NSU Law Alumni Newsletter
November 2020
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International Audience viewed the Discussion for "Left Out and Left Behind. The Hurdles, Hassles, and Heartaches of Achieving Long-Term Legal Careers for Women of Color.” |
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L-R: Paulette Brown, Dean Beto Juárez, Dean Elena Marty-Nelson, Dean Olympia Duhart., Ashley Gantt, Janice Haywood, and Rohan Kelley. |
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More than 95 guests from the US, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands attended and participated in the presentation by our 2020 John B. Anderson Distinguished Visiting Chair in Public Interest Law, Paulette Brown. The fireside chat with Paulette Brown included topics on mentoring and sponsorship for women of color, courageous conversations with your peers, and the effects of bias and stereotyping in the legal profession. The full video and more information on Ms. Brown and the ABA study are available through the link below.
Special guests Ashley Gantt, Janice Haywood and Rohan Kelley provided insightful questions for Ms. Brown. Dean Beto Juárez introduced the discussion and Deans Olympia Duhart and Elena Marty-Nelson organized the session and served as moderators.
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FL Bar CLE Credits
2 General CLE Credits
1 Bias Elimination Credit
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Save The Date for NSU Giving Tuesday
NSU will once again participate in Giving Tuesday on December 1, 2020. This year, NSU’s goal is to fundraise $100,000 and reach at least 1,000 donors in 24 hours. While funds can support any college, program, or area at NSU, there will be a focus on fundraising for the COVID-19 Student Support Fund, Mental Health Awareness, and Suicide and Violence Prevention. READ MORE
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Welcome Laura Varela, Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development |
NSU Law welcomes Laura Varela as the Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development. Laura received her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Florida. Laura has extensive litigation experience at firms in Miami, Gainesville, Boca Raton, and in Broward County. She was a partner at Berman, Kean & Riguera, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, as well as at Phillips, Cantor & Shalek in Hollywood. Laura is a member of the Florida Bar, and is certified to practice in the Florida federal district courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and in numerous bankruptcy courts. In 2016 she brought this extensive professional experience to assist law students at St. Thomas University School of Law as a Private Sector Career Counselor; she has also served there as the Deputy Title IX Coordinator/Investigator. In the midst of all of these professional activities, she found time to teach agency law at NSU. |
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Bar Admittance Celebration |
On Friday, November 20, 2020, NSU Law will host two virtual bar admittance ceremonies with the help of alumni judges. Following the two online group presentations and the taking of the oath of new attorney, each judge, with a NSU Law faculty/staff representative, will host a virtual meeting with our new admittees to verify the identity of each student and to wish them well.
Alumni, family, faculty, staff, and students are welcome to join us. More information will be emailed directly to NSU Law Alumni Class of 2020 and Class of 2019 and posted on NSU Law social media pages.
Thank you in advance to Dean José R. (Beto) Juárez, Jr., all the alumni, faculty, and staff in planning this event.
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NSU Law Holiday Virtual Gathering |
NSU Law is planning and organizing our annual Holiday Celebration for December 2020! We all wish we could get together in person and toast each other, catch up, mingle and celebrate the holiday season.
If you would like to be involved in the planning of the holiday virtual gathering, please contact Karen Rose, NSU Law Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund. .
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Faculty Tenure Alumni Comment Request |
Professor Amanda Foster is seeking tenure. If you were a student of Professor Foster, please take a moment to provide comments to assist the Committee on Retention, Promotion and Tenure.
Deadline is December 1, 2020.
Thank you for your extra time and effort.
Kenneth L. Lewis, Jr. (J.D. 2005)
Professor of Law
Chair; Contract Retention, Promotion, and Tenure Committee
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Professor Tim Canova
Was a panelist on a live online town hall in support of public banking in Florida, hosted by the Public Banking Institute on October 8, 2020.
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Professor Kathy Cerminara
Published, Cruzan’s Legacy in Autonomy, 73 SMU L. REV. 27 (2020) LINK
Moderated the Federal Practice Preview Series, “NSU Federal Bar Association Health Law & Ethics in 2020,” on November 5, 2020.
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Associate Dean for Faculty And Student Development & Professor of Law Olympia Duhart
Partnered with Dean Elena Maria Marty-Nelson to host and moderate the presentation by Paulette Brown, “Left Out and Left Behind: The Hurdles, Hassles, and Heartaches of Achieving Long-Term Legal Careers for Women of Color,” on October 10, 2020 via Zoom. Video Link
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Professor Jon M. Garon
Presented at the 5th Academic Days on Open Government and Digital Challenges at Panthéon Sorbonne University, Paris, “Media Bias & Social Media Regulation: Governmental Approaches to Content Integrity,” on November 4, 2020.
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Professor Areto A. Imoukhuede
Presented as a guest lecturer at Barry University in Miami, FL, “Constitutional Structure, Rights and the Athlete,” October 27, 2020.
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Professor Ishaq Kundawala
Interviewed by Dean Olympia Duhart for a Society of American Law Teachers podcast on teaching social justice in the classroom. The podcast, “Using Data to Teach Social Justice,” is available HERE and talks about teaching bankruptcy, student misconceptions about consumer bankruptcy, and the value of using objective data to highlight social justice issues in the classroom.
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Professor Kenneth L. Lewis, Jr.
Published, International Diamond Laws and Africa: Purportedly Helping African Nations By Preventing Them From Exporting Precious Natural Resources, 2 CTS. & JUST. L.J. 171 (2020). LINK
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Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Public Impact & Professor of Law Elena Maria Marty-Nelson
As part of her national service, in October and early November, Associate Dean Marty-Nelson served as the Site Team Chair for a comprehensive law school site evaluation visit. The site team is responsible for submitting to the Council of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section on Legal Education a complete report that addresses the factual information relevant to each of the ABA Standards so the Council can determine whether a law school is in compliance with the Standards.
Partnered with Dean Olympia Duhart to host and moderate the presentation by Paulette Brown, “Left Out and Left Behind: The Hurdles, Hassles, and Heartaches of Achieving Long-Term Legal Careers for Women of Color,” on October 10, 2020 via Zoom. Video Link
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"The Fire This Time" Essay-Writing Competition Winner. |
We are pleased to announce that Alexis Beckford (left) is the winner of “The Fire This Time” Essay-Writing Competition. The writing competition invited entries to address the anti-racism movement sweeping America, and to share their own reflections on this struggle. The judges chose Alexis’ entry from several strong essays received from students on every level. Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig, the renowned legal scholar and author of the essay, “The Fire This Time,” served as the final judge on the competition. |
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Other esteemed judges included our very own Prof. Jani Maurer and the acclaimed author Tananarive Due, who wrote the Civil Rights memoir Freedom in the Family. Alexis earned FIRST PLACE in this competition. Her powerful piece will be published on the College of Law’s Social Justice website and she will receive a $250 cash prize and a plaque. A donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund will also be made in her name.
We also congratulate Scott Ogiemwanye as our 2nd place winner and Richard Sena, who placed 3rd. We recognize Michelle Adams for earning an Honorable Mention for her entry. Each of the winners will also receive a small cash prize and a book by James Baldwin, author of The Fire Next Time. We are very proud of our students for their thoughtful engagement on a critical subject. Congratulations!
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Blue Book Interactive Citation Workshop Continues |
The Legal Research and Writing Student Outreach Committee and Nova Law Review co-hosted the Bluebook Citation Interactive Workshop for 85 first-year law students. The students enjoyed answering Bluebook questions online, and their responses were immediately scored. Correct answers were explained by members of Nova Law Review Richard Sena (Editor-in Chief) and Zachary Stoner (Lead Technical Editor). |
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NSU Law student organizations continue to engage and connect with the legal community locally and nationally with a variety of Zoom Meetings and Zoom Webinars. Some of the most recent events include: |
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Sports & Entertainment Law Society |
October 9, 2020
How athletes have used their platforms to protest social issues for decades and now in the age of social media, mass consumerism and political divide, how their protests either help or harm the movement.
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NSU Federal Bar Association |
October 21, 2020
Three attorneys shared their successes, failures, networking sources and experiences as members of state and national federal agencies.
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November 5, 2020
In partnership with the Federal Bar Association Broward County Chapter.
FL Bar CLE Credits
1.5 General CLE Credits
0.5 Ethics Credit
1.5 Health Law Certification Credits
Focused on the current climate of health law and the necessary steps used through federal practice to adjust to the ever-changing atmosphere of new legislation.
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Black Law Student Association |
November 6, 2020
FL Bar CLE Credits
2 General CLE Credits
1 Bias Elimination Credit
In partnership with the Urban League of Broward county Young Professionals Network and the TJ Reddick Bar Association.
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Caribbean Law Student Association & Nova Fashion Law Association |
November 13, 2020
FL Bar Approved CLE Credits
2.5 General Credits
2.5 Business Litigation Certification Credits
This program focused on Caribbean music works with entertainment attorneys discussing intellectual property law, entertainment law, and copyright law.
Video Link available ASAP
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1983
1984
Gary Betensky has been appointed vice chair of the Business Torts and Unfair Competition Committee of the American Bar Association. Betensky, a partner with Day Pitney, LLP, represents clients in complex business disputes and dispute resolution in his civil trial practice. Betensky is distinguished as a specialist and expert through his board certification by The Florida Bar in business litigation law, which recognizes special knowledge, skills and proficiency in business litigation law, professionalism and ethics.
1986
Marilyn Eisler is the lead AOB attorney with Florida Professional Law Group PLLC. She focuses her practice on insurance law and mediation. In particular, Eisler’s experience includes working in private practice, working as in-house counsel for insurance companies, and working for the Florida Attorney General. The team at Florida Professional Law Group PLLC hosted a food drive for Branches, Inc.'s Thanksgiving Meal Delivery program, which will prepare and deliver hot meals to nearly 4,500 neighbors in need on Thanksgiving Day.
1989
Elisa DePalma has been appointed to the position of Senior Vice President, Head of Commercial Closing, Credit Risk Management for Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank. Working out of the Bank’s Teaneck location, DePalma oversees the management of the Commercial Closing Department.
Joseph Goldstein has been certified by the Supreme Court as a circuit court mediator. Goldstein is the Managing Partner of the Fort Lauderdale office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group. Goldstein also practices out of the Tallahassee office.
1995
Drew B. Sherman joined Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara in Boca Raton as of counsel. Sherman is a Florida business, corporate and real estate attorney. Sherman is licensed to practice in Florida, the District of Columbia, New York and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for Southern, Middle, and Northern Florida.
1996
2001
Nicole R. Topper has been featured in the Pro Bono Attorney Spotlight by the Legal Aid Service of Broward County in the November issue of The Advocate. Topper is a Partner and Chair of Blank Rome’s Florida Offices. Since 2015, Nicole’s team at Blank Rome has taken 15 pro bono cases for Legal Aid Service of Broward County and the Mission United Veterans Pro Bono Project helping Veterans in areas such as landlord-tenant disputes, consumer issues, and civil litigation matters. Topper concentrates her practice on various litigation matters, including consumer finance, commercial litigation, construction defect, and civil tort litigation.
2002
Michael J. Drahos joined GrayRobinson in West Palm Beach as a shareholder. Drahos focuses his practice defending maritime medical malpractice claims, including cases of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death.
2005
Douglas P. Gerber, a partner at the Orlando-based law firm of Killgore, Pearlman, Semanie, Denius & Squires, P.A. was recently selected to serve on the Ninth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee. Gerber focuses his practice on all aspects of civil and business litigation, including but not limited to construction law, insurance defense, real estate litigation, contract law, commercial landlord-tenant law, and probate litigation.
Robert D. Sparks has shared that his firm Robert Sparks Attorneys, PLLC, located in Tampa, has been named to the 2021 list of 'Best Law Firms' by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, an accolade that it has been awarded each year since the firm opened its doors. To qualify, the firm went through an extensive evaluation process that included client reviews, peer evaluation and referral networks. Sparks is the lead trial attorney for the personal injury division of his firm.
2006
Jennifer Diaz of Diaz Trade Law participated in the NCBFAA Educational Institute’s Annual Global Trade Educational Conference on a panel titled, “Forced Labor Enforcement and TFTEA: Enforcement is Here; How Does COVID-19 Play Into It?” Diaz also co-presented a webinar titled “Intellectual Property Rights, A Practical Approach with Diaz Trade Law” for the Florida Customs and Brokers Association. The webinar discussed real-life examples of best practices and pitfalls when importing into the U.S.
Nicole Roero is a partner in the West Palm Beach office of Schefer, Petric & Simpson, and focuses her practice in workers’ compensation defense. Roero is certified in Florida as lecturer in all areas of workers’ compensation law and frequently lectures at workers’ compensation conferences and seminars. Additionally, Roero also served as co-Vice Chair and is a current member of Friends of 440, Inc.
2007
Chad A. Klosky has joined Chartwell Law as an associate in the Miami office of Chartwell Law. Klosky will represent insurance carriers, self-insured organizations and businesses in the areas of insurance defense, bad faith litigation, first-party and third-party insurance defense, as well as general liability defense.
2008
David J. DePiano joined Fox Rothschild in West Palm Beach as a partner. DePiano is a commercial litigator who has handled high-stakes product liability, class action and contract dispute matters for major clients including Fortune 50 manufacturers and construction companies, health insurance providers and construction subcontractors. He represents clients in state and federal court, and provides strategic representation in arbitration.
Tom Fabricio has won his campaign and is now State Representative, District 103 at Florida House of Representatives. Fabricio is an attorney with Walton Lantaff Schroder Carson LLP and focuses his practice on insurance defense of both Third Party liability claims and First Party property claims. Fabricio is also certified as an Instructor in Adjuster Law and Policy by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Licensing.
2009
Jonathan Blackmore has joined GrayRobinson as of counsel in Ft. Lauderdale. Blackmore advises banking, finance, and loan servicer clients in state and federal litigation, appeals, transactions, creditors’ rights, and regulatory compliance including, but not limited to, foreclosure proceedings, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), Florida’s Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA), Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
2010
Brandon Arrow is an insurance and property prelitigation and litigation attorney with Florida Professional Law Group PLLC. Arrow helps property owners and lenders with coverage and valuation disputes with their insurance companies. The team at Florida Professional Law Group PLLC hosted a food drive for Branches, Inc.'s Thanksgiving Meal Delivery program, which will prepare and deliver hot meals to nearly 4,500 neighbors in need on Thanksgiving Day.
Valerie Barnhart shared the wonderful news that her firm Perera Barnhart Aleman has been selected as one of the “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News and World Report. Barnhart also recently participated as a co-panelist in the NSU Law Association of Business Law Students about what it is like to practice business law.
Mary E. Corbin joined Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin in Ft. Lauderdale. Corbin is a member of the firm's Professional Liability Department in the Fort Lauderdale office. Her practice focuses on assisting insurers in all aspects of a coverage dispute, including responses to civil remedy notices of insurer violations, pre-suit investigations, coverage opinions, first- and third-party litigation in state and federal courts, and bad faith litigation.
2011
Jorge Freddy Perera shared the wonderful news that his firm Perera Barnhart Aleman has been selected as one of the “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News and World Report.
2014
2015
Novera H. Ahmad joined Carlton Fields as an associate in the firm’s Orlando office. Ahmad is a defense litigator whose practice focuses on property and casualty insurance. She handles all aspects of litigation, including motion practice, discovery, depositions, court appearances, mediation, and trial preparation.
Valeria Angelucci has joined Barakat + Bossa as an associate attorney. Angelucci focuses on international corporate work for U.S. and foreign clients and commercial litigation with a particular focus in international law.
Ariel Deray of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP participated in “Securing the Interview & The Job - Future Prospects”. This event was hosted by the NSU Law Jewish Law Student Association.
Maria T. Santi has been chosen by the American Health Law Association (AHLA) as a member of the Online Dispute Resolution Workgroup. The project involves exploring the option of an Online Dispute Resolution Service for resolving disputes between patients and providers regarding medical bills. Santi is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Health & Medicine Law Firm. Santi focuses her practice on assists patients and consumers with health and medicine related disputes as well as ERISA actions when medical benefits are denied to insureds.
2017
Cody Liese is an insurance litigation attorney with Florida Professional Law Group PLLC. Liese is committed to helping homeowners, investors, associations and businesses throughout Florida with their denied or underpaid property insurance claims. The team at Florida Professional Law Group PLLC hosted a food drive for Branches, Inc.'s Thanksgiving Meal Delivery program, which will prepare and deliver hot meals to nearly 4,500 neighbors in need on Thanksgiving Day.
Chrystal P. Robinson is now an associate plaintiff’s attorney at HL Law Group, P.A. in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale location.
2018
Nadine Mathieu has been sworn in as 2020-2021 Correspondence Secretary for the Caribbean Bar Association. Mathieu, an attorney with Kelley Kronenberg in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office, assists in handling matters related to First Party Insurance Defense Litigation.
Alexander J. Mendez joined Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin in Ft. Lauderdale. Mendez is an associate in the Casualty Department where he handles matters involving automobile litigation, premises liability, personal injury protection claims (PIP) and general casualty matters.
2019
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At NSU Law, we are able to offer opportunities for students to realize their potential when our generous donors give to the law school in areas including our scholarship funds, programs, and law clinics. We are grateful to our alumni, staff, faculty, and friends whose support for our students helps us to prepare them for successful careers after graduation, or to support them on an emergency basis during this time of crisis. Please consider making a gift today.
To learn more about opportunities to support NSU Shepard Broad College of Law, please contact our Director of Alumni Relations, Karen Rose, at 954-262-6303, cell 954-203-1762, or [email protected]. Thank you!
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For questions, to submit Class Actions, information on how to get involved, alumni benefits and resources, and to learn more about upcoming events at NSU Law, contact [email protected]
Karen Rose, Director of Alumni Relations
How to Get Involved:
Help us keep you up-to-date with the latest College of Law Alumni News, library, career development resources, and community engagement opportunities. Learn more about our Mentoring Program, Law Connect Plus CLE seminars, and upcoming alumni events.
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