CUA Cover Winter 2005 final (Page 2) - Columbus School of Law

ALUMNI Newsthe past two years, the three-attorneytrial firm, which specializes in nationalmedical malpractice, wrongful death andconsumer class actions, has obtained twoof the largest verdicts in the country witha $28 million verdict in a military malpracticecase in federal court, and a $24million medical malpractice verdict inWashington, D.C. Last year, the firm alsoobtained what is believed to be the largestMaryland wrongful death verdict of itskind when a Montgomery County juryawarded $6.4 million to Perry’s client.Pejman F. Sharifi has been elected partnerin the New York City office ofWinston & Strawn LLP.1998John M. Beahn was named of counsel atthe Washington, D.C., office ofSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.He joined the firm in 2000 and practicescommunications law.Cpl. Jeffrey R.Clifford, USMC,was awardedthe Navy andMarine CorpsAchievement Medal for valor for heroicachievement in the superior performanceof his duties. The award was givenat a ceremony on April 27 at Ft. Devens,in Ayer, Mass. The incident recognizedby the award involved Clifford stoppingan Iraqi vehicle and capturing threeheavily armed insurgents who were planningto attack a bridge over theEuphrates River. His military action andsubsequent courtroom testimony againstthe team resulted in their conviction anda prison sentence.John Hunter Livelyhas joined KansasCity-based BlackwellSanders Peper Martinin the firm’s corporatedepartment. Hefocuses practice onproviding counsel toinvestment advisersand investment management companiesand to their service providers, as well asproviding compliance leadership experiencefor financial services companies.Yavontka Boose Martin was promotedto the rank of major in the U.S. AirForce in June 2007. She is currentlyassigned at Randolph AFB, Texas.Martin and her husband, Melvin, are“enjoying a new lifestyle in sunny SanAntonio” with their 2-year-old daughter,Meya.Michael W. O’Neill was appointed tothe Board of Patent Appeals andInterferences at the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office on Oct. 1,2007. He resides in Sterling, Va.Jeremy R. Schwer was recently electedto the partnership of the internationallaw firm of Hunton & Williams LLP,where he practices in energy mergersand acquisitions. Schwer and his wife,Christine, reside in Washington, D.C.,with their daughter, Taylor Marie, bornMay 9, 2007.1999Christine Ayotte-Brennan joined theBoston office of Bingham McCutchenLLP in March 2006 as counsel in thecorporate, securities,mergers andacquisitions group.She and her husbandare the parentsof twins, JoshuaEdward and JillianLauren Brennan,born Sept. 17, 2006.Susan E. Burgess recently started anew position as a hearing officer for theMassachusetts office of Medicaid,Board of Hearings. She is based inBoston.Jason S. Frankl has been promoted tosenior managing director in FTIConsulting’s forensic and litigation consultingsegment in Washington, D.C.He also leads FTI’s listing advisory servicesgroup.Piotr M. Gajewski was elected to thecity council of Rockville, Md., on Nov.6, 2007. Gajewski is the music directorand conductor for the NationalPhilharmonic, Music Center atStrathmore in Rockville.Daniel M. Gallagher Jr. is counsel toSEC Commissioner Paul S. Atkins.Gallagher previously practiced withWilmer Hale.Thomas Hicks is the majority seniorelections counsel for the HouseAdministration Committee.Robert A. King was elected partnerwith Hunton & Williams LLP, effectiveApril 1, 2007. He is a member of the litigationand intellectual property teamin the firm’s Atlanta office and is a registeredpatent attorney.Amy W. Pershkow was promoted topartner for the financial services practicewithin the Washington, D.C. officeof Mayer Brown LLP, an internationallaw firm. Her appointment takes effectJan. 1, 2008. Pershkow’s practice focuseson investment companies, investmentadvisers and financial institutions.Reed L. Russell was appointed legalcounsel to the Equal EmploymentOpportunity Commission, effectiveNov.13, 2007. He reports to the chairof the EEOC, Naomi Churchill Earp,1982.Marc A. Saggese, a professional boxeras well as a partner in the Las Vegasfirm of Cristalli & Saggese, has nowadded “Nevada-licensed boxing promoter”to his professional portfolio.His first show as a promoter (BattleBorn Promotions) is tentatively scheduledfor early 2008 as part of thePinnacle FiteNite series. Saggeseturned pro in March 2007 at the age of34, winning all three of his bouts byfirst-round knockout.William “Bill” Winter is severalmonths into a new position as a deputydistrict attorney in the Denver District44CUALAWYER /Fall–Winter 2007