ARCHIVED CLASS NOTES
John P. Crampton ’66Ěýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in America.
Marc P. Weingarten ’76Ěýwas a visiting professor at the Nicolaus Copernicus University School of Law and presented at the Third International Juridical Days Conference in Torun, Poland.
Joseph F. Kessler ’82Ěýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in America.
Samuel Arena ’83Ěýserved as co-editor of the American Bar Association’s new insurance law resource book,ĚýThe Insurer's Duty to Defend: Issues and Analysis.
Gregory R. Gifford ’84Ěýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in AmericaĚýin the areas of plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and land use and zoning law.
Matthew I. Whitehorn ’84Ěýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in America.
Shelly Smith ’89Ěýwas named to City & State PA’s Fifty Over 50 list.
Eric Borjeson ’90Ěýjoined Willig, Williams & Davidson in the workers’ compensation practice group.
Michael O. Fenerty ’94Ěýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in America.
Kelly Ayotte ’93Ěýwas named governor-elect of the state of New Hampshire.
Steve Odabashian ’95Ěýwas named “Best SAT Coach” byĚýPhiladelphia Magazine, and his test prep company, Main Line Test Prep and Tutoring, was named “Best College Prep Service” byĚýMain Line Today Magazine. Ěý
Jennifer Platzkere Snyder ’95Ěýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in America.
James S. Beall ’99 LLMĚýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in America.
Megan Starace Ben’Ary ’97 CLAS, ’01 CWSLĚýwas elected to the Policy Committee at McGlinchey Stafford PLLC.
Douglas Rosenblum '00 VSB, '03 CWSLĚýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in AmericaĚýas “Lawyer of the Year in Corporate Compliance Law in Philadelphia.” He was also honored by the Montgomery Bar Association with The Keystone Pro Bono Attorney Award and The President’s Bronze Volunteer Service Award.
Stephen Chuk ’10Ěýwas promoted to partner at Proskauer Rose LLP.
Mark T. Sottile ’11Ěýwas promoted to partner at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
William J. Gallagher ’12Ěýwas recognized in the 2025 edition ofĚýThe Best Lawyers in America.
Leah George ’21Ěýwas named a 2024 Bar Star by the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Emily Knight ’23Ěýjoined Goldberg Segalla in the workers’ compensation practice group.
Eddie Reilingh ’23Ěýjoined the New York City Law Department as assistant corporation counsel in the Special Federal Litigation Division.
New York City Law Department
Ryan C. Thomas ’23Ěýjoined Maiello Brungo & Maiello, LLP (MBM Law) as an associate on the education law and municipal law teams.
Gabriela Amado ’24Ěýjoined Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin as an associate in the litigation department.
Grace Gelone ’24Ěýjoined Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin in the trusts and estates department.
Mark A. Umansky ’24Ěýjoined Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin as an associate in the litigation department.
Ěý
In Memoriam
, professor emeritus, passed away on September 9, 2024. He joined the Law School in 1973 and retired in 2006 after 33 years as part of the faculty. After his retirement, he continued to teach Trial Practice for another six years and remained engaged in the Villanova Law community.
, professor emeritus, passed away on October 29, 2024. As a student at Villanova Law, he was an articles and book review editor of theĚýVillanova LawĚýReview, graduating in 1968. He later joined the faculty in 1970, teaching Federal Courts, Real Estate and Bankruptcy, and was an advisor to theĚýVillanova Law Review. His strong legacy and commitment to Villanova Law extend from his time as a student to his nearly 50 years as a professor and well after his retirement.
, noted U.S. First Amendment lawyer and member of the Villanova Law Board of Consultors, passed away in October.
Ed Mullin ’63 was named a top attorney in Pennsylvania for 2024 in the area of Land Use & Zoning by Super Lawyers.
Michael Corso ’74 was awarded the Chubby Damsel Lifetime Achievement Award by the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and named a top attorney in Florida for 2024 by Super Lawyers.
Deborah Lerner ’77 JD, ’86 LLM was named a top attorney in Pennsylvania for 2024 in the area of Employee Benefits by Super Lawyers.
Lawrence Moran ’77 achieved 30 years of recertification in civil and criminal trials with the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
John Bednarz ’78 was named a top attorney in Pennsylvania for 2024 by Super Lawyers.
Gregory Gifford ’84 was named a top attorney in Pennsylvania for 2024 by Super Lawyers.
Kathleen Sweet ’90 was appointed as president-elect of the New York State Bar Association.
Rear Adm. Christoper French ’93 Ěýwas nominated for a third star and a promotion to serve as the Navy’s next Judge Advocate General.
David Storm ’94 was appointed to director of the Economic Development Authority of Albemarle County, Virginia.
Nathan Murawsky ’95 was elected chair of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Montgomery Bar Association.
Robert Iannozzi ’98 was named a top attorney in Pennsylvania for 2024 in the areas of Estate and Probate by Super Lawyers.
Jeffrey Laffey ’98 was named a top attorney in Pennsylvania for 2024 by Super Lawyers.
Matthew McClure ’99 was elected fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.
James Beall ’00 LLM was named a top attorney in Pennsylvania for 2024 in the area of Employee Benefits by Super Lawyers.
Matthew Weinstein ’00 was elected fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.
John Iannozzi ’01 was named a top attorney in Pennsylvania for 2024 in the areas of State, Local and Municipal, Land Use and Zoning and Family Law by Super Lawyers.
Douglas Rosenblum ’00 VSB, ’03 CWSL was ranked by Chambers and Partners USA in the area of Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations—Philadelphia.
Kevin McGrath ’15 was named to the “Pennsylvania Rising Stars” list by Super Lawyers in the areas of Business & Corporate Law.
B. Ever Hanna ’17 joined the Baltimore County Circuit Court as their first-ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion coordinator.
Ruby Khallouf ’17Ěý was named Partner at Florio Perrucci Steinhardt Cappelli & Tipton
Gabrielle Weiss ’18 joined the Blank Rome LLP as an associate in the their Philadelphia office’s labor and employment practice group.
Fiona Steele ’21 joined Blank Rome LLP as an associate in their Philadelphia office’s general litigation group.
Daniel Goldfield ’24 received the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association’s 2024 James J. Manderino Award for Trial Advocacy.
Ěý
IN MEMORIAM
Gaetan J. Alfano ’80 was appointed to the disciplinary board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
James S. Eicher ’86 authored Warrior IV Life Fitness: An Introduction and Warrior IV Life Fitness: 8-Week “The World is Your Gym” Physical Fitness Course.
Bruce Matez ’89 combined his law firm, BorgerMatez, with Weir Greenblatt Pierce, LLP, where he is a partner.
Matthew N. McClure ’99 was elected as a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.
Jason C. Manfrey ’09 joined Stevens & Lee in the Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Department.
Jacquelyn Gordon ’11 JD/LLM joined Faegre Drinker as counsel in the firm’s Philadelphia office.
John Rafferty ’12 was awarded the Public Interest Distinguished Service Award by the Villanova Law Public Interest Fellowship Program.
Candee Wilde ’14 was elected partner at McCarter & English, LLP.
Celso Leite Jr. ’18 VSB, ’21 CWSL joined Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin as an associate in the Real Estate and Land Use department.
Kyra G. Bradley ’17 CLAS, ’22 CWSL joined Archer & Greiner, PC as an associate.
Matthew J. Boling ’22 joined Goldberg Segalla in their Commercial Litigation and Arbitration group in the Philadelphia office.
Alex P. Fante ’23 joined Archer & Greiner, PC as an associate.Ěý
Ěý
IN MEMORIAM
, 2023-24 dean’s distinguished fellow
, former Villanova Law professor
Michael Cook ’73 was appointed to the board of the Blue Ridge Medical Center.
Marc Weingarten ’76 spoke as a guest lecturer at the Touro Law Center in Long Island, NY.
John McCarthy ’82 retired after 41 years at Rawle and Henderson LLP.
Greg Gifford ’84 was named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for the areas of plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and land use and zoning law.
Joseph G. Curran ’88 joined Hodgson Russ LLP as a partner.
Stephen Johnson ’88 was appointed president of the Center for Computer Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI).
Paula Anthony ’89 was appointed office managing shareholder of Littler Mendelson PC’s New Haven, CT office.
John Fiorillo ’89 presented at the Real Estate Institute hosted by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.
Lisa A. Shearman ’94 LLM presented at the Estate Law Institute hosted by the Philadelphia Bar Institute and was elected president of the Montgomery Bar Association.
Sean Mitchell ’98 JD/LLM joined Moritt, Hock and Hamroff LLP as counsel in the real estate and secured lending practice groups.
Jennifer McKenrick Stetter ’01 was elected partner at Barley Snyder.
Gretchen Tomanek Shaffer ’07 JD/LLM was named partner at Duane Morris LLP.
Brenna Dolphin ’11 joined Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell LLP as special counsel in the bankruptcy and restructuring group.
Brent Beissel ’12 was promoted to partner at Reed Smith LLP.
Katherine Fix ’12 was named partner at Robinson+Cole LLP in the bankruptcy + reorganizations and business litigation groups.
Amanda Fernandez ’13 was named managing partner at Rivero Mestre LLP.
Kyle Pinder ’15 was named partner at Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell LLP.
Kristin Ashe ’16 was promoted to partner at Reed Smith LLP.
Elizabeth Mullin Stoffer ’16 was appointed special counsel at Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell LLP.