Welcome to Class Notes. Find out what your fellow alumni are up to these days. Share your news and events by submitting a note. Having trouble submitting your class note? Email classnotes@law.berkeley.edu.
Joanna (Delk) Mendoza (1990) writes, "The California State Bar has just announced that I have been elected to the Board of Trustees for the Third District (representing 23 counties in the northeastern part of California). My three-year term will become effective at the end of the annual meeting in October 2013. I am very excited to serve in this important role."  Submitted on May 4 2013. Gregory Zaragoza (1979) Gregory Zaragoza (1979) writes, "I hope you get a chance to watch one or more of the movies that I have recently completed. I have a role in the "Perfect Family" with Kathleen Turner and I am the lead actor in "Jordan." If you have a moment take a look on AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Jordan-Gregory-Zaragoza/dp/B00BEM37SA/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1365641090&sr=1-2&keywords=zaragoza. Also check me out on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0953340/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1. I am a 1979 Boalt Hall graduate." Submitted on Apr 10 2013. Tamara Freeze (2005) Tamara Freeze (2005) writes, "Tamara Freeze (2005) writes, "In my first career appeal, I won an unanimous decision from the California Court of Appeal, Second District, convincing the Court that the big law firm Bingham McCutchen LLP's arbitration agreement with a former associate was invalid. My firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of former Berkeley Law graduate, my former classmate and ex-Bingham associate, Hartwell Harris ('05) in 2011, alleging wrongful termination on the basis of her disability. The trial court denied Bingham's motion to compel arbitration, on the grounds that the provision was not enforceable under Massachusetts law (Bingham's choice of law provision). The Court of Appeal affirmed 3-0, certified the decision for publication and ordered Bingham to pay Plaintiff costs on appeal. The case is Harris v. Bingham McCutchen LLP, B240522, http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B240522.PDF"" Submitted on Mar 31 2013. Michael Antin (1963) Michael Antin (1963) writes, "My 3rd musical comedy, "Sophia" after rave reviews and production runs in Hollywood and NY, has been selected to run this summer in NY: Manhattan International Music Festival. Following its run in the Festival, it will finish an extended run in NY. "Renewal" will have its opening run this fall in NY and then run in Hollywood. " Submitted on Mar 26 2013. Lynne Urman (1982) Lynne Urman (1982) writes, "After writing numerous law books as a ghostwriter and legal editor, I decided to write one under my own name: "Insights and Observations of Trial Court Research Attorneys." The book is based on my experiences (and those of some colleagues) as a research attorney in the law and motion department of a California superior court. I am pleased to announce that my book has been published by Thomson Reuters/Aspatore (Feb. 2013) (http://legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/law-products)" Submitted on Mar 19 2013. Ignacio Lazo (1982) Ignacio Lazo (1982) recently left Cadden & Fulller LLP to accept a position at 4G Wireless, Inc. as its General Counsel and Vice President for Corporate Legal Affairs. 4GW is a Verizon Wireless retailer with 120 stores in the western United States. It is headquartered in Irvine, California. "I should have done this six years ago when I was first offered the position. I look forward to never having to prepare a timesheet again. I also enjoy getting home earlier by commuting with my wife, Denise, and taking the HOV lane together." Submitted on Feb 27 2013. Vadim Braslavsky (1997) Vadim Braslavsky (1997) writes, "I have been named to the California Super Lawyers list as one of the top attorneys in California for 2013. No more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by Super Lawyers." Submitted on Feb 23 2013. A. Benassi (1968) A. Benassi (1968) writes, "A. Lou Benassi(1968): Patricia C. Benassi(1969) and A. Lou Benassi (1968) were honored to again be selected as Leading Lawyers And Super Lawyers for the State of Illinois for the year 2013. Patricia was selected as one of the Top Ten Women's Plaintiff's Employment Lawyers for downstate Illinois and one of the Top 50 Women's Plaintiff's Employment Lawyers for the State of Illinois. Patricia was previosly inducted as a Fellow into the American Bar Association's College of Labor and Employment Lawyers." Submitted on Feb 22 2013. Lauren (McBrayer) Miller (2005) Lauren (McBrayer) Miller (2005) writes, "I'm thrilled to announce that my debut novel, PARALLEL, comes out from HarperTeen on May 14th, and I'm hoping to be on campus at Berkeley in the fall for a signing." PARALLEL is available for pre-order on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Parallel-Lauren-Miller/dp/0062199773/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1359499875&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=parallel+lauren+miller. Submitted on Jan 29 2013. Jennifer Gomez (2008) Jennifer Gomez (2008) was recently appointed by Governor Cuomo to serve as Special Assistant at the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance located in Albany, NY. She is currently participating in the Governor's inaugural Empire State Fellows Program. Jennifer was previously employed at the NYC Council as Legislative Counsel. Submitted on Jan 18 2013. > Read all Class Notes
Joanna (Delk) Mendoza (1990) writes, "The California State Bar has just announced that I have been elected to the Board of Trustees for the Third District (representing 23 counties in the northeastern part of California). My three-year term will become effective at the end of the annual meeting in October 2013. I am very excited to serve in this important role." Submitted on May 4 2013. Tamara Freeze (2005) Tamara Freeze (2005) writes, "Tamara Freeze (2005) writes, "In my first career appeal, I won an unanimous decision from the California Court of Appeal, Second District, convincing the Court that the big law firm Bingham McCutchen LLP's arbitration agreement with a former associate was invalid. My firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of former Berkeley Law graduate, my former classmate and ex-Bingham associate, Hartwell Harris ('05) in 2011, alleging wrongful termination on the basis of her disability. The trial court denied Bingham's motion to compel arbitration, on the grounds that the provision was not enforceable under Massachusetts law (Bingham's choice of law provision). The Court of Appeal affirmed 3-0, certified the decision for publication and ordered Bingham to pay Plaintiff costs on appeal. The case is Harris v. Bingham McCutchen LLP, B240522, http://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B240522.PDF"" Submitted on Mar 31 2013. > Read more Career News
Olga V. Mack (Kotlyarevskaya) (2006) and Kevin J. Mack (2007) are proud to announce the birth of their second baby girl, Natalie Eliese Mack. Natalie was born on May 22, 2011. Their first two-year-old daughter, Katie Marie Mack, is a proud older sister. Submitted on Sep 9 2011. Niloofar (Nejat-Bina) Shepherd (1999) Niloofar (Nejat-Bina) Shepherd (1999) and Richard Shepherd are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Blake Tivon. He was born on November 28, 2010. Niloofar says, "The phrase 'First Year' has taken on new meaning. Blake is a treasure, and gives us something to laugh about every day!" Submitted on Jul 10 2011. > Read more Births & Adoptions
Boris Kogan (2009) and Christina Chandler (2010) are happy to announce their marriage on October 29, 2011 in San Francisco, California. They currently reside in Los Altos, California and both work in law firms located in Palo Alto, California. Submitted on Nov 15 2011. Heather Elliott (2000) Heather Elliott (2000) and Stuart Rachels are happy to announce their marriage on October 24, 2009 in Atlanta, GA. They currently reside in Tuscaloosa, AL, where they both teach at the University of Alabama. Submitted on Jun 11 2010. > Read more Marriages & Commitments
Jonathan Neumann (2005) writes, "Jon Neumann (JD 2005) published his first novel, Bar Code, which follows the misadventures of four Boalt Hall classmates trying to untangle their twisted lives during the summer of the California Bar Exam. Further details regarding the novel can be found at http://www.barcode-novel.com. Purchasing information can be found at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063N10ES" Submitted on Nov 18 2011. Chengwei Liu (2010) Chengwei Liu (2010) writes, "My new book "Chinese Capital Market Takeover and Restructuring Guide" just published by Kluwer Law International in this Dec. 2010. http://www.kluwerlaw.com/Catalogue/titleinfo.htm?ProdID=9041132104&name=Chinese-Capital-Market-Takeover-Guide" Submitted on Dec 13 2010. > Read more Catching Up
Beverly Baker-Kelly (1976) writes, "Beverly Baker-Kelly, J.D. , Ph.D, Ed.D, ,and her husband are the first African American couple to both receive Fulbright Awards. Beverly has been awarded a 2010-2011 Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture on law and business and to do research in Muscat, Oman. bbakerkelly@yahoo.com Her husband, A. Paul Kelly, M.D., has been also been awarded Fulbright Middle East and North Africa Regional Research grant at Sultan Qaboos University & Hospital in Muscat, Oman and also in the United Arab Emirates. He is doing research on the epidemiology and genetics of keloids. The core Fulbright Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Boalt Hall alumni interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar grant should consult: www.cies.org/us_scholars. The deadline is August 1st of each year." Submitted on Apr 2 2011. > Read more Educational News
Gregory Zaragoza (1979) writes, "I hope you get a chance to watch one or more of the movies that I have recently completed. I have a role in the "Perfect Family" with Kathleen Turner and I am the lead actor in "Jordan." If you have a moment take a look on AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Jordan-Gregory-Zaragoza/dp/B00BEM37SA/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1365641090&sr=1-2&keywords=zaragoza. Also check me out on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0953340/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1. I am a 1979 Boalt Hall graduate." Submitted on Apr 10 2013. Michael Antin (1963) Michael Antin (1963) writes, "My 3rd musical comedy, "Sophia" after rave reviews and production runs in Hollywood and NY, has been selected to run this summer in NY: Manhattan International Music Festival. Following its run in the Festival, it will finish an extended run in NY. "Renewal" will have its opening run this fall in NY and then run in Hollywood. " Submitted on Mar 26 2013. > Read more General
Jess Stonestreet Jackson, Boalt Hall Class of 1955, accomplished lawyer, visionary winemaker and businessman, outspoken reformer and philanthropist died on April 21, 2011, at his home in Geyserville, California of complications from cancer. He was 81. After graduating from Boalt, Jackson worked as a land-use attorney in San Francisco for almost two decades. The law firm he founded went on to argue several cases before the Supreme Court. He started the Kendall-Jackson wine business in 1974 as a second career, and in 1983 his wine won the first double Platinum Award ever presented by the American Wine Competition. Known for his iconoclastic approach to business, Jackson became one of the world's most successful self-made men by taking chances in business, from single-handedly popularizing Chardonnay wine in America, to pursuing his life-long passion for farming, horse breeding and racing that led him to owning two of the most famous racehorses in the last decade. A one-time longshoreman and police officer who put himself through Boalt Hall, Jackson became one of the best-known figures in American viticulture as the founder of Jackson Family Wines, a winery holding company that now owns and operates more than 35 individual wineries located around the world. He was a founding member of Family Winemakers of California and a leader in the sustainable farming movement within the wine industry, by implementing dozens of environmentally-friendly farming innovations. In recent years, Jackson's passion for farming and horses led him to great success in horse breeding and racing with two of his horses named Horse of the Year since 2007. An outspoken leader in racing reform, Jackson campaigned for a new equine transaction law in Kentucky that was passed in 2006. In 2008, he won the Sportsman of the Year Insider Award. Jackson had a great affection for the law school and for his classmates. In 2005, he hosted a memorable 50th reunion weekend for the Class of 1955 at his estate in Geyserville. He often spoke of his passion for the law and his deep appreciation for the value of legal education he received at Boalt. As philanthropists, he and his wife Barbara Banke quietly donated millions of dollars in support of many charitable organizations. Jackson is survived by his wife, Barbara Banke; five children, Jennifer Hartford, Laura Giron, Katie Jackson, Julia Jackson, Christopher Jackson; and two grandchildren Hailey Hartford and MacLean Hartford. Submitted on Apr 29 2011. Gerald Marcus (1941) Gerald D. Marcus, Boalt Hall Class of 1941, died in San Francisco on March 25 at the age of 93. He was a pioneer in promoting diversity and equality and a dedicated environmentalist, outdoorsman, and traveler. A passionate advocate of civil and first amendment rights, Marcus was president of the Northern California chapter of the ACLU and a founder and co-chair of Death Penalty Focus. Marcus served in the Roosevelt administration and in the Army during World War II before founding the firm Hanson, Bridgett. To honor his dedication to equal opportunity and diversity in the legal profession, his law firm partners and friends established The Gerald D. Marcus Fellowship Fund at Boalt Hall. At his request there will be no funeral and plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date. Donations in his name may be made to The Gerald D. Marcus Fellowship Fund at Boalt Hall by mail or online; for instructions, see http://www.law.berkeley.edu/128.htm To read the full obituary, please visit http://bit.ly/fZlS7y Submitted on Apr 4 2011. > Read more In Memoriam
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