Events

Grace M. Deon, a shareholder at Eastburn and Gray, served as the judge for a mock murder trial involving local home-school students from Newtown and Souderton.

The eighth-grade students filled the roles of the attorneys for the prosecution and defense, as well as the defendant, witnesses and bailiff. In addition to Deon acting as the judge, volunteers (attorneys and non-attorneys) served as jurors. The proceeding took place at the Bucks County Justice Center.

The competition included two rounds, requiring the students to argue both sides of the case. At the conclusion of the second round, there was an opportunity for students to receive feedback from Deon and the jurors.

Additions

Howson & Howson announced that Kate Rigaut joined the firm as a lateral partner.

Rigaut joins partners Mary Bak, Cathy Kodroff and Colleen Schaller in the life sciences group.

Rigaut earned a Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics before earning her Juris Doctor from Rutgers University.

She has experience in patent prosecution, including preparation and filing of patent applications, amendments and responses to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office official actions on a variety of subjects including cancer genes, transgenic plants, RNA viruses, monoclonal antibodies, antisense technologies and compositions involved in anti-inflammatory responses.

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Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel announced that Charlotte Lin joined the firm's professional staff as controller.

Lin oversees all facets of accounting operations, including monthly close cycle, general ledger accounting, accounts payable, internal control and policy development.

Lin is an international accounting professional with more than 15 years of finance, accounting and business development experience.

She has a background working with U.S., Chinese and Japanese organizations in account analysis, financial reporting, budgeting and cash management in a range of fields including law, asset management, communications, multimedia, engineering, real estate and food service.

Prior to joining Panitch Schwarze, Lin was an accounting manager at PFM Financial Advisors LLC and Dechert.

Elected and Appointed

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young insurance financial and regulatory specialist Stephen J. Johnson was appointed to a two-year term as chairman of the Temple University Department of Risk, Insurance and Healthcare Management industry advisory council.

The council supports the mission of RIHM, which is to be a leader in educating risk/insurance and actuarial science professionals of the future through innovative and rigorous coursework, experiential learning, placement support and lifelong learning as well as in producing research.

Johnson, who previously served as deputy insurance commissioner of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, advises on insurance and insurer-related financial transactions with a focus on identifying and addressing insurance regulatory issues.

He works with clients on the insurance regulatory implications of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; implementation of new regulatory requirements; reviewing transactional documents for insurance regulatory issues and possible alternatives; designing and developing presentations to regulators; and creating and assessing workout options for troubled companies.

Announcements

The Legal and Pennsylvania Law Weekly are looking for verdicts and settlements to report.

If you're a plaintiffs or defense attorney who has obtained a verdict or settlement in Pennsylvania county or federal court recently, email Zack Needles at [email protected].