Dean O’Rourke, Four Alumni Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America

Publication lauds the most prominent names in the legal profession

Dean Maureen A. O’Rourke has been named one of the 2014-2015 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, the publication’s annual list of the top names in the legal profession. Four BU Law alumni have also made the list, as of February 1: Richard Godfrey (’79), Jay Kasner (’80), Jane Michaels (’73), and Nancy Shilepsky (’77). These attorneys join the likes of US Supreme Court Justices Roberts, Sotomayor, Scalia, and Kagan, as well as other prominent private practitioners in corporate and plaintiff law firms, corporate counsel, law school professors, government attorneys, judges, and nonprofit and public interest attorneys.

Boston University School of Law congratulates our honorees:

Maureen A. O’Rourke has been dean of Boston University School of Law since 2006. Under her leadership, she has focused on improving the student experience to keep pace with changes in the legal marketplace, including the innovative Lawyering Lab and Business Fundamentals requirements for all JD students. O’Rourke has increased career development support for students through the Career Development & Public Service Office; raised the School’s public interest profile; expanded opportunities for students to obtain practical skills in clinics, externships, semester-in-practice and the Transactional Law program; and increased financial aid support for students.

Richard C. Godfrey (’79) is a senior litigation partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis. He has acted as trial or appellate counsel in numerous representative litigation matters over the last decade, including representing BP party defendants on appeals involving certified class in an environmental remediation and cleanup case. Godfrey is a trustee of Boston University, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, and the chair of BU Law’s Building on Excellence Campaign.

Jay B. Kasner (’80), partner in Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom’s New York office, leads the firm’s securities litigation practice. He defends public companies, directors, and officers in actions arising under federal and state securities and corporate laws. Most recently, Kasner represented Pfizer and its chief executive officer in securing a complete dismissal of a shareholder derivative suit arising out of its settlements with the government concerning alleged FCPA violations.

Jane Michaels (’73) is chair of Holland & Hart’s trial practice in Denver. She has handled dozens of trademark, trade secrets, patent and copyright cases, obtaining injunctive relief and damages to enforce the valuable intellectual property rights of her clients and defending infringement claims brought against her clients. She has won numerous complex jury trials and bench trials in business disputes, in both IP and commercial litigation. She advises clients across multiple industries, including telecommunications, computers/electronics, Internet, biotech, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, hospitality, sports, real estate and oil and gas. See Lawdragon’s Lawyer Limelight: Jane Michaels

Nancy Shilepsky (’77) is managing partner of Shilepsky Hartley Michon Robb in Boston. As an executive advocacy pioneer, she is a champion of the interests of individuals and a trusted counselor to executives and professionals across a wide range of industries. Shilepsky and her partners have established a nationally recognized practice representing such clients in complex matters involving executive employment and compensation. She is also known for her pioneering work in wrongful termination and discrimination cases.

The Lawdragon 500 are selected from a combination of editorial research by Lawdragon staff, submissions from law firms, and an online ballot that allows site visitors to vote. Winners will be recognized on lawdragon.com and in the special 10th anniversary edition of Lawdragon magazine.

As of May 1, Lawdragon had released 327 of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. The publication will continue to release names via the website throughout 2015.