Steven Wright ’81 has joined First Tech Federal Credit Union as its chief legal officer. The lender was created by the merger between Marlborough-based Digital Credit Union and San José-based First Tech Federal Credit Union. Wright was most recently the general counsel of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He received the Boston College Law School Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 and was inducted into the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly “Hall of Fame” in 2025.
Anthony McManus ’58
McManus has written a book on various aspects of the history of his hometown, Dover, NH, which was published in conjunction with the town’s 400th anniversary. He has also been publishing an online true crime series, “Crimes Along the Cocheco.”
John C. Doherty ’77
Doherty recently received a Master of Arts Degree in History with Academic Distinction from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. At age 83, Doherty was the oldest UML full time student to graduate in the 2025 class out of 4,449 graduates.
Charles “Chuck” Meyer ’77
Meyer retired after a legal career spanning 48 years in Cincinnati, most recently with Dinsmore & Shohl, the largest Cincinnati firm. Chuck was an English major at Boston College (’74) and attributes that and the great education he received at BC Law for preparing him for a rewarding legal practice. He previously received the Cincinnati Bar Association award given to one attorney each year for community service.
Robert M. Steeg ’78
Steeg is among the 2026 Louisiana Super Lawyers for Real Estate Law. He is managing partner of Steeg Law Firm in New Orleans.
Cornelius Chapman ’79
Queer Street: The Curious Connection Between Boxing and the Homoerotic by Cornelius “Con” Chapman has been published by Lutterworth Press, Cambridge, England. The book is a parallel history of the laws governing consensual violence and consensual sex between men. His earlier books are Rabbit’s Blues: The Life and Music of Johnny Hodges, winner of the 2019 Book of the Year Award by Hot Club de France; Kansas City Jazz: A Little Evil Will Do; and Sax Expat: Don Byas.
Thomas Barnico ’80
Barnico has published new pieces on his Substack “Law & Lore”: “Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge and the Beverly House of Pizza,” “The Thirst for News in Time of War,” and “Justice Thurgood Marshall on Bourbon Street.” Barnico also serves as an adjunct faculty member at BC Law.
Mary Jeka ‘83
Jeka, senior vice president for university relations and general counsel for Tufts University, is retiring in June after more than two decades of service there. In addition to being a Double Eagle, she also taught Administrative Law for a time at BC Law.
Sherri Stepakoff ’85
Stepakoff has come full circle—beginning as a writer/editor prior to practicing law—with a debut poetry collection Sanctuary at Unity Farm, out on July 10. It is an intimate look at Unity Farm Sanctuary, a Sherborn, MA, animal rescue farm, where she was the inaugural poet in residence.
Michael P. Byrne ’87
Byrne has been named managing partner at Day Pitney in Stamford, CT. A longtime firm leader and former chair of its Real Estate practice, he steps into the role at a time of significant growth for the firm and will focus on strategic expansion and the integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Christopher Devlin ’89
Devlin, counsel at the Maine State Housing Authority, reports the publication of the second edition of the Maine Commercial Lending Handbook. Authored by Devlin and Mark Googins, the handbook is a practical guide to commercial lending practice in Maine that discusses the commercial loan from start to finish.
Julianne Kurdila ‘89
Kurdila recently received the Babington Award from the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, which was presented for Extraordinary Member Leadership. She has served aschair of the Association’s Environmental Committee for nearly a decade, and provides legal advice and counsel on environmental and regulatory matters as a senior attorney at Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., an iron and steel company.
John Smolak ‘90
Smolak was recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a 2025 “Go-To” Commercial Real Estate Lawyer. He is founding partner of the law firm Smolak & Vaughan LLP.
B. J. Krintzman ’91
Krintzman retired from client-based practice and is now devoting her efforts to serving as an arbitrator and mediator. She was also recently appointed as a hearing officer for the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers.
Carole LoConte Tedesco ’92
LoConte Tedesco had the first solo show of her mixed media artwork at Hood Park in Charlestown, supported by the Artists’ Group of Charlestown. She continues to practice estate planning and probate law at Tedesco Law Offices, PC, in Woburn, together with her husband, Robert Tedesco.
Deb Peckham ’93
Peckham, partner and co-chair of Barclay Damon LLP’s Trademarks, Copyrights & Licensing Practice Area, is a new member of the firm’s Intake/Conflicts Committee.
Christopher M. Mirabile ’94
Mirabile has authored his first novels. The first of the Silas Lopez Mysteries, The Washashore, was released on April 7 and the second book in the series, The Holdfast, comes out in late summer 2026.
Vince Saccomando ’94
Saccomando, partner at Barclay Damon LLP in their Buffalo office, is a new member of the firm’s Billing Committee.
Hon. Daniel E. Will ’95
Judge Will was sworn in as the 113th associate justice on the New Hampshire Supreme Court, following Governor Kelly Ayotte’s nomination. He previously served as an associate justice on the New Hampshire Superior Court as well as New Hampshire’s first solicitor general, prior to which he spent 22 years in private practice in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Beth Taylor ’96
Taylor has a new position as global chief legal officer at Dentons LLP. She was most recently counsel at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.
Katherine Kettler ’98
Kettler has been named acting general counsel for the US Department of Energy.
Andrew J. Puglia Levy ’01
Puglia Levy has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Casey Mattox ’01
Mattox has been named co-chairman of The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies’ Board of Visitors.
John McAdams ’02
McAdams has been named deputy chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, based in Providence, RI.
Danielle Tully ’03
Tully has joined Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP as a partner as part of their Intellectual Property litigation team based in New York. She joins from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where she most recently served as co-chair of the Global Litigation and Intellectual Property Groups.
Julie Grundman ’04
Grundman has been promoted to senior vice president at Beacon Global Strategies, where she will continue contributing to the ongoing work of the National Security Technology Practice.
Christina Nolan ’04
Nolan has been confirmed as an associate justice to the Vermont Supreme Court by the Vermont Senate.
Julia (Martinescu) Beckley ’05
Beckley joined Womble Bond Dickinson as a senior counsel in the Financial Services Team of the Business Litigation Practice Group of the Houston, Texas office.
Scott R. Wilson ’07
Wilson has a new position as chairman, president. and chief executive officer at Miles & Stockbridge PC in their Baltimore office.
Nathan Mitchell ’08
Mitchell has joined Holland & Knight as a partner, coming over from Paul Weiss. He advises clients on a broad range of national security matters, including reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and Team Telecom, as well as on cybersecurity and information privacy issues.
David Horn ’09
Horn has rejoined WilmerHale, as a partner, in their Washington, DC, office. He is a leading US sanctions and export controls lawyer, and will work in the International Trade, Investment and Market Access Group. Horn was most recently at the US Department of the Treasury.
David Kirchblum ’09
Kirchblum, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s commercial finance practice out of their Philadelphia office, has been named a distinguished adviser in debt financing in Financier Worldwide’s 2025 Power Players report—one of only 10 honored.
Brian Doxtader ’10
Doxtader was sworn in as associate justice of the district court by Governor Healey of Massachusetts, and is the youngest sitting associate justice of that court. The District Court Department hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. Brian also completed the Chicago Marathon; his team raised awareness and $148,000 for Huntington’s Disease.
David Koha ’10
Koha has been promoted to partner at Casner & Edwards, LLP, where he works in their Bankruptcy & Restructuring and Litigation Groups. He has represented a wide variety of clients in state and federal courts and has particular expertise in bankruptcy law.
Kathleen Parker ’11
Parker has joined Reed Smith as a partner in their Boston office. She advises domestic and international companies on a wide range of employment matters, including regulatory compliance and investigations, and regularly represents clients before administrative agencies and in state and federal courts.
Jan Wolfe ’11
Wolfe has returned to Thomson Reuters as legal affairs reporter for its Washington Bureau. He was previously at the Wall Street Journal.
Adam Kunst ’12
Kunst has been promoted to partner at Casner & Edwards, LLP. He works in their Family Law and Private Client practices, working with individuals and families in complex domestic relations matters that involve high-net-worth estates, business interests, and families with young children.
Michelle McClafferty ’12
McClafferty has a new position as partner in Krevolin Horst’s Atlanta office. She works in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, representing corporations, nonprofits, and political organizations in complex litigation and high-stakes matters.
Ron Kendler ’12
Kendler has a new position as Partner in the Washington, DC Office of Steptoe LLP. He was previously Counsel at International Trade at White & Case LLP.
Brett Walker ’13
Walker has joined Haynes Boone as counsel in its new Boston office. He is a versatile litigator with experience representing large corporate entities as well as government agencies in high-profile civil actions.
Paul B. Lewis ’14
Lewis has joined Haynes Boone’s new Boston office as a partner. He is a first-chair trial and appellate litigator who focuses on complex commercial disputes, with experience across a range of industries, including technology, hospitality, healthcare, and financial services, handling matters in state, federal, and appellate courts.
Kellie Fisher ’15
Fisher has been named group head of the Drummond Woodsum’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Creditors’ Rights Practice, in their Portland, ME office. Her practice focuses on bankruptcy matters, commercial litigation, and transactions involving distressed companies.
Nirav Bhatt ’16
Bhatt has been named partner at Sheppard. Working from their New York office, he is a member of the Finance and Bankruptcy Practice Group and the Private Equity industry team.
Mary Pat Brogan ’16
Brogan is a new partner at BakerHostetler, working out of the Cleveland office. Her areas of expertise in her practice include criminal defense, class action defense, commercial disputes and appellate litigation.
Julia Koch ’16
Koch has a new position as partner at Morrison Foerster LLP, as part of the Securities Litigation Group in the Litigation Department, based in Boston. She also supports the Investigations + White Collar Defense Group with her experience in regulatory and criminal investigations.
Elizabeth E. Georgiopoulos ’17
Georgiopoulos has been named a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2026 “Excellence in the Law” honoree in the “Up & Coming Lawyer” category. She is a litigation attorney in Greenberg Traurig LLP’s Boston office.
Bertie Magit ’20
Magit, a transactional attorney with experience in a variety of industries, including technology, life sciences, financial services, health, and consumer products, joined Reicker, Pfau, Pyle & McRoy, in their Santa Barbara office in December 2025.
IN MEMORIAM
Christopher Mansfield ’75 passed away in March, but his loyalty to BC Law remains a vibrant legacy. Working his way up to Senior Vice President and General Counsel in his nearly four-decade career at Liberty Mutual Group, he and his wife, Laura, helped establish the endowed Liberty Mutual Insurance professorship at BC Law, which focuses on property and casualty insurance law.
“Boston College Law School has Chris to thank for Liberty Mutual’s generous decision to endow the Liberty Mutual Professorship back in 2013,” said Professor Patricia McCoy, who has held the position for over a decade. “As the company’s general counsel at the time, Chris worked tirelessly to strengthen legal education for future lawyers in insurance law. Thanks to his leadership in spearheading the gift, I have had the deep honor of serving as the first Liberty Mutual chair.”
McCoy also noted that Mansfield’s support and that of Liberty Mutual continue to pay dividends for students by allowing the Law School to sponsor a robust set of insurance law offerings today, including courses, scholarship, speakers, and panel discussions.
The Mansfields raised their children in Dedham and were heavily involved in community service there, in addition to their longstanding commitment to supporting the Pine Street Inn in Boston.
ADDITIONAL REMEMBRANCES
Ernest F. Roberts ’54
John Francis O’Donnell ‘53
Hon. William J. McManus ’57
Cornelius Murphy ‘57
Joseph Lian, Jr. ‘60
Roger M. Bougie ’62
Edward McDermott ‘63
Barry Wieder ‘63
John M. Brandt ’66
Charles W. Sullivan ’67
Gary L. Grolle ’69
Walter J. Fisher ’71
Raymond J. Kelly ’71
Matthew T. Birmingham ’74
Robert Farrington ’76
Hon. Elizabeth M. Fahey ’77
Barry Jay Ward ’78
David J. Ames ’80
Gregory Golazeski ’81
Thomas S. O’Keefe ’82
Nina Vitale Huber ’85
James E. Tamagini ’89
Christian Rivera ‘05