Distinguished Alumni Award dinner set for May 5

Five graduates of the University at Buffalo Law School and one non-alumna will be recognized for their valuable contributions to the legal profession and the community at the 47th annual UB Law Alumni Association meeting and dinner, to be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5th, at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.

Awards will be presented to:

Hon. Jeffrey S. White

Hon. Jeffrey S. White '70, United States District Court Judge, Northern District of California, "For his conscientious and diligent performance in the judiciary." Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge White was a partner in the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in San Francisco. He has previously served as Special Litigation Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division in Washington, D.C., and as Assistant U.S. Attorney at the United States Attorney's Office in Baltimore, Maryland. He resides in Moraga, California.

Brent L. Wilson

Brent L. Wilson '76, partner in Elarbee, Thompson, Saap & Wilson, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia, "For his leadership by example as a private practitioner." Mr. Wilson devotes his practice to defending employers in employment-related litigation matters, and counseling employers regarding day-to-day employment decisions to avoid litigation. He works with a variety of employers nationwide, including communications companies, service providers, educational institutions, non-profit groups, public entities and manufacturing operations. He has been named one of America's Leading Black Lawyers by Black Enterprise Magazine, a member of Georgia's Legal Elite by Georgia Trend Magazine and one of Georgia's Top 100 Attorneys by Super Lawyers Magazine. He resides in Lithonia, Georgia.

Elizabeth B. Mensch

Elizabeth B. Mensch '79, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita, University at Buffalo Law School, "For her commitment to public service." A teaching icon, Professor Mensch taught at UB Law School since 1980 and recently retired at the close of the 2007-08 academic year. In her Law School tenure, she taught in the areas of torts, contracts, legal history and church/state relations, among others. During retirement, Professor Mensch plans to work with secondary school students who become lost and neglected within the educational, social and legal system. She resides in Rhinebeck, New York.

Lynn A. Clarke

Lynn A. Clarke '83, Principal Court Attorney, New York State Supreme Court, "For her many contributions to the betterment of our community." Ms. Clarke is the founder and annual chair person of the Bar Association of Erie County's "Have-A-Heart" Food Drive to benefit the Food Bank of Western New York. She assisted in the establishment of the BAEC's Attorney Access, Inc., organized to promote the hiring of minority law students for clerking positions and minority lawyers for associate positions. She is a past recipient of the BAEC's Special Service Award, the YWCA of Western New York's 2005 Leader Award, and is a past president of the UB Law Alumni Association. She resides in Orchard Park, New York.

Anna Marie Cellino

Anna Marie Cellino '81, President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, "For her exemplary performance in business." Ms. Cellino joined National Fuel in 1981 as an attorney. By 1991, she was promoted to senior management and was named Assistant Vice President in 1992. Ms. Cellino later became Vice President of the utility and Assistant Secretary of National Fuel Gas Company before becoming President of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation in 2008. Ms. Cellino is also the former Chairman of the Niagara Health Quality Coalition. She resides in West Seneca, New York.

Hon. Sharon S. Townsend

Hon. Sharon S. Townsend, Administrative Judge for the New York State Supreme Court, Eighth Judicial District, "For her outstanding service to the community by a non-alumna." Judge Townsend is the first woman to be named to this position in this district and the first Family Court Judge in the State to be appointed administrative judge. Judge Townsend is a recipient of the National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York, Inc.'s 2008 Community Leader Award, the Erie County Bar Association, Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee's 2007 Sandy Kulick Memorial Award and she has been named one of our Outstanding Women in the Law by the 8th Judicial District Women in the Courts Committee. She resides in Amherst, New York.

For more information on the dinner please contact the UB Law Alumni Office at (716) 645-2107 or e-mail law-alumni@buffalo.edu.

Register today at: www.law.buffalo.edu/AlumniEvent.asp
[Download the dinner invitation / reply card]

Thank you to our Annual Dinner Sponsors!

Shouldn't You Be A Member?
The dinner will also mark the end of the Law Alumni Association's membership drive for 2009 to 2010.

Alumni who have not renewed or joined the Association for this year are asked to renew your membership or join online today!