U B L A W F O R U MT h e M a g a z i n e o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y a t B u f f a l o L a w S c h o o l

T h e S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w Y o r k

F A L L 2 0 0 9

University at Buffalo Law School

John Lord O’Brian Hall

Buffalo, NY 14260-1100

Address service requested

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDBuffalo NY

Permit No. 311

Three national chairs of the Annual Fund drive agree:

There has never been a better time to invest in our Law School.

Strong leadership, producing resultsDean Makau Mutua is a world-class leader with vision and integrity.

He is now charting a course for the future of the Law School, with the goal

of becoming one of the top 50 schools in the country.

TO MAKE A GIFT, CALL DEBORAH J. SCOTT, (716) 645-2113;ALAN CARREL, (716) 645-6222; OR KAREN KACZMARSKI, (716) 645-6429.

PAUL KOMICZKY’86Partner, Leydig,Voit & Mayer Ltd.

Chicago

BARBARA SCHIFELING ’84Partner, Damon & Morey LLP

Buffalo

BRENT WILSON ’76Partner, Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp, & Wilson LLP

Atlanta

KENYANPRIME

MINISTERURGES

SOLIDARITYWITH

EMERGINGAFRICA

KENYANPRIME

MINISTERURGES

SOLIDARITYWITH

EMERGINGAFRICA

Raila Odinga,keynote speaker for 2009 Commencement,tours Niagara Falls with Dean Makau Mutua

UB Law ForumEditor: Ilene R. Fleischmann

Cover Photographer:Mark Mulville

Commencement Photographers:Mark Mulville and Nancy Parisi

Photographers:Jim Bush, Janet Charles, Donald Dannecker,K. C. Kratt and Marc Murphy

Please address all Class Action correspondence to Cynthia Watts: clwatts@buffalo.edu

Please address all Class Reunion correspondence to Amy Atkinson: aatkins@buffalo.edu

Mailing address:UB Law Forum 310 O’Brian HallBuffalo, NY 14260

• • •

On the cover:Dean Makau Mutua, left, tours the American Falls withKenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the first sitting head of state tovisit the University at Buffalo in recent history.

Visit us at www.law.buffalo.edu

UB Law Forum is mailed free to alumni,

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© Copyright 2009 by University at Buffalo Law SchoolVolume 21, Number 1. All Rights Reserved

REACHINGOTHERS

University at Buffalo Law School,The State University of New York

Aloha,Law School –Commencement2009

6

1Contents

2 Message from the DeanBuilding the law school of the future

Alumni Profiles3 Leading the global push

Michael P. Murphy ’87 heads one firm’s ambitious expansion plan

4 Counting the costsTwo alumni shine in high-profile national bankruptcy cases

5 Doug Sylvester ’94 on a tiny revolution

Law School Report6 Commencement 2009

Kenyan prime minister urges solidarity with emerging Africa

14 Commencement WeekendVisitors receive a warm Buffalo welcome

16 The skills to succeedNew legal skills program will produce practice-ready attorneys

17 National search yields new legal research and writing instructors19 The rights stuff

New Wolfe Fellowships put 11 students into rewarding summer externships

20 Class of 2012 among the best ever21 Spotlight on staff • First in a continuing series

Faculty22 Recent books by UB Law faculty members23 On the move24 Recent articles by UB Law faculty members25 Professor James A.Wooten named Law Library Director

Virtual & National26 From face-to-face to Facebook

UB Law reaches out to alumni in person and online

26 Alumni say “cheese”in Washington, Cleveland, NYC, Saratoga Springs and Rochester

Alumni Association28 UB Law Alumni Association elects officers and directors for 2009–1029 GOLD Group officers and directors for 2009–10

Class Action and Reunions30 Alumni notes, and reunions for the classes of 1959, 1984, 1989 and 199934 Births and Marriages38 Student kudos39 In Memoriam

Save the Date40 • NAACP counsel will deliver Mitchell Lecture

• Jaeckle Award to be presented at NYC Alumni Luncheon • UB Law to visit Kenyan Embassy

U B L A W F O R U MThe Magazine of the University at Buffalo Law SchoolThe State University of New York

19New Wolfe Fellowshipsput 11 students into rewardingsummer externships

24Recent law

review articles by UB

Law facultymembers

U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

‘‘ For UB Law School, the fall is a season of hope andrenewal to the ideals of academic excellencewhich undergird our core mission. For new andreturning students — and for all the members of

the larger UB Law community — I want to extend myheartfelt welcome to all of you for a most successful 2009-10 academic year. Let me state the bottom line upfront:there has never been a better time to be associated with UBLaw.We are a school that is experiencing a remarkablerenaissance in spite of the most challenging economy sincethe Great Depression.

The last year was for us a flagship year in terms ofbuilding the law school of the future.A few highlights tellthe story.We admitted the most qualified class in ourhistory. Our alumni rallied to our side with generouscontributions in response to our pleas for help.We hiredfaculty with exceptional academic credentials.We attractedstar scholars to the Law School, including Professor AngelaHarris of Berkeley Law School, who will be VisitingProfessor and Baldy Distinguished Scholar this year.We area school on the rise and are on our way to being countedamong the finest law schools in the country.

We capped the year with a tremendouscommencement that was headlined by the Hon. RailaOdinga, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, whogave the Commencement Address.We conferred honorarydoctorate degrees on two distinguished champions of civiland human rights. President John B. Simpson conferredthe honorary doctorates on Irene Khan, the incomparableSecretary-General of Amnesty International, and J. Mason

Davis, a UB Law alumnus and one of the most respectedcivil rights lawyers in the country. It was a commencementlike no other, and underlined our ambitions of building aglobal law school.

But we have set the bar even higher this year. In thisregard, I am proud to say that our entering class builds onthe excellence of last year’s. Its stellar credentials speak tothe competitiveness of the Law School and the highacademic standards that we expect of our students. Butthat is not all.We strive to build a law school that looks likeAmerica and the entering class attempts to address thatambition.We know that we still have a lot of work to do inthis regard, but our commitment is not in doubt. This is agoal that we can accomplish with more recruitmentoutreach and the help of our dedicated alumni.

This year, I intend to lead the Law School in hiring morefaculty with star potential, recruiting a diverse class ofstudents with great academic credentials whilemaintaining access, getting our alumni even more involvedin supporting us and giving us advice, reaching out toAlbany for more support, and telling the world the greatthings that are happening at UB Law. These are the centralelements on which a great law school can be built.As I havesaid before, my ambition is not to build a good local lawschool — it is to create a great national law school. I believethat a top 50 ranking, which I have set as the goal for mydeanship, is one index of that measure.

Above all, I firmly believe that what happens in the LawSchool will determine our success and the accomplishmentof these goals. That is why the Law School must beadministered accountably and with transparency. Meritmust be our watchword. For our wonderful faculty, thismeans producing scholarship that catches the eye of peersand members of the bar and the bench. It means thatfaculty should teach to produce practice-ready attorneys.For our excellent staff, it means putting student service atthe center of the law school experience. That is why ourcareer advisement, technology, registrar and student affairsdepartments strive to be the very best.We know thattoday’s students are tomorrow’s alumni.

Finally, I want to reiterate my belief that no law schoolcan aspire to greatness without dedicated and committedalumni. I know that we could not have taken theseimportant strides since I became dean without your loyalsupport.Please continue to do all that you can to help us.Together,we are going to take UB Law School to a new level.

2U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Message from the Dean

Building the law school of the future

’’

We are a school that is experiencing a remarkable renaissance in

spite of the mostchallenging

economy sincethe Great

Depression.

3

One of the nation’s largest firms is dramaticallyexpanding its international presence, and UBLaw graduate Michael P. Murphy ’87 is at thehelm.

Murphy, a Nixon Peabody senior partner and Reinsur-ance Group Chair, co-heads its Global Strategies and Inter-national Practice. He’s leading a robust plan to transformNixon Peabody — a Global 100 firm with Rochester roots— into a Global 50 firm, with over 1,500 lawyers.

That means building upon recentmoves into London, Shanghai andParis, and establishing offices in Eu-rope,Asia and South America. Mur-phy lives in the Buffalo suburb ofClarence but works out of Nixon’sNew York City and London offices.

“The business segments fuelingour fire now are the firms and teamswe’ve added to our portfolio in thepast six years,”says Murphy.“It’s abold and aggressive strategy.We’rebuilding a global business that allowsNixon Peabody to thrive even in adownturn in any one market.We’recreating a solid platform to serve ourclients globally and to ensure that thefirm is strong for our employees.”Thediversification strategy is also aimedat capitalizing on opportunities beingcreated as the global business marketgrows, he says. Nixon Peabody isbuilding on its strengths in reinsur-ance, financial services, IP, private eq-uity and sports.

The opportunities are many. Intellectual Property law isgrowing rapidly in China. France presents “extraordinary”IP, entertainment and private equity opportunity. Ger-many, France’s largest trading partner, is a natural expan-sion target as Nixon “connects the dots”in Europe.AndLondon is a hub for Nixon’s reinsurance, finance, infra-structure and M&A practices.

Murphy is intensely focused on emerging markets likeBrazil, where he spends considerable time representingBrazil’s largest reinsurer in a $600 million litigation involv-ing multiple related international arbitrations. Murphysays,“It’s critical to understand a market before spendingthe firm’s capital and resources on opening an office.Andhandling matters in these markets affords us the opportu-nity to immerse ourselves on the ground. In the process, welearn the business and legal culture of the market, and seemore clearly the opportunities and threats necessary to

make informed business decisions about where to placeour next bets”. India is another market Murphy is focusingon;“it’s not an open market, but that’s coming, and when itcomes we’ll be there.”

“The foundation for our global strategy is our high-per-formance, high-commitment culture,”says Murphy.“Suc-cessful firms have engaged leaders who are passionateabout the business and its people, who produce and pro-duce results, and who lead by example and not by rhetoric.”

Another Nixon strategy is to be“the best firm to work with and for”and, Murphy says,“we implementthat strategy every day.” Fortune hasnamed Nixon among the “100 BestCompanies to Work For.”Nixon isalso acclaimed for its commitment todiversity and openness to gay and les-bian employees. It’s a philosophy thatrepresents, Murphy says,“a profoundrespect for people and for the NixonPeabody family.”

Bringing global partners on boarda U.S.-style, high-performance cul-ture is challenging.“We’re guided byan unwavering commitment to align-ment — our strategy, culture, com-pensation and platform is aligned.We’re a one-firm firm which looksfor global partners whose vision, val-ues, aspirations and commitmentline up with ours.”

The globalization project comesin addition to Murphy’s membership

on Nixon’s compensation committee and his substantialreinsurance practice. He represents reinsurers and retroces-sionaires, including Swiss Re, in international disputes andtransactions. He’s recognized as one of the world’s leadingreinsurance lawyers, and his group – which handles M&A,private equity, finance, regulation, IP and international dis-putes – is ranked among the top global reinsurance indus-try teams.“It’s a great space to play in,”he says.“The barri-ers to entry are high, the competition is low, the deals anddisputes are enormous, and the quality of the lawyeringand the level of engagement is off the charts.”

Alumni Profiles

Leading the global pushMichael P. Murphy ’87 heads one firm’s ambitious expansion plan

Between economic downturnand outright fraud,there areplenty of bankruptcy casesto go around lately.Two of

the biggest – and most publicized –such cases in modern times have UBLaw alumni at the center of a legalwhirlwind.

Jeffrey L.Tanenbaum ’76, a partnerin the New York City firm Weil,Gotshal& Manges,worked on the General Mo-tors reorganization under Chapter 11of the U.S.Bankruptcy Code,and con-tinues to work on the longstandingbankruptcy reorganization of DelphiCorp.,the automotive parts supplierthat GM spun off in 1999.Marc E.Hirschfield ’92,a partner with the NewYork City firm Baker & Hostetler, is im-mersed in a series of claims resultingfrom the massive fraud perpetrated bynow-jailed financier Bernard Madoff,who perpetrated the biggest Ponzi

scheme in history.Most of Tanenbaum’s recent work

has been on the Delphi case.“It’s been a major struggle reorga-

nizing that company,”he says.“We al-ways thought we would have that re-solved long before GM resolved its fi-nancial dilemma.”

As it turns out,Tanenbaum,whoteaches a bankruptcy course as part ofthe Law School’s New York City Pro-gram in International Finance and Law,was able to bring some of his experi-ence with the Delphi case into the class-room.

“Delphi is a case study on what hap-pens during bankruptcy,”he says.“Ithas everything you can imagine,goodor bad – labor negotiations,buyers ofassets,hedge funds reneging on com-mitments to fund Delphi’s exit frombankruptcy and litigation surroundingall of the above.It’s a profile of every-

thing that could possibly happen in abankruptcy case.”

In the larger General Motors case,Weil,Gotshal represented the automak-er as it worked to sell some assets,re-structure its debt,cancel contracts,closesome operations and secure financingto emerge from bankruptcy as a new le-gal entity.

The legal work is a massive under-taking,made possible,Tanenbaumsays,only because “we’re very team-ori-ented.When we have these large Chap-ter 11 cases,we reach out to all of thevarious departments in the firm.Oneof the reasons we are so successful atdoing this work is that we have exper-tise throughout our firm in various de-partments in the bankruptcy arena.Wehave a paralegal team that works withus;we have an outside party that doesthe mass filings of pleadings for us,keeps track of pleadings that are filed,and manages the mass mailings that wehave to do.

“There are a lot of meetings,numer-ous conference calls and significant ne-gotiations.Bankruptcy is the essence ofnegotiation,trying to bring disparateinterests together to agree on a distribu-tion of the assets of a company,thewealth of a company,and doing that incompliance with the bankruptcy code.You have to look from the senior credi-tors to the most junior creditors,figureout the value of that enterprise,and dis-tribute that value fairly to the variousconstituencies.”

Tanenbaum says he and his col-leagues recognize the historic import ofthe GM case.“It’s a thrill to be part of agroup that gets to work on situationsinvolving companies that are icons ofAmerican corporate history,”he says.“Irepresented Bethlehem Steel severalyears ago.We’ve represented Texaco,Continental Airlines,Eastern Airlines,Macy’s.We’ve worked with some of thegreat companies of our time.

“It does make you feel you’re doingsomething productive,and also thatyou’re part of history,when you see

Counting the costsTwo alumni shine in high-profile national bankruptcy cases

4U B L A W F O R U M • S P R I N G 2 0 0 9

Alumni Profiles

Marc Hirschfield ’92 now spends most of his work time helping to unravel thedamage from the $65 billion Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Bernard L. Madoff.

5

Douglas J.Sylvester ’94 is thinking big– and also small.Really,really small.As a research fellow at Arizona StateUniversity,where he teaches IP law

and serves as an associate dean,he has immersedhimself in the global issues arising from nan-otechnology,the emerging science of machinesand materials measured in billionths of a meter.

Especially he studies and writes about the hu-man impacts of such microscopic technology,which some say may revolutionize the way welive.One of the problems with revolution,though,is that it makes people nervous.

“Human beings adapt to technologies anddeal with the consequences a lot better thanlawyers and social scientists would like to believe,”Sylvester says.“Change bothers people.But one ofthe things the law does really well is to allow tech-nologies to disperse and be accepted by society.”

In his writing,Sylvester explores the psycholo-gy of how humans accept or reject new technolo-gies.He also thinks and writes about privacy is-sues that arise from new technologies, taking is-sue with those who assert that individual priva-cy should always trump social concerns.“Theconcern I have always had about lawyers andlaw professors,”he says,“is that we look for peo-ple who are losers and say everything is aboutprotecting their rights. I tend to think that iswrong. If individuals lose a degree of privacy,there are many beneficial results for society.”

what these companies have donewrong,where it all started,what the is-sues were and how they dealt with theirproblems.”

• • •

Marc Hirschfield wasworking at anotherfirm when he heardthat the Securities In-

vestor Protection Corporation had ap-pointed a trustee to liquidate the hold-ings of Bernard L.Madoff InvestmentSecurities – and that the trustee hadjoined Baker & Hostetler.Hirschfield,abankruptcy specialist,moved to hisnew firm in March and now spendsmost of his work time helping to un-ravel the damage from the $65 billionPonzi scheme.

Hirschfield and his colleagues arefiling lawsuits on behalf of the trustee,amounting to more than $10 billion sofar.Some of the actions are “preference”suits seeking to recover payments madeto individuals and funds in the 90-dayperiod before the bankruptcy filing,on

the legal principle that “people who gotmoney out right before the bankruptcyshouldn’t get more money than otherpeople when the assets are dividedamong all the creditors.”They are alsosuing over fraudulent transfers paid outto third parties.

“This case will be going on for along time,”Hirschfield says.“We’ve fileda bunch of cases so far,and there aremore to come,as we go through each ofthe fraudulent transfers and potentialpreferences and see which are appro-priate for us to bring suit.”

The work involves some judgmentcalls,he says:“Some entities will have ahard time paying us back because theywere defrauded.A fund may have got-ten $100 million from Madoff last yearbut has since paid that money out totheir investors.One of the challenges istrying to trace the money and findwhere there are assets remaining.

“One of the heartbreaking aspectsof this is the people who invested in the’70s and ’80s who are now retired andmade decisions in their lives based onwhat they thought they had.

“There are a lot of people who arevery angry.A lot of people put all theirmoney into Madoff and now they’revirtually penniless.I was at Madoff’ssentencing hearing and it was extraor-dinarily sad.There was one person whotold the judge that she and her husbandtook a mortgage on their house and in-vested the money with Bernie,and nownot only is that money gone but theyare saddled with that mortgage debt.Another person talked about how she isbasically forced to scrounge for food,literally, in dumpsters.It’s very sad.”

The trustee has collected more than$1.2 billion already,Hirschfield says.Henotes that “one of the things that differ-entiates this case is that our fees are paidby the SIPC.In most bankruptcies,thefees are paid out of the pot first.Buteverything we collect goes to pay thecustomers,the creditors.”

Doug Sylvester ’94 on a tiny revolutionJeffrey L.Tanenbaum ’76 worked on

the General Motors bankruptcy reorganization and continues to workon the longstanding reorganization ofDelphi Corp.

6U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Law School Report

COMMENCEMENT

2009Kenyan prime minister

urges solidarity withemerging Africa

Two national anthems – those of the United States and

Kenya – set the stage for UB Law School’s 120th

Commencement,a ceremony with a decidedly

international flavor.Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Amolo

Odinga delivered the keynote address to the 258 graduating

students,and their families,gathered in the Center for the Arts on May 23.

Dean Makau W.Mutua,a native of Kenya who invited Odinga to speak,told

the graduates,“Congratulations for having completed and endured three long and

C o n t i n u e d …

PHOTO ESSAYRelated events to the Commencement weekend’s visit from three international champions of human rights:Kenyan Prime Minister RailaAmolo Odinga; Amnesty International Secretary-GeneralIrene Zubaida Khan; and civil rights activist attorney J. Mason Davis Jr.Page 14

For a highlights video, go to http://law.buffalo.edu/forum/commencement09.asp

Dean Makau W. Mutua, left, presents the Dean’s Medal to Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

grueling years of legal education at UB LawSchool.But if you thought that law schoolwas hard,I ask you to think again,becauselife begins now.Today begins the rest of yourlife,but I want to assure you that it will be awonderful life if you live it under the maxim‘Equality for all and justice under the law.’For in that little phrase you will find thetenets of a truly humane existence.”

Odinga began his remarks by saying,“In Kenya, at a graduation time like this,we say,‘Welcome to the world as it is, not asit should be as expounded in textbooks.’Whatever you choose to do after this, myword to you is, do not be passive observersof the world. Be active citizens of this

planet.Your services as lawyers will beneeded beyond the borders of the UnitedStates of America.”

He then gave those in attendance a briefhistory of his country,which in recent yearshas struggled to overcome a legacy ofcolonialism and self-interested nationalgovernments.He also recounted the Kenyanpeople’s increasing calls for a newconstitution that would limit the power ofthe executive branch and solidify personalfreedoms.“Solving the governance problemsin Africa requires fundamental governancereforms,”Odinga said.“Central to thesereforms is enactment of a new and popularconstitution.”

‘‘’’

WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO AFTER THIS,MY WORD TO YOU IS, DO NOT BE PASSIVE OBSERVERS OF THE WORLD. BE ACTIVE CITIZENS OF THIS PLANET.

— K e n y a n P r i m e M i n i s t e r — R a i l a A m o l o O d i n g a

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga delivered the keynote address. Receiving an honorary degree were Irene Zubaida Khan,secretary-general of the international human rightsorganization Amnesty International, and

Left to right: Pamela D. Heilman ’75 with Kenyan Minister for Lands JamesOrengo and Kenyan Minister of EducationSally Kosgei

Africa,he said,remains a “greatcontinent with greatcontradictions … where thebad and ugly run alongsideflashes of brilliance.”Some

African nations have been independent statesfor 40,50,even 60 years,he said,and “thecolonial blame game has run its course.”

“Africa has been through difficult timesin the past,”Odinga said.“Africa has beenmisgoverned and has not been able tomarshal the resources that it is.This mustnot continue.Africa does not need aid.WhatAfrica needs is trade and investment.”

8

C o n t i n u e d …

J. Mason Davis Jr. ’59, civil rights activist andprominent Birmingham,Ala., attorney.

SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Charles Patrick Ewing, left, and SUNY Distinguished TeachingProfessor Kenneth F. Joyce hood Barbara L.Waal ’09.

Dean Makau W. Mutua Karin L.Abu-Middain ’09 receives her hoodfrom Professor David M. Engel and ProfessorSusan V. Mangold.

To the graduating class he had words ofexhortation:“I want to encourage you totrain your sights on places like Africa andgreat nations like Kenya.There will be a lot todo in various fields.You could be voices forthe rule of law,constitutionalism,democracy,good governance,human rights.As you graduate,you join a world that is in arecession caused partly by poor corporategovernance and greed in some cases.Youjoin a world in peril from global warmingcaused by environmental degradation.Yourservices are required in these areas across theworld.Above all,you graduate at a timewhen,with the election of President BarackObama,America is seen to have

10U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Law School Report

‘‘ I HANDLED MORE THAN 100 VOTER DISCRIMINATIONCASES IN BOTH HUNTSVILLE AND BIRMINGHAM.THESE WERE MY FAVORITE, BECAUSE OF MY OWNENCOUNTER WITH DISCRIMINATION…

— J . M a s o n D a v i s J r . ’ 5 9 ’’

Left to right: Lindsay A. Bernstein ’09,Timothy W. Menasco ’09 and Sara A.Wall ’09

Kerese M. Foster ’09 presents the FacultyAward to Associate Professor Rick Su.

J. Mason Davis Jr. ’59 with SUNY Student Trustee Melody Mercedes. Left to right: LL.M. ’09 graduates Aparna V. Balakrishnan,

rediscovered its capacity to inspire and togive hope.Go out there and inspire theworld.”

Following a standing ovation fromthe audience,Mutua conferredupon Odinga the inauguralDean’s Award,given to “thoseindividuals who believe in justice

and the rule of law.”Honorary degrees were awarded to one

Law School alumnus and one non-alumnus.J.Mason Davis Jr.’59,of the

Birmingham law firm Sirote & Permutt P.C.,is the first African-American to practice as asenior partner of a major Alabama law firm.

An Alabama native,he had to come north toBuffalo for law school because African-Americans were denied entrance to all of theschools of the University of Alabama system.

But once he entered practice after his UBLaw education,he told the audience,“Ihandled along with two other lawyers morethan 100 lunch counter sit-in cases inHuntsville,and we were fortunate to besuccessful in all of our cases in the Huntsvillecity courts and the Birmingham court ofappeals.I also handled two of the very earlyracial discrimination cases in employmentin the state of Alabama,and I handled more

11

C o n t i n u e d …Prime Minister Odinga, left, shakes handswith Hon. Samuel L. Green ’67, while Hon.Eugene F.Piggott Jr. ’73 looks on.

Monika Bhatt, Mariela J. Marinez, Sabrina M. Smith and Nadeen C. Singh. Jeffrey Fuchs ’09 with nephew Eric Rothsteinand niece Emma Rothstein.

12U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Law School Report

than 100 voter discrimination cases in bothHuntsville and Birmingham.

“These were my favorite,because of myown encounter with discrimination with thethree members of the voting board ofregistrars.In 1958 I had finished my secondyear in law school,and my mother told me,‘You go down and register to vote.’There wasa requirement that you be literate.Well,Iwent before the three registrars,and theyasked me to interpret the 14th Amendmentto the Constitution.They didn’t know I hadjust had a year of Constitutional law.So Istarted talking,and I talked for about 30minutes,and by that time the lady who wasthe chairman of the board said,‘Just a

minute.How do you know all that?’I said,‘Ifyou had read my application,you wouldhave seen that I am a third-year law studentat the State University of New York.’Thewoman slammed her hands on the table andsaid,‘Oh,hell, just let that n----- vote.’”

Also receiving an honorarydegree was Irene ZubaidaKhan,secretary-general of theinternational human rightsorganization Amnesty

International.“I see this award as a recognition of the

work that many people around the world aredoing for human rights,”Khan said.“People

‘‘’’

Jeeil Choi ’09

Irene Zubaida Khan receives her honorary doctorate from SUNY Student Trustee Melody Mercedes. UB President Dr. John B. Simpson congratulates Prime Minister

I SEE THIS DEGREE AS A RECOGNITION OF ALL THE MENAND WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING AROUND THE WORLD,IN VILLAGES, IN REMOTE RURAL COMMUNITIES, IN URBANSLUMS, WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL.

— I r e n e Z u b a i d a K h a n

• Latin and LL.M.Honors: http://law.buffalo.edu/forum/latinHonors09.asp• Commencement Awards: http://law.buffalo.edu/forum/awards09.asp

13

like me who stand as a symbol of largehuman rights organizations get a lot ofrecognition.But I see this degree as arecognition of all the men and women whoare working around the world,in villages, inremote rural communities, in urban slums,who are fighting for justice for all.”

To the graduates she said,“This is amoment of great challenge.You are goinginto a world of uncertainty,of an economiccrisis but I would say it’s actually a humanrights crisis.There is worry about jobs,abouthomes,but there is also a shortage of cleanwater,of land,of food,and behind it all astory of deprivation and discrimination,ofracism and xenophobia,of insecurity and

above all of exclusion – people whose voicesare not being heard but who are affectedmost horrendously by this economic crisis.You are privileged and empowered withyour knowledge to go out there,and thequestion you must ask is,what are you goingto do about it?

“Law is a shield – it protects people – butlaw is also a sword that we can use to fightwith.In whatever you do,stand up forjustice.”

Sigfredo Rivea ’09, left, and Dan J. Montanez ’09

r Odinga. Hon. Diane Devlin ’86 and Associate Professor Rick Su applauds the graduates.

1514U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Commencement Weekend

Visitors receive awarm Buffalo welcome

Assistant Director of Reunions andSpecial Programs Amy Hayes Atkinsonand Dean Mutua

SUNY Distinguished Service ProfessorClaude E.Welch Jr. and Irene ZubaidaKhan

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and Hon. Leslie G. Foschio ’65

Left to right: Rosemary Odinga, Dean Makau Mutua, Mayor Byron Brown,Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, Professor Micere Githae Mugo, Luther Johnson andMadam Ida Odinga

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and UBDistinguished Professor Guyora Binder

Left: Rt. Hon. RailaOdinga andAssociateProfessorRuqaiijah Yearby

Left: CamieGreene,ChristopherT. Greene ’74,Cindy AbbottLetro

Left: Vice DeanLillie Wiley-Upshaw, Rt.Hon. RailaOdinga andDean MakauMutua

Left: Vice DeanJames A.Gardner andDean’sAdvisoryCouncilChairThomas E.Black Jr. ’79

Left: UB ProvostSatish K.Tripathi andRt. Hon. RailaOdinga

Left:RosemaryOdinga,Margaret W.Wong ’76 andRt. Hon. RailaOdinga

Left: Beth andDennis R.McCoy ’77

Left: Francis M.Letro ’79,Hon.Ann T.Mikoll ’54andRaymondSmith

Far Left: Dr. John B.Simpson, Universitypresident, shakes handswith Rt. Hon. RailaOdinga.Left: Irene ZubaidaKhan, Rt. Hon. RailaOdinga, J. Mason DavisJr. ’59, Dean Mutua andChristopher J. O’Brien

Far Left: Pamela D.Heilman ’75,Robert D. Heilmanand Rt. Hon. RailaOdingaLeft to right: J. Mason Davis Jr.’59, Madam IdaOdinga, Mrs. JuneFox Davis and Rt.Hon. Raila Odina

May 22: Guests welcome Prime MinisterOdinga, his family and entourage at a welcomeparty held Friday night in the Marriott Hotel.

May 23: The three award recipients were the guests of honor at a special lunch in the president’s home in Amherst.

May 23: Alumni reception at The Mansion

May 24: Athena and Makau Mutua entertained faculty, staff and friends in their Buffalo home for Sunday brunch.

May 23: The guests of honor enjoyed a private tour of the Cave of the Winds and experienced themighty force of the Niagara before a brunch for the press and local dignitaries at Top of the Falls.

For additional photos of the weekend’sevents visit:www.law.buffalo.edu/forum/spr09/bhm.asp

16U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Law School Report

The Law School is reinvent-ing its programs designedto teach practical lawyeringskills, with the aim of turn-ing out new graduates who

are practice-ready on Day One to file abrief, cross-examine a witness ormake a special pleading.

It’s all part of the Legal Skills Pro-gram, a framework that encompassescourses and experiences in legal re-search and writing, litigation andnon-litigation skills such as media-tion, and professional development.

Said Dean Makau W. Mutua: “Thenewly created Legal Skills Programwill bring pedagogical rationale andcurricula coherence to a vast and vitalarea of legal education. These offer-ings complement black-letter law and

courses that focus on the jurispru-dence and theory of law. Put together,these two sides are critical to the edu-cation of a well-trained, analyticallysound and thoughtful lawyer.

“I am very pleased that SUNY Dis-tinguished Service Professor CharlesPatrick Ewing has agreed to serve asVice Dean for Legal Skills. He is wide-ly respected by colleagues, peersaround the country, judges and thebar. He will bring his enormous tal-ents to bear on the organizational andinstructional excellence that we expectof the Legal Skills Program.”

“The idea,”said Ewing,“is to inte-grate and coordinate these programsso we have better control over themand they offer a better learning expe-rience for the students. Right now,

there is a demand for lawyers comingout of law schools who are able to dothings – do research, write, have somelitigation skills, some appellate advo-cacy skills – right out of the gate.We’ve been doing all of this, it justhasn’t been pulled together, coordi-nated and integrated.”

Some highlights of the program:In Legal Research and Writing, first-

year students learn the basics of thesevital skills, and advanced courses areoffered for upper-division students.Seven research and writing instructors– some new to the Law School, somewith continuing ties – will teach in thisarea.Ewing said the school is also con-templating a new curriculum for thesecourses,with expectations that itwould begin in fall 2010.“I am con-

The skills to succeedNew legal skills program will produce practice-ready attorneys

“The idea is to inte-grate and coordinatethese programs so wehave better controlover them and they of-fer a better learningexperience for the students.”

— Vice Dean for Legal Skills Charles Patrick Ewing

‘‘

’’

vinced that legal research and writingskills are critical to our students’suc-cess in the job market and as lawyersonce they are hired,”he said.“The pro-gram that I inherited is already strongand solid,but my goal is to make it oneof the best in the country.”

Litigation Skills includes basiccourses in trial technique – teachingsuch basics as how to make an openingstatement,examine and cross-examinea witness,and make a closing state-ment – and more advanced trial advo-cacy courses,most of which are taughtby judges and legal practitioners.Thisarea also covers trial and other non-ap-pellate moot court competitions.

Ewing is hoping to integratethe trial technique and trialadvocacy offerings into a sin-gle program,and to buildstronger ties between the Law

School and the adjunct faculty teachingin this area.“To me, this is a hugely im-portant part of our program,”he said.“A large percentage of our students goon to become trial lawyers,and I wouldlike to see more of a continuum of edu-cation.”For example,he said,whilecontinuing to teach trial techniques insmall class sections, it might be prof-itable to bring those sections togetherfor demonstrations by experts in vari-ous aspects of the field.

To co-direct the school’s trial offer-ings, two well-known figures in theBuffalo law community have been en-listed: Erie County Court JudgeThomas P.“Tim”Franczyk, a long-time champion of the Law School’smock trial program, and ChrisO’Brien of O’Brien Boyd, an experi-enced teacher of trial advocacy.

“The most immediate changes inthis program will be some new facesamong the judges and attorneys whoteach trial techniques to our students,new, improved and more challengingcase problems for the students tograpple with, and a set of demonstra-tions for our students by master triallawyers that will supplement whatthey are learning in class,”Ewing said.

Appellate Advocacy Skills. This areacomprises appellate-style moot courtsand other writing-based competi-tions, as well as courses designed toteach the basics of brief-writing andappellate oral advocacy. Ewing saidthe school will carefully evaluate thedozens of moot court competitionsavailable nationwide, as well as severalsponsored by the Law School, with aneye toward maximizing student par-ticipation while prudently investingthe time of faculty who advise UBLaw’s teams. Professor George Kannarwill be the director of Moot Courts.

The Non-Litigation Skills compo-nent of the program includes coursesin negotiation, alternative dispute res-olution, mediation and counseling.Students also will have the opportuni-ty to participate as an editor for UBLaw’s wide array of scholarly journals.Associate professor Rick Su will serveas director of journals.“It’s importantfor students to understand that it’s notall about litigation,”Ewing said.“Andthere is not enough concern with thecounseling aspect of practice, which iswhat most lawyers should really do.”

The final piece of the Legal SkillsProgram, Professional Development,covers a wide range of opportunitiesfor students to grow into the profes-sion. It includes the work of Directorof Academic Support Barbara A.Sherk, other programs to support stu-dents and new graduates preparingfor the bar exam, the vast array of ex-ternship and clerkship placementsavailable to students, and the impor-tant area of legal ethics.

“A legal skills program is crucial tothe success of any law school,”Ewingsaid.“The business of law is requiringmore skills from young lawyers, andthe energy that we are putting intoour program will help them to leavehere ready to go to work right fromthe start.”

17

National searchyields new legal researchand writing instructors

Johanna Oreskovic,who will coordinate the new program, earnedher B.A., M.A. in History, Ed.M. and

J.D. from UB, graduat-ing from the LawSchool in 1997.At UB,she served as Book Re-view Editor of the Buf-falo Law Review. Shehas been associatedwith the Buffalo law

firms of Hodgson Russ and Rupp,Baase, Pfalzgraf, Cunningham, andCoppola. Her practice concentratedon commercial and employmentlitigation. She has taught at the LawSchool since 1998. Her courses haveincluded Legal Research and Writ-ing,Adoption Law: Domestic andInternational, and the LL.M. Collo-quium. She also administered theLaw School’s LL.M. programs from2000-2008. Her publications in-clude articles on labor law andadoption law. Prior to entering thelegal profession, she taught Historyand English and served as an ad-ministrator at several independentsecondary schools, including TheBuffalo Seminary, The AmericanSchool in Switzerland, and JohnBurroughs School in St. Louis.

Christine Pedigo Bartholomewreceived her B.A. from San Francis-co State University in 1997 and herJ.D. from University at California,Davis, in 2000. Upon graduation,

Professor Bartholo-mew worked in theSan Francisco BayArea as an attorney,practicing in the areasof antitrust and con-sumer protection. In2004, she helped open

a branch office of a Washington,D.C.-based class action boutique.

Continued on page 18

Chris O’Brien ofO’Brien Boyd

Erie County CourtJudge Thomas P.“Tim”Franczyk

18U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Law School Report

During her legal career, ProfessorBartholomew worked on several sig-nificant antitrust actions, includingRodriguez, et al. v.West PublishingCorp. For the last three years, Chris-tine has been a member of the LawSchool’s adjunct faculty, teaching Pri-vate Antitrust Suits, Complex CivilLitigation and Antitrust.

Nan L.Haynes graduated from UBLaw in 1992.As a student, she was ap-pointed a teaching assistant to Profes-sor Lucinda Finley, and then to Pro-fessor Nils Olsen when each taught

first-year students re-search and writing. Shepracticed full time atLipsitz & Ponterio inBuffalo from 1995-2002as an associate and apartner, where she fo-cused in plaintiffs’envi-

ronmental, occupational and civilrights litigation. She gave up a part-nership in Lipsitz & Ponterio 10 yearsafter graduating so she could againteach research and writing at UB Law.She continues to practice in the areasof childhood lead paint exposure liti-gation and civil rights litigation in herrole of “as counsel”to Lipsitz & Ponte-rio.

Patrick Long spent four years inthe Navy following his graduationfrom Harvard College. He then joinedthe faculty of the Nichols School, a

private high school inBuffalo, where hetaught English for fouryears, before enrollingin UB Law School. Fol-lowing his graduationin 2000, Patrick prac-ticed for five years at

Hodgson Russ in Buffalo focusing onlitigation, especially products liability,construction and maritime law. In2006 he returned to Nichols, where hetaught English and coached footballand wrestling, before returning to UBas a member of the Research andWriting faculty.

Chris Pashler earned his B.A. andJ.D. from the University of Iowa. Priorto teaching at UB, he practiced in thearea of civil litigation for eight years,including four years as an AssistantCounty Attorney in MontgomeryCounty, Md., where he defended thecounty in administrative litigation ofconstruction contracts. He also wasan attorney with the Social Security

Administration inChicago, where heworked with adminis-trative law judges on theadjudication of disabili-ty applications. He be-gan his teaching careeras an adjunct lecturer in

the legal studies program at Mont-gomery College in Germantown, Md.Since 2007 he was an adjunct profes-sor in the Legal Analysis, Research andCommunication program at the De-Paul University College of Law, inChicago. He is the author (with BrianLambert) of At the Crossroads of Ageand Disability: Can Practitioners Relyon the Amended ADA and the ADEAto Provide Adequate Recourse for theOlder Disabled Individual (2009).

Stephen Paskey graduated fromthe University of Maryland School ofLaw in 1994 and then clerked for theMaryland Court of Special Appeals.

From 1995 to 2007, heserved as a litigating at-torney at the UnitedStates Department ofJustice in Washington,D.C., first with the Im-migration and Natural-ization Service and then

as a Senior Trial Attorney in the Officeof Special Investigations, the unit thatinvestigates Nazi collaborators andother immigrants who participated ingenocide, torture or extrajudicialkilling. From 2007 to 2009, he taughtresearch and writing at McGeorgeSchool of Law in Sacramento. In No-vember 2008, he received the AssistantAttorney General’s Award for HumanRights Law Enforcement.

Laura Reilly earned her B.A. fromWashington University in 1988 andher J.D. from William Mitchell Col-lege of Law in 1994. After clerking for

the Denver DistrictCourt in Denver, Laurapracticed civil litigationat firms in Denver andBuffalo. She joined theLaw School’s Researchand Writing faculty in2002.

Seven research and writing instructors – some new to the Law School, some with continuing ties – will teach in this area.

Continued from page 17

19

Anew student fellowshipprogram,funded with amajor gift from a UB Lawalumnus,sent 11 UB Lawstudents on the adventure

of their lives this summer throughplacement in human rights externshipsnear and far.

From Buffalo to Nairobi,Kosovo toMicronesia,the students worked in ar-eas they are passionate about,bringingtheir nascent legal skills to the challengeof promoting basic humanrights.The initial Thomasand Barbara Wolfe Fellow-ships went to:

• Joanna T.McKeegan’10, TransAfrica Forum,Washington,D.C.

• Bianca Stella D’Angelo’10, Executive Office for Im-migration Review,Immi-gration Court,Buffalo

• Kasia McDonald ’10,Volunteer Lawyers Project,Buffalo

• Kristen W.Ng ’10,Vol-unteer Lawyers Project,Buf-falo

• Sean Mulligan ’11, In-ternational Food Policy Re-search Institute,Washing-ton,D.C.,and Uganda

• Allison Chan ’11, KenyaHuman Rights Commis-sion,Nairobi,Kenya

• Hy Won Kang ’10, Korean NationalAssembly Legislative Research Service,Seoul,Korea

• Tiffany Lebron ’11, Fund forAfrican Development,Kampala,Ugan-da

• Estelle Atalig Hofschneider ’11,Micronesian Legal Services,Saipan,Northern Mariana Islands

• Bernadette N.Koleszar ’11, Orga-nization for Safety and Cooperation inEurope,Kosovo

• Elene Steigman ’10, Center for thePromotion and Defense of Sexual andReproductive Rights,Lima,Peru.

These unpaid externships were

made possible by grants of $4,000apiece from a fund established byThomas and Barbara Wolfe.He is a1961 graduate of the Law School.

“Tom and Barbara Wolfe have beenvery generous to UB Law,”said DeanMakau W.Mutua. “The Wolfe Fellow-ships give us a great opportunity to ex-pose our students to the practice of hu-man rights both here and abroad.These awards put us in league withleading law schools in the country.”

Stefanie A.Svoren ’09,who herselfworked for the Kenya Human RightsCommission in Nairobi after her 1Lyear,was part of a team of students in-volved with the Buffalo Human RightsCenter who helped select the fellowshiprecipients.She also served as co-editorin chief of the Buffalo Human RightsLaw Review.

The grants,she says,are “completelyenough to cover living expenses”for thesummer,making it financially possiblefor students to take human rights ex-ternships,which largely are unpaid po-sitions.

“We are seeing more enthusiasm

from the student body for these types ofexternships,”Svoren said.“People arerealizing that law is no longer confinedwithin definite borders – it’s interna-tional.With the rise of international lawand Buffalo being on the border,there’sgreater overall interest in internationalhuman rights.”

Applicants for the fellowships,shesaid,were asked for a resume and a let-ter of interest.The panel looked to seewhether they have made some effort to

contact organizations forwhich they might work –“We just want to see if peo-ple are enthusiastic about iton their own.”The awardprocess,she said,is “quitecompetitive.”

Students also can getcourse credit for their sum-mer’s work;upon their re-turn,they will consult withfaculty and write a substan-tial paper about their experi-ence,perhaps outlining theproject they worked on orcritiquing the effectivenessof their organization.

Svoren knows how re-warding – and involving –such an externship can be.Her time in Nairobi,shesaid,was “overall a very posi-tive,rewarding experience.But it was also a very emo-

tionally draining experience.It was thefirst time I was a minority;being a fairlypale white girl with blond hair,I stoodout.But the people were very receptiveand protective of me.People at thecommission gave me opportunities Inever thought it would be able to have.”

As part of the externship,she creat-ed a framework for creating a policeoversight body in Kenya,to curb abusesby the authorities as they battled crimi-nal gangs.The Kenya Human RightsCommission,she said,is in the processof proposing this to the country’s Par-liament.

The rights stuffNew Wolfe Fellowships put 11 students into rewarding summer externships

Tiffany M.Lebron with young friends in Uganda.

Law School Report

The University at BuffaloLaw School this semesterwelcomes one of its mostaccomplished and selectiveclasses in its 122-year histo-

ry,a group of students that Law SchoolDean Makau W.Mutua called “a sin-gular accomplishment”for UB Lawand the foundation on which to makeUB one of the finest law schools in thecountry.

The school’s Class of 2012 was cho-sen from a national application pool ofover 2,104.Only 31 percent of the ap-plicants were admitted,making thisyear’s class one of the most highly se-lective in recent years.

“It is undoubtedly one of ourstrongest classes ever,”according toMutua.“It raises our selectivity andplaces UB Law in a strong position to

further enhance our reputation in theprofession, in the legal academy andamong prospective applicants.”

The 208 first-year law students hada median LSAT score of 157,with 25percent of those enrolled scoring 159or better.The class earned a median

grade-point average of 3.52,an in-crease from last year’s GPA of a 3.48;however,25 percent of the class earneda 3.73 GPA or better.

“Recently, the National Juristranked UB Law the 29th ‘best value’ inthe nation looking at law school tu-itions,employment rates and bar pas-sage rates.These students recognizedthis value and made a great decision.In turn,we were able to land a very ac-complished and impressive class,”saidJames R.Newton,vice dean for ad-ministration.

Mutua praised the law school’s ad-

missions office for doing an excellentjob and attracting a class with “charac-ter, talent and top credentials.”Thestudents come from some of the topuniversities and colleges in the nation,including Brown University,New YorkUniversity,Boston University,Univer-

20U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Class of 2012among the best ever

Recently,theNational Jurist

ranked UBLaw the 29th

“best value”inthe nation

looking at lawschool tuitions,

employmentrates and barpassage rates.

Left to right: Edward J.Wixted III, Marie Lampropoulos, Brian K.Prince, Bridget A. Kleinfelder,Erin B. Delancy,Scott T.Ptak ’12,Emily M. Ciulla, Elizabeth J. Henschel

Left to right: Tamara S.Wright, Erica C. Smith, Marcus T. Smith, Shatorah N.Roberson, and Monique A. Tronchin.

21

Spotlight on staffFIRST IN A CONTINUING SERIES

Dean Mutua says:James R. Newton,Vice Dean for Administration “I could not do what I do as dean without theindefatigable Jim Newton. His emotional intelligenceand people-centered approach is a godsend. He is theperfect Vice Dean for Administration.”

• Jim Newton oversees the Law School’s administrative units: alumni andcommunications, development, admissions, career services, studentservices, records and registration, human resources, budget, facilities andinformation technology.

Marlene Cook,Vice Dean for Resource Management “She is the quintessential professional – a master of hercraft who has unparalleled integrity and sense of service.She is unflappable even in the face of the mostchallenging conditions. She is a dream to work with.”

• Marlene Cook is a careful and creative steward of the Law School’sfinancial resources. Her work demands budgeting and allocations so thatevery dollar supports the school’s mission.

Lillie Wiley-Upshaw, Vice Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid“Her knowledge of law school admissions and attention to the indexes of excellence are unsurpassed.She combines a keen sense of justice and fairness that permits us to aspire put together a great

student body that looks like America.”• Lillie Wiley-Upshaw is a familiar face in O’Brian Hall and nationwide.Wiley has been instrumental in attracting incoming classes of students who are successively smarter, more accomplished and more diverse.

Alan S. Carrel, Vice Dean “He is unquestionably our guru of development.He is a walking encyclopedia of our alumni. He lovesthem and they love him back.Without Alan, we wouldnot have made as much progress in just one year.Self-effacing and completely absorbed in his work,Alan is every dean’s gift.”

• Alan Carrel works to build relationships with Law School alumni far andnear, with special emphasis on (and uncommon success with) thedevelopment of major gifts in support of the school’s educational program.

sity of Pennsylvania,University ofTexas,University of Maryland,Spel-man College,Georgetown Universi-ty and Cornell University.

Their average age is 25,with 35percent over age 25 – the oldest classto date.Eleven percent hold ad-vanced academic degrees.Fourteenpercent come from out of state,and49 percent are females.

According to Lillie V.Wi-ley-Upshaw,vice dean foradmissions and financialaid,“The Class of 2012 is

impressive.Their previous fields ofstudy include film production,ac-counting, foreign languages, journal-ism,theology,mathematics and bio-chemistry.Many of the students haveeither lived or worked abroad in suchplaces as Australia,Africa and Korea.“Our students made a smart choice.They will be surrounded by other ex-ceptional students and will earn a lawdegree that will allow them to fulfilltheir professional dreams - withouthaving to mortgage their future.”

Mutua said,“An accomplishedand selective law class is central to theacademic excellence and overall rep-utation of any law school,and is par-ticularly crucial to UB at this point inits development.An aggressive cam-paign for recruitment scholarshipsamong alumni helped the LawSchool enroll this fantastic class.”

22U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Faculty

Planted Flags:Trees, Land, and Law in

Israel/PalestineBy Associate Professor

Irus Braverman (Cambridge University Press)

The significance of trees – thepine forests of the PromisedLand of Israel, and the olive

trees that Palestinians identify as asymbol of their connec-tion to the land – is atthe heart of this ex-ploration of law,landscape andethnic conflict.What is it, Braver-man asks, thatmakes the acts ofplanting, cultivating and uprootingtrees into acts of war? How does thepolarization of the “natural”land-scape reflect and reinforce hostilitybetween Israelis and Palestinians?And what role does law play in thisstory?

The author, who holds master ofarts and bachelor of laws degreesfrom the Hebrew University ofJerusalem, uses the techniques ofethnography in Planted Flags. Shetells the story of trees through thenarratives of military andgovernment officials, architects,lawyers, Palestinian and Israelifarmers, and Jewish settlers.

Fault Lines:Tort Law and Cultural Practice

Edited by Professor David Engel

(with Michael McCann) (Stanford University Press)

Tort law, a fundamental buildingblock of every legal system, fea-tures prominently in mass cul-

ture and political debates.As this pio-neering anthology reveals, tort law isnot simply a collection of legal rulesand procedures, but a set of culturalresponses to the broader problems ofrisk, injury, assignment of responsi-bility, compensation, valuation andobligation.

Examining tortlaw as a culturalphenomenon and aform of culturalpractice, Fault Linescompares tort lawacross space and time,looking at the UnitedStates, Europe and Asia in the 19th,20th and 21st centuries. It draws ontheories and methods from law,sociology, political science andanthropology to offer aninterdisciplinary look at a heretoforeunderexamined area of tort law.Ultimately, the book demonstrates,tort law nests within a larger web ofrelationships and shared conventionsthat organize social life.

Insanity:Murder, Madness,

and the LawBy Professor

Charles Patrick Ewing(Oxford University Press)

One of the nation’s leading ex-perts on the insanity defense,Ewing here conveys the psy-

chological and legal drama of 10landmark insanity cases. His casestudies include “Son of Sam”killer David Berkowitz;John Gacy, who killed atleast 30 boys and youngmen in Chicago; JackRuby, killer of Lee HarveyOswald, President Kennedy’sassassin; and Andrea Yates, whodrowned her five children in the fam-ily’s bathtub.

The book also debunks myths ofpopular opinion regarding theinsanity defense.“In those rareinstances in which a defendant isactually found insane, the public isusually outraged,”Ewing says.“Inhomicide cases especially, they believethat the defendant ‘got away withmurder.’ ”In reality, he says,“thedefense is rarely raised, rarelyapplicable and even more rarelysuccessful.And when it does succeed,the defendant usually loses his or herliberty for many years, sometimes forlife.”

Recent books by UB Law faculty members

The UB Law bookshelf

23

What Are Campaigns For? The Role of Persuasion in Electoral

Law and Politics By Professor James Gardner,vice dean for academic affairs(University of Chicago Press)

For citizens of a democracy, anelection is a time to take stock –to re-examine our beliefs; to re-

view our understanding of our owninterests; to ponder the place of thoseinterests in the larger social order;and to contemplate our understand-ing of how our commitments are besttranslated into governmental policy –or so we profess to believe. But theory

and reality diverge, andthe typical modern

American electioncampaign seemscrass, shallow andunengaging.

What AreCampaigns For? is a

multidisciplinary work oflegal scholarship that looks at howlegal institutions help to create thisdisjunction between political idealand reality. Gardner’s book exploresthe contemporary American ideal ofdemocratic citizenship in electioncampaigns by tracing it to itshistorical sources, documenting itsthorough infiltration of legal norms,evaluating its feasibility in light of thefindings of the social sciences, andtesting it against the requirements ofdemocratic theory.

Private Lawyers and the PublicInterest: The Evolving Role of Pro

Bono in the Legal Profession Edited by Professor Lynn Mather

(with Robert Granfield)(Oxford University Press)

This collection of essays by lead-ing and emerging scholars inthe field examines the history,

conditions, organization and strate-gies of pro bono lawyering.Private Lawyers and thePublic Interest tracesthe rise and impactof the American BarAssociation’s cam-paign to hold lawyersaccountable for a com-mitment to public serviceand to encourage public service with-in law schools. Combining empiricallegal research with reflections bypractitioners and theorists about themeaning and practice of pro bono le-gal work, these essays examine thepublic service ideals of the legal pro-fession and place these ideals within abroader social, economic and ideo-logical context.

These essays investigate theevolving role of pro bono in the legalprofession and in law schools, therelationship between pro bono idealsand pro bono in practice, the waythat pro bono is shaped by externalforces beyond the individualpractitioner, and the multifacetednature of legal professionalism asexpressed through pro bono practice.

Moving upTerrence E.McCormack, head of

the M. Robert Koren Center for Clini-cal Legal Education, has accepted anadditional role and promotion as In-terim Manager of Law School Tech-nology Services. He will integrate andcombine Law Instructional Technolo-gy and Instructional Support opera-tions to bring enhanced services and“one-stop shopping”in the IT/AV are-na to all Law School personnel.

On the moveUB Law celebrates the accomplish-

ments of these faculty and staff memberswhose professional lives are taking them elsewhere.

Elizabeth Buckley ’80 is retiring af-ter two decades of teaching the Uni-form Commercial Code at UB Law.

Clinical InstructorSara Faherty ’90 taughtresearch and writingand subsequentlyworked and taught inboth the AffordableHousing Clinic and theCommunity Economic

Development Clinic. She has accepteda position as an adjunct faculty mem-ber at the University of Toronto LawSchool.

Laura Mangan,deputy director of theBaldy Center for Lawand Social Policy, has ac-cepted a new position asthe University at Buffa-lo’s coordinator of theCivic Engagement in

Public Policy Strategic Strength.

24U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Faculty

Recent articles by UB Law faculty members

AssociateProfessor MarkBartholomew,“Advertising and

the Transformation ofTrademark Law”(NewMexico Law Review,Vol.38).Looking at the formative erain American trademark law,Bartholomew finds thatcourts granted robust legalprotection to trademarkholders in the early 20thcentury because theyaccepted the benign view ofadvertising presented tothem by advertisers,and thatjudges adopted a specificconstruction of theconsumer mind in the early1900s to reconcile thetension between legalprotection for trademarkgoodwill and belief in freecompetition.

• • •UB Distinguished

Professor Guyora Binder,“The Culpability of FelonyMurder”(Notre Dame LawReview,Vol.83).Binderdefends the much-malignedfelony murder doctrine,saying that the theory ofculpability assesses blame forharm on the basis of theactor’s expectation of causingharm,and the moral worthof the ends for which theactor imposes this risk.

• • •Associate Professor

Irus Braverman,“Plantingthe Promised Landscape”(Natural Resources Journal,Spring 2009).Bravermananalyzes the use of naturalresource laws and policies tosimultaneously conduct andmask political conflict,withparticular focus on the battle

over pine versus olive forestsin Israel/Palestine.

• • •Joseph Belluck and Laura

Aswad Professor of CivilJustice and Vice Dean forAcademic Affairs James A.Gardner,“In Search of Sub-National Constitutionalism”(4 European ConstitutionalLaw Review).Gardnerexamines such issues asfederalism as a consequenceof local/cultural self-determination; the degree ofautonomous human rightsprotection on a subnationallevel;and how the rise ofinternational human rightsprotection makessubnational human rightsprotection less important.

• • •Distinguished Professor

Alfred S.Konefsky,“TheLegal Profession:From theRevolution to the Civil War”in The Cambridge History ofLaw in America,Vol.2.Aspart of“the mostcomprehensive andauthoritative accountpossible of the history ofAmerican law,”Konefskywrites a history of the legalprofession in the nation’sformative years.

• • •Professor and Vice Dean

for Research and FacultyDevelopment ErrolMeidinger,“CompetitiveSupragovernmentalRegulation:How Could It BeDemocratic?”(ChicagoJournal of International Law,Vol.8). Meidinger says anemerging mode oftransnational governancemay also be generating anovel form of democracy,inwhich competing regulatory

programs aim to anticipateemergent public values andinstitute regulatorymechanisms to implementthem,thereby advancingtheir own authority.

• • •Professor

Athena D.Mutua,“Restoring Justice to CivilRights Movement Activists?:New Historiography and the’Long Civil Rights Era’”(Buffalo Legal StudiesResearch Paper Series No.2008-12). Mutua asks,Whatdo participants in the CivilRights and Restorative JusticeProject mean when they talkabout the civil rights era? andargues for a richer and morediverse story of the civil rightsmovement in America.

• • •

SUNY DistinguishedProfessor and Dean Makau W.Mutua,“HumanRights and Powerlessness:Pathologies of Choice andSubstance”(56 Buffalo LawReview).Mutua argues for awider vision of human rightslaw and the role of the state inadvancing such law,saying,“The human rights regimeappears to be moreconcerned with certain formsof human powerlessness,andnot others.”

• • •Professor Robert I.Reis,

“Rights and Remedies PosteBay v.MercExchange –Deep Waters Stirred”(Akron

25

Professor James A.Wooten named Law Library Director

Law School Professor James A.Wooten has been appointeddirector of the Charles B.SearsLaw Library and vice dean for legal

information services,effective Aug.14.Wooten will be responsible for the overallmanagement and direction of the LawLibrary.His appointment was made bySUNY Distinguished Professor and UB LawDean Makau Mutua.

“Jim has a great passion for books andresearch,”said Mutua.“He is in tune with thechanging nature of law libraries in theinformation age and the importance of thelaw library to our school and the greaterBuffalo legal community.Jim is a collegialmember of the Law School community,andI feel very fortunate to have him leading ourlibrary and on my leadership team.”

Wooten teaches courses at UB onpension and employee benefit law,federalincome taxation and federal tax policy. He

has also taught bankruptcy,legislative policymaking,and law andeconomics.Wooten’s research focuses on regulatory and tax policies thataffect retirement plans,health plans and other employee benefit plans.Heserves on the steering committee of the Tobin Project and chairs itsworking group on retirement security.Wooten is also a member of theNational Academy of Social Insurance and a fellow of the EmployeeBenefit Research Institute.

“For the last decade,my research has focused on federal policymakingin the fields of employee benefit law and taxation,”Wooten said.“Themajor puzzle was to understand why Congress would pass legislation thatwas opposed by business and most of organized labor.The answer is inmy book,The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974: A PoliticalHistory, which appeared in January 2005.

“More recently,I have analyzed the origins of the financial problems atthe Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.My research on ERISA hasgiven me a fascination with legislative policymaking.Over the next year,Iplan to begin work on a book on the politics of policymaking in the U.S.Congress.”

Wooten grew up in a small steel town in northeast Texas.Aftergraduating from Rice University in 1981,he moved to the University ofChicago,where he spent two years pursuing graduate studies in theDepartment of Anthropology.In 1985,Wooten entered a J.D./Ph.D.program at Yale University.After completing his law degree in 1989,Wooten clerked for Federal District Judge William Wayne Justice of theEastern District of Texas.

In 1992-93,Wooten was an associate at Bredhoff & Kaiser,one of thenation’s leading firms in the fields of labor and employee benefit law.Wooten later served as Legal History Fellow at Yale Law School and as aGolieb Fellow in Legal History at New York University School of Lawbefore joining the faculty of UB Law School in 1995.Wooten received hisPh.D.in American studies from Yale University in 2003.

Intellectual Property Journal,Vol.2).Analyzing the 2006Supreme Court decision onpatent infringement,Reisasks why the courtdistinguished between rightsand remedies in this case andasks,“Is this potentially a linein the sand drawn by thecourt based on theirconstitutional obligationsunder separation of powers?”

• • •Associate Professor

Rick Su,“A Localist Readingof Local ImmigrationRegulations”(North CarolinaLaw Review,Vol.86).Sudebunks the idea thatimmigration restrictions atthe local level are a newdevelopment,saying thatlocal immigrationregulations “reflect a naturalextension of how we’vetraditionally used legal rulesto organize our localcommunities to deal withdemographic andsocioeconomic diversity andchange.”

• • •Associate Professor

Winnifred Fallers Sullivan,“Religion Naturalized:TheNew Establishment”inCourtney Bender andPamela Klassen,eds.,AfterPluralism (Columbia).Sullivan’s book chapterexplores the idea that a newnaturalization of religion ispresent in U.S.legal contexts.Moving beyond church-stateseparation,she writes,“Thereare no churches left toestablish or to disestablish.Intheir place,the human,everyhuman,is now imagined bylaw as being in need ofspiritual care.”

• • •

Associate ProfessorMateo Taussig-Rubbo,“Outsourcing Sacrifice:TheLabor of Private MilitaryContractors”(New YorkUniversity Journal ofLegislation and Public Policy).Taussig-Rubbo notes thetenuous legal position ofarmed private militarycontractors,and argues thatthe emergence of thecontractor is an effort by U.S.officials to avoid the politicalliability entailed in calling aloss a sacrifice.

• • •Associate Professor

Ruqaiijah Yearby,“Strivingfor Equality,But Settling forthe Status Quo in HealthCare: Is Title VI MoreIllusory Than Real?”(RutgersLaw Review,Vol.59).Title VI,part of the landmark CivilRights Act of 1964,prohibitsdiscrimination on the basisof race,color and nationalorigin in programs receivingfederal financial assistance.But Yearby finds evidence ofunequal treatment in suchmeasures as delay of transferfrom hospitals to nursinghomes,denials of admissionto nursing homes,anddisproportionatepopulations of African-Americans in nursing homesproviding substandard care.

“For over a century,Buffalo was awell-regarded regional law school,anda well kept secret,”says Fleischmann,who is vice dean for alumni,PR andcommunications at the Law School,and executive director of the UB LawAlumni Association.“Now,underDean Mutua’s leadership,we want tomove up to become a top 50 law school.To do so,it is critically important tohave a national profile.That will help usrecruit the brightest students and facul-ty, help our graduates get hired by thefinest firms,and help us build andstrengthen alumni relationships thatwill move our law school forward.”

Kristina Lively,the school’s Web-master,says UB Law is in good compa-ny as it expands its electronic pres-ence.“Law schools are becomingmore competitive,”she says,“andthere are other schools that are al-ready using these tools.But we areahead of the game as far as being opento using these technologies for theschool.”

The Law School has long had a Website (www.law.buffalo.edu),of course –“The Web site is always going to be themother ship of the information on theLaw School,”Lively says.“We’re addingto it by bringing in elements like our

YouTube clips,and we always pointfrom our YouTube channel to our Website.There is always that exchange goingon.

“But information also needs to trav-el to where people are,and Facebook isone example of where people arespending time.Our students are there,prospective students are there,and ouralumni are there.”

The Law School has established apage on Facebook (www.law.buffalo.edu/Facebook.asp) that’s chock-full ofclass reunion photos,news releases,an-

nouncements and links to videoclips.Visitors can also add theirown comments.Plans are in theworks to establish Facebook pages

as well for individual classes,reunionclasses and alumni chapters.In addi-tion,the school’s admissions office cre-ated a Facebook page for accepted stu-dents,allowing them to start to buildcommunity even before they get tocampus.

A further step,Lively says, is to makethe Law School’s information portableby placing it on Twitter;alumni and

26U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Virtual and National

Looking to build even stronger ties with loyal alumni,the Law School andthe UB Law Alumni Association are going where the alums are – bothin person and online.Ongoing initiatives to strengthen the bonds between the school and its

graduates,wherever they may work or live,as well as raise UB Law’s profile na-tionwide,include an expanding presence on social networking sites such as Face-book and Twitter,video clips of events and recruiting materials on YouTube,and arenewed push to establish and cultivate alumni chapters in several cities withgood concentrations of UB-trained lawyers,according to Ilene R.Fleischmann,the administrator who oversees the Law School’s external relations.

From face-to-face to FacebookUB Law reaches out to alumni in person and online

WASHINGTON,D.C.Alumni Social at Ceiba Restaurant

CLEVELANDThe Club at Key Center in Cleveland

Ellen Katz Forrest ’76 andKenneth B. Forrest ’76

Left to right: Margaret W.Wong ’76, Executive Director Ilene Fleischmann, Gregory P. Stein ’08,Assistant ExecutiveDirector Lisa Mueller ’88 and Susan H. Poole ’97

Left to right: Emily G.Conley ’08,Nicole

C.Lee ’02,Marc Bayard,Stacy A.Tromble

’07 and Vice Dean for Administration

James R.Newton

Alumni say “cheese” in Washington, Cleveland, NYC,NEW YORK CITYDean’s Dinner at the Lotos Club

others can “follow”UB Law by going towww.twitter.com/ublaw and clickingthe Join Today button.When-ever they access Twitter,whether it is through theTwitter Web site or the way most peopleuse the service,via cell phone,they’ll re-ceive the latest information from theLaw School’s news feed.The BaldyCenter for Law and Social Policy alsohas its own Twitter account,atwww.twitter.com/baldycenter.

This is in addition to the LawSchool’s channel on YouTube,the wild-ly popular video upload site,atwww.youtube.com/ublawschool.Livelynotes that it’s free to post videos on thesite,and that as an educational institu-tion,the Law School isn’t limited by thesite’s restrictions on the length and sizeof videos.“We can put entire lectures

up there,or high-definitionclips,”she says.One of themost popular has been a 10-minute clip of consumer ac-

tivist Ralph Nader’s sometimes con-tentious give-and-take with studentsfollowing his appearance in O’BrianHall last year.A series of video testimo-nials from current and recently gradu-ated students is also online.Anotherportal is LinkedIn,at www.law.buffalo.edu/LinkedIn.asp.

All of these avenues of communica-tion,Lively says,are as natural asbreathing to young people.“The gener-ations that are coming up expect this,”she says.“They have grown up with it.

But it’s not just young people.Face-book,for example,is becoming more

and more popular among theolder generations.”

As much as online forumsbuild relationships,though,there isnothing like some face time,and theLaw School is establishing and solidify-ing alumni chapters in a number ofcities where UB Law graduates live andwork.

“We’ve had chapters in the past,butnothing too formal and nothing ongo-ing,”says Lisa M.Mueller ’93,assistantdean for alumni and communicationsand assistant director of the UB LawAlumni Association.“Dean Mutua isvery focused on reaching out and ex-panding our relations with our alumni,not just in Western New York but every-where else.We all go off in different di-rections and have such full plates,so itcan be difficult to maintain that con-nection with the school.This is anotherway we keep in touch.”

So,she says,over the past year alum-ni steering committees have been estab-lished in Albany,Rochester,New YorkCity and Washington,D.C.A newchapter in Ohio will alternate events be-tween Cleveland and Cincinnati,and inthe future,Mueller says,alumni chap-ters are likely in Boston,Chicago andFlorida.Law School staffers have trav-eled to meet with the steering commit-tees,Mueller says,communicating thedean’s vision of the school’s future andemphasizing the importance of broad

networking with alumni.The Rochester chapter,she says,has

been especially active,and the newchapter in Albany is crucial as theschool works to press its legislative in-terests in the state capital.

“We have had a long history ofworking with different individuals inthese areas,so we already have a goodcollection of go-to people who have al-ways been dedicated volunteers,”Mueller says.“They then gave us leadsto other alums who might be interestedin helping.It’s a wonderful combina-tion of established volunteers and newindividuals who bring a fresh perspec-tive to those areas.”

And as the school works to expandits digital footprint,she says,onlinetools like Facebook are a cost-effectiveway to stay in touch.“Economically,thisis a tough time to be spending addition-al money,”Mueller says,“and social net-working offers a great way to reach outto our alums at a minimal cost.That’swhat our alums are using – they’re al-ready networking among themselves.Ifwe don’t join them there,we are miss-ing out on an opportunity to connectwith them.”

27

ROCHESTERCLE and Reception at the Radisson Hotel

ROCHESTERLunch with the judges

Left to right: Karen Bailey Turner ’96, Melissa A. Meyer ’02,P.Adam Militello ’07 and Norma A. Polizzi ’01.

Saratoga Springs and Rochester

Where to go to contact your regional alumni chapter:• law.buffalo.edu/AlumniDC.asp• law.buffalo.edu/AlumniRochester.asp• law.buffalo.edu/AlumniOhio.asp• law.buffalo.edu/AlumniAlbany.asp• law.buffalo.edu/AlumniNYC.asp

SARATOGA SPRINGSDean’s Dinner at the Lotos Club

Matthew R.Coseo ’05,chair of the Albany

alumni steering committee with wife Mary Kate

Coseo ’05, in Saratoga Springs,N.Y.

Left to right: Monroe County ADASara S.Van Strydonck ’04, Hon.Thomas M. Van Strydonck ’73 andKristy Karle ’97.

For additional photos go to:www.flickr.com/ublaw

28U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Alumni Association

Robert L.Boreanaz ’89 has been elect-ed president of the UB Law AlumniAssociation for 2009-10.Boreanaz isa senior partner in the law firm Lip-

sitz Green Scime Cambria LLP and is the chair-person of the firm’s Labor & Employment LawDepartment.He frequently represents laborunions,benefit funds and employees,and lec-tures and prepares written publications on mat-ters including pension,education,training andwelfare funds,as well as labor union administra-tion and other issues.

Laurie S.Bloom ’83 ofNixon Peabody LLP is thenew president-elect.Vicepresidents are:Lisa J.Allen’90 of Harris Beach PLLC;Paul M.Ciprich ’85 of Na-tional Fuel Gas Company;Richard F.DiGiacomo ’76 ofNesper,Ferber & DiGiaco-mo,LLP;and Tasha E.Moore’99 of the New York State Di-vision of Human Rights.

Treasurer is Hon.Craig D.Hannah ’95 ofBuffalo City Court;assistant treasurer is Hon.Lenora B.Foote-Beavers ’97 of Erie CountyFamily Court; secretary is Marion K.Hender-son ’65,retired;and assistant secretary is MaryPenn ’99 of Hogan & Willig.

Immediate past president is Hon.E.Jean-nette Ogden ’83 of Buffalo City Court.Ilene R.Fleischmann,UB Law vice dean,continues asexecutive director.Lisa M.Mueller ’93,assistantdean,serves as assistant director.

New directors elected for terms ending in2012 are:Ross M.Cellino Jr. ’82 of Cellino &Barnes PC;Thomas P.Cunningham ’92 ofRupp,Baase,Pfalzgraf,Cunningham & Coppo-la LLC;Thomas K.Frederick ’02 of M&T Bank;Brian D.Gwitt ’98 of Damon & Morey LLP;John J.Jablonski ’93 of Goldberg Segalla LLP,Hon.Jack Quinn III ’03 of the New York StateAssembly;and Charles C.Swanekamp ’80 ofJaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP.

Other directors include:Marc W.Brown ’99of Phillips Lytle LLP;Terrence M.Gilbride ’88 ofHodgson Russ LLP; James W.Grable Jr. ’96 ofConnors & Vilardo,LLP; Robert P.Heary ’91 ofHiscock & Barclay LLP;Pietra G.Lettieri ’01 ofHarris Beach PLLC;Amy C.Martoche ’99 ofConnors & Vilardo,LLP; Gregory A.Mattacola

’98 of The Mattacola Law Firm;Brian M.Mel-ber ’96 of Personius Melber LLP;Catherine E.Nagel ’98 of Nuchereno & Nagel;Kevin D.Robinson ’92 of the United States AttorneyGeneral’s Office;Mark J.Stuhlmiller ’99 ofComputer Task Group;and Lourdes M.Ventu-ra ’98 of the Office of New York State SenatorMalcolm A.Smith.

ALUMNI CHAIRS IN REGIONAL CHAPTERS

• Matthew R. Coseo ’05Albany, N.Y.

• Michael D. Mann ’06New York City

• Margaret W.Wong ’76Ohio

• Lorisa D. LaRocca ’02Rochester, N.Y.

• Kristin Graham Koehler ’94Washington, D.C.

UB Law Alumni Association elects officers and directors for 2009-10

Front row, left to right: Mark W.Warren, Thomas K. Frederick,Assistant Director Lisa M. Mueller,Vice Dean for Academic Affairs James A. Gardner, Executive Director and Vice Dean Ilene R.Fleischmann, Lawrence M. Ross, Hon. Craig D. Hannah, Hon. Barbara Howe, Hon. E. Jeannette Ogdenand President Robert L. Boreanaz.Second row, left to right: Hon. Leslie G. Foschio, Donald W. O’Brien Jr. and Sareer A. Fazili.Third row, left to right: Anthony J. Colucci Jr.,Vice Dean for Administration James R. Newton and Ross M. Cellino Jr.Fourth row, left to right: Laurie S. Bloom, Lisa J.Allen and Paula M. Ciprich.Fifth row, left to right (on stairs): Robert P. Heary, Thomas P. Cunningham, Marc W. Brown,Lynn A. Clarke, Marion K. Henderson, Kevin D. Robinson, Tasha E. Moore, Mark J. Stuhlmiller andHon. Lenora B. Foote-Beavers.Sixth row, left to right (on stairs): Charles C. Swanekamp, Richard F. DiGiacomo, Brian M. Melber,Terrence M. Gilbride, Brian D. Gwitt, Mary Penn and Margaret P. Gryko.

Robert L.Boreanaz ’89

Join or renew your Law Alumni Association membership at:law.buffalo.edu/forum/membershipApplication.asp

29

GOLD Group officers and directors for 2009-10

Front row, left to right:Vice Dean for Aca-demic Affairs James A. Gardner, ExecutiveDirector Ilene R. Fleischmann, Molly L.Mallia and Stephanie Williams Torres.Second row, left to right: Amber E. Storr,Assistant Director Patricia L.Warringtonand James M. O’Keefe.Third row, left to right: Carla J. MillerMontroy,Vice Dean for AdministrationJames R. Newton and Jonathan S. Hickey.Fourth row (down stairs), left to right:Brendan J. Rich, Teia Marie Bui, GOLDGroup President Jesse Baldwin andJennifer R. Scharf.Fifth row (down stairs, left to right):James F.Auricchio, Michael E. Reyen, R.J.Friedman Jr., Christopher D. Smith,AnneE. Joynt , Michael J. Pastrick and David W.Polak.

Not pictured: Jessica M.Baker,StephanieJ. Calhoun, Joseph N. Endres, Jennifer G.Flannery, Bethany J. Hills, Rebecca Z.McCauley, Jacia T. Smith and JackTrachtenberg.

Jesse Baldwin ’04 has been electedpresident of the 2009-10 UB LawGOLD (Graduates of the LastDecade) Group.Baldwin is an as-sociate at Damon & Morey LLP,practicing in the firm’s Litigation

Department. He is also is a member ofthe firm’s Recruitment Committee.

Molly L.Mallia ’05 of Damon &Morey LLP is president-elect.Secretaryis Carla J.Miller Montroy ’06 of the LawOffices of Carla J.Miller Montroy; secre-tary-elect is Anne E.Joynt ’05 of Lipsitz& Ponterio LLC; treasurer is Jennifer G.Flannery ’06 of Damon & Morey LLP;and treasurer-elect is Jessica M.Baker’03 of Hiscock & Barclay LLP.The im-mediate past president is Bethany J.Hillsof Hodgson Russ LLP.

Newly elected directors are: James F.Auricchio ’00 of The Auricchio LawFirm;Teia Marie Bui ’08 of Andreozzi &Fickess LLP; Joseph N.Endres ’05 ofHodgson Russ LLP;R.J.Friedman Jr. ’07of the Law Office of Dennis C.Gaugh-

an; Jonathan S.Hickey ’01 of Burden,Gulisano & Hickey LLC;James M.O’Keefe ’07 of Rupp,Baase,Pfalzgraf,Cunningham & Coppola LLC;MichaelJ.Pastrick ’04 of the New York StateSupreme Court,Appellate Division,Fourth Department;Michael E.Reyen’09;Brendan J.Rich ’05 of Phillips LytleLLP;and Jennifer R.Scharf ’05 of Con-nors & Vilardo LLP.

Other directors include:Stephanie J.Calhoun ’08 of the Erie County Attor-ney’s Office;Rebecca Z.McCauley ’03 ofthe Law Offices of Rebecca Z.Mc-Cauley;David W.Polak ’00 of the LawOffices of David W.Polak; Jacia T.Smith’07 of Harris Beach LLP;Amber E.Storr’06 of Damon & Morey LLP; Jack Tra-chtenberg ’02 of Hodgson Russ LLP;and Stephanie Williams Torres ’00 ofKaleida Health.

Ilene R.Fleischmann,UB Law vicedean,continues as executive director.Patricia L.Warrington continues as as-sistant director.

THANK YOU, LIFE MEMBERS

Theodore Lyons Araujo ’85 – SyracuseEdward J. Barron ’75 – D.C.Thomas E. Black Jr. ’79 – TexasDouglas Coppola ’75 – BuffaloRegina DelVecchio ’88 – BuffaloGordon Gross ’55 – BuffaloKaren Kaczmarski ’89 – BuffaloHon. Mary Ann Killeen ’52 – BuffaloChangse L. Kim ’75 – KoreaKristin Graham Koehler ’94 – D.C.Francis Letro ’79 – BuffaloKaren Mathews ’80 – BuffaloRebecca McCauley ’04 – BuffaloLeah R. Merritt-Mervine ’07 – RochesterMichael Olander ’77 – North CarolinaEric Ian Robins ’03 – N.Y.C .Kurt Sherman ’84 – SyracuseMichael J. Surgalla Jr. ’82 – D.CMargaret W.Wong ’76 – Cleveland

30U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Class Action

’50sRichard N.Blewett ’51 received theCharles H. Dougherty Civility Awardfrom the Bar Association of ErieCounty, in Buffalo. Blewett practicescivil litigation and municipal law withCohen & Lombardo in Buffalo, wherehe resides.

Ralph L.Halpern ’53 was honored bythe New York State Bar AssociationCommittee on Professional Ethics for40 years of service to the committee.Halpern is senior counsel and amember of the business andcorporate financial services andinternational trade practice groups ofJaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel inBuffalo, where he resides.

Maryann Saccomando Freedman’58 was the keynote speaker at theRobert H. Jackson Center’s awarddinner for student essay winners inJamestown, N.Y. Freedman is ofcounsel to Cohen & Lombardo inBuffalo, where she resides.

Hon.Joseph D.Mintz ’58,a Getzville,N.Y., resident, received the 2009

Outstanding Jurist Award from theBar Association of Erie County, inBuffalo. Mintz, a New York StateSupreme Court justice for the 8thJudicial District in Buffalo, was firstelected to the Supreme Court in 1978.

J.Mason Davis Jr. ’59 received anhonorary degree from UB Law at theschool’s 120th Commencement onMay 23. Davis was the first African-American to practice as a seniorpartner in a major Alabama firm,Sirote & Permutt in Birmingham. Herepresented students whoparticipated in the historic Huntsvillelunch counter sit-ins, and played a keyrole in the desegregation of Alabamain the early 1960s. He is a seniorshareholder in Sirote & Permutt,practicing insurance law, litigation,municipal financing and securitieslaw. He lives in Birmingham.

’60sPeter J.Martin ’64 spoke about issuesfacing senior citizens and theirfamilies in New York State at theAmberleigh Independent Living

Facility in Amherst, N.Y. Martin is asenior partner with BouvierPartnership in Buffalo, practicingcorporate, tax and business law. He isa Buffalo resident.

John A.Cirando ’66 of Syracuse, N.Y.,was reappointed to the New YorkState Law Revision Commission byGov. David Paterson. He is a partnerwith D.J. & J.A. Cirando in Syracuse,practicing appellate advocacy.

David G.Jay ’66 received the 2009Lawyer of the Year Award from theBar Association of Erie County, inBuffalo. Jay, a nationally known civilrights attorney in Buffalo, lives inTonawanda, N.Y.

’70sHon.Jeffrey S.White ’70 washonored with the DistinguishedAlumnus Award from the UB LawAlumni Association. He wasrecognized for his conscientious anddiligent performance in the judiciaryat the association’s 47th AnnualMeeting and Dinner on May 5 at theHyatt Regency Buffalo.White is U.S.District Court judge, NorthernDistrict of California, in SanFrancisco. He lives in Moraga, Calif.

Thomas J.Wojciechowski ’70 spoketo residents of AmberleighIndependent Living Facility inAmherst, N.Y., about issues facingsenior citizens and their families inNew York State.Wojciechowski is asenior partner with BouvierPartnership in Buffalo, concentratingin real estate, estate planning and elderlaw. He lives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Joseph B.Mistrett ’71 was honoredwith the Charles H. DoughertyCivility Award from the BarAssociation of Erie County, inBuffalo. Mistrett is a retired chieffederal public defender in Buffalo. Henow lives in Chevy Chase, Md.

Hon.Leonard G.Tilney ’71 receivedthe Bar Association of NiagaraCounty’s Hon. Jacqueline KoshianAward of Merit and Honor, thehighest award the association bestows.Tilney is a solo practitioner and townjustice in Lockport, N.Y., where heresides.

Ralph L.Halpern’53

Maryann SaccomandoFreedman ’58

Peter J.Martin ’64

Watch an onlineslideshow of your reunionClass of 1949* law.buffalo.edu/forum/class49.aspClass of 1951* law.buffalo.edu/forum/class51.aspClass of 1954* law.buffalo.edu/forum/class54.aspClass of 1959 law.buffalo.edu/forum/class59.aspClass of 1964* law.buffalo.edu/forum/class64.aspClass of 1969* law.buffalo.edu/forum/class69.aspClass of 1974* law.buffalo.edu/forum/class74.aspClass of 1979* law.buffalo.edu/forum/class79.aspClass of 1984 law.buffalo.edu/forum/class84.aspClass of 1989 law.buffalo.edu/forum/class89.aspClass of 1999 law.buffalo.edu/forum/class99.asp

*Photos of these reunions will appear in the Spring 2010 Forum

Questions? Call Amy Atkinson at (716) 645-6224

Compiled by Cynthia Watts

31

Class 195950th ReunionMay 22 & 23, 2009Buffalo, NY• Friday Afternoon Lunch at the old law

school – 77 W. Eagle Street• Friday Evening Reunion Dinner at the

Park Country Club• Saturday Afternoon Lunch at the Law

School followed by Commencement

For more reunion photos visithttp://law.buffalo.edu/forum/class59.asp

Class of 1959

Seated: Alan L. Bernstein, Kenneth W. Knapp Jr., Gordon Gannon Jr., Richard G. Schwind, Louis A. Ryen,Richard G.Vogt, Robert W. Tills,Arthur N. Bailey

Standing: Former Professor Richard E. Heath, Former Professor Donald C. Lubick, Gerald J. O’Reilly,William H. Gardner,William E. Sugnet, Noel E. Bartlo, F.Warren Kahn, Donald M. Silverberg, Joseph F.Crangle, Robert H. Shook, J. Mason Davis Jr., James W. Kirkpatrick, G. Peter Higgins, Eugene P. O’Connor,Ronald W.Malin

Ellen Bernstein and Alan L.Bernstein ’59

Louis A.Ryen ’59,Enid Z.Ryen,Leila Kahn

and F.Warren Kahn ’59

Arthur N. Bailey ’59 and Joanne Bailey

Eugene P.O’Connor ’59 and Louis A.Ryen ’59 William H.Gardner ’59,Former Professor Donald C.Lubick and Former Professor Richard E.Heath

E.Michael Semple ’72 of Hamburg,N.Y., has become a member of themediation panel for the U.S. DistrictCourt,Western District of New York.He was also selected to serve on theNew York State Supreme Court Rosterof Arbitrators for Civil andCommercial Matters and as aMediator for Civil Matters. Semple isa Buffalo solo practitioner,concentrating in mediation andarbitration.

Hon.Rose H.Sconiers ’73 was namedchair of the Franklin H.WilliamsJudicial Commission on Minoritiesby Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman.Sconiers is a New York State SupremeCourt justice, 8th Judicial District inBuffalo, where she resides. She is a pastpresident of the UB Law AlumniAssociation and a past recipient of theassociation’s Distinguished AlumnaAward.

Dale A.Ehman ’75 was a guestspeaker at the Buffalo ClaimsAssociation’s monthly meeting at theCabaret Restaurant in Buffalo. Hespoke about “Labor Law IndemnityIssues and Recent Case Law.”Ehmanis a senior partner with BouvierPartnership in Buffalo. He lives inAmherst, N.Y.

Charles P.Jacobs ’75 was recognizedby Chambers USA: America’s LeadingLawyers for Business 2009 in the area ofinvestment funds and private equitywork.He is a partner with NixonPeabody,practicing in the Buffalo,New York City and Paris offices. Jacobslives in Eggertsville,N.Y.

Robert Van Every ’75,a Sherman,N.Y., resident, received the JamestownBar Association’s 2009 CommunityService Award. He spent more than 30years working with the JamestownAudubon Society, serving on thesanctuary, finance and bylawscommittees. He is also a 30-yearmember and a past president of theFalconer Lions Club.Van Every is asolo practitioner in Falconer, N.Y.

Richard M.Miller ’76 has relaunchedthe firm MillerMitchell in Princeton,N.J. The firm handles business lawand intellectual property cases. Millerlives in Hopewell, N.J.

Brent L.Wilson ’76 of Lithonia, Ga.,received the UB Law Alumni

Association’s Distinguished AlumnusAward on May 5 at the association’s47th Annual Meeting and Dinner atthe Hyatt Regency Buffalo. He washonored for his leadership by exampleas a private practitioner.Wilson is apartner in Elarbee Thompson Sapp &Wilson, in Atlanta.

Robert N.Convissar ’77 was electedpresident of the Bar Association ofErie County, in Buffalo. Convissar is aBuffalo solo practitioner, practicing incriminal defense and white-collarcrime. He is a resident of Hamburg,N.Y.

Donnalynn Darling ’78 has beennamed one of Long Island’s Top 50Women by Long Island Business News.She is chair of the personal injury andmedical malpractice groups at Meyer,Suozzi, English & Klein in Mineola,N.Y., as well as chair of the firm’seducation law practice group. Darlinglives in Glen Head, N.Y.

Mark Gaston Pearce ’78 of Buffalohas been nominated by PresidentObama to the National LaborRelations Board. Pearce is a partnerwith Creighton Pearce JohnsenGiroux in Buffalo. He represents thepublic and private sector in labor andemployment law. Pearce is a pastpresident of the Volunteer LawyersProject, Housing Opportunities MadeEqual and the Minority BarAssociation of Western New York.

Hillary Exter ’79 was honored by theNew York City Chapter of theNational Lawyers Guild for her twodecades of work in the communitydevelopment program of BrooklynLegal Services Corp. She is director ofstudent organizations and publicity inthe public interest resource center atFordham Law School in New YorkCity, where she resides.

Elizabeth B.Mensch ’79 received theUB Law Alumni Association’sDistinguished Alumna Award on May5 at the 47th Annual Meeting andDinner in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.She was honored for her commitmentto public service. Mensch is a SUNYDistinguished Teaching ProfessorEmerita from UB Law School. Shelives in Rhinebeck, N.Y.

Dan D.Kohane ’79 received theClaims Conference Outstanding

Presentations Award for 2009 by theProperty Loss Research Bureau.Kohane is a senior partner withHurwitz & Fine in the Buffalo officeand is an adjunct faculty member atUB Law School. He lives in Buffalo.

Terrie Benson Murray ’79 spoke atthe seminar “Protecting Your Legacy,”hosted by the Buffalo Agency FinancialServices,Planned Futures FinancialServices and Cohen & Lombardo inBuffalo.Murray,an associate in thefirm,lives in Orchard Park,N.Y.

Charles C.Swanekamp ’79 wasnamed to the UB Law AlumniAssociation board of directors. He is apartner in the litigation practicegroup of Jaeckle Fleischmann &Mugel in the Buffalo office. He lives inEast Amherst, N.Y.

’80sStuart P.Gelberg ’80 has beenincluded in the 2009 New York Metroedition of Super Lawyers. He waspreviously included in the 2007 and2008 editions. Gelberg is an attorneyin Garden City, N.Y.

Anna Marie Cellino ’81 was awardedthe UB Law Alumni Association’sDistinguished Alumna Award for herexemplary performance in business.She was honored at the association’s47th Annual Meeting and Dinner onMay 5 in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.Cellino is president of National FuelGas Distribution Corp. inWilliamsville, N.Y., and resides inWest Seneca, N.Y.

Robert M.Elardo ’81 received theAward of Merit from the BarAssociation of Erie County, inBuffalo. He is managing attorney ofthe Volunteer Lawyers Project inBuffalo and a past recipient of the UBLaw Alumni Association’sDistinguished Alumnus Award.Elardo is a Buffalo resident.

Richard S.Binko ’82 was appointed42nd president of the New York StateTrial Lawyers Association. He is thefirst president from Western NewYork. Binko has his own personalinjury firm in Cheektowaga, N.Y.,where he resides.

32U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

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Robert N.Convissar ’77

Donnalynn Darling ’78

Terrie BensonMurray ’79

Class 198425th ReunionMay 1 & 2, 2009Buffalo, NY• Friday Evening Happy Hour at WJMorrissey’s• Saturday Morning Brunch at the LawSchool• Saturday Evening Reunion Dinner atTop of the Falls

For more reunion photos visithttp://law.buffalo.edu/forum/class84.asp

33

Class of 1984

Seated: Michael E. Reilly, Mary M. Donogher, Tracey A. Kassman, Kathleen E. O’Hara, David P.Marcus, Mary T. Sullivan, Hon. Erin M. Peradotto, Margaret L. Snajczuk

Standing: Robert M. Turkewitz,Andrew C. Hilton III,Anna Marie Richmond, Hon. Michael L.Hanuzszcak, Hon. Kathy J. King, Carol Gundel Russ, Peter S. Russ, Kimberly Copeland Sheehan,Timothy J. Sheehan, Mary H. Doyle, David W.Wilson, Michelle P.Wong, George W. Collins Jr.,Elizabeth G. Clark, Patrick J. Higgins,Alan J. Bozer

Carol Gundel Russ’84,Peter Snajczukand Margaret L.Snajczuk ’84

Kimberly Copeland

Sheehan ’84,Mary

Ellen Higgins and

Patrick J.Higgins ’84

Hon.Erin M.Peradotto ’84 and

Mary H.Doyle ’84

Elizabeth G.Clark ’84 and

George W.Collins Jr. ’84

Ross M.Cellino Jr. ’82 and Stephen E.Barnes ’83 of Cellino & Barnes madean unrestricted gift of $1 million toUB Law School, one of the largestcash gifts UB Law has received.Cellino is a shareholder in theBuffalo-based personal injury firm.He was also elected to the board ofdirectors of the UB Law AlumniAssociation. He resides in WestSeneca, N.Y.

Hon.Paula L.Feroleto ’82, formerly ajustice of the New York State SupremeCourt, was appointed administrativejudge of the 8th Judicial District. Sheresides in Buffalo.

Stuart B.Shapiro ’82 was the featuredspeaker at the SUNY Fredonia MusicIndustry Forum in Fredonia, N.Y. Hediscussed record industry deals,copyrights and performance rights.Shapiro is a partner with Cohen &Lombardo in Buffalo, an author andan award-winning songwriter andperformer. He lives in Williamsville,N.Y.

Laurie S.Bloom ’83 is president-electof the UB Law Alumni Association.She is counsel in the firm NixonPeabody in Buffalo, where she resides.

Lynn A.Clarke ’83 was presentedwith the UB Law AlumniAssociation’s Distinguished AlumnaAward at the association’s 47thAnnual Meeting and Dinner on May5 in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. Shewas honored for her manycontributions to the betterment ofour community. Clarke is principalcourt attorney for the New York StateSupreme Court, 8th Judicial Districtin Buffalo. She is also a past presidentof the UB Law Alumni Association.Clarke lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Robert A.Klump ’83 was honoredwith the Adjunct Faculty TeachingAward from Canisius College inBuffalo. Klump is an adjunctprofessor of political science andassociate director of the college’sRaichle Pre-Law Center. He lives inWilliamsville, N.Y.

Stewart E.Wurtzel ’83 of EastMeadow, N.Y., was named Pro BonoAttorney of the Month for May by theNassau County Bar Association.Wurtzel is a founding member ofDeutsch Tane Waterman & Wurtzel inNew York City. He is also a member of

the board of directors of the New YorkLaw Institute and serves on its auditcommittee.

Kurt E.Amend ’84 has been namedsenior adviser for securitynegotiations and agreements in theBureau of Political-Military Affairs ofthe U.S. Department of State, inWashington, D.C. He will be leadnegotiator of status of forces, defensecooperation, burden-sharing andother agreements with countrieswhere U.S. military forces aredeployed.Amend joined the StateDepartment in 1988. His previousoverseas assignments includeAfghanistan, India, Kosovo, Pakistan,Russia, Saudia Arabia and Tajikistan.He is also the author of“Counterinsurgency Principles for theDiplomat,”Small Wars Journal, July2008.Amend lives in Arlington,Va.

George W.Collins Jr. ’84 spoke on thetopic of depositions at the New YorkState Bar Association presentation“Practical Skills – How to Commence

a Civil Lawsuit”in Amherst, N.Y.Collins is chairman of the litigationgroup of Bouvier Partnership inBuffalo. He lives in Snyder, N.Y.

Hon.John M.Curran ’84, New YorkState Supreme Court justice, 8thJudicial District, has been named a2008 Outstanding Citizen by TheBuffalo News. He was recognized forresolving the conflict regarding thehistoric merger between KaleidaHealth and Erie County MedicalCenter in Buffalo. Curran, a pastpresident of the UB Law AlumniAssociation, lives in Orchard Park,N.Y.

William J.Hochul Jr. ’84 ofHamburg, N.Y., has been nominatedas U.S. attorney for the WesternDistrict of New York, in Buffalo.Hochul is currently chief of theWestern District’s National SecurityDivision, responsible for coordinatinginternational and domestic terroristinvestigations.

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BirthsTo Joanna L. Silver ’97 and Kevin Organ, a son, JacobChristopher, on Jan. 6 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

To Sheldon K.Smith ’01 and Jonelle Smith, a daughter, Sadie Kathryn,on Dec. 25, 2008, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

To Michael A. Chiantella ’03 and Karen Chiantella, a daughter,Morgan Lillian, on April 7 in Venice, Fla.

To Jennifer Biletnikoff O’Connell ’03 and Desmond O’Connell, ason, Hayden Quinn, on March 30 in Estero, Fla.

To Michael D. Mann ’06 and Diana Mann, a daughter, MadelynSydney, on Aug. 10 in New York City.

To Hadijat Balogun ’07 and Clyde Collins, a daughter, Cara, onMay 25 in Houston, Texas.

MarriagesCongratulations to the following newlyweds:

Kathleen A. Welch ’91 and Shelley A. Hearne, June 27

Martin A. Polowy ’03 and Amy E. Przewozny ’04, June 20

Lynn Kwon ’07 and Philip Dzikiy, May 16

Kurt E.Amend’84

Hon.John M.Curran ’84

Paula M.Ciprich’85

Hon.Paula L.Feroleto ’82

35

Class of 1989

Class 198920th ReunionMay 1 & 2, 2009Buffalo• Friday Happy Hour at Shea’s Intermis-sion Lounge • Saturday Morning Brunch at the LawSchool• Saturday Evening Reunion Dinner atthe Park Country Club

For more reunion photos visithttp://law.buffalo.edu/forum/class89.asp

1st Row: Donnalee D. Tomaka, Kelley A. Omel, Mary Scolese Leonardi, Lauren E. Breen, SuzanneM. Garvey, Brenda M. Freedman, Lisa A.Valvo

2nd Row: Michael A. Neiderbach, Glenn D. Leonardi, Thomas R. Smith, Karen L. Nicolson, DanielP. Boeck, Lisa A. Sizeland-Ross, Kim Sanders Murphy, Robert L. Boreanaz, Jeanne M.Vinal, LindaB. Falkson, Paul D.Weiss, Siu Lan Chan, Lynn A. Bulan

3rd Row: Michael C.Wroblewski, Charles J. Myzel, Douglas P. Smith, Eugene F. Getty, Troy X.Kelley,Kenneth J.Farrell, John K. Rottaris, Douglas W.Dimitroff, Desmond Hughes, Kevin B.Quinn, Gregory M.Vinal

Douglas P.Smith ’89and Eugene F.Getty ’89Robert L. Boreanaz ’89,Bunnie Boreanaz, MaryScolese Leonardi ’89 andGlenn D. Leonardi ’89

Glenn D.Leonardi ’89,Dr. Grace Dimitroff andDouglas P. Dimitroff ’89 Gregory M.Vinal ’89,

Alpha Ross,Lisa A.

Sizeland-Ross ’89

and Jeanne M.Vinal ’89

Paula M.Ciprich ’85 was elected vicepresident of the UB Law AlumniAssociation. Ciprich is generalcounsel for National Fuel Gas Co. inWilliamsville, N.Y. She resides inEggertsville, N.Y.

Kathleen A.Dooley ’85 is the cityattorney in Fredericksburg,Va., whereshe resides. Dooley is an adjunctprofessor in the political sciencedepartment at the University of MaryWashington in Fredericksburg and apast president of the Virginia LocalGovernment Attorneys Associationand the Virginia Women AttorneysAssociation.

Karen A.Korkuc ’85 has become anassistant district attorney for the ErieCounty district attorney’s office, inBuffalo. She is assigned to theintegrated domestic violence bureauand is a resident of Lake View, N.Y.

Hon.John L.Michalski ’87 wasnominated by New York State Gov.David Paterson for a nine-year termas New York State Court of Claimsjudge in Buffalo. He was appointed tothe bench in 2006 to fill the unexpiredterm of retiring judge Hon. Ronald H.Tills ’59. Michalski lives inWilliamsville, N.Y.

Daniel T.Lukasik ’88 received theSpecial Service Award from the BarAssociation of Erie County, inBuffalo. Lukasik is a partner withCantor Lukasik Dolce & Panepinto inBuffalo. He is a past recipient of theUB Law Alumni Association’sDistinguished Alumnus Award and isa resident of Lancaster, N.Y.

Robert L.Boreanaz ’89 has beenelected president of the UB LawAlumni Association for 2009-10.He isa senior partner with Lipsitz GreenScime Cambria and is chairperson ofthe firm’s labor and employment lawdepartment in the Buffalo office.Boreanaz is a resident of Getzville,N.Y.

’90sLisa J.Allen ’90 has been named a vicepresident of the UB Law AlumniAssociation. She is a member ofHarris Beach in Buffalo, practicing inthe life and asset planning practicegroup.Allen lives in East Amherst,N.Y.

Steven P.Maio ’90 of Corning, N.Y.,received the Michael F. Dillon LawGuardian Award from the AppellateDivision, Fourth Department. Maio isa partner with Hutchinson & Maio inElmira, N.Y.

Scott B.Schwartz ’91 served as anadjunct professor at Drexel UniversityAntoinette Westphal College of MediaArts & Design in Philadelphia,teaching copyrights and trademarkfor entertainment and the arts.Schwartz is a member of theintellectual property department atCozen O’Connor in Philadelphia. Helives in Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

Thomas P.Cunningham ’92 has beenelected to the board of directors of theUB Law Alumni Association.Cunningham is a managing partnerof Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham& Coppola in Buffalo, concentratingin insurance defense litigation,insurance coverage and commerciallitigation. He lives in East Amherst,N.Y.

LaMarr J.Jackson ’92 was listed as a2009 Up and Coming Attorney byThe Daily Record. Jackson is a partnerwith Harris Chesworth O’BrienJohnstone Welch & Leone inRochester, N.Y. She is the first African-American female partner in the firmand practices in the areas ofmatrimonial and family law, laborrelations, business law, trusts andestates, and criminal law. Jackson livesin West Henrietta, N.Y.

John J.Jablonski ’93 was named tothe UB Law Alumni Associationboard of directors. He is a partnerwith Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo,specializing in litigation, includingcommercial and business,construction, products liability andrailroad litigation. Jablonski lives inHamburg, N.Y.

Hope W.Olsson ’94 received theAmerican Bar Association 2009 ProBono Publico Award. Olsson is apartner with Olsson & Feder inRochester, N.Y., specializing inbankruptcy law. She has helped morethan 400 pro bono clients since 2002at the Volunteer Legal Services Projectof Monroe County and has also beena pro bono consultant forFarmworker Legal Services of NewYork. Olsson is a Rochester resident.

Charles D.Grieco ’95 was a presenterat a CLE program on theComprehensive EnvironmentalResponse, Compensation andLiability Act at the Hyatt RegencyBuffalo. He is administrator of theenvironmental practice group inJaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel inBuffalo, where he resides.

Jane M.Gabriele ’95 received the NewYork State Bar Association 2009President’s Pro Bono Service Award.Gabriele works for the Empire JusticeCenter in Rochester, N.Y., and lives inFairport, N.Y.

Hon.Craig D.Hannah ’95 waselected treasurer of the UB LawAlumni Association. Hannah is a citycourt judge in Buffalo, where heresides.

Sheri L.Mooney ’96 received theMarilyn Menge Award at theWomen’s Bar Association of the Stateof New York Convention on June 5 inNiagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. She is apartner with Damon & Morey inBuffalo and a resident of OrchardPark, N.Y.

Hon.Lenora B.Foote-Beavers ’97was elected assistant treasurer of theUB Law Alumni Association. She isErie County Family Court supportmagistrate in Buffalo, where sheresides.

Corinne A.Carey ’98 co-authored areport,“The Rockefeller Drug Laws:Unjust, Irrational, Ineffective.”Sheused the report to advocate for reformof the drug laws, and legislationimplementing that reform was passedand signed into law in April. Carey ispublic policy counsel with the NewYork Civil Liberties Union in NewYork City. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

John J.Koeppel ’98 is listed inChambers America’s Leading Lawyersfor Business 2009 in thecorporate/mergers and acquisitionslaw category. Koeppel is a partnerwith Nixon Peabody, practicing in theBuffalo and New York City offices. Helives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Tasha E.Moore ’98 of Buffalo waselected a vice president of the UB LawAlumni Association. She is regionaldirector of the New York StateDivision of Human Rights in theBuffalo office. Moore is a past

36U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Class Action

Daniel T.Lukasik’88

Lisa J.Allen ’90

Scott B.Schwartz’91

37

Class of 199910th ReunionMay 1 & 2, 2009Buffalo• Friday Happy Hour at Shanghai Red’s• Saturday Morning Brunch at the LawSchool• Saturday Evening Reunion Dinner atthe Buffalo Club

For more reunion photos visithttp://law.buffalo.edu/forum/class99.asp

Class of 1999

Seated: Janette Cortes-Gomez, Robert J. Gutowski, Dennis K. Schaeffer1st Row Standing: Mary Moorman Penn, Denis J. Uminski, Christine Isaacs-Spence, Mark E.Guglielmi, Deborah Colosimo Guglielmi, Marc W.Brown, Christopher A.Wightman, Tony D.Cao, Katherine E. Cauley, David J. Hoffman, Jason C. Luna, Fidel E. Gomez, Michael Bly Santa-Maria2nd Row Standing: Kenneth S.A. Grant, Jennifer K. Dorrer, Russell B. Klein, Theresa MerrillStones, Joseph M.Young, Richard R. Shaw IIStairs top to bottom: Roseanne J. Moran, Irma J. Hill, Kinda Serafi, Darleen V. Karaszewski,AmyM. McCabe, Paige L. Mecca, Mia McFarlane Markello,Amy C. Martoche, Kimberly A. Fanniff,Ronald A. Link Jr., Harry J. Forrest, Paul A. Gennari, David C. Kelly

Denis J.Uminski ’99,Mark E.Guglielmi ’99

and Deborah Colosimo Guglielmi ’99

Kimberly A.Fanniff ’99 and Amy M.McCabe ’99Janette Cortes-Gomez ’99,Fidel E.Gomez ’99

and Amy C.Martoche ’99

president of the Minority BarAssociation of Western New York, inBuffalo, and chair of the association’srecruitment and retention task force.She is a past member of the board ofdirectors of UB Law School’s GOLDGroup and past chairperson andcurrent member of the Buffalo CityBallet board of directors.

Lourdes Ventura ’98,counsel toMinority Leader Malcolm A. Smith ofthe New York State Senate, is runningfor New York State Assembly in the38th District.A member of the Dean’sAdvisory Council, she lives inRichmond Hill, N.Y.

Robert Marinovic ’99 has beennamed a member of Meyer SuozziEnglish & Klein in New York City.Marinovic previously served as anassociate in the labor practice groupin the firm. He lives in Madison, N.J.

Mary Moorman Penn ’99 joinedHoganWillig in the Amherst, N.Y.,office. She specializes in civil litigation,personal injury and malpractice. Pennis assistant secretary of the UB LawAlumni Association and lives inOrchard Park, N.Y.

Amy E.Schwartz ’99 was appointedpresident of the Greater RochesterAssociation for Women Attorneys.Schwartz is an attorney for the EmpireJustice Center in Rochester, N.Y.,where she resides.

Hon.Matthew D.Witherow ’99 wasappointed city court judge for the Cityof Port Jervis, N.Y.Witherowpreviously served as Orange Countyassistant district attorney in Goshen,N.Y. In addition, he maintains a solopractice in Port Jervis, where heresides.

’00sKarlee Bolaños ’01 was named an Upand Coming Attorney for 2009 by TheDaily Record. She is a member andpractices in the labor andemployment law and immigrationlaw practice groups of Harris Beach inthe Pittsford, N.Y., office. Bolaños is aPittsford resident.

Emilio Colaiacovo ’01 received the2008 Michael F. Dillon Award at theNew York State Appellate Division,

4th Department, award ceremony onJune 16 in Rochester, N.Y. He was alsoa presenter at the New York State BarAssociation’s seminar “Family CourtPractice: Custody, Child ProtectiveProceedings and Ethics”in Buffaloand was a speaker at the New YorkState Parent Education and AwarenessProgram in Buffalo. Colaiacovo is apartner with Bouvier Partnership inBuffalo and lives in Kenmore, N.Y.

Devin Palmer ’01 has been named anUp and Coming Attorney by TheDaily Record. He is an associate withBoylan Brown in Rochester, N.Y.,where he resides. Palmer handles casesinvolving bankruptcy, collections andlitigation and is chair of the firm’scollections department.

Sheldon K.Smith ’01,a senior associatein the Buffalo office of Nixon PeabodyLLP,was elected vice president of theMinority Bar Association of WesternNew York.He also served as chair of theMBA’s Judicial Rating and DinnerCommittees.Smith was appointed bythe Fourth Department to a three-yearterm on the Attorney GrievanceCommittee.He resides in OrchardPark,NY.

Thomas K.Frederick ’02 was electedto the UB Law Alumni Association

board of directors. Frederick isemployed by M&T Bank in Buffalo,where he resides.

Rashondra M.Jackson ’02 wasnamed by The Daily Record as an Upand Coming Attorney for 2009. Sheworks for the Rochester City SchoolDistrict Department of Law inRochester, N.Y., and is a past presidentof the Rochester Black BarAssociation. Jackson lives in Webster,N.Y.

Tara R.Johnson ’02 of Webster, N.Y.,was listed as an Up and ComingAttorney by The Daily Record. She islegal counsel for Excellus Health Planin Rochester, N.Y.

Kimberly A.Stock ’02 was promotedto counsel in the consumer andlegislation branch of the legal divisionof the Federal Deposit InsuranceCorp. in Washington, D.C. She is aresident of Alexandria,Va.

Joseph M.Hobaica ’03 has opened123 Credit Restoration, a creditrepair/rapid rescore business withoffices in Clinton, N.Y., and Florida.The Web site is www.123creditrestoration.com. Hobaica is a resident of Utica, N.Y.

38U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Class Action

Tasha E.Moore’98

Emilio Colaiacovo ’01

Rashondra M.Jackson ’02

Student kudosLaura Klossner,LLM ’09, had the cover story

in the summer 2009 issue of the Florida Defender,a publication of the Florida Association ofCriminal Defense Lawyers. Her article,“Evaluating Mental Competency in JuvenileDefendants,”discussed the history of the mentalincompetence defense in criminal cases andsuggested some strategies for criminal defenselawyers in representing juveniles whose mentalhealth may be compromised.

Ashley Westbrook ’10 was selected as a member of Summer Corpsby the group Equal Justice Works. She spent the summer working atMake the Road New York, in Brooklyn, a public-interest advocacyorganization for the Latino and immigrant population.

Terry Bagia ’08,LLM ’10,published the book Delta in Distress:The Politics and Perils of Petroleum Patronage in Nigeria. The book,available at Amazon.com,looks at the increasingly important rolethat Nigeria plays on the world stage as it endures internal strugglesover who will profit from the country’s oil and gas resources.

39

Hon.Jack Quinn III ’03 was electedto the board of directors of the UBLaw Alumni Association. Quinn is aNew York State assemblyman for the146th District. He lives in Hamburg,N.Y.

Adam Rizzo ’03 is chief executiveofficer of Solar Liberty inWilliamsville, N.Y., one of the premierintegrators and installers of renewableenergy technologies in NorthAmerica. The New York PowerAuthority has chosen Solar Liberty toinstall a solar project at UB, which willbe the largest solar installation at anycollege or university in New York Stateand one of the largest on any campusin the country. Rizzo is a resident ofWilliamsville.

Tracey B.Ehlers ’04 of Williamsville,N.Y., has been elected to the UnitedWay Emerging Leaders SocietyAdvisory Council. Ehlers is anassociate with Nixon Peabody in theBuffalo office, dealing with mattersinvolving products liability and toxictort cases.

Josephine S.Noble ’04 has becomeassociated with Ogletree Deakins inthe Cleveland office. She practices inlabor and employment, class action

defense and litigation. Noble lives inSouth Euclid, Ohio.

Tiffany M.Sorgen ’04 has started herown practice in Canandaigua, N.Y.,serving Ontario,Yates, Steuben andSeneca counties. She focuses onfamily law, criminal defense, realproperty and estates. Sorgen lives inRock Stream, N.Y.

Jessica L.Leonard ’05 practicesmatrimonial and family law withHoffman Polland & Furman in NewYork City, where she resides.

Robert C.Whitaker ’05 has joinedHancock & Estabrook in Syracuse,N.Y., specializing in labor andemployment law. Before joining thefirm,Whitaker served as a defenseattorney for the Navy Judge AdvocateGeneral’s Corp. He also served asdeputy staff judge advocateprosecutor and legal assistanceattorney for the 2nd Marine LogisticsGroup in Iraq and as a legal assistanceattorney for the Navy Legal Servicesoffice in Jacksonville, Fla.Whitakerlives in Camillus, N.Y.

Julie R.Bielecki ’06 of Victor, N.Y.,received the President’s Award fromthe Greater Rochester Association for

Women Attorneys. She is an associatewith Harris Beach in the Pittsford,N.Y., office.

Katherine E.Courtney ’06 receivedthe Doris S. Hoffman OutstandingNew Lawyer Award from theWomen’s Bar Association of the Stateof New York at the association’sconvention on June 5 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. She also received thePresident’s Award from the GreaterRochester Association for WomenAttorneys. Courtney is the staffattorney for the Empire Justice Centerin Rochester, N.Y.

Alicia R.Sim ’07 has become assistantcorporation counsel of the City ofChicago Department of Law. Shepractices in the revenue litigationdivision and is a Chicago resident.

Jennifer P.Stergion ’07 has startedher own practice in Buffalo, where sheresides. She received the 2009 NewYork State Bar Association President’sPro Bono Service Award and was alsoawarded the Erie County BarAssociation’s 2008 Volunteer LawyersProject Pro Bono Attorney of theMorning Award.

Adrian T.Dayton ’08 is developingquite a following on Twitter and hasabout 26,000 followers onhttp://twitter.com/adriandayton. HisWeb site is http://adriandayton.com.Dayton has formed Comrad Esq. toaid firms in marketing with a focus onsocial media strategy. He previouslypracticed with Jaeckle Fleischmann &Mugel in the Buffalo office and haswritten two books, The Year of 12Virtues: Old World Virtues to Save theModern World, to be published inMarch 2010, and Associate toRainmaker: How New Technology isLeveling the Playing Field for Lawyers,to be published Sept. 15. Dayton is aresident of Amherst, N.Y.

Liam A.Dwyer ’08 is an assistantdistrict attorney for the Erie Countydistrict attorney’s office in Buffalo.Dwyer works in the Buffalo CityCourt bureau and previously internedwith the Office of the New York Stateattorney general and the U.S.attorney’s office.

In MemoriamThe Law School extends its deepest condolences to the familiesand friends of the following friends and alumni/ae:

Albert Rydzynskini ’49, Cheektowaga, N.Y.Paul C. Stolzenfels ’49, North Tonawanda, N.Y.Hon. Thomas P. McMahon ’51, Cheektowaga, N.Y.Francis L. Pritchard ’51, Grand Island, N.Y.Patrick T. Hurley ’52, BuffaloEdwin J. Kuzdale ’52, Dunkirk, N.Y.Robert C. Schaus ’53, Naples, Fla.F. Bernard Hamsher ’57, Williamsville, N.Y.Salvatore F. Giallombardo ’59, Williamsville, N.Y.Thomas H. Harmon ’66, Buffalo John K. Currie ’75, Hartford, Conn.Mary E. Good ’76, Orchard Park, N.Y.Gary F. Papa ’79, St. Davids, Pa.Michael H. Doran ’82, Amherst, N.Y.Matthew J. Schnirel ’08, Snyder, N.Y.

40U B L A W F O R U M • F A L L 2 0 0 9

Save the Dates

Jaeckle Award tobe presented atNYC Alumni Luncheon

The New YorkCity Chapter of theUB Law AlumniAssociation will hostthe annual NYCAlumni Luncheon atnoon on Friday,Jan.29,at the Union

League Club,38 E.37th St.at thecorner of Park Avenue.For the firsttime,the Edwin F.Jaeckle Award —the highest honor UB Law Schooland the Law Alumni Association canbestow — will be presented in NewYork City at the luncheon.KennethB.Forrest ’76,a partner in the NewYork City law firm Wachtell,Lipton,Rosen & Katz,and former chair ofthe Dean’s Advisory Council,willreceive the award.For details,e-mail Ilene Fleischmann atfleisch@buffalo.edu.

UB Law tovisit KenyanEmbassy

The D.C. Chapterof the UB LawAlumni Associationwill host a cocktailreception at theKenyan Embassy onThursday,Nov.19.The embassy is at2249 R Street N.W.

in Washington. The event will beheld at 6 p.m. The Kenyanambassador to the United States,His Excellency Peter N.R.O.Ogego,will be present to greet guests.Dean Makau W. Mutua willprovide an update on the state ofthe Law School.Alumni andstudents are invited to attend. Fordetails, e-mail Lisa Mueller atlmueller@buffalo.edu.

NAACP counsel willdeliver Mitchell Lecture

In a year that saw the inauguration ofAmerica’s first black president,the fallMitchell Lecture will feature a strongvoice for African-American progress.John Payton is president and direc-

tor-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defenseand Educational Fund,the nation’s oldest human rights law firm.He will speak at 2 p.m.,Thursday,Oct.22 at UB Law Schoolas part of a two-day appearance that also in-cludes class visits and a dinner with facultymembers.Payton was invited by DeanMakau Mutua,with whom he served as anelection observer in South Africa in 1994.

“Race,Law and Politics in America”isthe broad theme of his address,Payton said,starting with a review of what happened inthe United States during the post-Civil WarReconstruction period. “We had 10 yearsor less of a pretty open democracy,certainlyfor men,”Payton said.“Black people partici-

pated and were elected to Congress,but with the end of Reconstruction,allblack people were disenfranchised.That was dramatic.It happened after acontested presidential election and was unbelievably effective.It was notseen as a national problem.”The lesson of that backsliding era,he said,isthat “sometimes we act as though progress is in one direction and astraight line,that it never goes backward.But things don’t always go in justone direction.”

With that historical perspective,Payton said,he’ll address the questionof whether we have become a “post-racial”society – whether “we are pastall of these issues that have plagued us for 200-plus years.”

“Here we are now,”he said,“we have made enormous progress again,and it seems far more lasting and has embedded itself in our national psy-che.But there are still serious problems we have to deal with.We just wentthrough a Supreme Court battle over the most important civil rightsstatute we have,Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.That was our case,and itwas decided in June.

“If we were trying to figure out whether or not we were actually at apoint of progress and these issues of race are really behind us – if we werein France,say,and wanted to figure out the same question and the answerto it – we’d say,how are the racial minorities doing in educational achieve-ment? How are they doing with respect to the criminal justice system?How are they doing in terms of economic equity,political participation,health care and housing?”

On all of those measures,he said,African-Americans as a group stillstruggle to achieve equality – something even a black president cannotmake up for.“Obama’s victory didn’t change any of those markers,”Paytonsaid.“But his election presents an opportunity to address some of these re-maining problems.He is as aware of these problems as anybody in our na-tional leadership has ever been,and is as committed to resolving them asanyone has ever been.”

For more Law School events visit law.buffalo.edu

Visit us at www.law.buffalo.edu

Left to right:

Amy AtkinsonAssistant Director of Reunions and Special Programs • aatkins@buffalo.edu

Amy HypnarowskiAdministrative Assistant for Alumni Relations • hypnarow@buffalo.edu

Ilene R. FleischmannVice Dean for Alumni and Communications,Executive Director of the Law Alumni Association • fleisch@buffalo.edu

Cynthia WattsDatabase Manager • clwatts@buffalo.edu

Kristina LivelyWebmaster • klively@buffalo.edu

Lisa MuellerAssistant Dean for Alumni and Communications,Assistant Director of the Law Alumni Association • lmueller@buffalo.edu

Patricia WarringtonAssistant Director for Alumni and Development • warring@buffalo.edu

Contact the Office of Alumni and Communications at:

law-alumni@buffalo.edu

(716) 645-2107

Office of Alumni and Communications:“Call on us to help… ”

U B L A W F O R U MT h e M a g a z i n e o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y a t B u f f a l o L a w S c h o o l

T h e S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w Y o r k

F A L L 2 0 0 9

University at Buffalo Law School

John Lord O’Brian Hall

Buffalo, NY 14260-1100

Address service requested

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDBuffalo NY

Permit No. 311

Three national chairs of the Annual Fund drive agree:

There has never been a better time to invest in our Law School.

Strong leadership, producing resultsDean Makau Mutua is a world-class leader with vision and integrity.

He is now charting a course for the future of the Law School, with the goal

of becoming one of the top 50 schools in the country.

TO MAKE A GIFT, CALL DEBORAH J. SCOTT, (716) 645-2113;ALAN CARREL, (716) 645-6222; OR KAREN KACZMARSKI, (716) 645-6429.

PAUL KOMICZKY’86Partner, Leydig,Voit & Mayer Ltd.

Chicago

BARBARA SCHIFELING ’84Partner, Damon & Morey LLP

Buffalo

BRENT WILSON ’76Partner, Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp, & Wilson LLP

Atlanta

KENYANPRIME

MINISTERURGES

SOLIDARITYWITH

EMERGINGAFRICA

KENYANPRIME

MINISTERURGES

SOLIDARITYWITH

EMERGINGAFRICA

Raila Odinga,keynote speaker for 2009 Commencement,tours Niagara Falls with Dean Makau Mutua