Alumni

Home   >  Alumni

Featured Alumni

Miami Law Alumna Appointed as Compensation Claims Judge by Governor Scott

(Posted: 04-03-13) Governor Rick Scott recently announced the appointment of Margaret "Meg" Kerr, JD ’93, as Compensation Claims Judge.

Kerr, 52, of South Miami, has practiced with Arrick, Peacock & Kerr since 2007. Previously, Kerr practiced with Kubicki Draper from 1995-2007, and with Underwood, Karcher and Anderson from 1992 to 1995. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kent, in the United Kingdom, and her law degree from the University of Miami. Kerr fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Henry Harnage.

Governor Rick Scott said, "Meg has demonstrated intelligence and a keen understanding of the law during her career. I am confident that she will make a great Compensation Claims Judge and will serve Floridians with honor and dignity."

Carolyn Lamm, JD '73, One of 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America

The National Law Journal has selected 100 lawyers who shape the legal world through their work in the courtroom, at the negotiating table, in the classroom or in government. They have taken on major legal battles and orchestrated the biggest corporate deals. They've tackled unpopular causes and helped run giant corporations. Carolyn Lamm, JD '73, was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America.

Art Collection of Carlos de la Cruz, JD ’79, Highlighted in Miami Herald

(Posted: 03-28-13) Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz had been acquiring art for a quarter of a century and showing it to the public at their house, but they decided to move some of it to a more accessible place that would also serve as an educational center, an arts center that would never sit still.

Alumni Husband and Wife Team Establish Scholarship at Miami Law

(Posted: 03-20-13) Shari and Joel Ronkin are passionate about their alma mater. Two-time University of Miami alumni, they met on the Coral Gables campus as undergraduates and went on to earn degrees from Miami Law – Joel in 1992 and Shari two years later. Now, the two have established the Ronkin Family Scholarship to provide tuition assistance to Miami Law students who excel academically. The recipients will be known as Ronkin Scholars.

University of Miami Alumni Association 2013 Alumni Awards

(Posted: 03-19-13) We are pleased to announce that Barbara Hecht Havenick,JD ’75, AB ’72, President and CEO, Flagler Greyhound Track and Magic City Casino, has been chosen as the recipient of the Henry King Stanford Alumnus of the Year Award for "continued exemplary service to the University of Miami". Ms. Havenick will be honored on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at the Newman Alumni Center at 6:00 PM. Please mark the date on your calendar.

Miami Law Retains Hold on Affections of Florida Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis, JD '72, Recipient of Hoeveler Award

(Posted: 03-18-13) When you come out of the coal camps of West Virginia, the last thing you expect is to go to law school, let alone become a justice of the Florida Supreme Court. And yet that's what happened to R. Fred Lewis, somewhat to his own astonishment.

Miami Law Alumnus and Wife Create Scholarship for Deserving Law Students to Be Known as Berger/Loevner Scholars

(Posted: 03-07-13) Steve Berger and his wife, Dr. Laurie Loevner, a professor of radiology at the University of Pennsylvania, have established a scholarship fund at Miami Law. The Berger/Loevner Family Endowed Scholarship Fund will provide financial assistance to deserving law students, and the recipients will be known as Berger/Loevner Scholars.

Miami Law Alumna Bertila Ana Soto Elevated to Chief Judge for Eleventh Circuit

(Posted: 03-04-13) Bertila Ana Soto, J.D.'89, an adjunct professor at Miami Law, has been elected Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves Miami-Dade County. Her election is historic, as she is the first female chief judge of the circuit as well as the first Hispanic and the first Cuban-American.

Bill Simonitsch, JD '00 has been chosen as president-elect of the National Asian-Pacific American Bar Association

(Posted: 02-27-13) William Simonitsch is a partner with K&L Gates LLP's Miami office. He represents businesses and their principals in commercial and insolvency-related disputes.

Martin Nash, Miami Law Alumnus and Former Adjunct Professor in Tax and Estate Planning, Dies

(Posted: 02-14-13) Miami Law mourns the passing of Martin Nash, J.D. '61. He was a partner in the firm Nash Axman Watkin PLC in Coral Gables, where he specialized in tax law. With more than 50 years of experience in the law, Nash was an expert in various aspects of income and estate tax planning.

Florida Supreme Court Justice R. Fred Lewis, JD '72, to Receive Hoeveler Award

(Posted: 02-15-13) Miami Law's Center for Ethics and Public Service has chosen Florida Supreme Court Justice R. Fred Lewis to receive the 11th annual William M. Hoeveler Award. The prestigious prize celebrates ethics, leadership and public service in the legal profession.

Chicago Bears Hire Miami Law Alumnus Marc Trestman, JD '82, as Head Coach

CHICAGO – The Chicago Bears ended their search for a new coach when they made the decision to bring aboard the Montreal Alouettes' Marc Trestman as the franchise's 14th head coach.

Alumna Tiffiny Walls-Fox Wins Decisive Victory

Miami Law alumna Tiffiny Walls-Fox, JD '06, won a decisive victory representing Monique Young against Council of Orange County Society of St. Vincent De Paul d/b/a Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County ("Second Harvest Food Bank").

Election Sweeps Miami Law Alumni Into Office

More than a dozen Miami Law alumni, now politicians and judges, were victorious in the Nov. 6 general election, winning and retaining seats throughout Florida. Many credited their successes to training and practices they learned at Miami Law.

Having Found Gold In Hollywood, Alumnus Fred Goldring Tells Us How

Years ago, when Fred Goldring told his parents that he wanted to be a musician, their response was something along the lines of, "That's fine, you can do whatever you want — as soon as you finish law school and medical school." Goldring didn't go for the medical school idea, but he did sign up at Miami Law, where he mixed his passion for music and his growing interest in the legal world by founding the Entertainment and Sports Law Society.

Alumna Spreads Wings and Lands In Tokyo, Working For Government

Miami Law graduate Melissa Muhammad has taken her talents far afield, and finds herself handling international taxation matters for the Japanese government. Muhammad is a 2010-2012 Fellow in the Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program, which is administered by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation and has offices in Washington D.C. and Tokyo. It enables U.S. federal government employees to work in their counterpart agencies in Japan. Muhammad's placements have included the National Tax Agency of Japan, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Jack Ankus Law Review Memorial Award Presented To Elizabeth M. Rieser-Murphy, JD '12

Dean Patricia D. White and Devang Desai, President of the Law Alumni Association presented Elizabeth M. Rieser-Murphy, JD '12 with the Jack Ankus Law Review Memorial Award on October 26, 2012 in Washington, DC.

Miami Law Alumnus Tim Ravich, JD '99, Interviewed for Article on Aviation Law in The Atlantic

Timothy Ravich is an aviation lawyer who contributed an article to the North Dakota Law Review (UND is a major hub of civilian aerospace training) on "the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into the national airspace." I figured if anyone knew the legal status of my neighborhood flights, it would be him.

Former Student Seida Wood, JD '11, Makes Forceful Argument Before 1st District Court of Appeal

Miami Law's Children and Youth Law Clinic was amply represented in a hearing last month before the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee.

Miami-Dade Judicial Reception Honors Profession's Finest

With a backdrop of the blue waters of Biscayne Bay viewed from thirty floors above Brickell Avenue, the Law Alumni Association last week held its annual Miami-Dade Judicial Reception, a chance for old school chums to greet each other over drinks and canapés, and for a few to be honored.

Child Murder Case Pushed Monica Gordo, JD '99, into Judgeship, Daily Business Review Reports

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Monica Gordo knew she wanted to be a lawyer since she was a little girl. She discovered she wanted to be a judge after prosecuting the case of another little girl, killed by an AK-47 round as she played in the front yard of her Liberty City home.

Business Insider Names TheLawInsider.com, Run by Preston Clark, JD '08, Among Most Influential Law Blogs

Why it's great: It's a how-to-succeed website for lawyers. The Law Insider is a forum for attorneys to "share and learn about how to be successful in this ever changing legal landscape."

Former Miami Scholar Wins Attorney General's Award

Former Miami Scholar Fara Gold, JD '03, Wins Attorney General's AwardFara Gold, who graduated from Miami Law in 2003, is to receive the Attorney General's Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee on Oct. 17 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.