Class Notes - Archive

CLASS OF 1979

John Kirkpatrick was appointed secretary to the Board of Trustees of The Friends of Westchester County Parks. John, an attorney and city planner, is a partner of the White Plains law firm of Oxman, Tulis, Kirkpatrick, Whyatt & Geiger, LLP, and has more than 35 years of experience in land use planning and development. His practice focuses on land use and environmental law.

Peter B. Lijoijoined the Dallas-based firm of Fairfield Residential, LLC, in May 2006. As a senior area development partner, legal counsel, Peter is responsible for expansion in the New Jersey and New York Metro areas.

CLASS OF 1980

Anne B. Cahill is corporate secretary and principal attorney II of the New York Power Authority.


CLASS OF 1981

Robert W. Aronson, Esq. – IN MEMORIUM

Barry P. Biggar, recognized as a prominent lawyer who concentrates on structured financial products in both banking and capital markets, has joined King & Spalding, a leading international law firm, as a partner in its finance group. He will be resident in the firm’s New York office. Barry is a former partner with Allen & Overy LLP, and has been in practice for over 20 years and focuses on representing financial institutions in complex structured and asset-based financings. He has expertise in representing issuers, underwriters, and placement agents of registered 144A-eligible and privately placed debt securities. In addition, Barry specializes in aircraft finance transactions and represented Air 2 US in Airfinance Journal’s 1999 Deal of the Year and Iberia in the 2004 Deal of the Year. He has been identified by Airfinance Journal as one of the leading aviation lawyers in North America.

Steven I. Milligram was elected president of the Orange County Bar Association and chosen as a 2008-2009 Super Lawyer.  Steven was also appointed to the New York State Bar Association’s Council of Bar Leaders.

William W. Haury Jr. was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist in July 2008 to fill a vacancy on the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Broward County, Florida.


CLASS OF 1982

Allen Danzig was appointed vice president, assistant general counsel, and assistant secretary for L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) in February 2008.  Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs over 64,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aircraft modernization and maintenance.  Prior to his current role, Allen was assistant general secretary at Celanese Corp. 

John J. Rapisardi was one of two partners from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, one of the world’s leading law firms, to have written the first English-language treatise to be published on China’s new bankruptcy law, which went into effect on June 1, 2007. Published by Beard Books, The PRC Enterprise Bankruptcy Law: The People’s Work in Progress was co-written by John and Deryck Palmer, New York-based partners in the firm’s Financial Restructuring Department.


CLASS OF 1983

Patricia M. Blake received a degree of Ed.D. from Dowling College Department of Administration, Technology, and Leadership.

Harold E. Kaplan, M.H.A., a Florida board certified health law attorney in Coral Springs, Florida, recently spoke on “Avoiding Physician Practice Merger Failure” at the South Florida Medical Group Management Association/Broward County Medical Association joint meeting “Merging Medical Practices:  Opportunities and Challenges.”  He also recently published an article titled, “Are Referring Physicians Protectable Business Interests?” in the April 2008 issue of the Florida Bar Health Law Section’s e-newsletter. Harold was also named a 2008 Florida Super Lawyer.

Alexander Tognino, Esq. – IN MEMORIUM


CLASS OF 1984

Delores Scott Brathwaite was voted in as a member of the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) in October 2008. Delores’ outstanding work with human rights initiatives were an important factor for her appointment. Delores is also the first African-American to lead the Westchester County Human Rights Commission. In this capacity she is responsible for administering and enforcing the county’s human rights law.

Richard Fiorile, senior assistant district attorney for the Dutchess County DA’s Office, was sworn in as president of the Dutchess County Bar Association in April 2008. Rich’s daughter, Christine, also graduated from Pace Law School in May 2008.

Jeannette M. Gilbert was recently appointed chair of the CLE Committee of the State Bar of South Carolina. Jan is admitted to practice in New York and South Carolina and is associated with the nationally known law firm, Motley Rice, located in South Carolina. Jan practices in the asbestos personal injury and toxic tort area of law. Jan was formerly the dean of the Nassau County Bar Association and also served on that bar’s board of directors.

Lisa A. Linsky was appointed to the board of Lamdba Legal and was elected as board secretary. Lisa is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP where she is a member of the Trial Department. Her practice focuses on general business litigation including complex litigation, business investigations, client counseling, and environmental and toxic tort litigation.

Terry McCabe joined the equity sales and trading team of Piper Jaffray & Co. where he will co-manage New York equity sales trading. Terry joins the firm with over 20 years experience in the field and will work out of its New York office. Prior to his employment with Piper Jaffray, Terry was senior managing director at Bear Stearns & Co., leading a team of more than 30 traders with approximately 800 accounts.


CLASS OF 1985

Odalys Caridad Alonso has been working as the chief assistant district attorney in the Bronx DA’s Office since 2007.


CLASS OF 1986

Jeffrey D. Neuburger joined the firm of Proskauer Rose LLP as a partner in April 2008.   Jeffrey moved from Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP where he was chair of the Technology, Media, and Communications Department.  As head of the Technology, Media, and Communications practice group at Proskauer, Jeffrey advises clients with respect to complex arrangements and joint ventures, particularly in connection with digital distribution of content, e-commerce issues, cable and broadcast television, and other media distribution platforms. 


CLASS OF 1987

Kathleen P. Kettles traded a partnership to become of counsel at Wingate Russotti & Shapiro, LLP.  Kathleen’s work focuses on plaintiff’s medical malpractice, personal injury, and professional discipline representation.  She is a trained mediator and has completed advanced training in divorce mediation.  Kathleen hopes to grow her mediation practice in medical malpractice, family law, small business, and school conflict resolution.


CLASS OF 1989

Anthony B. Corleto accepted a position as partner in the Stamford, Connecticut, office of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP.  Anthony practices corporate law, litigation, intellectual property, municipal liability, and environmental law.

CLASS OF 1990

Susan M. Corcoran, a partner in the White Plains office of Jackson Lewis, will be the recipient of the Pro Bono Partnership’s Volunteer of the Decade Distinguished Service Award. Susan will receive her award on March 13 as part of the Pro Bono Partnership’s 10th anniversary celebration. The Partnership assists nonprofit organizations serving poor or disadvantaged individuals and families, civic groups, arts organizations, and environmental or conservation groups; provides a wide range of opportunities for attorneys in corporations and law firms to work on rewarding pro bono business and transactional matters; and particularly focuses on engaging volunteers from corporate legal departments. Susan’s community outreach efforts extend beyond the Pro Bono Partnership. She is a board member for Family Services of Westchester; serves on the council for SUNY Purchase; is a member of the New York and Connecticut Bar associations, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, and the Westchester Women’s Bar Association, where she is currently co-chair of its Employment Law Committee.

Marsha S. Holloman was promoted to health science policy advisor for the Safety Policy and Communications staff in the Office of the Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Silver Springs, Maryland.  Marsha joined the agency in 1999 as a regulatory project manager in the Division of Antiviral Products. 

Kevin F. Russo was appointed village justice for the Village of West Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York.

Harry M. Stokes was appointed inspector general for the City of Mount Vernon, New York. The Office of Inspector General for Mount Vernon was created in 2008 and is responsible for detecting, prosecuting, and deterring fraud, waste, and abuse in city government.


CLASS OF 1991

David F. Conca is working as the director of insurance for Time Warner in New York, New York. 

Richard A. De Palma has joined the law firm Thompson Hine LLP as a partner in the firm’s New York office. Richard, a member of the firm’s Business Litigation and Construction practice groups, focuses his practice on the trial and hearing of civil cases. He was formerly a principal with Baker & McKenzie LLP.

Eric D. Katz, senior partner at Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman, LLC, in Roseland, New Jersey, and class counsel for the plaintiff physician class consisting of approximately 60,000 physicians, recently achieved a groundbreaking legal victory with the final settlement approval of the class action lawsuit, John Ivan Sutter, M.D., et al. v. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. The settlement, approved by the New Jersey Superior Court and valued at more than $39 million, requires sweeping business reforms by New Jersey’s largest managed health-care organization that will enhance the efficiency and quality of the health-care delivery system for the state’s physicians and the over 3.2 million patients who participate in the plan.

Salvatore A. Lagonia was elected president of the Westchester County Bar Association. Salvatore was sworn in at the association’s annual banquet on May 8, 2008. Salvatore maintains a law practice with an office in Yorktown Heights, New York.


CLASS OF 1992

Matthew J. Byrne was appointed undergraduate adjunct professor of law at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York.  Matthew is also an adjunct professor at both Manhattan College and Dominican College.  In addition, he is part of the private practice of Balsamo, Byrne, Cipriani and Ellsworth in Suffern, New York.

Thomas Christopher was named director of Arbor Commercial Mortgage at their Darien, Connecticut, office.  As director, Thomas will be responsible for all of Arbor’s loan products including Fannie Mae, FHA, and CMBS.  Prior to joining Arbor, Thomas held the position of banker, sales manager, for Countrywide Commercial Real Estate Finance, where he was a founding member of the company’s Advantage Loan program.  As the number one sales producer in the nation, he originated 70 loans totaling $140 million within six months of production. 

Jody Fay is the manager and counsel of Liberty Title Agency, LLC, in White Plains, New York.


CLASS OF  1993

Renee Seblatnigg is the president of The Future of Newcomb College, Inc., a nonprofit organization funding a donor-intent lawsuit against Tulane University to restore H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, the oldest coordinate women’s college in a U.S. university.   The plaintiffs in this lawsuit are collateral descendants and successors of the founder, Josephine Louise Newcomb, and they seek to enforce the terms of their ancestor’s will, which gave her entire fortune to maintain the college.  Efforts from this case have resulted in new law in Louisiana Supreme Court on the issue of standing.

Alicia A. Weissmer-Marek and her husband, Jason, welcomed their first child, Brooke Gaetana Marek, on August 5, 2008.  Alicia is working as a court clerk specialist for the New York County’s Surrogate Court.


CLASS OF 1994

Brian L. Baker joined the law firm of McCarter & English LLP as a partner in its Commercial Litigation-Debtor/Creditor practice group.  Brian has focused on debtor-creditor law since 1995 and has been part of the successful reorganization of companies in the chemical, metal, retail, restaurant, temporary services, fashion, health care, and technology industries.  Prior to joining McCarter English, Brian was an attorney with McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP.

Elizabeth Citrin Pober has started her own practice in Daphne, Alabama. Elizabeth recently resolved a number of Hurricane Katrina cases in Alabama and Mississippi and settled a massive sewage spill case. 

Steven Riker was married on November 28, 2008, to Gloria Li, a project manager in the litigation support group of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.  Steven continues to maintain his own midtown Manhattan law practice, which specializes in commercial litigation, real estate, business law, and political asylum litigation.  The couple resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. 

Mattie D. Grady-Smith retired from Westchester government employment as EEO director and various other positions after 34 years of service. Mattie works as a certified mediator with the Unified Court System, as well as a certified lemon law arbitrator with the Office of the Attorney General.


CLASS OF 1995

Peter DiChiara joined Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP in April 2008. Peter’s practice is focused on corporate and securities law, advising private companies on going public, and private and public companies on issues of corporate finance, equity and debt financings, securities law compliance, Securities Exchange Act reporting, and general corporate matters. Prior to joining the firm, Peter had over 20 years of experience in the legal and financial industry, including with the nationally-recognized firms of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. Peter is also a certified public accountant and had been a manager for Ernst & Young and Philip Morris Companies (now Altria). He has additionally served on the boards of both publicly-traded and nonprofit entities and is currently the deputy mayor of the Village of Mount Kisco.

David French holds the position of vice president with the Dana Holding Corporation in Maumee, Ohio.

Frank J. LaRocca was named by the New Jersey Supreme Court to the District IIA Ethics Committee. 

Paul Piantino was recently promoted to the partnership at White and Williams. Paul is a partner in the Commercial Litigation Department and works out of the Paramus, New Jersey office. He concentrates in the area of civil litigation and trial practice. Paul has extensive litigation and trial experience on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants and has achieved well-publicized success for clients in a broad range of cases, including insurance coverage and bad faith, personal injury, professional malpractice, commercial and products, and aviation and marine matters.


CLASS OF 1996

Gerard Bilotto, PhD, is working as a partner in the New York office of Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C., where his practice focuses on intellectual property, corporate, and business law. Gerard has over a decade of experience in civil and patent litigation, focusing on biotechnology and pharmaceutical litigation, products liability litigation, commercial litigation involving polymers, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, and drug efficacy.

Capt. Barbara L. Duncan was appointed commander of Mt. Vernon, New York’s Special Operations Division in April 2008. Barbara, 42, filled the position left vacant by former police chief Joseph Pizzuti when he retired in April. She is the first woman appointed chief, but not the first to head the force. Barbara, a 19-year veteran of the force, has a law degree from Pace University and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Mercy College. She became a police officer in January 1989. She was promoted to sergeant in 1994, lieutenant in 2003, and captain two years ago. Barbara has been a patrol supervisor, personnel officer, commanding officer of the Training Unit, executive officer of the Support Services Division, and now with SOD, which includes Internal Affairs and Community Affairs.

Christine M. Hilla has been named special counsel to the New York office of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, a national law firm with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Christine concentrates in real estate transactions and specializes in the law of condominiums, cooperatives, and fractional ownership. She has expertise in matters relating to the planning, structuring, financing, development, formation, registration, and management of mixed-use, commercial, and residential developments in New York. She represents builders, lenders, and owners in fee and leasehold developments and she has extensive experience in contract negotiations, closings, construction, and brokerage issues.  Christine is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy Reserve and recently completed an overseas deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Michael (“Mark”) McIntosh Jr. is working as deputy general counsel for the White House Council on Environmental Quality in Washington, D.C.

John Williams has been promoted to director, Energy Analysis, at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).  Prior to joining NYSERDA, John was a policy analyst at the Pace Energy and Climate Center.  John visited the Law School’s campus on September 24 for a noontime brown bag lunch presentation as part of this year’s lecture series for environmental law students.


 

CLASS OF 1997

Todd R. Harris joined the law firm of Adorno & Yoss as a partner in their New York and New Jersey offices.  Todd’s practice focuses on insurance services including complex litigation and coverage disputes.

Denise T. O’Donnell was married on September 6, 2008, to Tom Walsh.  Denise has a private practice that concentrates on the areas of corporate law, transactional law, wills, trusts and estates, as well as real estate law.

Maureen Shea Whelan, Esq.  – IN MEMORIUM


CLASS OF 1998

Scott Anderson is working as an assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Darryl Carbonaro accepted the position of assistant general counsel with Bank of America, N.A., supporting one of the structured finance groups in their San Francisco office.  Darryl’s move followed nine years of private practice, first with White & Case LLP and then with Dechert LLP. 

Ralph J. Crispino joined the New York City law firm of Abelman, Frayne & Schwab as an associate. Ralph specializes on patent law.

Christopher Glaser is working as an associate in the Arlington, Virginia, law office of Bean Kinny & Korman. Christopher’s practice focuses on commercial and general civil ligation with a concentration in general business disputes, non-compete covenants, business dissolution, and real estate matters.
Keith M. Goldstein is a principal attorney at Lavelle & Finn, LLP, and director of the firm’s Private Equity and Strategic Business Counseling practice. Keith concentrates in counseling institutional and angel investors, wealthy family groups, issuers, founders and senior management in investment transactions, mergers and acquisitions, pre-event planning, strategic business development, joint ventures, buy-sell arrangements, executive compensation, and stock option planning.  In addition, Keith is a member of the adjunct faculty of Albany Law School and teaches corporate transactional practice.  Keith has authored several articles on topics of business law, which have been published in the Business Review and has lectured to the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Schenectady County Business Incubator, and other groups on legal matters. Keith is a member of the board of directors of The Arts Center of the Capital Region, the Rensselaer Gateway Development Corporation, and the Pace Law School Alumni Association, as well as the investment committee of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership.

Edwin L. Keating III was named partner at the Balitmore, Maryland, law firm Anderson Coe & King LLP in February 2008.  Edwin’s practice includes professional malpractice, professional licensing matters, commercial disputes, premises liability, and general civil litigation.    

Beverly Rogers, the founding partner of Rogers & Tartaro, LLP, recently celebrated the seventh year of her firm. The milestone was marked with a party in Ridgefield, Connecticut, attended by friends, clients, and local town officials. Rogers & Tartaro has offices in White Plains, New York, and Ridgefield and focuses on employment law, litigation, and estate planning.

Annette Y. Stewart recently did volunteer work for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.  She currently has a private practice in Fresh Meadows, New York.


CLASS OF 1999

Matthew Brotmann has recently accepted a new position as special advisor on policy and public information for the New York Attorney General’s Office. Since his graduation from Pace, he has worked as an assistant district attorney for Westchester County, while also making major contributions to the life of the Law School. Matthew is the co-founder and director of the Pace International Criminal Court Moot Competition, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary in January. This year, due to its successful record as the first-ever moot competition based on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the Pace Moot was selected by the American Society of International Law and the Government of the Netherlands as the North American Regional Round for the Pace/ICLN Moot, the final rounds for which will be held in The Hague in February.

Cinzia Cioffi is working as an associate in the law firm of Teich Groh in their Lawrenceville, New Jersey, office. Cinzia specializes in the practice areas of adoption, custody law, domestic violence law, and matrimonial law.

Lydia Cotz served as an attorney representing the Ramapough Indian tribe in a lawsuit involving a state park ranger being indicted on charges that he recklessly shot a Ramapough Indian in 2006 in Mahwah during a row over ATV riding. An indictment returned on September 18, 2008, charged the ranger with reckless manslaughter.

Donna Drumm joined Encore Discovery Solutions, a knowledge-based provider of electronic discovery and related services.  In her new role, Donna will act as a consultant responsible for advising Encore’s clients on best practices and effective solutions in electronic discovery, Web hosting, and related services.  Donna joins Encore’s team with more than seven years at Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP where she was involved in litigation for major international clients, as well as an additional 20 years experience in financial and consulting services. 

Lorraine Gallagher has been named partner in the White Plains office of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP.

Major Michael Andrew Salvatore Goba is presently stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.  Michael recently completed his eighth year as a U.S. Army JAG.  In addition, he completed his second tour in both Baghdad and Taji, Iraq.  Previously, Michael spent time as a JAG in Bosnia, Kosovo, and three years in Germany.

Joseph McGovern has been named partner in the White Plains office of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP.

Richard A. Nelke was named partner of the Paramus, New Jersey, law firm Melli Guerin & Wall in December 2007.  Richard’s practice focuses on civil litigation, insurance fraud, and defense.

CLASS OF 2000

Melissa Franolich left the Environmental Protection Agency to take a position with the energy consulting firm Pace Global Energy Services where she works on carbon markets and climate change issues. 

Rebecca M. White works for Jurisperitus, Inc., in Chelsea, Vermont. The company is an environmental consulting firm specializing in high quality legal and business research and writing for lawyers, law firms, and small businesses in the areas of contracts, small business incorporation, business plans and trademarks; insurance law, policy drafting, and analysis; drafting RFPs; claims and risk management; and environmental law.


CLASS OF 2001

Raymond A. Cote and Susan Scaria-Posa started their own practice, Lewis Scaria & Cote, LLC, located in White Plains, New York.  The practice includes additional partners and an associate.

Michael L. Leest is working as the assistant vice president for the firm ACE Westchester Specialty Group. Michael is part of the Professional Lines Claims division.

Michael P. McGraw has been elected partner at the New York office of Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto, one of the nation’s premier intellectual property law firms, effective January 1, 2009. Mike, who joined Fitzpatrick, Cella as an associate in 2001, is involved in complex pharmaceutical patent litigation with an emphasis on actions arising under the Hatch-Waxman Act. His experience includes work on cases related to substituted dihydropyridines, thrombin inhibitors, beta-blockers, vitamin and nutritional supplements, acetamides, and benzoazepines.  Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a patent liaison at an industrial gas company and as a dissolution chemist at a branded pharmaceutical company.  He is a member of the firm’s Marketing Committee.

Basil Seggos recently moved to the Hugo Neu Corporation after working with the Hudson Riverkeeper for the past seven years.  Basil concentrates on international recycling and environmental business strategies.

Mark D. Wellsman became a principal at Jones Hirsch Connors & Bull, P.C., where he has worked as a litigation attorney since 2004. Mark’s practice focuses on insurance defense, security and aviation litigation, construction, premises liability, appellate practice, and insurance law.


CLASS OF 2002

Jill Grinham Bautista joined Eaton Corporation’s law department as an environmental, health, and safety attorney.  The firm is located in Cleveland, Ohio.

Emily Collins was recently appointed supervising attorney at the University of Pittsburgh’s Environmental Law Clinic.  The clinic, which was founded in 2000, is engaged in issues including the Mon-Fayette Expressway and clear-cutting in the Allegheny National Forest.  Emily hopes the Clinic will fulfill a need in the community for pro bono legal and technical assistance for environmental and community health issues.  Emily joined the Pitt Law faculty in 2008 as a clinical assistant professor.

Thomas J. Jerla Jr. is working as an associate in the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, law firm of Bunnell, Woulfe Kirschbaum Keller & Gregoire. Thomas is a member of the Broward County Bar Association, the Dade County Bar Association, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.

Elizabeth A. Marshall was hired as the director of community education for Interval House in 2007. Interval House is a center that offers a range of programs and services to abused women and their children, under one roof.

Melissa Lee Paper and her husband, Andy Paper, are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Aaron Marshall. He was born on January 15, 2008, in Miami, Florida, and weighed 6 lb., 7 oz. The Paper family resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Scott M. Pollard filed as a Democratic candidate in House District 40, encompassing Foster, Gloucester, and Coventry, Rhode Island.  Scott has a law office in Scituate and formerly worked as an associate attorney with the Hadlock Law Office in Warwick, Rhode Island. 

Jessica D. Rutell is working a contracts compliance administrator for the American Transmission Company in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

Sheila Yvonne Samuels and Gerard Darryl Graddy were married on Saturday, May 31, 2008, in New Rochelle, New York.  Sheila is an associate at Kehl, Katzive & Simon in Manhattan. 


 

 

 

 

CLASS OF 2003

Adrienne J. Arkontaky was named to the Board of Trustees at the John A. Coleman School in New York, New York. Adrienne works as an attorney at the law firm of Littman Krooks, LLP, where her practice focuses exclusively on special education advocacy, special needs planning, trusts, and guardianship for families of children with disabilities.  Through her professional experience, Adrienne has been instrumental in assisting families in obtaining necessary educational services for children with special needs.  Her wealth of knowledge will be indispensable in assisting the John A. Coleman School, a New York State Education Department approved special needs school, in providing educational services inpatient, outpatient, and in the community.

John L. Galgano has taken on a new position at Mercy College as general counsel and associate director of labor relations.  In addition to this, John works with his own record company, Doone Records, Inc.

Josephine L. Robinson received her LLM in taxation from NYU and practiced law at Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy for two years.  She is now working as in-house tax counsel for the Gucci Group in New York City.

Jennifer Rella Wagner and Lee Matthew Wagner have started the Wagner Law Group in White Plains, New York.  The firm handles real estate law and transactions.

Sonia Sharma is working as an attorney for the law firm Boyd Santini Parker Colonnelli in their Miami, Florida, office.


CLASS OF 2004

Jolene (Einhouse) Stephens and Michael Stephens are happy to announce that they were married on June 29, 2008, in Springfield, Illinois, where they currently reside.  Jolene is employed at Rapps Engineering & Applied Science Inc. as a regulatory and environmental specialist.  Her duties include environmental assessments and site remediation, groundwater sampling, archaeological surveys, and brownfields redevelopment.

Sean M. Lynn is running for the office of District 3 levy court commissioner. In this position Sean hopes to foster a sustainable economy and create quality job opportunities while at the same time remaining vigilant in protecting our natural resources. Sean is currently a trial lawyer and partner in the Dover, Delaware, law firm Hudson Jones Jaywork & Fisher LLC.

Michael A. Rizzotti completed a 15-month deployment to Iraq as a senior trial counsel to Multi-National Corps-Iraq. He is now working at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., as a prosecutor for the Office of Military Commissions.

Joseph W. Trank III is working as a manager for international taxes in Deloitte & Touche, LLP’s Parsippany, New Jersey, office.


CLASS OF 2005

Emily N. Masalski was married to Brian Chojnowski at St. Juliana Church in Chicago, Illinois, on October 25, 2008.

Phillip Musegaas has been promoted to director of the Hudson River Program at Riverkeeper.

Peter Putignano recently moved from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 to the United States Department of Justice’s Environmental Natural Resources Division in Washington, D.C. 

Natalia Ron is working as a senior claims specialist for the firm ACE Westchester.  Natalia’s work practice is part of the Professional Lines Claims division.

Erin A. Rowin is an associate with the law firm of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP, in Morristown, New Jersey. Erin concentrates her practice in employment litigation and securities arbitration with a special focus on the representation of brokerage firms and their representatives in arbitrations and litigation before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and various state courts. She also has extensive experience with corporate asset recovery and collection.  In addition, Erin was married to Ralph Yezza on November 7, 2008.  Josie (Perretta) Turchan ’05 was a bridesmaid and Anthony Broccolo ’05 attended.

Debra Scott, Esq . - IN MEMORIUM.


CLASS OF 2006

Gloria Bruzzano was honored as “Child Advocate of the Year” by the American Bar Association.  Gloria was presented with the award in New York City in early August. 

Noelle V. Crisalli and her colleague, Henry M. Hocherman, co-authored “Land Use Law Cases Update” which appeared in the Summer 2008 issue of the New York State Bar Association’s Municipal Lawyer.  Noelle is an associate at the White Plains, New York, law firm Hocherman Tortorella & Wekstein, LLP.  Her practice focuses on zoning, land use, and environmental law.

Amy E. McCann is working as an associate at the New York law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Amy is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Group.

Laura Bucher Murphy is working as a staff attorney in the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic at Vermont Law School.

Barry W. Rickert II was promoted to senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP effective September 1, 2008. Barry works in the firm’s Stamford, Connecticut, office.

Stephanie J. Talbert is working as a trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Latrice Monique Walker worked in the field of entertainment law at The McMillan Firm. The firm represented artists including Prince and Michael Jackson. Latrice is currently employed as counsel for Congresswoman Yvette D. Clark, Representative for Brooklyn’s 11th Congressional District.


CLASS OF 2007

Deepa Badrinarayana received a contract for publication from Carolina Academic Press that will enable her to convert her dissertation into a book.   

Nadia Elizabeth Czachor is working as a attorney for Minter Ellison – Gold Coast in Varsity Lakes, Australia.

William A. Doherty was recently appointed as an adjunct professor of justice studies at Berkeley College where he teaches Criminal Procedure.  William is also of counsel to Barnes and Barnes, P.C., in Garden City, New York.

Nicole Gaeta married Salvatore Barone at St. Clare’s R.C. Church in Great Kills, New York, on October 18, 2008. Nicole is an assistant district attorney with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in Hempstead, Long Island. 

Sarah Olinger accepted a position as staff counsel at the California EPA located in Sacramento, California, where she will be working in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Water Resources Control Board, an arm of the California EPA. Prior to working for the EPA, Sarah was employed as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Cari B. Rincker is working as an associate at Budd-Falen Law Offices, L.L.C., in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Cari’s practice focuses on environmental, agriculture, land use, and property law.

Manuel Gustavo Ronquillo and Alicia Anne Voodre were married on December 29, 2007, in St. Mary’s Church in Mineola, New York. Manuel is working as an attorney at the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.

Fred Soltau received a contract for publication that will allow him to convert his dissertation into a book.  Fred signed on to publish his dissertation with Cambridge University Press. 

Jessica Adina Steinberg is currently working as an associate at the law firm of Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C., in its New York office.  Jessica’s area of practice focuses on environmental law and litigation.

Sara C. Wilson finished her clerkship with the 13th Judicial District in Klamath County, Oregon, and began work as an attorney with the Southern Oregon Public Defender.


CLASS OF 2008

Keji A. Ayorinde is working with the firm Proskauer Rose LLP in the New York City office. 

Michelle Lee Betrano is working as a senior compliance officer for Praxair Healthcare Services, Inc., in Danbury, Connecticut.

Elizabeth K. Cassidy is working as an associate in the law firm of Jacobowitz & Gubits LLP in Monticello, New York.

Patrick D. Donnelly joined the law firm of Jacobowitz & Gubits in their Orange County office. Patrick is part of the law firm’s municipal and environmental land use team.

Lesly A. Garcia is working with Travelers Indemnity Company.

Carly S. Grant began a clerkship with Magistrate George Yanthis, U.S.D.J., S.D.N.Y.

Eric M. Grille is currently working in the law offices of Howard Davis in New Jersey.

Ilya Kharkover is working in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.

Marie Quintin is working for the Environmental Protection Agency Region 2.

Soma Saha is working with the law firm Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto, which specializes in intellectual property.

James H. Sweeney is working at the law firm of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP.

Shamik Trivedi is currently in the Taxation LLM program at Northwestern Law School and will graduate in May 2009.