Georgetown Law: A Legacy of Distinguished Alumni

Georgetown University Law Center, situated in the Capitol Hill district of Washington, D.C., has a rich history of producing influential figures in law, government, and various other fields. This article explores the contributions of some of Georgetown Law's notable alumni, highlighting their diverse achievements and lasting impact.

Pioneers and Trailblazers

Georgetown Law has a history of breaking barriers and fostering diversity. Several alumni have been pioneers in their respective fields, paving the way for future generations.

Professor Emerita Patricia King

Professor Emerita Patricia King stands out as a transformational figure. She grew up in Norfolk, VA, with a supportive, encouraging mother. She graduated as valedictorian of Booker T. Washington High School, with honors in religion and philosophy from Wheaton College in Norton, MA, and with a J.D. After several years serving in civil rights-oriented posts, she began teaching at Georgetown Law. King was the first African American and person of color to receive tenure at Georgetown Law. Her expertise lies at the intersection of law, medicine, ethics, and public policy. In 1996, she was appointed Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Medicine, Ethics, and Public Policy.

Judge Lutrelle F. Parker, Sr.

Judge Lutrelle F. Parker, Sr. (L’52, L’58) was one of the first four African American students admitted to Georgetown Law and an alumnus whose life exemplified the excellence and ethic of service for which the Law Center is known. Patent Office as a patent examiner. He served as a judge on the Board of Patent Appeals from 1980 until retiring in 1986. For his significant contributions, Judge Parker was awarded the Patent Office Superior Accomplishment and Superior Performance awards and a Meritorious Service Award. He was asked by President Johnson to serve on a commission on Patent Office reform and in 1970 he received a Presidential Certificate of Commendation for his exceptional service to others. Judge Parker was dedicated to giving back and served as a volunteer leader on many community boards throughout his life. Navy. After war service in the Pacific theater, he joined the reserves and eventually retired with the rank of captain in 1982. Judge Parker also served on many boards including the Arlington Hospital Foundation, National Capital Area Hospital Council, George Mason University Foundation, Virginia State Council of Higher Education, and National Old Dominion Bar. The legacy of Lutrelle Parker and his fellow trailblazers is especially meaningful to Georgetown Law, and the progress they began has only accelerated. Georgetown Law’s continuing journey toward diversity and inclusion has resulted in a 2020 first-year J.D.

Paul R. Dean

A transformational figure in Georgetown Law’s history, Paul R. Dean (L’46, L’52, H’69) is widely regarded as the founding Dean of the modern Law Center. He became Dean of the Law School in 1954 and served until 1969. Paul Dean was born in 1918 and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. After graduating from Youngstown State, he enrolled at Georgetown Law. During World War II, his education paused for two years of naval service in the Pacific. An excellent student, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Georgetown Law Journal. After graduating in 1946, a bidding war for his services broke out among firms and universities. As Dean, he helped reform the structure of the school’s internal governance and leadership, while laying the groundwork for its rise in reputation as an elite institution. He strengthened the evening division, helped launch the clinical education program with the E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship Program, and rebranded the Law School as “Georgetown University Law Center,” setting the tone for decades to come. He is memorialized with the Paul Regis Dean Leadership Chair, an esteemed faculty position into which current Dean William M. Treanor was installed in 2019. His name also graces the Paul R. Dean Alumni Award, established in 1994 and annually awarded during Reunion Weekend. The award is given to graduates who have exhibited leadership to their alma mater and the legal profession.

Professor Shana Steinbinder

Another notable figure is Professor Steinbinder. She was born in New York City and graduated from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. She earned a Masters of Library Science degree at Columbia University, and then became among the first eight women admitted to Georgetown Law. She was one of the first two women to receive a Georgetown Law LL.B. degree - the J.D. In 1957, Steinbinder was hired by Georgetown Law as the first woman on the full-time faculty. Later, she became the first woman to receive tenure. Known for her strong voice, Professor Steinbinder prided herself on speaking without a microphone when lecturing her large classroom. She taught classes in real estate and property and also worked as a faculty adviser for the student-published magazine Res Ipsa Loquitur. Her contributions are evident in our diverse 2020 entering class, comprising 57% women. We are grateful to Professor Steinbinder and for the essential role she played in our development as a Law School.

José N. Uranga

José N. Uranga (L’72) led the movement to establish the Georgetown Law chapter of the La Raza National Law Students Association. It later merged with a second Latin American student organization, La Alianza del Derecho, and then became known as the Latin American Law Students Association. As the first president of the Georgetown chapter, Uranga helped bring La Raza’s national convention to D.C. He secured the participation of Sen. Joseph Montoya, Sen. In 1969 Uranga was the only Latino student in his entering class. As a student, with approval and funding from Dean Adrian Fisher, he visited colleges around the country recruiting Latino students. By the time he graduated, Georgetown Law had the most Latino students enrolled of any law school east of the Mississippi. After graduating, Uranga had a successful career as an environmental lawyer. José Uranga’s impact on Georgetown Law is apparent in today’s strong enrollment figures for Latino students and the continued vibrance of LALSA.

Accomplished Legal Professionals

Georgetown Law alumni have made significant contributions to the legal profession, excelling in various roles and specializations.

Winston Zee

Winston Zee (L’81, L’84) is one of Georgetown Law’s most generous and high-impact alumni. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Mr. Zee is a business lawyer with a passion for helping parties bridge legal and cultural gaps through transnational investments. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown Law in 1981 and his LL.M in Taxation in 1984. After graduating, he joined the global law firm Baker & McKenzie, where he served as Asia Pacific chairman from 2012 to 2014. After retiring, he joined the faculty of Shanghai Jiao Tong University KoGuan Law School. Mr. Zee has chaired Georgetown Law’s Asian Law Alumni Advisory Board since 2010 and served on its Board of Visitors since 2017. In 2016, he received Georgetown Law’s prestigious Paul R. Dean Alumni Award. In 2020, he was selected to receive the University’s John Carroll Award, recognizing alumni whose achievements and record of service exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown and its founder.

Prominent Law Firm Partners

Georgetown Law boasts a vast network of alumni who have become partners in prominent law firms across the nation. Some examples include:

Christopher W. Adams (Class of 1992): Adams & Bischoff, L.L.C. (South Carolina)
Andrew M. Adelman (Class of 2014): Correia & Puth, PLLC (Washington DC)
Sanford K. Ain (Class of 1972): Ain & Bank, P.C. (Washington DC)
David H. Angeli (Class of 1997): Angeli & Calfo LLC (Oregon)
John A. Anthony (Class of 1987): Anthony & Partners, PLLC (Florida)
Sarah M. Armstrong (Class of 2004): Armstrong Roth Whitley Johnstone (Arizona)
Scott A. Arthur (Class of 2005): Diaco Law (Florida)
Eric Bachman (Class of 1999): Bachman Law (Maryland)
Shawn M. Bates (Class of 2000): Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing, PLLC (Texas)
James A. Bell (Class of 1997): Bell & Bell LLP (Pennsylvania)
Jennifer C. Bell (Class of 1997): Bell & Bell LLP (Pennsylvania)
C. Nelson Berry, III (Class of 1976): Berry & Beckett, PLLP (Washington)
Peter E. Brill (Class of 1997): Brill Legal Group, PC (New York)
Rebecca Brodey (Class of 2010): Bourelly, George & Brodey PLLC (Washington DC)
Robin E. Burgess (Class of 1991): Sanders & Parks P.C. (Arizona)
Ladd Cahoon (Class of 1997): Edgcomb Law Group, LLP (California)
José Z. Canto (Class of 2012): The Canto Law Firm, LLC (Maryland)
Adam Augustine Carter (Class of 1991): The Employment Law Group, P.C. (Washington DC)
Gary Certain (Class of 1993): Certain & Zilberg, PLLC (New York)
Lihua (Lily) Chen (Class of 2011): Taft (Florida)
Damon D. Colbert (Class of 2001): Law Office of Damon D. Colbert (Virginia)
Kevin Colquitt (Class of 2009): Sbaiti & Company PLLC (Texas)
Caroline E. Costle (Class of 1994): Greenberg Costle & Bradley, PC (Virginia)
Paul R. D’Amato (Class of 1974): D'Amato Law Firm (New Jersey)

Notable Legal Figures

Georgetown Law has also produced judges, academics, and legal experts who have made significant contributions to the field:

Evelyn Aswad, J.D.
Ian C. Ballon, LL.M.
Robert J.
Nora Demleitner, LL.M. 1994, president of St. John's College - Annapolis, dean of the Washington and Lee University School of Law, and dean of Maurice A.
Noura Erakat, LL.M.
Lee H. Roberts, J.D.
Maura R. Grossman, 1999, research professor in the David R.
Jim Lucchese, J.D.
David G.
Barry W.
David G.
Thomas E.
Mark Weinberger, LL.M.
Ralph V.
Greta Van Susteren, 1979, LL.M.
Horace M.
Robert C.
Bradford P.
George B.
James C.
Robert O. Harris, LL.M.
Christine A.
Robert Wilkie, LL.M.
Judith A.
Jesse C. Adkins, LL.B. 1899 and LL.M.
Thomas L.
William G.
Walter M.
James K.
Lynn J.
Richard C.
Pamela K.
Carolyn Chiechi, '69, LL.M.
Charles N.
John O. Colvin, LL.M.
Julian A.
Virginia M.
Robert N.
John T. D.
Arthur J.
Marvin J. Garbis, LL.M.
George J.
Judith C.
Thomas F.
Jeffrey R.
Brian Anthony Jackson, LL.M.
Kent A.
Elaine D.
Bruce E. Kasold, LL.M.
Richmond Keech, LL.B. 1922, LL.M.
Timothy J.
Charles B.
Mark R.
Bolitha James Laws, LL.B. 1913 and LL.M.
Frank J. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1986-2013), father of Stanford Law School Dean M.
Kiyo A.
Roslynn R.
Steven J. M.
Sean J.
Daniel William O'Donoghue, LL.B. 1899, LL.M.
Fred I. E.
James L. K.
Edward F.
Dennis Shedd, LL.M.
Eugene Edward Siler, Jr., LL.M.
John Lewis Smith, Jr., LL.B. 1938 and LL.M.
William E.
Timothy C.
Roger W.
Ricardo M.
James A.
David C.
Douglas P. A.
G. C.
Richard C. J.
J. P.
Robert E.
James E.
Gene E.
Andrew M.
John P.
Henry P.
Stephen P.
Frank G.
William C. Mims, LL.M.
Joseph T.
Robert A.
Gregory Dolin, J.D.
Judith M. Woods, LL.M.
John J.
Shavit Matias, LL.M.
Daniel S.
Nicholas A. R.
Charles H.
Barbara D.
Don McGahn, LL.M.
Robert S.
Stephen L.
Joseph Cammarata, LL.M.
Alan Gura, 1995, successfully argued District of Columbia v.
Stephen Halbrook, 1978, litigator for the NRA, successfully argued Printz v.
Shon Hopwood, LL.M.
William Shea, LL.B.
Lyndon B.
Lee A.
Laurie S.
Gerald S.
William B.
George A.
Herbert H. J.
Charles R. L.
Charles F.
John J.
John A.
Michael L.
Bill Jefferson, LL.M.
John W.
Edward L.
Joseph C.
Daniel S.
Clarence D.
Pete Visclosky, LL.M.
James H.
Frank S.
John D.

Public Service and Government

Many Georgetown Law alumni have dedicated their careers to public service, holding positions in government and advocating for the public interest.

David Catania, 1994, D.C.
Jim Graham, LL.M., D.C.
David Grosso, 2001, D.C.
Vincent Orange, LL.M. 1988, D.C.

Impact Beyond Law

The influence of Georgetown Law alumni extends beyond the legal field, with graduates making their mark in business, entertainment, and other sectors.

André Matias, J.D.
Michael Slive, LL.M.

The Global Law Scholars Program

The Global Law Scholars (GLS) program at Georgetown Law provides students with a unique opportunity to study international and national security law. Alumni of the GLS program have found the experience to be formative and meaningful, providing them with a built-in community of friends, academic tools, and professional mentorship. The GLS program has helped alumni discover their careers and provided them with invaluable resources in their personal and professional lives.

Alumni Engagement and Support

Georgetown Law encourages alumni to stay connected and engaged with the Law Center. Alumni are invited to attend social events, speak about their work and experiences, and help current students as they chart their course of study and consider their career options.

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