Mary Wood

UVA Lawyer recently caught up with alumni 5, 10, 15 and 25 years out of Law School, including Jianne D. McDonald ’19, Simon Cataldo ’14, Frank Saviano ’09 and Julie Mitchell Newlands ’99.

5

Jianne D. McDonald
Photo by Ashley Hylbert

Jianne D. McDonald ’19

Associate, K&L Gates
Nashville, Tennessee

Describe your work: I work in K&L Gates’ health care and FDA group. I specialize in advising a wide range of clients in the health care industry. My work includes structuring arrangements to comply with various regulatory requirements, including state and federal fraud and abuse laws, HIPAA [federal health privacy laws], and licensure requirements. I’m also routinely brought in as a specialist for large health care provider transactions and white-collar investigation matters. I participate in a pro bono adoption program my firm has with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, through which our office handles all their adoption cases.

What activities do you enjoy outside of work? I enjoy traveling with my husband, gardening (or my attempts at gardening) and exploring new restaurants here in Nashville. We have a wonderful community in our neighborhood and at our local gym, so it’s exciting to continue cultivating new relationships.

Are you where you expected to be at this stage of your career and life? In life? Absolutely. In terms of my career, not at all. I did not envision myself at a large law firm five years after law school. I’m truly enjoying the work that I do, and my colleagues have made the past five years a great experience.

What do you like about your life 5 years after law school? I love practicing law in my hometown. I love driving around the city and seeing the growth that has taken place. Most importantly, I love the impact I’ve been able to make in the Nashville community through my board service and volunteer work with local nonprofit organizations. One of the main reasons I decided to return to Nashville after law school was to participate and give back to the community that helped shaped me into the person I am today.

10

Simon Cataldo
Photo by Ed Feather

Simon Cataldo ’14

State Representative, Massachusetts’ 14th Middlesex District
Counsel, Ashcroft
Concord, Massachusetts

Describe your work: I’m serving my first term as a state representative in Massachusetts’ 14th Middlesex District. The job is a combination of legislating, constituent service and, of course, politics. Campaigning as a political newcomer in a competitive primary was really tough — less so with the support of my UVA Law classmates! — but the job is amazing once you’re elected. Being a state legislator in Massachusetts bears almost no resemblance to my (admittedly outsider) impression of U.S. Congress. I have positive relationships with my colleagues in both political parties and many of the most important laws we’ve passed on maternal health, long-term care, privacy, economic development and more have enjoyed bipartisan support. This October, House Speaker Ron Mariano appointed me as the chair of Massachusetts’ first Commission to Combat Antisemitism. I am also the speaker’s appointee to the state’s Restorative Justice Advisory Committee, where I’m applying my experience as a federal prosecutor and former middle school teacher. I serve on the legislature’s committees on Financial Services, Labor and Workforce Development, and Mental Health.

What activities do you enjoy outside of work? Coaching little league baseball is No. 1. (We have three sons, the oldest of whom is 6.) Concord is an incredible community in which to raise a family, and I’ve relished allowing parenthood to completely dominate this stage of our lives.

Are you where you expected to be at this stage of your career and life? I’ve had two jobs I thought I’d do forever. First, teaching in Harlem, and second, serving as a prosecutor for the U.S. Justice Department. I did not expect to run for office, but I’m so glad I did and feel very honored to serve my hometown community in this fashion.

What do you like about your life 10 years after law school? Fatherhood and being Chessie’s (also UVA Law ’14) husband are far and away the best things about my life. I feel like we’re living the lives we’re meant to live right now. I feel very grateful for that.


15

Frank Saviano
Photo by Samuel Stuart

Frank Saviano ’09

Partner, Latham & Watkins
New York

Describe your work: I am a partner at Latham & Watkins in the Entertainment, Media and Sports group. My practice focuses on advising clients on complex transactions in the sports industry. A significant portion of my work is M&A-based, working with clients buying, selling or investing in professional sports teams, leagues or other companies within the sports industry.

What activities do you enjoy outside of work? My wife, Carly [’07], and I have two children, Frankie, 12, and Ella, 9, who are very active participants in youth sports. So I spend most of my weekends at youth soccer, football and lacrosse games. In the winter, we spend a lot of time skiing as a family in Vermont.

Are you where you expected to be at this stage of your career and life? After graduating from law school, I didn’t know how long I would end up practicing at a law firm, let alone how the sports industry would evolve during that time — especially with pro franchises worth billions of dollars and the interest for private equity investments. It’s been a lot of fun participating in the growth of the sports industry and developing an expertise.

What do you like about your life 15 years after law school? I like that I am able to practice law both in an industry that is interesting and that I’m passionate about, while being able to do it in private practice at an incredible firm. I genuinely enjoy what I do and am grateful for the opportunities my UVA Law degree have provided me.


25

Julie Mitchell Newlands
Photo by Bill Petros

Julie Mitchell Newlands ’99

Partner, Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner
Washington, D.C.

Describe your work: I represent individuals and their families in civil cases involving serious injury or wrongful death. With a great team of litigators who include my father, Gerry Mitchell [’69], and my brother Denis Mitchell (College ’96), I pursue compensation for victims of personal injury and medical malpractice. We have cases in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and our work is challenging and never dull. It is an honor to accompany people through some of the most difficult times in their lives and go to bat for them.

What activities do you enjoy outside of work? I love walking, running and hiking with my dog. We live near Rock Creek Park, which we explore enthusiastically all year round. I also enjoy spiritual reading and participating in many aspects of our church community. My husband and I are fortunate to have a very large and close-knit extended family, most of whom live nearby, and we also enjoy spending time with friends.

Are you where you expected to be at this stage of your career and life? To the extent that I had some expectation of practicing civil personal injury law after working summers in my dad’s office growing up, then career-wise, yes. I shifted to plaintiff’s civil work after an unexpected criminal law chapter, first as a prosecutor in Fairfax County (alongside esteemed UVA Law ’99 classmates Steve Shannon and Jay Nanavati) and later as a defense attorney. Other “unexpecteds” include getting married at age 43, being smitten with an 8-year-old lab/hound mix, and pursuing international adoption. I’m very grateful for God’s providence.

What do you like about your life 25 years after law school? See above! A perspective and grounding that is very different from when I was in my 20s. A sense of purpose and hopeful adventure. My husband and I laugh a lot together and enjoy the simple things. Lately we are working on our Spanish in preparation for an upcoming trip to Colombia to finalize the adoption of a wonderful teenage boy whom we hosted in our home last summer.

Media Contact