. from El Salvador. Fearing for his life under threats from the notorious gang MS-13, the client was granted asylum. Shortly after, he was charged with several crimes, to which he pleaded guilty on advice of his court-appointed attorney. Unbeknownst to the client, pleading guilty would put his hard-won asylum at risk. After serving three years for the offenses, he was then detained by ICE, living in a sort of legal limbo with the potential for deportation — and certain death — looming over him.
Professor Jonathan Shapiro, who has helped direct the CJC for a number of years, took on the case in 2023 from the immigration lawyers who had secured the original asylum victory. The clinic filed a writ of habeas corpus on the grounds that the defense counsel had not advised the client on the immigration consequences of pleading guilty.
“It was clear from speaking with the client that if he had been properly advised, he never would have pled guilty,” said Shapiro.
Over the course of the 2023-24 academic year, clinic students Katie Heller ’24L and Nina Gagnon ’24L were involved in two, day-long evidentiary
hearings as well as working on post-trial briefs. During the hearings, Heller questioned witnesses that cast doubt on the original charges against the client. Gagnon took charge of the direct examination of the immigration expert, who explained the significant impacts caused by the failure of the court-appointed attorney to advise the client on the guilty plea.
“The students did fabulous work on the case,” said Shapiro.
In November 2024, the judge in the case issued a withering 78-page opinion in favor of the client, detailing the many ways the defense counsel had failed to represent him. The Office of the Attorney
General has said it will not appeal the decision, and local prosecutors will not retry the criminal case. The original immigration attorneys are now seeking to get his asylee status reinstated.
This was a unique opportunity for Heller and Gagnon, whose regular cases in the CJC involved shorter-term, direct representation for misdemeanor offenses. Both were slated to work as public defenders in Virginia following graduation, and participating on the case provided them with an invaluable experience.
“It was a great preview to see what a day in the life of a practicing lawyer really looks like,” said Heller. “This experience reaffirmed that public defense is where I want to be.”
Heller and Gagnon also appreciated the impact of having a strong legal team advocating for their client, whose original asylum team participated in the hearings. The team also included Professor Shapiro, his daughter (who is also an attorney), and former Immigrant Rights Clinic director Matt Boaz, who served as the expert witness on the immigration consequences of the guilty plea. Professor Tim MacDonnell, director of the Black Lung Clinic, helped with cross examination, role playing as an attorney for the state.
“There is this power that comes from being able to walk into a courtroom with a whole team with you,” said Gagnon. “If you’re going in with a full team of experts ready to fight, there’s something really empowering about that for the client.”
and then appealed to the Fourth Circuit by the clinic.
Nina Gagnon ’24L and Katie Heller ’24L
More Great Experiences
With 18 credits of required courses exposing students to legal practice, W&L remains a leader in producing law school graduates who can contribute in their jobs from day one. From clinics to practice simulations to externships, our students are learning the law in context—and what it means to be a legal professional.
A RELENTLESS PACE
Jermaine Jones ’25L is from Bethlehem, Pa., and a graduate of Penn State. Before law school, he founded a digital consultant startup in Philadelphia, helping artists grow and connect with their fanbases. Last fall, Jermaine participated in the WILF (Working in Law Full-Time) program — where students spend the fall semester working full-time in placements around the country — as a judicial extern with the Delaware Court of the Chancery with Vice Chancellor Lori Will.
“The Court of Chancery operates at a relentless pace, and balancing assignments from everyone in chambers while preparing for hearings and trials tested and strengthened my ability to manage time effectively. Equally important were my legal research and writing skills. Having my assignments redlined repeatedly helped me become a more precise legal researcher and writer, reinforcing everything from sentence structure nuances to the significance of a single comma.
“Beyond foundational legal skills, the ability to absorb knowledge from those around me was invaluable. Everyone at the courthouse — from the vice chancellors to the law clerks — is a master of their craft. Observing how they approach legal issues, construct arguments, and interpret statutes and cases provided insights into areas for my own growth that I would not have recognized otherwise. In addition, attending hearings and trials was invaluable as it allowed me to observe diverse attorney personalities and cadences before my vice chancellor. The Court of Chancery’s national reach made it especially engaging, as I had the opportunity to witness attorneys from across the country, from California to New York, present their cases. This experience reinforced that there is not a one-sizefits-all approach to being a great attorney.”
AT WORK WITH BRILLIANT MINDS
Cory Morris ’22, ’25L is from Rumford, R.I. Cory is a Double General, graduating with a B.S. as a double major in mathematics and physics. Last fall, Cory participated in the law school’s WILF program as a judicial extern with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in the chambers of the Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna.
“Every day I looked forward to working at the Federal Circuit because there was always something or someone interesting to do, meet, or discover. I interacted closely with the chambers’ staff daily, including the judge’s clerks.
“Every year there are about 1,500 appeals filed with the Federal Circuit across its various bases of jurisdictions, including appeals from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, patent claims brought in the district courts of the United States, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Many of these filings are filed pro se (on the claimant’s own behalf, without legal counsel). Pro se litigants are nonetheless bound by the law and therefore their claims must be dismissed if the pro se litigants do not satisfy jurisdictional rules or each element of their claims. This made me realize the need for pro bono representation and the general need for lawyers to reach out and inform members of their community about effective legal representation.”
ASKING THE WHY
Mikayla Nasis ’25L is from San Antonio, Texas, and graduted from Texas A&M University. This year, Mikayla worked in the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for Rockbridge County and the City of Lexington, particularly with the prosecutors in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and the General District Court.
“This externship taught me the importance of interpersonal skills in the practice of law. I spent extensive time working with the county’s victim witness advocate to learn appropriate ways to talk to victims to gather more information or to discuss their opinions on possible plea agreement options for the defendant. Additionally, I got to develop trial advocacy skills in a real setting. I learned how an opening statement actually looks in practice, how to prep and examine my witnesses, and how to cross examine opposing counsel’s witnesses.
“This office, and in particular Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Zwisohn, took great care to mentor me. They created an environment for me to feel comfortable asking the “why” of policies, laws, and customs. They understood that I had never done this before and helped me, but also pushed me when I needed it.”
COMMITTED TO SERVICE
Olivia Scheidt ’25L, a graduate of the University of Virginia who worked as communications director for Virginia State Delegate Dan Helmer before law school, discusses her experience as a student attorney in the Community Legal Practice Center.
“I chose to participate in the Community Legal Practice Center (CLPC) because I wanted to help low-income members of our community navigate the legal system. I am very committed to public service. Prior to entering law school, I helped Delegate Helmer’s constituents access available county, state, and federal services. Since then, I have continued my public service as a judicial intern for a federal judge and as an intern in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. With so much of my work experience committed to public service, I wanted to continue that service by helping our Rockbridge County community.
“The CLPC has been invaluable in helping me improve my legal skills. These cases, these clients are my responsibility. I take that responsibility seriously and have gotten better at managing that responsibility. I have also gotten better at figuring out what options would be advantageous for my clients. My ability to effectively deal with opposing counsel and conduct legal research has improved. I’ve learned how to communicate with my clients to avoid misunderstandings and have become a better advocate for my clients as well. But, most of all, through my clinic work, I have a better idea of what it means to be a lawyer.”
ACHIEVING JUST OUTCOMES
Spencer Thomas ’25L, a graduate of Wofford College and U.S. Army veteran, discusses his externship with the commonwealth’s attorney in Roanoke.
“Any given workday included the full spectrum of potential criminal proceedings: I attended numerous initial appearances, preliminary hearings, misdemeanor trials, and even full scale felony trials, including those involving homicides. I conducted substantive legal research for multiple murder trials and first-chaired several misdemeanor trials in the General District Court.
“One highlight was the opportunity to first-chair a full evidentiary suppression hearing and argument in Circuit Court. The hearing concerned a Fourth Amendment matter following the defendant’s motion to suppress evidence. With supervision from the assigned assistant commonwealth’s attorney, I prepared the sole brief arguing the commonwealth’s position and prepared the testifying officers immediately prior to the hearing. The judge later issued a full, written order on the merits — somewhat of a rarity in Circuit Court for those types of matters. The hearing took place on my final day with the CA’s office, so it was a really rewarding way to end my time there.”
IN HOUSE AT USAG
Lillian Weitz ’22, ’25L, a Double General from Philadelphia, spent the fall semester working for USA Gymnastics as part of the WILF externship program, where students spend the fall semester working full-time in placements around the country.
“Over the course of the externship, I got a lot of practice redlining and drafting contracts. It was fun to think through the interests of USAG in each provision, both long-term and short-term, to determine the primary provisions where the risk or the terms could be better allocated in our favor — keeping in mind the circumstances of the agreement. I also wrote several memos briefing my supervising attorney on pertinent areas of law. I enjoyed exploring different areas of law to see how they all affect USAG.
“USAG is a National Governing Body (NGB) for gymnastics, meaning that it oversees all amateur gymnastics from youth sports to the Olympics. There is a lot of interplay between different bodies at play such as NGBs, SafeSport, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). It is a very unique legal setup that was very cool to explore and to see the pros and cons of it all. Congress has an interest in governing amateur sports — from setting rules in sports, to discipline, and to rules of conduct generally in amateur sports. The way they chose to go about it, and how that plays out in real life, is very interesting.”
Jermaine Jones ’25L Cory Morris ’22, ’25L
Mikayla Nasis ’25L Olivia Scheidt ’25L Spencer Thomas ’25L
Lillian Weitz ’22, ’25L
Winning Paper
Bryce Thornburg ’25L, of Manteca, Calif., won the grand prize in The Marshall Manne Schulman Competition for Student Papers in Criminal Law and/or Procedure. The nationwide competition is sponsored by the Criminal Law Section of the California Lawyers Association.
Thornburg’s paper, titled “Plea Bargaining, Racial Bias, and Recent Changes to California Sentencing Law,” examines California legislation SB 483, which provides retroactive effect to all ameliorative changes to sentencing laws and also impacts sentences that were the result of a plea deal.
For winning the competition, Thornburg received a cash prize and will also have his paper published in the Criminal Law Journal, the official quarterly publication of the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of California.
Historic Season
First-year law student Cassie Carr ’27L helped the Generals cross country and track teams rewrite the record books this season. A standout runner and student at Washington and Jefferson who twice qualified for the cross country national championship, Carr received an extra year of eligibility, as did all intercollegiate athletes during COVID. She had nurtured an interest in the law since high school, and that was further confirmed by an influential college professor who practiced law before entering academia. Carr said “everything fell into place” when she visited campus for the first time.
Carr was among the top runners for the Generals during the cross country season. The team won the ODAC championship for the first time since 2019 and then went on to capture the Division III South Regional Championship for just the second time ever, with Carr finishing second for the team and 4th overall.
Ranked 10th nationally heading into the National Championships in November, the team finished eighth overall, marking the best team finish in W&L cross county history. Carr finished third for the team and in her highest place overall from her three trips to the championship race. Carr’s success would continue during the indoor track season, where she along with other team members would etch their names into
Gibbs Wins 2025 Halper Award
Symone Gibbs, a member of the Law Class of 2026, received the 2025 Halper Award for her note examining pre-trial solitary confinement, written for the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. Gibbs is from Smithfield, Va., and is a 2023 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Gibbs’ note is titled “Imprisoned Without a Verdict: The Constitutional Crisis of Pre-Trial Solitary Confinement,” and offers a powerful and timely critique of the widespread yet largely overlooked use of solitary confinement on individuals awaiting trial — people who, under the law, are presumed innocent. Through a rigorous analysis of prevailing legal standards, Gibbs
the program record books for individual events. In January at the VMI invitational, Carr clocked 10:05.38 to notch the third best time in program history for the 3000-meter run.
Turning her focus to the mile run for the remainder of the indoor season, Carr took first place in a program and meet record time of 4:57.65 at the ODAC championships, helping the Generals to their first indoor team title since 2009. Carr’s mile time earned her an invitation to the Indoor National Championships in March. There, she would lower her school record time to 4:56.58, finishing 11th overall and missing the finals by just 0.20 seconds. Her finish earned her Second Team All-American honors for the first time in her career.
contends that the current legal framework fails to meaningfully safeguard the constitutional rights and psychological well-being of pre-trial detainees. By weaving together constitutional law, empirical data, and interdisciplinary research from psychology and sociology, the article exposes the deeply damaging and often irreversible effects of isolation — particularly for individuals with mental health vulnerabilities and marginalized communities. Ultimately, Gibbs proposes a reform-centered framework grounded in procedural due process and a reimagining of pre-trial detention practices that prioritize human dignity and constitutional accountability.
Carr set a new school record in the indoor mile at the National Championships, running 4:56.58 and finishing 11th overall.
Matthew Beck ‘26L and Mya Phillips ‘26L were the winners of this year’s Client Counseling competition.
Jeremy Thompson ’26L addresses the judges during the Mock Trial competition. Thompson won the event, and Caedyn Porzio ‘26L was the runner-up.
Malia Devencenzi ‘26L and Emilio Avila ‘26L were the winners of this year’s Mediation competition.
Judge Roger L. Gregory of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit was the speaker for the annual Leslie Devan Smith Jr. Lecture, which honors the law school’s first African American graduate.
During spring break, a group of students traveled with Professor Russell Miller to Germany for the annual Rule of Law Academy. The program introduces students to comparative law methods and engages them in deep study of a common constitutional law issue or topic that is central to the rule of law, encompassing issues of state organization or basic rights.
In April, students enjoyed the third annual W&L Law Field Day, an event created by Dean Melanie Wilson to build community at the law school. Teams of students, faculty, and staff enjoy games and friendly competition (like the water cup relay shown above) in pursuit of the “Wilson Cup” trophy.
‘There Are Limits to What AI Can Do’
Questions about technology’s potential to replace lawyers and judges are not new. In 1977 an article in the Georgia Law Review asked, “Can/Should Computers Replace Judges?” Similar questions are being posed more frequently amid the constant acceleration of Artificial Intelligence.
BY JEFF HANNA
PROFESSOR JOSH FAIRFIELD wonders exactly what people mean when they say they can replace judges, lawyers, and the law with computers. “They can’t,” he said, “and they don’t know they can’t. It’s my job to talk about why that is, and to teach lawyers to have the confidence of their profession. As lawyers, we are specialists in social technology and in rules hammered out in conversations between humans.”
Those conversations take place in natural language, not computing language. “There are certain things you can say in natural language that you can’t code, and there are certain things that you can code that you could never say.”
The problem, said Fairfield, is that technologists often think they can do both because they don’t understand the limits of their field. “It’s true that computers can perform many of our tasks, especially now that AI has really hit,” Fairfield said. “They can write a love letter, for example, but they can’t mean it.”
Internationally recognized for his scholarship in law and technology, Fairfield is the William Donald Bain Family professor of law at Washington and Lee and directs the law school’s strategy for artificial intelligence. He’s been researching and writing about topics in technology and the law for years. He is the author of two books, including “Runaway Technology: Can Law Keep Up” (2021, Cambridge University Press).
“There is this old idea that law is too slow to handle rapid change in technology,” said Fairfield.
Language Technologies, the family business changed its name to Rosetta Stone to match its major product. Fairfield was a history major at Swarthmore College when the company was getting started. He worked for Rosetta Stone throughout college, then spent two years as the company’s fulltime director of research and development after graduation.
When he entered law school at the University of Chicago, he was initially focused on intellectual property. That evolved into an interest in digital property. After a clerkship with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Louisville and a stint
“Why is it that even though AI is perfectly capable of writing a judicial opinion, no one wants an AI to be their judge? What is that intuition that we need humans to pass judgment on humans?”
“What I do is help students and lawyers, businesses and government agencies, handle the bleeding edge of technological change.”
Fairfield has personal experience with that bleeding edge. His mother was a lawyer, and his father was a computer scientist and a founder of Rosetta Stone, one of the earliest language learning software programs. Originally called Fairfield
as an associate at Jones Day in Columbus, he started teaching and writing on digital property. He spent a year in a visiting position at Columbia Law School and then two years at Indiana University School of Law before joining W&L in 2007.
Just as technology has expanded in myriad directions, Fairfield’s scholarship has ranged from issues of big data privacy to the safety of children in
(from page 3)
On March 7, the W&L Law Review hosted its annual symposium, titled “Children and Constitutions in the Anthropocene Era.” During the event, legal scholars explored youth-powered movements to address the impacts of climate change. The keynote speaker for the event was Julia Olson, co-executive director and chief legal counsel of Our Children’s Trust, a non-profit public interest law firm that provides legal services to youth from diverse backgrounds to secure their legal rights to a safe climate.
virtual worlds, from cryptocurrency to the right of individuals to disconnect from their workplaces, to name only a few. He has consulted with the White House Office of Technology Policy, the Homeland Security Privacy Office, the CIA, the Department of Defense and other organizations on virtual worlds, privacy, online economics, and cryptocurrencies. On a research sabbatical in New Zealand last year, he coauthored an op-ed about a new law giving Australian workers “the right to disconnect” — i.e., refusing contact from their employers outside working hours — and argued that New Zealand’s government should follow suit or risk falling behind in responding to rapidly changing technologies.
According to Fairfield, there is a thread that knits together these seemingly disparate activities: all are technologies that have gotten away from law.
Take the issue of privacy, for instance. Fairfield notes that privacy laws have changed dramatically over the past 30 years because everything we say and do is recorded by devices around us — cars, tablets, smartphones, video game consoles — and the data is used primarily to sell us things.
And AI is what Fairfield calls “the grown-up version” of privacy issues.
“AI and privacy may seem to be very different from each other,” he said. “In fact, they are different ends of the same pipeline: the gathering point, where human data is collected, then used to train machine-learning algorithms, and then the output point, where the machine-learning algorithm is doing some task that traditionally was performed by humans.
“What I focus on is the impact technology has on humans, how human rules respond to technological shift, and how human rules can actually get ahead of technological change,” he said. “Suppose I murder somebody with a lightsaber? It’s still murder. Law can handle technological change just fine as long as we see the real moves people are making and why.”
As for the future of lawyers and judges, Fairfield said members of the legal profession should see AI as a set of impressive capabilities. But those capabilities will always be at the mercy of what humans choose to train the systems to do.
The Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice explored freedom of expression in the classroom during its annual symposium, held March 21. The keynote speaker for the event was Matthew Shaw, a professor of law at Vanderbilt University and a former scholar-in-residence at W&L Law. His scholarship focuses on the intersection of federal law and educational policy and explores education rights and regulations through critical legal history, doctrinal analysis, and econometric policy studies.
Elizabeth Prelogar, former solicitor general of the United States, was the speaker at the annual Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Distinguished Lecture on March 19. The format of this year’s event was a “fireside chat” between Prelogar and W&L Law Professor Alan Trammell.
“We have to look at ourselves, not at the technology,” he said. “The problem is not that we should be afraid of AI; the problem is that we should be afraid of not addressing what is wrong with us that causes AI to be like this. Remember, it just learns from us. There are limits to what AI can do.”
“For example, why is it that even though AI is perfectly capable of writing a judicial opinion, no one wants an AI to be their judge? What is that intuition that we need humans to pass judgment on humans?”
Fairfield said his scholarship helps train students on the capabilities and limits of artificial intelligence, which will make them better lawyers. At the same time, he said, his teaching improves his scholarship by grounding him in the practical questions and concerns of digitally native students.
“Many of my best ideas have come from basic questions from students that reveal they are using a technology differently than even the designers expected,” he said. “These organic and emergent technology uses often become flashpoints for the development of new technology law.”
In October 2023, Fairfield was appointed as the law school’s inaugural director of artificial intelligence legal innovation strategy. He is also involved with the AI hub in the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning on the undergraduate side. In this role, he is focused on training students to serve companies and firms that need to know how the capabilities of AI work and what its limits are — and he is working with the AI hub to develop principles for AI use on campus.
With so much having been written about the
misuse of AI to cheat on papers and tests, Fairfield said the baseline rule is that AI should facilitate what a student is doing and not do it for them.
“It’s not just because it’s unethical,” he said. “It’s also because it’s important for us as humans to be producing law that is reflective of human concerns.”
Fairfield believes W&L is better positioned than many institutions to deal with the threat to academic integrity that AI has raised because of the Honor System and the fact that the community has had conversations about what it means be ethical.
“Although Silicon Valley may think there is a technological solution for everything, the answer to this dilemma is us — that is, the rules we develop to live together,” he said. “The best way to fight the invasion of AI is a strong community, which is what we have here at W&L.”
Reimaging Law From a Child’s Perspective
BY JEFF HANNA
CATHERINE SMITH was reading legal scholar Erwin Chemerinsky’s constitutional law hornbook on a treadmill when she happened upon a series of cases that hit home. The cases were in the section on equal protection law and focused on discrimination against nonmarital children.
“I thought to myself, ‘wow, my daughter has two moms, and as her biological mom, I am legally recognized but her non-biological mom is not. What protection does she have as the child of unmarried same-sex parents who are prohibited from marrying?’” said Smith, who joined W&L as the Vincent L. Bradford Professor of Law in the fall of 2024.
“I was intrigued by that,” said Smith, “and I began to write about it in the context of my daughter and her peers’ rights. When people think about the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, they primarily focus on race or gender discrimination. But what about people discriminated against because they are young?”
Her earliest articles were about children in families who were treated differently because of their same-sex parents, just as children through history were treated differently because their parents were unmarried or undocumented.
Smith has not only written numerous law review articles on the subject but also joined with three colleagues to write an amicus brief on the constitutional rights of children in the 2015 landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case that recognized that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry.
In the Obergefell majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that “Marriage also affords the permanency and stability important to children’s best interests,” citing Smith’s co-authored brief. “I call it the ‘Zoe brief’ after my daughter,” Smith said. “Before Obergefell, in many states kids in LGBT families were considered complete legal strangers to their non-biological parent or non-adoptive parent with no legal way to create a cognizable relationship. For example, if something tragic had happened to Zoe’s other mom, Zoe would not have a right to her Social Security or worker’s compensation proceeds. She would also not have been able to inherit from her, and these are only a few of the hundreds of deprivations of benefits and privileges children in LGBT families were being denied.”
For Smith, writing the “Zoe brief” meant seeing the unfairness that existed and being able to put
it into the language of law. That was just the beginning, as Smith continues to explore what she describes as “a whole landscape” of children’s constitutional rights yet to be written.
“We should reimagine the constitutional law canon from a children’s perspective,” said Smith, who joined with the W&L Law Review in March to organize the Lara D. Gass Symposium, spotlighting youth-powered movements to address the impacts of climate change on young people. “Our nation’s default is to envision constitutional law only for adults. But people should have the right to be free from discrimination or the right to a sustainable climate no matter their age or capacity.”
Smith’s work on children’s rights received a significant boost in 2023 when she and cocollaborators received a $2 million gift from an anonymous donor to help form the Consortium for the Advancement of Children’s Constitutional Rights. As Smith said of the consortium, the goal is to change “how we see children and understand, approach, and enforce their rights.”
Smith credits her mother’s “brainwashing” for her choosing a career in the law. “I was pretty argumentative, and my mother thought I’d be a good lawyer,” she said. Her parents grew up in South Carolina during the Jim Crow era. They attended segregated two-room schoolhouses and were mostly taught by their relatives. They went to college at South Carolina State, an HBCU. (The
From Wofford, she went to law school at the University of South Carolina. After two federal judicial clerkships, Smith spent two years as a legal fellow with the Southern Poverty Law Center. She had been at the SPLC only a few weeks when she sat third chair to the Center’s cofounder, Morris Dees, representing a defendant in a death penalty case in Montgomery, Ala.
“Being trained at SPLC was an amazing and humbling experience,” she said. “I worked on a full range of civil rights cases and learned to use law in creative ways to challenge white supremacist groups, including drafting a complaint that eventually bankrupted a chapter of the Aryan Nations.”
From SPLC, Smith began her teaching career at Texas Southern’s Thurgood Marshall Law School in Houston. She then lateraled to the University of Denver’s Sturm School of Law where she was named the Attorney of the Year by the Colorado LGBT Bar Association in 2019 and received the Robert B. Yegge Excellence in Teaching Award in 2023.
Smith wasn’t looking to leave Denver when she and her partner, Suzette Malveaux, the Roger D. Groot Professor of Law, were recruited to join the W&L faculty in the summer of 2024. Now in Lexington, Smith said she has not only found the law school community incredibly supportive and intellectually rigorous, but also that the smaller size is especially conducive to teaching and
“It’s an amazing privilege to be in this job and to teach and think about complex ideas while having this group of really smart and idealistic people flesh them out with you.”
University of South Carolina and Clemson did not desegregate until 1963.)
After graduation, Smith’s father joined the military. “My parents believed in the power of law and lawyers and encouraged me to pursue this path,” she said. “Researching and writing about the history of Jim Crow and Brown v. Board of Education from a children’s rights perspective also has deep resonance for me because of my parents’ experiences.”
Smith grew up as an Army brat, and her family moved often. She graduated high school on a NATO base near Brussels, Belgium, and returned to South Carolina to attend Wofford College. “After serving tours in Vietnam, my dad taught military science at Wofford, serving as one of the first African American faculty members there, so it was a familiar place,” said Smith, who captained the Terrier volleyball team during her undergraduate career.
learning. “It’s more intimate,” she said. “You get to have longer conversations with the students and the back and forth informs my research agenda and continuously challenges my thinking in many ways.”
Plus, the age range of her students puts them in close proximity to the young people whose rights Smith is championing in her work. She is teaching a seminar on Children and the Constitution this semester and will teach Torts and Children and the Law next fall.
“It’s an amazing privilege to be in this job and to teach and think about complex ideas while having this group of really smart and idealistic people flesh them out with you. The students really want to unpack the legal questions and issues because many of them came to law school because of what they witnessed or experienced as young people. It is enlightening and extremely rewarding.”
Law Alumni Weekend 2025
More than 350 Washington and Lee law school alumni and guests returned for this year’s reunion celebration, held April 4-6 in Lexington.
leasant weather greeted alumni as they rolled into Lexington Friday afternoon to take part in such popular events as “Back to the Classroom,” featuring legendary professor Brian Murchison. “Celebrating 50 Years of Women at W&L Law” highlighted members of the Law Class of 1975 in recognition of their path-breaking experience with coeducation of the law school.
The 2025 Outstanding Alumnus/a Award was given to Charlie Tomm ’68, ’75L for exceptional achievements in his career and unselfish service to his community and his alma mater. Starting as a member of the Law Council in 1985, he went on to serve W&L as president of the Law Council (1994-95), chair of the Annual Fund (1997-99) and a trustee from 1999 to 2009, when he became an emeritus trustee.
Tomm graduated from Washington and Lee in 1968 with a BS in commerce. He was a member of the football team, a dorm counselor, and played on the freshman lacrosse team. After graduation, he served from 1968 to 1972 on the Navy’s only troop-carrying submarine as a diver and officer and in the active reserves from 1972 to 1975. He earned the Navy Achievement, Viet Nam Service, Viet Nam Campaign and National Defense medals. Tomm returned to Lexington in the fall of 1972 to join the Law Class of 1975, serving on Law Review and receiving the distinction of the Order of the Coif and cum laude at commencement. While he
was in the private practice of law in New York City with Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pitman), he earned a Master of Laws in Taxation (1981) from New York University. Since 2017 Tomm has been chairman & CEO of Pablo River Partners, an investor in the retail automotive industry. He is a director of Shoe Carnival Inc., a leading retailer of family footwear (serving as its lead director and as chair of its Audit Committee), a director of Margo Caribe, Inc., a wholesale garden products company (founded by his good friend and ’68 classmate, Michael Spector), and a director of Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital.
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes those individuals who go above and beyond assisting the law school. Whether it is hosting an alumni event, mentoring a student, serving as a class agent, raising money in honor of a reunion, or serving on the Law Council, Alumni Board, or Board of Trustees, volunteers take this school to the next level. This year’s recipient was Eone Beck ’95L. Beck is counsel on the Litigation Team at FloranceGordonBrown in Richmond, and her practice centers on medical malpractice defense, premises liability, wrongful death, and general liability litigation.
Her classmate William Toles ’92, ’95L shared that “Eone Beck is the epitome of the saying NEVER say no. Since we graduated from law school, Eone has volunteered as a class agent
and reunion chair. She does not hesitate to email or call our classmates to encourage their return to Lexington for reunions. Her goal is always the same – maximum attendance and an opportunity for classmates and friends to share our memories from law school.”
The Young Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes those young alumni who go out of their way to assist W&L Law in recruiting students and mentoring students in their career searches. The recipient this year is Sarah Kathryn “SK” Stahling from the Law Class of 2015. During law school, she served on the Moot Court Executive Board, as an honor advocate, and as the president of Phi Delta Phi. Stahling graduated cum laude and went to Richmond to be an associate attorney at Kalbaugh Pfund & Messersmith until 2019 when she joined the Virginia Office of the Attorney General as an assistant AG in the Construction Litigation section.
Stahling has served on the Young Alumni Council for the last eight years and has frequently assisted law students with their job search in the Richmond area. She has served as the W&L chair of the Virginia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division–Law School Council, and presently serves on the Boards of Governors for both the Young Lawyers Conference and Construction Section of the Virginia State Bar and is president of the John Marshall Inn of Court in Richmond.
Dean Melanie Wilson made several presentations during Law Alumni Weekend, including (from left) 2025 Outstanding Alumnus/a Award to Charlie Tomm ’68, ’75L; Volunteer of the Year Award to Eone Beck ’95L; and Young Volunteer of the Year Award to Sarah Kathryn “SK” Stahling ’15L.
Hepler Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Larry Hepler ’68L, a managing partner at the Hepler Broom Law Firm in Edwardsville, Ill., and defense counsel member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), received the Federation’s highest honor, the 2025 FDCC Lifetime Achievement Award. Hepler accepted the honor before his fellow Federation members on Feb. 26 during the FDCC Winter Meeting in Charleston.
Each year, the FDCC Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual member who has excelled in the contribution of public good and fellowship in every facet
60s
1968
Larry Hepler, a managing partner at the Hepler Broom Law Firm in Edwardsville, Ill., and defense counsel member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), received the Federation’s highest honor, the 2025 FDCC Lifetime Achievement Award.
80s
1986
Jonathan Snare was appointed as deputy solicitor of labor at the U.S. Department of Labor. He is rejoining the department after serving as partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Morgan Lewis & Bockius in the labor and employment practice group from 2009 to 2024. During his tenure at Department of Labor between 2003 and 2009, Snare served in several roles, including acting assistant secretary for OSHA and deputy assistant secretary, as well as deputy solicitor and acting solicitor in 2007.
90s
1990
On Jan. 6, 2025, Doug Herndon began a two-year term as chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court. Recent law graduate McClayne Thomas ’24L will join Justice Herndon in September for a year as a judicial clerk.
of their personal and professional lives. Award recipients are deemed as exemplary individuals within their legal community, the Federation, and their local community.
Hepler began his career as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. While serving in Vietnam, he was the only lawyer assigned as defense counsel for nearly 14,000 U.S. service personnel. Today, Hepler is a nationally recognized defense attorney for insurers and top U.S. companies in communications, energy, tobacco, transportation, and many more industries.
1995
Jeff Chapuran has been appointed general counsel of Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation’s leading network of home care, senior care, home health, hospice, and medical staffing services. Chapuran previously served as associate general counsel at BrightSpring Health Services, where he was responsible for labor and employment matters as well as general litigation.
1998
John Eliason has been selected to co-lead the Energy and Infrastructure sector at Orrick. For more than 20 years, he has advised major financial institutions (tax equity investors and infrastructure funds), lenders, developers, and sponsors, particularly those in the wind, solar, storage, biomass and energy tech space.
Christine Roseveare has joined the Austin, Texas, boutique litigation firm Botkin Chiarello Calaf as Of Counsel. Roseveare is an appellate advocate who handles a wide range of complex legal issues, from constitutional challenges to intricate contract disputes.
1999
Charles Kemp has been selected to co-lead the Securities & Corporate Governance team at Moore & Van Allen. Kemp focuses his practice on U.S. securities laws, corporate governance, shareholder relations, and capital markets transactions. Before joining MVA, he served as the lead securities counsel for CarMax, Inc., overseeing all aspects of federal securities law compliance, including financial reporting, annual meetings, securities offerings, and NYSE listing requirements.
New Jersey’s Finest
Ted Ritter’73L was recognized in June with the Daniel J. O’Hern Award by the New Jersey State Bar Association. The O’Hern Award is presented to an attorney who exhibits integrity, competence, high ethical standards, career achievement and service to the bar and community. Ritter, managing partner at The Ritter Law Office LLC, has developed a reputation as a South Jersey attorney of high moral and ethical standards since he founded his general practice law firm in Bridgeton nearly 50 years
ago. He is highly active in the Cumberland County Bar Association and foundation, providing guidance on all aspects of law to peers and colleagues and serving as a
00s
2000
Rich Anderson was elected to serve as a judge on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. Previously, he was assistant attorney general in the Alabama Office of the Attorney General, a position he had held since 2007.
Gabe Wright was named to San Diego’s Top Attorneys 2025 by San Diego Metro Magazine. Wright serves on Hahn Loeser’s Board of Directors and the firm’s National Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He recently served as chair of Hahn Loeser’s San Diego Litigation Practice Group and has led San Diego office’s recruiting efforts. He represents clients from
various industry sectors including assisted living communities, financial institutions, hoteliers, hospital and medical centers, product manufacturers, and the collections industry.
2006
Roscoe Leslie was appointed by Maryland Governor Roy Moore to the District 1 Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission. Leslie has served as the Worcester County attorney since 2020.
2007
Mike Germano has been promoted to Vice President, North American Claims Group for Allied World. Mike has served as Associate Vice President since 2023.
2009
Michael Duffy has been promoted to director at Fletcher Tilton PC, where he co-chairs the Tax Practice group. Duffy was recently recognized as one of Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly’s “Go To Tax Lawyers” for 2024.
mentor to newly admitted attorneys. He is one of the few attorneys certified as a trial attorney by both the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the state Supreme Court.
“In his legal work, Ritter is meticulous, dedicated, diligent and fair. He promotes the cause of civility and professionalism with his every interaction,” according to Cumberland County Bar Association President Yolanda Garcia Balicki. “He embodies the principles of professionalism, and all that the esteemed O’Hearn Award stands for.”
2010
The American Health Law Association announced Jenna Misiti as the recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Adjunct Teaching Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to health law and policy education at Marshall University.
Larry Hepler ’68L receiving the FDCC Lifetime Achievement Award.
2014
Patrick Bolling was selected among Virginia Business’ inaugural Forty Under 40 List for 2025. Bolling is a member of the Labor and Employment practice group at Woods Rogers.
2015
Caleb David joined the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office as deputy solicitor general and special counsel. David spent the last 10 years in private practice at Shuman McCuskey Slicer PLLC, where he was a member in the firm’s Charleston office. David’s litigation practice included representing the state of West Virginia and its agencies and officials in complex matters in state and federal courts, trying cases to verdict and handling appeals before the Intermediate Court of Appeals, Supreme Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Steven Halpin joined King & Ruiz LLP as senior counsel in New York City.
Eric Kiser was named to the Top 40 Under 40 – Civil Plaintiff list by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Kiser is an attorney in the Cincinnati office of the Thomas Law Office. His primary area of practice is civil litigation, including nursing home abuse and neglect, products and premises liability, motor vehicle and trucking accidents, and other personal injury matters.
20s
2020
Emily Chowan joined the Labor, Employment, and Immigration section at Williams Mullen in Richmond as an associate. Chowan focuses her practice on labor and employment compliance and defends businesses in employment litigation.
Teaching Excellence
The American Health Law Association (AHLA) named Jenna Misiti ’10L as the recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Adjunct Teaching Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to health law and policy education at Marshall University.
As an adjunct professor at Marshall University since 2018, Misiti has taught “Legal Issues in Healthcare Management” in the Graduate Program in Health Care Administration and doctorallevel health law courses in the Nurse Anesthesia Practice and Management Program. Her teaching draws from her background as both an attorney and health care compliance professional, particularly her experience serving rural and underserved areas of Appalachia.
Natey Ndlovu launched her own criminal defense law firm, Cornick Ndlovu, in Fredericksburg, Va.
2023
Hope Barnes joined the Seattle office of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice as an associate, where she handles a range of matters, including government and professional liability defense. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a prosecutor for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office.
BIRTHS
Ryan Starks ’14L and Emily Starks ’12, a son, Emmett John Starks in October 2024. They live in Richmond, Va.
All in the Family
Misiti spent seven years of her legal career as in-house counsel for West Virginia’s largest community health system, during which she earned her master’s in healthcare administration from St. Joseph’s University and became nationally
DEATHS
Howard S. Kaylor ’50, ’52L of Hagerstown, Md., died on March 4, 2025. Howard served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps in World War II in the Pacific Theatre. He spent his entire career as a stockbroker.
Stephen M. Quillen ’55, ’57L of Lebanon, Va., died on Jan. 14, 2025. Steve worked as an attorney until he was 86 and was the last surviving member of the Quillen & Quillen law firm in Lebanon. He served on the Board of Virginia Bar Examiners for 36 years and was the president of the Board from 2014 until his retirement in 2019. Steve served in the JAG Corps from 1957 until 1968, leaving the service with the rank of captain.
certified in healthcare compliance. In 2019, she founded Appalachian Healthcare Legal Consulting, focusing on improving health care delivery in rural communities through her work with safety net providers.
The Hon. Gerald O. Clemens ’60L of Salem, Va., died on Dec. 26, 2024. Gerald served in the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech, followed by active duty in the U.S. Army, where he ultimately attained the rank of colonel. In 1961, he joined Kime & Jolly Law Practice in Salem. He would serve as city attorney for Salem for many years. He was appointed by the Virginia General Assembly to the General District Court and elevated to the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court bench in 1985. He taught business law at Roanoke College for many years and also served on the Roanoke College Board of Trustees.
Thomas B. Bryant III ’59, ’61L of Orangeburg, S.C., died on Feb. 4, 2025. Thomas was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, a captain in JAG Corps, and a lifelong Detroit Tigers Fan. His father was a member of the Class of 1928.
1. Law Class of
2. Celebrating the graduation of Yardley Borten ’25L are her mother, Cathy Greenebaum Borten ’95L, and her great uncle, Martin Rosendorf ’67L. Other alumni family members include her grandfather Leonard
E. Michael Masinter ’58, ’61L of Atlanta, Ga., died on April 1, 2025. He joined the firm Hansell, Post, Brandon & Dorsey and rose to partner. Michael argued and won United States v. Consumer Life Insurance Company before the U.S. Supreme Court, a 7-2 decision authored by Justice Lewis F. Powell ’27, ’31L.
David J. Andre ’64,‘67L of Winchester, Va., died on Jan. 7, 2025. David served in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam in 1969 -1970. He rose to the rank of captain and was awarded the Bronze Star. David practiced law in Winchester and then Kansas City, Mo., until his return to Winchester in 2013. In Kansas City, on top of his law practice, he wrote curricula and taught entrepreneurial classes for the Kaufman Foundation. He was a former president of the Winchester Fredrick Country Bar and a lecturer for the Continuing Legal Education Committee of The Virginia State Bar.
I. Lionel Hancock ’64L of Norfolk died on Jan. 24, 2025. While practicing law, he continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves and Virginia National Guard as an artillery officer, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He practiced law for 53 years and served as a substitute judge in courts throughout Hampton Roads.
William P. Harris ’65L of Lynchburg, Va., died on Dec. 22, 2024. William worked for three years as Lynchburg’s assistant commonwealth’s attorney, then built his own firm, Harris, Black, and Allen. He also served as a federal magistrate for the region. He practiced law for decades, specializing in criminal defense work. He established the Harry D. Forsyth Foundation and served on the board of the Miller Home and the Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum.
The Hon. James E. Kulp ’65L of Richmond, Va., died on Jan. 12, 2025. Jim served in the U.S. Marine Corps in California, Okinawa, and
2025 graduate Sydney Roots is joined by her father William Roots Jr. ’94L, and her mother Sonya Weaver Roots ’96L. Other alumni family members include her grandfather Sterling Weaver Sr. ’76L, and her uncle Sterling Weaver II ’90.
“Curly” Greenebaum ’56, ’59L, who passed in 2014, and her cousin Alix Sirota ’18L.
3. Carlyle Turner ’25L and his father Frank Turner ’77
4. Natalie Beers ’25L and her uncle Paul Beers ’86L
Washington, D.C. He resigned his commission with the rank of captain. During his time at W&L Law, he was elected president of the University Student Body, president of the Honor Council, and a member of “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.” Jim practiced law with Sands, Anderson, Marks, and Clarke and later became a member of the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, where he served as deputy of the Civil Division and later as deputy of the Criminal Division. In 1986, Jim was elected by the Virginia General Assembly to serve as a judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit (Henrico County). Later, upon his retirement as a full-time sitting judge, he was designated to preside in many circuit courts across the commonwealth, as well as a designated judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals.
Tony J. Lasala ’65L of Branford, Conn., died on April 7, 2025. Tony served on the Branford Board of Education, eventually becoming chairman. He also served as commis-
sioner of the Branford Police Department and president of the New Haven Museum and Historical Society. He was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the New Haven County Bar Association, and he took great pride in serving as an adjunct professor teaching trial law at Yale Law School.
Pete Hendricks ’66, ’69L of Atlanta, Ga., died on Dec. 27, 2024. During his second and third years in law school, Pete served on the Executive Committee as the Law School representative. In his law practice, he specialized in land use zoning and government permitting. As an alumnus, he served as the president of the Atlanta Alumni Association and on the Law Council. He also endowed a lecture series on law and history at the law school.
David D. Redmond ’66, ’69L of Richmond, Va., died on Feb. 26, 2025. David was a two-time class officer, president of Sigma Nu, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. Captain of the W&L
soccer team, he played in the NCAA championship and was selected for the NCAA All-South team. In 2004, David was the first soccer player to be inducted into the W&L Athletics Hall of Fame. While in law school, he was an editor of the Law Review. David built a career in commercial real estate law at Christian & Barton in Richmond, where he practiced for over four decades. Deeply devoted to his alma mater, David continued to serve W&L as a member of the Alumni Association Board and as president of the Law Council. In 2021, David was awarded the Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Award for his commitment to leadership, responsibility, and service. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Gordon M. Henry ’70, ’73L of Bermuda died on Dec. 16, 2024.
Francis C. Clark ’76L of Gibsonville, N.C., died on Feb. 13, 2025. Francis was a Morehead Scholar at UNC –
Alumni Weekend Spotlight
Chapel Hill, and after law school, was an attorney at First Union Corporation, Wachovia Corporation and was a director at Bell Davis & Pitt of Winston–Salem. He served eight years on W&L’s Law Council and was a chapter volunteer and law liaison for 12 years. He was also an avid fly fisherman and college basketball fan.
J. Burhardt Beale ’80L of Woodbridge, Va., died on Feb. 3, 2025. Burk was a leading expert in DUI defense and was a founding member of both the National College for DUI Defense and the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, frequently lecturing across the country. His appellate work led to four landmark cases, recognized by the Virginia CLE program as pivotal in the fields of traffic, criminal, and DUI defense. Passionate about his work, Burk dedicated over 40 years to the law, always guided by his belief that “Bad things happen to good people.” Burk was a third-generation W&L Law lawyer, the son of J. Vaughan Beale ’36, ’39L and the
grandson of Ernest L. Beale, who graduated from W&L in 1908. All three were natives of Franklin, Va. Vaughn Beale worked for the FBI and was a firearms instructor at Quantico before returning to Franklin, where he practiced law for 50 years. Ernest Beale, the “Dean of Franklin lawyers,” practiced law for nearly 40 years, and also served the local government of Franklin as a councilman.
John J. Tatooles ’84L of Palm Beach, Fla., died on May 7, 2025. John dedicated over four decades to the legal profession, practicing law with distinction at Gardner, Carton, and Douglas and later at Hogan, Marren, Babbo, and Rose in Chicago.
Alexa A. Socha ’97L of Long Beach, Calif., died on Dec. 17, 2024.
Miller B. Sullivan ’24L of Brentwood, Tenn., died on Jan. 15, 2025. Miller was president of the Election Law Society and a member of the International Law Society during his time at W&L Law.
2. Alumni and current students gather for a networking breakfast during Law Alumni Weekend.
3. Prof. Brian Murchison speaks during the memorial reception for Prof. Joan Shaughnessy.
4. Alumni enjoy a picnic on the law lawn during Alumni Weekend.
5. Class of 1995
6. Class of 2000
7. Class of 2005
8. Class of 2015
9. Class of 2020
➣ Please send your class notes to Suzanne Wade at swade@wlu.edu to help us keep our alumni records current and continue fostering a strong W&L Law community.
1. Neil Millhiser ’11L passes the gavel to incoming Law Council President Rae Mueller ’12L.
Discovery
Rena Song ’25L
was a member of the W&L Repertory Dance Company during her third year of law school, participating in two dance recitals. “Dance has been a lifelong passion for me. I trained in ballet growing up, minored in dance at George Washington University, and performed with the GW First Ladies Dance Team. So when I began law school at W&L, I looked for ways to fit it into my schedule. Joining the Company was the perfect outlet. Though I hadn’t trained intensively in a while, I was excited to reconnect with dance by being part of two pieces,” she said.
In the summer of 2024, the Law School surpassed its original goal of $40 million, three years ahead of the campaign end in June 2027. With careful consideration, the Board of Trustees approved a new goal for the Law School of $55 million for Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign for Washington and Lee.
The total fundraising goal for Law School scholarships during the Leading Lives of Consequence campaign is $55 million, of which over $27 million has already been raised. Key to this ambitious goal is the anonymous donor who will match every new gift designated to Law School student scholarship endowments through the conclusion of the campaign in July 2027.
W&L Law School alumni and friends can also establish scholarships with a minimum gift of $100,000 or contribute to one of the school’s existing scholarship funds, such as the newly established Shaughnessy Scholarship or the Groot Scholarship.
To learn more about the challenge or how to fund a scholarship, contact Sarah Hughes, assistant dean of Law School Advancement, at shughes@wlu.edu or 540-458-8191.
