Class of 1996
(Notes posted in the order they were received, with the newest posts on top.)
Hannah Cassidy is one of two attorneys who will head Reno & Cavanaugh's newly opened Nashville office in the Fifth Third Center on Church Street. Cassidy, a real estate lawyer with broad-based experience in commercial, residential and mixed-use development, previously practiced with Stites and Harbison in Nashville.
Keith R. Powell and wife Kelly Tabb Powell announced the birth of daughter Annalise Hope on January 22, 2008.
Andrea Phillips has joined The Weather Channel, Inc. as Senior Legal Counsel in Atlanta, Georgia.
Brad Monks passed away on February 17, 2007, after a long battle with carcinoid cancer. "Brad had a unique ability to reach out and engage people and touch them with his wit, compassion and insight," writes classmate John Belcher. His memorial service will be held at St. Bartholomew's Church (located at Park Avenue at 51st Street in Manhattan) on Friday, March 9, at 3 p.m., with a reception for friends and family immediately following. Brad's sister, Julie Zvara, has asked that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in the memory of Bradford Monks to the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation or The Nature Conservancy. "These charities were important to Brad," she writes.
“This is a tremendous honor for Chris and a validation of his talent as a producer of documentary films,” commented Archer Norris managing partner Lee Archer. “Chris’s ability to combine the practice of law with his passion for documentary film exemplifies the range of diversity that we support at Archer Norris. Our entertainment industry clients have benefited tremendously from Chris’s direct experience in film production, and this further solidifies his place in the world of documentary and independent film and in the broader entertainment industry.”
Chris began his career as a downtown Los Angeles litigator and cut his teeth in entertainment as an agent trainee at Endeavor. At Archer Norris, Chris advises a rapidly growing list of actors, writers, directors, producers, publishers, digital content providers, and media financiers.
Laura Rakow Brothers' daughter, Sarah Madison, was born on June 5, 2006. She joins big sister, Laura Grace (4 1/2).
Eric P. Schroeder, a partner with Powell Goldstein's Health Care Practice Group and its Appellate Section has been recognized by his peers as a 2006 Rising Star. The Law & Politics and Super Lawyers magazines recognize only 2.5 percent of the top up-and-coming attorneys in the State of Georgia who are 40 years of age or younger as Rising Stars. Eric concentrates in media, First Amendment, health care and intellectual property law and leads Powell Goldstein's appellate practice section.
Stephanie Feldman Aleong is an Assistant Professor of Law at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She teaches Criminal Law, Remedies, Feminism & the Law and Lawyering Skills & Values. Her scholarship focuses on the crime and patient risk involved in the pharmaceutical distribution system. Each year, she returns to Vanderbilt for the Annual First Amendment Competition, bringing a team from Nova to experience the same tournament for which she was an Associate Justice while a student at Vanderbilt. Stephanie is married to her high-school friend, Neil.
Rick Porotsky was named as one of the Ohio Super Lawyers - Rising Stars by Law & Politics Media. Rick is an associate at the Cincinnati office of Dinsmore & Shohl.
Lance Cargill was selected as the GOP's speaker-designate by the Oklahoma State House Republicans, who hold a 13-member majority in the 101-member House. Cargill, will replace House Speaker Todd Hiett, who is term-limited and running for lieutenant governor. "We hope to continue moving this state forward and not return to the failed policies of the past," Cargill said. "We have a great slate of candidates, and we're going to build an even stronger Republican majority." Cargill formerly served as Majority Floor Leader for the Oklahoma House of Representatives and as chair of the Republican State House Committee.
Kathalyn Anne (Anne) Bullen has been a member of The Sadler Firm in Houston since 2002. Her practice consists primarily of rendering title opinions for oil and gas exploration and production companies. Anne writes: "On November 4, 2000, I married Andres Zornosa. We have been blessed with two beautiful, healthy children, Ethan, who is 4, and Adriana, who is 5 months. Andres graduated from the University of Houston with a Masters in Architecture in May 2004."
Christopher Keene has joined Archer Norris as an associate in the Los Angeles office. Prior to coming to the firm, he provided business consulting services in the field of entertainment law.
John B. Rosenquest has been named partner in the Hartford office of the 350-attorney national law firm of Edwards & Angell, which focuses on private equity & venture capital, financial services and technology.
Glen Staszewski and Ellen Armentrout, '97, welcomed a daughter, Nora Armentrout Staszewski, on May 10, 2005. She joined her big brother, Benjamin, now 3.
Albert Li has joined Abbott Laboratories (www.abbott.com) as its primary legal counsel for its growing spine and orthopedic products division, Abbott Spine, based in North Austin (www.abbottspine.com).
Eric Chung is the General Counsel of Protiviti Inc., a global independent risk consulting firm. Eric resides in San Francisco, CA.
Kevin B. Fischer is a partner in the St. Louis office of Bryan Cave, focusing in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities law and general corporate matters.
Paul Monnin is an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia, headquartered in Atlanta. Mr. Monnin prosecutes mostly white collar cases through the office's fraud and public corruption section. Mr. Monnin and his wife, Alicia, welcomed their third child, John Paul, on July 14.
Richard S. Zembek has been named a partner in the Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski. Mr. Zembek's practice focuses on matters involving intellectual property litigation, transfer, licensing and protection. He has extensive experience handling all aspects of complex patent litigation matters for both patent holders and accused infringers in federal jurisdictions across the country and before arbitration tribunals. Other litigation experience includes unfair competition, trade secret, breach of contract, copyright and trademark disputes. In addition, Mr. Zembek has been involved in freedom to operate evaluations, intellectual property due diligence, intellectual property portfolio counseling and patent and trademark prosecution.
Joe Petersen is a partner in the New York office of Kilpatrick Stockton specializing in intellectual property.
Do you have news you would like to share or just want to let everyone know what you are up to these days? Submit your class note online, e-mail Grace Renshaw or call 615-322-2606.
Please check the "Alumni MIA" list to see if you can help us find any of your "lost" classmates!
