Alumni Association

Delaware Chapter

Demographics

All Villanova Law alumni who reside and/or work in the State of Delaware of considered members of the Chapter.

Chapter Events

For an up-to-date list of chapter events - Click Here.

Leadership Board

President

Joy A. Barrist ’01
Pepper Hamilton LLP
Hercules Plaza
1313 N. Market Street, Suite 5100
Wilmington, DE 19899
302-777-6500
barristj@pepperlaw.com

Joy is an associate with Pepper Hamilton LLP. She resides in the firm's Wilmington office, and is a member of the Financial Services Practice Group.

During law school, Joy worked as a law clerk for Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas, and as a summer associate in the Dallas office of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. She also served as a judicial intern to The Honorable Dolores K. Sloviter, Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

B.A., 1998, The College of New Jersey; J.D., 2001, Villanova University School of Law; Admitted to practice in Delaware.

President-Elect

Donald W. Reid ’78
Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell
12th & Market Streets
P.O. Box 1347
Wilmington, DE 19899 
302-658-9200
dreid@mnat.com

Don is a member of Morris Nichol Arsht & Tunnell, assigned to the firm's General Business Litigation Group. His practice is primarily devoted to representing major corporate clients in litigation relating to commercial contracts, employment discrimination, construction disputes and insurance and products liability claims.

Previously Don served as a law clerk to The Honorable James L. Latchum of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. He also became a member of the Order of the Coif while a student at Villanova Law.

Don has served as the Secretary of the Board of Bar Examiners of the State of Delaware Supreme Court, and is currently a member of the Board. He is also a member of the Superior Court Civil Advisory Committee.

B.A., 1975, University of Pennsylvania; J.D., 1978, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware, Pennsylvania, the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Immediate Past President

Frederick W. Iobst '72
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor
The Brandywine Building
1000 West Street, 17th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-571-6643
fiobst@ycst.com

Fred is a partner with Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP in Wilmington. His practice areas include personal injury, insurance and construction litigation.

Prior to joining Young Conaway, Fred served as law clerk to The Honorable Edwin D. Steel, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware from 1972 to 1974. While attending Villanova Law, he was the associate editor of the Villanova Law Review, 1971-1972.

Fred is the immediate past president of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association, a member of the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners, and a charter member of the Delaware Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is also past president of the Duke University Delaware Alumni Chapter.

B.A., 1967, Duke University; J.D., 1972, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware, Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Advisors

Sheryl M. Baierlein ’98 
119 Malcolm Forest Road 
New Castle , DE 19720 
302-322-8333
buffetjd@msn.com

In September of 2003, Sheri relocated from Philadelphia back to her home state of Delaware. For three years prior to her move, she practiced personal injury defense in the Claims Unit of the City of Philadelphia Law Department, as well as spent two years practicing plaintiff’s personal injury at Wapner, Newman and Wigrizer, concentrating in medical malpractice and other catastrophic loss.

Prior to her involvement with the Delware Chapter, Sheri served as a board member of the Villanova Law Alumni Association's Board ofAdvisors and Young Alumni Committee. She was also elected to the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyer's Division and served a three year term.

1995, University of Delaware; J.D., 1998, Villlanova University School of Law. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the District of New Jersey.

Victoria W. Counihan '96
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1000 West Street
Suite 1540
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-661-7000
counihanv@gtlaw.com

Victoria is an associate with Greenberg Traurig, LLP. She resides in the firm’s Wilmington, Delaware office and is a member of the firm’s Reorganization, Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group. She represents clients in the areas of debtor and creditors’ rights and litigation in bankruptcy reorganizations and liquidations.

While at Villanova Law, Victoria served as Managing Editor of Production of the Villanova Law Review, 1995-96. Victoria is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, is Vice President of the Women and Law Section of the Delaware Bar Association and is Vice President of the Delaware Network of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.

B.A., St. Joseph’s University, 1993; J.D., Villanova University School of Law, 1996; Admitted to practice in Delaware, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Thomas C. Grimm ’80 
Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell 
1201 North Market Street 
P.O. Box 1347 
Wilmington, DE 19899-1347 
302-575-7273
tgrimm@mnat.com

Tom is a member of Morris Nichol Arsht & Tunnell, assigned to the firm's Intellectual Property and General Business Litigation Groups. He has represented predominantly corporate clients in diverse areas of litigation, including partnership law, complex products liability and patents and trademarks.

Prior to joining Morris Nichols, Tom clerked for The Honorable William Duffy of the Delaware Supreme Court. While attending Villanova Law, Tom served as a member of the Villanova Law Review, 1979-1980.

Tom is a member of the Board of Unauthorized Practice of Law in Delaware, the Board of Trustees for Archmere Academy, the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Delaware, and the Board of Directors of Judi Marvel Charities. He is also a member of the Villanova Law Alumni Association Board of Advisors.

B.B.A., 1977, University of Notre Dame; J.D., cum laude, 1980, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Kathleen M. Jennings-Hostetter ’78
Oberly Jennings & Rhodunda
800 Delaware Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-576-2000
kjennings@ojlaw.com

Kathleen is a member of Oberly, Jennings & Rhodunda, P.A. in Wilmington. Her practice areas include criminal law, personal injury, general civil litigation and business.

Prior to private practice, Kathleen served as a prosecutor in Delaware as the Deputy Attorney General from 1978-1993, and the Chief Deputy Attorney General from 1993-1995.

B.A., 1975, University of Delaware; J.D., 1978, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals fro the Third Circuit, and the U.S. District Court, District of Delaware.

James F. Kipp ’63
Trzuskowski Kipp & Kelleher
1020 Bancroft Parkway
P.O. Box 429
Wilmington, DE 19899-0429
302-571-1782
jkipp@tkkp.com

Jim is a partner with Trzuskowski Kipp & Kelleher, P.A. in Wilmington. His work has included innumerous personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability and property damage cases. He is also an arbitrator and mediator for the Superior Court of Delaware.

Prior to working in private practice, Jim served as an assistant public defender in Delaware from 1964 to 1971, and as a Family Court Master from 1966 to 1967. He is a past president of the Delaware Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates, and currently serves as chair of the Delaware Superior Court Civil Rules Advisory Committee.

Jim is a past president of the Villanova Law Alumni Association, and former chair of the Padua Academy High School Board of Trustees. Currently he chairs the Padua Academy Scholarship Foundation Board.

B.S., 1960, St. Joseph's College; J.D., 1963, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Gretchen S. Knight ’90
Morris James Hitchens & Williams
222 Delaware Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19899
302-888-6926
gknight@morrisjames.com

Gretchen is a partner with Morris, James, Hitchens & Williams LLP in Wilmington, where she is a member of the firm's Family Law and Government Relations Practice Groups.

Currently she is the chairperson of the Family Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. She is also a member of the Melson-Arsht American Inn of Court, and serves on the Board of the Junior League of Wilmington. While attending Villanova Law, Gretchen served as secretary of the Villanova Law Phi Delta Phi Chapter in 1985.

B.A., 1987, University of Delaware; J.D., 1990, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware.

Robert J. O’Neill, Jr. ’85 
Office of the Attorney General 
Department of Justice 
102 West Water Street 
Dover, DE 19901 
302-739-4211
robert.oneill@state.de.us

Bobby works for the Department of Justice as a Deputy Attorney General and Chief Prosecutor of Kent County. He manages twelve attorneys, as well as an office of about 35 employees, and continues to try criminal cases.

Immediately after law school, he served as a law clerk to Judge William Chandler and Judge William Lee of the Superior Court of Delaware. He then served as the Deputy Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice in Wilmington.

Bobby is an adjunct professor for the University of Delaware, and is a member of the Kent Count Criminal Advisory Board. He is also an arbitrator for the Superior Court of Delaware and serves on the Superior Court's Criminal Rules Committee. Previously, he served as an instructor at Delaware Technical & Community College, the New Castle County Police Academy, and with the Delaware State Police Investigators Course. In addition he served on the Governor's Committee on Prison Reform, and appeared as a guest commentator on Court T.V.

In addition to practicing law, Bobby is a rugby enthusiast. He is a member of the Wilmington Rugby Club, as well as a member of the Delaware Rugby Foundation Board.

B.S., 1981, University of Delaware; J.D., 1985, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Robert A. Penza '89
Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A.
1925 Lovering Ave.
Wilmington, DE 19806
302-652-2900
rpenza@gfmlaw.com

Bob is a director with Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A. in Wilmington. His practice areas are primarily fiduciary and commercial litigation.

Bob is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association, Delaware Trial Lawyers Association, National Football League Players Association, Canadian Football League Players Association and the Justinian Association.

B.S., 1986, Drexel University; J.D., 1989, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in the State of Delaware, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Adam W. Poff ’00
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor
The Brandywine Building
1000 West Street, 17th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-571-6642
apoff@ycst.com

Adam is an associate with Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP in Wilmington. His practice areas include corporate litigation, intellectual property litigation and commercial litigation.

Prior to joining the firm, Adam clerked for The Honorable Roderick R. McKelvie of the U.S. District Court of the District of Delaware. In addition, he served as a staff member of the Villanova Law Review, 1999-2000.

B.A., 1997, University of Delaware; J.D., 2000, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware.

Sheldon K. Rennie ’97
Fox Rothschild O’Brien & Frankel
919 Market Street, #1400 
Mellon Bank Center
Wilmington, DE 19801-3046 
302-655-7460
srennie@frof.com

Sheldon is an associate with Fox Rothschild O'Brien & Frankel, LLP. He practices in the areas of Delaware corporate law, corporate and business litigation and creditor's rights.

Previously Sheldon practiced with a corporate litigation firm in Wilmington, and served as a law clerk to The Honorable William T. Quillen of the Superior Court of Delaware. While at Villanova Law, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Environmental Law Journal, and was the 1995 recipient of the Louis L. Redding Fellowship.

Sheldon was recently appointed as the Assistant to the President of the Delaware State Bar Association, and currently serves as an adjunct professor for Wilmington College and Villanova University School of Law.

B.A., 1993, Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus; M.S., 1994, Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus ; J.D., 1997, Villanova University; Admitted to practice in Delaware, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

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