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1990
Karl Bazin retired from the FBI in 2019 after more than 20 years of service.
James A. McLaughlin’s second novel was published on April 4 by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan. “Panther Gap” garnered some attention from fellow alumni writers. McLaughlin wrote that the book’s cover received a “generous blurb from fellow UVA Law grad and ace novelist David Baldacci ’86. And the talented novelist Heather Young ’91 provided a wonderful blurb on the back cover.” The launch party occurred in April at King Family Vineyard in Crozet, Va. “Bearskin,” McLaughlin’s first novel, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. In 2018, McLaughlin was named one of “4 Writers to Watch This Summer” by The New York Times.
Stan Perry was asked to join Kids in Need of Defense’s National Pro Bono Strategic Advisory Group. The group’s mission is to increase attorney commitment as KIND starts its 16th year, ensuring that child immigrants fleeing violence, neglect and abuse have pro bono counsel. Perry is a partner with Reed Smith in Houston and is the global director of the firm’s pro bono and community service efforts.
1992
Spilman Thomas & Battle partner Clifford F. Kinney Jr. joined the International Association of Defense Counsel, one of the most respected legal organizations in the world. The IADC is an invitation-only association for lawyers and insurance executives representing corporate and insurance interests worldwide. At Spilman, Kinney chairs the chemical, medical monitoring, product liability and toxic tort practice groups. He also serves as co-chair of the firm’s high-stakes litigation strike force.
James F. Lang was named in 2024 Best Lawyers of America as a lawyer of the year in the field of energy law in Cleveland. Lang has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in the fields of energy law since 2021, energy regulatory law since 2022, municipal litigation since 2023 and commercial litigation this year. Lang was named to Chambers USA 2023 in energy and natural resources, Band 1, in Ohio.
The Asian American Bar Association of New York honored Michael C. Wu with its Corporate Leadership Award. Wu, chief legal officer and corporate secretary for Bath & Body Works, has helped “pave the way and advance the AAPI community in the legal and corporate spheres,” according to the AABA.
Wu joined Bath & Body Works in 2021, after serving as chief legal officer and corporate secretary for Madewell, a division of J. Crew, where he drove the company’s preparation for an initial public offering and spin-off. He previously served as general counsel at Carter’s, a leading children’s apparel brand; Rosetta Stone, an education technology software company; and Teleglobe, an international telecommunications company.
1993
Shane Cobb wrote, “It is with deep sadness that I share the news that our classmate Jon Goldberg died suddenly in Denver [on] June 19, a day before his 57th birthday. He leaves his loving wife, Megan, and adored sons, Owen and Sebby. Jon was an original—funny, smart, big-hearted and loyal. He was passionate about music, skiing, rugby and the outdoors. He had many talents, all worn lightly. He worried about everything—big and small—but especially his family and friends. He loved underdogs. While unable to attend our recent 30th reunion, Jon cherished his time at UVA and the many friendships he made there.” A celebration of Goldberg’s life was held in September.
1995
Rhonda Quagliana was named a member of the Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s Influential Women of Law for 2023. Each year, the Influential Women of Law recognizes a select group of women for their contributions to the legal profession.
Quagliana is a trial attorney and partner with MichieHamlett in Charlottesville. Her practice concentrates on criminal defense, and she has represented litigants in some of the most high-profile cases in Virginia. In addition to her J.D., Quagliana holds her doctorate from UVA and serves as an adjunct faculty member, teaching federal criminal trial practice. She has also taught trial advocacy at the Law School.
Joel H. Trotter testified before Congress on the bipartisan success story of the JOBS Act of 2012, focusing on provisions related to initial public offerings, of which he was a principal author. Trotter is a partner at Latham & Watkins in Washington, D.C.
Way ’96 Sworn In as Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
Tahesha Way ’96 was sworn in as lieutenant governor of New Jersey on Sept. 8. She was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy after Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver died Aug. 1.
New Jersey’s lieutenant governors are first in the line of succession to governor and serve as acting governor when the governor is out of state or unable to serve.
Way will continue to serve as secretary of state, a position she’s held since 2018. Way became the first Black person and first secretary of state from New Jersey to lead the National Association of Secretaries of State as president in 2022-23.
“I come to this position as the child of two public servants who molded me into the person I am today,” Way said in a statement. “Having experience at different levels of government has showed me the important role that those of us in public office can play in improving the lives of families across our state.”
Prior to joining the Murphy administration, Way was an administrative law judge for the state of New Jersey. In 2006, she was elected to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders and served as the freeholder director in 2009. She served as special counsel for the Passaic County Board of Social Services, overseeing all agency litigation. She also served as a councilmember for the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council.
Way is former president of the Women Empowered Democratic Organization of Passaic County and served on the board of directors for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
“Tahesha has been with our administration from the very beginning, and her work over the past five and a half years leading the Department of State has grown New Jersey’s tourism economy, uplifted small businesses, and strengthened our election system,” Murphy said in a statement. “Tahesha is the perfect candidate to join me in finishing the job that Sheila and I started.” Way earned her bachelor’s degree from Brown University.
—Mike Fox
1998
Neale T. Johnson was elected to the governing committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law. He will serve a three-year term, which began Sept. 1. As co-chair of Fox Rothschild’s litigation department in Greensboro, N.C., Johnson focuses his practice on empowering construction industry stakeholders to solve challenging legal problems.
1999
Riley H. Ross III, a partner at Mincey Fitzpatrick Ross in Philadelphia, began a three-year term as a zone governor on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors in May.
At the PBA, Ross is a Civil and Equal Rights Committee member and served as its chair from 2018-20. In 2021, Ross received the PBA Civil and Equal Rights Champion Award, which honors an individual who champions civil rights in Pennsylvania by making a significant impact through constitutional advocacy, legislative acts or advocacy, or individual representation and development of case law.
Ross also serves on the following boards of directors: ACLU of Pennsylvania as vice president; No Longer Bound; Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania; Defenders Association of Philadelphia as secretary; the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia Advisory Board; Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Hearing Committee; and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Criminal Rules Committee. He is a member of the executive committee of the Federal Criminal Law Committee of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Janell Ahnert was elected a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers’ 2023 class. Ahnert is a shareholder with Littler Mendelson in Birmingham, Ala. Her practice encompasses all facets of employment law, specifically in the representation of management in both employment counseling and litigation.
