Fall 2022

Features

All Articles in This Issue

Steven Hanton, ’12 Steven Hanton, ’12

Class Note Fall 2022

Steven Hanton, ’12: Using a Big Law Platform to Give Back

Marathon runner by morning, structured finance attorney by day, and community organizer by night, Steven Hanton, ’12, has time for it all—and then some. 

Dana Schmitt Dana Schmitt

Class Note Fall 2022

Dana Schmitt, ’95: Building a League of Her Own

Dana Schmitt, ’95, has had a passion for baseball ever since she and her father were invited to a Detroit Tigers game by a family friend. Thirty years later, she’s still wearing her baseball cap—but now she wears it as the president of the United Shore Professional Baseball League, the first professional developmental baseball league in Metro Detroit.

Khalilah Spencer, ’01, speaks with reporters. Khalilah Spencer, ’01, speaks with reporters.

Class Note Fall 2022

Khalilah Spencer, ’01: Fighting for Voting Rights

As president of Promote the Vote 2022, Khalilah Spencer, ’01, is leading the campaign for an amendment to Michigan’s state constitution that would expand voting rights. 

Jesse Medlong, ’13 Jesse Medlong, ’13

Class Note Fall 2022

Jesse Medlong, ’13: Addressing Climate Change across Borders and Sectors

It was only as he sat in Paris at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties that Jesse Medlong realized he might be an environmental lawyer. 

Rep. John E. Porter in an official looking hall way Rep. John E. Porter in an official looking hall way

In Memoriam Fall 2022

Rep. John E. Porter, ’61

Rep. John E. Porter, ’61, a Republican who served for more than two decades in the US House of Representatives as the representative for Illinois’s 10th congressional district, died on June 3, 2022. He was 87. 

Dawn Hertz, Mary Kay Kane, and Muriel Nichols as pictured in their 1971 Law School yearbook. Dawn Hertz, Mary Kay Kane, and Muriel Nichols as pictured in their 1971 Law School yearbook.

Impact Fall 2022

New Scholarship Fund Celebrates the Women of ’71

Michigan Law’s Class of 1971 attended law school during a tumultuous and pivotal period in US history: The Vietnam War was raging, women were breaking out of prescriptive molds, and a new wave of civil rights was reshaping the nation. 

Beauty image of the Entrance to the Law School Reading Room Beauty image of the Entrance to the Law School Reading Room

Impact Fall 2022

Cause and Effect: A Donor and His Scholarship Recipient Reflect on Their Connection to Michigan Law

“This scholarship has provided me the ability to participate in law school more fully as it has alleviated a part of the significant financial burden required to attend. I feel supported in my studies, and I am able to envision a future that isn’t shaped by significant student debt.”

Beauty image of Michigan University law school building windows in the courtyard Beauty image of Michigan University law school building windows in the courtyard

Impact Fall 2022

Patricia Carnese, ’82: Private Practice in Paris is a Dream Come True

A lover of museums, music, and delicious food, Patricia Carnese, ’82, dreamed of living and working in Europe. She is a loyal donor to the Law School Fund because Michigan Law was her ticket there. 

Paul Dimond, ’69 Paul Dimond, ’69

Impact Fall 2022

Alumnus Establishes New Prize to Bolster Scholarship at the Law School

Interpreting the Constitution and applying it to contemporary legal issues has been at the heart of all that Paul Dimond, ’69, has done in his career as a civil rights litigator, scholar, and private practitioner. 

Beauty image of the Law School Dining Hall Beauty image of the Law School Dining Hall

Briefs Fall 2022

News in Brief: Fall 2022

Santa Ono becomes the University of Michigan’s 15th president  |  Professor Jim Hathaway retires  |  Professor Sam Bagenstos confirmed as HHS GC  |  and more...

Gary E. Baker, LLM ’76, and Susan Key Baker Gary E. Baker, LLM ’76, and Susan Key Baker

Impact Fall 2022

From Green and Gold to Maize and Blue, New Fund Connects Central Texas and Ann Arbor

One couple’s split loyalties and international ambitions have led to the creation of a new scholarship fund that will support students at the Law School. 

Icons representing the story. This is a lightbulb, a computer screen with a magnifying glass, a robot at a computer, a lock icon, and recycle icon Icons representing the story. This is a lightbulb, a computer screen with a magnifying glass, a robot at a computer, a lock icon, and recycle icon

Cover Story

The Evolution of the General Counsel

Traditionally, general counsels were relegated to a niche role that addressed the specific legal needs of an organization—such as overseeing litigation, executing contracts, or advising on legal risk. But the role has transformed during the past few decades, and has evolved from a narrow legal resource to the center of an organization’s creative problem solving.

Michael-Fayhee Michael-Fayhee

Impact Fall 2022

In Pursuit of the “Why,” Alumnus Establishes Fund to Support Philosophy of Law

When not flying his airplane, traveling with his grandchildren to Scotland, or taking a biking trip in Florida, Michael Fayhee, JD ’73, LLM ’20, is thinking about the law.

Front gates of the Michigan Stadium Front gates of the Michigan Stadium

Features

In-house on Campus

As the University of Michigan’s vice president and general counsel, Tim Lynch has seen it all in his nine-plus years on the job—well, except for admiralty law cases.

Beauty Detail of the Law School Reading Room Beauty Detail of the Law School Reading Room

Impact Fall 2022

True Partners at Home and in Giving Back

With a shared love for Michigan sports, an appreciation for the power of education, and a philosophy of giving back, Rochelle “Shelley” Alpert, ’75, and Steve Greenwald, ’73, have been thick as thieves since they first met at the University of Michigan.

Hilary Allen, '22, (center) and the Hon. Roger Gregory, '78, (right) during the Senior Day ceremony at Hill Auditorium. Hilary Allen, '22, (center) and the Hon. Roger Gregory, '78, (right) during the Senior Day ceremony at Hill Auditorium.

Briefs Fall 2022

Celebrating Senior Day 2022

“I come to you with a spirit of hope, a spirit that’s embedded in what I know you are capable of. And I want to make sure that my message to you is, let nothing distract from your purpose.” So said the Hon. Roger Gregory, ’78, in his Senior Day address to the Class of 2022.

Thomas Lacchia, ’69 Thomas Lacchia, ’69

Impact Fall 2022

Longtime U-M Supporter Endows Law School Professorship

When Thomas Lacchia, ’69, made a gift to establish an endowed professorship at the Law School, it was the culmination of more than 40 years of philanthropy at the University of Michigan. 

Ajitesh Kir, LLM ’18 Ajitesh Kir, LLM ’18

@UMICHLAW Fall 2022

India’s Supreme Court Cites Article by SJD Student Ajitesh Kir, LLM ’18

It’s not very often that a junior scholar gets published in an esteemed peer-reviewed law journal. It’s even less common for that junior scholar to have their article cited favorably by a country’s highest court.

Demian Ahn, ’03 Demian Ahn, ’03

In Practice

From Pizzagate to Private Practice: Navigating Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity

Demian Ahn, ’03, worked at the intersection of radicalized online spaces and violent behavior during his time as an assistant US attorney. 

U-M’s Vis Moot team included Matt Azzopardi, Hannah Juge, Jessica Carter, and Steven Tennison (back row, from left), as well as Tyler Loveall and Cheyenne Kleinberg (front row, from left). U-M’s Vis Moot team included Matt Azzopardi, Hannah Juge, Jessica Carter, and Steven Tennison (back row, from left), as well as Tyler Loveall and Cheyenne Kleinberg (front row, from left).

@UMICHLAW

Michigan Law Among Top US Teams at Vis Moot

A team of six Michigan Law students argued their way to the Round of 64 at the 29th Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot earlier this year, the first time a U-M team has made it that far.

Jodi Lopez, ’03 and Ben Friedman, ’13 Jodi Lopez, ’03 and Ben Friedman, ’13

In Practice

Litigating Death Row: A Long Road of Loss

For 16 years, Jodi Lopez, ’03, fought to save Matthew Reeves’s life—and twice his life was spared. But the hard-fought victories that Lopez, Ben Friedman, ’13, and others won on Reeves’s behalf were reversed by the US Supreme Court. For Lopez and Friedman, the case raises salient due process questions that warrant examination of and discussion about the American justice system.

Beauty image of the Law School masonry Beauty image of the Law School masonry

@UMICHLAW

Addressing Communication Disabilities in Jails and Prisons

The Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, which is housed at Michigan Law, published this summer the first in a series of white papers focused on criminal justice policy reform. It was drawn from the tens of thousands of litigation documents in the clearinghouse collection.

An iPhone shows the Disney Plus app in front of the Marvel logo. An iPhone shows the Disney Plus app in front of the Marvel logo.

In Practice

A Red-Letter Day for Black Widow

When Disney released the much-anticipated film Black Widow in July 2021, people didn’t need to head to their local theater to see Scarlett Johansson star as the Avengers heroine. They just needed to find their remotes.

Women holding a clean cooking stove by BURN Manufacturing Women holding a clean cooking stove by BURN Manufacturing

@UMICHLAW

Clinic Helps Bring Clean Cooking to African Nations

Working from their clinic in Ann Arbor, three U-M law students participated in an international transaction during the 2021–2022 academic year that will have an impact not only on the environment but on millions of people living half a world away.  

Fall Reunion Returns to the Quad Fall Reunion Returns to the Quad

Briefs Fall 2022

Fall Reunion Returns to the Quad

There’s something magical about fall in Ann Arbor, and that’s especially true for Michigan Law alumni celebrating reunion milestones. 

Beauty image of the architecture in the Law Quad Beauty image of the architecture in the Law Quad

@UMICHLAW

21 New Faculty Members Join Michigan Law

Twenty one full-time professors joined the University of Michigan Law School faculty beginning in the 2022–2023 academic year, with research and teaching interests focused in areas as diverse as economics, energy law, entrepreneurship, international law, intellectual property, philosophy, and race and inequality, among others.

Rebecca Richards, tribal chair for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, performs a smudging ceremony to begin a meeting with Michigan Law students and members of the Pokagon Band tribal court in Dowagiac, Michigan. Rebecca Richards, tribal chair for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, performs a smudging ceremony to begin a meeting with Michigan Law students and members of the Pokagon Band tribal court in Dowagiac, Michigan.

Features

Problem Solving Course Untangles a Web of Tribal Sovereignty and Policing

Earlier this year, students in Michigan Law’s Problem Solving Initiative course Policing by Indian Tribes had the opportunity to take a deep dive into the legal challenges that complicate law enforcement in Native American communities. In doing so, they found that there are rarely simple answers to the questions that arise.

People waving their hands excitedly in the Michigan Big Ten football stadium enjoying a reunion gathering People waving their hands excitedly in the Michigan Big Ten football stadium enjoying a reunion gathering

@UMICHLAW

No Football? No Problem: Spring Reunion in the Quad

Michigan Law’s special spring Reunion invited alumni back to the Law Quad after their celebrations were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, and attendees were able to participate in a wide range of substantive programming presented by current and former faculty in the Quad.

Sign in front of house that reads "We believe Black Lives Matter. No Human is Illegal. Love is Love. Women's Rights are Human Rights. Science is Real. Water is Life. Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere. Sign in front of house that reads "We believe Black Lives Matter. No Human is Illegal. Love is Love. Women's Rights are Human Rights. Science is Real. Water is Life. Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.

Features

A Legacy of Bigoted Deeds in Ann Arbor

The Hannah neighborhood near downtown Ann Arbor is relatively small, and its lawn signs reflect the progressive politics of residents. But that welcoming impression took a hit when neighbors started to learn last year that the deeds to their homes contain racist covenants once used for decades to exclude non-whites. The common reaction? Shock.

Beauty image of the Law Quad Architecture Beauty image of the Law Quad Architecture

Impact Fall 2022

Recent Gifts: Fall 2022

Giving to Michigan Law is an investment in the future of legal education, and private support ensures that the excellence that has distinguished Michigan-trained lawyers continues for generations to come.

From left to right: Sophia Hudson, ’06,Joe Morrison, ’13, Alicia Davis, and Michael Vukich, ’09. From left to right: Sophia Hudson, ’06,Joe Morrison, ’13, Alicia Davis, and Michael Vukich, ’09.

Features

Three Former Students Become Their Law Professor’s Lawyers

There is an old adage about doctors being the worst patients. So does that mean law professors are the worst clients? Absolutely not, say three former students of one Michigan Law professor, who now serve as her lawyers in various capacities.

Chris and Lisa Jeffries standing in front of  Jeffries Hall Chris and Lisa Jeffries standing in front of  Jeffries Hall

Briefs Fall 2022

A Ribbon Cutting for Jeffries Hall

In April, the Law School welcomed Lisa and Chris Jeffries, ’74, to officially celebrate the dedication and naming of Jeffries Hall. 

Justin Amash, ’05 Justin Amash, ’05

Features

Justin Amash, ’05: An Independent Voice in a Partisan Time

The driving force behind the political views of Justin Amash, ’05, is his strict adherence to the Constitution. The former member of the US House of Representatives says that fervor was born at Michigan Law.