UC Law San Francisco Alumni

The UC Law SF West LA Alumni Chapter co-led by Jon Davidi ’18 and Natalie Alameddine ’13 held its 5th Annual Beer on the Beach at The Bungalow in Santa Monica. This event was generously sponsored by Davidi and Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP. In attendance were proud alumni across generations, admitted students, and staff members.

Join us for our next event! Learn how to stay connected with the alumni community and the law school here: https://www.uclawsf.edu/uc-law-sf-alumni-association/

Michael A. Kelly ’76, a member of the UC Law SF Foundation Board of Trustees and Into the Future Campaign Cabinet, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Consumer Watchdog at the group’s Rage for Justice event in Los Angeles in June. A name partner in Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, Kelly is one of the nation’s top personal injury, wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys, having handled the lawsuits against PG&E over the 2017 Wine Country wildfire and numerous other major actions over a 40-year career.

Cathy Ongiri '06 is the recipient of the UC Law SF Black Alumni Council's first ever Alumni of the Year Award. Ongiri is program director of the The State Bar of California's Office of Professional Competence, where she leads statewide ethical compliance initiatives. She also offers education on professional ethics and responsibility to legal organizations and law firms. Ongiri received the award at the May 9 Black Graduation ceremony.

Congratulations, Cathy!

UC Law SF has launched its first AAPI Alumni Affinity Group, led by Co-Chairs Nina Paul '06, Lisa Mak '08, Michael Nguyen '08, and Kelly Matayoshi '12. Their goal: to support AAPI alumni in the legal field and foster enduring ties beyond graduation. Learn more about what they are building: https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/04/30/uc-law-sf-alumni-form-new-aapi-affinity-group-focused-on-community-and-connection/

UC Law SF's Half-Century Club has inducted its first members — alumni whose distinguished careers have shaped the legal profession for five decades or more. The Class of 1976 returned to campus in March for an inaugural club luncheon with the Classes of '71 and '66. The club honors all alumni who graduated 50+ years ago.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/04/29/uc-law-sf-launches-the-half-century-club-honoring-alumni-50-years-out/

Congrats to UC Law SF alumna Erin Dixon ’05 on her recent appointment as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Dixon has served as a deputy alternate public defender at the Los Angeles Alternate Public Defender’s Office since 2008 and was a deputy public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2006 to 2008.

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/04/16/governor-newsom-announces-updated-judicial-appointments/

Securities Insights: Joe Cotchett ’64 came to UC Law SF on April 8 to offer students insights on the successful securities fraud verdict reached against Elon Musk in federal court in San Francisco in March. Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy led the team that persuaded jurors Musk’s tweets and comments at the time he was purchasing Twitter (now X) were improper and caused investor losses. Cotchett emphasized that most securities cases arise because people over-hype a stock, while Musk was “doing the exact reverse,” disparaging the company and driving down value, as found by the jury. Cotchett also addressed the art of persuading jurors: “It’s all about what is happening in people’s minds… what the theme of the day is.”

Kristin ’07 and Tom Sverchek are generously donating funds to create new scholarships for law students with financial need and a passion for innovation. Kristin, a member of Kodiak’s board of directors and former president of Lyft, shares what inspired this gift and her advice for future tech lawyers and leaders.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/04/15/kristin-07-and-tom-sverchek-launch-new-scholarships-to-support-future-leaders-in-tech-and-innovation-law/

📣 Calling all Washington D.C. Alumni! Join Professor Robin Feldman and Meaghan Kent ‘05 on May 5th for a conversation about how AI is reshaping the relationship among technological progress, economic incentives, and democratic governance.

Professor Feldman will draw on her book, AI versus IP: Rewriting Creativity. The first 25 alumni to register will get a free copy of Professor Feldman’s book! 📖 Thank you to for their co-sponsorship.

Please RSVP (link in bio) by April 28❗️

Congratulations to UC Law SF alum and board of directors member Carl “Chip” Robertson ’98, who Gov. Gavin Newsom has named to the additional role of member of the University of California Board of Regents.