We love keeping up with our alumni! Class Notes are compiled from information submitted by alumni and press releases received from law firms. Please submit your class notes to law_alumni@unc.edu.
Collection starts on 9/15/2025 and ended on 4/10/2026
1957
Gerald C. Parker, has completed his new book, “Reflecting and Probing.” (Nov. 2025)
1962
John M. Rosenberg has been awarded the American Bar Association’s highest honor, the ABA Medal, for “exceptionally distinguished service to the cause of American jurisprudence.” (Apr. 2026)
1966
Richard A. Vinroot, of Robinson Bradshaw in Charlotte, N.C., received two awards — the YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s John R. Mott Award and the Rotary Club of Charlotte’s Excellence in Leadership Award. (Feb. 2026)
1968
Hugh Stevens was honored with the Sunshine Award for Advocacy for exceptional open government advocacy in North Carolina. (Apr. 2026)
1975
Thomas Warren Ross was inducted into the National Center for State Courts’ Warren E. Burger Society. (Nov. 2025)
1976
S. Elizabeth Gibson, the Burton Craige Professor of Law Emerita at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was awarded The American College of Bankruptcy’s 2026 Distinguished Service Award. (March 2026)
1977
William M. Begley, of Begley Law Firm, P.A. in Black Mountain, N.C., was inducted into the N.C. Bar Association Legal Practice Hall of Fame. (Nov. 2025)
1980
Michael L. Robinson was presented the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism award. (Jan. 2026)
James ‘Jimbo’ Perry was presented the inaugural Melvin Wright Jr. Peacemaker Award. (Jan. 2026)
1981
John A. Day, of John Day P.C. in Brentwood, T.N., was installed as the 76th President of the American College of Trial Lawyers. (Oct. 2025)
1984
H. Lee Evans Jr. of Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, N.C., was named in the 2026 Super Lawyers NC edition in its Civil Litigation Defense practice area. (March 2026)
David B. Spence, has been named the grand prize winner of the 2025 Hamilton Book Awards for his book “Climate of Contempt: How to Rescue the U.S. Energy Transition from Voter Partisanship.” (Nov. 2025)
Thomas E. Terrell Jr., partner of Fox Rothschild in Greensboro, N.C., was named to North Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2025 Real Estate Power List. (Jan. 2026)
1985
David J. Burge was appointed as an adjunct professor at the Georgia State University College of Law, as well as was appointed by Governor Kemp to become the Georgia Revenue Commissioner. (Sept. 2025/Jan. 2026)
1986
Charles T. Plambeck has joined Caplin & Drysdale as Of Counsel in the firm’s international tax practice group. (Oct. 2025)
1988
Anthony T. Lathrop has joined Parker Poe as partner in the firm’s Charlotte, N.C. office. (Feb. 2026)
Jeffrey P. Mahoney, of the Council of Institutional Investors in Washinton, D.C., was recognized by Million Podcasts as the host of the #1 best corporate governance podcast. (Oct. 2025)
1991
Dorothy B. Burch, of Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, N.C., was named “Top 50 Women” in N.C. Super Lawyers 2026 Edition and was recognized again for her practice areas Corporate Law. Dottie was also recognized in the 2026 Business North Carolina Legal Elite edition in Business. (March 2026)
Sandra Woods Mitterling Schilder, of Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in the 2026 Edition of NC Super Lawyers in Construction Litigation. (March 2026)
1992
Louis A. Trosch Jr., after 26 years on the bench, will not seek re-election and will join his family at the law firm Conrad, Trosch & Kemmy, P.A. (Oct. 2025)
Charles R. Raphun, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Charlotte, N.C., was named to the Legal 500 U.S. City Elite for Charlotte – Intellectual Property. (March 2026).
1993
Patrick H. Lambert, has completed his memoir, “The River: A Cherokee Principal Chief’s Fight for Family, Truth, and Vindication.” (Apr. 2026)
1994
James W. Mizgala, of Tucker Ellis LLP in Chicago, I.L., was promoted to serve as the firm’s next managing partner. (Sept. 2025)
1995
Suzanne M. Chester opened her own small practice, Child’s Voice Law, where she focuses on child-centered family law services. (Sept. 2025)
David K. Liggett, of Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, N.C., was named in the 2026 Super Lawyers N.C. and Business N.C. magazine’s Legal Elite editions for his practice area in Business and Corporate Law. (March 2026)
1998
Melissa D. Brumback, of Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, N.C., earned the DRS Superior Court Mediator Certification. She was recognized by Super Lawyers N.C Top 50 Women in Construction Litigation and as well in Business N.C.’s Legal Elite editions. Melissa was recently named to North Carolina Lawyers Weekly magazine’s 2025 Construction Power List. (March 2026)
2001
William S. Morris was appointed as general counsel of West Star. (Jan. 2026).
Ned W. Mangum, of Smith Debnam in Raleigh, N.C., was appointed as hearing officer for the North Carolina State Lottery Commission. (Oct. 2025)
2004
Eva T. Novick, of Miller Nash in Portland, O.R., was elected chair of the Technology Law Section of the Oregon State Bar. (March 2026)
2005
Ashleigh Elizabeth Carter Black, of Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, N.C., has been selected again to both the Super Lawyers N.C. and Business N.C. magazine Legal Elite editions for her Real Estate Law practice. (March 2026)
Michele L. Jawando was appointed as CEO of Omidyar Network. (Mach 2026)
Brian C. Fork was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. (Mach 2026)
Amie F. Sivon, of Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, N.C., has been selected to 2026 NC Super Lawyers and Business North Carolina Legal Elite editions for her Appellate Practice. (March 2026)
2006
Stephanie L. Bonito transitioned into the role of senior vice president-general counsel of Skanska USA. (March 2026)
Sheria A. Clarke was nominated to serve as Judge on the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. (Feb. 2026)
Jonathan A. Greene was appointed by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt to the North Carolina Innovation Council. (Feb. 2026)
Melody J. Jolly, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Wilmington, N.C., was named to the 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers list in her practice areas of professional liability and defense. (Feb. 2026)
2008
Eric M. David, of Brooks Pierce in Raleigh, N.C., has joined the firm’s new Complex Business Dispute Mediation practice. (Jan. 2026)
Jonathan Gonzalez, of Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham, LLP in Raleigh, N.C., was promoted to partner. (Jan. 2026)
2010
David A. Luzum has joined Turner Padget in the firm’s Charlotte, N.C. office. (Jan. 2026)
2011
Kathleen O. Berkey, of Becker & Poliakoff in Fort Myers, F.L. was recognized in the 2025 Florida Trend Legal Elite Notable Real Estate Land Use Attorneys – special section. (Sept. 2025)
2014
John J. Dougherty joined the Office of General Counsel at Arizona State University as Associate General Counsel. (Oct. 2025)
Quinn W. Godwin was appointed as director of the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission. (March 2026)
2015
Rabee R. I. El-Jaouhari, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Wilmington, N.C., was named to the 2026 North Carolina Rising Stars list in his practice areas of administrative law. (Feb. 2026)
2016
Brian K. Kettmar, of Cadwalader in Charlotte, N.C., was promoted to counsel. (Dec. 2025)
Anthony B. Ponikvar, of BakerHostetler in Cleveland, O.H., was promoted to counsel. (Jan. 2026)
2017
Courtney M. Achee, of Bradley in Charlotte, N.C., was promoted to partner. (Jan. 2026)
Giles D. Beal, of Jones Walker in New Orleans, L.A., was promoted to partner. (Jan. 2026)
Bret M. Buckler has joined Robinson Bradshaw in the firm’s Charlotte, N.C. office. (Nov. 2025)
Sarah R. Cansler was selected as a fellow in the inaugural cohort of the CAA Academic Alliance’s newly launched AI Technologies Champion Network for the 2025–26 academic year. (Feb. 2026)
Daniel L. Colston of Brooks Pierce in Greensboro, N.C., was promoted to partner. (Sept. 2025)
Adam Coto of McGuireWoods in Charlotte, N.C., was promoted to partner. (Nov. 2025)
Jamey M. Lowdermilk, of Brooks Pierce in Greensboro, N.C., was promoted to partner. (Sept. 2025)
Kasi W. Robinson, of Brooks Pierce in Greensboro, N.C., was promoted to partner. (Sept. 2025)
2018
Sarah M. Burnick has joined Hall Booth and Smith as associate attorney in the firm’s Charlotte, N.C. office. (Feb. 2026)
Jonathan H. Dugan, of Redgrave LLP in Washington, D.C., was promoted to partner. (Jan. 2026)
Kristin L. Hendrickson, of Robinson Bradshaw in Charlotte, N.C., was elected as shareholder. (Jan. 2026)
2020
Braden B. Couch has joined Sills Cummis & Gross as an associate attorney in the firm’s Newark, N.J., office. (Oct. 2025)
2022
Emily K. Cooke has joined Robinson Bradshaw in the firm’s Research Triangle, N.C., office. (Nov. 2025)
Meredith K. Doswell has a new position as Associate Counsel to the Governor at the Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia. (March 2026)
Alexander N. Krause has joined Robinson Bradshaw in the firm’s Charlotte, N.C. office. (Nov. 2025)
Hannah B. Simmons has joined Hall Booth Smith as an associate attorney in the firm’s Raleigh, N.C. office. (March 2026)
2023
Rebecca L. Blinzler has joined Cranfill Sumner LLP as an associate attorney in the firm’s Charlotte, N.C. office. (Sept. 2025)
Carolyn A. Calder has joined Cranfill Sumner LLP as an associate attorney in the firm’s Raleigh, N.C. office. (Sept. 2025)
Matthew J. Dewitte, of Bell Nunnally in Dallas, T.X., was named to the “2026 Edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list. (Sept. 2025)
Hashim Elwazir has joined Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnels as an associate attorney in the firm’s Wilmington, D.E., office. (Oct. 2025)
Josepha A. Heath has joined Hall Booth Smith as an associate attorney in the firm’s Raleigh, N.C. office. (March 2026)
2024
Aidan M. Kelley has joined Robinson Bradshaw in the firm’s Research Triangle, N.C. office. (Nov. 2025)
2025
Gaaron U. Goldsmith has joined Carruthers & Roth as an associate attorney in the firm’s Greensboro, N.C. office. (Oct. 2025)
Marlene Donato Kalb has joined Young Moore and Henderson, P.A. as an associate attorney in the firm’s Raleigh, N.C. office. (Oct. 2025)
Mikaela K. Kantorowski has joined Fox Rothschild as an associate attorney in the firm’s Raleigh, N.C. office. (Jan. 2026)
Noah D. Lipshie has joined Baker and Donelson as an associate attorney in the firm’s Nashville, T.N. office. (Jan. 2026)
Troy C. Reid has joined Carruthers & Roth as an associate attorney in the firm’s Greensboro, N.C. office. (Oct. 2025)
Grace E. Roberts has joined Jimerson Birr as an associate attorney in the firm’s Jacksonville, F.L. office. (Nov. 2025)
Daniel C. Self has joined Jimerson Birr as an associate attorney in the firm’s Jacksonville, F.L. office. (Nov. 2025)
Emma G. Schambach has joined Jimerson Birr as an associate attorney in the firm’s Jacksonville, F.L. office. (Nov. 2025)
Mia C. Thillet has joined Robinson Bradshaw in the firm’s Charlotte, N.C. office. (Nov. 2025)
