2025 Alumni Award Winners
Charles S. Murphy Award for Achievement in Civic Service
Clifford B. Levine '80
Cliff Levine is a shareholder at Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, PC, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, working at the intersection of law, government, and politics. A skilled courtroom and appellate advocate, he has over 150 published appellate opinions and has been involved in landmark decisions on elections, redistricting, land use, energy, and more. Cliff has served as Pennsylvania counsel for presidential campaigns since 2008, most recently for the Harris/Walz campaign, and has represented parties in significant reapportionment cases, including a 2018 case on gerrymandering. He has been a delegate at five Democratic national conventions and twice a presidential elector. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro appointed him to his transition team.
Cliff has also served on Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission and Zoning Board and the state Supreme Court recently appointed him to chair the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board. He lives in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, with his wife, Rosanne, and is a graduate of Duke Law and SUNY Albany.
Cliff’s expertise in navigating complex zoning and land use issues has shaped Pittsburgh's skyline, and his commitment to defending democracy and voting rights has been evident through his successful litigation efforts in Pennsylvania. Cliff's integrity, skill, and dedication to the public interest have made him a trusted advisor to elected officials and a champion of democratic values. Notably, several of Cliff’s nominators have known him for over 40 years and they provided personal sentiments that illuminate Cliff as a “careful, thoughtful, and creative advocate who, partisanship aside, has been a champion in defending the rule of law and the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution.”
The nominations for Cliff make it evident that he upholds the principle of dedication to public welfare. We are thrilled to award Cliff this year’s Charles S. Murphy Award for his unwavering dedication to public service and his significant contributions to election law and regulatory matters.
A. Kenneth Pye Award for Excellence in Education
Richard Schmalbeck
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Professor of Law Emeritus
Rich Schmalbeck is the Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Professor of Law Emeritus at Duke University. He has also served as the Dean of the University of Illinois College of Law, and a visiting professor at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University law faculties. Rich’s recent scholarly work has focused on issues involving nonprofit organizations and the federal estate and gift taxes. He has also served as an advisor to the Russian Federation in connection with its tax reform efforts. The sixth edition of Rich’s federal income tax casebook, co-authored with Professor Lawrence A. Zelenak, Sarah B. Lawsky, and Professor Shu-Yi Oei, was published in 2024.
Rich received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and his JD degree from the same institution, where he was associate editor of the University of Chicago Law Review.
Rich was selected as this year’s Pye Award recipient for his distinguished career in law and academia, marked by his impactful teaching, scholarly contributions, and dedication to public service. Rich’s expertise in nonprofit organizations and federal tax law, along with his engaging teaching style and mentorship has left a lasting impression on his students and colleagues, several of whom supported him with their nominations to the committee board.
We particularly enjoyed hearing from two former students whose experiences in Rich’s Nonprofit Organizations and Personal Income Tax courses were impactful in the forming of their careers. We loved hearing that he joined his students for the occasional basketball or softball game and attempted to tell tax-related jokes to liven up course anecdotes that were on the dryer side.
Rich’s kindness, intellect, and humor have made him a beloved figure in the legal community, and we are honored to present him with the A. Kenneth Pye Award for Excellence in Education.
Charles S. Rhyne Award for Professional Achievement
Martina Bradford '75
Martina Bradford is widely recognized as an established leader in business, law, and public policy with over 30 years of experience. Martina worked extensively with both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, beginning her career as an attorney-adviser at the Interstate Commerce Commission, followed by counsel positions on the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. She was appointed by then-Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid to serve as the senate deputy sergeant at arms. Martina later became chief of staff to the vice chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission, managing major railroad mergers and acquisitions.
In the private sector, Martina advanced from staff attorney to vice president for government affairs at AT&T, and then to corporate vice president for global public affairs at Lucent Technologies. She played a pivotal role in establishing Lucent Technologies with governmental and regulatory bodies worldwide, directing local, federal, and international governmental affairs.
Martina is known for her expertise in telecommunications, information technologies, mergers and acquisitions, and trade. She has advised corporate leaders on political matters and developed legislative and regulatory strategies. Before founding Palladian Hill Strategies, she represented clients in telecommunications, health care, energy, and pharmaceuticals.
Among all nominations received, those supporting Martina stood out due to her outstanding leadership and extensive contributions to business, law, and public policy over an impressive career. Martina's strategic vision and leadership have left a lasting impact on both the public and private legal sectors, embodying the qualities honored by the Charles S. Rhyne Award.
International Alumni Award
Sophie Hagège '90
Sophie Hagège is the partner-in-charge of Jones Day’s Paris office, with over 30 years of experience in multijurisdictional mergers and acquisitions. Her practice includes joint ventures, strategic alliances, commercial agreements, and outsourcing projects. Sophie focuses on the chemical and life sciences sectors, representing clients like Total Energies, Rhodia (now Solvay), Novartis, Sanofi, Stallergenes, and LFB. She has also advised on significant cross-border transactions in the infrastructure sector, including Alcatel-Lucent, Wabtec Corporation, and Bombardier.
Sophie’s work has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition among the top 40 corporate lawyers of the CAC 40. Her M&A team in Paris is highly ranked by Best Lawyers, Chambers, and Legal 500. Sophie holds an LLM from Duke University, a master's degree from Université de Paris XI-Sceaux, and a diploma from Sciences Po Paris.
We are thrilled to award Sophie with the International Alumni Award for her outstanding leadership and dedication to the legal profession and the Duke Law community. Sophie has led Jones Day to become one of the largest and most prestigious international law firms in France. Her commitment to professional excellence and her active engagement with Duke Law alumni, including hosting events and fostering connections, exemplify her dedication to both her profession and her alma mater. Sophie's professional excellence and committed service make her a fitting winner for this year’s International Alumni Award.
Young Alumni Award
Katherine Shea Dowling '10
Kat Dowling has dedicated her career to public defense. After clerking for Judge Carl Barbier in the Eastern District of Louisiana, she joined the Federal Public Defender’s office in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where she has served for over 13 years. Kat handles a wide range of felony cases and federal civil commitment hearings, having tried numerous cases to verdict. In recognition of her outstanding achievements and leadership in criminal defense, Kat was elected to membership in the prestigious American Law Institute (ALI) in 2024, a testament to her professional excellence.
Kat remains actively connected to Duke Law, volunteering in various capacities including serving on her Reunion Committee several times, previously serving on the Duke Law Alumni Association Board, and as the inaugural chair of the Alumnae Leadership Council. She has also been involved with the Federal Bar Association. Kat lives in Raleigh with her husband Mike Dowling ’10 and their five children.
As one of Kat’s nominators stated, her “dedication to justice, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized individuals, and her professional excellence have earned her recognition as a respected leader in federal criminal defense.” Kat’s exceptional career and significant contributions to the legal field and her community align perfectly with the attributes we seek in winners of this award, and we are thrilled to recognize her with this year’s Young Alumni Award.
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award
Jocelyn Hunter '87
Jocelyn Hunter is a senior legal executive and business partner. She currently serves as vice president and deputy general counsel at The Home Depot. Jocelyn has been a member of The Home Depot Legal Department since 1997, serving in roles of increasing responsibility.
In her current role, Jocelyn is responsible for legal issues relating to commercial litigation, intellectual property, marketing and advertising, merchandising, product regulatory, supply chain, and outside sales and services. She also has oversight relating to legal issues in Canada, is the leader of the company’s cross-functional team tasked with responding to data incidents and is the secretary to the audit committee of The Home Depot’s board of directors.
After serving on the Duke Law Alumni Association Board from 2013 to 2019, Jocelyn joined the Duke Law Board of Visitors in 2019 and co-chaired the task force on the future of the profession. Her thoughtful and collaborative approach has made her a trusted advisor to the Law School staff and administration. Her impact also extends to mentoring students within the Law School. In 2024, she delivered the keynote address at ESQ, hosted by the Business Law Society. Jocelyn has been a dedicated supporter of the BLSA Paving Pathways program as well, regularly returning to campus for events. Beyond her involvement with student organizations’ events and programs, she frequently guest lectures in upper-level courses. Her dedication to career advice, diversity, inclusion, and privilege has significantly shaped the Law School's approach to these critical issues.
It is clear not only from Joceyln’s extraordinary record of volunteer service to Duke Law, but also from the glowing nominations that we received, that Jocelyn is ideally suited to be this year’s award recipient. As one of her nominators stated, “Joceyln is quietly one of the most influential people I know in the Duke Law community. She was a very effective leader on the LAA Board, and [she] contributes mightily to the success of our Law School and our students.”
Dean's Achievement Award
Caroline Bergman Gottschalk '90
Caroline Bergman Gottschalk recently retired as a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP after over 32 years advising clients on mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. At Simpson Thacher, she chaired the recruiting and women’s committees. Caroline earned her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and her juris doctor from Duke Law, where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif and served as managing editor of the Alaska Law Review.
Caroline serves on the board of trustees of the Atlanta Ballet, Roundabout Theatre Company’s leadership council, and the board of advisors of Nantucket Film Festival. Caroline has two children, Ben and Julia, who graduated from Duke and Dartmouth, respectively.
Dean Abrams chose to honor Caroline with this special award because of Caroline’s extraordinary dedication to Duke Law through volunteer service, philanthropy, teaching, and advisory roles. Caroline is the first person to receive this award during Dean Abrams’ tenure at Duke.
Caroline has been an exemplary alumni leader since her graduation. She is a senior member of the Duke Law Board of Visitors and was an inaugural member of the Duke Women’s Impact Network Leadership Council. She has served on the Duke Forward law campaign executive committee and the Law Alumni Association board of directors. Additionally, Caroline has chaired multiple Law School reunions, including her 35th reunion this year. She received the Law Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Award in 2005 and the Duke Alumni Association’s Forever Duke award in 2017.
Caroline has been a generous financial supporter of Duke Law’s core strategic priorities, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to financial aid, faculty support, the Annual Fund, and other strategic initiatives. She has been a dedicated mentor to the recipients of her named scholarship. She has contributed to the school’s academic mission and enhanced the student experience by teaching courses on mergers & acquisitions and has offered career advice and mentoring to countless Duke Law students over the years.
Perhaps most importantly, Caroline has been a trusted advisor to Dean Abrams and several previous deans, offering support and counsel during even the most difficult times. Her commitment to Duke Law School has been truly extraordinary.