Photo: J. Albert Diaz/ALM

Events

As part of Duane Morris' support of City Year, the firm donated 500 copies of "Twelve Angry Men" to Kensington Health Science Academy.

The books were requested by the school's principal, Nimet Eren, who initiated a "one school, one book" holiday project. Students will read the book over their winter break and participate in lessons and a discussion about the legal system when school resumes.

Additions

Spector Gadon Rosen Vinci announced that Jay E. Kagan joined its commercial litigation, corporate and securities law groups as a member.

Kagan has more than 20 years of experience handling matters in complex corporate and commercial litigation, professional errors and omissions liability, fiduciary liability, directors and officers liability, securities fraud and internal corporate investigations.

He received his juris doctor in 1995 from Rutgers School of Law–Camden.

He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Speakers

Wisler Pearlstine announced that attorneys Amy T. Brooks and Ahmer H. Sheriff presented on pertinent education and family law topics at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's 2019 Exceptional Children Conference.

Brooks presented "Solutions to Modern-Day Ethical Predicaments."

Sheriff presented "Introduction to Special Education Law."

Brooks, a partner with the firm, works with school clients, helping them understand and navigate the existing legal framework in order to proactively achieve their goals.

She defends schools against legal claims such as those brought under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as representing schools in investigations by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and U.S. Office for Civil Rights.

Sheriff is an associate in the firm's education law practice group.

Sheriff represents public school districts, charter schools and other educational entities, with a focus on special education law.

Before joining Wisler Pearlstine, Sheriff practiced as an attorney with Weitz & Luxenberg in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Prior to that, he worked in the anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing investigations department of HSBC Bank USA and the fraud investigation and dispute services of Ernst & Young.

Sheriff is a member of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and Montgomery County bar associations.

Announcements

Consolidated Rail Corp. announced Jonathan Broder, vice president of corporate development and chief legal officer, is set to retire after 31 years of service, and Jocelyn Hill was promoted to general counsel.

Since joining Conrail in 1988, Broder managed the legal functions for the fifth-largest freight railroad in the U.S.

He supervised the company's real estate portfolio, helped to create New York's High Line and served as a contributor in the planning and implementation of the acquisition of Conrail. Broder will retire at the end of 2019.

In her new role as general counsel, Hill will manage the law, corporate secretary, government and public affairs, and insurance functions for Conrail.

She will continue to represent the railroad's interests to local, state and federal government entities by interacting with leaders in the communities in which they operate.

Hill joined Conrail in 2015 as director of corporate affairs and deputy general counsel.

Since that time, she secured grants for Conrail's infrastructure needs and enhanced Conrail's profile with the government entities with whom the railroad does business.