News

Gabriela Nagle Alverio JD ’25 received the 2026 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Manuscript. Her paper, “Protecting Climate Migrants,” was recognized for its rigorous analysis of legal protections for people displaced by climate change and has been accepted for publication in The Environmental Law Reporter. Gabriela received her Ph.D. this spring from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

Rich Baer JD ’83 recently retired after a legal career that included serving as general counsel of Sirius XM, Airbnb, Liberty Media, UnitedHealth Group, and Qwest Communications. A former homicide prosecutor in Brooklyn, Rich spent more than four decades advising companies across the telecommunications, health care, media, technology, and entertainment sectors. In an interview with Corporate Counsel, reflecting on his career, Rich emphasized the importance of clear communication, practical risk assessment, and leadership grounded in trust and credibility. 

W. Erwin Fuller Jr. JD ’64 received the Distinguished Service Award from the Greensboro Bar Association and the 24th Judicial District at their Annual Joint Meeting on April 16. The association's highest honor recognizes his more than 60 years of professional, civic, charitable, and bar association leadership in Greensboro and across the state.

Alex M. Gonzalez JD ’93 has been appointed leader of Holland & Knight’s Latin American Litigation and Disputes Team. A partner in the firm’s Miami office, Gonzalez brings more than three decades of trial and arbitration experience representing domestic and international clients in complex cross-border disputes throughout Latin America. He will lead a team that advises clients on high-stakes business disputes across the region and beyond.

Robert E. Harrington JD ’87 was appointed to the North Carolina Supreme Court’s Commission on Practice Innovation. The commission will examine issues affecting access to legal services across North Carolina, including alternative approaches to legal licensure and service delivery, and will make recommendations regarding potential statutory or regulatory changes. Rob is a shareholder at Robinson Bradshaw and is current president of the North Carolina Bar Association. 

Ming Lei JD '15 has joined Bracewell’s Houston office as a partner in its oil and gas transactions group. She advises clients on domestic and cross-border oil and gas and energy transactions and also brings expertise in advising China-based companies on U.S. energy investments, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution.

Jill Patrone JD ’95 was named chief legal officer and corporate secretary of PBS after serving as acting chief legal officer since March 2025. A PBS attorney for 26 years, she oversees the organization’s legal affairs, including intellectual property, business affairs, litigation, regulatory matters, employment, corporate transactions, and governance. Jill joined PBS in 2000 and previously served as vice president and deputy general counsel.

Amanda Uliano JD ’03 was installed as president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association for the 2026-27 bar year. Amanda is the founder and principal of Uliano Law, which serves as outside general counsel to small and midsize businesses throughout Florida. Amanda and the association’s newly elected board of directors were installed on June 4 in Tampa.

Daniel R. Weiner LLM ’05 was named to the 2026 Super Lawyers list for Estate Planning & Probate in San Diego, marking his third consecutive selection after earning the recognition in 2024 and 2025. Dan is the founder and CEO of Weiner Law, a California firm with offices in San Diego and Los Angeles that focuses on estate planning, probate, trust administration, trust and estate litigation, and civil litigation.

John R. Wester JD ’72 was inducted into the North Carolina Bar Association’s 2026 Legal Practice Hall of Fame, which recognizes a lifetime of exemplary service and the highest ethical and professional standards. He will be formally recognized at an award ceremony this fall. John also was named an Icon in North Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2026 Excellence in Law Awards. A trial and appellate litigator, he has served as lead counsel in significant cases, including the landmark pro bono disability rights case Hyatt v. Shalala, and is a past president of the North Carolina Bar Association. 

Paige Reese Whitaker JD '92 was appointed to the Georgia Court of Appeals by Gov. Brian Kemp. Judge Whitaker is a superior court judge in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit, where she has served for almost a decade. She was a senior assistant attorney general for the State of Georgia for over a decade and served as deputy district attorney in Fulton County. 

Matthew W. Wolfe JD ’08 has been named leader of the Health Law Group at Baker Donelson. In his new role, he will oversee a national health care practice of more than 200 regulatory and transactional attorneys across 12 states and Washington, D.C. Matt, who also serves as managing shareholder of the firm’s Raleigh office, advises health care providers on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters and is recognized by Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America for health care law.
 

In Memoriam

Stanley A. Star JD ’61, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who co-founded Cliffstar Corporation, died in May at age 89. A member of the Board of Visitors, Stanley Star previously served as co-chair of the Law School’s Building Campaign Committee. With his wife Elizabeth he endowed Star Commons in the Duke Law building, among many other gifts including financial aid and professorship matching gifts. 

In 2025, he and members of the Star family as well as other donors — including former dean David F. Levi, who gave the lead gift — established the Stanley A. Star ’61 and Elizabeth A. Star Rule of Law Fund, a new $1 million endowment to help fund the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law.