Robert Langer ’73 had received the ABA Antitrust Law Section’s Outstanding Performance Award for his work over the past 27 years Langer is recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on antitrust, consumer protection, and trade regulation law. He serves as Senior Counsel at law firm Wiggin and Dana’s Litigation Department as well as Co-chair of the firm’s Antitrust and Consumer Protection Practice Group. Langer is an adjunct professor as the University of Connecticut School of Law, teaching courses on antitrust, unfair and deceptive trade practices and constitutional law.
Alumni Notes
Send your alumni news of promotions, births, awards and other milestones to lawalumninotes@uconn.edu.
Jessica Espinoza ’20 Joins FLB Law as an Associate
Heather Mullins Crislip ’00 Featured in Essay Series
Heather Mullins Crislip ’00 was featured as an essayist as part of the Richmond Racial Equity Essays series, a project designed to explore what racial equity looks like in Richmond, Virginia. In her essay, “Housing is the Root of Wealth Inequality: Building an Equitable Richmond,” Crislip explored the disparity in homeownership between white and Black households in Virginia, caused by the wealth gap, redlining, predatory lending and other factors. Her essay draws upon her many years of experience in housing law and policy.
Richard Stamm ’92 Appointed Vice President, General Counsel at Activ Surgical
Lisa Stefano ’96 Named Partner
Lisa Stefano ’96 has been named a partner at the litigation law firm of Gfeller Laurie LLP, based in West Hartford, Connecticut. Stefano has extensive experience managing insurance coverage, underwriting, and claim and bad faith litigation for insurers. She was previously a litigation associate with The RiverStone Group.
Ted Kennedy Jr. ’97 Speaks on ADA
Ted Kennedy, Jr. will participate in UConn’s virtual #ThisisAmerica event, speaking in a panel discussion of “The Seen and Unseen Realities for People with Disabilities” on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 6 p.m. Kennedy, a partner at Epstein Becker Green, has more than 20 years of experience as a health care regulatory attorney and has been an active leader in the movement to expand opportunities for people with disabilities. He has served as chair of the Board of the American Association of People with Disabilities.
Gov. Lamont Proclaims Lee Sawyer Day
Gov. Ned Lamont recently signed a proclamation marking the anniversary of the death of Lee Sawyer ’13 as Lee Sawyer Day. Sawyer passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 31, 2020, leaving his wife and three daughters. He was committed to implementing environmentally friendly policies statewide as chief of staff for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. He also launched Recycle CT, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting the importance of sustainability through waste reduction, recycling and composting.
Judge Omar Williams ’02 Confirmed to Federal Bench
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Omar A. Williams ’02 to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. President Biden nominated Williams in June 2021, and the Senate confirmed his nomination on Oct. 28, 2021. Williams served as a Superior Court judge in Connecticut, having been nominated in 2014 by Gov. Dannel Malloy, after 11 years as a public defender in New Haven. While on the Superior Court bench, he served in the Sentence Review Division and on the wiretap panel, co-chaired the Jury Selection Task Force, and served on the New England Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative. Before entering law school, he earned a BA from the University of Connecticut in 1998.
Michael McKeon ’87 Joins State Department of Education
Michael McKeon ’87 has joined the Connecticut State Department of Education as the director of legal and governmental affairs. He will oversee the Division of Legal and Governmental Affairs, including the department’s team of attorneys, and the Bureau of Investigations and Private Practice. McKeon most recently worked at the law firm Pullman and Comley. He has spoken publicly on education and employment law, including on the national level at annual conferences for the National School Boards Association and the Council of School Attorneys.
Emily M. Covey ’21 Joins Hinckley Allen
Emily M. Covey ’21 has joined Hinckley Allen as an associate in the firm’s Corporate & Business group. Covey was a summer associate with Hinckley Allen in 2019 and 2020. Her experience also includes serving as a fellow with the Kalon Law firm.