Spring 2023
U.S. Rep. Nanette D. Barragán (JD 2005) was elected as the new chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a legislative service organization of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Richard Briones-Colman (JD 1995) retired as deputy public defender from Riverside County Public Defender office this year after 20 years and has joined the San Diego Public Defender office.
Sam Brown (JD 2015) was named partner at Hennig Kramer Ruiz & Singh LLP effective Jan. 1, where he practices plaintiff's side employment law, civil rights law, and litigates false claims act cases.
Scott Alan Burroughs, Esq. (JD 2004) of Doniger/Burroughs, co-owned by Stephen M. Doniger, Esq. (JD 1995), prevailed at the Supreme Court of the United States earlier this year, winning a 6-3 decision in the important copyright case Unicolors, Inc. v. H&M Hennes & Mauritz, L.P.
Trevor Countryman (BA 2010, JD 2013) was elected partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP.
Hilary Habib (JD 2013) was promoted to partner in the labor and employment practice group at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP’s Los Angeles office.
Robert L. Handler (JD 1979) joined Blank Rome LLP’s Corporate, M&A, and Securities group as senior counsel.
Joan W. Howarth’s (JD 1980) book, Shaping the Bar, was published by Stanford University Press in December 2022.
Mike Ludwig (BS 1991, JD 1994) recently launched Ludwig Mediation – Ludwig Law PC, an independent employment law mediation practice.
Steven Mednick (MPA 1975, JD 1980) was promoted to full professor of clinical entrepreneurship at USC Marshall School of Business. Mednick joined USC Marshall as an assistant professor of clinical entrepreneurship in 2007.
Cynthia E. Organ (JD 2013) was promoted to partner in Glaser Weil, LLP’s litigation department.
Brandon Reilly (JD 2011) was elected equity partner in the Orange County office of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, LLP.
Alison Dundes Renteln (JD 1991) received the Raubenheimer Award from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences. The award recognizes excellence in teaching, research, and service. Renteln also co-authored International Human Rights: A Survey (Cambridge University Press, 2023), and co-edited The Ethical University: Transforming Higher Education (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).
Laura Riley's (JD 2010) new book, Homeless Advocacy, was published by Carolina Academic Press in March 2023.
Laura Riley (JD 2010) is the new director of clinical programs at University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
Victor Romero (JD 1992) was appointed interim dean of Penn State Law and the Pennsylvania State School of International Affairs.
Michael Santos (JD 2013) will be the incoming chair for the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty in August 2023.
Bobby Schwartz (JD 1984) a partner and co-chair of the Media & Entertainment Industry practice in Quinn Emanuel’s Los Angeles office, was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s “Five of Hollywood’s Legal Legends” list.
Alan H Sarkisian's (JD 1980) article on E-1 treaty trader and E-2 treaty investor visas was selected as the feature article for the January 2023 issue of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s magazine, Los Angeles Lawyer.
Jeff Sklar (JD 2007) was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey as a judge in Division 2 of the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Star Mishkel Tyner (JD 2006) was promoted to partner at Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan LLP. She negotiates television and film deals on behalf of actors, directors, writers, showrunners and producers.
Isaiah Weedn (BS 1999, JD 2003) was named Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP's director of litigation training. He has been an associate and special counsel in Sheppard Mullin's Business Trials Practice Group since 2006.
Chloe S. Wolman, Esq. (JD 2011) started her own boutique family law practice, Wolman Law, A Professional Corporation. Wolman handles complex custody and divorce matters as well as mediation counseling and pre- and post-marital agreements.
Sara Zollner (JD 2021) joined Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld as associate working on arbitrations, litigation and National Labor Relations Board hearings.
In Memoriam
Hon. Judy Chirlin (JD 1974) passed away on Nov. 11, 2022.
Judge Chirlin served on the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1985 to 2009. She was deeply committed to improving the administration of justice in California and worldwide. She traveled to countries including Peru, Chile, Iraq, and Jordan to consult on court reform and teach programs for foreign judges, lawyers, and police officers.
Kevin Glaudin (JD 2022) passed away on April 1 from a rare brain cancer. He was 26.
Born on Long Island, N.Y., Glaudin graduated from St. Anthony’s Catholic High School. He attended City University of New York, York College and later, Queens College, where he was inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society and graduated summa cum laude, earning a degree in political science in 2018. At Gould, he worked as a graduate teaching assistant. After graduation, he worked at Ropes & Gray LLP as a private equity specialist, which he felt was one of his greatest accomplishments.
A major basketball fan, Glaudin loved Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. He enjoyed playing golf and video games. He worked with the nonprofit Mission Granbois, providing volunteer support following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. He made multiple trips to Haiti with family and served as the lead technical support and computer literacy instructor for the children of Mission Grandbois.
He is survived by his parents, Fresnel Glaudin and Dr. Margarett Simon Alexandre; and his sister Katrina Trisha Moise.
Frank Poturica, Jr. (JD 1979) passed away on March 28,. He was 68.
Born in Long Beach, Calif., Poturica graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1972 and Stanford University in 1976 earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. At USC Gould, he met his wife, Melanie, with whom he had two children.
Porturica practiced law for 20 years in Southern California, managing his own firm in Torrance, Calif. He retired in 1999 to spend more time with his family. He coached his daughter’s sports teams and volunteered at Chadwick School, where he served as the president of the Booster Club. He was an avid runner, completing 41 marathons, including the L.A. Marathon, which he ran for 33 consecutive years from 1986-2018.
Poturica loved traveling and the arts and went to Disneyland every year of his life, beginning in 1955 (when it opened), except for 2020 when the park was closed due to the pandemic.
He is survived by his wife; children, Vincent and Mari (Kevin); and grandchildren, Avery and River.
Nicholas Wolpe Stadmiller (JD 2005) 41, died on May 20, 2020.
After earning his law degree from USC in 2005, Stadmiller worked for several different Southern California law firms in the fields of employment law and elder abuse.
At the time of his death, he had left the field of law and was exploring new opportunities, working in film and video.
He is survived by his younger brother, Derek Stadmiller, as well as his mother and father.
Tom Gilfoy (BS 1958), 90, passed away on Jan. 12, 2023. Gilfoy worked as a corporate lawyer for Southern California Edison for 33 years.
He is survived by his wife Dody Gilfoy; children Chuck Gilfoy (Becky), Steve Gilfoy (Marie), Susie Colbath (Russ); eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Summer 2023
Rob Ajemian (JD 1988) has been promoted to assistant general counsel at The Home Depot in Atlanta, Ga.
Dawn Bittleston (JD 1998) was appointed to the Superior Court of Kern County by Gov. Gavin Newsom in July 2023.
Megan Garibaldi (JD 2009) of Best Best & Krieger, LLP was appointed as city attorney for Long Beach, Calif.
Maria Hall (JD 2003) along with her organization, Los Angeles Incubator Consortium, was chosen by legal technology firm Clio as a finalist for its 2023 Legal Impact Award.
Lisa Harrington (JD 1993) was appointed as an independent board director and audit committee member at Slam Corp.
Christopher Knauf (JD 1996) will serve as an adjunct professor at USC Gould teaching Disability Rights Law & Practice in the fall.
Robert Scott Jenkins (JD 1979) retired from practicing business and real estate law at Hahn & Hahn LLP on June 29.
Becky Newman (JD 2010) joined For Purpose Law Group as of counsel in the firm’s nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations and charitable giving groups.
Shaun Gordon (BS 2011, JD 2014) has been named to Variety’s 2023 Legal Impact Report as part of Weintraub Tobin’s Audio Team.
Abbey Greenspan (BS 2005, JD 2010) was promoted to deputy regional counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Region IX office in San Francisco.
Joseph E. Porter, IV (JD 2017) and Sara V. Pitt (JD 2017) were married on April 15, 2023, in Carmel Valley, Calif.
Timur Tusiray (JD 2015) has joined PayPal, Inc. as senior legal counsel.
Cynthia Organ (JD 2013) was promoted to partner in the litigation department at Glaser Weil.
Lynette Gridiron Winston (JD 1990) was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Susan Wright (BA 1983, JD 1987) was awarded the status of Professor Emerita of Lawyering Skills upon her retirement from the law school on June 30.
In Memoriam
Amy Alderfer (JD 1999) passed away on May 3, 2023, following a battle with cancer.
A longstanding volunteer at the law school and USC, Alderfer served as the president (2018-2022) and secretary of the USC Gould Alumni Association and member of the Los Angeles Committee. She also served as a member of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors and the USC Gould Board of Councilors. In 2021, she was honored with the USC Alumni Association’s Widney Alumni House Volunteer Award for outstanding service to the USC community.
An accomplished litigation attorney, Alderfer was a partner in the Santa Monica office of the Cozen O'Connor law firm and an associate at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. In 2021, she secured her dream job as principal attorney for The Walt Disney Company, which she held at the time of her passing.
She is survived by her husband, Jamie Bernald (JD 1999), sons William and Ryan, parents John and Barbara Alderfer, brother Kevin Alderfer, sister Karen Alderfer (Michael Truong). She will also be dearly missed by a host of other family, classmates, friends and colleagues.
Alexander W. Kaplan (JD 2014) passed away on June 18, 2023.
Fall 2022
Zee Ahmedani (JD 1998) joined Allen & Overy LLP as a partner in the firm’s global funds practice.
Daniel Ahn (JD 2004) recently joined Reed Smith LLP as a partner in the firm’s Global Regulatory Enforcement practice group. Previously, Ahn served for 10 years as a deputy chief, acting chief, and senior litigation counsel at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Carolynn Beck (JD 2009) joined Eisner LLP as partner in New York.
Jaysen S. Chung (JD 2011) was promoted to partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Chung focuses on patent and appellate litigation and has extensive experience in a diverse range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and virtualization technologies.
Mili Davé (LLM 2017) was elevated to agent in WME’s brand partnerships division where she builds WME’s footprint across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Mandana Dayani (BA 2003, JD 2007) published an article titled, “I’m a Voter. You Should be One, Too” in Harper’s Bazaar.
Marie de la Lanne (LLM 2015) was promoted to senior data protection counsel at Telefónica Germany.
Tara Canady Doss (JD 2003) was promoted to supervising administrative law judge in the Special Education division of the California Office of Administrative Hearings
Mark Foster (BA 1994, JD 1998) was appointed executive vice president and general counsel of American Healthcare REIT, Inc.
Meghan Grim (JD 2013) joined the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office as deputy county counsel in the dependency trial division. She also recently welcomed a baby boy.
Ximeng Guo (LLM 2013) started a new position as legal officer for the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in New York City.
Denise Hippach (JD 2003) was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as a judge in the Santa Barbara Superior Court. Hippach is the first African-American to serve in the role.
Lindsay Hutner (JD 2005) is co-editor of a new treatise published by the Practising Law Institute titled "California Employment Law" and co-authored the treatise chapter covering gender discrimination. Hutner is co-chair of Greenberg & Traurig LLP's Labor and Employment Practice's Employment Litigation & Trials group.
Denise Hippach (JD 2003) was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as judge of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. She is the first African American woman to serve on the bench in Santa Barbara County.
Juanita E. Mantz's (JD 2002) book "Portrait of a Deputy Public Defender (or, how I became a punk rock lawyer)" (Bamboo Dart Press) won Best First Book-Nonfiction-English in the Mariposa category at the 2022 International Latino Book Awards.
Kelsey McGregor (JD 2015) has joined the USC Gould International Human Rights Clinic for six months as a senior supervising attorney. McGregor is counsel at WilmerHale in Los Angeles and was awarded their prestigious Pickering Fellowship, allowing her to be seconded to the clinic.
Marisa Murillo (JD 2002) was named to the 2022 Notable Women in Law list in Crain's Chicago Business.
Mark Palmer (JD 1983) retired from the law and has returned to his true love: history. He launched a podcast in mid-2022 called History Analyzed.
Joshlyn R. Pulliam (JD 2005) has been appointed as a judge in the Riverside County Superior Court.
Lucas Quass (JD 2011) has been promoted to counsel at Latham & Watkins LLP’s Orange County office in Costa Mesa, Calif., effective Jan. 1, 2023. A member of the Environment, Land & Resources practice and Corporate department, he is a transactional and litigation lawyer who helps clients secure water rights and supplies as well as obtain and defend land use and environmental approvals for infrastructure, energy, and development projects.
Natalie Hardwick Rao (JD 2011) has been promoted to counsel at Latham & Watkins LLP in Washington, D.C., effective Jan. 1, 2023. A member of the White-Collar Defense & Investigations practice and Litigation & Trial department, she advises clients on white-collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, and complex civil litigation.
Allison Reynolds (JD 2010) was promoted to partner at Stoel Rives LLP effective Jan. 1, 2023. Reynolds is a member of the firm’s Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources group. Her practice is focused on helping residential, commercial, and industrial developers and companies navigate all phases of the land use entitlement process in Oregon and Washington.
Judge Bobbi Tillmon (JD 1977) received the 2022 Aranda Access to Justice Award. The California Lawyers Association presents the award in partnership with the Judicial Council and California Judges Association, and in association with the California Commission on Access to Justice. The Aranda award honors a judge demonstrating a long-term, tireless commitment to improving and promoting fairness and access to the courts, especially for low-and moderate-income Californians.
Nancy Yaffe (JD 1995) partner at Fox Rothschild LLP, was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence: Labor & Employment Attorneys list.
Amy Proctor (JD 2011) of Irell & Manella LLP, Michael Davis (JD 2011) of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Alexander James Merton (JD 2011) of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, were recognized in Bloomberg Law’s “40 Under 40” 2022 list.
Niyati Shah (LLM 2022) joined Prime Video & Amazon Studios as a legal consultant in their Originals (India) Division.
In Memoriam
Allan Browne (LLB 1963) 84, passed away in September 2022. Browne was a litigator who founded a boutique law firm in Beverly Hills that grew into a national law firm.
Browne was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia. He is survived by his five children.
Heather Gray (JD 1996) died on July 30, 2022, at age 50.
Gray was the executive producer and showrunner of CBS’ daytime talk show The Talk. For her work on The Talk, Gray earned Daytime Emmy Awards for best talk show, entertainment in 2016 and 2018, along with an NAACP Image Award in 2016. She is survived by her adoring friends, aunts, and uncle, her loving mother Carol, sister Nichole, her goddaughter Parker, and her 7-year-old cocker spaniel Winston.
David Berry (JD 1983) died on Oct. 3 at the age of 66 following a battle with lymphatic cancer.
After graduation, Berry led a successful career handling civil litigation cases across the country. He is survived by his beloved wife, Paula; mother, Marjorie, and sister, Susan, of Kendall Park, N.J.; brother, Thomas of Bonita Springs, Fla.; and two nieces and two nephews.
Andrea Lynn Kushner (JD 1997) passed away on Oct. 18.
Kushner earned a BA from UCLA before earning her JD from USC Gould School of Law. She went on to complete an LLM in taxation at Loyola Marymount Law School.
Kushner practiced law at several Los Angeles law firms and in 2015, joined Bernstein Private Wealth Management as a director and senior vice president.
Kushner is survived by her two children, Benjamin and Carrie, her father Sheldon and brother Allen.
Judge Kathleen M. White (JD 1984) died on July 31, 2022, at age 68.
Judge White was appointed to the Yolo Superior Court bench in 2003; she served with distinction until she retired due to illness in July 2018. She served the judicial branch statewide, teaching seminars and writing numerous educational materials. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Ray Ramirez, and sons James, John (Jack), and Matthew.