1970 - 1979

1970

There is no news available at this time for the class of 1970.

1971

Robert C. Baker, senior partner at Baker, Keener & Nahra, LLP, was recognized by Strathmore’s “Who’s Who Registry” for outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of law.

1972

Lee Kanon Alpert, principal in the Encino, CA law firm of Alpert, Barr & Grant APLC, was recognized in the 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers listing in the category of government relations.

1973

There is no news available at this time for the class of 1973. 

1974

M. Carmen Ramirez has been appointed to the California Commission on State Mandates, pending Senate confirmation. An attorney in Oxnard, CA, Ramirez has served as the community planning director for the Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy and as a senior attorney for the Self Help Legal Access Center of the Ventura County Superior Court. Ramirez has also served as staff attorney, managing attorney and executive director for the Channel Counties Legal Services Association. 

1975

Jeffrey S. Kravitz of Fox Rothschild LLP in Los Angeles, has been named to the 2012 Chambers USA Guide’s “Leaders in Law” ranking in the category of intellectual property, trademark, copyright and trade secrets. 

1976

Ruth I. Tsujimura retired in December 2011 following 12 years with the Office of the General Counsel in Honolulu, HI. 

1977

Thomas P. Beck of Thon, Beck, Vanni, Callahan & Powell, who serves on the executive committee of Loyola Marymount University’s Board of Regents, was named to the 2011 National Irish Legal 100 by Irish American magazine.

Stanley D. Mabbitt, formerly general counsel with Bank of America and Countrywide Home Loans, joined Ballard Spahr LLP in Phoenix, AZ as of counsel; Mabbitt specializes in consumer finance and mortgage banking. 

Ellen B. Snortland received the 29th Congressional District Woman of the Year Award for 2012 from U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff, given in honor of Women’s History Month and in recognition of her contributions to the community as an advocate for women and children. Snortland is a human rights journalist, author, safety instructor and performer. 

1978

Pamela S. Duffy, partner with Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP, was named Real Estate Lawyer of the Year by Chambers and Partners and honored at the Chambers’ first annual Women in Law Awards celebration held in early February in New York, NY. 

Marcia L. Scully was named general counsel for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Scully first joined Metropolitan in 1995 as deputy general counsel. 

1979

Gonzalo Freixes, who teaches MBA courses in business law, international regulation of business and  federal taxation was elected chair of the Executive MBA Council board of trustees. He also serves as associate dean of the executive and fully employed MBA Programs at UCLA Anderson School of Management. 

John R. Hanna, recently a partner with Hanna & Scott in Santa Ana, CA, was appointed general counsel for the California Department of Corporations.

Michael J. Terhar moved to the national trial law firm of Rose Walker LLP as head of the newly opened office in Pasadena, CA; Terhar’s practice focuses on aviation product liability and litigation. 

Judiciary

The Hon. Richard L. Brand ’73 retired last December as a commissioner of the California Superior Court, County of Los Angeles.

The Hon. Gary R. Hahn ’73 retired in early February from the California Superior Court, County of Los Angeles. Judge Hahn was first appointed to the now-defunct Long Beach Municipal Court in 1988 and elevated to the Superior Court the following year.

The Hon. Carl J. West ’78 retired from the California Superior Court, County of Los Angeles in February. He served as supervising judge of the county’s complex civil courthouse, Central Civil West. Since stepping down, Judge West joined the mediation and arbitration provider JAM S Inc. He was a civil litigator prior to his appointment to the county’s municipal court in 1994, from where he was elevated within two years to the Superior Court’s North Central District.

The Hon. Frederick C. Shaller ’79 was named judicial officer of the year by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ Southern California chapter. Judge Shaller serves the California Superior Court, County of Los Angeles in the family law department at Stanley Mosk Courthouse.  

Congratulations!

2012 Southern California Super Lawyers
The Top 100
Robert C. Baker ’71
Mark P. Robinson, Jr. ’72
Walter J. Lack ’73
Roman M. Silberfeld ’74
Thomas J. Nolan ’75
John D. Vandevelde ’75
Sussan H. Shore ’76
Thomas P. Beck ’77

2012 Southern California Super Lawyers
Orange County  •  The Top 50
David C. Grant ’72
Mark P. Robinson, Jr. ’72
Mark E. Minyard ’76
Craig S. Simon ’77
Thomas F. Newmeyer ’78

 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers
The Top 50 Women
Sussan H. Shore ’76
Ellen A. Pansky ’77