May 2021 Class Notes
To see previous issues of the GW Law Updates and Class Notes, visit the Alumni Benefits and Services page. Click here to see this month's In Memoriam.
Susan L. Heller JD ‘82
Susan Heller, shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, has been recognized by the Daily Journal among its "Top Intellectual Property Lawyers of California" for 2021. Ms. Heller is a co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig's Orange County office, chair of the Global Trademark & Brand Management Group, and co-chair of the global Greenberg Traurig Women's Initiative.
Robert A. Klausner, JD ‘85
Robert Klausner was selected as a 2021 Leader in Law by New Jersey BIZ. Mr. Klausner, who serves as Co-Chair of Fox Rothschild LLP’s Real Estate Department, has represented developers, owners, and tenants in office, industrial, and retail transactions.
Jeannette Koster, JD ‘85
Jeannette Koster is handling contracts for a New York City mayoral agency with headquarters located near her new home in Queens.
Russ Travers, JD ‘86
Russ Travers was recently appointed by the Biden administration as Deputy Homeland Security Adviser.
John O'Sullivan, JD ‘88
John O’Sullivan is joining the launch of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in Miami as a partner. He was previously a litigation partner at Hogan Lovells.
Robert R. Baron, Jr., JD ‘92
Managing IP awarded Ballard Spahr partner Rob Baron its "Litigation Practitioner of the Year" award for Pennsylvania. Mr. Baron is the former Vice-Chair of Ballard Spahr's Intellectual Property Department and the former head of its Intellectual Property Litigation Group.
Adam Derman, JD ‘92
Adam Derman of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC ("CSG") has been selected for the 2021 edition of New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in the practice area of Business Litigation.
David Benowitz, JD ‘95
David Benowitz has been selected as a 2021 Washington, DC, Super Lawyer for dedication to social justice and criminal defense. Mr. Benowitz is currently a partner with Price Benowitz LLP and was previously a staff attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia.
Cathy Harris, JD ‘97
President Biden announced his intent to nominate Cathy Harris as Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Lori S. Kozak, JD ‘97
Lori Kozak was featured in the "Women of Influence: Attorneys" special supplement by the Los
Angeles Business Journal. As Co-Chair of Fox Rothschild's Trademarks Practice Group and a member of a tight-knit group of current and former US Patent and Trademark Office examiners, Ms. Kozak combines inside knowledge of the trademark examination process with a sophisticated understanding of global intellectual property systems and industry-specific goals and challenges.
David S. Panzer, JD ‘98
David Panzer has joined Whiteford, Taylor & Preston in their Washington, DC, office. With more than 20 years of government contracts and litigation experience, Mr. Panzer brings the experience of both a senior in-house counsel at a major government services contractor and a partner at a global law firm. Prior to joining Whiteford, he served as Deputy General Counsel for one of the largest private companies in the Washington, DC, area.
Christopher D. Bright, JD ‘99
Veteran intellectual property litigator Christopher Bright has joined Snell & Wilmer as a partner in the firm's expanding Orange County office. Mr. Bright has over 20 years of experience litigating patent cases. He also has extensive experience in Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), has counseled clients in global patent licensing negotiations, and performed patent due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.
Erika L. Moritsugu, JD ‘01
President Biden announced Erika Moritsugu as Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Senior Liaison. Ms. Moritsugu will bring her experience and expertise as a vital voice to advance the President and the administration's priorities. Currently the Vice President at National Partnership for Women & Families, she has spent her career in the federal government and politics fighting for social justice and the empowerment of communities and individuals. Prior to her work at the National Partnership, Ms. Moritsugu led the Government Relations, Advocacy, and Community Engagement team at the Anti-Defamation League. She served as the General Counsel for Senator Tammy Duckworth and was the Deputy Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs at the newly-established Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Deputy Legislative Director for Senator Daniel K. Akaka of Hawai'i; and held several different roles at the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. Before recommitting to a career in public service, Ms. Moritsugu practiced international trade, legislative, and immigration law at Hogan and Hartson and managed grassroots and coalition-building campaigns at The Wexler Group.
Sharan Nirmul, JD ‘01
Sharan Nirmul was named a 2021 "Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar" by Law360. Mr. Nirmul has served as lead counsel in several high-profile securities fraud cases at Kessler Topaz.
Heather A. Hill, JD ‘06
Assistant United States Attorney Heather Hill will serve as the Southern District of Ohio’s Senior Litigation Counsel. Ms. Hill joined the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio in 2011. In her decade with the Columbus office, she has served as the district's Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Human Trafficking Coordinator. She has prosecuted more than 100 cases involving online crimes against children. Prior to joining the office, Ms. Hill did work in the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and clerked for the Hon. Robert I. Richter, formerly of the DC Superior Court.
Nicole Maria Tuchinda, JD ‘06
Nicole Tuchinda started a new position as Visiting Assistant Professor at The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law where she will be teaching Health Law Survey, Health Law Seminar, and Torts I and II.
Christopher Bruno, JD ‘09
McDermott Will & Emery colleagues Darra Loganzo and Christopher Bruno have published a new article on software copyrightability.
Nora Lovell Marchant, JD ‘09
The newly-created role of Global Sustainability Vice President at American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has been filled by Nora Lovell Marchant. She will drive and coordinate company-wide green initiatives and enable GBT to achieve targets set out in its sustainability strategy. Ms. Lovell Marchant was previously GBT's global regulatory compliance director.
Laura Wood Peterson, JD ‘09
Agriculture and natural resource policy specialist Laura Wood Peterson has joined the International Professional Seed Association as a lobbyist where she will support the representation of the unique needs and national priorities of independent seed companies. Ms. Peterson has navigated public policy issues in the federal regulatory landscape for 15 years.
Marlena Schultz, JD ‘09
Marlena Schultz has joined Clean Energy Counsel (CEC), a boutique law firm serving companies in the renewable energy sector. Clean energy project development and finance are the core of Ms. Schultz' deep experience representing project lenders and developers. She also advises clients on structuring complex financings and joint ventures, particularly growing cleantech clients. She joins CEC from Cooley, LLP.
Susanna V. Blume, JD ‘10
President Biden announced his intent to nominate Susanna Blume as nominee for Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Department of Defense Ms. Blume is currently performing the duties of the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Defense. Prior to taking on this role, she was Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), where her research focused on the alignment of defense strategy, planning, and resources.
Sara M. Cooperrider, JD ‘10
Sara Cooperrider was named President of the Cincinnati Bar Association. Ms. Cooperrider is a partner at Taft in Cincinnati where her practice focuses on transactional, regulatory compliance, and reimbursement work for health care providers. Prior to joining Taft, she served as Corporate Counsel at The Kroger Co., and was also formerly Assistant and Associate General Counsel at UC Health, greater Cincinnati's academic health system.
Brock Dahl, JD‘11
Technology, data, and cyber attorney Brock Dahl, who most recently served as the Deputy General Counsel, Operations at the National Security Agency (NSA) has joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP as a Counsel in its Washington, DC, and Silicon Valley offices. Prior to joining the NSA, he also worked at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati. Mr. Dahl will counsel clients on matters related to regulatory investigations, cyber crises, and transactional risks, and will also assist them with designing their technology and data strategies and investments.
Thanh Nguyen, JD ‘11
Thanh Nguyen, who formerly served as executive and legal director for anti-corruption matters at PepsiCo Inc., has joined Major Lindsey & Africa in its recruiter team based in Los Angeles. At PepsiCo, Ms. Nguyen was chair of the Larry D. Thompson Legacy of Leadership Fellowship, a legal internship program dedicated to promoting diversity in the legal profession. At PepsiCo, she also developed the company's global third-party due diligence program and conducted internal investigations involving potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Before going in-house, Ms. Nguyen was a litigation associate at Clifford Chance LLP in Washington, DC, and later at Latham & Watkins LLP in Chicago, where she represented multinational clients involved in litigation or FCPA internal investigations.
Timothy Weston, LLM ‘12
Timothy Weston is newly promoted at the Transportation Security Administration and is now Director of Strategy and Performance.
Danielle Ryan, JD ‘12
Danielle Ryan has been elevated to Partner in the Litigation Department at Fox Rothschild LLP. Ms. Ryan focuses her practice on commercial litigation and construction law. She represents clients in both state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania, as well as in magisterial district justice court.
Samuel Drezdzon, JD ‘12
Haynes and Boone has promoted Samuel Drezdzon to counsel. Mr. Drezdzon is a member of the IP Practice Group in the firm's Dallas-North office. His practice focuses on patent litigation and inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Oce.
Bethany J. Young, JD ‘12
Bethany Young recently accepted a new position as Deputy Director at DC Justice Lab. She was previously a Project Director at Impact Justice.
Tiffany Ge, JD ‘13
Tiffany Ge has been promoted by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to serve as legislative director. Ms. Ge joined the Senator's office in 2017 as legal counsel and manages an extensive legislative portfolio. She will oversee all Kentucky-focused legislative matters and manage the policy staff. Ms. Ge will continue to serve as legal counsel and handle the Judiciary and Law Enforcement policy portfolios.
Victoria Christoff, JD ‘15
Victoria Christoff has returned to GW Law to teach Analytical Writing (for Government Procurement MSLs) during the fall semester and will teach the Government Contracts Moot Court course during the spring semester. She will also assist with the administration of the Government Procurement Law Program and work on her scholarship concerning government procurement law. She was previously a litigation associate at the Washington, DC, office of Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius LLP, a law clerk for the Honorable Marian Blank Horn at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and a law clerk for the Honorable Jimmie V. Reyna at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Daniel M. Curiel, JD ‘15
Daniel Curiel started a new position as Staff Attorney at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).
Tshoejab Mepham Denlen, LLM ‘18
Tshoejab Mepham Denlen started a new position as Legal Officer at His Majesty's Secretariat in Bhutan.
Eric Valle, JD ‘18
Eric Valle joins PilieroMazza's Expanding Government Contracts team as an Associate. Mr. Valle previously clerked for the Honorable Matthew H. Solomson at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Leighann George, JD ‘18
Leighann George recently began as an Associate at Clifton Budd & DeMaria, LLP. She was formerly with Ingerman Smith LLP.
Justin Tsang, JD ‘19
Justin Tsang is moving to Paul Hastings from Morris, Manning & Martin, both in Washington, DC, where he will continue his commercial real estate practice.
Diana Guevara Duque, LLM ‘20
Diana Duque started a new position as a Constitutional and Jurisdictional Expert with the Constitutional Court of Ecuador.
Darra Loganzo, JD ‘20
McDermott Will & Emery colleagues Darra Loganzo and Christopher Bruno have published a new article on software copyrightability.
Mustapha Nyallay, JD ‘20
Mustapha Nyallay recently accepted a position as Associate Attorney at May Lightfoot, PLLC.
Sakshi Pande, LLM ‘20
Sakshi Pande recently joined Sagar Chandra & Associates, an Intellectual Property Law firm in New Delhi, on their Litigation Team as a Senior Associate.
Natalee Ball, JD ‘21
Natalee Ball has accepted an offer as an associate in the affordable housing group with Coats Rose in Austin, Texas.
In Memoriam
Benjamin F. Brown, III, JD ‘51
Benjamin Brown of Sykesville, MD, passed away April 25, 2021, at age 97. After being drafted into the Army, as a B-29 tail-gunner he flew 33 successful missions before returning stateside. Rather than practice law, he enjoyed many business interests including his insurance agency (his first and foundation company), hospitality, and antiques.
Louis “Lou” Joseph D'Amico, BBL ‘60
“Lou” D'Amico passed away April 4, 2021, in Asheville, NC, at age 90. He worked at the National Labor Relations Board for 40 years. During his distinguished career, he worked in Headquarters, the former Peoria Regional Office, and in the Baltimore Regional Office. He became Director of the Baltimore Regional Office in 1982 and retired in 2000.
C. Timothy Hopkins, JD ‘63
C. Timothy Hopkins passed away from heart complications in Idaho Falls, ID, on April 23, 2021 at age 85. He graduated with honors from GW Law. He opened a law firm in Idaho Falls in 1973. Hopkins Roden, as it is known today, first opened as Hopkins and French. In addition to his work as an attorney, Mr. Hopkins was also heavily involved with the Idaho State Bar Association and served as president.
Glenn Stuart Arendsen, JD ‘65
Glenn Arendsen passed away April 27, 2021 at age 84 in Big Rapids, MI. He was a lawyer with Ford Motor Company for over 30 years.
Tim Richard Miles, BBL ‘65
Tim Miles passed away March 27, 2021, at age 83. He combined his engineering degree from Vanderbilt University with his law degree to become a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
William “Bill” D. Cremins, JD ‘67
"Bill" Cremins passed away in Southport, NC, on March 18, 2020. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Mr. Cremins worked full time as an insurance adjuster for Travelers Insurance Company and attended GW Law part-time in the evening. He earned his JD and began his almost 40-year law career in the City of Fairfax. Mr. Cremins was past president of the Fairfax Bar Association and was active in the Virginia State Bar.
Gerald M. Fisher, JD ‘69
Gerald M. Fisher passed away on March 7, 2020, at age 84 in Palo Alto, CA.
David B. Adler, JD ‘73
David B. Adler passed away in July 2020. Mr. Adler was a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC, in the Criminal and the Civil Right Divisions. With his trusted team of FBI agents, he specialized in police brutality cases. He also worked with the Office of Solicitor General, in presenting appellate cases to the U.S. Supreme Court that changed criminal law and procedure and the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens charged with criminal offenses. Mr. Adler moved to Seattle in 1987 and as a private attorney, he had extensive trial experience involving claims of corporate law, fraud, breach of contract, civil racketeering, commercial torts, and employment law.
Dulcie Diane Brand, JD ‘81
Dulcie Brand passed away on March 7, 2021, in Sugar Land, TX, at age 66. For the past three decades she lived and worked in Los Angeles; she practiced at Jones Day and Pilsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
Col. Bernard M. Chachula, LLM ‘86
Col (USAF, Ret) Bernard M. Chachula, 72, of Dayton, OH, passed away April 26, 2021. Mr. Chachula proudly served as a U.S. Air Force officer for 32 years, initially as a Mechanical Engineer and then as a Judge Advocate (JAG), retiring in 2002 as Director of Contract Law for AFMC at Wright-Patterson AFB. In retirement, he gave freely of his time and was dedicated in his support for a number of local military, legal, and parish community initiatives, while continuing to work as a legal consultant.
Don Livornese, JD ‘86
Don Livornese, 60, passed away April 26, 2021, in Torrance, CA. He graduated GW Law with honors. A successful patent attorney and litigator, he was passionate about social justice and fighting homelessness in the Los Angeles area.