Legal Deacon Digest – June 2025

Message from Leadership

Dear Wake Forest Law Alumni,

I was honored and humbled to be chosen by this year’s graduating class to receive the Jurist Excellence in Teaching Award and deliver remarks during Hooding & Commencement. At the awards ceremony the evening before Hooding, I was struck by the stories of law students who had generously supported their classmates, as well as the stories of law students devoting hours of time to pro bono causes in support of the greater Winston-Salem community.

Listening to these stories, I reflected on the factors that influenced my decision to join the Wake Forest Law faculty in 1998. Primary among these reasons was the sense of community that I experienced during my first visit to campus. Over the years, my initial impressions have been repeatedly confirmed as I have taught many classes of law students actively engaged in the common enterprise of learning with their classmates and faculty.

The community resulting from this shared effort, however, extends beyond learning—and is reflected in the genuine care and concern that students, faculty, administrators, and you, Wake Forest Law alumni, express toward each other.

The next day at Hooding, I was reminded once again of our community’s ability and desire to care for one another. During my remarks, which focused on listening intently and genuinely, I noted the importance of listening to the inner voice that “motivated some [students] to continue [their] legal studies while [they] silently dealt with emotional and other challenges that caused [them] to question whether the price was too high to continue in law school.” As I spoke these words, I couldn’t help but think of the caring members of the Wake Forest Law community, who have been instrumental in supporting law students as they overcome potential impediments to continuing their legal education.

You are key to that network of support—and for that, we are very grateful.

Thank you for all of the ways in which you continue to be an engaged member of the Wake Law community.

Best Regards,

Timothy Davis
Bess and Walter Williams Professor of Law

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Spotlights

Alumni

As a government relations attorney at Ward and Smith’s Raleigh office, Marley Peterson (JD ’24) is stepping up for the next generation of Wake Forest Law grads by serving as an Alumni Bar Coach (ABC). Learn more about the ABC Program and how Marley is making a difference.

Promotions, New Positions, and Recognitions:

• Jessie Conley (JD ’84) and W. Glenn Viers (JD ’87) recently received appointments. Jessie Conley will serve on the District Court for Judicial District 32, overseeing Alexander and Iredell Counties in North Carolina. W. Glenn Viers was named policy advisor to the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
• Stacy K. Hurley (’02, JD ’06) has been promoted to partner at Barton Gilman LLP.
• Evan Anderson (JD ’20) has joined the Raleigh office of Ogletree Deakins as an associate. His practice focuses on employment-based immigration.
• Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett (’80, JD ’83) retired on May 1, ending a career as a Superior Court Judge that spanned more than three decades.
• On April 23, 2025, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the appointment of Christopher Trebilcock (JD ’00) to the Michigan Court of Appeals, Second District. This appointment will be made to fill a partial term following the resignation of Judge Mark Cavanagh.
• David Ayers (MSL ’16) will join NC State’s College of Education as an associate professor of community college leadership, beginning August 15, 2025. Currently, Ayers is an associate professor of community college leadership and higher education at Old Dominion University, where he has been on the faculty since 2017.
• McAfee & Taft, Oklahoma’s largest law firm, is pleased to welcome trial lawyer Brooke Boutwell Day (JD ’18) to its top-ranked Litigation Group.
• The Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism presented its 2024 Awards to five recipients during its annual awards dinner Wednesday, April 23, 2025, including our very own Ben David (JD ’95).
• John G. Hodnette (JD ’15) has been elevated to Partner in the Taxation and Wealth Planning Department at Fox Rothschild. He is based in the Charlotte, NC office.
• Roberts & Stevens is pleased to announce that attorney Jordan P. Barnette (JD ’18) is now a partner with the firm. Barnette’s practice at Roberts & Stevens primarily focuses on advising and defending healthcare providers and institutions.

Students

Moot Court team members Mary-Kathryn Appanaitis (JD ’25), Daria Brown (JD ’25), and Peyton Mitchell (JD ’25) competed in the 75th Annual National Moot Court Competition in New York City earlier this year. The students advanced to the National Moot Court Competition after winning the regional competition last semester. The students were advised by Professor John Korzen (’81, JD ’91).

Mariah Webb (JD ’26) and Mary Catherine Baker (JD ’25) were recognized in last month’s 16th Annual Family Law Writing Competition, hosted by Hofstra Law’s Family Court Review and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). Mariah won first place for her article, “Sexual Healing: The Case for a Medical Exception to the Ban on Prostitution,” and Mary Catherine earned an honorable mention for “Advance Healthcare Directives: Parents Do Not Owe Life and Limb.”

Lanie Angelo (JD ’27) and Cassidy Gibson (JD ’27) represented Wake Forest Law at the Colonial Cup Transactional Law Competition at the College of William & Mary Law School in March, winning the Runner-Up Award for Negotiation.

At Wake Forest Law, veterans and active duty service-member students don’t just find a top-tier legal education—they find a community. Through the Veterans Legal Clinic, the Yellow Ribbon Program, Veterans Advocacy Legal Organization (VALOR), and dedicated faculty and staff, the Law School is committed to supporting those who have served and continue to serve. But it’s the students who truly bring this community to life. Read more about Wake Forest Law’s veteran and active duty service-member community.

The Black Law Students Association hosted its 40th Annual Scholarship Banquet at Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, featuring keynote speaker and MasterChef alumna Kamay Lafalaise (JD ’14). This year’s theme—”Embracing Our Legacy: Dream, Achieve, Inspire”—was about honoring the past, celebrating the present, and paving the way for future generations.

Students from Wake Forest Law’s Environmental Law & Policy (ELP) Clinic and Professor Sarah Morath’s Environmental Justice Seminar recently attended the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference in Eugene, Oregon. The conference, titled, “Rising to the Challenge: Justice on the Horizon,” aimed to address the significant challenges we face in positive environmental change. ELP Clinic Director and Professor Scott Schang and Jada Williams (JD/MDiv ’24) served as panelists for “Protecting Heirs’ Property as Environmental Justice Work.”

The Wake Forest Journal of Business & Intellectual Property Law and Wake Forest Law hosted the Music Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 2025 Symposium on Friday, April 4, at the Law School. The Symposium brought together legal experts, policy leaders, and technologists to explore the role of AI in music creation and its implications for copyright law.

On Thursday, May 15, graduates were honored at the Wake Forest Law Awards Ceremony. The ceremony recognized graduating Leadership & Character Law Scholars, Honor Council members, Student Organization leaders, Student Bar Association leaders, Wake Forest Law Ambassadors, academic journal members, and Advocacy Team members. Additionally, 17 special awards were presented. Graduates were also inducted into the Order of the Barristers, the Pro Bono Honor Society, and the Order of the Coif. See the photos (password: awards2025) and the list of award winners.

Walker Burns (JD ’27) helped to co-author a report for Furman University, “New Campus Move Coincided with White Flight in America,” which focuses on understanding the temporal changes in demographics in Greenville between 1940 and 1960, using economic data and trends.

Faculty

Wake Forest Law is pleased to announce a new faculty honor: Dean’s Fellow. Those named a Dean’s Fellow have made exceptional contributions to Wake Forest Law and the legal profession and community. The Dean’s Fellows for the 2025-26 academic year are: Meghan Boone, Christine Nero Coughlin (JD ’90), Marie-Amélie George, Sarah Morath, and Gregory Parks. Learn more about the Dean’s Fellows.

Get to know some of our adjunct faculty, including Beth Mabe Gianopulos (JD ’01), Bruce Thompson II (’88, JD ’94), Dr. Ed Ergenzinger (’94, PhD ’99, JD ’02), Ellen R. Gelbin, and T.L. Brown (’99, JD ’03, MBA ’08). These Wake Forest Law adjunct professors come to campus every week from their offices at law firms, banks, health systems, and more to help current students “learn by doing.”

The latest edition of our Faculty Scholarship Newsletter showcases recent publications, presentations, media appearances, honors, and awards from Wake Forest Law’s distinguished faculty.

We are excited to share the latest edition of our Program for Intellectual Property, Technology, Business, and Innovation Newsletter, featuring programming, faculty scholarship, and course offerings from Wake Forest Law’s leading IP faculty.

In April, members of the Wake Forest Law community gathered to honor Dean Emerita Suzanne Reynolds (JD ’77) to commemorate the successful awarding of the endowed chair position established in her name. The Suzanne Reynolds Distinguished Chair in Law is designed to always be held by the dean of the Law School, honoring Suzanne Reynolds’ special place in our history. We are proud to share that Dean Andrew Klein has been named the inaugural holder of this distinguished chair position.

Professor Jonathan Cardi was named the Judge Donald L. Smith Professor of Law. From his early days clerking on the Sixth Circuit to shaping national tort law through the Restatement Third of Torts, Professor Cardi has had a profound impact on legal scholarship. Learn more about Professor Cardi’s recent appointment, his passion for teaching, and his research and scholarship.

Wake Forest Law is delighted to welcome three new faculty members to our community: Assistant Professor Nia Johnson, Teaching Professor Wayne Logan, and Assistant Professor Abel Rodríguez. Learn more about our new faculty members.

Events

Where are we going next?
Don’t miss the invitations to a full calendar of summer events – update your contact information in Wake Network before we head your way! We’ll continue to update our Alumni Events page as the plans come together for the events below and as new events are added! (The picture to the right is from our alumni reception in New York City on April 22.)

Asheville, NC | Alumni Reception | REGISTER HERE
June 26 | 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Do you live in the Asheville area, or will you be attending the NCBA Annual Meeting? Please join us for a Wake Forest Law alumni reception during the NCBA Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 26, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel. Enjoy food and drinks with fellow alumni and hear Law School updates from Dean Andy Klein. Register by June 4 so that we may plan accordingly. You do not have to attend the NCBA Annual Meeting to attend our reception. We look forward to seeing you there! Current and incoming Wake Forest Law students in the area are also invited.

Washington, DC | Alumni & Current Student Happy Hour | REGISTER HERE
July 9 | 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Join us in Washington, DC on Wednesday, July 9, at 5:30 p.m. for a summer happy hour! We offer this opportunity for current and incoming Wake Forest Law students who are working or living in the DC area this summer to network with local alumni. Two drink tickets and appetizers will be provided to each alum or student who registers.

Raleigh, NC | Alumni & Current Student Happy Hour | REGISTER HERE
July 22 | 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Join us in Raleigh on Tuesday, July 22 at 5:30 p.m. for our annual summer happy hour! We offer this opportunity for current and incoming Wake Forest Law students who are working or living in the Triangle area this summer to network with local alumni. Two drink tickets and appetizers will be provided to each alum or student who registers.

Kiawah Island, SC | Alumni Reception | REGISTER HERE
July 23 | 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Join fellow alum, Mark (JD ’90, P ’19) and Maureen Filburn (P ’19) as they host Lowcountry area Wake Forest Law alumni at Cassique Clubhouse, Wednesday, July 23 at 5:00 p.m. At this annual reception, enjoy food and beverages as you catch up with Law School friends and Dean Andy Klein. Alumni in town for the NCBA Trust and Estates Annual Conference are also invited to register and attend! Please share with fellow alumni who may be attending the conference. Current and incoming Wake Forest Law students in the area are also invited.

Winston-Salem, NC | Wake Forest Law Community Night at the Winston-Salem Dash Game | REGISTER HERE
August 1 | 6:30-10:00 p.m.
Join us in Winston-Salem on Friday, August 1, at 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) for our annual summer event! This summer, we’re taking over the Winston-Salem Dash’s Lowe’s Food Landing! This opportunity is open to current incoming Wake Forest Law students who are working, living, or have recently arrived in Winston-Salem this summer. Join us and network with local Law School alumni, faculty, and staff. Price includes game ticket, dinner buffet, and non-alcoholic drinks. (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)

Charlotte, NC | Alumni & Current Student Happy Hour | REGISTER HERE
August 6 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Join us in Charlotte on Wednesday, August 6, at 5:30 p.m. for our annual summer happy hour! We offer this opportunity for current and incoming Wake Forest Law students who are working or living in the Charlotte area this summer to network with local alumni. Two drink tickets and appetizers will be provided to each alum or student who registers.

SAVE THE DATE | Law Alumni Weekend and Homecoming
October 24-26, 2025
All alumni are invited back for a weekend of festivities. Classes ending in 5 and 0 will be celebrating milestone reunions as well. Registration will open in mid-August. We can’t wait to welcome you back to campus!

Noteworthy

On Friday, May 16, the Wake Forest Law graduating class crossed the stage and into a new chapter. Congratulations to the Class of 2025! Check out our Hooding & Commencement photos (password: grads2025) and video vignette.

Thanks to your incredible generosity during Deacs Day of Giving, we received a total of 213 gifts and raised $212,051 in support of Wake Forest Law! Because of you, our #LegalDeacs will have more opportunities to learn, lead, and make an impact—thank you!

Tune in for the latest episode of The Legal Deac podcast! In this episode, we explore the history, nuances, and quirks of funeral and cemetery law in the US and talk to students and professors at Wake Forest Law who helped legalize human composting as a new method of disposition. This episode was made possible by Senior Associate Dean Tanya D. Marsh, Will Boyce (JD ’26), Katrina Spade, Dr. Terry Brock, Dr. Emily Austin, and Wake Forest Law student contributors.

In what ways have you carried forward the spirit of Pro Humanitate in your life or career? Submit your answer here to be featured in this year’s issue of The Jurist.

As we approach Wake Forest Law’s fiscal year-end on June 30, your support is more important than ever. Every gift, no matter the size, helps sustain the programs and opportunities that shape our students’ journeys and prepare them to lead with purpose. Invest in the future of Wake Forest Law with your gift today. Make a gift today.

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