Spring 2011 Benchmark Alumni Magazine

Benchmark THE THOMAS M. COOLEY

LAW SCHOOL MAGAZINE

Spring 2011

Righting International Wrongs The pursuit of international justice can often be one of the most challenging, yet ultimately gratifying undertakings for an attorney. – Dr. Kelly Askin (Moore Class, 1993)

Inside A New Revolution The Protector of Wealth Some Thoughts About Darryl Family Lawyer and Family Man A Passion for Helping People Her Legacy Lives On Service to Soldiers Lands in the Sunshine State

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Benchmark

The Thomas M. Cooley Law School Alumni Magazine

Letter from Cooley Editor Terry Carella

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Co-Editor/Writer Sharon Matchette

In this issue we feature the achievements of many alumni who have done wonderful things since graduating from Cooley. With great success, they applied the knowledge, skills, and ethics they learned at Cooley across a wide range of disciplines –

Contributing Writers SeyferthPR Design Image Creative Group Photography Dr. Kelly Askin © John Raiola, Photography David Grumbine © Courtesy of Whirlpool Call for Submissions The Benchmark is seeking story ideas from graduates. We are looking for stories on a variety of subjects such as graduate achievements, international law, cultural diversity, legal information helpful to practitioners, unique law practices, advice to prospective law students, and special events.

If you would like to share a story idea, please write, call, or e-mail: Communications Office Thomas M. Cooley Law School P.O. Box 13038 Lansing, MI 48901

• as innovative counsel in one of the nation’s largest corporations, • as a pre-eminent estate and wealth planning lawyer in one of the nation’s largest law firms, • as one of the world’s leading experts in international human rights law, and • as a widely recognized family law lawyer.

These alumni show that Cooley graduates can and do compete with the graduates of any other law school and can become leaders in important areas of our profession.

This issue also highlights several important community and volunteer projects for which Cooley is becoming so well known. Our Service to Soldiers Program, created as a Michigan lawyer referral program to assist members of the armed forces with their legal needs, has now taken hold in Florida. Our Ten Commandments of Real Estate Law Society student organization has helped provide badly needed information to homeowners at risk of mortgage foreclosure. And our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Service programs made real contributions to the communities at each of our four campuses.

Finally, we offer remarks about Darryl Parsell and Willette Northup-Thompson, valued friends and colleagues whom we lost to cancer in recent months. I think you will see the impact each had on Cooley and its students and alumni.

Sincerely,

Phone: (517) 371-5140 ext. 2916 Fax: (517) 334-5780 E-mail: communications@cooley.edu

James D. Robb Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations robbj@cooley.edu Postmark: Benchmark is published twice a year by the administrative offices of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, P.O. Box 13038, Lansing, MI 48901

ALUMNI DATABASE The user name will always remain the word alumni. The password changes are disclosed in Benchmark on the inside front cover.

Please call the Alumni Relations Office at 517-371-5140, ext. 2038, or e-mail alumni@cooley.edu if you have any problems.

Join your fellow alumni on LinkedIn®

contents THOMAS M. COOLEY LAW SCHOOL BENCHMARK SPRING 2011

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A NEW REVOLUTION

Whirlpool is a company built on innovation. Its dispute resolution group, led by David L. Grumbine (Graves Class, 1977), is no different.

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THE PROTECTOR OF WEALTH

Robert Kline (Mundy Class, 1986) is a protector of wealth for Florida’s elite.

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RIGHTING INTERNATIONAL WRONGS

Dr. Kelly Askin (Moore Class, 1993) has traveled to more than 70 countries subjecting herself to hostile environments, all in the name of justice.

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SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT DARRYL

Thoughts about our dear friend and colleague, the late Darryl Parsell.

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FAMILY LAWYER AND FAMILY MAN

Christopher Malinowski (Fead Class, 1999) enjoys the challenges and rewards of practicing family law as a partner at a Virginia law firm.

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HER LEGACY LIVES ON

Willette Northup-Thompson served Cooley Law School as Director of Graduate and Extended Programs until her death from brain cancer on Dec. 8, 2010.

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SERVICE TO SOLDIERS LANDS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

Cooley’s Service to Soldiers: Legal Assistance Referral Program has helped more than 1,800 Michigan service members, and now the program is making its way to Florida.

Cooley News

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• Cooley student group featured at ABA midyear meeting in Atlanta • Cooley celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Community Service

A PASSION FOR HELPING PEOPLE

Stephen Wade (Potter Class, 1980) has devoted much of his 30-year career to representing individuals who have been injured as a result of the negligence of others.

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feature David Grumbine, Senior Counsel at Whirlpool Corporation

aNew Revolution Whirlpool is working with outside counsel in a completely different way.

Whirlpool is a company built on innovation.

Its dispute resolution group, led by David L. Grumbine (Graves Class, 1977), is no different.

For more than 15 years, Grumbine has led a series of complex, multifaceted efforts to streamline Whirlpool’s working relationships with outside law firms. The results have been revolutionary in the world of the billable hour.

Grumbine unveiled what Whirlpool calls the National Product Council (NPC) in 1995, a group of three law firms that would handle most legal disputes for Whirlpool in North America and with its suppliers.

“The goal of the company is to resolve the dispute,” said Grumbine. “That’s what we do.”

The three firms that make up the NPC replaced a group of more than 200 firms that had previously worked with Whirlpool. The result was creating cost efficiencies in the millions of dollars.

In addition, by switching to the NPC model, Whirlpool also was able to do away with being billed by the hour, holding each firm to a flat-fee system that rewards the speed of resolutions and successful outcomes. For Whirlpool, the benefits of the flat-fee system are numerous, including the ability to remove guess work from the budgeting process.

Whirlpool’s internal dispute resolution team consists of 30 employees. The group oversees approximately 700 lawsuits and 12,000 claims each year for the Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of approximately $18.4 billion.

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Grumbine and his team made considerable effort to cluster product lines together in a way that would add efficiencies to the resolution process.

BYE, BYE BILLABLE HOURS

After years of work with the NPC model, Whirlpool was able to secure agreements with its law firms in 2007 that eliminated the billable hour from its cost model.

“The idea behind it (the new billing structure) is to make their time as valuable as our time,” said Grumbine. “We really don’t care how much time it takes to satisfactorily resolve the matter. We care about resolving the dispute.”

Attorneys who are working with Whirlpool now look at the cases in a different way, according to Grumbine. The best result achieved in the most efficient way possible now achieves the best financial result for outside counsel.

“We offer a bonus for any agreement that is less than the historical average,” said Grumbine. “What we’ve seen is that the lawyers are getting better results, even on the small cases that they maybe

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wouldn’t have spent as much time on in the past. They have ‘skin in the game.’”

products in a way that classified them according to how they worked, everything else fell into place.”

SEEKING EFFICIENCIES

As Grumbine and his team were developing the NPC process in the mid-1990s, it sought ways to align the types of cases that Whirlpool’s dispute resolution group saw on a regular basis.

They made considerable effort to cluster product lines together in a way that would add efficiencies to the resolution process.

Their work involved numerous brainstorming sessions, not just with members of the legal team, but with other departments as well, including engineering and product safety. It was that multidisciplinary effort that helped achieve the ultimate structure of the NPC, specifically the input of engineers.

“Engineers tend to look at things from the perspective of ‘what can go wrong?’ That is exactly the type of perspective that we needed,” said Grumbine. “By grouping

The end result was the following groupings: laundry products, appliances with compressors, and cooking/cleaning products. Today, the entire company has aligned itself in much the same way as the dispute resolution group did 15 years ago.

“It is interesting to look back and see that our decision 15 years ago to create the product defense teams aligns perfectly with the company’s recent development of product delivery teams. (It) seems to confirm that our alignment 15 years ago was effective and ahead of its time,” said Grumbine.

With the three groupings set, national searches were conducted to identify the firms that would lead cases for each grouping. It was decided that those firms could then team with local counsel in markets where lawsuits were occurring, if needed.

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Name: David Grumbine Title: Senior Counsel at Whirlpool Corporation

“The pragmatics of Cooley are built with a focus on forming successful practitioners.

When leaving law school, I felt prepared for what was next.” David Grumbine

Born: February 18, 1968 in Detroit Family: Married to Sally; they have four children Education: Undergraduate, University of Evansville Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 1977 Hobbies: Reading, golf

The result has been that each of the three firms leading areas for Whirlpool has developed a great knowledge of Whirlpool products and the types of legal complaints that they generate. Outside counsel and non-legal personnel at Whirlpool work together often and have built a solid working relationship built on trust. That relationship allows for quick action on cases, resulting in reduced startup costs.

THE SAME QUESTION

Grumbine has lectured at numerous legal meetings on the NPC, including American Bar Association meetings and at the Notre Dame Law School. At each stop, the question is the same, “How did you do this?”

Grumbine always replies the same way, “You just have to start.”

As he looks back on his work on the NPC, Grumbine remains steadfast that a willingness to do something new, to look for a better way, is the real reason behind the dispute resolution group’s success.

AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE

The court ultimately concluded that Whirlpool didn’t defraud consumers when it touted the steam-creating capabilities and didn’t award the competitor monetary damages.

Grumbine admits that he likes to shake things up. He and his team certainly aren’t resting on the laurels of the NPC. As Grumbine looks to the future, he sees more work through a format that he calls the virtual law firm.

“It is a case where we needed to connect top legal minds from across our three firms to push the process,” said Grumbine.

“Their combined skills were paramount to the outcome.”

“It would have been easy to keep doing things in the same way that we always did them,” said Grumbine.

“We want to link the best of the best from across law firms on certain cases,” said Grumbine. “They won’t be outworked; they won’t be out-thought.”

Whirlpool put the virtual law firm concept into practice recently in a false advertising case. A competitor claimed that Whirlpool was using false advertising in the promotion of its steam dryers. Simply put, the competitor said that Whirlpool’s Duet line of dryers didn’t produce steam.

FAMILY TRADITION

Grumbine was spurred to seek a law degree at an early age. His grandfather was a judge on the East Coast, but Grumbine focused on being a practitioner. Cooley was a big part in making that happen.

“The pragmatics of Cooley are built with a focus on forming successful practitioners,” said Grumbine. “When leaving law school, I felt prepared for what was next.”

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THE

PROTECTOR oF wealth Robert Kline is a protector of wealth for Florida’s elite.

(Mundy Class, 1986)

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feature Robert Kline, Lawyer at Holland & Knight LLP, focused on Trusts, Estates, Tax, and Corporate Law

Robert Kline (Mundy Class, 1986) is a protector of wealth for Florida’s elite. Successful business owners from all across the Sunshine State and beyond come to Kline and his team to prepare for the inevitability of death.

“It involves protecting their life’s work. Being entrusted with that kind of responsibility is something that is very special.”Robert Kline

Kline explains his work in simple terms, saying that he helps to minimize tax liability and ensure the continuation and smooth succession of businesses. It is a job that is challenging, yet rewarding, according to Kline, as it involves protecting family assets and preserving the wishes of business owners.

As senior counsel at one of the nation’s largest and oldest law firms, Holland & Knight, Kline isn’t overseeing your typical estate. The average client is worth between $5 million and $2 billion.

“It involves protecting their life’s work,” said Kline. “Being entrusted with that kind of responsibility is something that is very special.”

“These are driven individuals who have had great success,” said Kline.

They also are individuals who are highly influenced by recent changes to the federal estate tax laws. A $3.5 million exemption and a 45 percent tax expired in January 2010 and were replaced with a $5 million exemption and a 35 percent rate. With the replacement came a new set of rules and regulations that govern the estate plans of many of Kline’s clients.

“It is a new set of guidelines,” said Kline. “In order to protect the estates of our clients, each needed to be thoroughly reviewed to ensure that these individuals’ assets are protected.”

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“(Cooley) prepared me well. The broad range of required classes was a good basis to build from when entering the practice of law.”

Robert Kline

Kline has spent much of his time during the early months of 2011 doing just that, making sure that each client’s assets were protected.

It is a time-consuming effort, but one that pays great dividends for clients.

“We’re their trusted resource,” said Kline.

A STEP AHEAD

Kline believes he’s in the position that he is today due in part to his education at Cooley.

“They prepared me well,” said Kline. “The broad range of required classes was a good basis to build from when entering the practice of law.”

HELD IN HIGH REGARD

Kline may represent the business elite of Florida, but he’s also held in high regard by the Florida legal community. He was named to the Florida Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine in addition to being named in The Best Lawyers in America guide in the area of Trusts and Estates in 2011. He also holds an AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine.

“Being recognized by your peers is very rewarding. It is something that I hold in high regard,” he said.

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In addition to the curriculum and the expertise of the faculty, Kline cites the effort of his fellow students as a motivator during his time at the Lansing campus.

“Cooley students are very tenacious,” said Kline. “Everyone was really driven to succeed.

And my classmates have been very successful.

Some started their own practices and others joined big firms, but all work hard and have done well.”

Name: Robert Kline Title: Lawyer at Holland & Knight LLP, focused on Trusts, Estates, Tax, and Corporate Law Age: 51 Areas of Practice: Personal injury, product liability, general litigation, medical malpractice.

Education: University of New Hampshire, B.S., 1976, cum laude; Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. 1980, cum laude.

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Advanced law degrees: LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University Family: Married (Mary Wade), a 27-year old son (Travis) and two 24 year-old daughters (Ashley and Andrea).

“Cooley students are very tenacious,” said Kline.

“Everyone was really driven to succeed. And my classmates have been very successful. Some started their own practices and others joined big firms, but all work hard and have done well.”

Robert Kline

A FULL PLATE

DRIVE SOUTH

Like many Cooley students, Kline had a full schedule during his time at the law school.

After graduating from Cooley’s Lansing campus in 1986, Kline packed up everything he owned, and headed south for Florida.

“I would study in the morning, attend classes in the afternoon and work three to five nights a week at (popular East Lansing, Mich. restaurant) Coral Gables during my first two years of law school,” Kline explained. “I would go to school in my work shirt and head right to work.

It was a busy time, but it was fun. Everyone was really good to me.”

During Kline’s third year at Cooley, he served as a law clerk in the morning and attended law school in the afternoon.

“The flexibility of the scheduling allowed me to work as a law clerk. It gave me the opportunity to gain experience and hit the ground running,” said Kline.

“It was exciting,” said Kline. “If I had to do it today, I’d be scared.”

Kline studied for the Florida Bar exam upon his arrival, and was surprised to find other Cooley graduates at the Florida exam.

“I remember looking around and there were people taking that test as far as the eye could see,” said Kline. “They were everywhere. In that crowd were a handful of classmates.”

Kline passed the bar exam and found work as a law clerk in Orlando. Nine months later, he was hired by Holland & Knight. Besides a stint as regional executive and managing director of the Northern Trust Company, he has been with Holland & Knight ever since.

“It is a great place to work. It is the place I met my wife (who worked as a fellow attorney two floors below Kline for years) and the place where I’ve had some of my most rewarding experiences as a professional,” Kline said.

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feature Dr. Kelly Askin, senior legal officer, Open Society Justice Initiative

. . . R I G H T I N G . . .

INTERNATIONAL . . . W R O N G S . . .

“When law is ignored, chaos ensues…it is my hope that with increasing enforcement of international laws, these atrocities will decrease.” Dr. Kelly Askin The pursuit of international justice – ending impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide – can often be one of the most challenging, yet ultimately gratifying undertakings for an attorney. Even if it means risking limb or life to conquer that goal.

Just ask Dr. Kelly Dawn Askin (Moore Class, 1993), senior legal officer and international human rights lawyer of the Open Society Justice Initiative. The New York City-based organization uses law to protect and empower people around the world through litigation, advocacy, research, training, reporting, and technical assistance.

Her sole mandate is to assist and enhance the efforts of war crimes tribunals. The Moore Class graduate has traveled to more than 70 countries – sometimes solo, other times with a team – sleeping in cars or tents, subjecting herself to harsh climates, dilapidated roads dotted with land mines and other hostile environments, all in the name of justice.

It is clearly not a position for the faint of heart. So, what drives the 49-year-old Cooley graduate to put herself in the crosshairs of danger when documenting or investigating gross human rights abuses?

CAREER INFLUENCERS

A self-described workaholic, Dr. Askin’s journey to international justice began during her coursework at Cooley Law School, where she attended after realizing a law degree could help her use her energies to help those less fortunate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia State University, then had a successful career in the travel industry.

In 1990, she was accepted to Cooley Law School.

It was during her international law course work, in particular with professors Dorean Koenig and Barry Dubner, that a chord was struck with Dr. Askin.

“Both were extremely generous and fabulous mentors, helping me realize that I wanted to pursue a career in international human rights law and international criminal law, and that pursuing an advanced degree in law would be the best way to secure this goal,” she said.

“It was also at Cooley that I began to understand that there was one key way to get to the top of your desired field (outside a courtroom): publish, publish, publish.”

“Like many in my field, I believe there is no real peace without justice, and no justice without peace,” she said. “I also believe one individual can have an enormous impact – positively or negatively – on thousands of lives.”

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feature “Like many in my field, I believe there is no real peace without justice, and no justice without peace. I also believe one individual can have an enormous impact – positively or negatively – on thousands of lives.” Dr. Kelly Askin Following her graduation from Cooley, she began doctoral studies in law at the University of Melbourne in Australia. She attended a United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in which rape as a war crime was debated. At that conference in 1993, Dr. Askin met a Bosnian rape camp survivor. She decided to focus her dissertation on war crimes against women. This decision led her to work directly with the legal officer at the Yugoslav and Rwanda tribunals. Over time, Dr. Askin worked with tribunal officers and staff for the establishment of a permanent international criminal court. The work was a turning point in her career.

“Once you work in justice and law at the international level, other work feels less satisfying, less challenging,” she said.

Success, she said, is measured “small victory by small victory.”

Top: Dr. Askin on left, Entrance to the Tuel Sleng Genocide Museum in Cambodia Bottom: East Timor, UN helicopter crossing the border of Sudan into Chad

“Each arrest of a notorious war criminal, each trial, each conviction, and each well-reasoned decision applying and upholding international law is cause for celebration. While far from perfect, international war crimes courts have caused a major paradigm shift in the enforcement of international law… now, slowly but surely, there is a culture of accountability for the leading architects of mass atrocity crimes. Today, there is broad acknowledgement worldwide that rape, sexual slavery, and other gender-related crimes can be instruments of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of war, forms of torture, and means of persecution. That’s a huge success.”

PERSONAL PRICE

While friends and family members consider her globe-trotting pursuits to be exciting or even glamorous, Dr. Askin set the record straight.

“In reality, while it certainly is tremendously rewarding, it is also emotionally draining and often physically challenging to work in places devastated by war and violence and witness firsthand the misery that war causes and the destruction left in its wake.”

As a blonde-haired caucasian woman, Dr. Askin stands out in her travels to places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Cambodia. “I try to be respectful of local customs or religious practices, and minimize activities which will generate hostility. It’s important to appear neither a threat nor a likely victim. Some of the strongest, most resilient, most courageous women I’ve ever met are from countries where women are actively repressed.”

When not working on international justice, Dr. Askin has taught international law or served as a visiting scholar at Notre Dame Law School, American University’s Washington College of Law, Harvard University, Yale Law School, and Oxford University. Her work is frequently cited in scholarly writings the world over. She is an op-ed contributor to The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune and The Washington Post, among others.

HER LIFE’S WORK

In addition to the incredible personal satisfaction that comes from her work, Dr. Askin takes comfort in enjoying the friendships she has made all over the world, visiting her family and her 13 nieces and nephews, and enjoying sports.

As her 50th birthday approaches this year, she paused to reflect on her life’s contributions.

“When law is ignored, chaos ensues…it is my hope that with increasing enforcement of international laws, these atrocities will decrease.”

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“Success is measured small victory by small victory.”

Dr. Kelly Askin

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia Education: Georgia State University, B.S. Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. Melbourne University, Australia, Ph.D. Employment: Senior Legal Officer, International Justice, Open Society Justice Initiative (www.justiceinitiative.org) Books/Writings: • War Crimes Against Women: Prosecution in International Law Crimes Tribunals

• Women and International Human Rights Law (3 volumes, co-editor with Cooley Law Professor Dorean Koenig) • Authored more than 50 law review articles and book chapters Career Highlights: • Fulbright New Century Scholar, Global Empowerment of Women • Testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary • Appearances on CNN, BBC and NPR

• Expert consultant, legal adviser, and international law trainer to prosecutors, judges, and registry at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Serious Crimes Unit in East Timor, the International Criminal Court, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

• Serves on the executive board of the American Branch of the International Law Association, the International Judicial Academy, International Criminal Law Services, and the International Law Students Association.

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feature Darryl Parsell, Former Director of Alumni Relations

Some Thoughts About

Darryl Parsell 1952-2010

Darryl Parsell Memorial Garden to be named as a living tribute.

Darryl J. Parsell, Cooley’s long-standing director of alumni relations, died on August 24, 2010 after a bout with cancer. Darryl was born on July 25, 1952, and graduated from Cooley in the Howard Wiest Class of 1979. After stints in private practice and as an assistant prosecutor in Michigan’s Thumb area, Darryl joined Cooley in 1993 and headed Cooley’s alumni programs until his untimely passing.

At the memorial service we held at the Cooley Center on September 19, 2010, President Don LeDuc announced that a memorial garden named for Darryl would be created in the green space outside the Center for Research and Study, which is the new addition to the Brennan Law Library in Lansing. There could hardly be a more fitting tribute to Darryl, who was an avid and skilled gardener.

Virginia Allen, 1982 Wing Class alumna and a Cooley Alumni Association Past President, gave a beautiful eulogy on behalf of the alumni body.

She noted that the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association had presented Darryl with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2006 for his effective advocacy for both the law school and its graduates. She praised Darryl for how his counsel, influence, and prudent concern for the welfare of our alumni was always evident in everything he did.

Cooley’s Board of Directors had also previously issued a Resolution of Appreciation saluting Darryl on his devoted efforts to Cooley, its alumni, and its students. The board remarked how Darryl was one of our chief ambassadors, meeting with alumni, donors, and friends wherever he went, connecting students with alumni mentors, writing articles to advance the school’s reputation, and spreading the good word about Cooley.

Several others at the memorial service offered loving thoughts about Darryl. Indeed, I have already written about Darryl’s passing in earlier editions of the Benchmark Column. But in this issue of Benchmark, I thought you might enjoy reading excerpts of unsolicited thoughts sent from all over the country about our dear late friend and colleague.

James D. Robb Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations

< DARRyL PARSELL MEMORIAL GARDEN GREEN SPACE, CooLEy LAW SCHooL LANSiNG CAMPUS

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Darryl bent over backwards to assist alumni in any way he could.

Every time I spoke with him, my day brightened a bit. He was one of Cooley's greatest ambassadors.

JAMES ALExANDER, ADAMS CLASS 1997, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

A very kind man, indeed. This is a great loss. He will be missed.

ROBERT J. KLINE, MuNDy CLASS 1986, TAMPA, FLORIDA

Oh no! How sad! He fought so long and hard. Please let his family know my thoughts are with them. He was a very kind and generous man.

SANDI MILMED, SHARPE CLASS 1998, TAMPA, FLORIDA

Darryl was a true gentleman who will be missed. He accomplished much to forward alumni relations during the school's growth. God bless and may you rest knowing your life had meaning to others!

STEPHEN GOBBO, BIRD CLASS 1995, LANSING, MICHIGAN

Darryl was a great person, and a wonderful asset to the school and alumni. He will be missed by all who knew him.

TRACIE MCCARN-DINEHART, COLEMAN CLASS 2009, IONIA, MICHIGAN

It goes without saying that Darryl’s contributions and ambassadorship as a bridge between Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Cooley’s alumni will be deeply missed. Darryl was a shining example of all that is good about Cooley. He will be missed by all who knew him.

SAMuEL “S.J.” FINNESSEy, JR., CuSHING CLASS 2000, EAST GREENBuSH, NEW yORK

Darryl helped me out tremendously while I attended Cooley.

OTTO NICHOLAS MONACO, FLANNIGAN CLASS 1999, FORKED RIvER, NEW JERSEy

I would like to send my deepest sympathies to the Alumni staff and to all the Cooley students who have had the fortune to have had worked with Darryl as I did when I worked in the Alumni Office in 1990s.

ALISA STEINHAuER, TuRNER CLASS 1991, LAS vEGAS, NEvADA

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Darryl always had time for anyone, even a student receptionist, who crossed his path. He made others smile, shared the small things in ways that made them common and connected him to the other person. His time was too short for this world, and his absence will be felt for a long time to come.

LAuRA HARTLESS, WITHERELL CLASS 2010, yAKIMA, WASHINGTON

Darryl was a great advocate for Cooley and its alumni. More importantly, he was a kind person with a big heart, and always had a smile for everyone he encountered. Darryl will surely be missed.

KEvIN RORAGEN, ADAMS CLASS 1997, LANSING, MICHIGAN

Darryl was a great leader and a wonderful friend. He will be missed.

LARA J. EDELSTEIN, STEERE CLASS 1995, MIAMI, FLORIDA

I was unaware of the battle Darryl was waging, and that is a tribute to him. With Darryl, it was always about the other person, not himself. It was always about the students and alumni. He had the ability to relate to a wide range of individuals and make them all feel comfortable. He will be sorely missed!

DANIEL STAuFFER, WITHERELL CLASS 2010, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

Darryl was never just the Alumni Director, or a colleague, or a friend.

He was simultaneously all of those all the time. Apart from my personal sadness and sense of loss, I feel an equal measure of sadness for those whose experience at and after Cooley are richer thanks to Darryl, even though they may never have been blessed to know him.

SCOTT HARRISON, RuTLEDGE CLASS 2000, EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN COOLEy’S DIRECTOR OF HuMAN RESOuRCES, LANSING, MICHIGAN

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Darryl will be missed very much. He touched many student and alumni lives over the years.

HELEN PRATT MICKENS, BuSHNELL CLASS 1980, COOLEy’S ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR COMMuNITy RELATIONS, LANSING, MICHIGAN

I had the opportunity to chat with Darryl on a couple of occasions.

He was very helpful and friendly. I remember that he always made me feel comfortable.

MARIA SCHRAuGER, BOSTON CLASS 2007, ALExANDRIA, vIRGINIA

Applying the axiom “six degrees of separation,” just imagine how many millions of people would connect you to Darryl. I’m one of many who will miss his smile and his warmth. He was far more charismatic than he even knew.

NANCy LEWIS, CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN

Darryl was a most wonderful person and the real reason I was active in the alumni organization even after I left Michigan. Although we had not been in close touch for some time, he was an ever-present figure in my memory and one I will never forget.

KATHRyN MARTEL, BACON CLASS 1990, LAS vEGAS, NEvADA

Darryl was ALWAYS a friendly face with a heartfelt greeting. He had a personality that genuinely drew people to him. The place just isn’t quite as happy or smiley without him here.

HEATHER DuNBAR, BLAIR, JR. CLASS 2001, CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN, COOLEy’S ARC SPECIALIST AND vISITING PROFESSOR, LANSING, MICHIGAN

Darryl always made me feel as though he had time for me and that I was the most important person to him, even though he knew thousands of people. What a huge loss. May he rest in peace.

To Darryl's family and friends, please know that Darryl is in my thoughts and prayers, as I am sure he is in the many Cooley graduates throughout the world whose lives he has touched.

STEPHEN C. vANNA III, SHARPE CLASS 1998, SEA GIRT, NEW JERSEy

This is a terrible loss for the Cooley family and his family. Darryl was such a lovely person and was very helpful to me. He will be missed.

TERESA ROWE, BOSTON CLASS 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C.

I first became acquainted with Darryl in 2002 when I became active in the alumni association group that Darryl initiated in Oakland County Mich. We spoke quite often in those years. He was quite a gentleman.

I enjoyed speaking with him, and I am truly sorry about his passing.

ROBERT ALPINER, SOuRIS CLASS 1985, LL.M. 2009, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICHIGAN

Darryl was the reason I got involved in the Cooley Alumni Association. He was devoted to the law school and especially to the success of the alumni. He made a difference in our lives.

ANDREW GOzINSKI, CARPENTER CLASS 1993, WOODBuRy, NEW yORK

As a Cooley secretary, I noticed right away that Darryl had a way of making me feel special. I believe it had nothing to do with me personally; he just treated everyone like equals. He was so warm and caring.

Although we didn't work in the same department, he gave flowers to the ladies in the Admissions Department a few times . . . without a reason or special occasion. He did sweet things like that . . . “just because.”

I loved the way Darryl’s eyes twinkled when he smiled (especially when laughing at his own funny wit), and no matter what was going on around you, he made you smile too. I already miss Darryl and will never forget him. His family is in my thoughts and prayers.

SuE RANKIN, COOLEy LAW SCHOOL OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS, LANSING, MICHIGAN

vIvIAN SHAMMAS, GRANT CLASS 1987, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

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feature Christopher Malinowski, Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Partner, at Hottell Malinowski Group, P.C.

FAMILY LAWYER FAMILY MAN

&

Cooley graduate Christopher Malinowski, dedicates career to helping families in difficult situations

“With the financial ramifications of divorce, my associates and I were expecting that people would not be able to afford to get a divorce at the time and we were planning on having to ride out the economic downturn.”

Christopher Malinowski

When the economy took a turn for the worse, Cooley grad and family law expert, Christopher Malinowski (Fead Class, 1999), was expecting the divorce rate to slow down.

Christopher Malinowski

“With the financial ramifications of divorce, my associates and I were expecting a slowdown in the divorce rate because people simply would not be able to afford to divorce,” he said. “The reality is we’re just as busy now as we were before the economy started slowing down.”

However, Malinowski has noticed some other challenges with divorce cases that are becoming increasingly common due to the economy.

“Property values have decreased over the past number of years, so we deal with a lot of clients who have found themselves in homes where they owe more than what the houses are worth,” explained Malinowski.

“These cases have brought about a number of difficult issues to deal with because the negative equity in the home needs to be resolved in the divorce case. It causes a lot of added stress for the husband and wife who are getting divorced; it isn’t as simple as selling the home and dividing the proceeds and going about their lives. Now they have to consider short-sales or foreclosure.”

Throughout his years of practice, Malinowski has also noticed a growing trend in prenuptial agreements among younger generations.

“Younger people are starting to pay more attention to the agreements, especially young professionals who, perhaps, own their own businesses that they’re bringing into the marriage,” said Malinowski. “They are recognizing the agreements as a way to protect some of their assets. But the agreements are also commonly used for estate planning purposes in the context of the marriage as opposed to or in conjunction with a will or trust.”

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When he’s not practicing law, Christopher Malinowski (right) enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Stacie (left), and their five sons.

“I never applied to any other schools. I knew that Cooley had options for working family men like me, and it was right there in my backyard.” Christopher Malinowski STARTING OUT

Malinowski’s father was the main influence in his desire to become a lawyer.

“My father was a career attorney with the Michigan Attorney General’s office,” Malinowski explained. “And although our practice areas are very different, it was through him and seeing how much he enjoyed his work that I decided to go to law school myself.”

Coming out of Cooley, Malinowski knew he wanted to be a litigator.

“I wanted to be in court,” he said. “Cooley gave me the tools to jump right in and start practicing law. I was able to do exactly what I wanted to do right away.”

FAREWELL, MICHIGAN

Malinowski jokes that he still isn’t sure how he wound up in Virginia after being a loyal Michigander for much of his life.

Cooley was Malinowski’s first choice.

“I was married, living in Lansing, working full-time and my wife and I had two kids,” he said. “I never applied to any other schools. I knew that Cooley had options for working family men like me, and it was right there in my backyard.”

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“My wife and I were both life-long residents, born and raised in Michigan,” he explained.

“But as soon as I finished law school, we packed up and moved ourselves to Virginia along with our three kids. We ended up choosing Virginia partly due to the fact that my family and I are all big history buffs.

There is a lot of history in Virginia, a lot of civil war battlefields and a lot of different museums.”

Malinowski does admit that the move was a little intimidating at first.

“Coming to Virginia, Cooley was not as well-known as it is today, and I was moving into an area where there are probably six or seven law schools within a 150-mile radius of where I live and work,” he said.

“It was something that I chuckled about.

Here I am moving into this area with all these other law students and graduates, trying to make my way.”

LIFE IN VIRGINIA

Malinowski certainly found his way. He is currently a partner at the Hottell Malinowski Group in Fairfax, Virginia, where he specializes in family law. He is a certified Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has been recognized in the “Top Divorce Lawyers” edition of the Northern Virginia Magazine and as a “Rising Star” in Virginia Super Lawyers.

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QUICK TIDBITS

“Custody cases certainly are the most challenging, even more so than the financial assets of cases. The challenge is trying to resolve custody while keeping the family dynamic as intact as possible and coming up with the best possible arrangement for the children.”

Christopher Malinowski

Name: Christopher Malinowski Title: Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Partner, at Hottell Malinowski Group, P.C. Born: February 18, 1968 in Detroit Family: Wife (Stacie), five sons (Patrick, Casey, Nicholas, Max and Joshua) Areas of practice: Family law; divorce; child custody; spousal and child support; division of marital assets Education: Michigan State University, B.A., 1993 Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 1999 Hobbies: Malinowski enjoys golf, boating, skiing, and fishing. He’s a big history buff as well as an avid sports fan.

“I handle a lot of divorce, custody, and child support cases,” said Malinowski. “Many of my clients own businesses or own significant real estate.”

The cases that Malinowski enjoys working with the most are those that are very challenging for him.

“I enjoy working with cases that have significant assets to them,” said Malinowski.

“I like cases that have businesses, a lot of real estate, commercial real estate, or stocks. I enjoy the technical aspects of complex financial structures and definitely like a challenge.”

Malinowski also enjoys the challenges of custody cases.

“Custody cases certainly are the most challenging, even more than technical financial issues,” shared Malinowski. “The challenge is trying to resolve custody while keeping the family dynamic as intact as possible and coming up with the best possible arrangement for the children.”

LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK

When he’s not working, Malinowski enjoys playing golf.

“What lawyer doesn’t like to play golf,” he joked. “Although I will admit I am a horrible player.”

Malinowski does miss Michigan at times.

“What I really miss about Michigan are the Great Lakes,” he admitted. “I am also an avid sports fan and will always be partial to the Detroit teams.”

Malinowski and his wife now have five boys between the ages of eight and 22. So far, none of his sons are planning to become lawyers and follow in their father’s footsteps.

His oldest son is going to school to become an engineer and the second oldest is getting his degree in business.

“I’ve lost out on those two, but I have three more shots at it,” he joked.

Recognition: “Top Divorce Lawyers” edition of the Northern Virginia Magazine “Rising Star” in Virginia Super Lawyers BENCHMARK SPRING 2011 COOLEY.EDU

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A Passion for Helping People Stephen Wade, Attorney at Skelton, Taintor & Abbott

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feature Stephen Wade, Attorney at Skelton, Taintor & Abbott

Stephen Wade has devoted much of his 30-year career to representing individuals who have been injured as a result of the negligence of others.

Now one of Maine’s top trial lawyers, Stephen Wade (Potter Class, 1980) knew he wanted to become a lawyer from a young age. But his career path was temporarily interrupted when a family friend convinced Wade that since he was so skilled at math and science, he should consider becoming an engineer.

“Unfortunately, engineering school was a lot harder than I thought it would be,” said Wade. “But when I graduated, I couldn’t stand the thought of earning a degree and not practicing as an engineer, so I worked as an engineer before I went on to law school.”

After his single-year stint as an engineer, Wade decided on Cooley Law School.

While he admittedly was unappreciative at the time, reflecting back, Wade now values the many class requirements.

“At the time, many classes were required,” Wade recalled. “When people would whine about that, professors would say, ‘You don’t know enough about what you need to know, so we’re going to make those decisions for you.’ And they were right. I have hired young lawyers through the years who, for example, didn’t have taxation or didn’t have certain courses because they opted out of them. That was a mistake. Cooley is strong in teaching fundamentals and that was a big help to me. I felt as if I got a good, solid education at a great price.”

BACK TO MAINE

After obtaining his J.D., Wade moved back to Auburn, Maine, where he currently practices at Skelton, Taintor & Abbott, a 17-attorney, general-practice law firm that has been around since before the Civil War. He has devoted much of his 30-year career to representing individuals who have been injured as a result of the negligence of others.

“I enjoy doing personal injury work. I find it very rewarding,” said Wade. “It’s helping people at probably one of the worst times in their lives; and if you work very hard for people, you can make a huge difference in their lives.”

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“I enjoy doing personal injury work. I find it very rewarding.

It’s helping people at probably one of the worst times in their lives; and if you work very hard for people, you can make a huge difference in their lives.”

Stephen Wade

Wade has been named in Best Lawyers in America® for many years in the area of personal injury, insurance, and product liability.

He also has been listed in New England Super Lawyers under personal injury since 2007 and holds an AV® PreeminentTM Peer Review Rating in the distinguished legal directory, Martindale-Hubbell®.

If you ask Wade what types of cases he comes across most frequently, he’ll tell you, “There is no such thing as a typical case. I like variety and so I have and I do a lot of different kinds of cases.”

One of the greatest rewards that Wade says he is able to receive is the ability to help someone who is really in need.

“I had a product liability case against a large automotive corporation that involved a seven-year-old boy who was paralyzed,” Wade recalled. “It was a very sad situation and I wanted so badly to help make his life easier. It was a lot of work and our out-ofpocket expenses for experts and all those sorts of things, at one point, exceeded $1 million. Fortunately, it turned out very well for the young man. I still know him and we still keep in touch. So to me, that’s a very rewarding experience.”

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But not all of Wade’s cases are against corporate giants.

“I was hired by a chemical company out of Norway that sold a herbicide to a lowbush blueberry farmer here in Maine,” said Wade.

“The farmer claimed that the herbicide had wiped out all of his fields. It was a very big operation and he claimed $26 million in damages.

“I spent a week each summer for the next three years with rubber boots up to my knees in blueberry fields learning everything I could about lowbush blueberries,” he continued. “After a great deal of research, we were able to reconstruct what happened to this farmer’s fields. It had nothing to do with anything that my client did. To me, that case was like a great engineering puzzle that I had to try and figure out.”

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LIFE OUTSIDE OF LAW

When he’s not busy with work, Wade is a dedicated backpacker, an interest that dates back to his days as an Eagle Scout.

“Quite frankly, my work interferes with my enjoyment of the outdoors,” he joked.

Wade often goes backpacking with his twin daughters, 24, who recently graduated from college, and his son, 27, a Ph.D. student studying engineering at Vanderbilt University. Some of his trips have covered as many as 90 miles.

“I really am truly blessed,” said Wade.

“I have a wonderful family; all of my kids are terrific. I have a job where I am able to help people and have a great group of lawyers to work with.”

> NAME: Stephen Wade > TITLE: Attorney at Skelton, Taintor & Abbott > FAMILY: Married (Mary Wade), a 27-year-old son (Travis) and two 24-year-old daughters (Ashley and Andrea). > AREAS OF PRACTICE: Personal injury, product liability, general litigation, medical malpractice > EDUCATION: University of New Hampshire, B.S., 1976, cum laude; Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., 1980, cum laude.

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A pioneer for Cooley’s LL.M. Program

Willette N o r t h u p - T h o m p s o n Her legacy lives on…

1978-2010

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feature Willette Northup-Thompson, Former Director of Graduate and Extended Programs

“She was our pioneer for LL.M. externships, serving as the first Cooley LL.M. extern in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in Detroit. Her excellent work there opened doors for many Cooley externs to follow.” Gina Torielli, director of the Graduate Tax Program at Cooley

Dedicated. Driven to excel. Independent.

Upbeat. These words are used repeatedly to describe Willette Northup-Thompson, who served Cooley Law School as director of Graduate and Extended Programs until her death from brain cancer on Dec. 8, 2010. In or out – or on – the court, Northup-Thompson, 32 when she passed away, was both an attorney and a standout basketball player. In all arenas, say her friends and coworkers, she always went the extra mile.

Charles Cercone, associate dean of faculty and professor at Cooley, said many at Cooley knew and loved Willette. “Her work ethic was outstanding. She grew up on a farm and worked long hours as a child and young adult. Because of that upbringing, her first thought was always about her responsibilities here at Cooley no matter how sick she became,” he said.

Northup-Thompson earned her J.D. from Cooley in 2004 and her LL.M. in Taxation from Cooley in 2005. Before joining the staff at Cooley in 2008, she was in private practice in Trenton, Mich.

“I first met Willette when she graduated from the J.D. program, winning the President’s Achievement Award for her class,” recalled Gina Torielli, director of the Graduate Tax Program at Cooley.

“As an LL.M. student, Willette’s drive and attention to detail were notable. She remains the only student who looked at copies of every one of her exams, to learn from the professor’s comments.”

Eric Carver, with the Dykema law firm in Detroit, also knew Northup-Thompson as a student. Northup-Thompson was one of the students he taught in his first LL.M. Estate and Gift Tax class. “She was always a joy,” Carver said. “She was the best and most prepared. She was always on time, participated, and was prepared. She had good questions. She made an impression of someone committed to her degree.

If all students were like her, I’d be the luckiest professor alive.”

Carver’s appreciation is shared by other professors as well. Northup-Thompson earned a Certificate of Merit in Professor Joni Larson’s Individual Income Tax class in the J.D. program and then continued to excel in Larson’s Partnership Tax Class in the LL.M. program. “Her ability to grasp, understand, and apply a very complex subject matter area made her stand out,” Larson said. “She was a student whom I appreciated and admired.”

Northup-Thompson was a ground-breaker also.

“She was our pioneer for LL.M. externships, serving as the first Cooley LL.M. extern in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in Detroit,” Torielli said. “Her excellent work there opened doors for many Cooley externs to follow.”

Northup-Thompson’s work ethic and drive to succeed made her someone to remember.

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“Willette took the LL.M. program in its early stages and gave it structure and direction. The program’s success now is in large part due to Willette’s efforts in those early years.” Charles Cercone, Associate Dean of Faculty and Professor at Cooley

“She was an energetic and enthusiastic colleague,” recalled Eric R. Skinner, Managing Counsel, IRS Office of Chief Counsel (Detroit). “Her technical skills and friendly personality made an impression on everyone in our office. During her time with us, she worked on several advisory opinions and docketed Tax Court cases.”

The IRS was impressed. When the office had an opening for an attorney after Northup-Thompson graduated, she was first on their recruiting list. Unfortunately for the IRS, Northup-Thompson had already accepted a position in private practice. Northup-Thompson and Skinner soon worked together again, however, with Skinner as an adjunct at Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus and Northup-Thompson in her role with the Graduate Program Office.

“As in my prior relationship with her,” Skinner said, “I was very impressed with her organizational and communication skills and very happy to see what a fine lawyer she had become.”

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Northup-Thompson was recruited from private practice to serve as director of Cooley’s LL.M. program. “Her intellect, organizational abilities, and upbeat personality made her a perfect fit for the job.”

Larson said. Northup-Thompson helped enlarge, define, and promote the graduate programs; assisted students, and worked with the program’s faculty to make it all come together.

“Willette took the LL.M. program in its early stages and gave it structure and direction,” Cercone said. “The program’s success now is in large part due to Willette’s efforts in those early years.”

Northup-Thompson divided her time at Cooley between the Lansing and Auburn Hills campuses. In addition to the friendships she found among the faculty, her upbeat personality also won her the friendship and loyalty of her administrative assistants, Vanessa Ramakers and Audrey Simpson.

“She was so personable, funny, and downto-earth,” Ramakers recalled. “She was more than my supervisor; she became a good friend as well.”

Simpson noted that, in addition to Northup-Thompson’s friendliness, she was also known for her independence and strong work ethic.

When Northup-Thompson was first diagnosed with brain cancer in March 2009, she took the same positive and assertive approach to trying to beat the disease that she always used in life. Northup-Thompson underwent two brain surgeries within six months, dealt with multiple doctors, worked with treatment experts in Texas and Washington, D.C., and coped with chemotherapy – all while continuing to work, sometimes in the office and often from her laptop at home or in the hospital.

“She was determined to beat this thing, and refused to be negative at any time,” Simpson said.

Added Skinner, “She was always upbeat and optimistic and, even during her illness, her dedication to the school and her co-workers never wavered.”

HONORING WILLETTE Cooley is hosting a memorial service to honor Willette’s life on Saturday, May 14, at 1:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Cooley Center in Lansing. All are invited.

Contributions

may be sent to Eaton Community Hospice.

Eaton Community Hospice 2675 South Cochran Rd. Charlotte, Michigan 48813 P: 517-543-5310

“Her technical skills and friendly personality made an impression on everyone in our office. During her time with us, she worked on several advisory opinions and docketed Tax Court cases.” Eric R. Skinner, Managing Counsel, IRS Office of Chief Counsel (Detroit)

“Throughout her medical struggles, I learned what a truly wonderful person Willette was,” Larson recalled. “She never gave up hope and always maintained a positive attitude.”

Larson said Northup-Thompson’s sense of humor stayed firmly intact. “After her surgeries,” she recalled, “we joked about whether the doctors had removed the part of her brain where she’d stored partnership tax. But no, within hours of the surgery we bantered about partnership tax law and she was able to answer partnership tax questions with ease.”

Northup-Thompson herself had joked about the situation. “I started to think: Did I use my brain too much and have too much knowledge stored there?” No question that Northup-Thompson had a lot of knowledge. She was valedictorian in high school, in the top 5 percent of her law school class, and earned her LL.M. with a 3.74 grade point average.

“Willette,” noted Torielli, “is an inspiration and an example of grace under pressure.”

At Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, Northup-Thompson was a three-year letter winner and a member of the school’s 1997-98 PAC championship basketball team. In honor of NorthupThompson, her alma mater created a tribute and presented the first annual “For the Love of the Game,” award on Jan. 22, 2011.

Northup-Thompson loved the game and valued any time she could get on the courts.

She often pressed her husband, fellow basketball enthusiast Brian Thompson, to play with her at the various games going around town.

Northup-Thompson’s driving enthusiasm for basketball, in fact, is how she met Thompson, challenging him to shooting some hoops.

After a short time, they found they had much more in common than basketball. Thompson and Northup-Thompson were married Feb. 9, 2010, defying one of Michigan’s legendary February snowstorms to get married at his father’s house in Albion.

Northup-Thompson spent the next year balancing work and treatments, settling into the house she and Thompson had built, visiting with her family and friends, and living life as normally as she could.

Northup-Thompson passed away Dec. 8, 2010 at Eaton Community Hospice, in Charlotte, Mich.

She left a lasting and inspirational impression, Cercone noted: “I recall very little Latin from my high school days, but one phrase I do remember aptly describes Willette and the impression she left on everyone: ‘Sursum corda’ – ‘Lift up your hearts.’

In addition to Thompson, survivors include Northup-Thompson’s parents, Tena and Kevin Northup, of Oxford, N.Y., six brothers and sisters, nieces, and nephews.

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Serviceto Soldiers LANDS in the SUNSHINE state

COOLEY’S SERVICE TO SOLDIERS: LEGAL ASSISTANCE REFERRAL PROGRAM BEGINS ITS EXPANSION TO FLORIDA It’s a common scenario throughout the states; young men and women return home from active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan or another country, and are welcomed by friends and families cheering. But in addition to the fanfare, some military members return home to less desirable greetings of legal issues ranging from child custody concerns to housing rental disputes.

Since its inception in 2007, the program has helped more than 1,800 Michigan service men and women, and now the program is making its way to Florida.

It was because of these issues that Cooley began its Service to Soldiers: Legal Assistance Referral Program, which offers referrals to local attorneys who assist members of the military in resolving legal issues on a pro bono basis.

As the first step in expanding the program to Florida, Cooley held a day-long “basic training” session in Tampa for local attorneys on Feb. 17 at the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Chester H. Ferguson Law Center. The session, which was led by

“We chose Florida because, after Michigan, it has Cooley’s next largest alumni base,” said Heather Spielmaker, director of the Center for Ethics, Service, and Professionalism at Cooley.

Brigadier General Michael McDaniel speaks to attorneys in Tampa, Florida about Cooley Law School’s “Service to Soldiers” program which recruits attorneys to provide free legal help to active duty military men and women.

(Tim Boyles Photography)

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Colonel John Odom and Brigadier General and Cooley Associate Professor Michael McDaniel, was attended by more than 100 attorneys. The session covered some of the basics of representing military clients, including estate planning, family law, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), and the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA).

Organizers of the session also shared opportunities with attendees for supporting low-income military members and families through pro bono service, and nearly all of the attendees agreed to participate.

(Left) Colonel John odom, partner in the firm of Jones & odom, L.L.P. and retired Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness, at the Pentagon, speaks to attorneys on Feb. 17 in Tampa, Florida about Cooley Law School’s “Service to Soldiers” program. Colonel odom practices primarily in the areas of general civil, business and personal injury litigation with emphasis on SCRA and USERRA claims on behalf of servicemembers. (Right) David Nilson asks (Tim Boyles Photography) a question during the event.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2007, COOLEY’S SERVICE TO SOLDIERS: LEGAL ASSISTANCE REFERRAL PROGRAM HAS HELPED MORE THAN 1,800 MICHIGAN SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. “We had a great turnout for the training session,” said Spielmaker. “Everyone in attendance truly appreciated what Cooley was trying to accomplish and we are extremely happy that we are now able to help ease the legal burden for Florida military members.”

Cooley has been collaborating with the American Bar Association (ABA) Military Pro Bono Project and representatives of the Department of Defense for the program.

“The session was more successful than I could have ever imagined,” said Lieutenant Colonel George McHugh, who is the Department of Defense liaison to the ABA Military Pro Bono Program. “Colonel Odom did a spectacular job. I cannot say enough good things about our alliance with Cooley Law School and Colonel Odom’s contribution in providing what many attendees described as ‘the very best CLE (Continuing Legal Education) instruction I have ever received in my 30-plus years of being a lawyer.’”

Following the training session, Holland & Knight, one of the largest law firms in the world with eight offices in Florida and 21 offices worldwide, agreed to partner with Cooley on writing a Florida judge’s guide to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), and the law firm offered the services of its attorneys in handling appropriate pro bono cases.

Cooley Professor Ron Trosty, who now resides in Florida, will help administer the program and will interview Florida service members who are in need of legal assistance.

Cooley graduate Carly Wolf, who also lives in Florida, will help run the program by matching Florida service members with attorneys.

For questions about the program, or to participate, contact Heather Spielmaker at (517) 371-5140, ext. 4112 or spielmah@cooley.edu.

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school news

Cooley Law School Lansing staff and students helped celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by participating in community service at the Black Child & Family institute in Lansing, Mich. on Jan. 17.

Cooley celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Community Service

Cooley student group featured at ABA midyear meeting in Atlanta

Community service was the theme of Cooley’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Equal Access to Justice Day on Monday, Jan. 17 at all four of the school’s campuses.

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) midyear meeting brings together more than 3,000 lawyers from across the country. This year’s meeting was held Feb. 12 in Atlanta and featured a program that was developed by Cooley’s Ten Commandments of Real Estate Law Society Student Organization (10CORE™) on the Impact of Foreclosures and the Mortgage Crisis on Communities of Color.

As part of their community service, students and faculty at the Lansing campus volunteered at the Capital Area Humane Society and helped paint a mural of King at the Black Child & Family Institute in Lansing.

The school’s Ann Arbor campus celebrated the day with a keynote address by Cooley graduate and former 41-B District Court (Mich.)

Judge Sheila Miller. The event also featured a panel discussion with Cooley faculty and students entitled, “Overcoming Stereotypes: A Social Experiment” and another entitled, “Voices of Our Youth” with the Boys and Girls Club of Flint, Mich.

Students, faculty, and staff at the Grand Rapids campus decorated lunch bags for Kids’ Food Basket as their service project. Kids’ Food Basket is the only organization in Grand Rapids that focuses solely on childhood hunger and the lunch bags will be used to distribute sack suppers that are given to 3,300 children each school day in Grand Rapids.

Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus celebrated the day with a breakfast that included the awarding of the 2011 Equal Access to Justice Award to Cooley Associate Professor Stevie Swanson. The award honors an individual who has shown his/her loyal dedication, unwavering commitment, outstanding contributions, and diligent efforts to improve justice for all. A panel discussion was also held entitled, “Access to Justice: Diversifying the Dream.”

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The program was designed to help participants in the real estate process including homeowners, empty nesters, and foreclosure victims. But the program also helps nonprofit developers who build affordable housing. Panelists discussed how this and similar pro bono programs provide individuals and organizations with basic information, fundamental tools, and legal protocols to help save homes. They also discussed ways to help protect communities of color from the negative impact of the mortgage crisis.

Cooley Professor Florise Neville-Ewell helped students establish 10CORE™, knowing that many homeowners are unaware of their legal rights.

“The purpose of 10CORE™ is to provide the community with practical and comprehensive information about real estate issues,” said Neville-Ewell. “We are extremely excited that we were given the opportunity to present the program to the ABA’s Midyear Meeting as well as the Georgia community.”

school news

More than 350 become alumni at Cooley’s Solomon Sibley class graduation More than 350 students graduated from Cooley Law School on Saturday, January 22 at the school’s Solomon Sibley Class ceremony.

Cooley now has more than 15,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide.

Paul Hillegonds, Cooley graduate and senior vice president of corporate affairs at DTE Energy, provided the commencement address to graduates.

Cooley is proud of its more than 15,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide who are making their marks on society.

JOIN NOW! The Thomas M. Cooley Alumni Association supports the networking of graduates, fostering cooperative communication among alumni and the law school.

• Network with alumni • Access the Alumni Portal • Refer business to alumni • Search for Alumni • Benefits and discounts • Guide and mentor students Alumni Relations Office: (800) 243-ALUM or (517) 371-5140, ext. 2038 E-mail: alumni@cooley.edu

Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Lansing, MI Permit No. 241

300 South Capitol Ave. P.O. Box 13038 Lansing, MI 48901 Change Service Requested

COOLEY

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION JOIN NOW! The Cooley Alumni Association keeps its members involved in the life of the law school through stronger connections, participation in activities and programs, and improved service to alumni, students, and the school.

The Alumni Association will continue to develop and promote the activities of state and regional clubs so that, wherever you may be, you are not far from a Cooley event.

For more information, contact the Alumni Office at 800-243-ALUM or alumni@cooley.edu.

attend. network. support. mentor.