Class Notes: Spring 2021
News and Updates from BU Law Alumni
News and Updates from BU Law Alumni
Spring 2021
Class notes for the spring 2021 issue of The Record reflect submissions received between June 1 and November 30, 2020.
Share your news and submit a class note here!
Juris Doctor
1963
Norman Zalkind was featured in the Netflix documentary Trial 4, about the conviction and release of his former client, Sean K. Ellis, who was wrongfully convicted of the 1993 murder of Boston Police Detective John Mulligan.
1965
Demitrios M. Moschos, a member of the Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Group at Mirick O’Connell, was selected for inclusion in the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list. Moschos has extensive experience in labor and employment law. He has frequently represented management in labor and employment cases before government agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor, and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
1970
Judith E. McCaffrey would like to give a shout-out to her classmates of the Class of 1970 as the 50th Reunion was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic. She spent 22 years going through the Washington, D.C. revolving door: law firm, FDIC, law firm, law firm, general counsel of a large regional bank, and back to a law firm. In 1992, she moved to Naples, Fla. to open her own firm. By 2004, she was ready for a new adventure. She headed to New York City, where she still lives, to earn a degree in French pastry while still practicing law. Her area of concentration is a combination of corporate transactional work and bank regulatory law (served with a side of croissants). Her son, Ethan (born before her 3L year), is a film editor, and her daughter, Natasha, is a lawyer working on criminal justice. She would love to catch up with her classmates anytime you are in New York City. Her contact information can be found on the Florida Bar website or at the New York State Courts website.
1971
Anita L. Johnson has retired as an assistant US attorney in Boston. She previously served in the US Justice Department’s Office of Consumer Litigation, and at the Environmental Defense Fund and Public Citizen’s Health Research Group.
1973
Phillip C. Koutsogiane received a Rhode Island Bar Association Continuing Service Award, which recognizes members who have made a steadfast commitment to the administration of justice to the poor through Rhode Island Bar Association’s pro bono programs.
Lyle Nyberg authored a book, Summer Suffragists: Woman Suffrage Activists in Scituate, Massachusetts, which tells their stories of relaxing by the shore at places like Cedar Point, Second Cliff, Peggotty Beach, and Third Cliff.
1975
Gary Locke, former governor of Washington state, was named interim president of Bellevue College.
1976
Charles L. Babcock was selected for inclusion in the 2020 Chambers USA Guide for first amendment, general commercial, and trial litigation. He was also selected for inclusion in the 2020 Super Lawyers list and the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list.
1978
Nancy Shilepsky was selected for inclusion on the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list in the area of labor and employment law.
1979
Susan Leach DeBlasio, senior counsel at Adler Pollock & Sheehan PC and past president of the Rhode Island Bar Association, was honored with the organization’s 2020 Florence K. Murray Award.
1980
Samuel B. Moskowitz was selected for inclusion in the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list for his work in the area of real estate law.
1981
Carl N. Weiner was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list for land use and zoning law. He was also named the Best Lawyers 2021 Land Use and Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Philadelphia and added to the 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list in the area of real estate.
1982
Gary M. Feldman was selected for inclusion in the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Chambers USA lists, as well as the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list for his work in the area of labor and employment law.
Paul L. Feldman was selected for inclusion in the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Chambers USA lists, as well as the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list for his work in the area of real estate law.
1983
Steven M. Bauer retired from Proskauer, where he was cochair of the IP Litigation Practice Group, to become an arbitrator for JAMS, the largest private provider of ADR services in the world. He will cochair its international life sciences group and as mediator, arbitrator, and special master, will resolve technology, life sciences, and intellectual property disputes. As part of the transition to the “other” side, he moved to Maine and got a pandemic puppy, a Siberian Husky. He remembers the appeals court judge he clerked for after graduating telling him that “the worst thing about the job was that I was starting my career with the best job I’d ever have.” Well, after nearly 40 years practicing, I now have the next best thing!
Annamarie Bondi-Stoddard was named a 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America for her work in plaintiffs personal injury litigation.
Alan S. Rutkin was selected for inclusion in the 2020 New York Metro Super Lawyers list.
1984
Hon. Carol Sharpe was elected to serve as a justice on the New York State Supreme Court.
Mark N. Reinharz was named the 2021 Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” for labor law, management.
Michael N. Ungar was honored in the 2021 edition of Benchmark Litigation in general commercial litigation, securities litigation.
1985
Ricardo F. Casellas has been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Chambers Latin America (dispute resolution) and the 2020 Best Lawyers in Puerto Rico lists. He has also received favorable awards and judgments for clients in dealer termination litigation.
A. Davis Whitesell was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list in the areas of bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law.
1987
Merrick Gross, shareholder and cochair of the National Business Litigation Practice Group at Carlton Fields, was appointed to serve on the ABA Section of Litigation’s Rule Roadshow Task Force, as an ABA Section of Litigation Leadership Development co-coordinator, and as a member of the Florida Bar’s Civil Procedure Rules Committee for the 2020–21 year.
1988
Gene M. Carlino, a partner with Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC, received the 2020 Rhode Island Bar Journal Lauren E. Jones, Esq. Writing Award for his article, “A Review of the SECURE Act and Its Effect on Estate Planning with Retirement Asset,” published in the November/December 2019 edition.
Todd Kahn is serving as interim CEO and brand president of Coach.
Thomas J. Rechen was elected president of the Hartford County Bar Association. His election to this important office is the culmination of his many years of dedicated service not only to the bar in Connecticut, but his commitment to the administration of justice and his leadership in the community. He was recently nominated and elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the right to a civil jury trial. His election is the product of more than three decades of distinguished advocacy trying jury cases on behalf of his clients. As his role as president of the Hartford Bar Association, he worked closely with the judiciary to reopen the courts safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1989
William J. Anthony joined Blank Rome in New York as a partner in the Labor & Employment and Class Action Defense groups.
Lisbeth M. Bulmash has left private practice after almost twenty years as an arbitration and dispute resolution specialist to join JAMS as a mediator and arbitrator in the Dallas, Tx. office.
John E. Phillips was named a “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2021 edition of the Best Lawyers in America.
1990
Michael LaCascia was appointed the chief legal officer of Foghorn Therapeutics.
Andrew D. Myers was selected for inclusion in the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list for his work in the area of business/corporate law.
Alan Ostfield was named director at large of the US Tennis Association board of directors.
1991
Daniel S. Field was named to the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list for employment law.
1992
Elizabeth L.B. Greene, a partner in the Litigation and Health Law Groups at Mirick O’Connell, was select for inclusion to the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list. She counsels physicians, medical groups, hospitals, and allied health care professionals, defending them in medical malpractice cases and representing them before their professional licensure boards.
Andrea Mandell was named a partner in the Tax Group at Schulte Roth & Zabel.
John Ungar was named corporate counsel and director of planning at NewCourtland Senior Services in Philadelphia, Pa.
1993
Tracy A. Craig, partner and chair of the Trusts and Estates Group at Mirick O’Connell, was selected for the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list. Her practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, prenuptial agreements, tax-exempt organizations, guardianships and conservatorships, and elder law.
Renee Inomata was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list for her work in the area of employment law.
Brent Sokol joined the Los Angeles office of Jones Day as a shareholder.
Deborah Telman appointed general counsel of Organon & Co.
1994
Denver Edwards has teamed up with two partners to launch Bradford Edwards & Varlack LLP with an explicit mission to eliminate the barriers that inhibit the advancement of diverse attorneys while solving its clients’ most significant business problems with unparalleled excellence.
Jerry Juste joined the Entertainment, Sports and Media Practice of Taylor English Duma LLP.
Hon. Luis M. Ramos has been elected to the Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Karen Wells was named executive director of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
1995
Richard Jones (LLM in Taxation’05) was selected for inclusion in the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list.
Carla Moynihan was selected for inclusion on the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list in the area of real estate law.
Hon. Karen Tooko Nakasone has been appointed to the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals by Governor David Ige.
1996
Mario Greco was recognized with the Billionaire’s Club Award from Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate.
1998
Kimberly Atkins, former senior news correspondent covering national politics for WBUR, was named to the Boston Globe editorial board.
Grace Bacon Garcia has been elected vice president of the Massachusetts Bar Association for its 2020–21 year.
Jennifer Carter was named inspector general for child welfare by the Nebraska State Legislature.
Daniel Wilson has joined Dyne Therapeutics as vice president, head of intellectual property.
1999
Robin A. Walker was named chief legal officer of Goldfinch Bio, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing precision medicines for the treatment of kidney diseases.
2000
Jeffrey S. Siegel has been named to the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list for his work in the area of employment law.
2001
Angela de Cespedes, a former litigator at Shutts & Bowen LLP, joined Saul Ewing as a partner.
Allison Goldstein has been appointed to the Montclair, N.J. board of education by Mayor Sean M. Spiller.
Clyde Vanel was re-elected to a third term representing the 33rd District of the New York State Assembly.
Peyton Worley has joined Latham & Watkins as a corporate partner, based in the New York office, in the Emerging Companies Practice.
2002
Laura J. Maechtlen, chair of Seyfarth’ s Labor & Employment department, was honored as a 2020 Minority Corporate Counsel Association Rainmaker.
2003
Alexandra Fennell founded Attn: Grace, the first, sustainable wellness brand created specifically for women.
2004
Barbara Lauriat was named a fellow of the Notre Dame Technology Ethics Center and Institute for Advanced Study.
2005
Nevin Boparai was named executive vice president and chief legal officer at Broadmark Realty Capital Inc.
2006
Layke Martin, an attorney and a former assistant dean at the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has been appointed executive director of the Nevada Dispensary Association.
2007
Joshua T. Chu is managing partner of Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP’s California offices. The firm’s Los Angeles and Silicon Valley offices consist of more than 40 intellectual property attorneys who focus on delivering service in the areas of trademark prosecution, patent prosecution, licensing, opinion work, post-grant proceedings and litigation.
Judah Skoff joined Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis in its Commercial Litigation Practice.
2008
Kathryn Ostman was elected to partner at Morgan Lewis.
2009
Jen Lunsford was elected to the New York State Assembly to represent the 135th District on the east side of Monroe County.
2010
Anthony Gostanian was named a partner in the Corporate Department of Latham & Watkins.
Michael B. Greenwald married Nolan Wein in an intimate family ceremony at his family home in Brookline, Mass. on October 4, 2020. The couple lives in Palm Beach, Fla. and plans to renew their vows in a special celebration once gathering in large groups is appropriate.
2011
Shayda Zaerpoor, an employment law partner at Barran Liebman LLP, has been named to the Portland Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” Leading Executive list. In addition to her legal work, her contributions to the profession, and her broader community involvement, she is a kind and thoughtful person who strives to give her best efforts to her colleagues, clients, friends, and family.
2012
Schneur Z. Kass was appointed to partner at Rivero Mestre LLP.
2013
Annika Bockius-Suwyn was named a “Rising Star” in the 2021 Massachusetts Super Lawyer list for her work in the areas of estate planning and probate law.
Kevin A. Gregg has become a partner at the immigration, medical malpractice, and business litigation law firm Kurzban Kurzban Tetzeli & Pratt PA. The firm is based in Miami and Kevin helped open a branch in San Diego in August 2020.
Inès Jousset practices in Paris, France, dealing with all matters relating to IT, data, and e-commerce law. She cofounded “Le Bar aux Projets,” an alliance of lawyers who provide legal advice to entrepreneurs through a dedicated LinkedIn group.
2014
Diva Bole, of PK Law, was named to the Baltimore Business Journal “40 Under 40” list.
Emily L. Crim, an associate in Mirick O’Connell’s Trusts and Estates Group, has been selected to the 2020 Massachusetts Rising Stars list. She concentrates her practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, probate litigation, and elder law matters. She counsels individuals and families on developing and implementing sophisticated estate plans designed to increase, maintain, and transfer wealth in accordance with each client’s unique needs and wishes.
Spencer B. Holland, an associate in Mirick O’Connell’s Land Use and Environmental Law Group and the Public and Municipal Law Group, has been selected to the 2020 Massachusetts Rising Stars list. His practice is focused on representing clients buying, selling, financing, and leasing commercial real estate. He also has experience advising clients on a broad range of land use matters, including zoning, permitting, and title issues.
2015
Stephanie F. Friedel joined Duffy & Sweeney, guiding a wide range of clients from global businesses to shareholders to individuals through many stages of litigation.
Courtney A. Simmons was named a “Rising Star” on the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list.
2016
Abigail L. James joined Foran Glennon Palandech Ponzi & Rudloff PC as an associate focusing on business litigation and specializing in the prosecution of securities class actions. She is also dedicated to pro bono work at the Migration Resources Center, advocating for those facing immigration-related issues.
2018
Rosamond Doran was hired as an associate in Nixon Peabody’s public finance practice group.
Brandan Ray joined MacKenzie Hughes LLP as an associate attorney in the Business Department.
2019
Rebecca Simmons, PhD, has been elected principal of Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds.
2020
Emmylou N. Manwill was appointed to the Framingham 2030 Advisory Council, created by Mayor Yvonne Spicer to foster community engagement, facilitate communication with city hall and give an important voice on behalf of the interests of younger residents.
Julio R. Olaya Jr. was hired as an associate at Friday Eldredge & Clark in Little Rock, Ark. working primarily on issues related to medical malpractice and assisting clients with labor and employment issues.
Katerina Powers has been hired as a Bronx assistant district attorney.
LLM in American Law
2005
Francesco Paolino was recently promoted to general counsel for North America at Avanade, a joint venture between Accenture and Microsoft.
2012
Maria Slobodchikova (JD’16) has started a new position as a dispute resolution associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in New York.
Michele Slizza Marchisio has been named director, senior corporate counsel at Salesforce in Geneva, Switzerland.
2016
Ana María Saavedra Mercado was promoted to liquidation coordinator-project development at ENTerritorio in Colombia.
2018
Maria Agapi Alexiadi was promoted to contracts and compliance manager at Cambridge Computer Services.
2019
Ola Sami was hired as a law clerk at Saltman & Evinch in Washington, D.C.
2020
Yutaka Arai is a staff attorney at Strategies for Youth in Boston.
Ao Zhang was hired as a paralegal at Dentons LLP in Shenzhen, China.
LLM in Banking & Financial Law
1993
Michael W. Briggs is general counsel and senior vice president of human resources at Mortgage Bankers Association.
2001
Maria Célia Seixas joined Western Union, Brazil as superintendente de compliance.
2008
Dr. Talal Bijjani is legal counsel at Al Mashora Law Firm in Kuwait.
2009
Khanh Dang Ngo is currently general counsel at Trade Republic in Berlin, Germany.
2010
Christoph D. Noehles is now vice president, real estate commission of the International Association of Young Lawyers.
2011
Kristin Seltman has joined the New York City branch of Bank Hapoalim as vice president/ senior compliance officer.
2013
Alžbeta Kálnová joined Commerzbank AG, Prague, Czech Republic as assistant vice president, market risk.
2014
Felix Gherardi is senior counsel at LCH, Paris, France.
2015
Ruoya Burns has started a position as judicial intern to Hon. Indira Talwani at US District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
2019
Paolo Ader has been named a lawyer/senior specialist, asset management at Eidgenössische Finanzmarktaufsicht FINMA, Switzerland.
Alvaro Ruiz Ostos is a wealth management AML risk associate at Morgan Stanley.
Heena Wozny is an associate attorney at MassHousing, Boston, Mass.
Dinara Zhaishibekova is an associate at Seven Pillars Law in Kazakhstan.
LLM in Taxation
1978
Richard N. Dicharry was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list.
1980
Marshall D. Feiring joined the Capital Markets Practice at Dentons as a partner.
1982
Ellen Rinaldi elected to the board of directors of the Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company.
1984
Anthony P. DaSilva Jr. has joined Davis Malm as a shareholder.
1990
Brian Gaudet is of counsel in the Tax Practice of Greenberg Traurig.
1993
Gabrielle Clemens, a financial advisor at RBC Wealth Management and managing director at Clemens Private Wealth Management Group and Seaport Boston Private Wealth Management, has been named to Working Mother magazine and SHOOK Research’s 2020 “Top Wealth Advisor Moms” list and to the Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors” list.
1996
Neil L. Cohen became legal counsel to the board of directors of the Reading, Mass. Public Library Foundation.
Ameek Ponda was selected for inclusion in the 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list.
1999
Lisa Salines-Mondello was named to the 2021 Super Lawyers list in the area of elder law.
2009
Matthew A. Morris joined Sherin and Lodgen as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Department.
2012
Emma R. Peckinpaugh joined Town Pump Inc., which operates convenience stores, casinos, motels and restaurants across Montana, as senior counsel.
2013
Eric Rietveld was named a “Rising Star” in the 2020 edition of Massachusetts Super Lawyers.
2016
Robert J. Salzer, partner at Williams Family Law, has been appointed a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
