International alumni and friends recently gathered in Zurich, Switzerland for the Annual Meeting of the International Association of Boalt Alumni (IABA). Professor Dick Buxbaum and Dean for Development & Alumni Relations Anders Yang shared the latest news from Boalt Hall. Special thanks to Jean-Claude Werz '83, Paul Peyrot, Jutta Strehlow '86 and Aime Mandel '73 for their leadership of this year's IABA reunion program. Plans are already underway for next summer's gathering in London.

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Penny Cooper ’64 and Cris Arguedas, who teamed up to form one of the nation’s top criminal defense firms, were recently inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame by the California State Bar’s Litigation Section. The award, presented to them jointly at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, is given annually to exceptional trial lawyers whose careers exemplify the highest of values and professional attainment.

“The work we did together was enlivening, fantastic, and at times pioneering,” says Cooper. “We were the first women defense lawyers to try a major white-collar crime case, and engaged in a number of other memorable cases. Receiving this honor together made it that much more meaningful.” Read more here.

The International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL) has elected James McManis ’67 to its executive committee as Secretary of International Relations, and also named him chair of its China Program starting in 2011.

As Secretary of International Relations, McManis is charged with expanding IATL’s international roster of fellows—who hail from 36 nations. A founding partner of McManis Faulkner in San Jose, he has been serving as vice-chair of the China Program, which promotes the rule of law in China as well as American-Chinese relations. Read more here.

For alumni and friends attending this summer's ABA meeting in San Francisco, please save the date of Friday, August 6, for an evening social with Dean Edley, faculty, students and fellow classmates. Michael Kass '90 has graciously agreed to host the Boalt gathering at his firm, Pillsbury Winthrop, just a few blocks from ABA conference headquarters.  Kindly RSVP in advance by clicking here.

On Sunday, August 8, Campaign for Boalt Hall Co-Chair Elizabeth Cabraser '78 will be honored by the ABA with the 2010 Margaret Brent Award.  The achievement award, established by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession in 1991, recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women lawyers who have excelled in their field and have paved the way to success for other women lawyers. Since special seating is being arranged for Boalt Hall graduates, please let the Alumni Center know if you plan to attend by emailing alumni@law.berkeley.edu.

Boalt Hall alumni are invited to Memorial Stadium for a great season of Cal Football. The 2010 season will be the last in the historic stadium before its renovation.  Discounted tickets will be available to Boalt alums beginning July 21 for games against UC Davis, Colorado, UCLA, Arizona State, Oregon and Washington.

For alums in New York, viewing parties will be held throughout the season at The Australian Bar in Midtown Manhattan and Pacific Standard in Park Slope Brooklyn.  If interested in helping with a tailgate in your local area, please contact the Alumni Center by emailing alumni@law.berkeley.edu.

Michael Serota '10 wrote the following article for the Daily Journal upon his graduation from Boalt Hall in May:

"This last Friday, my fellow Berkeley Law School classmates and I stepped across the stage at Berkeley's famed venue, the Greek Theatre, where rock-and-roll legends such as Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead have once played. We weren't wielding guitars, though; instead, we receiveded our diplomas. Although our futures are less than certain because of the fragile state of the economy and the legal market, one thing is clear: we had a special opportunity that many of our peers at other law schools did not have. We shattered the stereotypes perpetuated about Berkeley and about law school."

Read more here.

Campaign for Boalt Hall 2010 Reunion Campaign

The Alumni Center would like to extend our sincere thanks to the many outstanding alumni who are serving on their class reunion committees.  Let's hear it for our incredible volunteers!

And congratulations to all of our alumni celebrating a reunion this year... we've now passed the $1 million mark for the 2010 Reunion Campaign with over 15 percent participation!  This is an exciting beginning to what is certain to be a successful year.

Check out class fun facts, donor honor rolls, alumni rosters, and all things reunion here.

Reunions will be celebrated at Alumni Weekend on October 2nd. If you graduated in a year ending in 0 or 5 and would like to learn more about how to get involved with your class campaign, please contact Summer Staino at 510.642.9045 or sstaino@law.berkeley.edu.

Rachel F. Moran, a Boalt faculty member since 1983, has been selected as the new dean at UCLA School of Law. When she begins her new role on October 15, Moran will become the first Latina dean of a top 20-rated U.S. law school. Read more here.

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Q: There used to be two cute little Victorian houses on the Boalt Hall parking lot. When I was over there the other day, they were both gone. What happened to them? - WCJ, Oakland

A: The two houses at 2241 and 2243 were among the last reminders that College Avenue (once known as Audubon Street) used to extend beyond Bancroft Way, winding among the trees that graced the southeast corner of the campus. Continue reading.