Dispelling the myth

As I begin my term as chair of the Emory Law School Advisory Board, I am optimistic about the future of Emory Law. However, there are numerous challenges facing the law school, and many of them have the same root cause — the "myth."

Generations of Emory lawyers have believed in a myth that Emory University’s endowment is a single, fantastical communal pool of money readily available to provide the law school with unlimited resources. Unfortunately, this decades-old belief is simply a fairy tale; here is the truth.

First, while the University’s endowment is pooled for investment purposes, it is subject to various restrictions and legally binding conditions imposed by donors that limit its use. Only that portion of the endowment — what we commonly call the “law school endowment” — is earmarked solely for the law school. Only the small portion of the University’s endowment that is not otherwise designated to other parts of the University (such as the college, medical school, and business school) can be shared with the law school. For example, just as the nursing school cannot use the gifts made to the law school, gifts made to the University for other purposes cannot be designated for the law school.

Second, while the University’s overall endowment is among the largest in the U.S., the law school has one of the smallest endowments among U.S. law schools. To put it into perspective, the size of the law school endowment ranges from one-half to one-sixth the size of similarly ranked schools’ endowments!

It’s understandable how the misconception about the law school’s finances was born and perpetuated. Unfortunately, the myth has been much more than just a benign distraction or humorous misunderstanding. How many of you have heard or thought, “the law school doesn’t need my gift?” But it does; it truly does. Any gift, no matter the size, is appreciated and greatly needed. 

Learning the truth years ago inspired me to strengthen my support for the law school. Now that you are no longer under the spell of the myth, I sincerely hope that you will also be motivated to increase your financial support for the law school. 

Ian L. Levin 92L is Advisory Board president.

   

Class Notes

1971

Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore 71L was recognized for lifetime achievement in the Daily Report’s 2021 Georgia Legal Awards. 

1972 

In May, James Timothy White 72L published Riley & Ben: Life Offers Second Chances. 

1976

The Hon. Cynthia D. Stephens 76L was keynote speaker at the Black Law Students Association virtual 2021 Sankofa event, held on May 12. 

1978

Herbert H. “Hal” Gray III 78L received the 2020 Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Award, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of alternative dispute resolution. 

David L. Ladov 78L received the 2021 Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Eric Turner Memorial Award. The award honors a lawyer who is dedicated to the practice of family law and serves as a mentor and teacher to fellow lawyers. He is a partner in Obermayer Law’s West Conshohocken offices. 

1979 

Walter Jospin 79L received The Elbert P. Tuttle Award, given for exemplifying The Anti-Defamation League’s mission to secure justice and fair treatment for all. 

Following 40 years of practice, primarily in family law, Susan Pollet 79L has published multiple books: Grey Divorce: From Pain to Peace, Women in Crisis: Stories from the Edge, Through Walter’s Lens, Lessons in Survival: All About Amos, and Juliette Rose’s Dream of Becoming. She resides in New York City.    

1980 

Michael E. Ballard 80L was ordained a priest in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast of the Episcopal Church. He is an attorney with Ulmer, Hillman & Ballard in Mobile, Alabama. 

Leah Ward Sears 80L was chosen to lead a new Federal Nominations Advisory Commission to better reflect Georgia — with more people of color and women, with diverse career backgrounds. Also, the Anti-Defamation League honored her with the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award. 

1986 

James A. Scharf 86L, an assistant US attorney, was appointed senior litigation counsel for the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California. Also, the high school mock trial team he coaches won its third county championship. 

Terry Weiss 86L has joined Maynard Cooper & Gale as a shareholder to lead the firm’s newly established Atlanta office. Business. He is the she 

1989 

Jeff Harris 89L, a recently retired FBI agent, received the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal for his work on a classified human intelligence collection operation. He’s now a legal subject matter expert for the Diplomatic Security Service.  

1991 

Sarah Lamar 91L of HunterMaclean in Savannah, Georgia, was ranked as exceptional in the category of Labor and Employment practice in the most recent issue of Chambers USA.  

1994 

Carrie N. Baker 94G 94L 01G did a long-form Q & A for Ms. Magazine with Berkeley Law Professor Amanda L. Tyler, co-author of Justice, Justice Thou Shalt Pursue: A Life’s Work Fighting for a More Perfect Union. Tyler’s co-author was the late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 

Jeff Worob 94L was named a “top music lawyer” by Billboard Magazine, repeating last year’s appearance, in the category of Talent and Litigation. He’s a partner at Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill. 

1995 

Maren Lynn Chaloupka 95L has opened a solo trial practice, Chaloupka Law, in her hometown of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  

Carla Schiff Donnelly 95L received the Pennsylvania Bar’s Lynette Norton Award, which recognizes attorneys who excel in litigation skills and mentor fellow women lawyers. 

Anne Tremblay 95L was named legal counsel to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. 

    

1997 

Shawn Kachmar 97L of HunterMaclean in Savannah, Georgia, was ranked as exceptional in the category of Labor and Employment practice in the most recent issue of Chambers USA. 

Carlos Kelly 97L was named new chair of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.’s Business Litigation Department. He was also named one of the 2021 class of Florida Super Lawyers. 

Kimberli C. Withrow 97L, a partner at the Atlanta firm Boyd Collar Nolen Tuggle & Roddenbery, has been recognized as a 2021 Super Lawyer for the practice of family law. 

Donna Coleman-Stribling 99L

1999 

DeKalb County’s Donna Coleman-Stribling 99L was named Solicitor General of the Year at this year’s annual conference of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia.  

2001 

David Chaiken 01L was ranked as one of the top lawyers in Georgia for Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is the founder of Chaiken Law. 

Timothy K. Giordano 01L has been appointed chairman of the Leadership Board at the Florida State University College of Communication and Information. 

2003 

Christopher T. Nace 03B 03L has received the 2021 Howard Twiggs award from the American Association for Justice for his distinguished service as a trial lawyer. 

2005 

In June, Elizabeth L. Fite 05L was sworn as the 59th president of the State Bar of Georgia. She is the fifth woman to serve as president of the organization. 

Thomas Hawkins 05Lhas published his first book, Land Use Law in Florida. He is program director and lecturer at the University of Florida College of Design, Construction, and Planning. 

Melody Moezzi 06L 06PH

2006 

Author, lawyer and activist Melody Moezzi 06L 06PH was invited to discuss her memoir, The Rumi Prescription: How an Ancient Mystic Poet Changed My Modern Manic Life, at an Emory Alumni Association event. 

Dhairal Shah 06L is an associate partner with K Law in Mumbai, India. 

2007 

Michael Fabius 07L is a partner at Ballard Spahr, effective July 1. He is co-practice leader of the Gaming Group and practices in the firm’s Philadelphia offices. 

2008 

C. Jordan Myers 08L was named an “On the Rise” attorney in the Daily Report’s 2021 Georgia Legal Awards. 

Alyson Pirio 05C 08L has joined Troutman Pepper as a partner in the firm’s Tax & Benefits Practice Group. 

Kevin J. Rubin 08L, founding partner at Marple Rubin Family Law, was admitted as a fellow to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 

   

    

   

   

2009 

Kelly Frey 09L was named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under Hot List 2021,” which recognizes law firm partners in the US and Canada who stand out “due to their high-stakes wins, precedent-setting matters and positioning for future success.” 

Christopher K. Smith 09B 09L was named partner at Lash & Goldberg's Miami offices. 

   

2010 

Brandon Goldberg 10L has declared himself a candidate for Atlanta City Council, Post Seat 1, At-Large.  

Angela Oliver 10L led the Policy Unit for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 response for more than two months, during which she managed the CDC’s interactions with Congress and other key partners. The policy unit manages congressional briefings, hearings, executive correspondence, and external partner engagement. 

2011 

Ben Farley 11L’s essay for The Atlantic marked the 15th anniversary of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and urged the Biden administration to close Guantanamo. He was also recently on NPR to discuss the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. He is a trial attorney and law-of-war counsel at the US Department of Defense, Military Commissions Defense Organization. 

Douglas Hoffman 07C 11L was promoted to partner this April at Hunton Andrews Kurth’s New York offices. 

Roy Richter 11L was promoted to of counsel at the Woodlands, Texas, offices of Winstead PC. 

Julia Blackburn Stone 11L was named an “On the Rise” attorney in the Daily Report’s 2021 Georgia Legal Awards. 

2012 

Stephen Alicanti 12B 12L, a corporate partner at DLA Piper, was named to The Deal’s “Top Rising Stars: Class of 2021.” 

2013 

Brent Bartlett 10C 13L has joined Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Atlanta as an associate in the Tax Controversy and Litigation Group. 

Barret Broussard 13L has launched his solo practice, Broussard Law. He was also named one of the 100 Most Influential LGBTQ+ Georgians by the OUT Georgia Business Alliance. 

LaShawn A. Oxendine 13L has joined Norris McLaughlin as an associate in the firm’s Times Square, New York City, office. 

Will Wooten 13L has been appointed deputy district attorney in charge of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office White-Collar Crime Unit.  

2015 

Katherine DeRosa Emerson 15L and Mack Emerson 16L welcomed a daughter, Sloane Margaret Emerson, to the world (and Atlanta) on February 3, 2020. 

   

Patrick H. Hill 15L recently joined the Charlotte offices of Robinson Bradshaw. 

2017 

William McLaughlin 17L 17T, an attorney-advisor for the Department of Health and Human Services received a grade promotion and a performance appraisal award recognizing his contributions to HHS over the past year. 

Kyle R. Silverstein 17L successfully represented the State of New York in the New York Court of Appeals, in People v. Brown. 

2018 

In October 2020, Eliza Carmen 18L became a new assistant US attorney for the Southern District of Texas. 

John Rose 18L was named a “top music lawyer” by Billboard Magazine, repeating last year’s appearance, in the category of Talent and Litigation. He’s an associate at Fox Rothschild. Rose also made Variety’s Legal Impact list. 

Masiel Pelegrino Sarduy 18L taught closing arguments, the federal rules of evidence and the Daubert standard at this year’s Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques at Emory Law. She is an associate at Phelps in Tampa, Florida. 

   

   

   

 

2019 

Carmelle Alipio 19L joined the Board of Directors of Love for Our Elders, a nonprofit that fights isolation in senior communities across the country. She is an associate with Williams Mullen in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

   

   

   

Kurtley M. Taylor 19L joined Carlton Fields as an associate in the firm’s Tampa offices. 

   

   

        

    

Brooke Moschetto 20L

2020 

Brooke Moschetto 20L has joined the Pastori | Krans law firm in Concord, New Hampshire. 

   

   

   

Sarah J. Sarb 20L has joined HunterMacLean in Savannah, Georgia, as an associate. 

   

   

   

   

2021 

Hope Bettler 21L was one of 77 lawyers chosen from 466 Equal Justice Works applicants this year. She’ll work with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid to provide legal services for citizens in border communities. 

You did what? 

Send your updates to lawcommunications@emory.edu. Class notes are submitted by alumni and are not verified by the editor. Read more about Emory Law alumni at law.emory.edu/alumni. 

 

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