Aaron Sims Archives

People on the Move – Dec. 18

Mike Rocheleau December 18, 2020

People on the Move is a rundown of recent hirings, promotions, appointments and other notable movements by professionals in the state. If you’re interested in submitting an entry, please contact news@delawarebusinesstimes.com. U.S. […]

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U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester will serve as the co-chair of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration committee.

Blunt Rochester, the first woman and African American to represent Delaware in Congress, will be the second Delawarean named to the nonprofit organization tasked with planning and executing activities surrounding the Jan. 20 inauguration. She is a longtime Biden ally and served on his committee to select Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to be his running mate. “Delaware sent Joe Biden to the Senate 48 years ago and now America is sending him to the White House,” Blunt Rochester said in a statement. “I am proud to serve as co-chair on the Presidential Inaugural Committee … as we create an inauguration that keeps people safe and allows Americans across the country to participate in this part of history.” Blunt Rochester will serve as co-chair alongside U.S. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, all who supported the president-elect throughout his campaign. Blunt Rochester will also join Delaware State University President Tony Allen among the ranks of Delawareans to oversee Biden’s presidential transition. Allen, who is a longtime confidant and former speechwriter for Biden, was appointed the CEO of the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Joseph Latina, principal of Patterson-Woods Commercial Properties/CORFAC International, will become president of CORFAC International, a global network of independently owned commercial real estate firms, in January 2021.

Latina has been on the executive board of CORFAC International for several years and has served as chairman of the Affiliations Development Committee, treasurer, and, most recently, vice president of the organization during the 2020 term. Latina brings over 30 years of commercial real estate expertise to CORFAC International, and is recognized as an industry expert, thought leader, resource, and friend to those within the organization as well as his regional and local clients and peers. In his new role, he will oversee the operations, objectives and goals of the CORFAC Executive Committee, member firms, and staff. “It is with great humility that I accept the role as 2021 CORFAC International President. It is truly an honor to be given the opportunity to lead this great organization that has provided my firm and I with a multitude of resources, business-partnerships and lifelong friendships. I look forward to continuing the work of my predecessors, while bringing new initiatives to the organization as we progress through one of the most challenging times of our lives,” Latina said in a statement.

Ryan Dunphy will be nominate as the next Secretary of the Delaware State Senate by Delaware Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect David Sokola. Dunphy has served as legislative assistant for the Delaware Senate Majority Caucus since 2018. At 24 years old, he will become one of the youngest state Senate secretaries in the nation. “Ryan is a phenomenal person and has proven himself to be an exceptional staff member,” Sokola said. “With the 151st General Assembly set to begin in just a few weeks, his familiarity with Senators from both caucuses and his first-hand experience with the legislative process will be immensely valuable in the months ahead.” A graduate of Salesianum School and Villanova University, Dunphy first came to the Delaware Senate in 2016 as an attaché who assisted the Secretary of the Senate. He currently serves as the legislative assistant to Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton. “Ryan is one of the most capable and professional young men I have ever met,” Walsh said. “While I’m sorry to lose him as my legislative assistant, I’m excited the other 20 Senators will get a chance to benefit from the talents I know he will bring to bear in his new job.” “I am deeply honored Sen. Sokola and the Senate Majority Caucus have selected me for this position,” Dunphy said. “The Secretary of the Senate plays a crucial role in the day-to-day functions of the Delaware Senate and I look forward to assisting members of both caucuses as they work to improve the lives of all Delawareans.” The Secretary of the Senate is the chief administrative office of the chamber. The secretary consults with the President Pro Tempore on the overall operations of the Senate, oversees official Senate transactions, maintains the flow of legislation, and posts agendas, as well as records committee reports, roll calls and the legislative journal, among other responsibilities. Once confirmed, Dunphy will succeed Joy C. Bower, who retired earlier this year after 32 years of distinguished service with the Senate. Bower previously served as Assistant Secretary of the Senate under Bernard Brady, who retired in 2018 after 39 years with the Senate, including 29 as Secretary. Both Bower and Brady will continue to serve the Senate in an advisory role through Dunphy’s confirmation on January 12, 2021.

Jacqueline Rogers and Aaron Sims of Potter Anderson & Corroon have been elected to partner of the firm and promoted to counsel respectively. “We are thrilled to announce the new roles for these outstanding attorneys,” said Potter Anderson Chair Kathleen Furey McDonough in a statement. “Jacqueline began her career at Potter Anderson as a summer associate and Aaron joined us after completing two federal clerkships so it is especially gratifying to see them reach these milestones. We celebrate their accomplishments and look forward to their continued contributions to the firm and to our corporate litigation practice.” A member of the Corporate Group, Rogers focuses on high-stakes mergers and acquisitions litigation, corporate and stockholder disputes, and complex commercial litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery. She represented Rent-A-Center, Inc. in the successful defense of its termination of a $1.4 billion merger agreement with private equity firm Vintage Capital Management; National Amusements Inc. (NAI), Shari Redstone, and Sumner Redstone in a favorable settlement against CBS Corporation and certain members of its board of directors concerning CBS’s attempt to dilute NAI’s voting control of CBS; and Kindred Healthcare in successfully defeating a motion for preliminary injunction in connection with its merger with TPG, Humana, and Welsh, Carson. Her additional notable experience includes a wide variety of commercial litigation matters for clients such as Intel Corporation and Simon Property Group. Rogers is an executive editor of the highly regarded Corporate and Commercial Practice in the Delaware Court of Chancery, which has been cited by the Delaware courts in approximately 500 published opinions. She received a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and a J.D., cum laude, from The College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 2012.

Sims, also a member of the Corporate Group, focuses his practice on corporate, complex commercial, alternative entity, and mergers and acquisitions litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery. Notable matters on which he has worked include representing Gilead Sciences, Inc. in the successful defense of litigation arising out of Gilead’s acquisition of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in both the Delaware Court of Chancery and Delaware Supreme Court, and representing Intel Corporation in a favorable settlement of stockholder litigation relating to Intel’s acquisition of Altera Corporation. He has experience in a wide range of commercial litigation matters, and has represented a variety of clients, from startups to large companies such as Tutor Perini Corporation, Deutsche Bank AG, and Wynn Resorts, Ltd. Before joining Potter Anderson, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ferdinand F. Fernandez on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and to the Honorable Glen E. Conrad on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Sims received a B.A., magna cum laude, from George Wythe University in 2007, and a J.D., summa cum laude, from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2011.

Darlene Marchesani of Fiduciary Trust International, a global wealth manager and wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton, has joined the firm as director of Delaware trust administration and trust counsel, based in its Wilmington office. “Darlene is a well-respected expert on tax and fiduciary law, as well as the tax and wealth protection advantages that Delaware provides,” said Gerard F. Joyce, Jr., national head of trust & estates at Fiduciary Trust International in a statement. “Her more than 25 years of experience of managing complex, sensitive planning structures and family relationships will help us bring financial peace of mind to more clients as we continue to expand our trust and estates offering.” In her new role, Marchesani, who reports to Joyce, is responsible for Fiduciary Trust International’s Delaware trust administration business, including directed trust services, for U.S. and international clients. Marchesani was most recently trust counsel and managing director of Delaware trust services at Evercore Trust Co. Prior to Evercore, she served as vice president and senior fiduciary advisor at Wilmington Trust Co. Earlier in her career, Marchesani was vice president, and senior trust and fiduciary specialist, at Wells Fargo Private Bank. She also worked as an estate planning and tax attorney at several law firms. “As we come to the end of an especially challenging year, we remain focused on collaborating with clients to grow and protect their wealth for generations to come,” said Lawrence A. Sternkopf, president and chief operating officer of Fiduciary Trust International in a statement. “Darlene’s wide-ranging areas of specialty—from Delaware trust and estate administration and tax planning to business succession planning—will be extremely useful for guiding high-net-worth individuals and their families through all market conditions.” Marchesani earned her JD, and LLM in taxation, from Widener University School of Law. She also graduated from the University of Delaware with a BA in political science.

Kate Walters is being congratulated by Shore United Bank on twenty-five years of service. Walters began her career with the Bank in December of 1995 in loan operations located in Centreville, Maryland. Over her career she has held various positions, working in the mortgage division and multiple leadership positions. Kate’s current position is Asst. Vice President Loan Servicing Manager, where she is responsible for ensuring loan records are maintained with accuracy and prepares management and regulatory reporting. Walters attended Chesapeake College where she earned an associate degree in Business Administration. “Kate has years of loan experience, regulatory and reporting knowledge that makes her a vital team member. Her familiarity of the communities we serve and those who reside in our area are an asset” said Jamie Dulin, Senior Loan Operations Officer in a statement. Walters has served on the boards for Caroline and Dorchester Co. Fair and Caroline Lacrosse Association. She also participates in various community initiatives around the holidays serving children in need. Kate resides in Ridgely, MD with her husband Mike and her two children, Kelsey and Hunter. She enjoys watching football and lacrosse, camping, shopping and relaxing at the beach with her family.

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