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University of California, Hastings College of the Law UC Hastings Scholarship Repository Hastings Magazine Hastings Archives and History Spring 2019 UC Hastings Law (Spring 2019) Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.uchastings.edu/hastings_magazine
UC Hastings Law
SAN FRANCISCO
GAMECHANGERS
A SPECIAL ISSUE HONORING PROMINENT
ALUMNI WHO HAVE MADE EXTRAORDINARY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR FIELDS
INCLUDING MARVIN R. BAXTER ’66, Former Justice, Supreme Court of California; WILLIE L. BROWN JR. ’58, Former Mayor of
San Francisco and Former Speaker of the California State Assembly; CAROL A. CORRIGAN ’75, Justice, Supreme Court of California;
JOSEPH W. COTCHETT ’64, Founding Partner of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy; EDWARD J. DAVILA ’79, Judge, U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of California; KAMALA HARRIS ’89, U.S. Senator for California; BRAD R. HILL ’83, Presiding
Justice, California Fifth District Court of Appeal; LAWRENCE J. O’NEILL ’79, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of California; AND JACKIE SPEIER ’76, U.S. R epresentative from California.
[ FROM THE DEAN
Dear Alumni and Friends, UC Hastings Magazine
Spring 2019
The law has ancient roots, and we practice our profession in accordance with
Volume 12, Number 1
fundamental axioms and principles. We rightfully take pride working within
Chancellor & Dean
an Anglo-American legal system that is centuries old. Substantive guarantees
David Faigman
of due process and equal protection, and procedural guarantees of the adver-
Academic Dean | Morris Ratner
sarial system and fundamental fairness, are cornerstones of our profession. At
the same time, the law and what it means to be a lawyer have changed and Chief Communications Officer
Alex A.G. Shapiro
continue to change, sometimes in dramatic and even revolutionary ways. And
shapiroa@uchastings.edu
this change is inevitably led by the lawyers themselves. It is these lawyers who
Chief Development Officer
give those ancient and fundamental principles
Eric Dumbleton
modern meaning. They are the gamechangers. dumbletoneric@uchastings.edu
We are in the midst of a time of particular Illustrations | Max-o-Matic
upheaval in the law, as tech increasingly
Photography | Jim Block
changes legal practice and the law asserts
Produced by | DCP
its influence on, and power over, tech.
Additionally, myriad areas of practice—from Board of Directors
Tina Combs ’88, Chair
tax to immigration to bankruptcy to crimi-
Carl W. “Chip” Robertson ’98,
nal sentencing to the environment—present Vice Chair
constant challenge and revision. UC Hastings Simona Agnolucci ’06
has begun a major renovation and expansion Donald Bradley ’68
Thomas Gede ’81
of its campus with one goal in mind: to further
Adrienne Go
its mission of training students in the basics Claes H. Lewenhaupt ’89
of lawyering, while preparing them to employ Christian Osmeña
that knowledge to be ready for, and to contrib- Mary Noel Pepys ’78
ute to, a quickly changing legal landscape. Courtney Power ’01
UC Hastings is already well-known for Contact Us
Advancement & Communications
producing leaders across a wide spectrum of law and law-related fields. It is
University of California
with this in mind that we decided to celebrate a cross section of distinguished Hastings College of the Law
UC Hastings alumni who have been gamechangers in both traditional and 200 McAllister St.
nontraditional ways. Founded in 1878, UC Hastings has graduated countless San Francisco, CA 94102
high achievers, innovators, and thought leaders. In this special edition of UC 415.565.4615
Hastings magazine, we spotlight a selection of them; we will feature many more alumni@uchastings.edu
in future editions. Our honorees include high-profile elected officials and lumi- uchastings.edu
naries of the bench, social justice pioneers and tech trailblazers, media titans Send changes of address to
updates@uchastings.edu.
and independent impresarios. Collectively, they illustrate the breadth of possi-
bilities available to the farsighted and prodigiously gifted lawyers of yesterday, Please submit your class notes at
classnotes@uchastings.edu.
today, and tomorrow.
We thank all of the honorees in these pages (and those to be honored in UC Hastings is published by the
University of California Hastings
future magazines) for their contributions—and for continuing to make the law
College of the Law. ©2019
school proud.
All rights reserved.
Sincerely, If you prefer to opt out of receiving
UC Hastings magazine by mail, email
updates@uchastings.edu or visit
uchastings.edu/alumni-contact.
Any reference or depiction of a
commercial product does not con-
stitute or imply an endorsement by
David Faigman UC Hastings of the product or its
Chancellor & Dean provider or producer.
CONTENTS ]
GAMECHANGERS OVER THE YEARS, UC HASTINGS HAS GRADUATED MANY
ALUMNI WHOSE VISIONARY THINKING MAKES THEM LEADERS
IN THEIR FIELDS. IN THIS ISSUE, MEET SOME OF THE INSPIRING
ALUMNI WHO ARE CHANGING THE GAME.
2 PU BLIC SE RV ICE / PU BLIC I NT E R E ST
Alumni contribute to the greater good in countless ways, from serving the country as
elected officials to overseeing transformative social justice organizations. They have
left—and continue to leave—an indelible mark on the communities they serve.
9 T H E J U DICI A RY
Serving in—and presiding over—courts of all levels in states across the nation,
UC Hastings alumni have been judicial thought leaders for generations.
13 T H E PR ACTICE OF L AW
UC Hastings graduates can be found in top leadership positions at the country’s most
respected law firms—and in many cases were the firms’ founders. Their track records
in and out of the courtroom are impressive, as is their commitment to giving back.
21 BUSI N E SS A N D T ECH NOLOGY L AW
Movers and shakers in wide-ranging industries such as finance, biotech, real estate,
and insurance, UC Hastings alumni excel in careers that are anything but “business
as usual.”
27 BEYON D T H E L AW
Highly accomplished alumni thrive in fields as diverse as documentary filmmaking,
television news, public relations, academia, and ice dancing—putting their law degree
to work in creative ways.
32 A DVA NCEM ENT
Two alumni reflect on the long-term benefits of giving back to their alma mater,
whether through planned giving or cy pres awards.
33 BU I L DI NG UC H A STI NGS
With plans underway to establish a vibrant academic village in the heart of San
Francisco, UC Hastings is changing the game for how students can live and learn
in an interdisciplinary community.
UC HASTINGS 1
JEFF ADACHI ’85 ZAHRA BILLOO ’09 Over the next 20 years,
PUBLIC SERVICE / PUBLIC INTER EST
Former San Francisco Executive Director, and after stints in the state
Public Defender San Francisco Bay Area Senate and as Nevada’s
→ ALUMNI CONTRIBUTE TO THE GREATER GOOD IN COUNTLESS WAYS, FROM SERVING THE COUNTRY AS
ELECTED OFFICIALS TO OVERSEEING TRANSFORMATIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS. THEY HAVE
→ Adachi spent almost his Office of the Council attorney general, he was
entire legal career in the San on American-Islamic elected governor in 1982.
Francisco Public Defender’s Relations After serving two terms,
Office and served as the → Since joining the Bryan represented Nevada
city’s public defender since Council on American- in Washington, D.C., as a
LEFT—AND CONTINUE TO LEAVE—AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
he was elected to the post Islamic Relations at the two-term U.S. senator. He
in 2002. During his tenure, beginning of her legal currently practices law at
he tried more than 150 jury career, Billoo has shep- Fennemore Craig in Las
trials, handled more than herded the San Francisco Vegas, where he focuses on
3,000 criminal matters, chapter through a decade government relations.
and established innovative of unprecedented growth,
programs that have placed overseeing a team of XOCHITL CARRION ’07
the office, whose team of Assistant District
almost 100 lawyers and 60 Attorney, San Francisco
staff represents more than District Attorney’s Office
23,000 people annually, at → Carrion has assisted San
the cutting edge of legal Francisco District Attorney
representation of the poor. George Gascón since 2015
Adachi passed away earlier in representing the people
this year. of the city and county of
San Francisco. She also
MANUELA serves as the Northern
ALBUQUERQUE ’75 advocates who serve the District vice president of
Former Berkeley local American Muslim the California La Raza
City Attorney population through direct Lawyers Association. She
→ Albuquerque served legal services and com- also served as a member of
as Berkeley city attorney munity outreach. Under the California Law Revision
for 22 years, the longest her tenure, the chapter has Commission, to which
tenure of any city attorney also engaged in high-im- she was appointed by
in Berkeley’s history. In that pact litigation challenging Gov. Edmund G. Brown
position, from which she discriminatory treatment Jr. in 2011 and which she
retired in 2007, she advised against Muslims. Billoo chaired in 2012-2013. She
the Berkeley City Council, received the 2017 Human also served as co-president
Housing Authority, city Rights Award from the of Brava! for Women in the
manager and staff, and city Society of American Law Arts; chair of communi-
boards and commissions, Teachers in honor of her cations for the Hispanic
while also litigating cases work. National Bar Association’s
at every level of state and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
federal courts. She earned RICHARD H. BRYAN ’63 Transgender Division;
numerous honors for her Former U.S. Senator and president of the San
work, including California from Nevada Francisco La Raza Lawyers
Lawyer of the Year in 2007, → Following his early Association.
and was named Public days as a deputy DA and
Lawyer of the Year by the public defender, Bryan JAMES M. COLE ’79
California State Bar’s Public was elected to the Nevada Former U.S. Deputy
Law Section in 2005. State Assembly in 1968. Attorney General
2 GAMECHANGERS
PUBLIC SERVICE / PUBLIC INTEREST ]
→ Following his graduation He teaches as an adjunct
from UC Hastings, Cole professor at UC Hastings.
joined the Department of
Justice, and spent the next SEAN ELSBERND ’00
13 years working in various Chief of Staff, San
roles, from trial attorney to Francisco Mayor’s Office
deputy chief of the Public → Elsbernd was selected
Integrity Section. He served as chief of staff to Mayor
as deputy attorney general London Breed in 2018.
from 2011 to 2015, working He previously served as
with the attorney general state director for Sen.
to formulate the federal Dianne Feinstein, District
response to changes such
as state decriminaliza-
tion of marijuana and the
Smart on Crime program.
He is now global co-lead
of Sidley’s White Collar:
Government Litigation and
Investigations practice.
Willie L. Brown Jr. ’58
FORMER MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO BURK DELVENTHAL ’69
Chief Deputy, 7 representative on the
Following a few years as a criminal
Government Law Division San Francisco Board of
defense lawyer, Brown launched his of the San Francisco City Supervisors, chief legislative
political career with his election to the Attorney’s Office aide for Supervisor Tony
California State Assembly in 1964. During → Delventhal joined the San Hall, and co-director of
Francisco City Attorney’s the Congressional Human
his 30-year tenure, he became the body’s Rights Caucus under former
Office in 1970. During his
first African American speaker in 1980, career, he handled liti- Congressman Tom Lantos,
a position he held until his retirement in gation, opinion writing, among other roles. Upon
and legislative drafting his appointment as chief
1995. Brown wasn’t through with politics,
involving constitutional, of staff, the San Francisco
however. In 1995, he was elected mayor of Chronicle noted that he was
municipal, and public pol-
San Francisco and served two terms that icy issues. He was awarded “known for his willing-
coincided with the dot-com tech boom. the Charles S. Rhyne ness to dig into the more
Lifetime Achievement unglamorous aspects of
He oversaw a number of substantial infra-
Award by the International local government.”
structure and building projects during
Municipal Lawyers
his mayoralty, including a subway exten- Association in 2013, the CLAIR ENGLE ’33
sion and a new biomedical campus at UC highest award of its kind for Former U.S. Senator
local government attorneys from California
San Francisco. Retired from politics since
in North America, granted → Known as “Congressman
2004, he now heads the Willie L. Brown Fireball,” Engle served
irregularly to exceptional
Jr. Institute on Politics and Public Service, recipients. He was also the in the U.S. House of
writes a freelance column for the San California State Bar’s 2013 Representatives from
Public Lawyer of the Year, 1943 to 1959 and as a
Francisco Chronicle, and remains one of the
honored for his long career U.S. senator from 1959 to
city’s most influential power brokers. 1964. He became district
in service to the public.
UC HASTINGS 3
[ PUBLIC SERVICE / PUBLIC INTEREST
attorney at age 23 in political issues and policy. NOREEN FARRELL ’97 E.J. FLYNN ’87
California’s Tehama She served as a legisla- Executive Director, Senior Human Rights
County and served in the tive assistant for Rep. Pat Equal Rights Advocates Officer, United Nations
California Senate. While Schroeder, chief of staff → Farrell set her career path Security Council Counter-
in the House, the “Flying for Rep. Anna Eshoo, and in law school when she Terrorism Committee
Congressman” flew him- defense policy adviser for served as editor-in-chief → Flynn has spent most
self to meet with his 18 Sen. Ted Kennedy. She of the Hastings Women’s of his career at the United
counties of constituents. has been the subcom- Law Journal. As executive Nations, in roles that have
Despite losing the ability mittee staff director on director of Equal Rights
to speak, he famously the House Permanent Advocates (ERA), a civil
voted in the Senate roll call Select Committee on rights organization that
to break the Civil Rights Intelligence and profes- focuses on gender jus-
Act of 1964 filibuster sional staff member for the tice, Farrell leads national
shortly before his passing House Armed Services initiatives addressing issues
from a brain tumor, by Committee. The Associated such as the gender wage
pointing to his eye, repre- Press, Politico, and The gap, women’s economic
senting his “aye” vote. Wall Street Journal have security, sexual harass-
requested her analysis, and ment, and education equity.
MIEKE EOYANG ’02 she has written for Forbes She has been at the forefront focused on human rights
Vice President, Third Way and The Washington Post. of ERA’s impact litigation and led to assignments
→ Eoyang is the vice She appears frequently on work, including before the around the world, including
president for the National MSNBC, commenting on U.S. Supreme Court, serving in Haiti, Croatia, Bosnia-
Security Program at Third national security and legal as lead counsel to plaintiffs Herzegovina, Switzerland,
Way, a think tank for issues. in numerous lawsuits. and New York City. For the
K amala Harris ’89
U.S. SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA
Harris’ formidable career has been marked
by firsts. A daughter of Indian and Jamaican
immigrants, she became the first black woman
to serve as district attorney in California when
she was elected to serve as San Francisco’s
district attorney. She was the first woman and
first person of color to serve as California’s
attorney general and the first-ever South Asian-
American U.S. senator, a position she has held
since January 2017. As Harris sets her sights
ever higher, she is living proof that barriers are
meant to be broken to pave the way for future
generations of leaders.
4 GAMECHANGERS
past 13 years, he has served Office of Legal Counsel JOHN T. KNOX ’52 California State Legislature
as a senior officer at the UN (OLC), which acts as a Former California State for nearly 10 years, where
Security Council, providing legal advisory office for the Assemblyman he worked to further pro-
strategic advice to member U.S. executive branch, for → Knox represented gressive public policy on
states on how to prosecute more than a quarter cen- western Contra Costa issues of access to justice,
and prevent terrorism, while tury. Her primary duties County in the Assembly public rights, and civil
honoring human rights involve examining all from 1960 through 1980, liability. Before attending
obligations. Prior to joining executive orders, as well the last four years of which UC Hastings, Lew enjoyed
the UN in 1993, Flynn spent as other legal documents he served as the Assembly a career in the public
six years as a lawyer with issued by both the presi- speaker pro tem. Knox health arena, working as a
nonprofits, representing dent and attorney general, was a driving force behind research analyst for the UC
Central American refugees to ensure legality and the 1970 creation of the Berkeley School of Public
pro bono on the Texas- proper form. She special- Health and the Department
Mexico border and later in izes in constitutional and of Health Services in Los
Southern California. administrative law and is Angeles County.
an elected member of the
PHILIP GINSBURG ’93 American Law Institute. MARY CATHERINE
General Manager, San She was honored with the MALIN ’84
Francisco Recreation and Mary C. Lawton Award for Assistant Legal Adviser
Parks Department Outstanding Government for Diplomatic Law
→ Ginsburg became Service from the American and Litigation, U.S.
general manager of the San Bar Association in 2013. Department of State
Francisco Recreation and California Environmental → During her 30-year
Parks Department in July ROBERT M. Quality Act, which requires career at the Department of
2009. Previously, he served HERTZBERG ’79 state and local agencies State, Malin has worked on
as a labor and employment California State Senate to identify and mitigate landmark Supreme Court
attorney at Carroll Burdick Majority Leader significant environmental and International Court of
and McDonough, and → Active in politics since impacts of all planned Justice cases and served as
worked in a variety of San he volunteered in local construction projects. He a diplomat in The Hague.
Francisco city positions— elections as a college stu- also sponsored laws in 1965 She is a specialist in foreign
as a deputy city attorney, dent, Hertzberg has won to create the San Francisco state and official immunity
human resources direc- seats in both California Bay Conservation and issues, the recognition of
tor, and chief of staff for state houses and is one Development Commission. states and governments,
Gavin Newsom during his of a handful of California Knox died in 2017. and diplomatic law. A
tenure as mayor. As general politicians to have served two-time recipient of the
manager, he has focused on as both Assembly speaker ANTHONY LEW ’08 Presidential Rank Award,
making the parks system and a state senator. After Deputy Attorney General, she also teaches foreign
accessible for all. Under his leaving the State Assembly California Department of relations law as an adjunct
leadership, San Francisco in 2002, he spent 12 years Justice professor at Georgetown
became the first city in the in the private sector focus- → Lew joined the California University Law Center.
country where 100 percent ing on global clean energy Department of Justice in
of its residents live within a initiatives, which led 2018, and acts as legis- ROBERT T. MATSUI ’66
10-minute walk of a park. him to receive the World lative advocate on issues Former U.S. Representative
Bank Award for Lighting that include consumer from California
ROSEMARY HART ’79 Africa in recognition of his protection, privacy rights, → Matsui represented
Special Counsel, U.S. efforts. Hertzberg returned and white-collar crime. California’s Third (later
Department of Justice to electoral politics in 2014, Previously, he served as Fifth) District in Congress
Office of Legal Counsel when he was elected to counsel for the Assembly from 1979 to 2005. He
→ Hart has served in the the state Senate. Judiciary Committee in the had previously served as
UC HASTINGS 5
a Sacramento city coun- Gov. Brown and deputy and as interim director of
cilman and vice mayor. research director for his Refugee and Immigrant
An internee of Tule Lake 2010 campaign. Services for Jewish Family
during World War II, he & Community Services.
went on to help pass the GEORGE R.
Civil Liberties Act of 1988, MOSCONE ’56 KATE ORLOVSKY ’06
which included a formal Former Mayor of Director; Hague Office,
apology for the intern- San Francisco ICC & ICL Programme,
ment program, and helped → A former state senator, International Bar
secure the Manzanar camp Moscone campaigned for Association she co-founded the DNC
National Historic Site mayor on a platform of → Orlovsky has spent Veterans and Military
designation. He chaired the inclusivity. As the “People’s most of her professional Families Council. A mem-
Democratic Congressional Mayor,” he appointed life working in and around ber of the DNC Resolutions
Campaign Committee from dozens of individuals from The Hague, with a focus Committee since 2001, she
2003 to 2005 and is the underrepresented minori- on human rights and is currently chair of the
namesake for the Robert ties to administrative posts. gender equality issues. California Democratic Party
T. Matsui United States During his tenure—which She served as a consul- Women’s Caucus and the
Courthouse and Federal was cut tragically short in tant on Human Rights DNC Executive Committee.
Building in Sacramento. He 1978 when he and Harvey Watch’s International She is a co-founder and
passed away in 2005. Justice Programme and counsel at WeSaidEnough,
as a legal officer for the a women’s rights advocacy
LILA MIRRASHIDI ’09 Women’s Initiative for group that launched the
Deputy Secretary; Gender Justice. In 2016, MeToo politics movement.
California Business, she joined the Hague office
Consumer Services and of the International Bar STEVE PHILLIPS ’97
Housing Agency Association, where she was Founder,
→ Gov. Gavin Newsom named director in 2018. Democracy in Color
appointed Mirrashidi dep- → A civil rights lawyer and
uty secretary of business CHRISTINE PELOSI ’93 senior fellow at the Center
and consumer relations Milk were assassinated Chair, California for American Progress,
in January 2019. Over the by former Supervisor Dan Democratic Party Phillips is the founder of
previous eight years, she White—Moscone gave Women’s Caucus Democracy in Color, an
was appointed by Gov. voice to marginalized → Pelosi began her legal organization dedicated
Edmund G. Brown Jr. to populations and started to career as a public interest to race and politics. He is
serve in multiple capaci- transform the city into the attorney in San Francisco. co-founder of PowerPAC+,
ties. She held positions at San Francisco people know She then served as HUD a social justice organization
the California Department today. special counsel in the dedicated to building a
of Business Oversight, Clinton-Gore adminis- multiracial political coali-
which included leading ROCHELLE NASON ’87 tration, a chief of staff tion. He has appeared on
the implementation of the Mayor of Albany, on Capitol Hill, and a multiple national radio and
PACE program and heading California Democratic National television networks, and is
the legal division. At the → Nason was named the Committee member elected a columnist for The Nation
California Department of 2019 mayor of Albany by from California. A former and a contributor to The
Corporations, she played a the Albany City Council, executive director of the New York Times. He is the
key role in the Department just after her re-election state party, she led its author of the best-selling
of Financial Institutions to a second council term. Platform Committee for 13 Brown Is the New White:
merger. She also served Previously, she served as years, and has been elected How the Demographic
as deputy appointments executive director of the six times to the Democratic Revolution Has Created a
secretary for the Office of League to Save Lake Tahoe National Committee, where New American Majority.
6 GAMECHANGERS
PUBLIC SERVICE / PUBLIC INTEREST ]
Julia Olson ’97
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF LEGAL
COUNSEL, OUR CHILDREN’S TRUST
After spending 15 years representing conser-
vation groups, Olson founded Our Children’s
Trust, an organization that gives voice to young
people in the fight for their right to a stable
climate. She is best known for her work as lead
counsel in a landmark constitutional climate
lawsuit, Juliana v. the United States. Brought
by 21 youth plaintiffs, the suit asserts that
government actions causing climate change
have violated the plaintiffs’ Fifth Amendment
rights to life, liberty, property, and public trust
resources. Olson received the Kerry Rydberg
Award for Environmental Activism in 2017.
VIRGINIA PATTON Corruption, the Convention abortion restrictions on the course of his career, he
PRUGH ’81 Against Transnational foreign aid and to ensure has served in various dep-
Attorney Adviser, Law Organized Crime, and the justice and accountability uty and assistant attorney
Enforcement and Commission on Narcotic for gender-based violence. general positions, including
Intelligence, Office of the Drugs. She previously interned at acting chief deputy attorney
Legal Adviser, U.S. the International Criminal general for former California
Department of State AKILA Tribunal for the Former Attorney General Kamala
→ After graduating from UC RADHAKRISHNAN ’09 Yugoslavia and DPK Harris ’89.
Hastings, Prugh joined President, Global Justice Consulting.
the U.S. Army Judge Center SIMIN SHAMJI ’94
Advocate General’s → Radhakrishnan was MATTHEW Deputy Public Defender,
Corps, where she served named president of the RODRIQUEZ ’80 San Francisco Public
for 27 years, retiring as a Global Justice Center (GJC) Secretary for Defender’s Office
lieutenant colonel. After in 2018 after eight years Environmental Protection, → As the managing attor-
leaving the Army, she working at the organi- CalEPA ney of the Clean Slate and
joined the Department of zation. At the GJC, she → Rodriquez became Specialty/Reentry Unit
State as an attorney adviser. combines advocacy with secretary for environmen- in the Public Defender’s
Recognized for her exper- legal analysis to develop tal protection at CalEPA Office, Shamji oversees
tise in international crime, precedents that advance in 2011. In addition to various initiatives, includ-
she has been a member gender equality through supervising various state ing the program that helps
of several U.S. delegations the rule of law. She is active environmental boards and people clear their criminal
to the United Nations, in international women’s departments, he acts as an records through expung-
including those advising rights, and is leading environmental adviser on ing certain convictions
the Convention Against efforts to challenge U.S. the governor’s cabinet. Over and obtaining certificates
UC HASTINGS 7[ PUBLIC SERVICE / PUBLIC INTEREST
of rehabilitation. She J. CHRISTOPHER
has worked in the San STEVENS ’89
Francisco Public Defender’s Former Ambassador to
Office for more than two Libya
decades and, after practic- → Stevens’ distinguished
ing as a trial attorney for diplomatic career took off
many years, began focusing with postings in Riyadh,
on criminal justice policy Cairo, Damascus, and
issues, including bail and Jerusalem. He was con-
sentencing reform, racial firmed as U.S. ambassador
disparities, implicit bias, to Libya in 2012 follow-
and evidence-based alter- ing the fall of Muammar
natives to incarceration. el-Qaddafi. During a visit to
the U.S. diplomatic mission
RANDY SHAW ’82 in Benghazi in 2012, Stevens
Executive Director, and three other Americans
Tenderloin Housing Clinic were killed in a terrorist
→ Shaw founded the attack. UC Hastings estab-
Tenderloin Housing Clinic lished the Ambassador
while he was a law student J. Christopher Stevens
at UC Hastings. He has Memorial Lecture Series in Jackie Speier ’76
dedicated his career to his honor, which focuses on U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA
improving living condi- the use of law and public
tions for tenants, limiting policy to promote peace.
Shot five times at point-blank range and left
tenant displacement, and for dead during the 1978 Jonestown massa-
preserving and increasing ELISE K. TRAYNUM ’86 cre that killed her then-boss, Congressman
affordable housing. THC is General Counsel, ACLU Leo Ryan, Speier entered electoral politics
the city’s leading provider of Northern California
→ As general counsel at by running for Ryan’s vacant seat in 1979.
the ACLU of Northern Although she lost that election, it marked the
California, Traynum beginning of a political career that started
provides legal services with a seat on the San Mateo County Board
and representation for
ACLU-NC on a range of
of Supervisors, continued with an 18-year
work, including com- stint in the California State Legislature, and
pliance, employment, led to her election to Congress in 2008. As
contracts, and other laws a U.S. representative for California’s 14th
and regulations. Previously,
of legal representation to she served as general
Congressional District, Speier has focused
tenants facing no-fault counsel and secretary to on women’s rights, military and veterans’
evictions and is the chief the board of directors at affairs, and advocating for the middle class.
provider of housing for UC Hastings for 14 years. In 2012, Newsweek named her to its list of
homeless single adults. During her tenure, she
Shaw has authored six defended a case against
150 “Fearless Women” in the world. In 2018,
books on activism; his the law school that was Politico named her as one of the 50 thinkers,
most recent work is heard by the U. S. Supreme doers, and visionaries driving American poli-
Generation Priced Out: Court. In Christian Legal tics and policy. She has written a best-selling
Who Gets to Live in the Society v. Martinez, the
New Urban America. court upheld UC Hastings’
autobiography, Undaunted.
8 GAMECHANGERSTHE JUDICIARY ]
policy to require student Zipser, a business litigation JEFFREY AMESTOY ’72
→ SERVING IN—AND PRESIDING OVER—COURTS OF ALL LEVELS IN STATES ACROSS THE NATION, UC HASTINGS
organizations to open their and intellectual property Former Chief Justice,
membership to all students law firm in Irvine. Supreme Court of
irrespective of their status Vermont
or beliefs. ANN M. VENEMAN ’76 → After graduating from
Former Executive UC Hastings, Amestoy
VIEN TRUONG ’06 Director, UNICEF returned to his home state
Former President, → Veneman has had a dis- of Vermont to serve as
Dream Corps tinguished career in public assistant attorney gen-
→ Truong witnessed service, most notably serv- eral. Following a stint as
poverty firsthand while ing as executive director of Vermont’s commissioner
growing up in Oakland UNICEF from 2005 to 2010 of labor and industry, and
with her Vietnamese and as the U.S. Secretary more than a decade as
refugee parents. She of Agriculture from 2001 the state attorney gen-
has devoted her career to 2005, the only woman eral, he was confirmed as
ALUMNI HAVE BEEN JUDICIAL THOUGHT LEADERS FOR MANY GENERATIONS.
to ending the scourge ever to have led that chief justice of Vermont’s
of poverty, and as the department. She was also Supreme Court in 1997. In
president of Dream Corps, the first woman to lead his role as chief justice,
a national social change California’s Department of Amestoy authored the
organization, she focuses Food and Agriculture as 1999 landmark ruling in
on environmental, energy, its secretary, a position she Baker v. State of Vermont,
and economic policies to held from 1995 to 1999. She which held that same-sex
improve the lives of vulner- was named to the Forbes couples were entitled to
able populations. Truong World’s 100 Most Powerful the rights and benefits of
received the White House Women list in 2009 and as marriage. Amestoy retired
T H E J U DICI A RY
Champion of Change a woman of history by the from the court in 2004
Award in 2016. National Women’s History but continues to publish
Museum in 2016. widely respected legal
THOMAS J. UMBERG ’80 scholarship.
California State Senator VIVIANA WAISMAN ’95
→ A retired U.S. Army President and CEO, MARIA LUCY
colonel and former deputy Women’s Link Worldwide ARMENDARIZ ’97
drug czar under President → As the founder of Judge, Superior Court of
Bill Clinton, Umberg Women’s Link Worldwide, Los Angeles County
served three terms in the Waisman leads a team → In 2018, Gov. Edmund
California Legislature prior located on four continents G. Brown Jr. named
to his election as a state that advances the rights Armendariz to the Superior
senator in 2018. As a fed- of women and girls in the Court of Los Angeles
eral criminal prosecutor, he courts of countries around County. Her impressive
had a 100 percent convic- the world. She has written career trajectory previously
tion rate. Among his tours and spoken extensively on
of active duty, Umberg led human trafficking, repro-
the U.S. military effort to ductive rights, and gender
attack corruption within crimes. Prior to founding
the Afghan army and Women’s Link in 2001,
police in 2009 and earned a Waisman consulted for the
Bronze Star for meritorious U.N. Population Fund and
service in a combat zone. was a lawyer at the Center
He is a partner at Umberg for Reproductive Rights.
UC HASTINGS 9[ THE JUDICIARY
Marvin R. Baxter ’66
FORMER ASSOCIATE JUSTICE,
SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA
Baxter began his accomplished legal career as a
district attorney in Fresno County before spend-
ing the next 13 years in private practice. Prior
to joining the California bench, he spent six
years as appointments secretary to Gov. George
Deukmejian and helped appoint more than 700
judges. After serving as an associate justice on
the California Court of Appeal, he was named
to the California Supreme Court in 1991, where
he served until his retirement in 2015. He also
served 18 years as vice chair of the Judicial
Council of California. UC Hastings’ moot court-
room is named after Baxter and his wife, Jane.
included service as chief of Commission on Children in in Alameda County. During defender and judge of the
staff for former California Foster Care in 2006. the course of her career, Superior Court of California,
Senate Majority Leader she has taught at several both for Santa Clara
Gloria Romero, legal CAROL A. law schools, including County; he also maintained
counsel for then-Assem- CORRIGAN ’75 UC Hastings; served on a private legal practice in
blyman (and later Los Associate Justice, various task forces; and has San Jose. While a Superior
Angeles Mayor) Antonio Supreme Court of received numerous honors Court judge, Davila
Villaraigosa, legal con- California and awards. presided over the head-
sultant to the office of → In December 2005, Gov.
California Assemblyman Arnold Schwarzenegger EDWARD J. DAVILA ’79
Robert Hertzberg ’79, State nominated Corrigan to Judge, U.S. District Court
Bar Court judge, counsel the California Supreme for the Northern District
for the State Assembly Court. Prior to assuming of California
Committee on Public her seat on the state’s → In 2011, Davila was
Safety, and ombudsman highest bench, she served named to the U.S. District
for women’s prisons at the as an associate justice Court for the Northern
California Department on the California Court District of California by
of Corrections. A native of Appeal, a judge on the then-President Barack
of East Los Angeles, Alameda County Superior Obama. He was the first line-making case of a Las
Armendariz spent part of Court, and a judge for Latino in the federal judi- Vegas couple who planted
her youth in the California the Oakland-Piedmont- ciary to represent the Bay a severed finger in a bowl of
foster care system, and Emeryville Judicial Area in more than 15 years. Wendy’s chili in an attempt
was appointed to the District. She also served as During his career, he has to win a lawsuit against
California Blue Ribbon a deputy district attorney served as deputy public the fast-food chain. In early
10 GAMECHANGERS2006, Davila sentenced the As a neutral, Flier helps to later—making history
wife and husband to prison resolve matters that run as the first woman to
terms of nine and 12 years, the gamut from commer- hold that position. Before
respectively. cial disputes to familial embarking on her judicial
conflicts involving probate career, she worked as an
MICHAEL L. issues. attorney for the Atlantic
DOUGLAS ’74 Richfield Company and
Former Chief Justice, CARIN FUJISAKI ’85 the Montana Power
Supreme Court of Associate Justice, Company. She retired
Nevada Feinstein—instead, paving California First District from the Supreme Court in
→ Douglas was appointed a path that led to the bench Court of Appeal 2008, but remained active
to Nevada’s Supreme rather than politics. After → Fujisaki has enjoyed a in promoting improved
Court in 2004, the first working as a prosecutor in diverse career; she got her access to justice, the abo-
African American justice the San Francisco District start as a research attor- lition of the death penalty,
in the court’s history; Attorney’s Office and a ney at the San Francisco and refinements to the
he served as the court’s lead attorney in the City Superior Court and then civil and criminal justice
chief justice in 2011 and Attorney’s Office, she spent four years as an systems. Gray passed
2018. Prior to his Supreme joined the San Francisco associate at Howard, Rice, away in 2017.
Court term, Douglas was Superior Court in 2000. In Nemerovski, Canady,
chief judge of the Las 2010, she began a two-year Robertson & Falk. She then BRAD R. HILL ’83
Vegas District Court (and term as the court’s pre- moved to the California Administrative Presiding
a trial judge beginning in siding judge and retired in Supreme Court, where she Justice, California Fifth
1996), vice president of the 2012. Since then, Feinstein served as a staff attor- District Court of Appeal
Nevada District Judges has devoted her time to ney for Associate Justice → Appointed in 2006 to the
Association, and a member serving on nonprofit and Marvin R. Baxter ’66 for California Fifth District
of the Judicial Council of government boards. more than 20 years and Court of Appeal by Gov.
the State of Nevada. He as principal attorney to Arnold Schwarzenegger,
was also an attorney for RICHARD FLIER ’71 Chief Justice Tani Cantil-
Nevada Legal Services and Former Judge, Superior Sakauye for four years.
served in the Clark County Court, County of Contra Fujisaki served on the UC
District Attorney’s Office, Costa Hastings board of direc-
where he promoted access → Following more than a tors for 12 years, including
to justice and specialty decade as a prosecutor one year as board chair.
courts. The National Bar and a 20-year career as In 2018, Gov. Edmund
Association honored a Superior Court judge, G. Brown Jr. appointed
him with its Lifetime Flier has been a neutral for Fujisaki as the first Asian
Achievement Award in almost 15 years, helping American woman to the
2016. He retired in 2019. adversarial parties reach First District Court of Hill has long been active
resolution of their disputes Appeal. in the field of judicial
KATHERINE through arbitration or education. His career
FEINSTEIN ’84 mediation. While on the KARLA GRAY ’76 includes service on the
Former Presiding Judge, bench, he served three Former Chief Justice, Superior Court of Fresno
Superior Court of San tours as a civil fast track Supreme Court of County, where he served
Francisco judge, which required him Montana as presiding judge, assis-
→ Throughout her career, to supervise approximately → Named an associate tant presiding judge, and
Feinstein has resisted 25 percent of all litigation justice of the Supreme as a member of the court’s
calls to follow in the in the county and pre- Court of Montana in 1991, Executive Committee. In
footsteps of her famous pared him for the relatively Gray became the court’s 2000, in a highly pres-
mother, U.S. Sen. Dianne fast-paced world of ADR. chief justice nine years tigious appointment,
UC HASTINGS 11[ THE JUDICIARY
he was named by Chief elevated to the California
Justice Ronald George Supreme Court—becom-
to the Judicial Council ing the first African
of California—the gov- American to serve on
erning body for all trial the high court. One of
and appellate courts in his most notable cases is
California—first to serve the criminal prosecution
as a trial judge and then as of William and Emily
an appellate justice. Harris of the Symbionese
Liberation Army for the
WILLIAM kidnapping of Patricia
LAFFERTY ’85 Hearst in 1974. Manuel
Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy was well-known for his
Court for the Northern pro bono work, and in 1989
District of California the State Bar of California
→ Lafferty’s post-law created an annual award
school clerkship for San for pro bono legal services
Francisco bankruptcy in his honor. In addi-
judge Thomas E. Carlson tion, the Wiley Manuel
foreshadowed his own Courthouse, part of the
future. After Lafferty Alameda County Superior A. Ashley Tabaddor ’97
worked for Howard, Rice, Court, was named after
JUDGE, LOS ANGELES IMMIGRATION COURT
Nemerovski, Canady, the Oakland native, who
Falk & Rabkin for 24 passed away in 1981. Tabaddor held various positions before
years, he was appointed her appointment as an immigration judge
as a bankruptcy judge LESLIE C. NICHOLS ’66 in 2005, including as an assistant U.S.
for the Northern District Former Judge, Superior
attorney and a trial attorney with the
of California in 2011. He Court of California
was also appointed to the → Nichols has led a dis- civil division handling federal appellate
Ninth Circuit’s Bankruptcy tinguished career on the litigation. During her time on the bench,
Appellate Panel in 2016 bench, serving as a judge she has presided over tens of thousands
and serves as a member of the Superior Court of
of cases, including cases on the detained,
of the Federal Judicial California for 25 years.
Center’s Bankruptcy In that role, he handled non-detained, unaccompanied juvenile, and
Education Committee. settlement conferences, mental competency dockets. As the cur-
and pretrial, trial, and rent president of the National Association
WILEY MANUEL ’53 post-trial matters involv-
of Immigration Judges, she has testified
Former Associate Justice, ing civil law, family law,
Supreme Court of juvenile delinquency and
before Congress and has called upon it
California dependency, probate and to remove the immigration court from the
→ Following his time at mental health, and crim- Justice Department’s purview to ensure the
UC Hastings, Manuel inal law. After stepping
court’s independence from a law enforce-
worked for 23 years in down from the bench in
the California Attorney 2009, Nichols served in the
ment agency and its use of the court in
General’s Office. He Assigned Judges Program furtherance of law enforcement priorities.
transitioned to a judge- until joining ADR Services Tabaddor is currently a lecturer at UCLA
ship in the Alameda as a full-time mediator,
School of Law, where she teaches a course
County Superior Court in arbitrator, and referee.
1976, and in 1977 he was
on immigration law and practice.
12 GAMECHANGERST H E PR AC T IC E OF L AW ]
LAWRENCE J. the District of Columbia SIMONA
O’NEILL ’79 (an office later renamed AGNOLUCCI ’06
Chief Judge, U.S. District Attorney General for the Partner; Keker, Van Nest
→ UC HASTINGS GRADUATES CAN BE FOUND IN TOP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT THE COUNTRY’S MOST
Court for the Eastern District of Columbia) and & Peters
RESPECTED LAW FIRMS—AND IN MANY CASES WERE THE FIRMS’ FOUNDERS. THEIR TRACK RECORDS
District of California was selected to lead the → Agnolucci specializes
→ After graduating from department in 2000. As an in complex litigation,
IN AND OUT OF THE COURTROOM ARE IMPRESSIVE, AS IS THEIR COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK.
UC Hastings and complet- active service member in including class actions,
ing a prestigious clerkship the U.S. Army from 1981 white-collar criminal
for Judge Robert F. Kane of to 2014, Rigsby continued defense, and bet-the-com-
the First District Court of to serve during his time pany commercial disputes.
Appeal, O’Neill went into in the attorney general’s She represents “sharing
private practice in Fresno, office and as a judge; he economy” platforms, tech
made history when he companies, investment
became the first D.C. advisers, smartphone
sitting judge and the first
T H E P R A C T I C E O F L AW
manufacturers, and leading
military judge in the Army law firms. She recently suc-
to deploy on a full-time cessfully tried to verdict
basis to an active war one of the few class actions
zone.
LIDIA STIGLICH ’95
Associate Justice,
arguing 50 jury trials Supreme Court of
to verdict. In 1990, he Nevada
became a Fresno County → Stiglich was appointed
Superior Court judge, and to the Supreme Court of
in 1999, he was appointed Nevada by Gov. Brian
a U.S. magistrate judge. In Sandoval in 2016; she is
2007, he was nominated its first openly gay justice. to be tried in California
to the U.S. District Court Prior to her appointment in recent years. She also
for the Eastern District of to the Supreme Court, has an extensive pro bono
California, unanimously she spent four years as practice—in which she
confirmed by the Senate, a District Court judge in often represents women
and becoming chief judge Nevada’s Second Judicial fleeing gender-based per-
in 2016. District. In addition, she secution—that has been
was the co-founder and recognized by national
ROBERT R. RIGSBY ’86 presiding judge of the media, including The New
Associate Judge, Superior Youth Offender Drug York Times.
Court of the District of Court, a specialty court
Columbia designed to serve as an KHALDOUN A.
→ Rigsby has served on alternative to incarceration BAGHDADI ’97
the District of Columbia for young adult drug users. Shareholder; Walkup,
Superior Court since 2002, Stiglich is an instructor at Melodia, Kelly &
when he was named to the University of Nevada, Schoenberger
the bench by President Reno, and a faculty mem- → Baghdadi served as
George W. Bush. Prior ber at the National Judicial chairman of the San
to his appointment, he College. Francisco Human Rights
served in the office of the Commission, the first
Corporation Counsel for Palestinian American
UC HASTINGS 13[ T H E PR AC T IC E OF L AW
to hold that post. He open warrants, and low-in- DONALD E.
is a shareholder with come individuals seeking BRADLEY ’68
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & criminal record remedies. Chief Legal Officer,
Schoenberger, where he Prior to joining Orrick, she Wilson Sonsini Goodrich
has worked for 20 years. was a litigation fellow in the & Rosati
He is dedicated to helping Office of General Counsel → As chief legal officer at
people in need of an advo- for The Regents of the Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
cate and has earned the University of California. Rosati, Bradley advises the
highest accolades in cases firm on ethical and other
involving wrongful death, PHILIP T. BESIROF ’96 legal aspects of its practice. Volunteer in Public
defective products, medical Managing Partner, He also is the president Service,” and he serves as
negligence, and public tran- Morrison & Foerster and a director of Attorneys immediate past president
sit injuries. He has served → Besirof is the manag- Insurance Mutual Risk of the Charles Houston
as an instructor of trial ing partner of Morrison & Retention Group, which Bar Association and
practice and moot court Foerster’s San Francisco provides primary profes- president of the California
at California institutions, office and a partner in the sional liability insurance ChangeLawyers.
including UC Hastings. firm’s Securities Litigation, to a number of California
Enforcement, and White- law firms, including his DION COMINOS ’88
SUZETTE J. BARNES ’10 Collar Criminal Defense firm. Earlier, Bradley was Firm Managing Partner,
Senior Associate; Orrick, Group. He has 20 years’ the chair of the firm’s tax Gordon Rees Scully
Herrington & Sutcliffe experience in complex practice, specializing in Mansukhani
→ Barnes, a senior asso- civil litigation, with an mergers and acquisitions, → Cominos, who joined
ciate in Orrick’s San emphasis on represent- corporate finance, and Gordon & Rees in 1987,
Francisco office and a ing companies and their investment funds. Before has been its managing
member of the White Collar, directors and officers in joining the firm, he was partner since 2006. The
Investigations, Securities securities class actions, a partner at Pillsbury, firm has over 900 attorneys
Litigation & Compliance shareholder derivative suits, Madison & Sutro (now with offices across the
Group, focuses on the repre- and regulator inquiries and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw country. He specializes
sentation of major financial investigations. He is among Pittman). Bradley serves on in commercial litigation,
institutions, corporations, the few lawyers in the the UC Hastings board of and has also acted as a
and individuals in securities country who have defended directors. mediator and an arbitrator,
a securities class action at and served on commit-
trial. Contributing to the ERIC S. CASHER ’06 tees for the American Bar
defense verdict for JDSU Principal, Meyers Nave Association, the California
and its former executives → Casher leads the public Bar Association, and the
in a securities class action law practice at Meyers Defense Research Institute,
jury trial seeking $20 billion Nave, and has always among others. He has
in damages for alleged demonstrated a passion been distinguished as a
securities fraud and insider for public service. He is Super Lawyer every year
trading, he played a key role city attorney for the city of since 2004 for his work
in co-managing case strat- Pinole and was appointed in civil litigation defense
and complex commercial egy and complex discovery by then-Attorney General and business litigation. He
actions, regulatory inves- issues. He is also chair of Kamala Harris to a four-year also periodically teaches
tigations, and internal the board of directors of term as commissioner on courses at UC Hastings as a
investigations. She also the San Francisco AIDS the California Fair Political visiting lecturer.
provides pro bono services Foundation, a nonprofit Practices Commission in
to veterans seeking VA organization that provides 2013. The Bar Association ALISON CORDOVA ’12
benefits, homeless individu- education and treatment. of San Francisco honored Partner; Cotchett, Pitre &
als seeking the resolution of him as an “Outstanding McCarthy
14 GAMECHANGERSJoseph W. Cotchett ’64
FOUNDING PARTNER;
COTCHETT, PITRE & MCCARTHY
Cotchett has been lauded as one of the best
trial strategists not only in California but
also in the United States. Cotchett has an
exceptional history of standing up for social
justice in his 50-plus-year legal career, espe-
cially representing victims of white-collar
fraud and corporate malfeasance. He has
tried more than 100 jury cases, including
a celebrated victory on behalf of 23,000
senior citizens harmed by the collapse of
Charles Keating’s Lincoln Savings and Loan
in 1990 that resulted in a $3.3 billion jury
verdict. He also successfully represented
the California Supreme Court and individ- → Cordova is a trial lawyer Norwalk virus, and settle-
who has proven her talents ments of 12 injury and death
ual judges in a case brought against them
and acumen in large, lawsuits brought on behalf
by the New York Stock Exchange and the of the victims of the 2015
complex matters, including
National Association of Securities Dealers. taking on Chevron, PG&E, Berkeley balcony collapse.
Among his many honors, Cotchett was PetSmart, Samsung, the As San Francisco deputy
United States of America, city attorney from 1992 to
inducted into the very select State Bar of
and Boeing. A partner at 2001, he prosecuted con-
California Litigation Trial Lawyers Hall sumer protection lawsuits
the Cotchett firm, she has
of Fame in 1999 and into the prestigious argued at the Ninth Circuit against big businesses,
American Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame in and won several trials, including suits alleging
including representing a California’s largest title
2011. He has been recognized as one of the
central California Irrigation insurers had defrauded both
100 most influential lawyers in the nation consumers and the gov-
District in a legal mal-
for the past 17 years and was lauded by his practice action against a ernment (which resulted in
peers as Super Lawyers’ No. 1 lawyer in nationwide law firm. some $75 million in verdicts
and settlements) and a suit
Northern California in 2017. He has been
MATTHEW DAVIS ’89 accusing Bank of America
practicing at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy
Shareholder; Walkup, of mishandling government
since 1967. Following his graduation from Melodia, Kelly & bond funds, which settled
California State Polytechnic University with Schoenberger for $187 million.
an engineering degree, he served as an offi- → Since joining Walkup in
2001, Davis has obtained PHILLIP A. DAVIS ’83
cer in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps and
verdicts and settlements Special Counsel;
as a Special Forces paratrooper and JAG on behalf of plaintiffs, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter
Corps officer, being awarded the Legion of including a $25 million jury & Hampton
Merit for his service. verdict on behalf of hotel → As a special counsel
guests who contracted the in Sheppard Mullin’s Los
UC HASTINGS 15Angeles office, Davis Los Angeles Superior and Boats and Ford Motor of the country’s top
specializes in corporate and Municipal Courts. Company, Dreyer obtained plaintiff-side litigation
securities litigation; direc- verdicts in the amounts of firms—Fineman joined the
tor, officer, shareholder, ROGER A. DREYER ’80 $31 million for a brain-in- firm in 1991 and became
and partnership litigation; Partner, Dreyer Babich jured client and $65 million national managing part-
real estate litigation; and Buccola Wood Campora for a family who lost their ner in 2003. He represents
creditors’ rights. He has → Dreyer has tried more husband and father, both as institutional investors
represented public and than 125 civil jury trials a result of defective prod- in individual and class
private companies, individ- for clients in 14 California ucts. Additionally, as lead securities and financial
uals, and venture capital counties, obtaining multi- trial lawyer for the Oakland fraud cases, and classes
funds, among others, in million-dollar jury verdicts Raiders, he achieved for and groups of individuals
federal and state securi- in wrongful death actions that team a verdict in the in mass tort and consumer
ties fraud class actions, and catastrophic brain amount of $34 million, the fraud litigation, and has
shareholder derivative and spinal injury cases. largest fraud verdict in won a number of awards
suits, and other disputes— His most notable cases Sacramento County history. and honors for his work.
including those involving included the “water intoxi- Fineman is a past president
breach of fiduciary duty cation” death case of 2007, STEVEN E. of the national public inter-
and mismanagement. He which held a broadcast FINEMAN ’88 est law firm Public Justice
also successfully defended company responsible for Managing Partner, Lieff Foundation and currently
a number of consumer actions that led to the death Cabraser Heimann & serves as an ex-officio
class actions filed under of Jennifer Strange, and Bernstein member of the board. He is
the Song Beverly Act. Davis resulted in a verdict of $16.7 → Based in the New York a member of the board of
is a volunteer judge pro million for her family. In two City office of Lieff Cabraser the American Constitution
tem and arbitrator for the trials against MasterCraft Heimann & Bernstein—one Society for Law and Policy.
Lynne Hermle ’81
PARTNER; ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE
Hermle is one of the most recognized
employment defense lawyers in the country,
successfully representing major companies such
as Microsoft, Twitter, SpaceX, and others in
bet-the-company litigation. She broke out on the
national stage with a big win for Kleiner Perkins
in the Ellen Pao sex harassment trial, where her
courtroom work was called “masterful” by The
Recorder. Hermle has been named a national
Employment MVP four times by Law360, which
calls her a “serial winner,” and The Daily
Journal has named her one of its top 100 lawyers
in California five times. She was named a fellow
of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2017.
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