Alumni Newsletter, Fall 2021

I left the Newark office of Buchanan in 2013 to pursue my dream of a new career as a psychologist. Rosemary Bruno and my other beloved colleagues at the Newark office were instrumental in helping to facilitate this huge change in my life, and I'm forever grateful!  After 5 years of training toward my PhD, and 2 years of post-doctoral training, I proudly opened my private practice in clinical psychology in February 2020. I am split between Montclair, NJ and Manhattan. I provide psychotherapy to individual adults and couples, and plan to soon launch an assessment practice - providing psychological testing to adolescents and adults, and also providing forensic expert evaluations in support of individuals involved in immigration legal proceedings.

– Peter Avery

I live in the desert in New Mexico between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. I am active in the Albuquerque Theatre Guild, an umbrella theatre organization, and have written a number of plays including one which will hopefully make it into production out here. My plays tend to have a Pittsburgh focus (!). I am also active in a Pittsburgh/Peabody High School blog group, which considers anything and everything. I only went to PHS for 1/2 year, but knew many of the blog members at Liberty School and have kept in touch.

– Peter Beaman

Married with two boys (three and two), live in Gladstone, NJ, and am head of tax at a specialty insurance MGA focused on transactional liability insurance (reps and warranties, tax, and contingent coverage).

– Justin Berutich | Head of Tax, Euclid Transactional

My son, Tyler, got married in April in Sedonna, AR. My daughter Samantha will get married in October in Beech Mountain, NC.

– Joe Coleman | General Counsel, Florida SouthWestern State College

In addition to serving as counsel to Schnader, I am also in house legal counsel at Armada Supply Chain Solutions. I have been cycling a lot and am riding RAGBRAI at the end of this month.

– Elliott Dater | Counsel, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP

When he turned 10, my son, Jonah, asked to become SCUBA certified. Three years later the whole family is now advanced and Nitrox-certified divers, an activity we've even managed to fit in during COVID. Jonah loves the peace and calm he feels underwater, while Rob and I enjoy the wildlife!

In 2017, I joined Movado Group, Inc., a publicly-traded designer, maker, and omni-channel seller of owned and licensed luxury and fashion goods. In the role of Associate General Counsel, I have created and scaled Movado's GDPR, cybersecurity, AML, KYC, OFAC and other compliance programs, supported Movado's accelerated digital transformation, defined brand protection strategies, and advised through the $200MM acquisition and integration of a millennial DTC start-up. At the end of 2018, the CEO asked me to develop the strategy for and to lead Movado's Corporate Responsibility program. In that role, I am responsible for identifying material environmental, social, and governance issues, setting targets, establishing KPIs, managing internal implementation, and directing external reporting. Today, as VP, Corporate Responsibility and Associate General Counsel, I split my time between global legal oversight and ESG leadership.

– Kristi Davidson | VP, Corporate Responsibility and Associate General Counsel, Movado Group

New job as the first legal hire and In House Counsel at a San Francisco-based venture-backed startup. 

– Matthew Dulac | In-House Counsel, Tint

I currently serve as the First Assistant County Solicitor in the Law Department at the County of Bucks.

– Amy Fitzpatrick | First Assistant County Solicitor, County of Bucks

In addition to practicing law, I formed BrightLine Tech Solutions, LLC, which provides technology consulting primarily to lawyers, law firms, and bar associations. Happy to be a recent Past President of the Berks County Bar Association and current Technology Committee Chair. Cybersecurity has been a hot issue for me and the Pennsylvania Bar Association's (PBA) Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Committee which I Vice Chair. This summer my wife, Debra, a labor and employment lawyer, and I become empty nesters. We are still getting use to the quiet.

– Jeff Franklin | Attorney, Prince Law Offices, PC

Retirement has been an adjustment but I have been keeping busy with children and grandchildren. I still speak with the Newark office regularly and field calls from a few clients that I refer on to firm members. Buchanan for Life!

– John Goldsmith

Since leaving Buchanan, I've been at Williams Kastner in Seattle, handling contentious/complex commercial litigation, including a number of partnership and construction disputes, as well as other PNW-based client litigation. I got a Norwegian Elkhound at the end of 2019 and have been doing a lot of hiking/backpacking with him out here.

– Frank Harrison | Attorney, Williams Kastner

Living between downtown Pittsburgh and Ligonier. And visiting my 2-year kid granddaughter, Nancy, in California.

– Craig Heryford | National Chairperson Business Transactions Section, Gordon Rees

I really like the idea of this program. It is a great way to stay in touch. My firm (Johnson Pope) does not have an immigration practice, environmental practice, or international tax practice, so I recommend many of my former colleagues in the Tampa office whenever I get the chance. Plus, my office is in the same building in Tampa, so I get to see many of them in the elevators (pre-covid!). My family is doing great. My son, Anderson, is 10 now and my daughter, Marianne, is soon to be 8. We are leaving for a week and a half in Alaska soon, which will include 3 nights in a cabin on an island near Sitka that has no electricity or indoor plumbing! Thank you and best wishes.

– Thomas Hunt | Partner, Johnson Pope

I started my own family law practice in October 2020 and love it. I look forward to staying connected with my former colleagues as a way to grow my business and more generally, to remain involved in the broader legal community.

– Elizabeth Klaproth | Family Law Attorney, Law Office of Elizabeth S. Klaproth

I married my husband, John Young, in Philadelphia in 2016. We have two children, John Carlyle Young (Lyle, 3) and Carolyn Louise Young (Caro, 1).

– Katherine Linsey | Counsel, Independence Blue Cross

Professionally, since leaving Buchanan, I have been an In-House Legal Recruiter at Major, Lindsey and Africa. In 2017, I was promoted to Managing Director and I, along with a colleague, lead Major, Lindsey & Africa's In-House Recruiting Group in Philadelphia. I have placed attorneys at all levels, including numerous General Counsels, at companies nationwide in a variety of industries including, pharmaceutical, life sciences, financial services, technology, manufacturing, higher ed, non-profit charitable organizations and gaming. Most notably, I have placed the GC's at the American Red Cross, American Museum of Natural History, Rite Aid and Penn National Gaming. I am absolutely loving it!

On a personal note, my husband, Eliot (also a Buchanan alum) and I, bought a new house in Queen Village this year (very challenging moving during Covid but we figured it out and it's great to have more space, especially with working from home), and we have two pug dogs (Marnie and Mosley). I have gotten into yoga and am really enjoying it. We had to put our international travel plans on hold last summer and this summer but prior to that we took some fabulous trips to Croatia, Greece, Spain and Scotland. Looking forward to getting back to it but last summer, we took a great trip to Maine and this summer are heading to the Berkshires.

– Elizabeth Long | Managing Director, Major, Lindsay & Africa

Living full-time on the West Coast of Florida on the water in Punta Gorda, FL. Enjoying retirement. Golf game not getting any better!

– Greg Pearson

Having retired from Buchanan on October 31, 2021 after 25 years as a shareholder, I have been kept busy caring for my granddaughter (20 months) in CT (about 3 hours away) while her parents work. Given COVID, no day care for her. I also am actively involved with SERV Behavioral Health System, Inc., a large non-profit in NJ. I have been on the Board of Directors since 1989. My wife and I just returned from a cruise around Iceland, which has lifted most of its COVID restrictions. It was good to be traveling again, as well as being able to dine out, etc.

– Ivan Punchatz

Married Jeanne in January 2020 and we are having a blast!

– Robert Riegel | Shareholder, Rogers Towers PA

Baby #2: Florella ("Flora") Jean Rush, born 6/11/2021.

– Mike Rush | Director, EQT Corporation

I retired 2 1/2 years ago from Buchanan, and am enjoying retirement immensely.  I am playing lots of golf, and try to participate in at least one church or charitable activity each day.  All our travel got cancelled during COVID, so I will be making up for those missed trips soon. 

– Linda Shelley

My fourth child, a boy, Hayes Levi Watto was born on 6/25/21.

– Andrew Watto