Class Notes for 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s
from the Spring 2010 Public Record:
2000s Class Notes
2000
Anthony D. Brosamle was promoted to counsel at Tucker Ellis
& West LLP and focuses his practice on mass tort, product liability
and commercial litigation. Victor P. Danhi joined Arent Fox LLP as an
associate, practicing in the firm’s automotive group. Suzanne Martin,
formerly of Lewis and Roca LLP, joined the newly opened Las Vegas
office of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. as a shareholder.
I. Miriam Rana was promoted to partner at Lewis Brisbois
Bisgaard & Smith LLP. Rana practices real estate development and
land use law and worker’s compensation law. Erica L. Reilley joined
Jones Day as a partner specializing in appeals. She is also an adjunct
professor at Loyola Law School, teaching appellate advocacy. Polina
L. Ross became a partner at Gibbs, Giden, Locher, Turner & Senet LLP
and was also selected as a “Rising Star” in Southern California Super
Lawyers in 2009.
2001
Michelle Alarcon was promoted to MBA director at Hawaii Pacific
University in January. Alarcon also serves as a full-time assistant professor
for the university, teaching business law and management ethics.
Additionally, Alarcon runs a solo practice in the areas of employment
and immigration law, with offices in Honolulu and the Big Island of
Hawaii. Pamela K. Graham, formerly of Irell & Manella LLP, joined
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP as an associate. John W. Kim was elected
partner at Nossaman LLP, where he specializes in bankruptcy and creditors’
rights cases, business litigation, and construction defect litigation.
Steven M. Kroll was elected to partnership with Ford & Harrison LLP,
where he practices employment law. Charles Lew was named the Best
Up-and-Coming Restaurant Developer by the Los Angeles Business
Journal. Lew is co-owner of Stout, Crown Bar and the Gasser Lounge.
Lew is a named partner with Kagianaris Lew LLP in Hollywood, CA.
Kevin J. Lombardo became a partner with McKenna Long & Aldridge
LLP, where he focuses on federal government procurement law. Jean
C. Michel is a senior associate at Thomas Whitelaw, where he practices
complex business litigation and intellectual property litigation. Tappan
Zee, managing attorney for the Zee Law Group, was appointed by Gov.
Schwarzenegger to the State Board of Pharmacy.
2002
Rachel J. [Chun] Lee was promoted to partner with Lewis
Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, where she practices employment
and labor law. Joanna L. Fawzy Morales was recognized as one of
California’s “Top 20 Under 40” by the Los Angeles Daily Journal in
January. Alfred Fraijo, Jr. was elevated to partner at Sheppard, Mullin,
Richter & Hampton LLP and works in the firm’s land use and natural
resources practice group. Claudia Gutierrez moved to Sheppard, Mullin,
Richter & Hampton LLP, where she continues to practice in the areas
of land use and natural resources. Ali Jahangiri was reappointed to the
California Law Revision Commission. Amanda F. Vassigh is working as a
law career counselor at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA.
2003 James Gilliam, formerly a litigation associate and associate pro
bono coordinator with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker LLP, was
named deputy executive director of the ACLU of Southern California
in April 2010. Gilliam chairs the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s
Sexual Orientation Bias Committee and teaches Public Interest Law,
and Sexual Orientation and the Law at Loyola Law School.
2004 Michelle Brauer Abidoye joined the Los Angeles office of Ford &
Harrison LLP, a national labor and employment firm based in Georgia.
2005 Loren J. Beck was appointed treasurer of the Century City
Bar Association.
2006
Jason Pyrz is a new associate with the Chicago, IL office of Polsinelli
Shughart PC. Joel Richlin, along with Courtney Ryan ’09, coached two
Loyola Law School teams participating in the American Bar Association
National Appellate Advocacy competition in Las Vegas this spring.
2007 Farhad Asghar was presented in January with the Horizon
Award at an IRS awards ceremony in Arlington, VA. The new award,
reserved for individuals with less than three years of IRS service, honors
those who demonstrate a strong commitment to achieving IRS strategic
goals and foundations. Hooman Kazemi, deputy public defender
at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, was named Trial
Lawyer of the Year for 2009 by the Private Defenders of California, Inc.
Shannon O.C. Nelson is a principal in the Law Offices of Shannon O.C.
Nelson, in El Segundo, CA, specializing in bankruptcy, family law and
contract law. Naomi L. Svensson joined Lightfoot & Steingard LLP as an
associate. The recently formed firm was founded by former Loyola Law
School Professor Michael J. Lightfoot and Richard M. Steingard ’82.
2009 Rachael Atamian joined the Orange County Family Law Center
as an associate and mediator.
1990s Class Notes
1990
Salvatore V. Riso, Jr. was appointed president and chief executive
officer of Care Investment Trust Inc., a real estate investment and
finance company. Juliette C. Youngblood was named Entertainment
Lawyer of the Year by the Century City Bar Association at its 42nd
Annual Installation Banquet and Awards Ceremony.
1991
Sarah M. Hart was promoted to partner with Lewis Brisbois
Bisgaard & Smith LLP, where she focuses on products liability
and general negligence defense. Robert J. Koltai, founder and
portfolio manager of Hain Capital Group, LLC, participated in
GoldenNetworking.com’s Distressed Investing Leaders Forum 2010
held in February in New York City.
1993
Paul R. Flaherty was elevated to associate partner with
Murchison & Cumming, LLP, where he practices product liability,
aviation defense and general tort defense, with an emphasis on
cases involving technical issues.
1994
Gary F. Werner was elected mayor of Brunswick, OH in
November and officially took office on January 1, 2010. His
position also includes running the Mayor’s Court.
1995
Alexander H. Cherin, until recently the managing director
of trade relations and operations for the Port of Long Beach, has
announced he is returning to private practice after four years with
the City of Long Beach. Steven D. Smelser was recognized in the
February supplement to the Los Angeles Daily Journal, Top Defense
Verdicts of 2009.
1996
Carlos A. Cruz, coach of Loyola’s Hispanic National Bar
Association Moot Court Team, led the team to a first-place finish
at this year’s HNBA Moot Court Competition. Nadia Davis-Lockyer
was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California
Community Colleges Board of Governors. Davis-Lockyer previously
served the Alameda County Family Justice Center as deputy district
attorney and executive director.
1997
Jeremy W. Faith partnered with Andrew Goodman ’84 to form
the law firm of Goodman Faith, LLP, specializing in all aspects of
bankruptcy and bankruptcy related litigation. Maria C. Rodriguez was
named one of California’s “Top 20 Under 40” by the Los Angeles Daily
Journal in January.
1998
Matthew J. Gaul was named deputy superintendent with the
New York State Insurance Department. Greg T. Hill opened Greg Hill &
Associates, specializing in criminal defense and civil litigation. M. David
Wilkins was named vice president of contracts and supply chain with
the Raytheon Company, where he has worked since 2002.
1999
Brian M. Sanders was elevated to partner at Ericksen Arbuthnot,
where he focuses on complex construction defect litigation. Aalok
Sharma was elevated to partner with White & Case LLP, where he
practices in the firm’s global commercial litigation group. Jim Winner
was promoted to associate general counsel for ITT Systems Corporation
in Colorado Springs, CO.
1980s Class Notes
1980
Leah M. Gasendo-Nishida, formerly a partner in the litigation
firm of Braden, Hinchcliffe & Hawley LLP, was appointed administrative
law judge for the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals
Board. Paul H. Irving, co-chair and corporate counsel for Manatt, Phelps
& Phillips, LLP, was selected as a 2010 fellow with Harvard University’s
Advanced Leadership Initiative. Ann L. Weinman is retiring from her
position as an administrative law judge with the California Public
Employment Relations Board.
1981
John D. Bronstein joined Arent Fox LLP as a partner, practicing
in the firm’s automotive group. Steven Crosby serves as senior vice
president at Frontier Communications Corporation, handling regulatory,
legislative and public relations matters. Jan (Frankel) Schau, an
alternative dispute resolution professional, was named on the list of
2010 Southern California Super Lawyers. Laura J. Snoke opened her
own firm and continues to specialize in community association law,
real property and business litigation and matters, construction law,
and professional liability defense and mediation.
1982
Rod Berman, chair of the Intellectual Property Group at Jeffer
Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP, was named one of the “Top 100
Lawyers in Los Angeles” by the Los Angeles Business Journal in its
2009 list of “Who’s Who in L.A. Law.” Richard M. Steingard, along
with former Loyola Law School Professor Michael J. Lightfoot, founded
Lightfoot & Steingard LLP, which focuses on criminal defense, civil
rights, trials and appeals in all state and federal courts. Michael L.
Ziering, chief executive officer of Diagnostics Products Corporation,
was elected to serve on the board of directors for Caldera Medical, Inc.
1984
Andrew Goodman partnered with Jeremy W. Faith ’97 to form
the law firm of Goodman Faith, LLP, specializing in all aspects of bankruptcy
and bankruptcy related litigation.
1985
Albro L. Lundy, III received the 2009 Consumer Attorney of the
Year award from the Consumer Attorney’s of California in November.
1986
Mark Adams and Monica Vu ’01 won a verdict recovering $6.5
million dollars, including $2.5 million dollars in punitive damages for
their plaintiff Scott C. Moody, Inc. Adams also won another jury verdict
of $4.9 million for plaintiff, Parallax Medical Systems, Inc. Rodell R. Fick
recently retired from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office as a senior
trial lawyer in the civil division, and is maintaining a small legal practice
serving municipal agencies in various appellate hearings.
1987
Hon. Kevin G. Murray, formerly of the California State Assembly and
Senate, was appointed to the board of directors for California American Water.
1988
Brent Reinke, who has been practicing corporate law in
Westlake Village for 10 years, has formed two organizations: Gold
Coast Business Forum and The BioTech Forum. Reinke also has founded
Vapur, Inc., which manufactures a reusable, flexible water bottle.
1970s Class Notes
1973
Robert E. Buch was elected president of the California Worker’s
Compensation Defense Attorneys Association. Darrell A. Forgey was
named one of California’s “Top 10 Up & Coming Neutrals” by the Los
Angeles Daily Journal in December. Carol E. Schatz, president and CEO
of the Central City Association of Los Angeles, was honored for her
legal and community work at Alston + Bird LLP’s annual Women
of Distinction Reception held in March 2010.
1974
Steven D. Archer joined Kiesel, Boucher & Larson, LLP as
partner, and focuses his practice on plaintiff’s catastrophic injury/
wrongful death, mass tort and class action litigation. David W. Levene
expanded his firm, Levene, Neale, Bender, Rankin & Brill L.L.P., by
acquiring Robinson Diamant & Wolkowitz, a bankruptcy boutique.
Walter F. Ulloa, chairman and chief executive officer of Entravision
Communications Corporation, was appointed to the National
Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation’s board of directors.
1975
Jeffrey S. Kravitz of Fox Rothschild LLP was recognized in the
2010 Chambers USA Guide “Leaders in their Field: Intellectual Property:
Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secrets” ranking.
1977
James J. Braze was elevated to partner at Borton Petrini, LLP,
where he specializes in tax, insurance and healthcare law.
1978
Pamela S. Duffy and Barbara M. Rubin were named among the
2010 Southern California Super Lawyers. Randy M. Spiro was listed
among the Southern California Super Lawyers in the area of estate
planning. Susan L. Steinhauser was named to the board of directors
of the College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, NM.
1979
James J. Dragna was recognized in the February supplement
to the Los Angeles Daily Journal: Top Defense Verdicts of 2009.
Terry P. Mansky, chief administrative officer and general counsel to
International Coffee & Tea, LLC and CBTL Franchising, LLC, was profiled
in the December 14, 2009 edition of the Los Angeles Daily Journal.