Class Notes for 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s
2000s Class Notes
2000
Jorje Chica accepted a position as staff attorney with the Superior Court of California for the County of Riverside. Lorenzo D. Esparza joins Disney-ABC Domestic Television as vice president for the Western region. Alvin G. Galstian joined Dreier, Stein & Kahan LLP in Santa Monica as an associate in the real estate and transactional departments. Donald K. Kirkelie joined McGuireWoods LLP in LA as an associate. Christina M. MacNeil married Regis A. Guerin ’01. Guerin is associate counsel at Honda North America, Inc. MacNeil is a senior associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith.
2001
Keith D. Fraser is an associate with the Law Offices of Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP in Wilmington, DE. Regis A. Guerin married Christina M. MacNeil ’00 in 2006. Guerin is associate counsel at Honda North America, Inc. MacNeil is a senior associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith. Uleses C. Henderson, an associate at Foley & Lardner, is on the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games Executive Committee’s legal counsel team. John W. Kim returns to Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP in LA. He focuses on bankruptcy law and general litigation. Dr. Bernhard W. Rohrbacher joined Kennedy, Jennik & Murray in New York, where he practices labor law. Clarice F. Silva joined Stroock, Stroock & Lavan LLP in LA as an associate.
2002
Kathleen Balderrama is an associate at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP in LA. Katherine K. Cheng joined the LA office of Hinshaw and Culbertson LLP as an associate handling workers’ compensation matters. Ali Jahangiri is the principle fundraiser in Orange County for Rudy Guiliani for President. James O. Whitworth recently won a jury trial against BMW for violation of the “Lemon Law.” Brett W. Wolff joined Thon, Beck & Vanni in Pasadena as an associate with the firm’s personal injury practice.
2003
Joseph E. Abdelkerim was named an associate with Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava & MacCuish LLP in LA. Gina M. Browne was named a 2007 Rising Star by Los Angeles. Mitra H. Kermani received an offer from Walt Disney Studios, after finishing a judicial clerkship at the Superior Court. Kate E. Gillespie joined Baum Hedlund’s LA office as an associate. Benjamin S. Hofilena, of McDermott, Will & Emery, was named president of the Philippine American Bar Association. Catherine Liu is an associate with Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley in LA. Anthony Napolitan and wife Kimberly had their first child, Anthony Salvatore, on May 10, 2006. Erica J. Pruetz is practicing with her mother, Adrian Pruetz, at Pruetz Law Group LLP, a boutique litigation firm. Christopher J. Rizza joined the LA office of McGuireWoods LLP and focuses on commercial real estate transactions.
2004
Manali V. Dighe joined the LA office of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP in their intellectual property practice. Juan F. Kish joined Thompson & Colegate LLP as a litigation associate. Stephanie K. Lashbrook is an associate in the real estate department of the LA office of McGuireWoods LLP. G. Fabrico Lopez was promoted to counsel in the Corporate Legal Department of The Walt Disney Company.
2005
Heidi Milan Caballero joined the Criminal Appeals Division of the Florida Attorney General's Office. Daniel R. Diepholz (LLM) passed away on February 9, 2007. He was a CPA and real estate broker. Vincent S. Loh practices with Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi as an associate in their LA office. Laura F. Shapiro is an associate with Newmeyer & Dillion LLP. Seth A. Trejo joined the LA office of McGuireWoods LLP as an associate.
2006
Robyn Goldfarb and Anthony Ippolito joined Snell & Wilmer LLP’s Orange County office as associates. Goldfarb is a member of the firm’s commercial litigation group and Ippolito focuses on business and finance. Joseph J. Mellema joined Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP as an associate in its LA office. Jason L. Pyrz joined Hart, King & Coldren as a litigation associate. Ravash Ram is director of business development for Advanced Wireless Solutions LLC. One of his inventions was named one of the Hottest New Ideas of 2006 by Popular Science Magazine.
1990s Class Notes
1990
Doreen M. Mercado, who has a family law and personal injury law office, was sworn-in as president of the Whittier Bar Association. Eric L. Olofson II was given a Chairman’s Circle Award by his employer Cushman & Wakefield for his achievements as an executive vicepresident. David M. Phillips, defense and plaintiffs’ attorney, joined Wesierski & Zurek LLP as an associate. Craig M. Wilke married Elizabeth Dahlstrom in October 2006. They are expecting their first child in September. Wilke is directing attorney for the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Santa Ana. Todd R. Wulffson, vice president and general counsel to Palace Entertainment, was named to the Board of Directors of Canyon Acres Children and Family Services.
1991
Alan I. Cyrlin, a partner with Ervin, C ohen & Jessup LLP, authored “Ford’s Main Legacy: 1976 Copyright Act,” published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal. J. Scott Russo won a decision from the California Supreme Court which was the first decision in CA history holding that defamation was unprotected by the First Amendment.
1992
Craig R. Armstrong, a partner with Miller Nash LLP, was appointed chair of the Oregon State Bar Labor and Employment LawSection. Corii D. Berg was promoted to deputy general counsel with Sony Pictures Entertainment. He was formerly executive vice president of Sony’s corporate and distribution legal group. Stefan J. Kirchanski joined Venable LLP in Los Angeles as partner. He was previously a research fellow at Harvard University, an assistant professor at the University of Texas and a research scientist for Ortho Diagnostic Systems. Leigh A. Kirmsse joined Howrey LLP in San Francisco as a partner and member of the Global Litigation Practice Group. Ronald T. Labriola is co-owner of the new firm, Moore Labriola LLP. He focuses on complex product liability matters. Rami S. Yanni joined Greenberg Glusker’s intellectual property practice in Los Angeles as a copyright specialist. He heads the firm’s trademark practice.
1993
P. Craig Cardon, partner with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, was named among the 20 to Watch Under 40 by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. Gary J. Goodstein represented the City of Compton in a jury trial that resulted in a 22,402,750.10 verdict for the City. The case was named one of the Top 10 California Jury Verdicts in 2006 by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. The Hon. David W. Stuart was elected to the LA County Superior Court. He previously served as a deputy district attorney for the County and was an associate with Manning, Marder & Wolfe. Art Zwickel was elected partner at Paul Hastings, where he focuses on securities and corporate law.
1994
Donald P. Harris was promoted to associate professor of law at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Michael R. Heimbold joined Steptoe & Johnson LLP as a partner. Mark S. Horoupian and Grace (Yazgulian) Horoupian ’95 announce the arrival of their first child, Nyrie Arsho Horoupian, born on September 20, 2006. Gary W. Park co-founded and serves as partner with Hicks Park LLP in LA.
1995
Michael J. Conway, formerly with Greenberg & Bass, is the general counsel for Baja Fresh. Kirk Cypel was appointed chief operating officer of Equastone, a real estate investment firm. Michael A. Geibelson, a partner with the LA office of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP, was named president of the board of directors for the Disability Rights Legal Center at Loyola Law School. Ron S. Grace [formerly Gross] was named partner with Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP. Thomas R. Rouse was named chief patent counsel at Qualcomm.
1996
David Ackerly, director of private attorney involvement at the Legal Aid Foundation of LA, was honored with the Tanya Neiman Pro Bono Professional of the Year Award by the American Bar Association. Dawn B. Eyerly was named a Rising Star by Law and Politics for the third year in a row. Cynthia L. Filla was named partner with the LA office of Jackson Lewis. Jeleen Guttenberg, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Governors, was promoted to counsel at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Tom A. Kosakowski is the first-ever university ombudsperson for Claremont Graduate University. James McCoy, Jr. was named partner with Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP in Orange County. David S. Noble was appointed utilities hearings officer and assistant general counsel for the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. Michael W. Shonafelt joined Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory LLP in LA, where he practices land use and environmental law. Gregory Townsend, trial attorney with the Office of the Prosecutor at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, completed a five-year trial against Colonel Theoneste Bagosora, alleged genocide mastermind, and three other high-ranking Rwandan military officers. He recently transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. He and wife Anna Coulouris proudly announce the birth of their first child.
1997
Rebecca Lawlor Calkins joined Winston & Strawn LLP as an associate in the firm’s LA office. Olegario Cantos VII, associate director for domestic policy for President George Bush, was profiled in the Manila Bulletin. Clare H. Dooley was elected a shareholder of Clark, Thomas & Winters. Glenn M. Kubota was named partner with the LA and Orange County offices of Morrison & Foerster LLP. Michael Niborski was named special counsel of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP’s Entertainment Practice Group. Andrew E. Shiner was named partner with DLA Piper in LA, where he handles commercial real estate transactions. Matthew S. Urbach was named partner in the LA office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP.
1998
Paula D. Gutierrez Baeza of Gutierrez-Ruiz in San Francisco was named a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Gregory E. Matton joined the corporate securities practice group at Broad and Cassel in Florida. Scott A. McPhee was named a partner with Morrison & Foerster LLP. Armando J. Paz was interviewed for a Univision broadcast on prenuptial agreements. James H. Prenton was named partner with K&L Gates in Palo Alto.
1999
Tom K. Ara joined Dickstein Shapiro LLP in LA as an associate focusing film and television financing, production and distribution. Joanne Davies was elected shareholder with Buchalter Nemer. Tish Loeb and her husband Jonathan welcomed their third child, Tamar Rebecca Rachel Loeb, on February 2, 2007. Loeb has a solo estate planning practice in Los Altos, CA, and teaches estate planning at Santa Clara University School of Law. Raymond Perez, Jr. and his wife Sandra welcomed Raymond Perez, III on March 31, 2007. Angela I Sonico and Thuc Miyashiro welcome Patience Kaila Miyashiro, born on December 11, 2006.
1980s Class Notes
1980
J. Scott Bovitz was selected, for the fourth year, as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He is also the executive editor Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice in California. Edythe L. Bronston founded the California Jazz Foundation to help jazz musicians in need. Janet I. Levine is president the LA chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
1981
James C. Hughes joined Greenberg Glusker as a partner in the firm’s LA office, specializing in real estate law. Mark S. Strukelj passed away on December 9, 2006 in Houston. Strukelj was vice president and general counsel for Fluor Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Catherine, and two grown children.
1982
Peter C. Anderson is the US trustee for the Central District of California. The US Trustee Program is part of the Justice Department and protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system. Rod S. Berman authored “Changing Invention Law Conventions,” published by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. Mark J. Geragos relocated his firm, Geragos & Geragos, to Engine Company No. 28.
1983
The Hon. Margaret Miller Bernal of the LA County Superior Court was honored as Judicial Officer of the Year. Jeffrey C. Lapin was named president and CEO of RazorGator Interactive Group, a sports/entertainment event company. Dulcy Bradford Rimac passed away in 2004. Rimac was a retired elementary school teacher and was actively involved with the American Association of University Women and Daughters of the King, and served as an usher at Saint Stevens Episcopal Church. The Hon. Michael Villalobos was appointed to a judgeship with the LA County Superior Court.
1984
Philip Davis was named chief compliance officer for HealthNet, Inc. and continues as vice president, deputy general counsel and corporate ethics officer. Curtis F. Pierce was featured in the California Lawyer article, “Is the Immigration Court System Working?” Wei C. Wong is the president of the Board of Directors for Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County, which provides free legal services to the needy. Helen Zukin joined Kiesel, Boucher & Larson LLP as of counsel.
1985
John Aitelli was elected a shareholder of LaFollette Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames. Stephen M. Garcia of the Garcia Law Firm was named by Lawdragon as one of 500 Leading Plaintiffs’ Lawyers in America. Jayne (Taylor) Kacer was selected as the 2007 Professor of the Year by students at Chapman University School of Law. She was appointed assistant dean of student affairs in 2006. Andrew G. Petillon was appointed associate regional director and co-head of enforcement in the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Pacific Regional Office in LA.
1986
Joan B. Kessler joined ADR Services, Inc. as a mediator. Mitchell J. Popham was named by Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP as partner-in-charge of the firm’s LA office. Jan D. Smutny-Jones is a member of the California Air Resource Board’s Economic and
Technology Advancement Advisory Committee.
1987
Douglas A. Greer opened his own firm in Manhattan Beach, focusing on insurance coverage, bad faith and complex civil litigation. Stuart A. Liner and his wife, Stephanie, were presented the Help Fore Children Humanitarian Award at the Help Group's Annual
Keyes European Mercedes Benz Teddy Bear Golf Classic and Lockton Insurance Brokers, LLC Awards Dinner. Liner is the managing partner and co-founder of Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstreif LLP and serves on the Loyola Law School Board of Overseers. Lisa J. Perrochet, a partner with Horvitz & Levy LLP, received an Attorney of the Year award for appellate litigation from California Lawyer. Dean J. Smith joined Taylor Blessey LLP, where he will continue to specialize in health care law. Amy Fisch Solomon of Girardi & Keese is president-elect of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles.
1988
Kathleen M. Collins was appointed senior vice president and director of corporate compliance with First American Corporation. Neil M. Popowitz joined the Newport Beach office of The General Counsel, an in-house legal solutions firm.
1989
Lawrence B. Burke of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP was appointed chair of the firm’s national environmental practice group. Richard Ceballos, an LA County deputy district attorney, was honored by the Criminal Courts Bar Association for his work “in defense of the constitutional rights of an accused.” The Hon. Roger T. Ito, an LA district attorney and more recently a commissioner, was appointed to a judgeship with the LA Superior Court. Brian S. Kabateck relocated his firm, Kabateck Brown Kellne LLP, to Engine Company No. 28. Neil J. Sheff is serving his second term as co-liaison between the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Southern California Chapter and the LA District Office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services. He recently served as chair of the LA Sephardic Jewish Film Festival.
1970s Class Notes
1971
The Hon. Victor H. Person of the LA Superior Court retired in May and joined Alternative Resolution Centers. Person became a district attorney following law school.
1972
Lee K. Alpert merged his law firm, now known as Alpert, Barr & Grant. It specializes in arbitration and mediation, bankruptcy and real estate law. Barry R. Levy of Horvitz & Levy LLP received an Attorney of the Year award from California Lawyer magazine.
1973
Jerrold E. Blair, formerly of MCA/Universal and the Hahn Development Corp., is of counsel with the newly established Miller Barondess LLP. The Hon. Carl F. Bryan II, who served the judiciary for 23 years, stepped down in January. The Hon. Richard A. McEachen retired from the bench after 28 years of service. The Hon. Judson W. Morris, Jr. of the LA County Superior Court retired in February following 20 years on the bench.
1974
The Hon. Michael Nash, presiding judge of LA’s Juvenile Court, was honored by the Juvenile Court Judges of CA for outstanding service as president of the group. Gary M. Paul, who practices toxic-tort litigation and appellate law, was elected to partnership with the LA office of Waters & Kraus LLP.
1975
James S. Egar is a Monterey County public defender. He previously served as a public defender for Orange, Yolo and Santa Barbara counties. Philip A. Marquez was promoted to vice president, assistant general counsel and sector counsel of Northrup Grumman Corporation. He provides legal advice to the corporation’s space technology sector. James R. Robie of Robie & Matthai was named secretary-treasurer of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel’s Executive Committee for 2007.
1976
Donald Peckner passed away on March 4, 2007. He practiced employment law and handled product liability cases. Peckner also was a court-appointed mediator and judge pro tem, did pro bono work throughout his legal career and volunteered as a reading tutor. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Doris, three children and grandchildren.
1977
Thomas P. Beck is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the law firm he co-founded, Thon, Beck & Vanni. The Hon. John W. Ouderkirk, who retired from the LA County Superior Court in 2004, joined Alternative Resolution Centers. Barry R. Schlom passed away in December 2006. He was president of Temple Isaiah in West LA. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Carla, two sons, his parents and siblings. Gary J. Singer was appointed co-chair of the firm-wide Transactions Department at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
1978
Pamela S. Duffy, partner with Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP, was honored as an attorney of the year by California Lawyer magazine. In 2005 and 2006 she was named one of the 100 most influential women in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times.
1960s Class Notes
1967
The Hon. A. Rex Victor retired in January. Victor sat for 20 years on the San Bernardino County Superior Court, having served as presiding judge of the juvenile and appellate divisions.
1963
Edward R. Brown passed away in January. He was a solo practitioner in Oxnard specializing in real estate law.
1968
Daniel C. Cassidy was honored as a Southern California SuperLawyer.
1950s Class Notes
1950
The Hon. Charles E. Frisco received a lifetime recognition award from the Southeast Bar Association. Frisco, with 40 years on the bench, is California’s longest-sitting judge. Wayne H. Webster died January 3, 2007 at his home in West Hartford, CT. An Iowa native, Webster was retired from Travelers, where he was secretary in the Surety Division, Commercial Lines Department. He was a World War II veteran, having served as a master sergeant in Europe. Webster was preceded in death by a son and his wife of 54 years, and is survived by a son and two grandchildren.
1955
Bernard Sacks of Las Vegas passed away.
1959
Louis J. Knobbe, a founding partner of Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP, was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Orange County chapter of the American Jewish Committee.
1958
Samuel C. Palmer, III, founder of the Western Center for Law and Poverty, died on February 7, 2007. Palmer was a city prosecutor and then a partner in a law firm. Palmer served on the board of directors for the Union Rescue Mission in LA and the Poverello House in Fresno. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.
1940s Class Notes
1940
James H. Kindel, Jr. passed away on March 29, 2007. Loyola Law School recognized his contributions to the legal community in 1995 when he and fellow alumnus and law partner John E. Anderson, Sr. ’50 received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. A CPA and an attorney, Kindel was a prominent LA tax lawyer. Kindel is survived by his wife Lupe Hernandez Kindel, four children and four grandchildren.