Public Interest Leadership Program Class of 2024-2025

Each year, the Boston Bar Association’s Public Interest Leadership Program welcomes a select group of talented and highly-motivated lawyers to participate in a year-long program designed to provide intensive leadership and professional development training. Participants learn from and connect with leaders in Boston’s public and private sectors to gain the critical skills and tools needed to grow as an effective leader and voice in the community. 

Mirian Albert, Senior Attorney, Lawyers for Civil Rights
Mirian joined Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) in 2022. As a Senior Attorney, she represents clients across a wide range of civil rights cases, including employment, education, and police misconduct matters. Mirian is co-counsel in LCR’s groundbreaking Martha’s Vineyard litigation against Florida Governor DeSantis. She was among the first attorneys to arrive on the island in response to the crisis, and subsequently received the Boston Bar Association’s prestigious President’s Award for her groundbreaking work in Alianza Americas v. DeSantis, a class action filed in response to the Martha’s Vineyard migrant crisis. Prior to joining LCR, Mirian represented employees in wage theft and discrimination cases in state and federal courts. Mirian earned her B.A. from Loyola Marymount University and J.D. from CUNY School of Law, where she served as an editor for the CUNY Law Review. She also served as a student advocate in CUNY’s Human Rights and Gender Justice Clinic, addressing land disputes on behalf of Afro-Colombian communities in Colombia. Mirian is a native Spanish speaker.

Raj Banerjee, Partner, Ropes & Gray
Raj represents some of the world’s leading venture capital firms, emerging biotech companies, and large pharmaceutical companies in a broad range of matters, including venture and growth equity financings, strategic alliances, licenses, collaborations, and other commercial transactions. Raj has been involved with the Homeless Empowerment Project for over 10 years and represents the organization on a pro bono basis. Raj is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

Robyn Casper, Senior Associate, WilmerHale
Robyn advises clients on a variety of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, commercial leasing, real estate finance, and real estate aspects of corporate business transactions. While attending law school, Robyn was a legal extern for the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group. She was also a legal intern in the Consumer Protection Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Prior to law school, Robyn worked for three years as policy director for a Boston City Councilor. She is a member of CREW Boston and serves on the Board of Directors of the CREW Boston Educational Foundation.

Stephanie Charles, Associate General Counsel, Boston College
Stephanie is Associate General Counsel at Boston College where she advises clients on a variety of legal matters, with a focus on business transactions. Previously, she was a corporate associate at Cleary Gottlieb. Her practice focused on international corporate and financial transactions, with an emphasis on Latin America. While in law school, she was a family law student attorney at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau and a resident pre-law advisor for undergraduate students at Harvard College. Before law school, she worked as a post-graduate fellow at the Harvard University David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies in São Paulo, Brazil. 

Allison Colton, Counsel, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Allison is an attorney at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Office of the General Counsel. She was previously an associate at Johnson & Borenstein and a law clerk at the Conservation Law Foundation. Allison holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from Suffolk Law School. With a strong background in environmental law and policy, Allison is dedicated to advocating for sustainable practices and regulatory compliance.

Kara Czekai, Associate, Goodwin
Kara is an associate in the firm’s Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution group at Goodwin. She focuses on counseling and defending life sciences and healthcare companies and individuals in government investigations and enforcement matters, including those involving the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statue, in addition to conducting internal corporate investigations and advising on compliance matters. Leveraging her strong science background, Kara also represents life sciences and pharmaceutical companies in all aspects of complex civil litigation, from pre-complaint investigation through trial and appeals, having earned favorable outcomes for clients at trial in federal and state courts. While in law school, Kara served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Sherry R. Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Kaitlyn Gerber, Trial Attorney, Committee for Public Counsel Services
Kaitlyn Gerber is a Trial Attorney at the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS). She works primarily in the Central and East Boston Divisions of the Boston Municipal Court, as well as the Suffolk Superior Court. She currently serves as one of the Intern Supervisors for the Boston Trial Unit. Prior to joining CPCS, she worked as a public defender in Nashua, New Hampshire, where she represented hundreds of children and adults in felonies and misdemeanors, and served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Roy W. McLeese III on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. 

Kaitlyn graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. As a law student, she served as the co-Executive Director of the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project, representing incarcerated individuals in prison disciplinary hearings and in front of the Massachusetts Parole Board. She also represented clients in criminal show-cause hearings throughout Massachusetts as a student attorney in Harvard Defenders. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, magna cum laude, from Carleton College. She is proficient in French and Spanish.

Carol Guerrero, Assistant Attorney General, MA AGO, Consumer Protection Division
Carol has successfully litigated cases involving the end of solitary confinement in Connecticut and police racial profiling. At the AGO, she conducts investigations and litigates cases against entities that cause economic harm to Massachusetts communities, including a case in which a car dealership allegedly charges people of color disproportionately high fees for add-on products. Previously, she was a senior associate at WilmerHale and a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Rya W. Zobel in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Carol earned her JD in 2019 from Columbia Law School, where she was Articles Editor of the Human Rights Law Review and Co-President of the Student Public Interest Network. She completed her BA in Political Science at Boston University, which has awarded her the College of Arts and Sciences’ 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Yi Ke, Associate, Conn Kavanaugh
Yi specializes in Estate Planning and Probate Litigation, serving clients in Mandarin and Cantonese. Yi assists clients worldwide in the creation of their estate plans, including establishing various irrevocable trusts—such as irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), Medicaid Asset Protection trusts, qualified personal residence trusts and Supplemental Needs trusts, with a goal to help clients make tax-efficient transfers to family members. She also administers estates, including the preparation of probate court documents and estate tax returns, and advises Personal Representatives on their fiduciary duties. Prior to joining Conn Kavanaugh, Yi practiced at a boutique firm in Newton, where she advised clients on estate planning, elder law, corporate, employment, and litigation matters. She previously clerked in the District Court for the Honorable Sabita Singh, now an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Yi obtained her LL.B from Guangdong University, her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, and her LL.M from Boston University School of Law. Attorney Ke is a Council Member for the Bar Association of Norfolk County in Massachusetts, the first Chinese woman attorney appointed in this role. When she’s not working, Yi volunteers for the Legal Aid Society and The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Sara Kitaeff, Partner, Rubin and Rudman
Sara is a partner in Rubin and Rudman’s Family Law Practice Group. Her practice concentrates in the area of domestic relations, including pre- and post-nuptial agreements, divorce, paternity matters, child support, custody, and modification and contempt actions. Much of Sara’s practice is focused on high-net-worth and high-conflict divorce and child custody matters. Prior to joining Rubin and Rudman, Sara was an associate at a boutique family law firm in Boston. She was also a judicial intern in the Middlesex Probate and Family Court and the Superior Court. While attending Suffolk University Law School, Sara was a recipient of the Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Evidence and was a Research Assistant for Distinguished Professor and Judge, the late John E. Fenton.

Sky Kochenour, Legal Director, Center for Law and Education
Sky is the Legal Director at the Center for Law and Education, where he provides advocacy for public policy initiatives, such as submitting amicus briefs in state and federal court, filing complaints regarding civil rights violations, and authoring public comments on proposed state and federal regulatory actions. He earned his JD from Boston University School of Law.

Dan Lasman, Associate, Goulston & Storrs
Dan is a real estate attorney who provides clients with valuable assistance on a wide range of commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, financing and development. As a law student, Dan worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Robert B. Foster at the Massachusetts Land Court and a certified mediator at the Cambridge District Court. Prior to law school, he was a Fulbright Grantee in Madrid, Spain.

Evelyn Limon, Associate, Mintz
Evelyn’s practice focuses on a broad range of complex commercial litigation, including securities litigation, business disputes, financial and contract disputes, and white-collar defense. In addition to her complex commercial litigation work, Evelyn maintains an active pro bono practice, specifically focusing on counseling and representing clients in matters related to their immigration status. Evelyn is a member of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association. She also served on the New England region for the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). She also served as Co-President of BU Law’s Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA) chapter, and was a note editor for the Public Interest Law Journal.

Emmylou Manwill, Staff Attorney, MetroWest Legal Services
Emmylou is a passionate public interest lawyer and immigration attorney who is most fulfilled when helping immigrant clients find their pathways to permanence in the U.S. She utilizes a client-centered and trauma-informed approach to empower clients as she helps navigate them through systemic barriers and the often confusing U.S. immigration system. Emmylou is a graduate of Boston University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

Justin McCarthy, Burns & Levinson
Justin is an associate in the Private Client group at Burns & Levinson, where his practice focuses on trusts & estates. Justin has over ten years of experience guiding clients through the settlement process. Justin earned his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and his B.A. in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Melanie McCauley, Associate, DeMoura Smith LLP
Melanie joined DeMoura Smith in 2020 to assist clients in litigation matters. She handles business disputes, personal injury cases, employment claims and fiduciary and probate suits. Melanie has appeared in matters before the Massachusetts Superior Court, Massachusetts Probate Court, Massachusetts Appeals Court and United States District Court as well as the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Melanie is a magna cum laude graduate from New England Law | Boston. While in law school, she served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Peter Lauriat in the Suffolk Superior Court.

Anxhela Mile, Staff Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation
Anxhela is a Staff Attorney at Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) in the Clean Energy and Climate Change and Environmental Justice Programs. In her role, she focuses on reducing carbon emissions in a just manner and ensuring Massachusetts reaches its climate targets by working alongside community groups to improve energy efficiency, permitting and siting of renewable energy facilities, and eliminating polluting plants.   Prior to joining CLF, Anxhela was an associate at a boutique law firm in White Plains, New York. She also served as an assistant editor and co-author on a publication on the Sustainable Development Goals and Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Anxhela graduated from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University (Pace Law) with her J.D. and LL.M. in Global Environmental Law. During law school, Anxhela interned at the Department of Justice (Environmental Enforcement), the United Nations, and for Edgardo Ramos in the Southern District of New York.

Emily Nash, Senior Associate, Foley Hoag
A senior associate, Emily focuses her practice on complex civil litigation, white collar crime and government investigations, internal investigations, and labor and employment disputes. She has significant experience representing clients in the higher education and professional services sectors and is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). She is also committed to pro bono work, where she focuses on civil rights, reproductive justice, and criminal defense. In addition to her work at the firm, Emily teaches legal research and writing at Harvard Law School. She is also a founding board member of the Brave House, a nonprofit providing legal representation and holistic services to young immigrant women. From 2017-2018, Emily served as a law clerk to the Honorable Denise J. Casper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. During law school, Emily interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and she served as a member of the Board of Student Advisers.

Katarina Overberg, Associate, McCarter & English
Katarina is an intellectual property lawyer focusing on patent preparation and prosecution relating to technologies involving physics, and mechanical and electrical engineering. Katarina has experience in matters involving medical device technology, control systems, and computer software. Katarina is also engaged in data privacy and cybersecurity – relating to the collection, use, and sharing of customer information. Katarina earned her JD from The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, where she was Notes Editor for IDEA: The Law Review of the Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property and active in the UNH Patent Law Forum.

Amiee Parco, Staff Attorney, Greater Boston Legal Services
Amiee is a Staff Attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services in Boston, Massachusetts. She represents survivors of domestic violence at restraining order hearings and in family court matters. Previously, Amiee served as a Senior Staff Attorney at Casa Myrna. Amiee has a strong commitment to advocating for survivors, having testified on Beacon Hill in support of legislation to prevent abusive litigation and broaden the definition of abuse to include coercive control. She holds a JD from New England Law.

Sarah Parker, Attorney and Founder, Hope Immigration LLC
Sarah is a licensed immigration attorney and the founder of Hope Immigration, PLLC. She is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of the immigration process with compassion, attention to detail, and advocacy. Sarah earned her JD from Suffolk University Law School, where her participation in the Accelerator to Practice Program inspired her to start her own practice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in International Studies from Miami University.

Kendall Spencer, Associate, Ropes & Gray
Kendall is an M&A lawyer at Ropes & Gray, ensuring compliance within domestic and international regulatory frameworks. He recently represented Gingko Bioworks in their acquisition of AgBiome’s platform technology. Kendall’s practice includes a focus on sports and compliance, bringing expertise in intercollegiate athletics from his experience in athletics leadership. Previously, Kendall worked as an intellectual property associate at Foley & Lardner, where he specialized in data privacy and cybersecurity. Kendall is also a professional track and field athlete, having competed both nationally and internationally. He serves on the U.S. Olympic Committee and was the first student athlete to serve on the board of the NCAA. In his spare time, Kendall’s love for literature brings him to the Antiquarian Booksellers of America, where he stands as one of the first Black booksellers in this space. He is a graduate of Georgetown Law and hopes to bring people together through shared responsibility for the world we live in. 

Tanasia White, Supervising Attorney, Family Law Unit, De Novo Center for Justice & Healing
Tanasia is a Supervising Attorney for the Family Law Unit at the De Novo Center for Justice & Healing. She provides legal representation, advice, brief service, case consultation, in-depth intake, and referrals to eligible clients who are victims of crime in family law and housing cases. She also works as an Adjunct Professor at New England Law Boston teaching Divorce Practice. Prior to her career as a lawyer, she was a paralegal at Boston Public Schools.