UC Law San Francisco Alumni

Paying it forward: Kudos to the four UC Law SF alums nominated for the 2026 California Legal Awards for Best Mentor! Carolyn G. Burnette '97, Jackson Lewis P.C.; Patrick Burns '00, Hanson Bridgett LLP; John Feder '78, Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn; Bonnie Lau '06, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Winners to be honored by The Recorder and law.com on June 24.

John Pavolotsky, a partner at Stoel Rives LLP who specializes in technology and AI-related legal matters, and Svetlana Matt ’12, director of public policy at Dish Network, examined Colorado’s landmark AI law and what it signals for future regulation during LexLab’s Law and AI Certificate program in March. Over the course of a week, participants learned from 20 instructors working at the forefront of AI. The program, to be held again in July, is designed to help lawyers understand the evolving legal, technological, and policy landscape surrounding AI and navigate its complex, often ambiguous implications across jurisdictions.

Ben Whitlach ’20, director of customer success and legal specialist at Alumni, a venture capital portfolio management software company, said the program provides a clear understanding of the technology and its practical applications for lawyers. “It helped demystify how modern AI systems work and how they are beginning to transform legal workflows,” Whitlach said. “What I found most valuable was the practical perspective on how lawyers can thoughtfully integrate AI into their daily work.”

Read more: https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/04/13/lexlab-program-prepares-lawyers-for-the-frontlines-of-ai-policy-and-practice/

Apply for the July session: https://lexlab.uclawsf.edu/laic-application-form

The UC Law SF West LA Alumni Chapter co-led by Jon Davidi ’18 and Natalie Alameddine ’13 held its 5th Annual Beer on the Beach at The Bungalow in Santa Monica. This event was generously sponsored by Davidi and Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP. In attendance were proud alumni across generations, admitted students, and staff members.

Join us for our next event! Learn how to stay connected with the alumni community and the law school here: https://www.uclawsf.edu/uc-law-sf-alumni-association/

Michael A. Kelly ’76, a member of the UC Law SF Foundation Board of Trustees and Into the Future Campaign Cabinet, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Consumer Watchdog at the group’s Rage for Justice event in Los Angeles in June. A name partner in Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, Kelly is one of the nation’s top personal injury, wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys, having handled the lawsuits against PG&E over the 2017 Wine Country wildfire and numerous other major actions over a 40-year career.

Cathy Ongiri '06 is the recipient of the UC Law SF Black Alumni Council's first ever Alumni of the Year Award. Ongiri is program director of the The State Bar of California's Office of Professional Competence, where she leads statewide ethical compliance initiatives. She also offers education on professional ethics and responsibility to legal organizations and law firms. Ongiri received the award at the May 9 Black Graduation ceremony.

Congratulations, Cathy!

UC Law SF has launched its first AAPI Alumni Affinity Group, led by Co-Chairs Nina Paul '06, Lisa Mak '08, Michael Nguyen '08, and Kelly Matayoshi '12. Their goal: to support AAPI alumni in the legal field and foster enduring ties beyond graduation. Learn more about what they are building: https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/04/30/uc-law-sf-alumni-form-new-aapi-affinity-group-focused-on-community-and-connection/

UC Law SF's Half-Century Club has inducted its first members — alumni whose distinguished careers have shaped the legal profession for five decades or more. The Class of 1976 returned to campus in March for an inaugural club luncheon with the Classes of '71 and '66. The club honors all alumni who graduated 50+ years ago.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/04/29/uc-law-sf-launches-the-half-century-club-honoring-alumni-50-years-out/

Congrats to UC Law SF alumna Erin Dixon ’05 on her recent appointment as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Dixon has served as a deputy alternate public defender at the Los Angeles Alternate Public Defender’s Office since 2008 and was a deputy public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2006 to 2008.

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/04/16/governor-newsom-announces-updated-judicial-appointments/

Securities Insights: Joe Cotchett ’64 came to UC Law SF on April 8 to offer students insights on the successful securities fraud verdict reached against Elon Musk in federal court in San Francisco in March. Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy led the team that persuaded jurors Musk’s tweets and comments at the time he was purchasing Twitter (now X) were improper and caused investor losses. Cotchett emphasized that most securities cases arise because people over-hype a stock, while Musk was “doing the exact reverse,” disparaging the company and driving down value, as found by the jury. Cotchett also addressed the art of persuading jurors: “It’s all about what is happening in people’s minds… what the theme of the day is.”

Kristin ’07 and Tom Sverchek are generously donating funds to create new scholarships for law students with financial need and a passion for innovation. Kristin, a member of Kodiak’s board of directors and former president of Lyft, shares what inspired this gift and her advice for future tech lawyers and leaders.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/04/15/kristin-07-and-tom-sverchek-launch-new-scholarships-to-support-future-leaders-in-tech-and-innovation-law/