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1990s Class Notes
1990
James Patrick Guy II has been elected by LeClair Ryan to lead its government relations and regulated industries group. Guy has extensive experience representing infrastructure companies in regulatory, transactional, corporate, and legislative matters. He also has experience in the formation and governance of cooperatives and other consumer-owned business enterprises. He is the chairman of the Virginia Bar Association’s administrative law section and former chairman of the Virginia State Bar administrative law section. Guy lives with his family in Richmond’s historic Ginter Park and performs weekly at Rare Olde Times Public House with the Irish-American pub band, Uisce Beatha.
Jennifer McGarey is now vice president, assistant general counsel, and compliance officer at RCN Corporation in Herndon, Va.
1991
At the American Conference Institute’s 2007 National Conference on Summer Associate Program Development in New York, Sarah E. Davies discussed “Smart Recruiting: Finding Candidates Who Are the Right ‘Fit’ for Your Firm.” Davies is a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Philadelphia office and concentrates her practice on complex commercial litigation, including litigation involving class actions, securities fraud, Uniform Commercial Code transactions, business torts, breach of contract, construction litigation, healthcare, and environmental contamination. She also holds the position of firm hiring partner, which makes her responsible for hiring attorneys of all levels in all firm offices, as well as overseeing the summer programs in each office.
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan announced that attorney Ann G. Fort had been selected by her peers as one of Georgia’s most effective lawyers for her work in intellectual property law. She was featured in the December issue of Georgia Trend as one of Georgia’s “Legal Elite.”
After serving 11 years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Zane David Memeger recently joined Morgan Lewis in Philadelphia as a litigation partner, focusing his practice in the areas of corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense. Zane, along with his wife, Laura, and two kids, Max and Olivia, resides outside Philadelphia in Swarthmore.
1992 
Matthew J. Cholewa has joined First American Title Insurance Company in Hartford, Conn., as its state and claims counsel and 1031 exchange counsel.
In January, Michelle A. Cooke was made a partner in Steptoe & Johnson’s Central City, Calif., office, where she will be working in the intellectual property group. Cooke will focus on expanding the trademark and other legal work for clients, as well as leading the firm’s California trademark licensing and prosecution practice. Alongside her role as a partner, Cooke is also a member of the California Bar Association, the International Trademark Association, and the Fashion Group International.
The children are growing up, the firm is growing, and William Hannum writes that he is growing old. He recently was a guest lecturer on employment law at Harvard Law School (“that was fun!”), but he wasn’t allowed to stay on campus long enough to say hi to Jim Ryan. Hannum was also named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer for the third year in a row for labor and employment law, “but I still haven’t received my cape. Life is busy, and good.”
Brent M. Milgrom, Jr., has been named in North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2007 in the area of real estate law. He currently practices at Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein in Charlotte, N.C.
Jennifer Conway Sharkey and Edward E. Sharkey ’93 are pleased to announce the birth of Frederick Conway Sharkey on December 12, 2005. Frederick joins sisters Annie (8 years) and Elizabeth (5 years). The family resides in Bethesda, Md.
Cynthia Shepherd Torg and husband Jay are pleased to announce the birth of their second son, Daniel Christopher, born April 2006. Daniel joins big brother Will in their new home in Arlington, Va. Also in the spring of 2006, Cynthia published “Human Trafficking Enforcement in the United States” in the Tulane Journal of Comparative and International Law.
In January, Douglas Michael Towns, a partner in Jones Day’s Atlanta office, received the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service from the State Bar of Georgia and the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism.
The award recognizes lawyers and judges who have combined a professional career with outstanding service and dedication to their communities through voluntary participation in community organizations, government-sponsored activities, and humanitarian work. Towns volunteers with Angel Flight of Georgia, a nonprofit organization providing free air transportation to and from distant treatment facilities for those medically or financially in need. He has served as Georgia counsel for Angel Flight for four years and has made countless missions for those seeking medical treatment, as well as daily flights to provide help amidst the aftermath of Katrina. Towns, along with his firm, has also helped protect and advocate for the legal rights of special needs children in Atlanta through the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation.
Richard P. Winegardner was elected a partner with Barnes & Thornburg in Indianapolis, where he is a member of the labor and employment department, providing advice on labor and employment to a broad client base.
In November, Michael C. Wu was appointed general counsel of Rosetta Stone, creator of the world’s number-one
language learning program. Wu will be based in the company’s Washington, D.C., office, where he will continue to build on his 15 years of experience providing legal counsel to international corporations. Prior to his appointment, Wu spent more than seven years at Teleglobe International Holdings Ltd., of Montreal, Canada, and Reston, Va. Wu currently resides in McLean, Va.
1993
John Faust currently lives in Bethesda, Md. with his wife, Catherine E. Stetson ’94, and their daughters Lucy, 6, and Caroline, 3.
Lisa Baer Fuerst and her husband, Jeffrey, announce the birth of their daughter, Ellen Joan, on January 22. She is their first child.
Hilda Gurley- Highgate joined Dykema’s Detroit office as a senior associate in the environmental practice group. Before this new position, Gurley-Highgate was an assistant corporation counsel, department of environment, for Wayne County, where she counseled the government agency responsible for enforcement of environmental laws.
The Honorable Daniel P. Jordan III was confirmed over the summer as the newest justice for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
In August, George Kliavkoff was named NBC Universal’s first chief digital officer. In this position, Kliavkoff will be responsible for furthering the company’s digital media strategy and developing new business models and markets. Before taking this role at NBC, Kliavkoff was the Executive Vice President of Business for Major League Baseball Advance Media.
Thomas C. McThenia is of counsel at Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed. McThenia’s strong background in intellectual property, technology and software, Internet law, licensing and sports, media and entertainment law makes him a key player in the firm’s corporate and business law practice. Before taking on this new position, McThenia served as in-house IP, technology and entertainment counsel for Campus Crusade for Christ at its international headquarters in Orlando, Fla.
Edward E. Sharkey and Jennifer Conway Sharkey ’92 are pleased to announce the birth of Frederick Conway Sharkey on December 12, 2005. Frederick joins sisters Annie (8 years) and Elizabeth (5 years). The family resides in Bethesda, Md. In
November, Dickstein Shapiro announced the election of Andrew L. Snowdon as of counsel to its Washington, D.C., office in the government law and strategy group. Snowden will focus his practice on government investigations, with an emphasis on congressional investigations and hearings.
In a September press release, C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., announced the launch of a government relations federal strategy consulting firm, Monument Policy Group, which will provide its clients with a “well-rounded approach” to government affairs and federal marketing strategy. Before starting the Monument Policy Group, Verdery served as a principal at Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, a government relations firm.
1994
Meredith (Shackelford) Jeffries has joined the inaugural faculty as a professor at the new Charlotte School of Law (www.charlottelaw.org). Meredith and her husband, John, live in Charlotte with their three children, Sarah (10), Emily (7), and Jake (2).
Catherine E. Stetson has been named to The American Lawyer’s “Fab Fifty,” a list of 50 litigation rising stars age 45 and under. Cate is a partner with Hogan & Hartson in Washington, D.C., where she specializes in appellate litigation. She lives in Bethesda, Md., with her husband, John Faust ’93, and their daughters Lucy (6) and Caroline (3).
1995
Trey Cox successfully represented the world’s largest wind farm in a lawsuit filed by opponents who claimed the wind power facility created a private nuisance. Cox, a partner with Lynn Tillotson & Pinker in Dallas, represented FPL Energy in the case decided by an Abilene, Texas, jury on December 19. The closely watched litigation represented the first Texas trial where a wind farm was alleged to be a nuisance.
Shelton Harrison has patented a new way to tell time. The newly patented TWELV system “breaks from centuries old tradition, dispensing altogether with the use of any hour hand or hour digit. Instead, each individual hour of the day is represented solely by one of twelve unique colors,” according to Gizmag. See Twelv time in action at www.twelv.com. Harrison is also involved in launching a “Web 2.0” search engine, Jatalla.com, which provides search results that are 100 percent user generated. Users submit votes that are counted along with other votes so that future users get a list of ranked URLs returned on their query.
After spending seven years supporting and managing CARE’s programs in Rwanda and, more generally, in Africa, Andrew Jones is back in the States. CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Jones is now part of the team in CARE’s Washington, D.C., office, looking to influence U.S. government policy and programs.
Kenneth Krisko, a business attorney, was elected partner at Cooley Godward Kronish in Reston, Va. His practice focuses on the representation of public and private life sciences companies in a broad range of commercial and corporate finance matters.
Katie Redford was inducted as an Ashoka Global Fellow for her creative use of the courts in fighting for victims of abuse as EarthRights International’s U.S. office director and co-founder. Katie is one of 18 social entrepreneurs from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico who were inducted into international fellowship by Ashoka: Innovators for the Public.
Douglas D. Timmer has joined the law department of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company in Milwaukee as an assistant general counsel and assistant secretary on the investments-securities team. Doug previously was a partner with Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago.
1996
Steve Adams and his wife, Tracy Welch, had their second daughter, Amanda Welch Adams, in April 2006. Corry Andrews and Barton Biggs welcomed twin girls Harper Anya and Marley Michaela, in October. Harper and Marley join big sister, Ailey. The family currently lives in Nelson County, Va.
Damian Capozzola and Stacey Myers ’97 were panelists in the February 2 “Technology and Discovery” session at Thomson-West Publishing’s annual national sales meeting in Phoenix. Speaking to an audience of roughly 400 members of Thomson-West’s sales and marketing force, they discussed how they use technology in their respective litigation practices, and how their practices have evolved with advancing technology. Damian is a litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Los Angeles, and was the large law firm representative on the panel. Stacey, a shareholder in Resolution Law Group, practices environmental law from Washington, D.C., and represented medium and small firms.
John W. Chapas is a new partner in the business and regulatory department of Reed Smith’s Pittsburgh office. Reed Smith is a top-20 international law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers located in 13 U.S. and 4 European cities.
Mohammed Hill and his wife, Esther Cheung, welcomed their first child, Madelyn Elena, into the family on November 9. The family continues to reside in Piedmont, Calif.
John Lariccia has been promoted to partner at Bain & Company’s Atlanta office. Lariccia joined Bain’s Atlanta office in 2000 and has worked in the firm’s London and San Francisco offices. He is a partner in the consumer products, technology, media and telecommunications, and private equity practices. His areas of expertise include growth strategy, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence and sales force effectiveness. Along with his position as partner, Lariccia is responsible for the Atlanta office’s associate consultant recruiting.
Matt Larsen became partner in the Dallas office of Baker Botts in January. His practice focuses on state and local taxation.
Scott A. Surovell and Erinn M. Madden welcomed Colin Samuel Surovell to the world on September 26. Colin joins Eva (6), Leia (4), and Mara (2). Scott was also named a 2007 Virginia Rising Star in family law by Virginia Super Lawyer. Surovell continues to practice civil, commercial, and criminal litigation in Northern Virginia with fellow Law School alumni, Robert J. Surovell ’69, David M. Levy ’70, David J. Fudala ’79, J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen ’94, and Brian F. Chandler ’01, in the firm of Surovell Markle Isaacs & Levy in Fairfax.
1997
Tag Birge has recently been promoted to Midwest regional director for Lauth Property Group, a national development
company based in Indianapolis.
Brian W. Byrd, an attorney at Smith Moore in Greensboro, N.C., was recently recognized in Business North Carolina’s 2007 “Legal Elite” for his work in real estate law.
Yost Conner was elected to the partnership at Patton Boggs. Resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, Yost has a national and international practice in commercial real estate transactions.
Deborah Gramiccioni, assistant chief of the fraud section, criminal division, at the U.S. Department of Justice, was named by TRACE International as the organization’s vice president for corporate compliance. Gramiccioni sees her new position as a chance to be proactive in reducing international bribery and corrupt business practices.
Christopher P. Keefe was elected to partnership in Nixon Peabody’s Boston office. Keefe represents buyers and sellers in private and public company mergers and acquisitions. He also represents funds and companies in private equity, venture capital, and asset-based finance transactions. Keefe leads the firm’s ongoing involvement with the Harvard Business School Association of Boston and serves as pro bono counsel to the Massachusetts Governor’s Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports.
In February, DLA Piper made Elisha King a partner in its labor and employment practice group. King is an employment lawyer focusing on trial and appellate litigation, and counseling on compliance with federal and state employment laws. She has tried multiple cases involving non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, and professional liability.
Stacey Myers and Damian Capozzola ’96 were panelists in the February 2 “Technology and Discovery” session at Thomson-West Publishing’s annual national sales meeting in Phoenix. Speaking to an audience of roughly 400 members of Thomson-West’s sales and marketing force, they discussed how they use technology in their respective litigation practices, and how their practices have evolved with advancing technology. Stacey, a shareholder in Resolution Law Group, practices environmental law from Washington, D.C., and represented medium and small firms. Damian is a litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Los Angeles, and was the large law firm representative on the panel. (photo page 68)
Constance Pendleton was made a partner with Davis Wright Tremaine. Connie practices media/First Amendment law and litigation in DWT’s Washington, D.C., office. She represents broadcasters, newspapers, and book and magazine publishers in defamation, privacy, newsgathering torts, reporter’s privilege, and other First Amendment matters. DWT secured a #1 national ranking in the areas of media law and First Amendment in The Best Lawyers in America.
Andrew T. Vedder has joined the law department of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company as an assistant general counsel and assistant secretary on the investments-securities team. Andrew previously was a senior counsel with Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee, where he focused on commercial lending and other finance transactions.
1998
Peter Bowden recently left law for investment banking, joining the global energy group of Morgan Stanley as a vice president. Based in Houston, Peter is one of three officers of the firm who cover master limited partnerships and midstream energy companies.
On September 26, John A. Chiocca and his wife, Rochelle, welcomed their second child (but first daughter) Mia Raven, into the world. Big brother Camber, who was two in February, is thrilled with the new addition to the family. John and Rochelle are law partners with the firm Chiocca & Chiocca in West Palm Beach, Fla.
William “Evan” Fultz has been named a partner in the Raleigh, N.C., office of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein. Fultz is a member of the business law practice group and concentrates his practice in intellectual property law.
At the start of this year, Lisa Pugh was named a partner by Faegre & Benson, one of the 100 largest law firms in the country. Pugh is a member of the corporate practice in the Minneapolis office, where she focuses on federal and state tax law.
Rachel Sheridan is an associate at Latham & Watkins’ Singapore office, where she practices corporate law with a focus on corporate finance and securities laws, representing investment banks andissuers in capital market transactions.
1999
Melissa Ballengee Alexander has been named a member at Boult, Cummings, Conners & Berry in Nashville, Tenn. Alexander joined the firm in 2000 after a federal clerkship. Her commercial litigation practice focuses on intellectual property, franchise, and health care issues.
Scott S. Brown was named a new shareholder at Maynard Cooper & Gale. Brown practices in the firm’s general litigation and securities litigation practice groups and focuses on defending corporate entities as well as individuals against claims of breach of contract, fraud, and business torts, including civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) claims.
After graduation, Olivier Catherine (LL.M.) spent three years at Sullivan & Cromwell, first in the New York office, then Paris. Catherine then decided to move to French gas company Gaz de France in September 2002. He first joined the exploration-production division, which afforded him the opportunity to do business with countries such as Kazakhstan, Libya, Ukraine, and Egypt. “This was definitely intense and challenging, especially since until that point, they were a 100 percent state owned company,” he writes. Catherine transferred to the supply and trading division of the company in October 2006 as senior counsel. Besides work, Catherine “was delighted to meet up with many old friends” at his five-year reunion at the Law School in 2004. He still sees a good number of J.D. and LL.M. alumni, especially after his recent trip to the U.S. and during his summer holiday in Greece. He encourages everyone coming to Paris to contact him!
Stephanie Chandler was recently made a partner in the business transactions section of Jackson Walker’s San Antonio office. She is head of the firm’s technology section and a member of the Internet law group. In October, Chandler was selected as a new member of the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Engineering advisory council.
Marc Douglas Glenn, a senior associate in the real estate group of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy, was recently honored in Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for 2006. Marc was also honored as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2005. Rising Stars are chosen by their peers as being among the top up-and-coming lawyers in the state. Marc is also the honorary vice consul of Iceland, and was featured in an article in the 2006 edition of the Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star’s publication titled “A Hotlantan in Iceland,” regarding his real estate practice and his work for the government and the people of Iceland.
Kristine Havlik and Frank Lenz announce the birth of their daughter, Emma Louise, on September 13. Emma was welcomed by her big brother, Cameron. Kris is employed as an attorney at Foley & Lardner, and the family resides in Waukesha, Wis.
Kelly Riordan Horwitz and her husband, Paul, became the proud parents of a daughter, Samantha Hope, born January 27 in Los Angeles.
Nikole Mergo is now a member of Nexsen Pruet in its Columbia, S.C., office. Mergo focuses on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on employment litigation defense, antitrust, unfair business practices, and professional malpractice defense.
Ross, Dixon & Bell announced in January that Erik Pritchard was elected partner. Pritchard practices in the firm’s Orange County, Calif., office. Since joining the firm in 1999, Pritchard has maintained a diverse litigation practice in state and federal courts.
Riley H. Ross left the Federal Public Defender Office in Norfolk, Va., and joined Miller, Alfano & Raspanti in Philadelphia to practice white-collar criminal defense. His wife, Teressa Ravenell (daughter of Law School Professor Mildred Robinson), is a law professor at Villanova Law School.
Anthony Russell has been named to Virginia’s “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business Magazine. The Virginia “Legal Elite” are chosen through a survey conducted by Virginia Business and the Virginia Bar Association. This year, more than 7,000 lawyers were polled to nominate lawyers in 13 categories who have demonstrated exceptional levels of expertise in their areas of practice. Russell is a lawyer with Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore in Roanoke, Va.
Scott Spence recently joined Interpol in Lyons, France, as the biocriminalization project manager. He will be assisting Interpol member states with legislation to prohibit and prevent the misuse of biological agents and toxins. More information about this new project can be found at www.interpol.int/Public/BioTerrorism/bioC/default.asp. Spence was also cited in a Nuclear Threat Initiative article focusing on Interpol’s push for strong antibioterror laws. Spence formerly worked as an attorney in the office of the legal advisor at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. His partner of nearly nine years continues to work in The Hague.
