Announcing the inaugural cohort for USLAW LeadX: Pathway to Success (2026–2030)

POSTED JANUARY 9, 2026

USLAW NETWORK proudly announces the inaugural cohort of USLAW LeadX: Pathway to Success (USLAW LeadX), a five-year leadership development initiative designed to prepare the next generation of leaders across USLAW NETWORK and its member firms. USLAW LeadX follows a structured pathway that integrates leadership training, business development and strategy, client engagement and NETWORK-wide relationship-building to strengthen leadership succession and support the organization’s long-term vitality. At launch, nearly 80 USLAW members and corporate partners are in the inaugural USLAW LeadX cohort (see the full list below).

“USLAW LeadX is about developing leaders who can connect strategy to service and vision to meaningful results,” said Roger M. Yaffe, CEO of USLAW NETWORK. “The individuals in our inaugural cohort are exceptional practitioners who represent the depth and ambition of talent across our member firms, and we’re excited to invest in their growth. By investing in their development now, we are investing in the long-term success of the next generation of leadership who can expand their impact for clients, strengthen their firms, and help shape the future of our organization and the profession.”

Inaugural cohort: USLAW LeadX (2026–2030)

The following individuals have been selected for the first USLAW LeadX: Pathway to Success cohort (listed in alphabetical order by firm name).

Jack Sanker, Amundsen Davis LLC (IL), Chicago, IL: Attorney bio
Joey K. Wright, Amundsen Davis LLC (IN), Indianapolis, IN: Attorney bio
Iliana I. Valtchanova, Arcadia Settlements Group, Pittsburgh, PA: Bio
Kerri Poe, Arcadia Settlements Group, Nashville, TN and Los Angeles, CA: Bio
Brian Barmettler, Baird Holm LLP, Omaha, NE: Attorney bio
Kristina J. Kamler, Baird Holm LLP, Omaha, NE: Attorney bio
Kira K. Strandquest, Baird Holm LLP, Omaha, NE: Attorney bio
Mark E. Jordan-Poinsette, Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP, Elmsford, NY: Attorney bio
Corinne M. Scotti, Black Marjieh & Sanford LLP, Elmsford, NY: Attorney bio
Zack Lewis, Bovis Kyle Burch & Medlin LLC, Atlanta, GA: Attorney bio
Kathy So, Bovis Kyle Burch & Medlin LLC, Atlanta, GA: Attorney bio
Michael D. Stacy, Bovis Kyle Burch & Medlin LLC, Atlanta, GA: Attorney bio
Christopher Stastny, Bovis Kyle Burch & Medlin LLC, Atlanta, GA: Attorney bio
Walker Moss, Carr Allison (AL), Birmingham, AL: Attorney bio
Austin C. Sherman, Carr Allison (FL), Jacksonville, FL: Attorney bio
Vanessa Coe, Coleman Chavez & Associates, Los Angeles, CA: Attorney bio
Rebecca M.H. Martinez, Coleman Chavez & Associates, Los Angeles, CA: Attorney bio
Peter D. Pham, Coleman Chavez & Associates, Los Angeles, CA: Attorney bio
Kenton Trigger, Coleman Chavez & Associates, Los Angeles, CA: Attorney bio
Grant Dick, IV, Cooch and Taylor, P.A., Wilmington, DE: Attorney bio
Landon Kidd, Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A., Ridgeland, MS: Attorney bio
Christina Mott Hesse, Duke Evett, PLLC, Boise, ID: Attorney bio
Molly E. Mitchell, Duke Evett, PLLC, Boise, ID: Attorney bio
Emma C. Nowacki, Duke Evett, PLLC, Boise, ID: Attorney bio
Elizabeth Judy, Dysart Taylor, Kansas City, MO: Attorney bio
Jeremy Burkett, Fee, Smith & Sharp L.L.P., Dallas, TX: Attorney bio
Justin B. Jones, Fee, Smith & Sharp L.L.P., Dallas, TX: Attorney bio
Patrick T. Wiggins, Fee, Smith & Sharp L.L.P., Dallas, TX: Attorney bio
Evan S. Aldridge, Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC, Charleston, WV: Attorney bio
James K. Hetzel, Franklin & Prokopik, P.C., Baltimore, MD: Attorney bio
Jessica B. Pupkin, Franklin & Prokopik, P.C., Baltimore, MD: Attorney bio
Arlow M. Linton, Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP, Buffalo, NY: Attorney bio
Erin N. Mackin, Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP, Buffalo, NY: Attorney bio
Kristin Moro, Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP, Buffalo, NY: Attorney bio
Bridget M. Talerico, Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP, Buffalo, NY: Attorney bio
Johnathan C. Bolton, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP, Honolulu, HI: Attorney bio
Stacy Y. Ma, Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP, Honolulu, HI: Attorney bio
Josue Aparicio, Hanson Bridgett LLP, San Francisco, CA: Attorney bio
Kaylen Kadotani, Hanson Bridgett LLP, San Francisco, CA: Attorney bio
Grace P. Gower, Klinedinst PC, San Diego, CA: Attorney bio
Benjamin W. Kuhlmann, Laffey, Leitner & Goode LLC, Milwaukee, WI: Attorney bio
Allison E. Laffey, Laffey, Leitner & Goode LLC, Milwaukee, WI: Attorney bio
Zane P. Aubert, Larson • King, LLP (MN), Saint Paul, MN: Attorney bio
Brian R. Betner, Lashly & Baer, P.C., St. Louis, MO: Attorney bio
Emily A Gearhart, MehaffyWeber, San Antonio, TX: Attorney bio
Dilcia Z. Jones, MehaffyWeber, San Antonio, TX: Attorney bio
Austin B. Martin, MehaffyWeber, Houston. TX: Attorney bio
Jessica Windfont, MehaffyWeber, Houston, TX: Attorney bio
Sophia M. Brasseux, Moran Reeves & Conn PC, Richmond, VA: Attorney bio
Stewart R. Pollock, Moran Reeves & Conn PC, Richmond, VA: Attorney bio
Tarik J. Shoukeh, Murchison & Cumming, LLP, Los Angeles, CA: Attorney bio
Graham A. Simmons, Murchison & Cumming, LLP, Los Angeles, CA: Attorney bio
Jessica L Dark, Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, L.L.P., Oklahoma City, OK: Attorney bio
Jeffrey Hendrickson, Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, L.L.P., Oklahoma City, OK: Attorney bio
Julie A. Brennan, Pion, Nerone, Girman & Smith, PC, Pittsburgh, PA: Attorney bio
Jordan C. Hettrich. Pion, Nerone, Girman & Smith, PC, Pittsburgh, PA: Attorney bio
Meredith Durham, Plauché Maselli Parkerson LLP, New Orleans, LA: Attorney bio
Matthew T. Habig, Plauché Maselli Parkerson LLP, New Orleans, LA: Attorney bio
Eric Winder Sella, Plauché Maselli Parkerson LLP, New Orleans, LA: Attorney bio
Andrew S. Dixon, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Springdale, AR: Attorney bio
Laura L. O’Hara, Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC, Little Rock, AR: Attorney bio
Benjamin J. Wisher, Rivkin Radler LLP (Capital Region). Albany, NY: Attorney bio
Lindsay M. Brocki, Rivkin Radler LLP (Long Island), Uniondale, NY: Attorney bio
Lidia B. Ebersole, Roetzel & Andress, Toledo, OH: Attorney bio
Tyler M. Jolley, Roetzel & Andress, Cincinnati, OH: Attorney bio
Myles Dubose, S-E-A, Rolling Meadows, IL: Bio
Troy Graham, S-E-A, Columbus, OH: Bio
Annie M. Hardin, Simmons Perrine PLC, Cedar Rapids, IA: Attorney bio
Evan McDonough, Snyder Burnett Egerer, LLP, Santa Barbara, CA: Attorney bio
Susan Toth, Sweeney & Sheehan, P.C., Philadelphia, PA: Attorney bio
Marshall C. Crane, Sweeny Wingate & Barrow, P.A., Columbia, SC: Attorney bio
Jessica Kansky, Verdict Insight Partners, Charleston, SC: Bio
Juliana Manrique, Verdict Insight Partners, New York, NY: Bio
Jacob J. Liro, Wicker Smith (South Florida), Coral Gables, FL: Attorney bio
Megan Ferris, Williams Kastner (OR), Portland, OR: Attorney bio
Ryan W. Vollans, Williams Kastner (WA), Seattle, WA: Attorney bio
Jeffrey M. Wells, Williams Kastner (WA), Seattle, WA: Attorney bio
Erica R. Day, Williams, Porter, Day and Neville PC, Casper, WY: Attorney bio
Keith J. Dodson, Williams, Porter, Day and Neville PC, Casper, WY: Attorney bio

Leadership forward

USLAW LeadX builds on the foundation of the former Future USLAW Leaders program introduced in 2017, expanding the concept into formal cohorts and a defined multi-year development arc that supports participants as they increase leadership visibility, broaden their NETWORK relationships, and deepen client-facing influence.

“As USLAW NETWORK celebrates its 25^th anniversary in 2026, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the next generation of leaders who will usher the NETWORK into its next 25 years and beyond,” continued Yaffe when announcing the inaugural cohort.

Five-year program snapshot: What to expect

Over the 2026–2030 cycle, cohort members will engage in a structured series of initiatives and experiences that emphasize practical leadership growth. Program elements include leadership development opportunities such as workshops, shadowing, speaking and writing roles, and exposure to USLAW leadership; business development and client engagement activities; and NETWORK relationship-building through bi-annual USLAW LeadX Summits and tailored networking at USLAW events.

Collaboration and community

The LeadX cohort model is designed to create lasting peer relationships across jurisdictions and practices, reinforcing USLAW’s collaborative culture. Through the cohort experience, participants will develop leadership confidence while strengthening connections that can support cross-firm collaboration and a deeper USLAW bench.