James Boucher, BBA ’64, JD ’67, has documented a generous bequest to establish scholarships at the Law School and at the Ross School of Business. The James A. Boucher Law Scholarship will provide meaningful support for first-generation law students and students who began their educational journey at Delta College or community colleges in Michigan or beyond. In 2008 Boucher joined Vestevich, Mallender, DuBois & Dritsas, PC in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan after serving for 40 years at NBD Bank/JP Morgan Chase. His work concentrates on estate planning, trust administration, as well as fiduciary litigation and business transactions.
Sarah and Nader R. Boulos, ’94, made an additional gift of $100,000 to the Boulos Family Fund in Support of Students. This gift was made in honor of Nader’s 25th Class Year Reunion, where he also served as co-chair of the reunion committee. He is a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis, where his practice focuses on high-stakes disputes in areas including insurance recovery and commercial, product liability, and environmental litigation. Nader and Sarah live in Winnetka, Illinois, with their daughters Maddie, Charlotte and Ellie.
The Elizabeth L. Elting Foundation made a $500,000 gift to establish the Michael N. Burlant and Elizabeth L. Elting Scholarship Fund at the Law School, and the Michael N. Burlant and Elizabeth L. Elting Family Scholarship Fund at U-M’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). Burlant received his undergraduate degree from LSA in 1982 and his JD from the Law School in 1986.
Brian S. Dervishi, BA ’78, JD ’82, and his wife, Aileen McGregor, documented an additional bequest towards the Ahmet and Shpresa Dervishi Fund. He is a shareholder and managing partner of the Miami office of Weissman & Dervishi, PA., and serves on the Law School’s Development and Alumni Relations Committee.
Robert E. Gooding Jr., ’69, and his wife, Martha, have documented a $100,000 bequest to the Law School Fund. Gooding is based outside of Los Angeles, where he is a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and specializes in complex business litigation for the financial services and technology sectors.
Drew Grabel, BA ’91, JD ’96, and his family made a gift of $100,000 to the Victors for Michigan Law Scholarship Fund. Grabel is a partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis, where he specializes in corporate law, with a focus on private equity investments.
Richard LeBrun, ’01, and his wife Kelly, made a gift of $100,000 to establish the Richard LeBrun Scholarship Fund. LeBrun is a managing director and deputy general counsel at the Newport Beach, California office of global investment management firm PIMCO, where he is primarily responsible for the firm’s alternative funds and transactions.
Stephen M. Merkel, ’84, and his wife, Robin Shanus, made a gift of $250,000 to establish the Stephen Merkel and Robin Shanus Dean’s Discretionary Fund for Student Support. Merkel is a senior executive and the chief legal officer for Cantor Fitzgerald, LP and its affiliates including BGC Partners, Inc and Newmark Group, Inc.
Longtime donors and volunteers John Nickoll, ’60, and his wife Patty, have made an additional gift of $1,000,000 to the John F. Nickoll Darrow Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is given to a very select group of Michigan Law’s most accomplished admitted students and can cover as much as full tuition as well as a stipend.
Hans Quitmeyer, ’79, and his wife Siri made a $62,500 gift in honor of his 40th reunion, supporting the Veterans Legal Clinic Fund and the Law School Fund. Earlier this year, Quitmeyer retired from his position as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary at AdvanSix.
Marnie Seif, ’86, and William B. Land, MD made a gift of $50,000 to the Fund to Support the Debt Management Program, providing loan repayment assistance to Michigan Law grads. Seif is chief people officer and senior vice president of communications at Analog Devices.
A significant bequest was received from the estate of Daniel E. Singer, ‘62, which established the Daniel England Singer Scholarship Fund. Singer’s sisters, Barbara S. Pratter and Joan S. Schiele, facilitated the development of this fund in honor of their late brother. Singer was a trust lawyer in St. Louis who supported the Law School with annual gifts during his lifetime. The Singer Scholarship will provide meaningful support in perpetuity for future Michigan Law students.
