The National Association of Women Lawyers' Practice Area Affinity Groups provide a forum for members to dive more deeply into a substantive practice area and network with women who share that practice area. Practice Area Affinity Group activities can include substantive programming, either in-person or via webinar, regular discussions on hot topics, or networking opportunities. Practice Area Affinity Groups also serve as a forum for information sharing on best practices and recommendations. NAWL regularly designates part of its in-person events as a time for Practice Area Affinity Group members to network among themselves. If you are interested in joining or starting an Affinity Group, please email nawl@nawl.org.
Bankruptcy | Compliance | Corporate Transactions | Education | Employment | Environment & Energy
Fashion | Financial Services | Health and Life Sciences | Immigration | Insurance | Intellectual Property
International Arbitration | Litigation | Military Service | NAWL Moms | NAWL Next Level | Public Service
Real Estate | Start-Ups | Women Revolutionizing Retirement | Young Women Lawyers
Women in Bankruptcy & Restructuring
The NAWL Women in Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice Area Affinity Group provides resources to women in the bankruptcy and restructuring field and allows them to network with other women who share the same interests. We strive to be a resource to new and seasoned bankruptcy law attorneys. Interested in bankruptcy law?
CO-CHAIR
Rachel Ehrlich Albanese
DLA Piper LLP
New York, NY
CO-CHAIR
Raychelle Tasher
United States Attorney's Office
Miami, FL
Women in Compliance
The purpose of the NAWL Women in Compliance Practice Area Affinity Group is to connect and serve as a resource for women who currently practice, or are interested in practicing, in this area, either in-house or in private practice. Human Resources used to be the place where women leaders were found in a company, but now women are also in the Chief Compliance Officer role, which can be a great training ground for a step into a General Counsel role. In this group we share experiences and strategies for being successful in a compliance role, and discuss issues and challenges that women may face. We host events and programs to connect our members, garner new membership, and stay abreast of current compliance trends.
CO-CHAIR
Melodie Craft
McGrath RentCorp
Dallas, TX
CO-CHAIR
Shelby Lomax
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
Nashville, TN
Women in Corporate Transactions
The NAWL Corporate Transactions Practice Area Affinity Group connects women lawyers whose practice is focused on transactions and mergers and acquisitions in order to advance our professional growth, expand our networks, and to stay up-to-date on various legal developments related to corporate law, corporate finance, and securities. Whether in-house or in an entrepreneurial environment, or as part of a large organization or in private practice, the issues lawyers face in a corporate transactional/commercial practice are multifaceted. Some of us are specialists in mergers and acquisitions, project finance, securities, or corporate restructuring, while others are some combination of those areas and/or commercial generalists or practitioners in adjacent fields.
CO-CHAIR
Vicky McPherson
Ligado Networks
Reston, VA
CO-CHAIR
Lisa Sarver
Kutak Rock
Omaha, NE
CO-CHAIR
Nilufer R. Shaikh
Bristol Myers Squibb
Princeton, NJ
CO-CHAIR
Elyse Velagic
Fasken
Toronto, ON
CO-CHAIR
Patricia Wood
Sidley Austin
New York, NY
Women in Education Law
The NAWL Women in Education Law Affinity Group aims to support, educate, and highlight women practicing in this area or related areas and to promote and connect professionals who support the advancement and interests of our world's youth and education leaders. We host events and webinars to discuss and learn about education topics in the news, issues and challenges women may face in the practice area, and the broad range of issues affecting teachers, children and youth, schools, school districts, and related groups. We like to focus many of our events and conversations around access to and equity in education settings and in the practice area. The Education Law Affinity Group hosts networking events as well as recurring planning meetings where we love to hear your ideas and suggestions for panels, presentations, and pro bono, volunteer or fundraising opportunities. Looking forward to connecting!
CHAIR
Christi Davisson
Microsoft
Redmond, WA
Women in Employment Law
Employment and labor laws are constantly in flux at the federal, state, and local levels, posing challenges and opportunities for employment lawyers in the U.S. and around the world, whether representing employers or employees. The NAWL Women in Employment Law Practice Area Affinity Group aims to connect and serve as a resource for those who practice in this area or related areas. We are open to your ideas and suggestions. Please join us!
CO-CHAIR
Tania Mistretta
Jackson Lewis
New York, NY
CO-CHAIR
Carolyn Rashby
Covington & Burling LLP
San Francisco, CA
Women in Environmental & Energy Law
Environmental and energy issues regularly make front page news and pose huge challenges and opportunities for businesses and lawyers in the U.S. and around the world. The NAWL Women in Environment & Energy Law Practice Area Affinity Group aims to connect and serve as a resource for those who practice in these interrelated areas. The group also anticipates covering sustainability, "going green," climate change, and natural resources (water, timber, minerals). We are open to your ideas and suggestions. Please join us!
CO-CHAIR
Erin Poppler
Edlin Gallagher Huie + Blum
San Francisco, CA
CO-CHAIR
Erika Holsman Spanton
Beveridge & Diamond, PC
Seattle, WA
CO-CHAIR
Allyn L. Stern
Beveridge & Diamond, PC
Seattle, WA
Women in Fashion Law
The purpose of the Women in Fashion Law Practice Area Affinity Group is to establish a key forum for networking for women supporting legal functions within the fashion industry, both from the in-house counsel perspective and the outside counsel perspective. The Women in Fashion Law Practice Area Affinity Group will focus on three distinct areas of advancement opportunities within the fashion industry for female lawyers: networking, industry-specific business educational opportunities, and resource sharing. The Women in Fashion Law Affinity Group organizes and hosts conference call series, networking events, and recurring planning meetings.
CO-CHAIR
Ann Schofield Baker
New York Law School
New York, NY
CO-CHAIR
Jessica Cardon
YMF Carpets, Inc.
New York, NY
Women in Financial Services
Legal issues impacting the highly regulated Financial Services industry are complex, varied, and ever-developing. The NAWL Women in Financial Services Practice Area Affinity Group is designed to serve as a forum and resource for women whose practices involve the Financial Services industry. We anticipate lively intellectual discourse on issues of interest and enjoyable networking. We would like to hear from you!
CO-CHAIR
Bridget Marsh
LSTA
New York, NY
CO-CHAIR
Arleen Nand
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Minneapolis, MN
Women in Health & Life Sciences
The Health & Life Sciences Law Affinity Group hopes to support, educate, and highlight women practicing in the areas of health and life sciences law. We aim to share resources, connect practitioners, and provide a forum to discuss new developments. We welcome anyone interested in this area and are open to suggestions and feedback on how we can best serve this community.
CO-CHAIR
Lynn Barrett
Barrett Law P.A.
Windemere, FL
CO-CHAIR
Erica Kraus
Sheppard Mullin
Washington, D.C.
Women in Immigration
Immigration law is constantly changing and practitioners need to be aware of these changes to effectively represent their clients. The NAWL Women in Immigration Law Practice Area Affinity Group connects immigration practitioners and serves as a forum to share updates and ask questions of one another. We aim to be a resource for new and experienced attorneys alike. Interested in joining and networking with other women in immigration? Join us today.
CHAIR
Autumn Misiolek Tertin
GoffWilson P.A.
Concord, NH
Women in Insurance
Legal issues influencing the insurance industry are vast, complex, and ever-changing. The NAWL Women in Insurance Practice Area Affinity Group is a place where women lawyers can connect to discuss, brainstorm, and consult with one another regarding hot button topics in the news, coverage concerns, litigation strategies, cost of insurance issues, regulatory concerns, and everything in between. We host events and webinars to connect our members, garner new membership, and encourage young women in law school to explore the insurance industry as part of their practice. We welcome women from all sources of insurance--whether it be life, long-term care, property-casualty, coverage counsel, or litigation.
Women in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
The NAWL Women in IP & Technology Law Practice Area Affinity Group serves as a resource for NAWL members to exchange valuable information and practical approaches to key topics including intellectual property, technology, privacy, data protection, e-commerce, e-discovery, social media, and the internet. The group fosters the professional development of its members through education and networking opportunities. Please join us as we navigate the challenges presented in the digital age. We are open to your ideas and suggestions.
CO-CHAIR
Preetha Chakrabarti
Crowell & Moring
New York, NY
CO-CHAIR
Gail Gottehrer
Law Office of Gail Gottehrer LLC
New York, NY
Women in International Arbitration
The NAWL Women in International Arbitration Affinity Group aims to connect, support, and highlight women lawyers practicing in the international arbitration area (both as practitioners and arbitrators). Our goal is to create a forum for women to network, collaborate, share resources, and learn from each other’s experiences. The IA Affinity Group hosts events and programs, and shares resources, that focus on all facets of international arbitration, from clause to award, and provides opportunities and tools for women to advance in this dynamic and exciting area of law.
CO-CHAIR
Lindsay Sampson Bishop
K&L Gates
Boston, MA
CO-CHAIR
Jackie Celender
K&L Gates
Pittsburgh, PA
Women in Litigation
The NAWL Women in Litigation Practice Area Affinity Group aims to assist women in sharing resources, networking, and connecting in the litigation realm. The Litigation Practice Area Affinity group explores all litigation-related issues, such as strategies to avoid litigation in the first place, navigating complex discovery issues, preparing witnesses, writing persuasive briefs, and trial and post-trial issues. Potential activities for the group include providing periodic webinars on litigation topics, hosting a webpage on NAWL's website that shares litigation resources and discusses various litigation topics, and organizing local gatherings for women litigators to connect.
CO-CHAIR
Stephanie Chesney
MGM Law
Boston, MA
CO-CHAIR
Katrina Murphy
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
New York, NY
CO-CHAIR
Caitlin Saladrigas
Holland & Knight LLP
West Palm Beach, FL
Women in Military Service & Government Services
The NAWL Women in Military and Government Service Practice Area Affinity Group is a resource for our members who are currently serving in the military or serve as federal or state government employees. We also welcome those who are military retirees, military spouses or family members, or are simply interested in joining in on a discussion on issues unique to those in military and governmental service. All branches of the military service are welcome including those in the Active, Guard, and Reserve Components. We tackle issues that affect those practicing law in the military and/or the government and work to find solutions. We serve as an information resource for those interested in applying to serve in the military (either in a military or civilian capacity) as well as those interested in state or federal government service. We also look to organize events that in some way assist Wounded Warriors and Military Families. Come join us!
CHAIR
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Mary Card Mina
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C.
NAWL Moms
It takes a village. The NAWL Moms Affinity Group provides a safe space for NAWL members who are also moms to share experiences, network, and gather information to help navigate motherhood and professional careers. We will host events and programs that focus on growing our village and supporting attorney moms as they navigate the balance of parenting and lawyering.
CO-CHAIR
Rachel Jennings
Sutton Booker P.C.
Denver, CO
CO-CHAIR
Leah Katz
Troutman Pepper
Philadelphia, PA
CO-CHAIR
Megan L. Morgan
Beveridge & Diamond PC
Baltimore, MD
CO-CHAIR
Stephanie Riley
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Wilmington, DE
CO-CHAIR
Rebecca Sipowicz
Ocwen Financial Corporation
West Palm Beach, FL
CO-CHAIR
Heather Stenmark
Markel Corporation
Rosemont, IL
NAWL Next Level
Next Level is intended to serve and connect in-house and outside counsel who are trying to take their careers to the next level, whether they are an associate working to become partner, a limited equity partner working to become a full equity partner, or Associate General Counsel working to become General Counsel. These transitional periods in your career create unique challenges and opportunities and we look forward to serving as a resource and community to help you achieve the next level in your career.
CO-CHAIR
Lauren J. F. Barta
Faegre Drinker
Minneapolis, MN
CO-CHAIR
Anna Gressel
Debevoise & Plimpton
New York, NY
Women in Public Service
Are you asking yourself how you can participate in public service and influence public policy? The NAWL Women in Public Service Practice Area Affinity Group provides three non-exclusive road maps for NAWL members interested in this arena: (1) encourage and advise NAWL members who wish to run for public office; (2) support and advise NAWL members who wish to seek an appointive office; and (3) connect NAWL members who wish to provide pro bono legal services with first-time women candidates. Prior political experience not required. Whatever your political affiliation, come join us!
CHAIR
Idelle Howitt
Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow
New York, NY
Women in Real Estate Law
The NAWL Women in Real Estate Practice Area Affinity Group seeks to promote and connect professionals who support the advancement and interests of women lawyers in commercial real estate (including land use and development). The Real Estate Practice Area Affinity Group aims to set up a nationwide network of women in commercial real estate who can serve as referral sources as well as local counsel. The Group hosts brainstorming sessions on networking, marketing, and business development in addition to sessions discussing recent developments in real estate law. Another goal of the group is to provide networking opportunities at national and regional real estate conferences (e.g., CREW, ICSC, ULI). We are open to your ideas and suggestions.
CO-CHAIR
Lisa Atty
McGuireWoods LLP
Los Angeles, CA
CO-CHAIR
Margot Wickman
Kutak Rock
Minneapolis, MN
Women in Start-Ups
Start-Up attorneys support some of the most innovative and cutting edge companies. Lawyers who advise such companies require specialized skills and practical perspectives unique to the start-up world. The NAWL Women in Start-Ups Practice Area Affinity Group serves as a forum and resource for women attorneys practicing as in-house counsel or firm lawyers advising start-up companies of any size. Join this amazing group of women to discuss the broad range of issues affecting a start-up practice, learn about new laws and regulations impacting start-ups, and network with other like-minded professionals to expand your existing network. Join us and let's help each other succeed!
CO-CHAIR
Onome Adejemilua
McCarter & English LLP
Newark, NJ
CO-CHAIR
Marissa L. Jimenez
K&L Gates
San Francisco, CA
Women Revolutionizing Retirement
The mission of this group is to serve, support, and encourage NAWL senior attorneys looking to define or reach their next stage of engagement. The group (i) is a safe space for candid and confidential conversation; (ii) provides opportunities to build trusting relationships, mentorships, and sponsorships; and (iii) is a venue for sharing lessons learned, resources and simply good counsel. Group members are also looking to pay it forward by sharing their insights and experiences with younger colleagues through informal mentoring, coaching, and advising.
The group’s mission is accomplished through a mix of programs and activities defined and led by members of the group and others inside and outside the NAWL community. The group welcomes participation by all senior attorneys who are looking to collaborate and share their wisdom.
CO-CHAIR
Lisa Horowitz
Attorney Talent Strategy Group LLC
McLean, VA
CO-CHAIR
Elizabeth Levy
Retired
Boston, MA
Young Women Lawyers
The Young Lawyers Affinity Group provides professional development and networking opportunities for attorneys who are new to the practice of law or re-joining the legal profession. We host events and programs to connect our members, garner new membership, and offer career development support geared towards new lawyers.
CO-CHAIR
Anupama Prasad
Cozen O'Connor
New York, NY
CO-CHAIR
Kara Lancaster
Ogletree Deakins
Raleigh, NC