Tell us about your new job, awards/honors, wedding and birth announcements — and other news! Class Notes are shared in the USC Law magazine and here online. Email us at alumni@law.usc.edu or fill out the form linked below.
Tala R. Ansari (JD 2025) joined Blank Rome as an associate.
Liz Atlee (JD 1993) was named General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at FiveStar Gourmet Foods.
Alisa Blair (JD 2002) joined UC Irvine Law School as a full-time faculty member.
Linde Blocher (JD 2019) was promoted to counsel at Littler Mendelson PC.
Melissa Boey (JD 2013) was promoted to Of Counsel at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
Michael Bordy (JD 1986) received the “College Key” from the Hamilton College Alumni Council in recognition of his volunteer work.
Christopher Braham (JD 2013) was named to Law360’s 2025 Rising Stars for contributions to employment law.
Jason Capps (JD 2009) was promoted to Of Counsel at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
Melanie L. Chaney (JD 1994) was named the managing partner at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.
Tyler Dobberstein (JD 2021) joined Apple Inc. as legal counsel.
Michael Dueñas (LLM 2022) has been promoted to Labor Relations Deputy Chief for San Bernardino County.
Michelle Edge (JD 1997) was promoted to partner at Eleven Hundred Agency.
Joseph Egbule (JD 2020) joined Jackson Lewis P.C. as an associate.
Jenny Farrell (JD 2011) was appointed Executive Director for the League of Women Voters of California.
Steven Friedland (JD 2021) joined Friedland Cianfrani as an associate.
Joel Frost-Tift (JD 2014) has been named a 2025 California Laywer Attorneys of the Year by the Daily Journal.
Zachary Gershman (JD 2019) joined Blackstone Law as a senior associate attorney.
Daniel Gherardi (JD 2017) was promoted to partner at Latham & Watkins LLP where he is a securities litigator in the Bay Area offices.
Mira Hashmall (JD 2001) was named a Top Woman Lawyer by the Daily Journal.
Luna Hernandez (LLM 2023) recently joined Jackson Lewis (Orange County) as an Advice and Counsel Attorney.
Aya Ichida (JD 1997) was named 2025 Corporate Counsel of the Year (Large Private Company) by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
John Iino (JD 1987) was installed as the 130th President of the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles. He is the first person of Asian descent to serve in this role.
Monique Jewett-Brewster (JD 2001) has assumed leadership of AmLaw200 law firm Lathrop GPM LLP's Financial Services Group.
Grace King (JD 2014) was promoted to management principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP.
Vanessa Lee (JD 2016) was promoted to partner at Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP.
Claudia Lin (JD 2018) was promoted to counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.
Brittany Litzinger (JD 2019) was promoted to partner with Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Attillio Mazzilli (LLM 2007) was appointed Global Lead Partner for Cross-Border Corporate Client Development at Orrick Italy.
Colleen Bathen Meyer (JD 2009) was promoted to partner with Ropes & Gray.
Ella Moberg (JD 2020) was named Partner at McCormick Barstow LLP.
Gabriel A. Morgan (JD 2008) was named to the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America 2026.
Marisa Murillo (JD 2002) was named a 2025 Notable Leader in Finance by Crain’s Chicago Business.
Henning Nygaard (LLM 2022) opened his own firm, Nygaard Law Firm P.C. focusing on data protection, privacy, and cyber security.
Pablo Pak (LLM 2023) joined Farmers Insurance as an attorney.
Barzin Pakandam (JD 2016) was promoted to Partner at Goodwin Procter LLP.
Shelby Palmer (JD 2019) joined Netflix as manager, business and legal affairs.
Andrew Quist (JD 2007) was promoted to chief executive officer and president of SecurityNational Mortgage Company.
Daniel S. Roberts (JD 1999) was appointed as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California.
Reginald Roberts, Jr. (JD 2000), a partner at Sanders Roberts, was selected as a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of The American Board of Trial Advocates.
Jalen Russell (JD 2020) joined DLA Piper as a Leveraged Finance Associate.
Charles Shute (JD 2012) was promoted to partner at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP.
Charlotte A.L. Siegel (JD 2024) joined Reinhart’s Milwaukee’s office as an associate.
Tina Sohaili (JD 2010) joined the USC Office of Civil Rights Compliance as the deputy coordinator-Investigation and Resolution.
Avery Stefan (JD 2023) joined Latham & Watkins LLP as a finance associate.
John “Michael” Vaughn (JD 1987) opened a solo practice in Oklahoma continuing to practice corporate transactions.
Chelsey White (JD 2024) joined Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers as an associate in family law.
Renee Williams (JD 2001) was appointed as a Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on August 7, 2025 and took her oath on October 3, 2025.
Dan Woods (JD 1977) was named a Leader of Influence: Litigators and Trial Lawyers by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Sylvia Zaich (JD 2019) was named Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Nina Chomsky (JD 1972) passed away in August 2025. Nina had a successful career as a corporate, tax and real estate attorney in Pasadena, CA. Nina was deeply involved in community activism in her beloved Pasadena and used her legal background to fight for neighborhood preservation, housing and better city planning. Pasadena elected officials praised her involvement and dedication to Pasadena. She helped block the 710 freeway extension, preserved parks within the city and more.
Gorman Dana Hobart (JD 1963) was born in Los Angeles and became one of California’s pre-eminent trial lawyers and later a civic leader in Rancho Mirage. Dana served in the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict. Following his service, Dana attended college and law school. He was elected president of the predecessor to the Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles in 1982; was recognized for decades in Best Lawyers in America; and even argued before the US Supreme Court. In the early 2000s, Dana was elected to the Rancho Mirage City Council, and was reelected four times, serving as Mayor five times, finally retiring in 2021. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Vicki; son C. Dana and daughters Christy, Carrie, and Celeste Healy Webb; and more.
Frederick M. Nicholas (BA 1947, LLB 1952) passed away on June 28, 2025, at the age of 105. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Los Angeles, Frederick studied journalism at USC before being drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. He returned to USC to earn his law degree and went on to a successful career in real estate development, helping to transform Los Angeles' cultural and civic landscape. He founded Public Counsel, the nation's largest public interest law firm, and played leading roles in the creation of MOCA, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and other major landmarks. Frederick is survived by his children, Deborah, Jan and Anthony (Mona); six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sister Helen Devor.
Daniel Paluch (JD 2012) passed away on July 8, 2025, at age 42. Daniel’s professional journey included work as a software developer, economic forecaster, and litigation attorney. Daniel is survived by his wife Nathalie Amir Paluch; his daughters, Raffaella and Isadora; and his parents, Barbara Bernstein and Romy Paluch.
A. Charles "Chuck" Wilson (JD 1950) passed away peacefully at his home on November 8, 2025. Chuck served in the US Army and was a decorated WWII veteran. After returning from the war, he co-founded Ernest Packing Solutions with his brother, and attended law school earning his JD in 1950. Chuck served as President and CEO of Ernest Packing Solutions for decades and even continued to go into the office as a centarian. He married Betty Seigel in 1954, and they shared a long and happy life together until her passing in 2009. He is survived by his wife Joan Cohen Wilson, his son Tim, daughter Minda, four grandchildren Henry, Matthew, Michelle and Sari, as well as Joan's daughters Fanya and Natalie.
James Becerra (JD 2015) was promoted to of counsel at Littler Mendelson PC.
Steven Blaker (JD 2011) was named to the "Best LGBTQ+ Lawyer Under 40" list by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.
Daniel Brovman (JD 2019) was promoted to counsel at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
Philip Horlacher (JD 2017) was promoted to counsel at Greenberg Gross.
John Iino (JD 1987) was installed as the 130th president of the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles; he is the first person of Asian descent to serve in this role.
Alexander Linhardt (JD 2014) was promoted to shareholder at Greenberg Traurig LLP.
Jacob Mindel (JD 2023) was promoted to partner at Athlaw LLP.
Omar Noureldin (JD 2014) was named to the "Best LGBTQ+ Lawyer Under 40" list by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.
Scott Pearson (JD 1994) was named to Los Angeles Times' 2025 Banking and Finance Visionaries list for his achievements successfully representing clients in the financial services sector.
Chris Phillips (JD 2019) was promoted to counsel at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
Andrew Quigley (JD 2011) was promoted to partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth.
Frederik Roos (LLM 2022) was named as an associate with Clifford Chance.
Hyung Soo Kim (JD 2004) joined Holland & Knight LLP as a partner in their New York office.
Jessica Snyder (JD 2019) was promoted to Counsel at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.
Eli Tarlow (JD 2018) was promoted to counsel at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.
David Willingham (JD 1998) was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers of 2025.
Annette Wong (JD 2009) was promoted to senior counsel at Cox Castle & Nicholson, LLP.
Elizabeth “Liz” Atlee (JD 1993) was appointed as chairperson of the board of directors at Cyclum Renewables, LLC.
Elena Babakhanyan (JD 2018) has been named partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
William Barrett (JD 1985) received the Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Award from the Chicago Bar Association. The Pro Bono and Public Service Awards celebrate outstanding members of the legal profession who have used their talents and resources to improve access to justice for the less fortunate in Chicago’s community.
Philipp Behrendt (LLM 2017) was selected as Chair of the Beverly Hills Bar Association's Tax Section.
Michelle Brathwaite (JD 1998) has been named Regional Representative for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Regional Office at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nassau, Bahamas.
Melanie L. Chaney (JD 1994), assumes the role of Firmwide Co-Managing Partner at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.
Arman Carretta (JD 2017) was promoted to partner at Goodwin Procter LLP.
Trevor Countryman (JD 2013), an attorney with Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP in Los Angeles, was named among the "Ones to Watch" for Real Estate Law in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in America®️.
Amber Finch (JD 2002), a partner and global chair in Reed Smith’s Insurance Recovery Group, was named by the LA Times as a 2024 Business of Law Visionary.
Gavin Galimi (BS 1996, JD 2000) was named a finalist for LA Times B2B In-House Counsel Forum & Leadership Awards.
Anne Hwang (JD 2002) was named as judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Efenomen Ikhuoria (LLM 2020) was promoted to Principal Partner at Equoria Legal.
Jasmina Khaira (LLM 2020) has joined London-based Annington as legal counsel.
Joshua Laterman (JD 1996) was named director at Laterman Family Foundation. He also serves as Chief Business Development Officer and General Counsel at the Laterman Companies.
Marvin Lingnau (LLM 2022) was promoted to Senior Associate at the Los Angeles office of KPMG US.
Joshua Love (JD 2014), a partner in Reed Smith’s Los Angeles Global Entertainment and Media Industry Group, has been named to Variety’s “Hollywood’s New Leaders of 2024” list.
Kara Mahoney (JD 2012) has joined the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia in the Workers' Rights and Antifraud unit.
Shahd Makhafah (LLM 2024) was appointed Clyde & Co’s first female partner in Saudi Arabia.
Kristin Pagano (JD 2013) has been named principal corporate counsel, offer strategy (product legal) at Cisco.
Brandon Reilly (JD 2011), a partner in Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP’s Privacy and Data Security division was named by the LA Times as a 2024 Business of Law Visionary.
Justin Sanders (JD 2000), a partner with Sanders Roberts LLP, was selected as a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
Lauryn Sanders (JD 2016) was named shareholder in Polsinelli’s Houston office.
Paige Smith (JD 2015) has been named director of corporate legal at ServiceTitan.
Jeannine Taylor (JD 2002), deputy general counsel at Keck Medicine of USC, received Los Angeles Business Journal’s Corporate Counsel of the Year Award.
Ryan Vanderford (JD 2015) was named partner at Bush Seyferth & Paige PLLC.
Darth Vaughn (JD 2005) was named Associate General Counsel & Managing Director Policy Operations at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI.
Ryan Wolfe (JD 2012) has been named senior public defender by the Missouri State Public Defender.
Alberlynne “Abby” Woods (JD 2002) has joined Mad Genius as an account executive in Ridgeland, MS.
Tiffany Tai (BA 1994, JDMA 1997) was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Christiane Roussell Willis (JD 2006) has been named chair of the board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Greater Los Angeles. Willis has served on the board for the past three years.
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