CLASS NOTES

Class Notes highlight recent professional achievements from alumni and are included in the LegalBriefs newsletter, sent quarterly to Villanova Law alumni. 

Please submit any class notes for consideration to alumni@law.villanova.edu. If you are not receiving the LegalBriefs newsletter, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations.

Summer 2026

Michael Cook ’73 was elected vice chair of the board of Blue Ridge Medical Center.

Marc P. Weingarten ’76 was an invited lecturer at the Touro Law Center, where he spoke on opening statements in civil cases.

Joseph Betley ’83 retired after spending more than 40 years working in labor and employment law, civil rights, school law and construction law.

Edward Bernatavicius ’98 was elected bankruptcy judge for the Central District of California.

Craig O’Neill ’99 was named co-chair of the construction and surety practice group at White and Williams LLP.

Douglas Troutman ’00 was confirmed to serve as assistant administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

Douglas Rosenblum ’00 VSB, ’03 CWSL was named a Band 2 Lawyer in Chambers USA: Litigation’s White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations-Pennsylvania practice area.

Eric Correira ’09 JD/LLM was elected to serve as secretary of the Rhode Island Bar Association.

Nicole Durso ’13 was promoted to shareholder at Stark & Stark.

Rahul Patel ’13 was named to Law360’s 2026 Rising Stars list in the capital markets category.

Sean Daly ’14 joined Willkie, Farr & Gallagher as an associate in the finance department.

Christopher M. Lash ’18 joined Blank Rome LLP as an associate in the tax, benefits and private client group.

Jacqueline Johnson ’20, Maria (Teddy) Starling ’20 and Jillian Rotman ’25 founded the law firm Johnson Starling & Rotman.

Eliza L. Delar ’22 joined Williams Mullen as an associate in the private client and fiduciary services practice.

In Memoriam

Arthur J. Kania ’56, a graduate of Villanova Law’s inaugural class, lifelong Board of Consultors member and benefactor of the Law School’s endowed deanship.

Frederick Sean Perretta ’89 (1961-1994) was honored posthumously on August 15 by the Council of the City of Philadelphia. The 700 block of 48th Street is now “Sean Perretta Way,” as a public tribute to his service, leadership and dedication to his community. Previously, the Philadelphia Bar Association established the annual F. Sean Perretta Service Award in his memory, which recognizes a community member who exhibits exceptional community service.