GOOD FOOD Good for People

winter 2013/14 NON-PROFIT U. S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE 04330 the alumni magazine for vermont law school PERMIT NO. 121

GOOD FOOD Good for people. Good for the planet.

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143534_cover.indd 2 1/13/14 6:43 PM winter 2013/14 Volume 27, Number 1

President and Dean Marc Mihaly

Professor of Law AND Vice President for External Relations Cheryl Hanna

Editors Jim Collins Peter Glenshaw Ariel Alberti Wiegard

Contributing Editors Patty McIlvaine Melissa Schlobohm MELP’12

Contributing Writers Ian Aldrich Kristen Fountain Ben Hewitt Karen Kaliski Jamie Renner Susan Salter Reynolds

Special Thanks Lucy Halse MELP’13 Tori Jones J.P.M. Wiegard ’13

Design, Art Direction, and Production Flannel

Printing J.S. McCarthy Printers

Published by Vermont Law School 164 Chelsea Street, PO Box 96 South Royalton, VT 05068 www.vermontlaw.edu

Send address changes to [email protected] or call 802-831-1312.

Printed with soy-based inks on recycled paper.

LEFT: Patrons gather at The Worthy Burger, a craft beer and burger bar near the Vermont Law campus.

143534_loquitor.indd 1 1/7/14 4:30 PM special food issue Contents

Nourishment The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems: seedbed and shepherd of a healthier body of law. DEPARTMENTS

By Kristen Fountain Letter from the Dean Inter Alia Reflections on a school that The Farm Bill, climate change, continues to follow its gut...... 4 and the 2014 Environmental 10 Watch List...... 47 Discovery A consortium brings Vermont’s Vermont Album...... 48 food players to the table. Plus, partnering with UVM...... 6

Class Notes News from the VLSAA, your classmates, and friends...... 32

143534_loquitor.indd 2 1/9/14 10:55 PM Entrepreneurial Spirits What do lawyers have to do with Vermont’s local food movement? (How Will Duane ’15 spent his summer vacation and maybe found his career.) By Ben Hewitt 16

Grace Before Dinner Philanthropy and public education go hand-in-hand at this influential foundation. But that’s just for starters.

By Jim Collins 20

The Food Network A smorgasbord of VLS graduates who are all over the menu.

On the cover: Blueberry pie from Lou’s 25 Restaurant, Hanover, New Hampshire. Photograph by Rob Bossi.

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143534_loquitor.indd 4 1/8/14 4:20 PM LETTER FROM THE DEAN

Cookin’

Dear Alumni and Friends,

As you read this, Vermont Law School is halfway through its 40th anniversary. This academic year we have much to celebrate, to be grateful for, and to share. But as many of you know from your own lives, “40” has a way of asking us who we are and who we want to be. Vermont Law, despite being an institution, is no different: over the last 18 months we have thought carefully about our mission, our values, and what we want our future to look like. What did we find? That this law school’s strength is its difference. To a person, every member of our family is unusually engaged in matters of fairness and matters of principle. We are a community of risk-takers and advocates who actually want to change the world, not fit into it. And we are a school that knows you can’t solve the world’s problems without educating the world’s problem solvers. As we begin the new year, I’m pleased to say Vermont Law and the University of Vermont (UVM) are creating the first “3-2” program in the nation, in which students will complete an undergraduate degree in three years and a JD in two years. Additionally, eight of our faculty will begin teaching at the UVM School of Business Administration as part of the university’s new Sustainable Entrepreneurship MBA program. And our two-year, Accelerated JD has proven to be a great success. We are also working hard to share our news in a way that adds real substance to the legal conversation, and to involve the entire Vermont Law community in living and broadcasting our mission. To that end, it is only fitting that the magazine you are holding now—a first, teasing glance at the new Vermont Law—is our Food Issue. We believe that food is a unique vehicle for change, as it is intimately tied up with everything from human health and the environment, to poverty and immigration, to law, politics, and culture, on every step of its journey from farm to plate. Food also brings people together in a way that few other things do, and at this time of change we find ourselves in very good company. (“Company,” if you didn’t know, is derived from the Latin com (together with) and panis (bread), meaning those who break bread together.) Our alumni are helping to fund the future of food and farming; our faculty are studying the front lines of the movement; and even our food service providers are filling our bellies and our souls with local, organic products. We are all working together for a resilient future. As this issue reminds us, Vermont Law is an incredibly fertile place that encourages innovation and risk-taking. Put simply, we have and will continue to follow our gut. And we are hungry for the next course.

Sincerely,

Marc Mihaly President and Dean

5 WINTER 2013/14

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Vermont: THE Emerging Epicenter of Food Systems Education

The presidents of six Vermont higher nomic drivers—education and agricul- Agriculture, speaking on behalf of education institutions, include Ver- ture,” said Dean Mihaly. “Vermont Law Secretary Chuck Ross, said the consor- mont Law School, signed a memoran- School believes that restructuring our tium was a top priority for Ross and dum of understanding in November agricultural enterprise is key to ad- the Shumlin administration. “We talk 2013 to create the Vermont Higher dressing climate change. Each of the about the renaissance of agriculture,” Education Food Systems Consortium. schools in the new consortium is de- she said. “It’s real. Today, farming and This unique program will pool the re- voted to advancing community-based food systems are luring a new work- sources of public and private colleges agriculture. Together we can utilize force to this sector. There is an op- devoted to food-systems education, Vermont’s iconic brand to attract more portunity—a very real opportunity for training, policy analysis, and research, students from around the nation and Vermont to be a nationally recognized and will make Vermont a premier des- the world, and offer them a more com- center for food system education.” tination for postsecondary students plete education.” “Vermont’s higher education insti- with an interest in promoting sustain- Vermont is known worldwide for its tutions have graduated generations able and robust food systems. Degrees commitment to local foods, sustain- of Vermont farmers, foresters, and in food systems will range from agri- able food production, and for the value-added entrepreneurs,” stated cultural production and sustainability innovative, entrepreneurial spirit of Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin. to diet and nutrition-related curricula. its inhabitants. Its artisanal products, “Today they are taking a historic step The collaboration will combine applied including cheeses, beer, and maple of doing this work better together, studies of agriculture from the state’s syrup, are an important part of the with this collaboration offering technical schools, research focus from state’s economy. students from across the country an the University of Vermont, and a post- The Vermont Council on Rural De- unprecedented set of experiences secondary education in public policy velopment first advanced the consor- in our working landscape. This will component at Vermont Law School. tium idea. Other participating institu- attract new youth to rural Vermont Vermont Law School President tions—all of which offer agricultural communities, spur innovation in the and Dean Marc Mihaly attended the education in various forms—include food and forest economies, and help signing ceremony at the Statehouse in Green Mountain College, Sterling Col- all of us who are working to conserve Montpelier, along with Laurie Ristino, lege, University of Vermont, and the Vermont’s working landscape in pro- Associate Professor of Law and Direc- Vermont State College system (princi- duction for the long-term future.” u tor of the Center for Agriculture and pally Vermont Technical College). Food Systems at Vermont Law. “This State executives also attended the collaboration advances an alliance event in Montpelier. Jolinda LaClair, between two of Vermont’s major eco- Deputy Secretary of the Agency of

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VLS Partners with UVM to Create Innovative New Degrees and Programs

In an ongoing commitment to explore The 2-1 Competitive Edge to benefit from the academic and de- opportunities for academic synergies, In another collaboration, students gree synergies that exist between our Vermont Law School and the Univer- would receive an Accelerated Sustain- schools. Our faculty and students are sity of Vermont are collaborating to able Entrepreneurship MBA at UVM’s excited to be part of the most forward- create concentrated combined degree School of Business Administration and thinking MBA program in the country.” programs that help students cut costs a law or masters degree at Vermont “I am thrilled and delighted that and enter the job market faster. Law School. Students who take advan- Vermont Law School faculty and stu- tage of this accelerated program can dents will soon be an important part The “Vermont 3-2” earn both the MBA and an Accelerated of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship This past fall, VLS and UVM an- JD in three years, two years less than MBA,” said Sanjay Sharma, Dean of the nounced groundbreaking plans to the typical time required. Students School of Business Administration at create a joint undergraduate and law could also earn an MBA from UVM and UVM. “Vermont Law School is the top- degree that would take just five years a Master’s degree in environmental law ranked environmental law program in to complete—three years at UVM and or energy law from Vermont Law in the nation, and will make an important two years at VLS. That’s two years two years. In addition to reducing the contribution to our curriculum. We less than the traditional 4-3 route— cost for students, the goal of the col- have much to learn from each other, resulting in substantially lower costs laboration is to train tomorrow’s lead- and I know there will be new oppor- for the students. ers in both business and law to create tunities that emerge from this initial The “Vermont 3-2” degree, the profitable and sustainable business op- collaboration.” brainchild of VLS President and Dean portunities and social enterprises. This These initiatives build upon an al- Marc Mihaly and UVM President Tom opportunity will also be attractive to ready successful relationship between Sullivan, is part of an effort to make foreign lawyers seeking highly special- the two institutions. More UVM alumni higher education more affordable for ized training in business, law, and the obtain VLS degrees than graduates of Vermonters and to attract additional regulatory process in the United States. any other institution. The two schools students from across the nation and Vermont Law faculty will participate have jointly sponsored conferences the world to study in Vermont. “Both each academic year as visiting fac- and currently offer a joint degree that institutions share a commitment to ulty in the accelerated MBA program, allows students interested in environ- environmentalism, sustainability, and beginning in September 2014. Students mental science and policy to receive innovation and both play vital roles in who graduate from either the acceler- a dual master’s degree from Vermont Vermont’s economy” said President ated MBA program or any of Vermont Law and UVM’s Rubenstein School of Sullivan. “We think a strengthened Law School’s degree programs will be Environment and Natural Resources. relationship can bring many benefits guaranteed admission to the other Most recently, UVM graduate to our students, our faculties, and to program, provided they meet certain psychology students and Vermont the people of Vermont.” entrance requirements. Vermont Law Law students at the South Royalton “The 3-2 program would reduce students will be able to take elective Legal Clinic began working together to significantly both the time and the MBA courses at UVM, giving the stu- explore how best to serve international cost of receiving a post-graduate dents from both programs the opportu- survivors of torture who are now part degree,” explained Dean Mihaly. nity to study together. of the Vermont community, and whose “Vermont Law already has one of “This agreement signals a new requests for asylum are difficult to the most progressive JD programs level of cooperation and engagement process because of memory loss and in the nation, and we look forward between the University of Vermont other post-traumatic issues. “This kind to working with UVM to help their and Vermont Law School,” said Cheryl of partnership,” noted President Sul- students reach their educational goals Hanna, Professor of Law and Vice livan, “allows our students and faculty with minimal student debt. We want President for External Relations at to work together to enrich the students’ to ensure we continue to attract and Vermont Law School. “Most impor- education while reducing costs—and to retain the talent we need to support a tantly, this agreement permits students make a difference in our community.” u prosperous future for Vermont.” at both UVM and Vermont Law School

7 WINTER 2013/14

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VLS Conferences Explore National Security and Innovative Criminal Justice Practices

Two conferences brought experts to climate variability and beginning Advisor with the Vermont Department from across the country and Vermont to witness the human impact of these of Public Safety, and criminal law pro- to South Royalton this fall to discuss changes nationally and internation- fessor at Vermont Law School. national security and climate change, ally,” she said. “The speakers called on Among the innovations discussed as well as how innovative practices in future leaders at Vermont Law to use were rapid intervention community criminal justice might be adopted more their legal education to help shape sen- courts, court-ordered assessments widely in Vermont. sible solutions to this rapidly emerging at arraignment, integrated domestic The first conference, “Rising Temps climate-created security paradigm and violence dockets, and the challenges and Emerging Threats: The Intersec- to be advocates for rapid action and associated with managing drug or alco- tion of Climate Change and National adaptation.” hol treatment dockets. Security in the 21st Century,” was In November, the “Innovative More than 200 judges, prosecutors, organized by the Vermont Journal of En- Criminal Justice Practices in Vermont” private defense attorneys, legislators, vironmental Law (VJEL) and held in late conference focused on programs that and other criminal justice stakeholders October, just months after President are improving criminal justice manage- attended the sold-out conference. Par- Obama articulated the need to prepare ment throughout the Green Mountains. ticipants included the state’s Supreme for weather aggravated by rising tem- “This conference was a chance for Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber, Attor- peratures. Symposium participants everyone involved in criminal justice ney William Sorrell, Chittenden County discussed and debated the nature of in Vermont to learn more about inno- State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan, Vermont the climate change security threat, vative practices that could be adopted Law School Dean Marc Mihaly, and the U.S. military response to climate on a larger scale,” said Robert L. Sand Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin. u change, climate-based forced migra- ’87, former Windsor County State’s At- tion, and food security as national torney, current Senior Policy and Legal security. The entire conference can be seen on the VJEL YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/1bDYEmx). The Road Well-Traveled: Cameron Way Presenters at the national security conference included distinguished Visitors to the Vermont Law School campus see a graceful ring road with a com- representatives from federal agen- manding view of the White River as soon as they cross the bridge on Chelsea cies, non-governmental organizations, Street and approach the Oakes Hall entrance. Since last spring, that well-traveled and academia. The keynote speaker road has been known as Cameron Way. was D. James Baker, Administrator of Cameron Way is named in honor of J. Scott Cameron, former chair of the the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmo- Vermont Law School Board of Trustees and a thirty-year member of the VLS spheric Administration (NOAA) and community. Cameron graduated from VLS in 1980. Since then, he has played current director of the Global Carbon many roles at the Law School: speaker, trustee, host, donor, and employer. He Measurement Program for the William has exemplified what it means to be a volunteer, and worked tirelessly as a J. Clinton Foundation. Other speakers member of the Board of Trustees from 1984-2010. included John Steinbruner, Director He has worked with four VLS deans and hired two of them. He received an of the Center for International and honorary degree in May 2011, and was the inaugural recipient of the VLS Alumni Security Studies at the University of Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award in September 2011. As a donor, Cam- Maryland, and Jody Prescott, a Senior eron has helped numerous students through the Cameron Scholarship Fund and Fellow at West Point Center for the through other philanthropic contributions. Rule of Law and retired U.S. Army A version of the campus master plan included a recommendation to remove Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer. the ring road entirely and plant an apple orchard where the parking lot currently “Scientists, legal scholars, and advo- resides. It was fellow trustee Fran Yates’s suggestion that the road should be cates from across the nation made one kept and named for Scott Cameron. It encircles the 16-acre campus, with access thing clear at the October 2013 VJEL to parking and sloping lawns on the eastern and northern sides that lead down Symposium,” said Molly Gray ’14, VJEL to the river. Symposium Editor. “We are nearing The road that bears his name was dedicated in a ceremony at the Chelsea the point of no return when it comes Street entrance to the campus on May 17, 2013. u

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Distance Learning Program Adds Partners and Degrees

Since its launch in 2011, the distance students enrolled in BU’s Executive LLM Master’s of Energy Regulation and Law learning program has extended Ver- in International Business Law program. (MERL) and the LLM in Energy Law. mont Law School’s top-rated environ- “Students earning a BU degree,” says Designed to be exactly the same as the mental law course content to students Purdom, “have the opportunity to take residential program in terms of cours- around the world. This year, the law the best energy and environmental law es and requirements, the 30-credit school is expanding its reach in two courses available from VLS.” online MERL focuses on law and policy ways. A pilot program this year will al- Innovative and simple, the agreement governing energy use, production, and low partner law schools to offer select offers multiple advantages. “VLS courses transmission. The program is awaiting VLS online courses in their course are listed in the BU catalog so students accreditation from the New England catalogs. In addition, Vermont Law will register and pay as they would for any Association of Schools and Colleges be adding new online degree programs BU course,” says Purdom. “That fact, and (NEASC), which is expected early in to its portfolio. being able to remain with their home in- the new year. “Law students elsewhere often want stitution, makes the process frictionless. In addition, the Master of Environ- to take environmental law courses they BU keeps students focused on its law mental Law and Policy (MELP) will also can’t find on their own campuses,” says school and degree program. And VLS add a concentration next year in food Rebecca Purdom JD ’96/MSEL’98, As- doesn’t assume administrative overhead and agricultural law to both its residen- sociate Dean for Innovation and New as it gains course participants.” tial and online programs. Both programs Programs, and Associate Professor of Purdom hopes to build on the BU serve growing interest in sustainable Law. “It just makes sense for Vermont relationship and develop similar partner- food systems, a new frontier in environ- Law School to partner with other insti- ships with other law schools, including mental law and policy. u tutions that need to enhance their own distance learning partnerships that course catalogs.” would enhance JD programs, as well. A pilot partnership with Boston Vermont Law School is also prepar- University will allow VLS to deliver en- ing to make two more of its residential ergy and environmental law courses to degree programs available online: the

A Gift for the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders In September, Vermont Law announced avocation. People come here because a difference in their communities and the second largest gift in the history they are inspired to make a difference. the world.” of the school—$1.5 million from James It’s that kind of mind-set that really “For 40 years, Vermont Law has “Jimmy” Hanson II, president of a inspires me to give to the law school.” been helping to create leaders who use New Jersey real estate consortium and Under the terms of the gift, Ver- the power of the law to make a differ- a 1983 magna cum laude graduate from mont Law will expand its master’s ence, locally, nationally, and interna- Vermont Law School. The gift will be degree curriculum to focus on leader- tionally,” Hanson commented. “I am used to strengthen the school’s envi- ship, financial literacy, modern com- delighted to help ensure that the law ronmental law and policy program and munications, and advocacy campaigns. school continues its tradition of excel- to expand the leadership curriculum The gift will enable graduates not only lence in environmental law and policy within the Master’s of Environmental to have a legal education, but also an and hope this gift will inspire friends Law and Policy program. The only understanding of how businesses run and alumni of VLS to do the same.” larger gift received by VLS was $2 mil- and why leadership plays a vital role in Hanson told a reporter that the idea lion from Julien and Virginia Cornell environmental law and policy. of giving is strong in his family. Harvey to create a law school library—now the The gift will also be used to support Hoffman, Hanson’s grandfather, was a Cornell Library—in 1991. research centers and institutes at the Protestant minister who instilled in his Ranked as the best environmental Environmental Law Center. children and grandchildren a strong law school by U.S. News for the last five “Vermont Law School is indebted foundation for giving. “The concept of years, Vermont Law is known for pro- to Jimmy for this generous gift,” said giving back has been passed down for ducing graduates who make a differ- President and Dean Marc Mihaly. “This generations,” Hanson said. “We’ve been ence, and Hanson wants that tradition commitment provides an important blessed as a family and that enabled us to continue. investment in our flagship environ- to give back. Giving back to Vermont “VLS is producing advocates,” says mental program, and provides VLS Law does make a difference in this Hanson. “It’s not just a vocation, but an graduates further resources to make world.” u

9 WINTER 2013/14

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143534_loquitor.indd 10 1/8/14 4:20 PM Vermont Law School’s Center for Agriculture and Food Systems is on a mission to improve the way a nation grows and distributes its food. It’s a place where students can get their hands dirty.

By Kristen Fountain

Field Trip: professor Laurie Ristino (left) and student research associates Emma Hempstead ‘14 and Delilah Griswold ‘14 chat with Suzanne Long, co-owner of Luna Bleu Farm, AUGUST 2013. 11 WINTER 2013/14

143534_loquitor.indd 11 1/9/14 10:55 PM Scenes from a wet summer at Luna Bleu Farm: a family farm pet happy in mud; harvesting zucchini by hand; transplanting greenhouse kale.

t’s less than a mile from the town common in South Royalton to the organic vegetable and hay farm known (ironically) as Hurricane Flats. Last fall, the farm’s owners, Geo Honigford and Sharon O’Connor, finally finished stabilizing 300 feet of riverbank there that had been severely eroded during 2011’s Tropical Storm Irene. The willow shrubs they’d planted helped them restore a 35-foot buffer between their cropland and the White River.

From the same starting point, it’s a bed and are in winter mode, supplying farming region in a state known for its five-minute drive north beyond the the winter market with harvests from progressive laws and ideas. river to the open-air cow barn and the their greenhouse and freezer. To help transform the food system neat rows of organic vegetables at Lawyers- and advocates-in-training into one that is resilient and sustain- Luna Bleu Farm, where Suzanne Long at Vermont Law School’s Center for able, advocates must go beyond simply and Tim Sanford work a small, diversi- Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) keeping up with the new regulations fied farm that includes grassfed beef don’t have to go far to observe the daily coming out of U.S. Department of and free-range chickens. hard work of producing environmental- Agriculture (USDA) or the Food and The couple sells produce and meat ly sustainable food. In fact, twenty-two Drug Administration (FDA). Growing to Community Supported Agriculture small farms and orchards operate with- and distributing food that is good for (CSA) shareholders, local restaurants, in a ten-mile radius of the law school’s people and the planet will require new and the South Royalton Cooperative central building, Debevoise Hall. For markets, innovative business models, Market, among other places, and at the students intent on improving the na- and new rules governing everything Norwich Farmers Market, where Long tion’s current body of food law—which from land use and water rights to has been on the board of directors for for decades has been geared toward food labeling and pesticides. “We want close to a decade. After a discourag- conventional, commoditized, industrial- to know what is happening on the ingly wet summer that forced them to scale production—this is an incredibly ground,” says Laurie Ristino, CAFS’s plow under several ruined crops, Long fertile place. It’s a place where students director, “We want to bring the law and Sanford have put the ground to can get their hands dirty in an active alive.”

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143534_loquitor.indd 12 1/9/14 10:56 PM Until recently, agricultural law was that make commercially sold salumi, Nearly 25 years later, Intervale is leas- taught in law schools in the Midwest yak meat, and raw dog food. In ad- ing 135 acres to eleven different farms. and Plains states as a conventional dition to providing opportunities for The farmers are assisted by a group specialty. Over the last handful of collaboration among the users, the website that supports online ordering years, though, a few dedicated legal facility also provides small business and direct delivery to local custom- centers around the country have planning support and, as of last Octo- ers. The Intervale Center has faced a sprung up around the concept of “food ber, a shared delivery truck. “I like to variety of legal and regulatory chal- law.” The new area of study integrates see things like that, that are win-win,” lenges during its start-up and growth the legal aspects of agriculture with says Laine, who also co-produces Food over the years. To the CAFS staff, the topics as diverse as food safety, nutri- Talk Radio, a monthly campus podcast organization is just one of Vermont’s tion, and animal welfare. The subject on sustainable food issues. The pro- many valuable case studies in sustain- also encompasses the environmental grams are available on iTunes (https:// able agriculture. impacts of food production, including itunes.apple.com/sn/podcast/food-ra- “It’s live experimenting in the new climate change. dio-collectives-podcast/id629304864). food movement,” Ristino says. “A lot VLS celebrated the opening of CAFS Vermont Law students have the of it is happening here.” in October 2010 under the umbrella of chance to see how the shared-facility- its nationally renowned Environmental and-resource model works on a larger Farmers with Law Degrees? Law Center. It joined existing centers scale, too. The nonprofit Center for ot surprisingly, at least a at Harvard Law School and the Uni- an Agricultural Economy operates the few Vermont Law School versity of Arkansas at Fayetteville. An Vermont Food Venture Center (VFVC), graduates began thinking institute with a similar focus opened a 15,000-square-foot food process- about embarking on farming in 2013 at the University of California ing facility in Hardwick. The facility careers because of their knowledge in Los Angeles. Among them all, the is licensed to house any kind of food of the law, and did so years before Vermont center is uniquely located production that does not require the the current “food law” concept blos- to focus on a crucial growing part of handling of meat or dairy products. somed. Two of them made small-scale the national food system: small and Among the roughly 40 VFVC users organic dairying profitable by develop- mid-size farms, processing facilities, and retailers. Laws and policies at the national and state levels affect them differently than they do the Although the tapestry of a sustainable food large industrial farms that still feed “ most Americans. Smaller farms and system will be woven primarily by individuals businesses, like those that dot the landscape in central Vermont, have a who invest their time, money, and labor into smaller environmental footprint and farming and food production over the course are hotbeds of new ideas. On the processing side, as well, there are creative of a lifetime, lawyers and advocates will be food partnerships to explore around South Royalton and beyond. needed to keep the fabric strong.” Emily Laine ’15, a member of the law school’s student-run Food and Agriculture Law Society, says the most mind-expanding outing with the group are small-scale makers of yam salsas, ing sophisticated on-farm processing so far has been to the Mad River Food kale chips, sauerkraut, kombucha, operations. Hub in Waitsfield. The 4,000-square- and pretzels. In this, John Putnam ’83 and Amy foot Mad River facility is equipped for The oldest of the micro-business Huyffer ’00 are bucking a statewide a wide range of food processing and hubs, Burlington’s Intervale Center, trend towards herd consolidation that is USDA-certified for butchering and began leasing a small amount of land began in the 1950s. By the start of packaging meat, a unique designation along the Winooski River on the north the 21st century, the number of farms for its size. By design, the building is side of the city in 1990. Its goal was to operating in Vermont had plummeted flexible, allowing for intermittent or reduce start-up costs for small farmers from 10,000 to 1,000, even as the total full-time use by small-scale producers. by making fields, greenhouse space, number of cows in the state’s dairy The Hub currently hosts companies and equipment all available for rent. herd remained roughly the same.

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143534_loquitor.indd 13 1/8/14 4:21 PM Putnam and Huyffer are farmers, but found that a law degree comes in handy. tenure tools that could save farmers also the kind of dogged and creative “It’s never a bad idea to be able time and money and educate them in entrepreneurs that staff and students to read a contract or to write one,” the process. with CAFS hope to support and foster. Huyffer says. In the same vein, most local farm- John Putnam and his wife Janine Putnam believes his legal back- ers markets and multi-farm CSA (also an ‘83 graduate of VLS) bought ground made it easier to wade through programs operate without any kind Thistle Hill Farm in North Pomfret not the complex process of becoming and of formal governance structure. That long after graduation. At first, dairy staying certified to process milk. “If vacuum exposes the participants in farming was a part-time endeavor somebody throws a regulation in my the markets and CSA’s to unneces- that came second to child-rearing and face, I’m not the least bit intimidated,” sary liability, Beyranevand says. CAFS John’s corporate law practice. When Putnam says. wants to develop model documents the family got into the business full- But going from law books to muck for incorporation and governance that time in the late 1990s, the Putnams boots is certainly not a common path. both types of partnerships could use quickly realized that even the econom- Putnam doubts many farmers would as templates. For the vast majority of ics of selling higher-priced organic ever seek out a law or master’s degree. farmers and food producers, especially milk wholesale were not favorable to They generally don’t have the available those without law degrees, such aids the farmer. time or money. And it is the uncom- would certainly be useful, Putnam says. So they went on a quest. The mon law school student who wants Although the tapestry of a sustain- couple scoured the French Alps for the to live according to the relentless able food system relies primarily on right microbes and a cheese maker schedule of a family farm. But farm- individuals who invest their time, willing to teach them the craft. The ing on the ground is only one area of money, and labor into farming and result was Farmstead Tarentaise, their the food system. CAFS can provide food production, it is increasingly high-end, award-winning alpine cheese valuable guidance, faculty expertise, clear that lawyers and advocates will that has grown so popular that it’s now and student assistance for farmers or be needed to keep the fabric strong. made both at Thistle Hill and at an affili- value-added producers who are just “How you get there is one strand at ated farm in nearby Reading. starting. In addition to helping to cre- a time,” Putnam says. “The more help Huyffer started Strafford Organic ate a food and agriculture certificate you have the better it will be.” Creamery with her husband Earl for the online Master’s in Environ- Ransom on the dairy farm in Strafford mental Law and Policy (MELP), CAFS Seeding Farm Policy where he grew up (see “Organic,” page is working with fellows and students to olicymakers in Washington, 28). Reaching the same conclusion produce a range of basic legal docu- D.C., and in state capitals around the country make decisions every session that affect small farmers and food produc- “Some of the requirements of the new Food ers for good or ill. Sustainable agricul- Safety Modernization Act may crush small ture advocates who are trained in the law can help by proposing changes to producers. The challenge now is to press legislation and acting as watchdogs for tweaks that don’t undermine the law’s when new laws and regulations are implemented. intent.” Even laws approved with the best LAURIE RISTINO of intentions can lead to a host of un- intended consequences. Such seems to be the case with the Food Safety as the Putnams, Huyffer and Ransom ments and make them available online. Modernization Act. Signed by Presi- began by buying up second-hand To pick one example: Access to dent Obama almost three years ago, equipment and building a creamery arable land is one of the biggest chal- the law is arguably the most sweeping next to their milking parlor. Today lenges for would-be farmers, says reform to the federal government’s the company is well known regionally Laurie Beyranevand ’03, CAFS’s as- oversight of food production since for its glass-bottled organic milk and sociate director. Often creative leasing the Progressive Era. The new statute cream and delectable pints of small- or long-term payment arrangements empowers the Food and Drug Admin- batch premium ice cream. are farmers’ only options. CAFS plans istration (FDA) to take a preventative Both Putnam and Huyffer have to put together a suite of model land rather than a reactive approach to the

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143534_loquitor.indd 14 1/8/14 4:21 PM contamination of fruits and vegetables Beyond the new regulations, law- by viruses and bacteria. It directs yers affiliated with CAFS are engaged Growing a the agency to develop and enforce in other forms of policy-oriented ad- scientifically based standards for safe vocacy. Jamie Renner, CAFS’s clinical Legal Clinic harvesting and processing. It also lead, is compiling all existing state- requires both growers and producers level legislation that supports connect- to develop more rigorous monitoring ing farms and schools through both After being hired last summer to lead the clinical systems and response plans if con- the classroom and the cafeteria. The component of Vermont Law School’s new Center for tamination occurs. goal is to create a compendium of the Agriculture and Food Systems, Jamie Renner got to For farmers especially, this means a various sorts of policies, and analyze fill in the details of his own job description. new thicket of regulations. Previously, their impacts. The law clinic, slated to open in fall 2014, was the FDA stayed out of the growing side In a different vein, CAFS created a just an idea until he came on board. His first task of the equation. “This is the first time web site (foodlabelfacts.org) that intro- was to define what its students would do. For Renner, where we are seeing the FDA insert- duced consumers to the meaning and the job provides an uncommon opportunity to build ing itself in that part of the process,” legal basis for everything that ends up an experiential program from the bottom up, with as- Beyranevand says. written on a food label. In particular, sistance from Center director Laurie Ristino. “Laurie As written, the law contains specif- the site identifies the adjectives and and I joke about this being a start-up,” Renner says. ic provisions that exempt farms with phrases—such as “organic,” “low fat,” They decided first that the food law clinic would less than $500,000 in sales from some or “gluten free”—that are backed by take on educational and advocacy-oriented projects, of the more onerous, and expensive, consistent definitions and standards rather than try cases on behalf of individuals or orga- requirements. But draft rules that the overseen by the USDA or monitored nizations. Renner has already come up with several agency released last year threw that by third parties. It contrasts them with discrete efforts and is solidifying partnerships with deal into question. The cost of com- the descriptors—like “locally grown”— international, national, and regional groups. Student plying with the proposed regulations that are not defined or reviewed. efforts will have a wider impact when yoked to an could consume as much as half of a Renner and Beyranevand are in the pro- existing, already effective, organization. small farm’s thin profit margin. cess of expanding the website through a One project will include expanding upon an As it stands, “some of its require- creative partnership with a national ad- existing student initiative (foodlabelfacts.org) that ments may in fact crush small pro- vocacy organization as well as develop- explains in plain language what the words and ducers,” Ristino says. “The challenge ing other kinds of projects for students phrases used frequently in food labels actually mean. now is to press for tweaks that don’t to pursue outside of the classroom. The bigger site would be developed and presented undermine the law’s intent.” For her, Ristino believes that the law school’s in conjunction with a national consumer advocacy the central question is: “How do you leadership, in this historic moment, rec- group, Renner says. have a safe system and still allow good ognizes the opportunity to take a lead Another concept taking shape is the develop- things to happen?” role in shaping the laws and facilitating ment of educational resources on the ramifications Students in one of Beyranevand’s the mechanisms that will allow a new of the new Food Safety Modernization Act for an courses wrote comments on the FDA kind of agriculture to flourish, one that association of state and local governments. Others rules, pointing out clarifications and is healthier for the community and the include working with a regional aquarium to propose changes that would lessen the burden world. Food that is good for people, and a standardized certification system for seafood and on small farmers and producers. For good for the planet. creating an anti-hunger campaign on behalf of an example, a small, diversified farm may “The administration of Vermont international aid group. sell a variety of products that together Law has yet to discourage any of the All of the projects will provide a different kind equal more than $500,000. Currently, ideas our staff has had,” says Ristino. of experience than those found in more traditional that farm wouldn’t qualify for the “There are not many institutions where legal clinic settings, says Renner. But the training in exemption even if the fruit and veg- you can have this much innovation so global thinking and problem solving will be valuable etable portion of their sales fell under quickly. The only thing that limits us is whatever students end up doing. “It’s a more holistic the cut-off amount. our imaginations,” she adds. “And we concept of advocacy that we think is good lawyering To pick another example that hits have good imaginations.” in any context,” he says. close to home in Vermont, the pro- —Kristen Fountain posed FDA regulations set far more stringent limits on the use of manure Kristen Fountain is a Vermont based journalist. and compost as fertilizers than what is She holds master’s degrees in earth science and allowed by the USDA, which creates a journalism from Columbia University. particular problem for organic farmers.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB BOSSI 1/8/14 4:22 PM ENTRePRENEURIAL SPIRITS

The local food movement is creating a crop of new jobs—some requiring not tractors or fertilizer, but the tools of the law. Could this lead to new career opportunities? A postcard from Vermont.

by Ben Hewitt

hen Will Duane ’15 knocked on the door of Caledonia Spirits in the summer 2013, his expectations were Wpretty modest. “I figured I’d see if I could do some bottling, and maybe see if I could make a little extra money,” explains Duane, whose longtime interest in food and spirits had drawn him to the Hardwick, Vermont, distillery renowned for the use of raw honey in its award-winning Barr Hill Gin and Vodka. At the time, Duane was completing his internship at the Vermont Attorney General’s office, and he figured a little low-key liquor bottling was the ideal sideline. For three weeks, Duane worked part-time at the distillery’s bottling station, filling and labeling bottles and then dipping the cork stoppers into hot wax. Across from him, he could see the gleaming stainless steel and copper vats, and the warm scent of honey and yeast hung in the air.

Cheers: Micro-distilled vodka and gin from Caledonia Spirits. 17

143534_loquitor.indd 17 1/8/14 4:22 PM ENTRePRENEURIAL SPIRITS

All in all, it was not a bad gig—but it the state capitol and 20 miles south On another wall, a stark reminder of was about to get even better. “I wasn’t of Hardwick. “There’s no way I could the regulatory labyrinth that defines there very long before Todd [Hardie, actually make the food—that’s just not so much of how a craft distiller oper- the founder of Caledonia Spirits] told who I am. But if I can help them navi- ates had been taped. It is a list of the me about all the paperwork he had to gate the legal landscape to accomplish 18 “Monopoly States” in which the dis- do,” Duane recalls. “I said ‘Hey, maybe their mission? That sounds pretty tribution of spirits is controlled solely I can help you with that.’” good to me.” by the state, rather than by a regional As it turned out, the process of pro- On a cold, clear day in late Novem- or national distributor. “When Prohibi- ducing and distributing craft spirits ber, I walk through same door Duane tion ended, the powers were shifted was guided by more than an elixir of did some six months prior. I’ve come back to the states, and each state did art and science. That’s because the to speak with Caledonia Spirits’ found- something different,” Hardie tells me. production and sale of alcohol—be it er, Todd Hardie. I want to know more “It is highly, highly regulated. There beer, wine, or liquor—is regulated by about the regulatory landscape—and are layers of permits required before a morass of state and federal rules the relationship between food entre- we can even release a product.” that could drive a would-be distiller preneurs and lawyers—but I also want To Hardie, who at 60 bears the en- to drink. Or to drink more, anyway. to better understand how the rapidly dearingly rumpled look of an English “Most people have no idea what has expanding craft spirits sector fits into professor, the opportunity to contrib- to happen behind the scenes just to the local food movement. In fact, Cale- ute to Vermont’s working landscape and food-based economy is worth every bit of red tape. “This is what we are called to do,” he says. “We have a There’s no way I could actually make the relationship with the bees and with “ the land, and these relationships allow food—that’s just not who I am. But if I can us to do something really powerful, which is to provide good jobs that help help Vermont food producers navigate the families.” The business employs 15 legal landscape to accomplish their mission? part- and full-time workers. The move to distilling with raw That sounds pretty good to me.” honey was a natural and obvious Will Duane '15 extension of Hardie’s love for bees, which began when he was twelve years old on his parents’ farm in Maryland and continued into his adult years, bring the product to market,” explains donia Spirits’ hometown of Hardwick after his graduation from Cornell’s Duane. The paperwork Hardie showed had recently gained national attention School of Agriculture. For decades, him was incredibly complicated. as something of a local foods mecca, Hardie presided over Honey Gardens And it explains why Duane was with numerous small-scale producers Apiary in nearby Ferrisburg, Vermont, pulled off the bottling station. He’s popping up like dandelions in a June where he sold raw honey and other now using his legal training to help hayfield: vegetables, cheeses, seeds, honey-based products. To Hardie, the small-but-growing distillery chart meats, even soymilk and tofu. Over raw honey is more than a simple food its course through the complex set the past decade, Hardwick-area entre- product. “We could never heat the of rules and regulations necessary to preneurs had developed a symbiotic honey, because raw honey isn’t just a bring its products to market. In the and collaborative food system that sweetener. It’s medicine.” process, he’s positioned himself at was the envy of communities across But the purely agricultural chal- the forefront of the rapidly expanding North America. How, exactly, did hard lenges of running an apiary eventually niche of opportunity created by the alcohol fit into that system? wore thin. Some years, he’d lose half juncture of the local food movement I follow Hardie into his office, his hives to pests or disease. He began and the regulatory hurdles produc- where a pitchfork leans jauntily to consider ways in which raw honey ers must leap. “I’ve always wanted to against one wall. (“We tried raising could be utilized that did not create help the food producers in Vermont,” pigs on the spent mash,” he tells me. such vulnerability. Then there was says Duane, 28, who grew up in East “It didn’t work so well, but we’re grow- the fact that he came from a Scottish Montpelier, just a few minutes from ing some great garlic out there now!”) family that had been distilling whisky

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since 1857. Finally, Hardie came to see meat in Vermont,” Colman tells me, legal tools to sustainable agriculture. that he could have a greater posi- when I reach him on his cell phone, There is so much opportunity.” tive impact on the lives of his fellow “because of the regulations.” He’s on Better yet: for law schools such Vermonters if he shifted his love of his way to speak with a local spice as Vermont Law School, the intersec- agriculture from producing honey to maker about a potential collaboration of the local food movement and turning it into liquor. tion—yet another example of a healthy the multitude of legal challenges the “I live on a hill farm that 40 years and symbiotic local food system. “So movement embodies creates a grow- ago was home to 30 cows, and some- many of my decisions around what ing opportunity for legal experts to one was milking those 30 cows and product to make and how to make it apply their skills in a manner that making a living from them. You could are defined by law. Honestly, it’s the aligns with their social, environmen- never do that now if you were just sell- big skeleton in the closet. It’s over- tal, and entrepreneurial ethos. “I’ve ing milk. But that’s what the artisan whelming sometimes.” really caught the entrepreneurial bug cheese movement is doing; it’s making It took Colman nearly three years working at Caledonia Spirits,” says Will it possible to make a living from 30 to unravel the tangled web of state Duane. “But it’s not just entrepreneur- cows again. Craft distilling is doing the and federal regulations that stood ialism for profit; it’s entrepreneurial- same thing.” between him and a finished product ism with a social mission. I want to In large part, that’s because Cale- (he was able to produce fresh sausage see that my actions are benefiting the donia Spirits is committed to sourcing in the meantime). Even something as people of my community.” its raw ingredients locally. In fact, the simple as his labels came attached to a Of course, it can sometimes be day before we met, Hardie had just laundry list of requirements regarding difficult to maintain that view when arranged a large purchase of organic font size, white space, and placement. you’re finding your way through the corn from Butterworks Farm in West- And often, it felt to Colman as if he bewildering maze of rules set by the field, Vermont, less than an hour’s were educating the regulators, rather Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade drive to the north. In 2014, the distiller than the other way around. “It’s really Bureau (TTB). The TTB grants the will begin contracting local farmers to interesting working with an agency license that every distiller needs to produce barley and rye. “What we’re that regulates an industry but doesn’t practice his craft, and then demands seeing in Vermont is that distilling is actually understand your business. documentation of every step of the helping grain growers,” Hardie says. What I really need is someone who distilling process. To ensure that it “We’re creating these relationships, understands how my business works isn’t cheated out of a single penny of we’re creating all these connections, and also knows how the law works. the excise tax due on alcohol, the fed- and it’s touching a lot of lives. Nature Understanding how those two aspects eral government requires that distill- is beautiful. Farming is beautiful. relate in a way that works for everyone ers account for every drop. “There’s a But behind all that beautiful curtain, is critical.” lot of sifting through red tape,” Duane there’s a lot of hard work.” A surpris- Pete Colman didn’t have a Will acknowledges. “It can get frustrating.” ing amount of the farm work is done Duane to help him maneuver through But as Todd Hardie has learned, with legal tools. the regulatory terrain standing that occasional frustration is a neces- between him and a viable business. sary part of serving a larger purpose. ete Colman would agree with the “I don’t have a lawyer, but I should “The legal skills that Duane brings to sentiment. Colman is the founder probably get one,” he told me. Then he Caledonia are really important,” he Pof Vermont Salumi, a small-scale sighed. “But I don’t think there are any says. “And they complement what’s food producer tucked into the corner lawyers in this field.” equally important, which is a desire of a renovated barn on a dead-end The employment niche that busi- to serve a company and take care of road in Will Duane’s hometown of East nesses like Caledonia Spirits and Vermont and her people. That’s what Montpelier. Like Caledonia Spirits, Col- Vermont Salumi have created is likely really matters. That’s our real product. man’s business is rooted in one of the to only expand as the local food move- The rest of it, the bees, the honey, the most highly regulated food industries ment continues to gain traction across distilling, is just how we get there.” in the nation: meat. Adding a layer of the country. “The growth and interest complexity, Vermont Salumi produces is phenomenal,” says Professor Laurie Ben Hewitt is the author of The Town That dry-cured and fermented sausages Ristino, director of the Center for Food Saved, an exploration of Hardwick, Ver- such as salami and other charcuterie. Agriculture and Food Systems at VLS. mont, and the “agripreneurs” who transformed a “Most people told me that I “The great challenge of the new food local economy. He lives with his wife and sons on wouldn’t even be able to make cured movement is figuring out how to apply a 40-acre diversified hill farm in Cabot, Vermont.

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143534_loquitor.indd 19 1/9/14 10:56 PM PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB BOSSI PHOTOGRAPHY

Connected: Scott Cullen ’97, executive director of Grace Communications Foundation, immerses himself in the real world near his home on Long Island before starting his work day in New York City. LOQUITUR 20

143534_loquitor.indd 20 1/14/14 12:39 AM -wave foundation helps set the table, and the agenda. A new- By Jim Collins

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143534_loquitor.indd 21 1/14/14 12:39 AM n May 2011, an extraordinary range of experts and advocates In that way, GRACE is unusual in the gathered at Georgetown University to discuss the future of world of foundations. “We connect to food. Journalist Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation and a prominent movements in a way that is more im- critic of industrial agriculture, gave the opening remarks. Among other pan- pactful than traditional philanthropy,” elists and speakers that day were CEOs of organic food companies; the senior he says. technology officer from General Mills; the president of The Land Institute; FDA’s cullen credits part of his approach deputy commissioner for food; the outreach director for the National Farm to to the experience he had at a different School Network; a vice-president from the Grocery Manufacturers Association; kind of law school. A long-haired free food writers and editors; Senator Jon Tester (D-MT); poet and farmer Wendell spirit as a student, Cullen routinely Berry; restaurant owners; environmental academics; and Sam Kass, the White grabbed time to hike up to Kent’s House chef. Prince Charles, fresh off the international feeding frenzy surround- Ledge or get in a few snowboard runs ing his son’s royal wedding, gave the 40-minute keynote address, sounding an between classes. He valued the direct alarm on the depletion of the earth’s soils and the overtaxing of its water, on contact with nature that grounded what has become an untenable global food system at the mercy of the unstable the concepts he was learning in the price of oil. Then he laid out a coherent alternative vision for the future. classroom. His professors and fellow students didn’t mind the sweaty, or muddy, or sometimes barefoot student The Washington Post, the main GRACE Communications helped lead who dashed in just as class was start- sponsor of the conference, gave the the effort to market and promote the ing up—they valued intelligence and event prominence in its paper and on book’s important messages. opinions more than appearance. He its web site, and its name was attached gRACE’s executive director, Scott felt surrounded by expertise and pas- to the flurry of national media atten- Cullen ’97, a lifelong surfer who sion, by people who looked past con- tion that followed. Less prominent was caught a particular brand of “all-in” vention and acted according to their the behind-the-scenes co-sponsor, the mindset while a student at Vermont ideals. “What gets cultivated at Ver- GRACE Communications Foundation. Law School, plays a key role in scores mont Law School,” he says, “is the idea GRACE, a philanthropic foundation of similar collaborations for GRACE. of taking risks—to do what you think dedicated to raising public awareness He’s responsible for initiating and is right even if it’s hard. I learned that of the relationship between food, wa- cultivating relationships throughout from so many professors who had ter, and energy systems, provided sup- the nonprofit, corporate, and public- taken on Goliaths and won, who knew port for the conference with its savvy sector worlds, especially in arenas what it was like to be outgunned and media and communications expertise. where philanthropy and public policy under-resourced and have nothing but among those attending the con- touch the overlapping spheres of food, their creativity and intellect and nu- ference was Laurie David, an envi- water, and energy. Precisely because anced understanding of the law.” ronmentalist and author who had the seemingly intractable problems of In his first job out of law school, been so motivated by a slide show on a healthy environment are complex Cullen had the opportunity to work climate change by Al Gore that she’d and interrelated, Cullen’s extensive for a start-up nonprofit. He wrote approached Gore afterward, and ulti- network and knowledge of the issues the incorporation papers, set up the mately produced the award-winning have positioned him to recognize accounting system, hired staff. “It documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. At potential synergies, leverage points, was all new to me and incredibly Georgetown, she was similarly moved and unexpected matches that aren’t challenging,” he recalls, “but VLS had by the Prince of Wales—and ended up obvious on their face. He knows how given me the confidence and thought finding a publisher willing to spread the to read the waves. He has a talent for process, the critical thinking part message to a wider audience through making an ambitious idea seem pos- that is broadly applicable to so many a slim, elegant book called The Prince’s sible, and mobilizing people behind things. I wasn’t daunted.” He made a Speech: On the Future of Food. Partnering it—and then providing the program- name for himself working on coastal with Laurie David and Rodale (and cre- ming or financial support (often both) and marine conservation issues with ating the web site and media support), to help them put the idea into action. The Nature Conservancy, and helped

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143534_loquitor.indd 22 1/9/14 10:56 PM G RA P H Y B ROB BO SSI P HOTO

Beach Boy: In 2013, Cullen received the Jeff and Genie Shields Prize from Vermont Law School, awarded in part for his work on behalf of marine environments.

a local advocacy group near his home thropic organizations and individual on Long Island permanently close the donors puts him in a unique position Department of Energy’s leaking nu- to identify trends and opportunities. clear reactor at Brookhaven National To pick just one example: he’s getting “What gets cultivated Laboratory. The GRACE Foundation to know donors who are growing im- became aware of the grassroots effort patient with the federal government’s at Vermont Law School to shut down the Brookhaven reac- slow response to climate change—and is the idea of taking tor—and noticed Cullen’s effective- who might be encouraged to see a ness. The foundation hired him as an faster payback in supporting initia- risks—to do what you informal policy advisor, then brought tives involving agriculture, a huge think is right even if him on staff as a senior policy advi- sector for carbon emissions. While sor, then promoted him to executive he’s busy making those connections, it’s hard.” director. In addition to his position GRACE is helping articulate messaging at GRACE, Cullen serves as a director and sharpening the speaking points Scott Cullen ’97 on the boards of the Environmental for nonprofits working on sustain- Grantmakers Association and the Sus- able agriculture, to make sure they’re tainable Agriculture and Food System making a consistent, compelling con- Funders Network, and is a member of nection between their work and the Vermont Law School’s Environmental changing climate. In this and dozens Advisory Board. of other ways behind the scenes, Cullen’s deep knowledge of philan- GRACE Communications Foundation

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143534_loquitor.indd 23 1/14/14 12:39 AM is doing more than playing match- Accessible resources. All with public of minutes spent in conversation maker (often with matching funds); education in mind. about the merits of the issue in the it’s seeding wide swaths of an entire One particularly successful partner- offices and committees and kitchens, movement, and setting an agenda. ship has been a disarmingly simple and in the weekly conversations of the At the same time, GRACE contin- campaign called “Meatless Mondays”— those who are reminded every time ues to build on its history of innova- a catchy initiative to get Americans they sit down to eat on Monday. tive public outreach and education to eat a little less meat. Over the past Setting the table for a new, more campaigns, sometimes under its own several years the idea has flowed into sustainable kind of agriculture is just name, sometimes anonymously, and the mainstream. Meatless Mondays one side of the equation. The other often under the names of partners. have been endorsed by Paul McCart- part is getting people to come to the GRACE is behind the award-winning ney and celebrity chef Mario Batali; healthier table, and eat. animation “The Meatrix,” a kid-friendly they’ve been institutionalized in Oprah GRACE is working both sides of the series about factory farming styled Winfrey’s cafeteria, in Toyota’s U.S. table, and making a difference. loosely on The Matrix. It’s helped create plants, and in countless restaurants Amen to that. web-based initiatives including the and high schools and family dining Ecocentric blog, the Eat Well Guide, rooms across the country. Cullen and the Sustainable Table. It pro- doesn’t have to point it out, but the Jim Collins is a freelance writer and editor. His vides a user-friendly online calculator ripple effect is implied: not only the fifteen-year-old daughter attends The Northwest for estimating your water footprint. thousands of meals consumed each School in Seattle, Washington, where the weekly Downloadable curriculum materials week that no longer contain meat—but cafeteria menu includes “Meatless Mondays.” for grades K-4. Videos. White papers. the thousands and tens of thousands

The Prince’s Speech

This is the challenge facing us. We have to maintain a supply of healthy food at affordable prices when there is mounting pressure on nearly every element affecting the process. In some cases we are pushing nature’s life-support systems so far, they are struggling to cope with what we ask of them. Soils are being depleted, demand for water is growing ever more voracious, and the entire system is at the mercy of an increasingly fluctuating price of oil. Remember that when we talk about agriculture and food production, we are talking about a complex and interrelated system and it is simply not possible to single out just one objective, like maximizing production, without also ensuring that the system which delivers those increased yields meets society’s other needs. . . . These should include the maintenance of public health, the safeguarding of rural employment, the protection of the environment, and contributing to overall quality of life. So we must not shy away from the big questions. Chiefly, how can we create a more sustainable approach to agriculture while recognizing those wider and important social and economic parameters—an approach that is capable of feeding the world with a global population rapidly heading for 9 billion? And can we do so amid so many competing demands on land, in an increasingly volatile climate and when levels of the planet’s biodiversity are under such threat or in serious decline? As I see it, these pressures mean we haven’t much choice in the matter. We are going to have to take some very brave steps. We will have to develop much more sustainable, or durable forms of food production because the way we have done things up to now are no longer as viable as they once appeared to be. —From “On the Future of Food,” HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales

LOQUITUR 24

143534_loquitor.indd 24 1/8/14 4:22 PM Across the state and around the globe, Vermont Law School grads are refining—and defining—The ingredients of a healthy diet.

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Michael Formica ’98, photographed on December 2, 2013, Westover Market Butcher Shop, Arlington, Virginia.

143534_loquitor.indd 26 1/14/14 12:39 AM BIG BACON Michael Formica ’98

By Ian Aldrich

hile it’s become common in recent years to espouse the virtues of small, localized farming, Michael Formica isn’t one of the movement’s evangelists. As Chief Environmental WCounsel for the National Pork Producers Council in Washington, D.C., he works at the center of a $15 billion a year industry that employs more than a million people. “I’m ‘Big Bacon,’” he says, with a laugh. When it comes to the bad rap that large-scale farming has taken over the last decade, however, Formica doesn’t kid around.

“There’s this vision of what a farm (EPA). Some days he’s helping to craft ners have who I run into. We’ll bring looks like, but nobody wants to do the legislation, like the agricultural provi- in these experts from big law firms work,” he says. “If we had 200 million sions in the 2009 American Clean and I’ll just sit there and scratch my Americans each with 10 acres it would Energy and Security Act; other days head, thinking, You went to Harvard and be an inefficient way for the country he’s firing up a response on behalf of you don’t know this?” to produce food. It would be an ineffi- the livestock sector to, say, the EPA’s cient way for the country to operate.” renewable fuel standards. Size has its place, says Formica, “[The government] is like a school when it comes to contending with en- yard bully, until you bloody them up a vironmental issues. Take something few times,” says Formica, who previ- like manure. By focusing on nutrition ously worked as the director of Envi- “We’ll bring in these and feed efficiency, the pork indus- ronmental Affairs at the U.S. Cham- try has made “dramatic” reductions ber of Commerce. “They’re not going experts from big law in what it generates, even while the to pay you much respect. But when firms and I’ll just sit number of animals has essentially you force it to turn over a check and remained the same. “Across the board pay you a lot of money, your clients there and scratch my for the pork industry, in every envi- are really happy and the government head, thinking, You ronmental metric, we see pollution starts to listen to you.” decreasing from farms because they It’s a job that requires Formica to went to Harvard and you have the capital and resources and boldly, quickly come up to speed on don’t know this?” expertise to make advancements,” all areas of environmental law. He he says. credits his training at Vermont Law At the heart of Formica’s work School for his ability to do that. “The Michael Formica ’98 is the push and pull of government school taught me how to critically regulation. He’s in steady contact think and evaluate problems,” he with cabinet officials, Congress, and says. “And the base level that I’ve got federal agencies, most frequently the in any environmental issue is above Environmental Protection Agency and beyond anything other practitio-

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143534_loquitor.indd 27 1/8/14 4:23 PM arranging logistics for a dairy busi- supports 60 cows that rotate through ness, and caring for her children—four 145 acres of pasture over the course ORGANIC boys, ages six to thirteen. of a year, producing around 1,750 The sharp turn came at South Roy- gallons of milk per week. A portion Amy Huyffer ’00 alton’s Crossroads Bar & Grill in No- of the milk is turned into pints of vember 1999. A cover band was play- premium ice cream. Recently, any ing when Huyffer and her moot court extra production has gone to Vermont partner stepped out to celebrate the Farmstead Cheese in nearby Wood- By Kristen Fountain end of their trial. She teased her first stock, to become a parmesan cheese dance partner, saying she thought she that is still aging and has yet to hit the n good weather it takes 22 min- had heard that the boys from Strafford market. In such an uncertain line of utes to drive from Rock Bottom had better skills. “He said, ‘You want work, Huyffer and Ransom, the lawyer IFarm in Strafford to the Vermont Earl,’ and brought him over,” Huyffer and the farmer, continually look for Law School campus. Amy Huyffer, who recalls. That spring, Huyffer was mar- efficiencies, higher margins, new marco-owns and operates the farm and ried to South Strafford native, Earl kets. And they keep dancing. its Strafford Organic Creamery, knows Ransom. Yes, the volume is small compared the route well. She spent her final year Ransom’s goal was to revive his to most commercial herds. But their at VLS commuting after a whirlwind family’s dairy farm. To do that, the cows are content and the results romance changed the course of couple gambled on organic certifica- are delicious. “You can’t do this on a her career. tion and the ability to process and sell bigger scale and have it be as good,” As a first-year law student Huyffer their own milk. Huyffer says. aspired to be a principled small-town A dozen years later, Strafford lawyer like Atticus Finch. Instead, her Organic Creamery employs eight local days now begin with four a.m. milking, people outside the family. The farm

become used to the varied demands full-time job for the Warners, and their of a start-up enterprise. After sev- jellies are sold online and in stores JAMMIN’ eral hours of paperwork and phone across 13 states, with 3,000 jars of the calls, it’s off to Waterbury Center, 45 stuff shipped from the couple’s home Nancy and miles away, where the couple rents a each month. commercial kitchen, to cook and jar The company’s success has been Walter Warner ’12 their jellies. Then, maybe around 10 expedited by Walter’s legal education. p.m., it’s back home to prepare more His work for the new business has run By Ian Aldrich labels and shipments. Typically, they the gamut, from setting up the Limited don’t get to sleep until 1:30 a.m. “Long Liability Corporation (LLC) to weed- he local and craft food days,” says Walter. “If we just do 12 ing through Vermont’s Department movement comes in many hours, it’s been an easy one.” of Health regulations to sorting out Tflavors—that’s a big part Potlicker’s story begins in the fall the trademark registration process. of its appeal. But almost all of the of 2011, when Nancy, home alone A Food Regulation and Policy course movement’s farmers, producers, and while Walter had an externship in he took at VLS helped him navigate entrepreneurs share the first-hand Washington, D.C., fretted about run- the specific and sometimes obscure knowledge of how hard it is to make a ning out of fruit for the winter. She federal regulations for labeling. “We’ve living selling carefully created food in started canning—“It was an addic- definitely saved ourselves a few thou- small batches. tion,” she says—and quickly latched sand dollars in legal fees,” Walter says. Nearly every morning, Walter War- on to jelly making. She experimented In a portion of the food economy ner and his wife Nancy stumble out with unusual flavors made from the famous for its wafer-thin profit mar- of bed around 7:30 a.m., fire up the beer of Vermont microbreweries and gins, those thousands of dollars make coffeemaker, and get to work: emailing wines such as burgundy and chablis. a difference. But there’s a deeper customers, labeling jars, contacting By the holidays, creations were gain- difference the legal training makes: suppliers, processing orders. As the ing attention at different fairs; the it has to do with self-sufficiency; owners and sole employees of The following summer Potlicker jellies hit with personally understanding the Potlicker Kitchen, a Bethel, Vermont- farmers markets and stores in central laws that govern your business and based jelly maker, the Warners have Vermont. Today, the company is a your livelihood.

LOQUITUR 28

143534_loquitor.indd 28 1/8/14 4:23 PM FOOD FIGHTER Paige Tomaselli ’04

By Jamie Renner

rom her office in San Fran- conditions at factory farms,” she says. and environmental groups, compelled cisco, the Senior Staff At- After asking a professor and mentor, the FDA to withdraw its approval for Ftorney at the Center for Food Susan Armstrong, how to make a dif- three of four arsenic-based animal Safety (CFS), Paige Tomaselli, lives to ference, Tomaselli was encouraged to feed additives and 98 of 101 associated fight “factory farms.” Her mission: to go to law school and then work as a arsenic-based animal drugs. According protect animals, the environment, and non-profit advocate. to the center, despite being deleteri- the public health from the practices At Vermont Law, Tomaselli studied ous to the public health, “arsenic is which these farms routinely employ. animal law and environmental law, added to poultry feed for the purposes Indeed, Tomaselli and her D.C.-based participated in the Environmental and of inducing faster weight gain on less organization have multiple cases Natural Resources Law Clinic, served feed, and creating the perceived ap- pending in federal and state courts. As as President of the Student Animal pearance of a healthy color in meat plaintiffs, CFS has sued the Food and Legal Defense Fund, and published a from chickens, turkeys, and hogs.” Drug Administration (FDA), seeking “Detailed Discussion of International She is not stopping to celebrate. access to records regarding controver- Comparative Animal Cruelty Laws.” The way Tomaselli sees it, the FDA sial animal growth drugs; the Envi- She focused on animal welfare and withdrew only 98 of its 101 prior ap- ronmental Protection Agency (EPA), the environmental implications provals. “Now,” she says, in addition for withdrawing a proposal that would of agribusiness. to her expanding caseload, her work have allowed the agency to collect After VLS, she worked for two years on the Board of the San Francisco Per- information, including numbers of as a staff attorney at Sher Leff in San maculture Guild, and her move to the animals, from so-called Concentrated Franciso, representing public water East Bay (where she is busy creating Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs); suppliers and public agencies seek- a garden and habitats for ducks and and the state of Texas, for allegedly ing remediation from petrochemical bees), “I’m working to stop the other failing to enforce sanitation require- corporations for groundwater con- three approvals.” ments against large egg producers. As tamination. In 2008, she joined the defendant-interveners, the Center for Center for Food Safety, a non-profit Food Safety has sought to uphold lim- public interest and environmental its on CAFO pollution under the Clean advocacy organization “working to “Unless you search for Water Act. protect human health and the environ- the information, you Why target factory farms? Toma- ment by curbing the use of harmful selli cites animal welfare violations, food production technologies and by won’t see it. It’s not in environmental hazards, and worker promoting organic and other forms abuse. “Most people don’t understand of sustainable agriculture.” The center the news, not in your the gravity of the issues,” she says. offered Tomaselli the opportunity face. If more people “Unless you search for the informa- to re-focus on the issue that had tion, you won’t see it. It’s not in the moved her to attend law school in the knew, they wouldn’t news, not in your face. If more people first place. necessarily not eat knew, they wouldn’t necessarily not “Historically, it’s been hard to find eat meat, but they’d choose more care- ways to challenge them,” according meat, but they’d choose fully what they did eat.” to Tomaselli. In her view, “power- more carefully what Tomaselli first studied factory ful lobbying, government subsidies, farming at Humboldt State University, weak regulatory enforcement, and they did eat.” where, as a philosophy major, she the prevelance of confidential busi- took courses in Environmental Ethics, ness information” inhibit reform. But Paige Tomaselli ’04 the Ethics of Genetic Engineering, she is already winning her battles. In and Animal Ethics. “CAFOs brought October 2013, CFS and eight other U.S. me into this world. I was appalled by food safety, agriculture, public health,

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143534_loquitor.indd 29 1/8/14 4:23 PM Turning the Tide Meghan Jeans JD’02/MSEL’03

By Kristen Fountain

he Red Lobster restaurant and Stop & Shop supermarket chains)— ing, and improve seafood traceability. chain and the New England to help them become better stewards They also help their partners engage TAquarium may not seem of the marine resources upon which in more discrete issues, particularly like the most natural of partners, their businesses depend. where there are direct threats to the but Meghan Jeans, director of the The aquarium’s team of wild fisher- sustainability of a company’s seafood Boston-based aquarium’s Conserva- ies and aquaculture specialists handle supply. In this light, the U.S. seafood tion Programs, is busy making this a wide-range of activities, including industry can be a global force for posi- connection work. In this case, Darden conducting environmental risk assess- tive change—whether it’s opposing the Restaurants—the parent company of ments of their partners’ supply chains; proposed Pebble Mine project that well-known restaurants such as Olive providing procurement recommenda- threatens the commercial and ecologi- Garden, The Capitol Grille, Yard House, tions; developing educational materi- cal health of Alaska’s Bristol Bay or and Red Lobster—is committed to als for staff, suppliers and customers; pushing for reforms in the harvest and advancing seafood sustainability. In ad- labor practices in the Honduran spiny dition to leading the aquarium’s conser- lobster fishery. vation policy efforts, Jeans marshals a The aquarium’s fisheries program is diverse team of scientific and technical “We recognize that also working with other advocacy and staff to help Darden and other major research groups on several comple- seafood-buying companies identify improving ocean health mentary projects. NEA has partnered practical steps towards that goal. and inspiring a sense with the National Geographic Society Unsustainable fishing and aquacul- and Conservation International, for ture practices pose significant threats of stewardship requires example, to develop the world’s first to environmental and human health that we bring a diverse comprehensive Ocean Health Index, “a worldwide. Companies that rely on sort of Dow Jones for the ocean,” Jeans those resources are feeling mounting range of expertise to notes. The index will describe how pressure to address these threats in a the policies of different countries are more holistic and coordinated fashion. the table.” affecting marine health with a single Increasingly, corporate/NGO partner- number on a hundred-point scale. ships are becoming a key strategy for Meghan Jeans JD’02/MSEL’03 The job involves “a little bit of seafood-buying companies to mitigate everything,” says Jeans, who took the risk and demonstrate good corporate helm there in January 2012. Working at citizenship. Meanwhile, conservation and facilitating corporate support of the intersection of law, policy, science, organizations like the New England key conservation initiatives. In addi- and business reflects the reality that Aquarium recognize that private-sector tion, there is increasing public (and sustainable food issues and their solu- corporations can provide critical mar- sometimes shareholder) expectation tions will require a multi-disciplinary ket and political leverage to influence that companies will utilize both their approach. “It definitely promotes ADD,” positive changes on the water. Towards buying power as well as their politi- says Jeans, “but we recognize that that end, the aquarium’s “Sustain- cal muscle to drive change. The New improving ocean health and inspiring a able Seafood Program” partners with England Aquarium facilitates corporate sense of stewardship requires that we companies—including Darden, Gorton’s engagement on federal legislative and bring a diverse range of expertise to Seafood, The Fresh Market, and Ahold regulatory issues to strengthen fisher- the table.” USA (the parent company of the Giant ies management, deter illegal fish-

LOQUITUR 30

143534_loquitor.indd 30 1/8/14 4:23 PM e nc e Lawr h t i e K by o t /pho CI

Tuna fishing boat in Manta, Ecuador.

143534_loquitor.indd 31 1/14/14 12:39 AM A special welcome to the Class of 2013! The Vermont Law School Alumni Association (VLSAA) welcomes you to a group of over 6,000 VLS alumni— in all 50 states and in 30 countries around the world. For information about the VLSAA, visit http://connect.vermontlaw.edu/VLSAA.

Don’t forget! Log on to vlsConnect and update your alumni profile today. You don’t want to miss out on: · Networking, educational, and happy hour events in your area · Homecoming Weekend · Campus news and on-campus event invitations · Career Services announcements · Searching the online Alumni Directory · VLSAA election information · Class-specific news, class gift updates, and Class Notes requests · and of course, Loquitur!

http://connect.vermontlaw.edu LOQUITUR 32

143534_loquitor.indd 32 1/14/14 12:39 AM class notes

Notes from the Vermont Law lies, not just as Louis Pasteur said, in that food brings us together, and yet it School Alumni Association our tenacity, but most clearly in our also pulls us apart. The VLS Center for Congratulations to all my fellow VLS- incredible range of vision, geography Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) ers—we are now the proud alumni of and culture, and approach to problem will work to bridge those divides, to “a law school of a certain age.” The solving. draw on the diversity of our many 2013/2014 academic year represents Reflecting on where we have been alumni, particularly those working on VLS’ 40th anniversary. As many of us also leads to reflection about where we food and agricultural issues, and to know, hitting that milestone brings should next head. As an institution, directly tackle the many interrelated with it a certain amount of introspec- VLS continues to build on the diversity environmental, social, regulatory, tion and reflection. of its alumni, training the next genera- health, immigration, political, and Part of that process includes tion of advocates and problem solvers. cultural issues tied up in that simple looking at where we have been: VLS We are taking education and scholar- concept of “food.” has graduated over 6,500 advocates, ship to a higher level—examining the I hope this issue of the Loquitur awarding JDs, Masters, and LLMs to hard issues that confront our country gives you plenty of food for thought. alumni who now live and work in all and our world, from our broad and 50 states, and almost 30 countries. We multi-disciplinary perspective. Sincerely, have graduates impacting our com- one of the many issues VLS has Karis L. North ’95 munities and our world, doing a broad committed to studying, food, is President, Vermont Law School range of work: in federal, state, and something many of us take for granted, Alumni Association local governments; in private indus- something that is a struggle for oth- try; in law firms large and small; in ers, and something intimately tied to [email protected] consulting; in non-profits; in NGOs; almost every hot-button issue making http://connect.vermontlaw.edu/vlsaa in every sector, industry, and subject headlines today. Having just finished area you could think of. Our strength the winter holiday season, we know

1976 1977 1979 Mark Portnoy [email protected] Deborah Bucknam [email protected] [email protected]

Sam Slaiby reports that on June 1, 2013, the Torrington, Connecticut office of Manasse, Slaiby & Leard, LLP relocated to 507 East Main Street, 1978 Suite 107, Torrington, CT 06790. Please email [email protected] if you are 1980 interested in serving as class secretary. Scott Cameron [email protected]

Scott Cameron, Rick Mullaly, and Ray Obuchowski recently participated

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143534_loquitor.indd 33 1/9/14 10:56 PM class notes

in a golf tournament at Hanover Coun- Fourth Degree member of the Knights ing in the Hanover/Norwich area. We try Club that raised approximately of Columbus, which is the highest enjoy working with them and getting $25,000 for the Chris Raleigh ’80 & ranking. Fourth Degree members to know them. I am thrilled to see how Travis Raleigh Memorial Fund at VLS. are the visible arm of the Knights of much progress VLS is making!” The tournament was organized by Columbus and frequently appear in pa- Kevin Raleigh in honor of his brother rades wearing the black tuxedo, cape, Chris and ten year old nephew Travis, chapeau, and sword. who died in a tragic car accident in Vermont on January 12, 2012. The endowed Fund was established at VLS to honor the memories of Chris and Travis, and the surviving members of 1983 his immediate family, wife Anastasia Martha Lyons and son Jimmy. The Fund, which is [email protected] administered by the Dean of Stu- dents, provides monetary support to VLS students in times of need, crisis, Holly Dustin ’84 and Grady George ’00 or opportunity, whether personal or academic. To date we have raised Leslie Nielsen embarked on a hiking approximately $35,000 toward the tour this summer through Zion Na- $50,000 goal. tional Park with Jennifer Diffley ’15, Kathy Hassey ’84, and Laura Rehfeldt. They were prepared for extreme heat, but ran into record monsoon rains, lightning, and incredible scenery. Dur- 1981 ing the summer, Jennifer worked with Tim McGrath Members of the Class of 1983 at their thirtieth Leslie and Laura at the Clark County, [email protected] reunion. Nevada, District Attorney’s Office in the Civil Division. Jennifer is back in South Royalton for her second year at VLS. Kathy still lives in South Royalton and occasionally visits Leslie for ski- 1984 ing and backpacking trips in Utah. 1982 Please email [email protected] if you are Larr Kelly interested in serving as class secretary. [email protected] Holly Dustin and Grady George Michele Kupersmith reports “Still in ’00 are Senior Financial Advisors at the Vermont House, fourth term. Ver- Ledyard Financial Advisors, with offic- mont Legislature in session January es in Hanover and New London, New to May but you wouldn’t know it by the Hampshire. They advise clients about volume of work most of us carry out how to manage their wealth and about off-session and the actual activity in the tax-efficient transferring of assets the State House. Meanwhile, I am fol- in connection with estate planning lowing the work of our Dean, Marc Mi- and philanthropic giving. In addition haly, and am excited and proud! VLS they work with clients on financial Leslie Nielsen ’84, Jennifer Diffley ’15, Kathy is leading the way in changing how planning and retirement planning. “It Hassey ’84, and Laura Rehfeldt in Zion National education is delivered and I say “thank is fun work” notes Dustin, who lives in Park you”! BTW, he cited Professor David Brookfield, Vermont. George, who lives Firestone as being a big player—I am in Royalton, Vermont with his wife and not surprised! Hi to all!” four children, observes: “It is great to Ron Peles has recently become a see so many VLS graduates practic-

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143534_loquitor.indd 34 1/8/14 4:24 PM class notes

U.S. Small Business Administration, 1985 1988 becoming the third-only attorney in Please email [email protected] if you are [email protected] Rhode Island to receive that qualifica- interested in serving as class secretary. tion.

Frank Twohill recently won his eleventh election to the Branford, Con- necticut, Representative Town Meet- ing; this is the legislative body for the 1991 town. Frank has served on the body Peg Stolfa for 21 years, and he will chair the $60 [email protected] million Education Committee.

Members of the Class of 1988 at their twenty 1986 fifth reunion. 1992 [email protected] Margaret Olnek [email protected] Lynne Mitchell hosted Aimee God- dard ’15 for a legal internship this 1989 Tom Basting is the co-chair of the summer at New Hampshire Hospital [email protected] litigation section at Briggs and Morgan, (NHH) in Concord. Aimee worked on P.A. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He fo- a variety of legal matters affecting cuses his practice on defending major NHH’s patients and successfully litigat- waste companies, utilities, railroads, ed a hearing, which ended just before manufacturers, and trucking compa- she headed back to begin her second nies in a “veritable smorgasbord” of year at VLS. Lynne says “We enjoyed 1990 claims. He is vice-chair of the Henne- and appreciated Aimee’s contributions Mario Gallucci pin County Bar Association ethics com- this summer and we are confident she [email protected] mittee responsible for investigating will be successful in her future legal ethical complaints and recommending career.” James Cantlon and his wife Holly discipline for violations. Tom writes: welcomed a daughter, Reardyn Joy “My son is a junior at the University of Cantlon, into the world on October Minnesota and is majoring in bio- 22, 2010. He is still with the U.S. Small chemistry. He’s generally busy with lab Business Administration Office of work or on campus activities, but he 1987 General Counsel in Washington, D.C. usually stops by my house on Sundays Mark Ouellette and was promoted to Deputy Associ- to deplete my beer fridge and say hi. [email protected] ate General Counsel for Labor and My daughter is a junior in high school Employment Litigation in September. and just significantly increased my Let him know if you are ever in D.C. to insurance rates by finally getting her meet for dinner and drinks. driver’s license. As for me, I am getting Mario Gallucci announces that his remarried next March after a several new television show, called “Partners year hiatus from the institution. My in Crime,” is scheduled to air on the fiancé is a doctor of musical arts and a USA Network this spring. The show professional cellist with the Minnesota focuses on Mario’s criminal practice in Opera Orchestra, so it’s fair to say that New York. I’ve outkicked my coverage. Oh, and Chris Rhodes recently earned the we are learning to play bridge (really). I prestigious certification of Desig- occasionally run into Molly Hapgood, nated 504 Closing Attorney from the not literally yet, as she bikes and I run Office of the General Counsel for the around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.

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Tim ’90 and Kathryn ’91 Fetterly live alumni every day. She says “I live with in my neighborhood and we still get my 10 year old daughter in a great together for drinks, cards, and dinner neighborhood in Burlington, a few (well, not always dinner).” doors away from Bob Behrens JD/ Dave Foley JD’92/MSL’93 reports MSL’93 and his family. I’ve recently that he and wife Heather are doing well. taken up Mah Jong and skydiving. They have two kids: Walt (15 years old) Spent a lovely evening in August on the and Megan (12 years old). Dave success- shores of Lake Champlain visiting with fully ran for reelection to a third term as Margaret Olnek and John Beiswenger Chautauqua County (New York) District JD/MSL.” Attorney this November. He recently Claire H. Prince MSL is Special Fred Zeytoonjian and Chris Lynch (both JD/ had dinner with Chief Justice Roberts. Counsel with the South Carolina Depart- MSL’92) hiking in the Mt. Rose Wilderness, Nevada. ment of Health and Environmental Control’s Office of General Counsel (SCDHEC), working with the Brown- fields, Hazardous Waste, and Under- ground Storage Tank programs. Prior to joining the Office of General Counsel, 1993 Claire was the Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Land and Waste Management Lainey Schwartz at SCDHEC. After sending her youngest [email protected] son off to college at the University of Dave Foley JD’92/MSEL’93 with Chief Justice John California, Los Angeles, Claire enjoyed Roberts. an “empty nest” cruise on the Rhine River in October. Leslie Fourton JD’92/MSL’93 just Tim Shea is a partner at Certil- produced, played on, and released a man Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP in new jazz/jazz fusion CD entitled ‘Out of Hauppauge, New York, specializing in Nowhere!’ that is getting good reviews. Land Use and Real Estate. He has a It generally falls somewhere between wonderful wife, Danielle, and three little post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B boys, Brady, Cassius, and Emmitt (ages grandeur. His day job is with a team of 3, 2 and 1!). twenty attorneys at Mayer Brown LLP In the past two years, Carole Wacey in New York in Securities Litigation got married, bought a 1910 round house Members of the Class of 1993 at their with a focus on Securitization. (“it’s a turret”) in Forest Hills (Queens, twentieth reunion. Jeffrey Lee JD/MSL left his litiga- New York), and began a new position as tion partnership at GCA Law Partners Vice President of Education at WNET/ in Silicon Valley in May to join his Thirteen (after running a nonprofit for client Live365, Inc.—an internet radio the past 10 years). She hopes to hear network—as Senior Vice President and from you if you are passing through Chief Legal Officer. He says he has had NYC. fun working with creative people in the Fred Zeytoonjian JD/MSL reports: music and technology industries. His “On my last work trip to California I met wife Tilly just became the executive Alan Lewis ‘93 for coffee at the Ferry director of her transportation agency Building Marketplace in San Francisco. I in San Francisco, and their boys, seven then drove to Reno, Nevada to hang out and four years old, are keeping them with Chris “Eddie” Lynch JD/MSL for Alan Strasser JD/MSL’93 submitted this picture “crazy busy.” Life is good out in north- the weekend. We lost money gambling, of the alumni-student ultimate frisbee game ern California. drank Wet Woodies, hiked up to a wa- at Homecoming Weekend 2013. Pictured in the Jessica Oski is now a lobbyist in terfall in the Mt. Rose Wilderness and front row, from left: Matt Iler ’93, Alan, and Montpelier, Vermont with Sirotkin & ate some great food. Oh yeah, I also fell Patrick Kennedy ’93. Necrason and works with many VLS into Lake Tahoe.”

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1994 Caryn Waxman and fellow attorney 1998 [email protected] Amber Barber announce the opening of Barber & Waxman Family Law As- [email protected] Walter French reports that after 17 sociates, PLC in Burlington, Vermont. years as a sole practitioner in Brattle- Caryn is a member of the Family Law boro, Vermont, his wife Jodi French Section of the Vermont Bar Associa- has joined his practice. (Walter also tion, and presents advanced trainings reports that he got married a while in family law matters to audiences back.) Jodi read onto the bar under around New England. She is a 2010 Walter’s supervision (“Buy One, Get graduate of Leadership Champlain, One!”) and practiced at Fisher & Fish- and was selected for the Excellence in er, also in Brattleboro, for five years Executive Leadership (ExcEL) Class of before forming French & French with 2012, both programs presented by the Walter. They will not need to change Champlain Regional Chamber of Com- the F&F monogramming on the bling merce. She currently serves as a mem- Jodi brought with her. ber and chair on the hearing panel of Members of the Class of 1998 in the the Vermont Professional Responsibil- photobooth at their fifteenth reunion. ity Board. Caryn holds the uncommon distinction as a Fellow of the American Nicole Paquette recently moved back Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and to the Washington, D.C. area, and cur- 1995 provides clients with comprehensive rently serves as the Vice President of Karen Moore services for all family law matters. Wildlife Protection for The Humane [email protected] Society of the United States.

Peter Cooper married Pascal Maguin on August 20 in New York City. Peter is a partner at Cilenti & Cooper, PLLC, an employment law practice in New York. 1999 Kevin Cruz has been with Gray Joy Kanwar-Nori Duffy, LLP in Encino, California since [email protected] 2004. He specializes in business law, employment law, and insurance law. Richard A. Levitt JD/MSEL is pleased Kevin recently obtained a $15 million to announce that he was recently named judgment in a real estate trust matter. Caryn Waxman ’96 Associate Director of Corporate & Foun- dation Relations at Brandeis University.

1996 [email protected] 1997 2000 Cheryl Deshaies [email protected] Judith George JD/MSEL was just [email protected] relocated by her employer, Caterpillar Kimberly Pastewski MSEL submits Inc., to the Chicago metropolitan area that she and her husband, Alex in November 2013. She’ll be handling Pastewski ’02, moved from Vermont commercial and corporate governance to Florida, as he has accepted a won- matters for a subsidiary, Electro- derful new job with the NBC TV Sta- Motive Diesel. Her family is looking tion in Tampa. Alex recently received forward to returning to a large city. the Committee on Temporary Shelter Judith previously spent eleven years (COTS) 2013 Wilma Rayta Volunteer in Washington, D.C., where she met of the Year Award for the CD for COTS: her husband, Nicholas, a D.C. native. Harmonies for Humanity, Volume 1.

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Resources where she successfully child, Jack; they are enjoying parent- 2001 advocated enactment of regulations to hood and enjoy taking pictures of Jack [email protected] historically expand oyster sanctuaries which will surely cause him great grief and restore blue crabs in the Chesa- later in life. Susan is a Principal at the peake Bay; legislation to deter fish law firm of Wuestling & James, LC, in and wildlife poaching, expand shellfish St. Louis, Missouri, where she focuses aquaculture, improve boating safety, on complex litigation, insurance cov- and increase funding for fisheries erage, and legal malpractice defense. 2002 management; and an Executive Order Susan can be reached at dimond@ Paige Bush-Scruggs preparing Maryland for the impacts wuestlingandjames.com. [email protected] of climate change. She authored and negotiated the Forest Conservation Jennifer (Tomas) Van Wie JD’02/ Act of 2013, making Maryland the first MSEL’03 announces that on July 25, state in the nation to enact a no-net- 2013, Cecilia Rose Van Wie arrived. loss of forest policy and a statewide Cecilia joins brother Isaac (four and tree canopy goal. Olivia recently met a half years old) and Abigail (three up with Cheryl Coiro MSEL and Molly years old). Jennifer will have reached Mimier JD/MSEL’05 in Washington, the 10-year mark as an Assistant At- D.C., to wish Molly safe travels as she torney General in the Illinois Attorney moves to Lima, Peru. Molly will begin General’s Office Environmental Bureau her new career as an independent con- Jack Dimond, son of Susan (Schwartzkopf) in February 2014. The family resides in sultant for the United States Agency Dimond ’04 and Anthony Dimond. Third Lake, Illinois. for International Development, after working as a Foreign Service Officer and Contracts Attorney for the U.S. State Department. 2003 2005 Shannon Bañaga Meg Munsey and Kelly Singer [email protected] 2004 [email protected] Spencer Hanes On February 23, 2013, Steve Brown [email protected] married Lauren Henry in Grafton, Vermont. VLS alumni David Singer Caroline Fisher still lives in Boston ‘04, Kelly Smith Singer JD/MSEL, and is currently enjoying her ‘new’ Meg Munsey, and Jamie Bush were role as the Director of Government in attendance. Steve and Lauren live Affairs for the New England region for in Brattleboro where he is a Deputy Otsuka America Pharmaceutical. The State’s Attorney for Windham County. focus of her work is on mental health policy and advocacy, which builds off of her work on health care reform Members of the Class of 2003 at their tenth initiatives in the Massachusetts state reunion. legislature. Best ‘bonus’ of the job.... Vermont is in her territory! Olivia Campbell Andersen MSEL now Susan Schwartzkopf married An- works for Maryland Governor Mar- thony Dimond in October 2011 in Riv- tin O’Malley as Senior Advisor to the iera Maya, Mexico. Her wedding was Governor’s Chief of Staff. Prior to her attended by VLS graduates Jen Paull new position in the Statehouse, she JD’05/MSEL’06, David Rugh, and Jamie Bush ‘05, Meg Munsey ‘05, David Singer served as the Legislative Director for Paige Tomaselli. In December 2012, ‘04, and Kelly Smith Singer JD/MSEL’05 at Steve the Maryland Department of Natural Susan and Tony welcomed their first Brown ’05’s wedding to Lauren Henry.

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Penelope Sofia Diaz Curbelo, daughter of Vermont Law alumni happily reunited at the 21st Carolina Curbelo ’05 and husband Jose E. Diaz. Fall Conference of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources in Baltimore, Maryland in October. From left to right: (standing) Kyle Carolina Curbelo announces the Landis-Marinello MSEL’05, Hart Knight ’06, Rebecca birth of daughter Penelope Sofia Diaz Turner ’08, Tim Sullivan JD/MSEL’05, Michael Curbelo, who was born on September Kondrla ’14; (SEATED) JENNY DRUST JD/MSEL’05, AMY 23, 2013 at 9:21 a.m. to proud parents MANZELLI JD’05/MSEL’07, AND MIKE MYERS ‘93. (Carolina and Jose E. Diaz) and big brother Manuel. She weighed eight on the Big Island is very nice—very, pounds, 11 ounces. Currently, Carolina very different from the freezing cold Derek Campbell JD’06/MSEL’07 and Quoc Nguyen is a legal liaison for the New Jersey temps and snow in South Royalton. JD/MSEL’08 were married on June 3, 2013 in a Department of Labor and Workforce small ceremony with family in Washington, Development, where she’s worked D.C.’s Rock Creek Park. Their daughter Iris since July 2012. She is also a board Simone Nguyen Campbell, born in September member on the Vermont Law School 2012, was Quoc’s something blue. Alumni Alumni Association and co- 2006 chairs the New York City and New Ashley Cottingham Jersey alumni regional groups. [email protected] Dr. Betty Grizzle MSEL earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Research Ebony Riggins from the University of California, San [email protected] Diego, in March 2013 while continuing to work at her current position with Ashley Carson Cottingham and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Carls- her husband Carroll welcomed their bad Field Office) in San Diego County, son Chester Ross Cottingham into the California. She hopes to use this new world on April 5, 2013. They recently Ashley Carson Cottingham ’06, with son Chester Ross. degree to transition into a career in relocated from Washington, D.C. to the health sciences field. The educa- Portland, Oregon where Ashley is now tional experience at VLS has been a the Director of Policy and Advocacy at distinct advantage in her current posi- Compassion & Choices, an organization at the Service and is expected to tion dedicated to improving care and be just as valuable for a future career expanding choice at the end of life. in clinical research. Will Senning and Susan Baker Sheri Lawson has been living in Senning JD/MSEL’08 welcomed a Hawaii since 2005, and has been em- healthy, happy, beautiful daughter on ployed as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney October 4, 2013, just six days after for the County of Hawaii for the last attending the VLS reunion. Stella three years. Prior to that, she worked Grace Esther Senning (“Stella Grace”) Stella Grace, daughter of Will Senning ’06 and as a Deputy Public Defender for the weighed a mighty five pounds, 13 Susan Senning JD/MSEL’08. State of Hawaii and clerked for Third ounces at birth, and the whole family Court Judge Elizabeth Strance on the is doing great. Will has served as the Finance in the Vermont Secretary of Big Island for a few years. The weather Director of Elections and Campaign State’s Office since April 2013. Susan

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will return to her position as Plan- ning and Zoning Administrator for the Town of Waitsfield after her maternity leave ends in January 2014. They live off of Camel’s Hump Road in Duxbury.

2007 Greg Dorrington [email protected]

Liz Lucente [email protected]

Shannon JD/MSEL and Joe Griffo Chris King JD’07/MSEL’08 at his wedding. Tim Duggan JD/MSEL’07 and Chris Miller JD/MSEL’07 are welcomed their first child, Emerson among his groomsmen. Chase, to the world on August 19. Shannon is now at Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., and Joe is still stationed at the Pentagon, working for the Department of the Navy.

Kate Burton Lamson ’07 and Susan Keane Arlo Gregory Schwarting, newborn son of Liz McManus ’07, hard at work at the Bennington Lucente JD/MSEL’07. She writes that “He came County, Vermont, Office of the Public out swinging!” Defender.

CLA litigation at Hunsucker Goodstein PC in Lafayette, California. Caroline Keefe JD/MSEL and husband Luis belatedly announce the arrival of their son, Luke Lourenço

Shannon JD/MSEL’07 and Joe JD’07 Griffo’s son, Emerson Chase. Charlotte Catherine, daughter of Jessica Olson ’07.

Maureen (Bayer) Hodson JD/ Teixeira, on July 26, 2012. Luke is MSEL and her husband David are now a rambunctious one year old who overjoyed to announce the birth of loves books, Cheerios, exploring the their son Ryan Timothy, born October outdoors, and getting dirty. 22 at home. Ryan joins his two year Chris King JD’07/MSEL’08 has old sister, Lily. Maureen practices CER- quite a bit to report since his last bitter Luke, son of Caroline Keefe JD/MSEL’07.

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update of yore. Most excitingly, he was old), are smitten and can’t wait until Johanna and Rory Thibault are married in Charleston, South Carolina, she can throw a ball with them. excited to announce the arrival of on May 25th. For those cats reading this Maggie Stubbs JD/MSEL writes their second little boy, Cody Stephen who were there, thanks again for mak- “On September 20, 2013, I married Thibault, last May. They also adopted a ing it! He tied the knot with Carol De- Jonathan Doran. We were married in military working dog—named Lando— Marco of Kinnelon, New Jersey. The two the Charles County Circuit Courthouse earlier this year, and he has been an first met at the VLS Solutions Confer- courtyard in La Plata, Maryland by the incredible addition to the family. The ence and visiting students’ weekend in judge I clerked for right after gradua- Army still has the Thibaults living 2004, but the timing was not yet right. tion. We threw a ‘post-married’ party in Bavaria where Rory left the Trial He is also pleased to report that the job on October 5th in my parent’s Gam- Defense world and is now a Senior front finally came together. Just after brills, Maryland yard. Other VLSers Trial Counsel for European Forces in the wedding, he began working for the in attendance were Kayla (Smith) Bavaria. Johanna recently became a Office of the Solicitor, Division of Indian Anderson JD/MSEL, Vic Aufiero JD/ VLS student again and is earning her Affairs at the Department of Interior MSEL ’08, Samantha ’08 and Max ’08 LLM in Environmental Law through in Washington D.C. He and his wife, an Beaulieu, Shannon (Vallance) Griffo the Distance Learning program. When attorney at the Environmental Protec- JD/MSEL, and Christina (“Dallas”) they aren’t working or drinking good tion Agency, have settled in nicely on Switzer ’08. My dog Sampson, a regu- German beer, they are traveling as Capitol Hill, shutdown notwithstanding. lar at VLS rugby games and around much as possible throughout Europe, A pretty good year for Mr. King indeed. South Royalton, was present for both and enjoying every minute of it. Kate Burton Lamson and Susan the wedding and the party. Jon grew Keane McManus are happy to report up in Colchester, Vermont on a camp they are now working together as staff on the banks of Lake Champlain. Jon attorneys at the Bennington County, and I also bought a home together in Vermont Office of the Public Defend- May 2013 in Newington, Virginia. We er. Together they proudly fight the continue to foster bully breed dogs for government. Kate and her husband, Mid Atlantic Bully Buddies, and col- John Lamson ’06, are also the proud lected donations for the group for our parents of an adorable little girl, Pe- wedding. nelope. Susan and her husband, Dan McManus ’01 are the proud parents of three dogs and Dan’s two children. Johanna ’07 and Rory ’07 Thibault, with sons Liz Lucente JD/MSEL reports that River and Cody. she and Kyle Schwarting just had their first child, Arlo Gregory Schwarting, On September 2012, Bill White and on October 28. They are all happy and Laura Malaga-Dieguez welcomed into healthy, and the poodles can’t wait to the world their daughter, Ana. She is meet him. happy and healthy, and when beset by Melissa Mullarkey JD’07/MSEL’04 sleeplessness, Dad can ease her into welcomed her second daughter Vivian a profound restful slumber with a few (much adored by older sister Stella) stories about work. Bill is an associate in March. Melissa works for Recycled at Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck, LLP, Energy Development, which recently and Laura is a Pediatric Nephrolo- acquired the utilities business from gist at New York University Langone Kodak in Rochester, Illinois. She says Medical Center. They are always happy the transaction is filled with interest- to catch up with members of the VLS ing environmental law issues. alumni community visiting New York. Jessica (Biamonte) Olson and Rebecca and Steven Whitley husband Jodin Olson welcomed Char- welcomed Jackson Garland Whitley lotte Catherine Olson on July 5, 2013. Maggie Stubbs JD/MSEl’07 and new husband into the world on September 15, 2013, She entered the world weighing five Jonathan Doran. and recently moved from Concord to pounds, 10 ounces. Big brothers, Alex Hopkinton, New Hampshire, along (14 years old) and Brooks (two years with their yellow lab, Bodie. Steven

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Alison Share and Jami Wester- hold JD/MSEL tied the knot June 1, 2013 on the shores of Lake Champlain in beautiful Vergennes, Vermont. The day had lawn-game weather, an all-vegetarian menu, and Baily the ring master dog. It was a success all around. VLS was well represented with Professor Jackie Gardina as the offi- ciant along with Board member Judge Bill White ’07 and daughter Ana. Peter Hall and numerous VLSers in attendance. Tim Connolly ’09 practices municipal law at Mitchell Municipal Group in Laconia, New Hampshire and Rebecca is still practic- In early 2013, Geoffrey Sewake JD/ ing at the Disabilities Rights Center in MELP and his wife left Sunset Park in Concord. “Life is good!” Brooklyn, New York to travel throughout Southeast Asia for three and a half months. Upon returning state-side, they moved to Vermont. They are currently living in St. Johnsbury. Geoffrey 2008 is a Regional Planner at the North Samantha Santiago Beaulieu Country Council, the regional planning [email protected] At the June wedding of Alison Share ’08 and commission for the North Country Jamie Westerhold JD/MSEL’08. Back Row: Laura region of New Hampshire. Jamie Williams Furrey ’08, Professor Rebecca Purdom JD/ [email protected] MSEL’96, Betsy Catlin ’08, Sarah Cogan ’08, Samantha Santiago Beaulieu ’08, Andrea Steiling ’08, Professor Jackie Gardina, Megan Schaeffer MELP’08, Kara Miller, Britta 2010 Hinrichsen ’07. Front Row: Anna Wildeman ’07, Christina Switzer ’08, Maggie (Stubbs) Doran Cara Cookson JD/MSEL’07, Alison, Jami, Becky Turner ‘08, and [email protected] Max Beaulieu ‘08. Meghan Clark O’Neill ’08 was in attendance, but not pictured. Laurie Wheelock [email protected]

Brent Bohan JD’10/MSEL’07 was elected to the King County (Washing- ton) Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Members of the Class of 2008 at their fifth 2009 Division’s Board of Trustees in May. reunion. John Miller He was recently a speaker at the [email protected] swearing-in ceremony for over 300 Lauren Isaacoff JD/MSEL was recently newly licensed attorneys. He also sold married to Lee Raichlen and after a Timothy Connolly has joined the firm his practice and now works for a litiga- 10-month federal clerkship with the Preti Flahery as an Associate with the tion firm in downtown Seattle. Honorable Cathy L. Waldor, U.S.M.J. in firm’s Litigation Group. He practices in Allison Buckley MELP and Eric the U.S. District Court for the District of the firm’s Portland, Maine office where Gentino ’12 were married in August New Jersey, Lauren has returned to Bu- he focuses on a wide range of mat- in Keene, New York. They now live in chanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C., where ters, including commercial litigation, Ballston Spa, New York. Eric is a con- she has worked as an associate in the insurance litigation, and professional struction law lawyer in Saratoga and Litigation Section since graduation. liability. Allison works for the New York Depart-

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with a companion study guide titled “How Does the Constitution Keep Up with the Times? Twelve Lessons on the Nation’s Founding Document and Its Application in 21st Century.” Genesis Miller JD/MELP says “Chuck and I welcomed Thayne Ever Miller Weed into the world on July 24, 2013.”

Alison Buckley MELP’10 and Eric Gentino ’12 on their wedding day.

ment of Environmental Conservation as a Natural Resources Planner. An article that Michael Cole wrote as an Independent Research Project under the supervision of Professor Jackie Gardina his 3L year in 2009 and published in 2011, A Blueprint for EPA: How the Agency Can Overcome the Sterling Heinrick, Jeffrey Heinrick ’10’s Statute of Limitations when Enforcing PSD newest family member. Thayne, son of Genesis Miller JD/MELP’10, was Under the Clean Air Act, 31 Utah Env. L. born July 24, 2013. Rev. 182, was cited by the Third Circuit and loves to snuggle with Tracey. Kira Court of Appeals in the opinion United Bryers came up with the name. All is Laurie Wheelock JD’10/MSEL’07 States v. EME Homer City Generation, L.P., well here in Arizona and we miss our and her husband Jim Maximowicz wel- 727 F.3d 274, 291 (3d Cir. 2013). He has fellow classmates.” comed a baby boy named Riley Aaron another article published in Florida Dianne Kearns Duncan recently James Maximowicz into the world on State University’s Journal of Land Use concluded her tenure as Leadership March 15, 2013. The family resides in and Environmental Law, and has recently Group chair of Constitutionally Speak- Brooklyn. accepted an offer to publish a third ing. The yearlong pilot project aimed article in Resolved: Journal of Alternative to encourage spirited, yet civil, dia- Dispute Resolution at Charleston School logue on constitutional issues and to of Law. After leaving VLS, Michael ob- galvanize support for the reintroduc- tained an LLM in Environmental Law tion of meaningful civics education 2011 at The George Washington University in New Hampshire schools. Institu- Amanda George-Wheaton Law School, and he currently works tional partners in the effort included [email protected] as an Attorney-Advisor at the Office the New Hampshire Supreme Court of Administrative Law Judges for the Society, of which Dianne is a trustee, Sarah McGuire Federal Mine Safety and Health Review the University of New Hampshire [email protected] Commission. School of Law, and the New Hamp- Jeffrey Heinrick writes “Tracey shire Humanities Council. The project After traveling to Alaska and working Mackenzie Heinrick and I just cel- kicked off in September 2012 with a as a contract attorney for the Alli- ebrated two years of wedded bliss. I public conversation between retired ance to Protect Nantucket Sound with work for the Pinal County Public De- U.S. Supreme Court Justice David H. Perkins Coie LLP, Lisa Campion JD/ fender’s Office. Tracey is an attorney Souter and PBS Newswoman Margaret MELP returned to Vermont in August for the Arizona Attorney General’s Warner. Its final public event was a of 2012. Lisa worked as a Law Clerk Office, working in the Child Welfare joint appearance in May 2013 by re- with Martin & Associates in Barre, Division. Tracey and I recently added nowned litigators David Boies and Ted Vermont. After passing the Vermont a new member to our family: Sterling Olson. Educational materials gener- Bar, Lisa became Martin & Associates’ the Greyhound. He is two years old ated by the project include video clips newest Associate Attorney. Lisa works

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Alumni at the wedding of Ashley Romeo-Boles ’12 included Tyler Corn JD/MELP’12, Erica Lewis ’12, Tracey Ullom JD’12/MELP’13, Susan Lettis ’12 (shown); and Sean Williams ’10 and Janice Chan JD’11/MELP’10 (not pictured).

At the wedding of Clare Cragan JD/MELP’11 and John Bernetich JD/MELP’11. From left to right are: mouth College, Rachel has settled into (back row) Sergio Botifoll ’11, Darin Schroeder ’09, Nate Rectanus ’11, Big Al Weisheit JD/MELP’11, practice at the firm of DeBonis, Wright Benji Borowski JD/MELP’11, Amanda Dumville ’13, Jim E. Abraham JD/MELP’11, Adam Dumville JD/ & Carris, P.C. in Poultney, Vermont. MELP’11, Kevin Siqveland JD/MELP’11; (middle row) Laura Ethington ’12, Adam Granade, Reade Brent Noyes JD/MELP and Jacque- Wilson ’11, Pete Vetere ’11, Meg Casey JD/MELP’11, Laurie Stern JD/MELP’11, Ashley (Hintz) DeVerna line Noyes JD/MELP got married in JD/MELP’11, Molly Watson JD/MELP’11; (front row) E.P. Hutchens ’11, Jim DeVerna’09, Brian Selogie September of 2012. They are now living JD/MELP’11, the bride, Gray Jernigan JD/MELP’11, the groom, Mark Foster ’11, and Ben Leoni ’11. in Maine.

on a variety of general practice matters in Central Vermont. She’s living in Montpelier with her Irish Setter, Rock, and still loving the outdoors. Clare Cragan JD/MELP and John Bernetich JD/MELP celebrated their marriage on August 31 in Richmond, Vermont with plenty of VLSers in attendance. A rousing reception followed. Music was supplied by E.P. Hutchens ’11 (banjo), Gray Jerni- gan JD/MELP’11 (guitar), and Adam Caroline Morant ’12 (far left) and Kendra Granade (upright bass). Brown ’12 (far right) attended the wedding of Ricky Armand ’12 and Melissa Pierre-Louis Armand. Not shown is Dalayna Tillman ’12, also present. Brent and Jacqueline Noyes (both JD/MELP’12) at their September 2012 wedding. 2012 and Dalayna Tillman, were present Susan Lettis for the ceremony. [email protected] Becky Fu LLM was nominated as On October 26, 2013, Elle Stenerson one of the 2013 Rising Stars by Ver- and Ethan Pressly tied the knot in Lauren Miller mont Business Magazine. Oak Brook, Illinois. Elle and Ethan [email protected] Rachel Margulies JD/MELP became were joined by many friends and fel- licensed to practice law in Vermont in low alumni from the VLS community. Ricky Armand and Melissa Pierre- November of 2012 and in New York in Many fond memories of VLS were Louis Armand were married in Char- October of 2013. After spending the shared throughout the weekend, and lotte, North Carolina on Saturday, year following graduation traveling as they wish everyone the best in life. October 6th, 2012. Fellow VLS gradu- an admissions counselor for VLS and Currently, they are enjoying their ates Kendra Brown, Caroline Morant, working as the pre-law advisor at Dart- lives in Springfield, Illinois, where Elle

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Ethan Pressly ’12 and bride Elle Stenerson Martin Cosier LLM’13 with wife Jen Clark and Doug Johnson JD/MELP’13 with daughter Ruby smile wide on their wedding day. newborn son Max, on their adventures abroad. Joy and wife Krystal.

continues to teach music and Ethan nance Program within the U.S.-China ers who are environmentally-minded. practices environmental law. Partnership for Environmental Law. Stephanie Tavares-Buhler JD/ Ashley Romeo-Boles married All of us are doing great... and loving MELP was recently hired as the Ease- Mark Boles, a Strafford, Vermont local, the endless summer in the tropics!” ment Project Manager at the Marin after a whirlwind romance follow- Agricultural Land Trust in Point Reyes ing a meeting at his parents’ maple Station, California. Stephanie will be sugar house. They were married at his helping to protect small coastal farms parents’ house, following the tradi- in perpetuity and protect valuable tion of his siblings all marrying there. watersheds in Marin County, California Several alumni were in attendance and through the acquisition of voluntary the Women’s Rugby team showed up conservation easements. to support! Ashley passed the Ver- Natalie Wicklund received the mont and New Hampshire bars and Freedom Fighter Award from the is currently working as an associate Montana Innocence Project for pro at Schuster, Buttrey & Wing, P.A. in bono work. The Montana Innocence Lebanon, New Hampshire. Mark and Project works to exonerate those who Ashley live in Corinth, Vermont with Bailey Dunlap JD/MELP’13 married Travis are wrongfully convicted. Wicklund their dog and cat. Rogers on October 5, 2013 at Winn Park in has been providing pro bono litigation Atlanta, Georgia. assistance in cases seeking to exonerate the innocent using DNA testing. Alex English JD/MELP recently Natalie Wicklund is now an Assistant had an article published by Interna- Public Defender with the Office of the 2013 tional Rivers on dam removal and Public Defender in Butte, Montana. Brian Durkin effective watershed management as [email protected] a tool for combating climate change: “Let All Rivers Run to the Sea.” Rae Kinkead Doug Johnson JD/MELP and his [email protected] wife Krystal celebrated the birth of their daughter, Ruby Joy, on August Martin Cosier LLM writes “My wife, 22, 2013. Ruby weighed eight pounds, Jen Clark, and I were joined by our two ounces, and was 19.5 inches long first child, Max Cosier, in Bangkok on at birth. Everyone is doing well! October 2. We’ve since headed back to As of September 2013, William Mc- Yangon, Myanmar (once Max became Mullin MELP has switched careers and an Aussie citizen and then received he is now a Realtor in Metro-Detroit his first passport) where I manage the Michigan. He specializes in relocating VLS Myanmar Environmental Gover- people with pets and assists home buy-

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IN MEMORIAM

On June 20, 2013, Frank Berk ’78 returned to South Royalton for the Thaddeus Swank Jr. ’91 died April unexpectedly passed away, sur- ceremony, which was followed by a 25, 2013, at a Bangor health care rounded by his wife, four children, reception for family and friends on facility after a long illness. Thad- and his sister. Frank moved to the Debevoise Hall Back Lawn. deus was employed as a Maine South Royalton in 1975 to attend State Trooper before pursuing his Vermont Law School where he was Edson E. Kaarela ’85, died peace- interest in law at Vermont Law part of the third class, graduating fully at his home after an illness. School. After graduation he worked cum laude in 1978. He fell in love He leaves his parents, two sisters, as a legal consultant for several with Vermont where he would live and three nephews. A Celebration companies including the American for the rest of his life. It is also of Life was held on December 2, Ophthalmological Association. His where he met many of his closest 2012 in Gardner, Massachusetts. ashes are interred at Mount Hope lifelong friends. He was a dedicated Cemetery in Bangor, Maine. member of the South Royalton Mariann Samaha ’92, a lifelong community, serving on the school resident of Boston’s South End, In 2013 we also lost the law school’s board for many years, acting as passed away on June 6, 2013. She founder, Anthony Doria, who succumbed the town attorney (from his office had been working as a juvenile to a several year battle with heart trouble “between the Co-op doors”), and defense attorney, represent- and cancer. A full obituary will be pub- coaching various youth teams. He ing indigent children in Boston. lished in the next issue of Loquitur. cared deeply about the town and Mariann was a dear and devoted believed he’d stumbled upon the spouse, beloved daughter, and dear best place in the world to live. A sister, and she is survived by many memorial service was held on June loving cousins, nieces, nephews, 26, 2013 in the Jonathon B. Chase neighbors and friends. A memorial Community Center at Vermont Law service was held in Boston, Mas- School. Many of his classmates sachusetts on June 21, 2013.

LOQUITUR 46

143534_loquitor.indd 46 1/9/14 10:56 PM inter alia

Growing Climate Change

Vermont Law recently announced our Top 10 Environmental Watch List for 2014. This year, with atmospheric carbon dioxide levels having breached a dis- turbing threshold, the entire list focuses on legal and policy actions that hope 7. The Farm Bill as Climate to address our rising global temperature or prepare us to adapt to increasingly Change Policy intense weather-related disasters. Food and agriculture play a role: they show up Will the new Farm Bill’s on the list at #7, in the new federal Farm Bill. policies cause agriculture to contribute to or mitigate climate change? As the largest investment in 1. Obama’s Decision on the Keystone 6. Stationary Sources of Greenhouse Gases Pipeline Will the Supreme Court, which recently working lands, the pend- President Obama’s awaited decision on the let stand the D.C. Circuit’s decision that ing Farm Bill may be our Keystone XL pipeline has become a proxy greenhouse gases present a danger to the best bet to address agricul- for the larger debate on climate change. Will environment through climate change, allow ture’s contribution to this Obama allow the pipeline to go forward? the EPA to control greenhouse gases from secrious issue. Proposed stationary sources? 2. Natural Gas: Part of the Solution or Part changes would ironically of the Problem? 8. Brazil Repeals Forest Code and reduce conservation pro- The recent fracking boom may do more Deforestation Accelerates grams, which mitigate harm than good for the climate if the U.S. Will the Brazilian courts uphold constitu- EPA doesn’t do a better job of regulating tional protections for future generations as climate change, and pro- methane releases. Even if it does, will cheap a basis to strike down new forest laws that vide more insurance for natural gas displace cleaner energy options allow destruction of the world’s climate- farmers affected by chang- like wind and solar? protecting forests? ing conditions, shoring 3. Severe Weather Events and the National 9. Will Montana Coal go to China? up profits for commodity Flood Insurance Program Will a plan to ship coal—the leading source producers. Will federal flood insurance reforms fully of CO2 pollution—from Montana to China be embrace the new reality of climate change halted following environmental review by driving frequent and intense storms? two federal agencies, amid early signs that China might be stepping away from coal as 4. Regulation of Carbon Emissions for preferred energy source? Vermont Law School—with significant help Existing Power Plants Under the Clean from the Environmental Law Center and Air Act § 111 10. Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate the Vermont Journal of Environmen- Will the U.S. EPA finally propose regulations and Energy tal Law—compiles the annual watch list that significantly reduce carbon emissions The Pacific Coast Action Plan could be an to enhance public understanding, debate, from existing coal fired power plants? effective blueprint for locally driven climate and participation in judicial, regulatory, and energy policy. Will it be implemented and legislative actions that significantly 5. China Regulates CO2 Emissions in 2014? affect people and the natural world. The Will China’s public pledge to mitigate en- Top 10 issues are chosen based on their vironmental issues and adopt meaningful significance to the environment and public greenhouse gas controls take hold, or will well-being, and whether a key development political obstacles and rapid growth get in is expected in the coming year. For more the way? details on the issues that made the 2014 list, visit http://watchlist.vermontlaw.edu/

47 WINTER 2013/14

143534_loquitor.indd 47 1/9/14 10:56 PM Vermont Album

Broomball on the Green. South Royalton, Vermont.

LOQUITUR 48

143534_loquitor.indd 48 1/8/14 4:26 PM Earn Your Next Degree Online from vermont Law School

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143534_cover.indd 2 1/13/14 6:43 PM winter 2013/14 NON-PROFIT U. S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE 04330 the alumni magazine for vermont law school PERMIT NO. 121

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