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BU Law Director's Message featuring Daniel Berman, Graduate Tax Program Director
Greetings from the new Graduate Tax Program! Or should I say, Greetings from the new guy at the Graduate Tax Program. I’ve been on board as director since July 1, and I am delighted to be here. BU Law is a great institution, and I know I’ll enjoy my return home to Massachusetts after 25 years as a Washington tax lawyer.
First and foremost, I’d like to acknowledge the distinguished service of my predecessor as GTP Director, Associate Dean Ernest M. Haddad. Ern led the tax program for six years, stabilizing and expanding it to the level of strength and distinction it now enjoys. At my first GTP faculty meeting in August, we honored Ern by announcing the establishment of the annual Ernest M. Haddad Achievement Award for the graduating student who most exemplifies the qualities promoted and respected by Dean Haddad. This new award will complement the GTP Academic Achievement Award, which is given annually to the graduating student with the highest GPA. I look forward to the honor of presenting these awards at commencement in May.
The GTP continues to expand. We are adding new courses to our curriculum, new instructors to our faculty and increasing numbers of new students each year. Part-time students enroll while working in New England, and full-time students come to Boston to study with us from all parts of the United States and the world. Our faculty members are all distinguished practitioners in their areas of taxation.
Currently, we are working to raise our international profile. Our recruiting efforts yield increasing enrollment of bright foreign lawyers in the GTP. On September 1, I hosted a reception at BU’s building in Brussels, Belgium (did you know that BU had a building in Brussels, with offices, classrooms and two degree programs?) to present the GTP and our other LL.M. programs to attendees at the Annual Congress of the International Fiscal Association. IFA is the largest worldwide organization of tax lawyers, economists and accountants – we need to be well known to its members. We are also working on establishing some short-term programs outside the United States, such as two-week tax institutes in Europe or Asia – stay tuned for more developments.
Please get involved in the bright future of the Graduate Tax Program. How can you do that? Three simple ways: First, poke around from time to time on our Web site. Second, advise the best young tax lawyers you know to apply to the GTP. And third, hire our graduates!
I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can at BU alumni events or elsewhere and hearing from you about your experiences at BU and in the practice of law.
Best regards from Boston,
Daniel M. Berman
Professor of the Practice of Tax Law
Director, Graduate Tax Program
>>Check out the Spring 2008 Graduate Tax Program E-Newsletter
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| On the cover: Charles Pillsbury ('75) |
The Record
A sneak peek at features you'll find in the upcoming alumni magazine, The Record:
- (Very) Risky Business-- Robert Smith ('65) and his investment boutique, Turan Corporation, make waves in the third world
- The Rules of the Race--Peter McCausland ('74) takes his company, Airgas, to the $700 million mark
- Going Against the Grain--Charles Pillsbury ('75) breaks away from the pack to start a community-based mediation program
- From Prague and Beyond--Richard Graber ('81) serves as ambassador to the
Czech Republic - Students Reach Out--Pro Bono Efforts continue in New Orleans
- Anatomy of a Deal-- Real world transaction hits the classroom at BU Law
You can look forward to receiving your copy of The Record soon.
BU Law alumni unite to create revolutionary Patriot Place at Gillette Stadium
Patriot Place is much more than your average shopping center, according to Richard Karelitz (J.D. ’74, LL.M. ’77). “It is an outdoor lifestyle center which is quickly becoming a ‘destination.’” The new venue at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, has earned the hype as a groundbreaking merger of larger-than-life entertainment, sports, cuisine and shopping. The work of four BU Law alumni have made Patriot Place what it is today. >>Full story
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Jay D. Roth (’71) awarded DGA Honorary Life Member Award
As a labor law practitioner and the second-longest serving national executive director of the Directors Guild of America, Jay D. Roth (‘71) has been a respected leader in the entertainment industry for the past 25 years. At the Guild’s 60th Annual Award Gala in January 2008, Roth was awarded the DGA Honorary Life Member Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and innumerable contributions to the organization over the past 12 years. >>Full story
Join us for Reunion 2008
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Though the character-building law school years, all-night study sessions and excitement of Ricketts v. Scothorn and Marbury v. Madison may be a distant memory, the friendships and connections you made here endure. We invite you to take this opportunity to reconnect with your classmates and professors, enjoy autumn views of the Charles River and take advantage of the wonderful city of Boston.
A sampling of Reunion events:
Reunion Kick-off Reception, Friday, October 10, 6:00 p.m., The Colloquium Room, Boston University Photonics Center
Kick-off Reunion weekend with the first annual Reunion Kick-off Reception, an event for Reunion alumni, local alumni and their guests. Reconnect with classmates and friends on campus while enjoying live music, complimentary beverages and light hors d’oeuvres. We hope to see you all there! >>More information
Alumni College Panels, Saturday, October 11, 9:00am, BU School of Management
Go back to the classroom with a series of lively alumni panels and faculty-led symposia exploring contemporary legal and business issues. Combined programming with the Graduate School of Management adds a unique perspective to modern legal careers. >>More information
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Alumni in the News
Seni Adio (LL.M. ‘91) opens “Copley Partners” law firm in Nigeria >>Full story
Christine Henry Andresen ('06) featured on Statesman.com for her work with Child Protective Services >>Full story
Kirk Bauer (’78) represents U.S. in Beijing Paralympic Games >>Full story
Bernadette Brown (’03) named director of policy for the Triangle Foundation >>View press release
Don Calloway (‘05) elected to represent hometown of 71st District in the Missouri State House of Representatives >>Full story
Gary Ford (’77) featured in BU Today article, "Ending Global Poverty, Locally" >> View article
Michael Gollin (’84) contributes to environmentally based Nobel Peace Prize Award >>Full story
Boston Bar Association names Alexandra M. Gorman (‘05), David Kluft (‘03), Carolyn Pointer (‘05) and Edward Zacharias (‘06) Public Interest Leadership Program participants >>View press release
Ron Leshnower (‘97) authors new book, Every Landlord’s Property Protection Guide: 10 Ways to Cut Your Risk Now >>View book description
J. Renn Olenn (’72) cracks seven-year murder case >>Full story
Paul Osborne (’75) and Catherine Davis (’75) featured in “Beverly couple find inspiration for art in their own backyard” on Boston.com >>View feature
Lawyer and mystery writer Joseph Eliot Pattison (’77) publishes new book >>Full story
H. James Pickerstein (’70) takes on death row client pro bono >>Full story
Nicholas Robbins (‘97) appointed chairman of the board of directors of Angel Investment Forum >>Full story
William L. Ryan (’98) recognized as a "2008 Super Lawyers Rising Star" >>View press release
Richard Snyder ('63) re-elected as member of Nahant, MA Planning Board >>Full story
Christopher Tauro (’93) inducted into the Mass Lawyer’s Weekly Up & Coming Lawyers Hall of Fame >>Full story
Carolina Trujillo (’01) featured in BU Today article, "In Mortgage Crisis, LAW Alum Helps Homeowners" >>Full story
Wanting Zhang (LL.M. ’08) has inspiring internship with Senate Ways and Means Committee >>Full story
>>View all alumni news here
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*Alumni features are automatically populated by a news alert system
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Faculty Focus:
Professor Andrew Kull awarded Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching
The Metcalf Cup and Prize for Excellence in Teaching and the Metcalf Awards, which recognize skilled and engaging faculty members, were presented at the 135th Commencement exercises. >>Full story and audio
Upcoming Events:
Please visit the alumni Web site for the most recent event listing.
Did you know?
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Nathan Abbott (Class of 1881) was the founding dean of Stanford Law School. Inspired by the teaching of Abbott, who said: “If I could make a man learn law by crawling on my belly…I’d do it,” the law school became Stanford’s largest academic department. Today, Stanford Law School’s address remains “Nathan Abbott Way.”