Shook Welcomes 32 Law School Graduates in 2026 Class of Fall Associates

Shook announces the addition of 32 law school graduates and associate laterals who form the firm’s 2026 class of fall associates. Marking the largest fall associate class to date, the new associates will be located in 12 of the firm’s offices.

BOSTON

Deanna Rooney | Rooney joins the firm’s Product Liability Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

CHICAGO

Dominic Scavuzzo | Scavuzzo joins the Business Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from University of Notre Dame Law School and B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago.

HARTFORD

Bron Tamulis | Tamulis joins the Product Liability Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from the University of Connecticut, his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California and his B.A. from University of Massachusetts.

HOUSTON

Ryanne Jaroudi | Jaroudi joins the Product Liability Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston and his B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. 

Evalyn Nguyen | Nguyen joins the Product Liability Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and her B.S. in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. 

KASAS CITY

Madison “Maddie” Bechtel | Bechtel joins the firm’s Product Liability Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law and her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Bobbie Crew | Crew joins the firm’s Business Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law, her Masters of Public Affairs from the University of Missouri and her B.A. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

Michael Essma | Essma joined the General Liability Litigation practice group. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri and his B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Carolina.**

Luis Rizek Forner | Forner joins the Business Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law and his B.S.B.A. and M.B.A. from Rockhurst University.

Nakyshia Fralin | Fralin joins the Environmental & Toxic-Tort practice group. She earned her J.D. from Vermont Law & Graduate School and her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Houston-Tilloston University. 

Rana Freeman | Freeman joined the firm’s Complex Litigation & Strategic Counseling practice group. She earned her J.D. from Southern University Law Center and her B.A. in Political Science from Louisiana Tech University.*

John Godfrey | Godfrey joins the Business Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, M.A. in Education from Alverno College and his B.A. from Marquette University. 

Sophie Leonard | Leonard joins the Complex Litigation Strategic Counseling practice group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa. 

Stephen Lockwood | Lockwood joins the General Liability Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and his B.A. in Accounting from Loyola University Chicago. 

Remi Moeller | Moeller joins the firm’s Product Liability Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and his B.S. in Political Science from the University of Kansas.

Hirsa Rakhel Sarafian | Sarafian joins the Product Liability Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and his B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. 

Thea Hack | Hack joins the Product Liability Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

Eric Siemens | Siemens joins the General Liability Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law, his M.Ed. from the University of Missouri, St. Louis and his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Missouri. 

Lauren Stubbs | Stubbs joins the Class Action and Appellate Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from The University of Iowa, College of Law and her B.S. in Health Care Policy from Cornell University. 

Tabitha Tiffany | Tiffany joined the firm’s General Liability Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School and her B.S. in Secondary Education from Kansas State University. **

LOS ANGELES

Jack Corriea | Corriea joins the Class Action and Appellate Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from The LMU Loyola Law School and his B.S. in Finance from St. John’s University. 

MIAMI

Evangelia “Lia” Manias | Manias joins the Product Liability Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law and her Ph.D. in Pharmacy from the University of Florida. 

Alejandro Jose “A.J.” Sanz | Sanz joins the firm’s Class Action and Appellate Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law. 

Ryan Scivally | Scivally joins the Product Liability Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from Florida International University College of Law. 

ORANGE COUNTY

Elizabeth Bowers | Bowers joins the firm’s Class Action and Appellate Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law.

Megan Fitz-Patrick | Fitz-Patrick joins the Environmental & Toxic-Tort practice group. She earned her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.

PHILADELPHIA

Chante Whyte | Whyte joins the General Liability Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law.

SAN FRANCISCO

Taylor Alexander | Alexander joins the Class Action and Appellate Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. 

Julia Sandoval | Sandoval joins the Class Action and Appellate Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law

TAMPA

James Tison | Tison joins the Product Liability Litigation practice group. He earned his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. 

Mackenzie Trexler | Trexler joins the firm’s Product Liability Litigation practice group. She earned her J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Kyara Belliard | Belliard joins the Complex Litigation Strategic Counseling practice group. She earned her J.D. from Howard University School of Law. 

*Rana Freeman joined Shook earlier this year. 
**Tabitha Tiffany and Michael Essma joined the firm as associates. 

At Shook, graduates who are already admitted to practice begin as associates. Graduates who have taken the bar but are not yet admitted join the firm as senior law clerks.