Carmen Messano ’77, retired as chief judge of New Jersey’s appellate division, the state’s intermediate court of appeals, after twenty-six years on the bench, sixteen in the appellate division, and ten as chief judge. New Jersey requires all judges to retire upon reaching the age of seventy. With no immediate future plans, he is looking forward to traveling, spending more time at home with his wife and dog, Dante, and reading much of what he never had enough time to read in the past.
John Hanify ’74
Hanify, the founder of Middlesex Mediation, expanded the firm’s alternative dispute resolution team, bringing the panel of neutrals to nine and adding expertise in patent law and commercial and real estate litigation. Middlesex Mediation serves the regional business community as mediators and arbitrators, settling complex litigation and resolving business disputes.
John F. Kerry ’76
Kerry stepped down in March as President Joe Biden’s special presidential envoy for climate. He was a driving force for American climate policy, led the US negotiating team through three United Nations climate summits, and played a crucial role in urging President Biden to set a more aggressive target for greenhouse gas emissions. He was granted a seat on the National Security Council in the White House, marking the first time an official on that body was dedicated specifically to climate change.
Robert L. Raskopf ’76
Raskopf has joined the law firm Bilzin Sumberg in Miami, FL, as senior counsel in the trial and litigation group. He assists clients in issues related to intellectual property, trade secrets, privacy/publicity, trade libel, defamation, and false advertising.
Steve Rockoff ’76
Rockoff was recently named to the Executive Committee of the Palm Beach Country Sports Commission, where he sits on the board, and started his third term as chairman of the Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District in Jupiter, FL. His legal background has helped him as a luxury home and commercial real estate transactions specialist. He was named to Corcoran’s Gold Council as one of the firm’s top performers.
Robert M. Steeg ’78
Steeg, the managing partner of Steeg Law Firm LLC in New Orleans, LA, continues to win major lawyer awards. He was declared a Super Lawyer in real estate law in 2024, and New Orleans Magazine named him a Top Lawyer in the field in 2023.
Brian Cook ’85
Cook, a former sports lawyer and sports law professor, teamed up with Neil Chyten of Avalon Admissions College Counseling to become the director of Avalon Athletes, providing advice and guidance to the families and student athletes with college sports aspirations. He has represented over 100 NCAA college students, Olympians, and professional athletes.
David Curtin ’85
Curtin completed an MA in Education at University College London Institute of Education. His dissertation discussed what teachers are doing differently post-Covid and what that tells us about how they view their role as teachers. Since retiring, education has been his main focus. He is chair of the Board of Governors of a state primary school in east London and is involved in several educational organizations.
Jennifer Z. Flanagan ’92
Flanagan, a partner in Mirick O’Connell’s trusts and estates group, was elected a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Fellows of ACTEC are leading members of the trust and estate profession who have made a substantial contribution to the field. She concentrates her practice in all areas of trusts and estates law for a diverse client base, including estate planning, estate administration, trust administration, taxation, and fiduciary advising.
Karen J. Crawford ’93
The mayor and city council of Austin, TX, honored Crawford for her work with the immigrant community by declaring November 30 to be “Karen Crawford Day.” She has been practicing immigration law since graduation and was formerly chair of the City of Austin’s Commission on Immigrant Affairs.
Ingrid C. Schroffner ’95
Schroffner presented talks on understanding collaborative intelligence and on motivational and inspirational leaders to Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc., and to the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Mentoring Program. Both presentations addressed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as essential components to focus on, with examples and practical tips for organizations and business groups seeking to improve working together in the current professional climate, and the emerging leaders within them.
Jennifer M. Borggaard ’96
Borggaard has become the new chair of the Peabody Essex Museum Board of Trustees. She previously served as the secretary and chair of the board’s Governance Committee. She is a financial services executive and board member with global experience guiding boutique asset management companies.
David K. McCay ’00
McCay was named a “Go To Environmental Lawyer” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Nominated by peers and selected by a panel from Lawyers Weekly for their expertise, history of success, and innovative client-centered solutions, the honorees serve as trusted referrals for fellow attorneys. He is a partner and chair of Mirick O’Connell’s Litigation Group in Westborough, MA, and focuses his practice on resolving complex environmental, real estate, zoning, and business disputes.
Andrew A. Ferrer ’06
Ferrer is a partner in the Boston, MA, office of Verrill Dana LLP, in the firm’s healthcare and life sciences group. He has more than fifteen years of experience assisting major healthcare entities in navigating a range of complex legal issues of importance in the healthcare industry. Ferrer has represented large hospital networks, health systems, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, satellite emergency facilities, urgent care providers, imaging facilities, physician groups, nursing homes, hospices, home health agencies, trade associations, and individual practitioners. He was previously a partner at Barret, Harrell & Ferrer LLC.
Ben McGuire ’07 was recently appointed chair of the public finance and infrastructure practice in Greenberg Traurig’s Boston office, where he has practiced since graduating law school over 15 years ago. He leads a team of finance, securities, tax, and real estate professionals in connection with tax-exempt bond financing for infrastructure projects throughout the US.
Michelle K. Cohen ’08
Cohen is the author of the fourth chapter titled “How COVID-19 Influenced Voter Access” in the book The Legal and Social Ramifications of Pandemics on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. She is also the policy director and senior counsel at Fair Elections Center.
David E. Peterson ’08
Peterson was hired as special counsel in the trusts and estates group at Gravel & Shea PC, focusing on estate planning, probate, and trust administration. Peterson provides expertise to individuals, families, business owners, retirees, and beneficiaries to help structure the transition of their wealth and wishes to the next generation. He spent the previous fifteen years with boutique trusts and estates firms in Massachusetts and Vermont.
Aliki Sofis ’09
Sofis was named the newest co-managing partner of the Boston office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. She has helped score major victories, including serving as counsel in an expedited twelve-week jury trial in the District of Massachusetts that secured a non-infringement verdict on all asserted patents; participating in a multi-trip arbitration in Hong Kong that resulted in a $100 million award for the client; and successfully securing a complete walk-away settlement on behalf of a pure defendant in a multi-million-dollar dispute that was filed in federal court.
Colin Levy ’10
Levy published his first book, introducing the lawyer to the world where technology and the practice of law meet and intersect, entitled The Legal Tech Ecosystem, last year. He is the editor of the Handbook of Legal Tech, an in-depth examination of the key areas of legal tech. He has become a well-known expert in the space, frequently asked to give talks about AI, technology, and law, and write about technology and the practice of law. Levy is also a columnist for Today’s General Counsel magazine and was recently named a Top Voice of LinkedIn. He practices law as director of legal for Malbek, a contract management company.
Kathryn M. Sabatini ’10
Sabatini was appointed chief of the Civil Division in the Office of the Attorney General in Providence, RI. She previously served as executive counsel and chief of policy to Attorney General Peter Neronha ’89, and provided leadership for the development and implementation of a statewide body-worn camera initiative and the passage of key legislative priorities. Before joining the office, Sabatini worked as the municipal integrity officer for the City of Providence.
Michael J. Kaupa ’11
Kaupa was promoted to counsel at Faegre Drinker in Minneapolis, MN. He is part of the business litigation practice and helps clients resolve high-stakes commercial disputes and complex tax controversies.
Tanya F. Otsuka ’11
Otsuka was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the US Senate to serve on the National Credit Union Board. She was sworn in on January 8. She previously served as senior counsel for the majority staff of the US Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
Elizabeth A. Kayatta ’12
Kayatta was named shareholder by the law firm Berman & Simmons. She has also been elected co-chair of the Women’s Law section of the Maine Bar Association, which provides a forum for women lawyers to gather for regular educational programs, networking, and discussing of issues of interest to women attorneys. She focuses on medical malpractice, sexual abuse, wrongful death, and personal injury cases, representing clients who have suffered catastrophic and life-altering injuries. Kayatta has recovered some of the largest sexual abuse settlements in Maine and has earned the following recognitions: National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, and Super Lawyers Top Medical Malpractice Attorney.
Michael B. Kern ’12
Kern was promoted to principal at Kitch Attorneys & Counselors PC in Detroit, MI. He focuses on representing senior living providers in administrative and regulatory matters, senior housing, and medical malpractice defense.
Jori Loren ’13
Loren was promoted to partner of Faegre Drinker in Chicago, IL. She has extensive experience in product defense issues, specifically defending manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer products in product liability and mass tort actions.
Lynndon K. Groff ’14
Groff was promoted to counsel at White and Williams LLP in Philadelphia, PA. He focuses his practice on insurance coverage and bad faith, and represents international and domestic insurers in various coverage matters.
Rachel L. Weisblatt ’14
Weisblatt was promoted to member of the firm Epstein Becker & Green in Boston, MA. She advises clients throughout the healthcare and life sciences industries on a variety of regulatory and transactional matters. She provides counsel on human-subjects research and related domestic and international issues, as well as privacy matters.
Meryl E. Breeden ’15
Breeden is a member of Robinson+Cole’s insurance and reinsurance group in the New York, NY, office. She represents professional liability insurers in coverage and litigation matters involving directors’ and officers’ liability, errors and omissions, and fiduciary liability claims. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation and financial lines.
Bradley C. Fay II ’15
Fay was promoted to partner of Seward & Kissel in New York, NY. He practices in the firm’s employee retirement income security act (ERISA) and executive compensation and employee benefits groups, focusing his practice on ERISA and internal revenue code compliance issues.
Katherine E. Galloway ’17
Galloway, an attorney at Verrill Dana LLP in Boston, MA, was accepted into the New England Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) after being nominated by an ACTEC fellow and selected through a competitive application process. She advises individuals and families on a broad range of trusts and estate matters.
Samantha L. O’Neal ’19
O’Neal was hired as a planned gift administration specialist at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. She was previously a planned giving and bequest administration specialist at the National Geographic Society.
Harrison H. Baker ’20
Baker is an associate in the New York, NY, office of Faegre Drinker and a member of the firm’s business litigation practice.
Kevin O’Sullivan ’21
O’Sullivan is the chief of staff for Boston City Councilor at Large Erin Murphy. While studying at BC Law, he co-hosted the Just Law podcast, which provides a glimpse into what is good and promising in the BC Law community.
IN MEMORIAM
George G. Burke ’59
Cornelius S. Donoghue ’59
Charles D. Ferris ’61
Edward A. Roster ’61
Neal E. Millert ’62
Charles M. Goodman ’64
Philip H. Grandchamp ’64
Paul E. Gallagher ’65
Dermot J. Meagher ’65
Bill Delahunt ’67
Charles J. Murray ’69
William J. O’Neil ’69
Stephen C. Jones ’71
Douglass N. Ellis ’72
Bernard J. Cooney ’72
Jay S. Kavanah ’72
Douglas N. Ellis ’73
Nell S. Margolis ’74
Shelley M. Draper ’75
Robert Angel ’76
Joanne E. Mattiace ’76
Thomas H. Murphy ’78
Frances A. Gershwin ’79
John R. O’Brien ’79
Peter C. K. Fong ’80
Margaret A. LaMothe ’83
Jorge I. Peirats ’83
Valerie S. Libby ’86
Terrence H. Buckley ’89
Maureen Mulligan ’90
Dennis P. Ahem ’92
Damon C. Anastasia ’92
Thanda A. Fields Brassard ’97