Introducing our 2022 Summer Associates
June 7, 2022
Downey Brand is pleased to welcome our 2022 Summer Associates to the firm. This year we begin our summer program with six exceptional law students representing five different law schools. The summer associates will participate in ten full weeks of collaboration, exploration, development, learning, and relationship-building. In addition, they will get the opportunity to work on a variety of challenging and interesting projects, all while getting to know our wonderful staff and attorneys both inside and outside of the firm. We are looking forward to a terrific summer with this group!
2022 Summer Associates
Tom Gherini – Tom attends Pacific McGeorge School of Law. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Tom spent his 1L summer as a Judicial Extern in the chambers of Judge Morrison England at the U.S.D.C., Eastern District of California. After completing his undergraduate studies he worked for over two years as an Account Manager for Style Media Group in Folsom, and then worked as a legal assistant for Parker White. Tom’s interests include skiing, rock climbing, cycling, backpacking, and yoga.
Christopher Marelich – Christopher is a student at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in Business Management, from the University of California at Irvine. Christopher spent his 1L summer working at a real estate development company in Seattle, Washington, focusing on regulatory compliance and real estate transactions. He also has experience working as a civil litigation paralegal, and more recently founded an online ordering and delivery platform that allows buyers to purchase fresh produce and specialty products directly from L.A. County farms. Christopher’s interests include coaching youth soccer, backpacking, cooking, and history.
Stella Rugama – Stella attends the University of California, Davis School of Law. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with minors in History and Literature. She spent her 1L summer working as a Workers’ Rights Program Law Clerk at Centro Legal de la Raza, and during undergrad worked as a Competitive Sports Department Program Assistant and Supervisor for U.C. Santa Cruz Athletics and Recreation. Stella is a voracious reader, digesting dozens of books each year.
Mondis Vakili – Mondis just completed her first year at Pacific McGeorge School of Law. She is participating in our summer program by way of the Sacramento County Bar Association Diversity Fellowship Program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, with a minor in Theatre and Dance, from U.C. San Diego, and subsequently became a Certified Paralegal upon completing the U.C. San Diego School of Law’s Paralegal Graduate Program. She has four years’ experience as Front of House Manager for the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, and is tri-lingual in Farsi, English, and French.
Jake Voorhees – Jake attended his 1L year at the University of Wisconsin Law School and just completed his 2L year at University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Political Science from Duke University. Jake has worked as a Law Clerk for Pacific Legal Foundation and as a Legal Intern for Clean Wisconsin. He enjoys coaching baseball and volunteering.
Jennie Woo – Jennie is a student at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and History from New York University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education in New York City. Jennie spent her 1L summer working as a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Lee Edmon at the California Court of Appeal, 2nd District, in Los Angeles – while also working as an intern for a Family Law practice in Costa Mesa. She’s additionally worked as a Litigation Legal Assistant and Paralegal for a large law firm in New York. Jennie enjoys archery, cross-stitching, and hiking with her dog.