Troutman Pepper Alumni Newsletter — December 2023
The December issue of the Alumni Newsletter features a special message from Steve Lewis, our Alumni Relations year in review, details about upcoming CLE opportunities, firm news, and recent alumni moves.
A Note From Steve Lewis
On my first day as Managing Partner of Troutman Sanders, I experienced a wide variety of emotions, ranging from excitement to anxiety. Thirteen years later, as I prepare to step down as Chair of Troutman Pepper, I am pleased with and
proud of all our firm has accomplished together. It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve in these roles, and I appreciate all of the help and support I received from our people and our clients throughout my tenure. As
alumni, many of you provided that help and support when working as an attorney of the firm, as clients, and as friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Our firm continues to do incredible things, and the future is bright. With almost $1.1B in revenue being generated by over 1100 attorneys across the U.S., Troutman Pepper now sits squarely in the AmLaw 50. More importantly, it remains
committed to the wonderful culture all of you helped create and build. Rest assured that our firm is in great hands going forward. Tom Cole and Amie Colby, the incoming Chair and Managing Partner, respectively, will serve the firm,
its people, and its clients well. Both Tom and Amie have been key members of leadership for many years, and they are the right people for the job.
We will host a number of alumni events across the firm during 2024, and I encourage you to attend. We would love to see you and know that you will enjoy connecting with each other. Most importantly, thank you all for your continued
support of Troutman Pepper. Happy Holidays!
Steve
Steve Lewis
Chair
A Note From Clare Roath
As the year draws to a close, we at Troutman Pepper would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude and warmest wishes to you.
This year has been filled with unique challenges and opportunities, and our commitment to excellence and service has remained unwavering, a testament to the strong foundation that you helped build during your time with us.
As we reflect on the past and look forward to the future, we are reminded of the strength of our community. The bonds formed here at Troutman Pepper extend beyond the tenure of employment, and we are grateful for the continued support
and connection we share with our alumni.
In the spirit of the season, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday filled with peace, love, and happiness. May the coming year bring you success, good health, and fulfillment in all your endeavors.
We look forward to keeping in touch and hearing about your achievements in the new year. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything we can assist you with.
All the best,
Clare
Clare Roath
Director of Alumni Relations
Staying Connected
Alumni Relations: Our Year-In-Review
Our Alumni Relations team would like to thank our alumni, attorneys, and colleagues for their contributions to our success in 2023.
We are pleased to report that this year we have hosted eight in-person alumni receptions across our offices, offered over 20 alumni-inclusive CLE and special programs, and collaborated with internal teams to identify new and meaningful ways to strengthen our alumni connections in the new year.
Many thanks to the alums who took the time to share their stories in our newsletters, serve as panelists, join us for receptions and other social or learning events, read our newsletter, and interact on our LinkedIn page.
Click here to share updated contact information and ensure you receive CLE and event invitations and firm news in the new year.
We are excited to continue our work in 2024 and are sending best wishes to all for a happy and healthy holiday season!
Troutman Pepper's Community Impact
At Troutman Pepper, we take pride in our unwavering commitment to excellent service, and we know that our responsibilities extend beyond our office walls and into the communities where we live and work. We are equally proud that our attorneys and staff members are not just exceptional professionals, but also compassionate individuals who strive to make a difference.
As a result of various fundraising drives and service activities across the firm this year, we are proud to share that Troutman Pepper made a significant impact to over 70 charitable causes this year ranging from American Red Cross emergency responses to support for local food banks, veterans, schools, youth programs, community clean-up efforts, and many more.
Thank you to the firm's leaders, attorneys, and staff members for your dedication and passion - coordinating such efforts is no small task and reflects the strength of our Troutman Pepper community. Together, we are making a difference, and we look forward to continuing this important work.
Seasonal Treats and Traditions
In the spirit of the season, a few folks around the firm shared their favorite seasonal treats and traditions with us. Thanks to Victoria Alvarez, Bruce Fenton, and Raffaele Cicala for sharing traditions that help to make their season bright.
We invite you to share your favorites on the Alumni LinkedIn page — feel free to include photos or recipes. We're excited to see how you celebrate!
Holiday Coquitos
Courtesy of Victoria Alvarez
For children in Puerto Rico, a visit from Santa Claus is rivaled only by a visit from the three Magi on Three Kings Day (Día de Reyes) – January 6.
Three Kings Day, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrates the journey of the three Magi who followed a star across the desert for 12 days to present baby Jesus with gifts. In Puerto Rico, on the night of January 5, children full up shoeboxes with grass for the Magi's camels in hopes the Magi will also leave them presents. (In Mexico, it's shoes instead of shoeboxes.)
While some Latins celebrate with King's Cake, my grandmother celebrated with coquito. Coquito is basically Puerto Rican coconut eggnog made with rum (Don Q) and, typically, it's far too rich to drink more than one small glass. However, my grandmother's coquito was a potent blend – drinkable and very, very stiff.
It was also a token of her affection. This wasn't just for family gatherings, but also for the people who touched her life in small yet significant ways. Her hairdresser at her local "beauty parlor" where she religiously got her hair "set" every week was one such recipient. The postman, who braved the cold of New York and New Jersey to deliver her mail, was another. These gifts were her way of spreading warmth and holiday cheer. My grandmother was a five-foot pit bull and often a tough lady, but I especially treasure this memory of her generous spirit.
Hannukah Latkes
Courtesy of Bruce Fenton
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is probably best known for the lighting of the menorah, a candelabrum with nine-branches, eight of which hold lights that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday, and the last of which is used to light the other eight. That and the dreidel, a spinning top that children play with during the holidays, are the most vivid memories I have of the Hanukkah of my childhood.
My adult association with Hanukkah, however, mostly revolves around my wife's latkes, potato pancakes that commemorate the oil of the menorah in the ransacked Second Temple of Jerusalem which was able to stay aflame for eight days even though there was only enough oil for one day. The symbolism comes in the form of the oil in which latkes are fried. I like most potato pancakes - how can one not like fried shredded potatoes? However, unlike most latkes, which have more of the size and consistency of a crab cake, my wife's latkes are thinner and crispier. Salty and bursting with flavor, they could be a meal unto themselves!
For this newsletter, I asked my wife which side of the family's secret recipe she uses for her latkes. Answering honestly, and more than a little disappointingly, she said she got the recipe out of the newspaper years ago…but did tweak the recipe a little. So, even though I cannot claim that this recipe is a multi-generational Fenton tradition, I know that it will be for our grandchildren and great grandchildren. Happy Holidays everyone.
December 8: The Start of the Winter Holiday Season
Courtesy of Raffaele Cicala
In Italy, and Naples specifically, the seven-fish dinner is nothing else than the grand finale of a series of a long culinary excursus and other festivities that begin on December 8 with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day marks the beginning of the holiday season: families get together to put up their Christmas trees, evening celebrations invade the avenues of the city, twinkling lights sparkle in every corner of the city, fireworks shine over the gulf of Naples, and Neapolitans' kitchens become the bustling hub where nonnas pass on traditions, memories, and family values.
Among the several desserts that are generally prepared on this day of December, there is one, in particular, that for me and many Neapolitans represents "the" Christmas dessert: the "struffoli" (aka "honey balls). Fried balls of dough laced with caramelized honey. While apparently easy to make, the choice of the right type of honey, the quality of the dough, the resting time, the texture of the dough, the patience, and most importantly the passion you put into it, can each be different from one another, and ultimately determine the quality of the final product.
The laughs, the traditions, the atmosphere, the smell, and even the taste of those "struffoli" mark the beginning of the winter holiday season and bring hope and trust for a new year filled with love and success.
Upcoming Programs and CLE Opportunities
Be sure to check our Firm Insights page for frequent updates on additional offerings and share with your fellow alums!
Troutman Pepper Webinar Series: Multistate Pharmacy Compliance 101 – Navigating Pharmacy Disciplinary Procedures
Tuesday, January 6 │12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Join us for our first webinar in a three-part series covering the complex regulatory landscape for multistate pharmacy operations. The series will delve into key topics such as disciplinary procedures, M&A transactions, and potential compliance pitfalls. Attendees should gain valuable strategies to tackle complex legal challenges that pharmacies and their legal counsel regularly face. Click here to register and review CLE details.
Save the date for additional sessions of this series:
Multi-State Pharmacy Compliance 101 – Pharmacy M&A Transactions
Thursday, February 22 │12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Multi-State Pharmacy Compliance 101 – Legal Landmines for Multi-State Pharmacies
Tuesday, March 19 │12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Save The Date – Ethics and Professionalism CLE Program with Stuart Teicher
Thursday, February 29
Stay tuned for the topic and the time!
Free Fridays: Practicing Law Institute CLE Offerings
As part of the firm's membership, we are happy to offer CLE offerings from PLI to friends of the firm. If you would like to be included in our Free Friday
PLI email distribution, please contact Clare Roath at
clare.roath@troutman.com.
Firm News
James Beers, an environmental attorney with extensive litigation experience and significant expertise on Clean Air Act issues, has joined Troutman Pepper's Environmental + Natural Resources practice as a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C. office in a move from Preti Flaherty. Read more. Like and share on LinkedIn.
Troutman Pepper ranked in 43 national practice areas and 205 metropolitan practice areas in the 14th edition of Best Law Firms®. Read more. Like and share on LinkedIn.
Troutman Pepper has been named a Top Performer and Compass Award winner by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), which recognizes law firms and companies that show a strong commitment to building a more inclusive legal profession. Read more. Like and share on LinkedIn.
Alumni on the Move
Tell us about your new role or latest promotion so that we can share it in our next newsletter.
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Marilyn Batonga (New York) is now Director Global Investigations at MSD
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Noel Bishop (Washington, D.C.) is now Attorney at U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
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Adam Buchanan (Berwyn) is now Vice President of Legal at eMoney Advisor
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Michael Campbell (Philadelphia) is now General Counsel at Ripken Baseball
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Kristina Fausti Broumand (Washington, D.C.) is now Chief Legal & People Officer at Zappos Family of Companies
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Ed Eschleman (Atlanta) is now Director at Armanino LLP
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Stephen Fabry (Washington, D.C.) is now Director & Senior Counsel, Global IP Transactions at Boeing
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Kristen Foley (Boston) is now Associate General Counsel at Acushnet Company
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Kevin Garofoli (Tysons Corner) is now Chief Practice Officer – Litigation at Goodwin
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Sean Gloth (New York) is now Associate at Latham & Watkins
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Todd Goodwin (Atlanta) is now Senior Corporate Counsel at T-Mobile
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Kaitlyn Haase (Atlanta) is now Assistant General Counsel at Honeywell
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Parker Hancock (Atlanta) is now Senior Associate at Baker Botts
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Stephanie Hewerdine (Philadelphia) is now Claims Manager, Professional Responsibility at Sedgwick
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Mike Howell (Atlanta) is now Counsel at Clean Energy Counsel LLP
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Becky Hsaio (Orange County) is now Senior Director, Lead Global Counsel, Regulatory, Quality and Trade Compliance at Illumina
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Benjamin Israel (Washington, D.C.) is now Deputy General Counsel, M&A at Madison Energy Investments
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Stephen Jenkins (Philadelphia) is now Managing Associate General Counsel – Data Governance at Verizon
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Madelynn Kay (Atlanta) is now Real Estate Attorney at Oxford Industries
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Megan Lawless (Philadelphia) is now Partner at Barker Patterson Nichols, LLP
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Jane Lehman (Pittsburgh) is now Associate Vice President and Senior Counsel at Michael Baker International
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Ted Lotchin (Washington, D.C.) is now Chief Compliance Officer at UNC Health
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Bipul Mainali (New York) is now Chief Risk Officer at Harvard Business Publishing
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Andrew Malik (Philadelphia) is now Counsel at Berwind Corporation
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Michelle Marx (Philadelphia) is now Corporate Counsel at Palo Alto Networks
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Patricia Morrison (Atlanta) is now Assistant General Counsel at the South Carolina Department of Administration
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Dan Noice (Atlanta) is now Partner at Morris Manning & Martin
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Kenneth O'Reilly (New York) is now Commercial Manager at Ames Construction
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Earl Parsons, III (Atlanta) is now General Counsel at UtilityInnovation Group
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Kevin Ray (Philadelphia) is now Counsel at Ballard Spahr LLP
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David Rosenfield (Orange County) is now Associate at Bryan Cave
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Greg Rowe (Harrisburg) is now Executive Director at Keystone Restituere Justice Center
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Nancy Oliphant Ryan (Philadelphia) is now VP Total Rewards at Cigna Healthcare
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Leah Singleton (Atlanta) is now Senior Corporate Counsel – Executive Compensation & Benefits at NCR Atleos
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Marcy McLaughlin Smith (Wilmington) is now Associate at Womble Bond Dickinson
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Benjamin Snitkoff (Boston) is now IP Counsel at Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.
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Gena Tayman (Washington, D.C.) is now Attorney at Barnes & Thornburg
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Bentina Terry (Atlanta) is named President and CEO of Southern Company Telecom Subsidiaries
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Allan Thoen (Philadelphia) is now Director & General Counsel at Sandoz
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Lee Vanderpool (Princeton) is now President & CEO at Gee Heavy Machinery
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Lisa Velasquez (Philadelphia) is now Deputy Counsel, Litigation Services, FOIL and Records Management – New York City Department of Transportation
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Laura Warren (Philadelphia) is now Global Head of Tax and Structuring at Hamilton Lane
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Steve Winnie (Harrisburg) is now Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel at Monogram
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Brian Zurich (New York) is now Manager, Privacy Specialist at Amazon