James Amend, made a $62,500 gift in honor of his 50th Reunion and the Law School Class of 1967. A portion of his gift will be used to establish the Michigan Law Class of 1967 Scholarship Fund; the remainder will go to the Law School Fund. He is a mediator/arbitrator at JAMS, the largest private alternative dispute resolution provider in the world, which is located in Chicago. He also is co-chair of the Class of 1967 Reunion Committee. The scholarship portion of his gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Daniel Bergeson, ’82, and his wife, Diana, made an additional $100,000 gift to the Daniel and Diana Bergeson Family Scholarship Fund. He is the founding partner of Bergeson LLP in California and a member of Michigan Law’s Development and Alumni Relations Committee. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Martin Bienenstock, ’77, made a $50,000 gift to the Victors for Michigan Law Scholarship Fund. He is chair of the Business Solutions, Governance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy Group at Proskauer Rose LLP in New York. He also teaches corporate reorganization at Michigan Law and Harvard Law School. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Arthur Block, ’78, and his wife, Janice, of Philadelphia, made a $250,000 gift to establish the Arthur R. and Janice N. Block Dean’s Discretionary Fund for Student Support. He serves as executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary of Comcast. She is a clinical social worker and therapist. Their gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
John Brian III, ’72, documented a $100,000 bequest to provide tuition support for students who matriculate to Michigan Law from Detroit. He is retired and, with his wife, Barbara, splits his time between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Cave Creek, Arizona.
Stephen Brown, ’69, and his wife, Faith, AB ’69, made a $150,000 gift to establish the Faith and Stephen Brown Law Scholarship Fund. They are enjoying retirement in Tiburon, California. Their gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Mark Cohen, ’87, and Lawrence T. Gresser, ’86, the co-founders of Cohen & Gresser LLP, made gifts totaling $100,000 to establish the Cohen & Gresser Scholarship Fund. Gresser is the managing partner of the firm, which has 80 lawyers in New York, London, Paris, Seoul, and Washington, D.C. Cohen is a partner and head of the firm’s litigation and arbitration and white collar defense groups. Their gifts will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Third Century Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Richard Epling, ’76, and his wife, Suzanne Braley, MUP/MBA ’77, made additional gifts totaling $150,000 to the Richard L. Epling and Suzanne Braley Endowed Scholarship Fund. He is an independent mediator for bankruptcy and other complex commercial disputes in New York. A portion of their giving will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Zachary Fasman, ’72, made a $50,000 gift to the Victors for Michigan Law Scholarship Fund, in honor of his 45th Reunion. He is a partner in the New York office of Proskauer Rose LLP. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Third Century Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Bruce Featherstone, ’77, and his wife, Sabrina, made an additional $50,000 gift to the Bruce and Sabrina Featherstone Scholarship Fund. He is a founding partner of Featherstone DeSisto LLC in Denver, and a member of Michigan Law’s Development and Alumni Relations Committee. Their gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Mark Ferguson, ’83, and Elizabeth Yntema, ’84, of Winnetka, Illinois, have made an additional $50,000 gift to the Ferguson-Yntema Family Scholarship Fund. This gift is in honor of his 35th Reunion in 2018 and her 35th Reunion in 2019. Ferguson is a founding partner of Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP in Chicago. Their gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Michael Hardy, ’72, and his wife, Marti, MA ’71, documented a $100,000 bequest to the Law School Fund. He recently retired as senior counsel in the Cleveland office of Thompson Hine LLP and is a former member of Michigan Law’s Development and Alumni Relations Committee. She teaches Spanish and directs community service at the Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
John Herring established a $50,000 charitable gift annuity for the ultimate benefit of the Pediatric Advocacy Clinic. His gift is made in honor of his son, David Herring, ’85, who helped establish a child advocacy clinic when he taught at the University of Pittsburgh Law School.
Robert Johnston, ’53, of Blue Ash, Ohio, made an additional $50,000 gift to the Robert A. Johnston Family Scholarship Fund. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support. After law school, he entered private practice in Dallas before spending the majority of his career as an officer and director at American Financial Corp., a banking and insurance holding company in Cincinnati.
Jean-Louis Joris, LLM ’75, made an additional $100,000 gift to the Jean-Louis Joris Scholarship Fund. He is senior counsel in the Brussels office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Bria LaSalle Mertens, ’07, and John Mertens, ’07, documented a $50,000 bequest to the Law School. They live in Salt Lake City, where she is corporate counsel for BioFire Diagnostics LLC and he is a partner at Pia Anderson Moss Hoyt. Both have served on their Michigan Law Reunion Committee.
Paul Lee, ’72, made a $50,000 gift to the Victors for Michigan Law Scholarship Fund. He is of counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in New York, former chair of the firm’s banking group, and an adjunct professor at Michigan Law. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Third Century Matching Initiative for Student Support.
John Lummis, ’82, made a $100,000 gift to be split between the Victors for Michigan Law Scholarship Fund and the Center on Finance, Law, and Policy. He is president of Soncy Associates LP, which invests in financial services and other businesses. His gift to the Victors for Michigan Law Scholarship Fund will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Harold Newland, ’69, of Ann Arbor, made a $68,000 gift to establish the Harold M. Newland Scholarship in Honor of Joseph M. Woodworth Fund. The fund celebrates his dear friend and recognizes the kindness and dedication of Diane Nafranowicz and Holly Downey at the Lawyers Club. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Muriel Irwin Nichols, ’71, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, made a $70,000 gift to establish the Muriel Irwin Nichols and Scott G. Nichols Scholarship Fund. Her gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Third Century Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Eric Oesterle, ’73, made an additional $100,000 gift to the Eric A. Oesterle Scholarship Fund. He is a member of Michigan Law’s Development and Alumni Relations Committee and serves as co-chair of the Class of 1973 Reunion Committee. He is a partner at Miller Shakman & Beem LLP in Chicago. His gift is made in honor of his 45th Reunion and will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Regent Andrew Richner, ’86, and his wife, Susan, made a $50,000 gift to establish the Andrew C. and Susan M. Richner Endowed Scholarship Fund. He is vice chair of the University of Michigan’s Board of Regents and a partner at Clark Hill PLC. He previously served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. The fund will provide financial assistance for students at the Law School, with preference given to those who are members of the Michigan Law Federalist Society.
Robert Spatt, ’80, and his wife, Lisa, made a $50,000 gift to the Victors for Michigan Law Scholarship Fund. He is a retired corporate partner in, and of counsel to, the New York office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Their gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Adrian Steel, ’75, documented a $50,000 bequest, which will be split between the Law School Fund and child advocacy programs at the Law School. He is senior counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of Mayer Brown. His practice focuses on rail regulatory matters and antitrust and competition. He also is a member of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Civilian Review Panel and served as its first chair in 2017–2018.
Richard Werder, ’82, and Sara Werder, ’82, made a $100,000 gift to the Victors for Michigan Law Scholarship Fund. He is a partner in the New York office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. She serves on the board of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. Their gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Ronald Werhnyak, ’75, of Saline, Michigan, made an additional $150,000 gift to the Werhnyak Family Scholarship Funds at Michigan Law and Athletics. He established the scholarships in honor of his wife, Janet; their daughter, Larissa Werhnyak, ’05; and their daughter, Anya, who died of cancer at age 8. He hopes that these scholarships in Anya’s memory will assist students who, like Anya, faced challenging circumstances in life. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
Barry White, ’75, has committed to a $100,000 bequest to the Law School Fund. He is an attorney in the Memphis, Tennessee, office of Farris Bobango PLC, where he focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions, business sales and acquisitions, finance, secured transitions, commercial law, and commercial contracts.
David Wood, ’94, and his wife, Elisabeth, made a $100,000 gift from the Doyle Maness Living Trust to establish the David C. and Elisabeth M. Wood Student Support Fund. Their gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Third Century Matching Initiative for Student Support.
John Zavitsanos, ’87, made a $100,000 gift to establish the Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing Law Scholarship Fund in honor of his 30th Reunion. He is a founding partner of Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing PC in Houston. His gift will be matched at 50 percent through the University’s Bicentennial Opportunity Matching Initiative for Student Support.
