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Class Note Summer 2026

Ryan Danks, former director of civil enforcement for the US Department of Justice Antitrust Division, has joined Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP as a partner in its antitrust and competition group. Based in the Washington, DC, office, he also works in the firm’s government and regulatory litigation practice.

Class Note Summer 2026

Paul Bavier is now chief legal counsel at Sudo Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company. He previously served as general counsel, secretary, and chief administrative officer at HilleVax Inc., where he was a founding member of the leadership team and helped guide the company through its initial public offering and clinical development milestones. Bavier also previously served as general counsel at VelosBio Inc., Avedro Inc., and Biodel Inc.

Class Note Summer 2026

Abbey True Harris joined Connell Foley LLP as a partner in the firm’s regulatory affairs and compliance group. She will provide counsel on complex litigation and appellate law, as well as direct a firmwide community engagement program. Previously, Harris worked as chief legal officer and senior vice president of external affairs at Reciprocal Management Corporation.

Class Note Summer 2026

Neil H. Dishman was named one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading US Corporate Employment Lawyers for 2026. He is a principal in the Chicago office of Jackson Lewis PC, where his practice focuses on helping employers prevent and resolve employee-related disputes.

Class Note Summer 2026

Barbara Russell returned to Littler Mendelson PC as a shareholder in its San Francisco office. She most recently served as the global director of employee relations at a global technology company and previously held senior in-house roles in the aviation and environmental services sectors.

Class Note Summer 2026

Jessica Jiwon Choe, ’24: Connected by the ZEC

Food has always been a source of joy for Jessica Jiwon Choe, ’24, especially traditional Korean dishes. The main character of her debut children’s book couldn’t agree more. Choe served as a student attorney in the Zell Entrepreneurship Clinic, where A Colorful Collection (ACC) was a client and earned its publisher status. Later, Choe became a client of ACC, ultimately sharing Yuna Choe and the Perfect Bowl of Rice with young readers.

• Corporate and Securities Law

Class Note Summer 2026

The Hon. J. Chris Larson, ’99: Boosting Inclusion

The Hon. J. Chris Larson, ’99, created an internship program for people with intellectual disabilities and established inclusivity guidelines for his courtroom.

• Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Class Note Summer 2026

Paul Eugene Escobar recently joined the Rise Group Inc. in Cranston, Rhode Island, as its chief legal officer. The Rise Group is an efficiency and engineering services company. Previously, he was a senior corporate and securities attorney for Hasbro Inc.

Class Note Summer 2026

James “Jim” Steffen, a partner in the Minneapolis office of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, was appointed leader of the firm’s technology practice group. Steffen partners with clients to protect and enhance their brand assets through comprehensive trademark, advertising, and marketing law strategies.

Class Note Summer 2026

Michael B. Stewart received a 2025 Pro Bono Award from the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). He is a partner and co-founder of Fishman Stewart PLLC. Stewart was instrumental in promoting the inaugural World Intellectual Property Day programs throughout the US, working in tandem with the World Intellectual Property Organization and the US Patent and Trademark Office. He also played a key role in establishing the Public Education Committee within the AIPLA.