Issue: Winter 2022
72 results
Graduated in 2010s
2010
Michael Allers joined Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian as a corporate partner in the firm’s San Francisco office. A transactional lawyer, he was most recently a partner at Kirkland & Ellis.
Ofilio J. Mayorga, LLM, was named to the 2021 list of rising stars in the international arbitration category by Law360. He is an international associate at Foley Hoag LLP in Washington, D.C.
2011
Sarah L. Cylkowski was named to Benchmark Litigation’s 2021 “40 & Under Hot List,” which lists the most talented litigation attorneys earlier-career in the United States and Canada. She is a member of the litigation and alternative dispute resolution practice group at Bodman PLC in Detroit.
Matt Rupp joined Troutman Pepper as a partner in the firm’s corporate practice group, based in Chicago. He most recently served as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery.
2012
Jonathan Fombonne was appointed first assistant county attorney in Harris County (Houston), Texas, where he oversees all litigation, enforcement, and regulatory work. Previously, he was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis.
2013
Terrill A. Wilkins was promoted to named partner at Abrahamson Rdzanek & Wilkins LLC in Chicago. He counsels and represents individual employees in the private sector on a range of employment issues.
2014
Michael Farrel joined the Houston office of Chamberlain Hrdlicka as an associate in the firm’s tax planning and business transactions practice, where he advises corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies on the federal income tax aspects of business transactions.
Devon C. Holstad joined Minneapolis-based Winthrop & Weinstine PA as an associate in the firm’s business and commercial litigation practice.
2015
Danielle F. Bass joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in the firm’s technology transactions practice group. Her practice focuses on transactional matters involving information technology, media, and intellectual property, with an emphasis on commercial relationships.
2017
Fiona Carmody joined Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney as an associate in New York. She previously served at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and represents individuals, law firms, financial institutions, and other companies in civil and white-collar criminal litigation, investigations, and arbitrations.
2018
Dmetri Culkar joined the Greenspun Corp. as an associate general counsel in Henderson, Nevada. Previously, he served as an associate at Holland & Hart LLP in Las Vegas.
2019
Hetali Lodaya was one of 16 law students chosen for the 2021 Law Program of the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics. The program provides a historical lens to engage early-stage legal practitioners in five fields in an intensive course of study focused on contemporary ethical issues in their profession.
Graduated in 2000s
2000
Alexandra MacKay was recognized by IP Stars as a Copyright Star and a Trademark Star. She is an attorney at Stites & Harbison PLLC.
2001
Joanna Malaczynski-Moore published Silent Winter: Our Chemical World & Chronic Illness (Algora Publishing, 2021). Using her prior experience as a sustainability entrepreneur, environmental consultant, conservation advocate, and consumer protection and antitrust attorney, she explores the relationship between the use of toxic chemicals in consumer products and our rising rates of chronic illness.
2002
Andrea Clark was honored by Sacramento Magazine as a 2021 Top Lawyer in energy and natural resources. She is a partner at Downey Brand LLP.
2004
Jennifer Reddien joined Venable LLP as its inaugural chief diversity and inclusion officer, based in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Venable, she served as the director of diversity and inclusion at Haynes and Boone LLP in Dallas.
Elizabeth “Liza” Rios was named deputy state court administrator by the Michigan Supreme Court. Previously, she served at the Michigan Advocacy Program where she supervised a 40-person staff at Legal Services of South Central Michigan.
Laura Varela-Addeo became the head of the newly formed Immigrant Affairs Commission in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in 2020. Prior to the commission, she worked as a civil rights attorney for 14 years, specializing in immigrant services in the Washington, D.C., area.
2005
Reena Bajowala was selected as a member of the 2021–2023 class of the American Bar Association Business Law Fellows Program. The program provides a diverse array of lawyers with the opportunity to engage in professional development opportunities within the business law section. She is a partner at Ice Miller Strategies LLC in Chicago.
2006
Mark Jefferson was named the inaugural assistant dean for diversity, equity, and belonging at the University of Virginia School of Law. Previously, he served as assistant dean of community engagement and equity at Harvard Law School
James C.D. Wahls was named senior vice president of programs and initiatives at Mission Investors Exchange, an impact investing network for foundations. Most recently, he served as a portfolio manager of social investments for the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore.
William Tran was promoted to senior vice president, business and legal affairs, and production risk at ViacomCBS.
Pamela Grewal was promoted to special trial attorney in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel’s National Strategic Litigation Program. She has 15 years of experience in federal tax controversy matters with the Department of Justice and the IRS Office of Chief Counsel.
2007
Shawn A. Strand joined Varnum LLP as a partner in Ann Arbor. An experienced tax attorney with a focus on corporate and partnership taxation issues, he previously served at Honigman LLP.
2008
Chase Cantrell, as part of Speramus Partners LLC, opened Detroit’s first Black-owned brewery, 734 Brewing Company. He is the founder of Building Community Value Detroit, a program that teaches residents how to become neighborhood developers.
Christopher D. Porter was named co-managing partner of the Houston office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. As a trial lawyer, he focuses his practice on business disputes, including breach of contract, trade secret claims, business torts, and antitrust disputes.
Graduated in 1990s
1990
Jerry Gidner, who has Tourette syndrome, was elected to the board of directors of the Tourette Association of America, the only national nonprofit in the United States assisting those with Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders. He is the director of the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration at the Department of the Interior, which manages and invests funds generated from lands held in trust from Native American tribes.
Edward Sebold has been appointed as general counsel to Kyndryl, IBM’s managed infrastructure services business. He has more than 25 years of expertise in the legal and regulatory issues facing global enterprises and previously oversaw IBM’s global litigation team and network of outside counsel firms.
Colin J. Zick was recognized by Chambers USA for his work in health care law. He is a partner at Foley Hoag LLP in Boston.
1991
Robert A. Brundage joined Bowman and Brooke LLP as a partner in the firm’s San Jose, California, office. A highly regarded appellate lawyer in the automotive and recreational vehicle industry, he has defended many of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers in product liability litigation.
1993
Donica Varner was named vice president and general counsel at Cornell University. Previously, she served as vice president, general counsel, and secretary at Oberlin College in Ohio.
1994
Mariana M. Long was named the 2020 Federal Librarian of the Year by the Federal Library and Information Network. She is a supervisory reference librarian with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Larry R. Seegull has been recognized in the 2021 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is a principal in the Baltimore office of Jackson Lewis PC, where he represents both private and public sector employers in all areas of labor and employment law.
1996
Brad Miller joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as a partner in the firm’s media and entertainment practice in Los Angeles. Previously, he served as associate general counsel at Amazon Studios.
Jesse Reyes joined the Boston office of Womble Bond Dickinson as senior counsel. He represents electric transmission companies, independent power producers, energy suppliers, project developers, and investors in disputes and regulatory matters.
Randy Shoemaker joined intellectual property law firm Reising Ethington as a senior attorney in Troy, Michigan. He has nearly 25 years of experience in patent law.
1998
Bushra Malik, outgoing Michigan Chapter Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, celebrated the chapter receiving the AILA Platinum Level Award under her leadership. It is the highest award given to a chapter by the professional organization. She is a shareholder at Butzel Long in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
1999
Nada Llewellyn joined Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP as chief diversity and inclusion officer, based in New York. Previously she served as chief diversity officer, associate vice president for human resources, and deputy general counsel for St. John’s University.
Graduated in 1980s
1981
Kenneth Salazar was confirmed as the latest U.S. ambassador to Mexico. He previously served as the Secretary of the Interior from 2009 to 2013.
Kenneth Salazar was confirmed as the latest U.S. ambassador to Mexico. He previously served as the Secretary of the Interior from 2009 to 2013.
1982
Myint Zan, LLM, edited Legal Education and Legal Traditions (Springer Link Publications, 2020). He also is an active adviser in Myanmar for University of Mandalay teams participating in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Myint Zan, LLM, edited Legal Education and Legal Traditions (Springer Link Publications, 2020). He also is an active adviser in Myanmar for University of Mandalay teams participating in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
1983
Claudio Visco, LLM, managing partner of the Macchi di Cellere Gangemi studio, will be the first Italian to hold the prestigious role of secretary-general of the International Bar Association. He will serve in the role for a two-year term.
Claudio Visco, LLM, managing partner of the Macchi di Cellere Gangemi studio, will be the first Italian to hold the prestigious role of secretary-general of the International Bar Association. He will serve in the role for a two-year term.
Denise J. Lewis, has received the 2021 Distinguished Alumna Award from her undergraduate alma mater, Barnard College of Columbia University. The award is in recognition of her professional accomplishments and for her efforts to revitalize underserved urban areas through nonprofit economic development programs and other forms of community investment, particularly in Detroit and Pontiac, Michigan. Before her retirement, Lewis was a senior partner at Honigman in Detroit for nearly four decades, and she served as a member of the management committee and founded the firm’s urban redevelopment practice. Known for handling complex transactions, particularly involving public-private partnerships and mixed use development, Lewis has represented developers involved in projects all over the country. She has served on the boards of many nonprofit organizations and other civic organizations, including the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Invest Detroit, and the McGregor Fund, and was elected to an eight year term on the Wayne State University Board of Governors, where she served as chair and vice chair for four years.
1984
Winter 2022 Class Note
Elizabeth Yntema, ’84: The Disruptor Using Data to Shake Up the Dance World
Elizabeth Yntema, ’84, did not originally intend to start a nonprofit organization, but when the lifelong dance enthusiast realized how rare it is for women to assume positions of power in ballet, there was no stopping her from trying to shift the imbalance.
T. Andrew Brown became the 124th president of the New York State Bar Association. He is the founder and managing partner of Brown Hutchinson in Rochester, New York, where he practices civil litigation and employment law. He will serve a one-year term as president.
T. Andrew Brown became the 124th president of the New York State Bar Association. He is the founder and managing partner of Brown Hutchinson in Rochester, New York, where he practices civil litigation and employment law. He will serve a one-year term as president.
Michelle Oberman was reappointed to the Katharine and George Alexander Chair for a four-year term at the Santa Clara University School of Law. She is an internationally recognized scholar on the legal and ethical issues surrounding adolescence, pregnancy, and motherhood.
Kurtis T. Wilder was elected chair of the board of trustees at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Northern Michigan. Previously, he served as first vice-chair and chair-elect. He is a shareholder at Butzel Long in Detroit.
Kurtis T. Wilder was elected chair of the board of trustees at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Northern Michigan. Previously, he served as first vice-chair and chair-elect. He is a shareholder at Butzel Long in Detroit.
1985
Jeri Looney accepted the general counsel position at Skyryse Inc., a flight operations startup, based in El Segundo, California. She joined Skyryse after two years as general counsel at The Spaceship Company and one year as senior legal director at Virgin Galactic.
Stanley Jaskiewicz was appointed to the American Bar Association board that oversees the Voice of Experience, the senior lawyers division’s monthly newsletter. He is a member at Spector Gadon Rosen Vinci PC in Philadelphia.
Jeri Looney accepted the general counsel position at Skyryse Inc., a flight operations startup, based in El Segundo, California. She joined Skyryse after two years as general counsel at The Spaceship Company and one year as senior legal director at Virgin Galactic.
Stanley Jaskiewicz was appointed to the American Bar Association board that oversees the Voice of Experience, the senior lawyers division’s monthly newsletter. He is a member at Spector Gadon Rosen Vinci PC in Philadelphia.
1986
Thomas R. Morris, and his son, David (pictured), have established Morris & Morris Attorneys PLLC in Dexter, Michigan. His practice, which was previously located in the Detroit area for 35 years, concentrates on bankruptcy, litigation, insolvency matters, and commercial law.
1987
Sheryl Renee Dobson’s artwork was featured in the Katonah Museum of Art’s International Juried Biennial Exhibition in Katonah, New York. As one of 58 artists featured, her work was chosen from 542 entrants.
1988
Charlotte Johnson joined the University of San Diego as its vice president for student affairs. Previously, she served as the vice president and dean of students at Scripps College in Claremont, California.
Jaye Quadrozzi was elected as the chair of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority’s board of commissioners in Southeast Michigan. She is the second woman to serve as chair in the park system’s 81-year history.
1989
Thomas W. Ude Jr. received the Pennsylvania Bar Association 2021 David M. Rosenblum LGBTQ+ Public Policy Award, which honors individuals who have used their position to effect positive change for the LGBTQ+ community and to inspire others to act and promote civil rights and equality.
Graduated in 1970s
1972
Edward Ratushny, LLM ’72, SJD ’79, was named an honorary degree recipient from the University of Saskatchewan. This prestigious award is granted to those who have made a significant contribution to their community and Canadian society at large. His career as a law professor and legal author has been complemented by extensive professional experience in the field of public law.
Edward Ratushny, LLM ’72, SJD ’79, was named an honorary degree recipient from the University of Saskatchewan. This prestigious award is granted to those who have made a significant contribution to their community and Canadian society at large. His career as a law professor and legal author has been complemented by extensive professional experience in the field of public law.
1973
Suzanne G. Mason joined Fox Rothschild LLP in Atlanta as a partner in the firm’s taxation and wealth planning department. She centers her practice on estate administration.
Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke was renowned for her barrier-breaking career as an attorney, professor, and university administrator, she made her mark on history with a simple yet brave and notable act: attending Duke University. Reuben-Cooke was one of five African Americans who broke the color barrier at Duke when they matriculated in 1963; she went on to graduate with distinction. In September of 2021, Reuben-Cooke’s undergraduate alma mater named an academic building after her, in recognition of her place in Duke’s history and for her contributions to the institution, including twelve years as a member of the board of trustees. Although Reuben-Cooke passed away in 2019, the building dedication was attended by surviving members of her family, including her husband, Edmund Cooke, ’73.
Suzanne G. Mason joined Fox Rothschild LLP in Atlanta as a partner in the firm’s taxation and wealth planning department. She centers her practice on estate administration.
Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke was renowned for her barrier-breaking career as an attorney, professor, and university administrator, she made her mark on history with a simple yet brave and notable act: attending Duke University. Reuben-Cooke was one of five African Americans who broke the color barrier at Duke when they matriculated in 1963; she went on to graduate with distinction. In September of 2021, Reuben-Cooke’s undergraduate alma mater named an academic building after her, in recognition of her place in Duke’s history and for her contributions to the institution, including twelve years as a member of the board of trustees. Although Reuben-Cooke passed away in 2019, the building dedication was attended by surviving members of her family, including her husband, Edmund Cooke, ’73.
1975
Stephen Meyer was honored by Sacramento Magazine as a 2021 Top Lawyer in alternative dispute resolution. He is of counsel at Downey Brand LLP.
Graduated in 1960s
1963
Winter 2022 Class Note
Herb Kohn, ’63, Receives 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award
Herb Kohn, ’63, a titan of the Missouri legal community for more than half a century, was honored as the 2021 recipient of Michigan Law’s Distinguished Alumni Award at a ceremony in Kansas City.
A. Paul Victor retired in January 2021 after 57 years of practicing law. His journey in the legal field took him to the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, associate positions at Kirkland, Ellis & Rowe and Weil, Gotshal & Manges, and partnerships at Weil, Dewey Ballantine, Dewey & LeBoeuf, and, for the last nine years, at Winston & Strawn in New York. He enjoyed teaching stints at Michigan Law and Fordham University School of Law and had a long career in the leadership of the American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law. He notes that he is deeply grateful for the opportunities his Michigan education provided and will continue to enjoy time in New York and in the Hamptons.
1964
John Mogk, an expert on urban and regional development, housing, property, and local government law, was named a Distinguished Service Professor of Law at Wayne State University. This rare classification is used to designate senior faculty members who have made extraordinary contributions outside their disciplines.
1969
Donald Shelton was appointed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Task Force on Forensic Science. He also was elected chair of the jurisprudence section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and is the current director of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Previously, he was a circuit court judge in Washtenaw County for 25 years.
John McGonagle, now retired from the position of managing partner of The Helicon Group and from the competitive intelligence profession, wrote his first one-act play, Mirrors. It is one of four category finalists in the Shawnee Original Playwrights Short Play Festival in Pennsylvania. The festival received more than 200 submissions for its three categories.