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1981
David Grace was recognized as a leading lawyer in National Trademark Prosecution and Strategy, as well as in California's Trademark Prosecution and Strategy, and California Trademark Enforcement and Litigation. Grace is a partner with Loeb & Loeb in Los Angeles.
C. Steve Mason was recognized in Chambers USA in the areas of real estate and real estate finance. Mason practices with Smith Anderson in Raleigh, N.C.
1982
Jack Ross continues to teach courses on constitutional law and the Supreme Court and facilitate a Supreme Court discussion group at Assumption University in Worcester, Mass., calling it a "pleasant diversion" from his career as a tax lawyer in Washington, D.C. Ross returns to Charlottesville regularly to visit his father and son (UVA '15).
Avery Tillinghast “Sandy” Waterman Jr. has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for 17 consecutive years for two practice areas, plaintiff-side personal injury litigation and plaintiff-side medical malpractice law. His Best Lawyers peers voted him "Lawyer of the Year" for three of the past four years and six of the last 10 for Southeast Virginia. He also has been named to Virginia Super Lawyers for 15 consecutive years and is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2010.
After 32 years as a senior partner, Waterman founded his own law practice in Williamsburg, Waterman Law Centers, with offices in Newport News and Hampton, Va. U.S. News & World Report consistently recognizes Waterman Law Centers as a Tier 1 Metropolitan Best Law Firm for plaintiffs' personal injury and medical malpractice claims. Waterman has no plans to retire.
1983
Mark Davidson was recognized in Chambers USA in corporate mergers and acquisitions. Davidson practices with Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard in Greensboro, N.C.
After 39 years of law practice in Virginia, Patrick O. Gottschalk retired as a partner from Williams Mullen in Richmond in July. Gottschalk served as secretary of commerce and trade in Gov. Tim Kaine's Cabinet from 2006-10. More recently, he served as chair of ChamberRVA, the greater Richmond area chamber of commerce, from 2018-19.
David T. Maloof was featured in the 2021 book, "Dooley Noted," a collection of biographies of prominent Rhode Islanders. Maloof was featured for his work in promoting peace in the Middle East. Maloof specializes in international transportation law with Maloof & Browne in Rye, N.Y.
Jeff Oleynik was recognized in Chambers USA in the areas of antitrust and bankruptcy restructuring. Oleynik practices with Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard in Greensboro, N.C.
Craig Owen White is the newest chairman of the board of trustees of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Ohio's largest land trust. White manages the Cleveland office of Hahn Loeser & Parks. His practice focuses on representing and counseling established and growth-oriented companies in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, enterprise governance, financing and licensing issues, both domestically and internationally.
White, who lives in Russell Township, lectures internationally on issues of global commerce and enterprise governance, delivering an annual series in sub-Saharan Africa, including Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. He also is the immediate past chair of the Trade Advisory Committee on Africa, a congressionally mandated committee advising the U.S. trade representative on U.S. trade policy vis-à-vis sub-Saharan Africa. He is also the immediate past vice chair of the International Senior Lawyers Project, an internationally acclaimed provider of pro bono legal services in developing countries in support of the rule of law and equitable economic development.
The Western Reserve Land Conservancy works on major conservation, restoration and construction projects for the region.
1985
Atlanta History Center President and CEO Sheffield Hale was awarded the Governor's Award for Arts and Humanities for his lifetime commitment to history and historic preservation in the state of Georgia.
Since joining the center in 2012, Hale has pursued landmark projects and initiatives, including the move of The Battle of Atlanta cyclorama to a newly constructed facility at the institution's Buckhead campus and the creation of the Confederate Monument Interpretation Guide, which offered research support to communities around the country.
Hale leads the center after a career in corporate and nonprofit law. As a young adult inspired by the passion and involvement of his parents, Anne Sheffield Hale and Bradley Hale, he took an interest in history and historic preservation. After majoring in history at the University of Georgia and earning his law degree, he pursued a career as partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton and later as chief counsel at the American Cancer Society. But he continued to develop his passion for history through statewide causes and organizations.
His civic involvement over the years includes, among other things, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Fox Theatre and Fox Theatre Institute, the University of Georgia Press, University of Georgia Jere Morehead Honors College and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He also chaired the city's advisory committee on monuments and street names associated with the Confederacy and as chair of the state's judicial nominating commission.
Hale also plays an active role in community revitalization efforts around Atlanta through the lens of historic preservation. He received the Sweet Auburn Works Preservation Champion Award in 2016 and currently serves on the board of the organization.
Kent K. Reynolds of St. Louis died March 12. Following law school, where he served on the editorial board of the Virginia Journal of International Law, Reynolds began his career on Wall Street as a securities attorney with Hawkins Delafield & Wood. In 1994, he became an investment banker with A.G. Edwards & Sons, where he also spent time as an equity analyst. Later, Reynolds led the trust department of Midwest BankCentre before joining U.S. Trust in 2006. He then transitioned to JPMorgan's Private Bank. In 2019, Reynolds became the executive vice president of Duncker Streett & Co., a wealth management firm.
Reynolds supported and served on numerous boards of charitable organizations in the community. He was a supporter and past president of Dance St. Louis. His classmate and longtime friend, Boyce E. Brannock, wrote, "Kent's self-deprecating manner and keen humor equipped him as a masterful communicator who forged fast friendships and lasting memories."
Elizabeth Corr Smedley is currently living the semiretired life on a farm in Rappahannock County, Va., with her husband, Danny Smedley. Two adult children also live on the farm, Curt (with wife, Jill) and Emily. Her youngest son is doing an internship gap year with law school plans.
1986
David J. Toscano wrote his second book on state politics, "Bellwether: Virginia's Political Transformation, 2006-2020." Toscano served seven terms in the Virginia House of Delegates' 57th District until his retirement in 2020. He was the Democratic Leader in that body from 2011-19. Toscano's Charlottesville practice specializes in family law and real estate.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan named E. Gregory Wells chief judge of Maryland's intermediate appellate court, the Court of Special Appeals, in February. Wells is the first African American to serve as chief judge of the court and is the first openly LGBTQ person to serve as chief judge of either of Maryland's appellate courts.
Wells has served on the court since 2019. Prior to his appointment, he was a judge on the Circuit Court for Calvert County, a judge on the District Court of Maryland for Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties, and a master for domestic relations and juvenile causes for Calvert County. Wells also served as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Office of the Attorney General and was the first African American to serve as Calvert County state's attorney.
1987
Kim Boyle was appointed to the Louisiana State Law Institute's employment law committee. Committee members act as advisers to the state's legislature, researching and recommending reforms and increasing the community's understanding of civil law. Boyle is a partner with Phelps Dunbar in New Orleans and practices in the areas of labor and employment, civil rights, constitutional law, and commercial, tort and general litigation.
Timothy Goettel was recognized in Chambers USA in the areas of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Goettel practices with Smith Anderson in Raleigh, N.C.
Katie Schwab, managing director of Cozen O'Connor's public strategies group in New York, was selected as a recipient of City & State magazine's Above & Beyond awards, recognizing women who exhibit exemplary leadership in their fields and have made important contributions to society in the sectors of business, public service, media, nonprofit and organized labor.
Schwab advises nonprofits, trade organizations and major corporations on how to build community support and navigate New York City's complex regulatory, legislative and procurement systems. Prior to joining Cozen O'Connor, she served in city government across three mayoral administrations, and as deputy commissioner for comprehensive planning for the Nassau County Planning Commission. She also served as the director of government and corporate affairs for Cemusa, an international street furniture and outdoor advertising company.
Dave Spiro was named to the Pro Bono Service Honor Roll by the Virginia Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission. Spiro practices primarily bankruptcy law with Spiro & Browne in Richmond.
David Sutherland was honored by the board of trustees of the National Debate Tournament with the 2021 Laurence H. Tribe Award for Excellence in Public Advocacy.
The award, named after 1961 NDT champion (and Harvard law professor) Laurence H. Tribe, is given annually to a tournament alumnus who has taken advocacy skills acquired through intercollegiate debate and become an exemplary public advocate who makes a real difference in the world.
Sutherland was a decorated debater for the University of Louisville from 1978-82. He qualified for the national tournament four times, reaching the semifinals in 1981 and winning in 1982.
Sutherland began his career in the financial industry, most notably serving in the U.S. Treasury Department and as Morgan Stanley's chief financial officer in the Asia Pacific region. In 1999, he became chair of the board of International Care Ministries, a nonprofit organization with a mission to bring innovative, holistic solutions to the wide range of needs faced by families living in ultra-poverty, or less than 50 cents per person a day.
During Sutherland's 23 years of leadership, the ICM team has successfully built a focused, effective, efficient and scalable set of solutions that have changed the lives of over 1.5 million individuals in the Philippines. In response to the COVID crisis, ICM pivoted to provide essential hunger relief to the poor in the Philippines, distributing over 14 million meals and providing essential COVID health education.
Randy Tinsley was recognized in Chambers USA in environmental law. Tinsley practices with Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard in Greensboro, N.C.
1988
Debra Sabatini Hennelly was interviewed by Maria Leonard Olsen, for Olsen's "Becoming Your Best Version" podcast.
Hennelly founded Resiliti in 2004 to provide ethical leadership, culture and compliance consulting and training to organizations. Hennelly is also an adjunct professor in Fordham University School of Law's Program on Corporate Ethics and Compliance. Her book, "Presence in Chaos: 365 Mindful Moments," contains inspiring daily quotes set against her original photography.
Randy Parks was appointed chair of the executive committee at Hunton Andrews Kurth. Parks succeeds George C. Howell III ’81.
Parks is recognized for his work in complex corporate transactions, especially enterprise information technology and outsourcing transactions, as well as corporate governance, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions. He has served as co-chair of the firm's corporate team, head of the global technology and outsourcing practice group, and co-chair of its retail and consumer products industry group.
Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor was one of two recipients of the 2022 Outstanding Jurist Award, selected based on their joint leadership of the court system during the pandemic. Taylor has served the Los Angeles superior and municipal courts for 21 years. He served as assistant presiding judge in 2018 and has been the presiding judge of the Superior Court since Jan. 1, 2021.
1989
Alumni Assume Federal Executive, Judicial Roles
In recent months, President Joe Biden chose several alumni to fill high-profile positions in the executive branch and in the courts, in roles that require Senate confirmations.
Executive Branch
Mary Boyle '91 was sworn in as commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in June. She was previously executive director of the CPSC and a member of the Senior Executive Service. Before joining the CPSC, Boyle developed affordable housing programs for the city of Gaithersburg, Maryland; worked in private practice at a major international law firm; and served on Capitol Hill as a staff member for Rep. Steve Solarz, and for the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
John Gleeson '80 and U.S. Judge Carlton W. Reeves '89 were confirmed in August to serve on the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Reeves is the first African American to chair the committee. Gleeson is a partner at Debevoise and Plimpton, where he has practiced since 2016. From 1994-2016, he served as a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of New York. He previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Reeves has served on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi since 2010. He was previously a partner at Pigott Reeves Johnson & Minor and served as chief of the Civil Division for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. Gleeson and Reeves are recipients of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Law.
Kevin Ritz '04 was confirmed as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee in September. He had served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee since 2005. He started in the narcotics unit and later held various leadership positions in the office, including serving as appellate chief and special counsel for over a decade. From 2020-21, he chaired the Tennessee Bar Association's Appellate Practice Section; he served as president of the Federal Bar Association's Memphis Chapter in 2017.
Pending Confirmations
Several more alumni have pending nominations as of press time. Updates will be posted in the next issue.
Robert Stewart Ballou '87 (Col '84) has been nominated to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Vijay Shanker '99 has been nominated to serve as a judge on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Jamar Walker '11 (Col '08) has been nominated to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
—Mike Fox
After 14 years, Deborah Platt Majoras is retiring from Proctor and Gamble. Majoras joined the global consumer goods company as senior vice president and general counsel in 2008 and was named chief legal officer and secretary in 2010. Previously, Majoras served as chair of the Federal Trade Commission, as a federal prosecutor and as a partner at Jones Day.
Joseph M. Perkins Jr. joined Indianapolis-based Citizens Energy Group as senior vice president and general counsel. Perkins oversees legal, regulatory and external affairs, human resources, health safety and security, internal audit and environmental stewardship.
