CLASS NOTES

Class Notes highlight recent professional achievements from alumni and are included in the LegalBriefs newsletter, sent quarterly to Villanova Law alumni. 

Please submit any class notes for consideration to alumni@law.villanova.edu. If you are not receiving the LegalBriefs newsletter, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations.

FALL 2024

 

John P. Crampton ’66 was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Marc P. Weingarten ’76 was 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 ’82 was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Samuel Arena ’83 served as co-editor of the American Bar Association’s new insurance law resource book, The Insurer's Duty to Defend: Issues and Analysis.

Gregory R. Gifford ’84 was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and land use and zoning law.

Matthew I. Whitehorn ’84 was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Shelly Smith ’89 was named to City & State PA’s Fifty Over 50 list.

Eric Borjeson ’90 joined Willig, Williams & Davidson in the workers’ compensation practice group.

Michael O. Fenerty ’94 was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Kelly Ayotte ’93 was named governor-elect of the state of New Hampshire.

Steve Odabashian ’95 was named “Best SAT Coach” by Philadelphia Magazine, and his test prep company, Main Line Test Prep and Tutoring, was named “Best College Prep Service” by Main Line Today Magazine.  

Jennifer Platzkere Snyder ’95 was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

James S. Beall ’99 LLM was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Megan Starace Ben’Ary ’97 CLAS, ’01 CWSL was elected to the Policy Committee at McGlinchey Stafford PLLC.

Douglas Rosenblum '00 VSB, '03 CWSL was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America as “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 ’10 was promoted to partner at Proskauer Rose LLP.

Mark T. Sottile ’11 was promoted to partner at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.

William J. Gallagher ’12 was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Leah George ’21 was named a 2024 Bar Star by the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Emily Knight ’23 joined Goldberg Segalla in the workers’ compensation practice group.

Eddie Reilingh ’23 joined the New York City Law Department as assistant corporation counsel in the Special Federal Litigation Division.

New York City Law Department

Ryan C. Thomas ’23 joined Maiello Brungo & Maiello, LLP (MBM Law) as an associate on the education law and municipal law teams.

Gabriela Amado ’24 joined Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin as an associate in the litigation department.

Grace Gelone ’24 joined Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin in the trusts and estates department.

Mark A. Umansky ’24 joined Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin as an associate in the litigation department.

 

In Memoriam

Leonard Packel, 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.

Walter Taggart, professor emeritus, passed away on October 29, 2024. As a student at Villanova Law, he was an articles and book review editor of the Villanova Law Review, graduating in 1968. He later joined the faculty in 1970, teaching Federal Courts, Real Estate and Bankruptcy, and was an advisor to the Villanova 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.

Richard N. Winfield '55 CLAS, noted U.S. First Amendment lawyer and member of the Villanova Law Board of Consultors, passed away in October.