Tragic Fire at Historic Clifton Inn Kills Two Law Firm Recruiters
Two recruiters from the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Billie Levine Kelly and Trish Laglade, perished in an early morning fire at the historic Clifton Inn outside Charlottesville on November 14, 2003. Margaret Mansouri ’02 was hospitalized for several days for smoke inhalation. The women were part of a law firm team that also included UVA Law graduates William Grant ’70, Steven Seidman ’90, David Carp ’00, Jordan Alpert ’01, and Michelle Clark ’02. All resident in the New York office, they had arrived in Charlottesville the day before to have dinner with current law students holding offers from the firm.
“This was an enormous tragedy,” said Senior Assistant Dean for Career Services Steve Hopson. “Willkie is a tremendous firm, one of the most popular for recent Law School graduates. Billie and Trish were tops in their field and much admired and loved at their firm. Our hearts go out to their families and everyone at Willkie.”
