Welcome to another edition of See infra, delivering a sampling of news from St. John's Law. 

St. John's Law students, faculty, staff, administration, and alumni jammed out for justice at the rock ‘n roll themed 2025 Public Interest Auction. Through silent and live auctions, the event raised over $130,000 to support the Law School’s Public Interest Center. As a highlight of the evening, attendees recognized the amazing Public Interest Center Fellows and student volunteers who planned the event and honored Kiera LoBreglio '05 with the Erica B. Fine '82 Public Interest Champion Award in recognition and appreciation of her public interest work and advocacy. 

“Transformative” is how Kayla Dorancy '26 describes the week she spent participating in the Public Interest Center's annual Spring Break Service Program. She was one of 50 students—including 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, and LL.M. candidates—who volunteered over 1,000 hours of pro bono work across a range of practice areas in Kansas City, New York City, and other locations. Read more about the 2025 Spring Break Service Program.

It's been a busy month! Below is a look back at a selection of alumni events throughout March and April.

3/19 | Celebrating Women in the Law
In celebration of Women's History Month, the Alumni Association Alumnae Leadership Council Chapter (ALC) and the Women's Law Society came together to honor four alumnae: Maryann Canfield '92 (Trailblazer Award); Denise M. Miranda '96 (Public Service Award); Sabeena Ahmed Liconte '06 (Outstanding Alumna Award); and Samantha Ojo '19 (Rising Star Award).

At the event, Rose DiMartino ‘81 announced the She Rocks! Challenge. For the second year in a row, she is matching gifts made by up to 20 women to fund half a Summer Public Interest Fellowship. If you would like to participate in the Challenge, please contact Brian Woods at brian.woods@stjohns.edu.

A special thank you to Ruth Calaman '97 for hosting this wonderful event.

3/25 | Women in Bankruptcy Panel and Networking Reception
At this event hosted by our Center for Bankruptcy Studies, students and alumni heard from Hon. Melanie L. Cyganowski, Christine Azzaro '01, Carrie Hardman '09, '13LL.M., Kelly Porcelli '15, and Rasha El Mouatassim Bih '20, '22LL.M., who shared their insights and expertise as bankruptcy professionals. 

3/26 | DRS Student-Alumni Reception
The Dispute Resolution Society and the Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution hosted a wonderful evening of celebration and remembrance at their Student Alumni Reception. As a highlight of the event, Peter Ryan '09 received the first annual Elayne E. Greenberg Alumni Award, which was established to honor the late Professor Greenberg’s legacy and impact in and beyond the Law School community.

4/1 | Leadership Roundtable
As part of the new Leadership for Lawyers course co-taught by Vice Dean Christine Lazaro and Associate Dean Eric Shannon, students gathered for a roundtable program featuring Christine Bella '96, Ralph Carter '14, Jennifer Gilroy Ruiz '92, Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum, and Gerard Luckman '93. The panelists shared insights and practical tips drawn from their experiences as leaders in the field.

4/4 | Diversity & Inclusion Gala
At this year’s Diversity & Inclusion Gala, the St. John’s Law community came together to celebrate and support a mission-driven commitment to opportunity and access. We also honored Hon. Charles B. Rangel ‘60, ‘83HON (Champion Award); Margaret V. Turano ’77 (Outstanding Alumna Award); and Abigail Drummond ’25 (Student Excellence Award) and heard from Dean Jefferson Exum about upcoming 100th Anniversary celebrations and the vision for the Law School’s next century of excellence, prominence, and impact. You can view the Gala photo gallery online.

4/8 | Alumnae in Big Law Reception
This special ALC event graciously hosted by Rose DiMartino '81 and Karen Smith at their beautiful home brought 30 women working at preeminent law firms together for an evening of camaraderie and connection. 

St. John's Law mourns the passing of alumnus Christopher J. Keller ’97, Chairman, Labaton Keller Sucharow. A trailblazer in securities litigation and a titian in the plaintiffs’ bar, Chris played a central role in making the firm a global force in litigation. At the Law School, he generously supported students by establishing the Christopher Keller Esq. ‘97 Endowed Scholarship. May he rest in peace. If you would like to make a gift to the Christopher Keller Esq. ‘97 Scholarship in his memory, please visit our online giving page.

We're very happy to share the latest issue of St. John’s Law Faculty News, a recurring newsletter featuring the achievements and activities of our full-time faculty. As impactful educators and accomplished scholars who share their insights in print, in the media, and in the field, our faculty is a pillar of excellence, prominence, and impact at, and beyond, St. John's Law. View the faculty newsletter.

Congratulations to Professor Philip Lee, who was nominated as a 2025 Values and Inclusion Program (VIP) recipient by one of his students for his dedication to the core values and inclusive excellence that are central to St. John’s Mission.

Congratulations to the Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute (PTAI) team of Jack Adams '25, Agustin Bujanda '25, and Jared Rios '26, who won the prestigious National Trial Competition sponsored by the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) in conjunction with the American College of Trial Lawyers. With the victory, St. John’s Law is now part of a very small group of law schools that have won the National Trial Competition more than once. Coaching the team to success were Michael Maffei '10 and Marlee Galvez '16.

Defending St. John’s 2024 title, the PTAI team of Justin Fuller '25, Hailey Janysek '25, Jonathan Carelli '25, Isaiah Dickerson '26, and Elizabeth Sack '26 took the championship at this year's Trial & Tribulations National Mock Trial Tournament. Justin was also named the tournament's Most Outstanding Overall Advocate. Well done, all, and many thanks to team coach Brian Hughes ’07!

We’re very happy to share that St. John’s Law Moot Court Honor Society members Michael Galletti '26 and Gabrielle Pilla '26 earned the award for Best Brief at the Hon. Elaine Jackson Stack Moot Court Competition, an annual event sponsored by the Nassau County Bar Association’s Nassau Academy of Law. 

Congratulations to Jenna Marshiano '25, who was named Best Mediator at the New York State Bar Association's Dispute Resolution Section’s Annual Mediation Tournament. Jenna represented the St. John’s Law Dispute Resolution Society (DRS) at the Tournament, along with Enrica Brook '25 and Juliet Tomaro '26, who teamed up to take third overall. Way to go!

Securities Arbitration Clinic students Joseph Alfonzetti '25, Arianna Carroll '25, Mary Ehlbeck '25, Chris O’Connor '25, Maxwell Pitagno '25, and Epaphras Yonas '25 traveled to Washington, D.C. with Professors Elissa Germaine and Christine Lazaro. On site visits, they learned about the financial services regulatory landscape and gained insight into government affairs and policy advocacy from investor protection leaders.

The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) has published "Navigating Corporate Transparency Under Federal and State Disclosure Laws," an article by Piero Sauñe Casas '25. The article also appears in NYLitigator, a publication of the NYSBA's Commercial and Federal Litigation Section. Congratulations, Piero!

Comments, Suggestions, or Content Ideas?
Please email Lori Herz, See infra's Managing Editor and Lead Writer, at herzl@stjohns.edu.

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