Jennifer Barton named director of UA’s BIO5 Institute

Biomedical engineer Jennifer Kehlet Barton has been named director of the BIO5 Institute at the University of Arizona.

The BIO5 Institute brings together researchers from across the five main bioscience disciplines — agriculture, bioengineering, biomedicine, pharmacy and basic science — to develop creative, bold solutions to humanity’s most pressing health and environmental challenges.

Barton, a professor of biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, optical sciences, and agricultural and biosystems engineering, has been on the UA faculty since 1998. She served as BIO5 assistant director from 2009 to 2012 and became interim director in 2015. Her research expertise is in translational biomedical optics, as well as the prevention and early detection of cancer. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles.

“Through my own research, I know the absolute necessity of an interdisciplinary approach in solving important health challenges,” Barton said. “BIO5 is renowned for this, and I’m looking forward to continuing this tradition of excellence while always looking for new ways to expand support for our members, students and community.”

Barton is currently the principal investigator on a number of active awards, including one from the National Cancer Institute for the identification of the earliest image markers of ovarian cancer, and one from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering to develop a small endoscope that can image the fallopian tubes and ovary.

Squire Patton Boggs adds trial team in Phoenix

Squire Patton Boggs has strengthened its litigation capabilities with the addition of trial lawyers Richard M. Amoroso and Christina (Tina) W. Kelly, who join the firm’s Phoenix office from Polsinelli.

Mr. Amoroso and Ms. Kelly have extensive experience successfully litigating complex product liability, commercial, insurance and personal injury matters.

“Rich and Tina enhance our litigation practice, particularly in the West, and add even greater depth to our national product liability capabilities,” said John A. Burlingame, global co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice. “We are thrilled to have Rich and Tina on board.”

Mr. Amoroso is a trial lawyer with extensive experience litigating products liability cases, particularly in the automotive and trucking industries. For more than 30 years, he has handled commercial and business litigation matters, including arbitration and asset recovery. Mr. Amoroso has significant insurance industry experience, having litigated countless coverage disputes and assisting several large private equity fund clients with insurance due diligence and planning related to mergers and acquisitions. For more than a decade, he served as the CEO of Republic Western Insurance. Additionally, Mr. Amoroso works with commercial and real estate clients managing all facets of their litigation matters.

For almost 20 years, Ms. Kelly has handled a broad range of complex litigation matters. She currently manages the national litigation programs for a large transportation company, managing all aspects of the company’s general liability, product liability, and auto liability claims. She also advises clients on insurance coverage strategies, the policy implications resulting from lawsuits, and breach of contract and bad faith litigation.

JHC adds new lawyer

Jennings Haug Cunningham (JHC) announced that Paul Kular has joined the firm’s growing insurance defense and coverage practice.

Mr. Kular has extensive experience in insurance defense litigation. Prior to joining JHC, Mr. Kular was senior counsel with Travelers Insurance where he represented insureds in construction defect and subrogation cases, while also handling general liability and complex tort defense cases.

Mr. Kular is a member of the State Bar of Arizona, where he currently serves on the State Bar of Arizona Civil Jury Instructions Committee, and previously served on the organization’s Mentoring Committee.  He is also an active community volunteer.

In 2003, Mr. Kular earned his law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2000, he earned a degree in Social Sciences with emphasis in Psychology from the University of Bridgeport, where he also played baseball and ran cross-county at the NCAA Division II level.