PAST PROGRAMS & EVENTS

How a Writing Coach Can Make a Difference     May 26, 2021

Presented by Women Revolutionizing Retirement-Writing Group Is writing a book, whether a novel, memoir, or other genre, on your life bucket list? Maybe you’ve only dreamed about writing a must-read blog, or you need more help in transforming your draft manuscript into publication-ready quality; either way, join us for the NAWL WRR Writing for Publication group May 26 meeting to learn what a professional writing coach and marketing strategist can do to advance your writing goals from concept to concrete plan.

Our guest speaker, Diana Page Jordan, is a writer and coach with extensive credentials in media and publishing who will speak with our group about the range of professional services she offers to assist writers with sharpening their focus, shaping their final product, and moving toward publication. As an award-winning broadcast journalist and interviewer, Diana has worked with hundreds of writers in highlighting and crafting the story in every author and book.

Start Ups 101: Exit Strategies Part 1- Going Public   May 12, 2021

Presented by the NAWL Women in Start-Ups. The panelists explored exit strategies and various ways of going public, including the current hot trends of Direct Listings and SPACs. Our expert speakers provided an in-depth of analysis of these exit strategies as well as helpful insight for practitioners.

Presenters:

• Steven Brown-Managing Director & Global Head of Investment Banking and Capital Markets and Firm Strategy Legal, Morgan Stanley
• Jill Johnson-Co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), 
• Lindsay Karas Stencel-Partner at Thompson Hine LLP

Becoming a Debut Author  April 28, 2021

Presented by the NAWL Women Revolutionizing Retirement. Maureen Reid, NAWL’s 2012 Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Award recipient, talked about her road to writing and publishing her first novel after a career managing international law firms. Her latest book, Becoming Herself, a 2019 Nautilus Book Award winner for fiction, has been described as “an inspiring historical novel" for its compelling story of an early 20th century immigrant's personal journey as she navigates society's obstacles in fulfillment of her life's potential.

Presenter: Maureen Reid, author

Raising Stewards of the Environment   April 26, 2021

Presented by the NAWL Environment & Energy Affinity Group and NAWLMoms Affinity Group are teaming up on a joint earth month panel event.  After our panel shares tips and challenges relating to raising stewards of the environment, we will open up break-out rooms for a group discussion.   

Presenters:

• Apple Chapman (Assistant Environmental Health and Safety Counsel, W.R. Grace)
• Fern Fleischer-Daves (Of Counsel, Conn Maciel Carey)
• Jennifer Kidder (Campus Director, Distance Learning Lead, NatureBridge, Olympic National Park

Compliance Related Roles, Responsibilities & Opportunities April 15, 2021 

Presented by Women in Compliance. This panel discussed the spectrum of compliance and compliance-related roles. If you’re seeking to enter the compliance profession, we will discuss the range of compliance- related roles; for those already working in compliance, the panel will discuss possible career paths and role emphasis areas.  We will also discuss how compliance and related risk management can be structured in different types of companies and industries and how this impacts compliance related roles and responsibilities, including work with the Company’s executive team and board.   Our panel has both depth and breadth of compliance experience across a broad range of legal and compliance areas and will discuss opportunities and experiences in public and private companies, government, consulting and law firm settings.

Presenters:

• Gaye Montgomery (Managing Member, Montgomery Compliance Law; Convener in Chief, The Women’s Compliance Collective),
• Hillary Gardner Corporate Counsel, Credigy Solutions, Inc.),  
• Nicole Edmonds (Partner Troutman Pepper; formerly Attorney-Advisor with the SEC as well as formerly in-house as Asst. VP & Corporate Secretary with Washington Gas & Light),
• Moderator-Melodie Craft (VP Legal Affairs & Risk Management, Chief Compliance Office

It’s Not Easy Being Green:  Embracing Corporate Social Responsibility throughout the Supply Chain – Part Two of a two-part NAWL series.   March 31, 2021

Presented by Women in Environmental & Energy Law + Women in Fashion Law. In part 2 of a webinar series exploring environmental issues impacting the fashion industry, our panelists will discuss technological innovations being tapped by the fashion industry to incorporate sustainable materials in products, as well as the steps companies have taken to embrace Corporate Social Responsibility within company culture, while meeting the demands of stakeholders, retail partners, consumers and employees for greater product and supply stream transparency. 

Presenters:

• Jessica Bowman-Executive Director, Plant Based Products Council's 
• Ava Farshidi- Assistant General Counsel,
• David Yurman Gregg Meyer- Counsel and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Steve Madden

Diversity and Inclusion: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward  March 12, 2021

Presented by NAWL Young Women Lawyers. A discussion of the ways in which we can all make 2021 the start of even more social progress and unity in diversity, with emphasis on explicit and implicit bias, intersectional identities and promoting diversity in the legal profession.

Presenters: 

• DeAnna D. Allen, Partner in Cooley LLP and NAWL Board of Directors Vice-President
• Sandra Yamate, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession  and NAWL Board Member 

Business Acumen Series: What Every Start-Up Attorney Should Know About The Business Model Canvas  March 10, 2021

Presented by Women in Fashion Law. The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management template used for developing new business models and documenting existing ones in a straightforward, structured way. It can lead to insights about the company’s customers, what value propositions are offered through what channels, and how the company makes money. Gina is a seasoned innovation manager and educator, and will be giving us an overview of and answering questions about this critical tool used by start-ups and founders. The Business Acumen Series is designed to help start-up attorneys boost their BQ (business intelligence) by providing insights into top management issues faced by founders and executives and sharing the business tools and techniques used by start-ups.

Presenter: Gina Mitchell, Managing Director, Charles Schwab Enterprise Innovation and Agility

It's Not Easy Being Green: Navigating Legal Requirements for Sustainability Claims in the Fashion Industry Part One of a two-part NAWL series February 24, 2021

Presented by Women in Fashion Law and Women in Environment & Energy Affinity Groups. For the last decade, the $2.5 trillion global fashion industry has been in the midst of a transition to become more ethical and sustainable – due, at least in part, to shifts in climate awareness, consumer preferences, and investor demand. Even while the world’s largest economies reel from the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainability is still a key watchword across sectors – given new life from the pandemic’s reminder of our shared vulnerability and resource interdependence. In response, many within the fashion industry supply chain seek to market themselves as “sustainable,” as well as “green,” “eco-friendly,” “organic,” “recyclable,” “biodegradable,” and “compostable” – terms that may carry compliance risk if found to be misleading to consumers. Moreover, increasing demand for investor-facing non-financial disclosures invite environmental and sustainability claims that demand equal veracity. Part One of this two-part NAWL series on green marketing in the fashion industry will review and assess the compliance requirements and risks inherent to making sustainability claims. Hear from the Federal Trade Commission about implementation of the FTC Green Guides and General Counsel from companies that are navigating the sea of environmental claims.

Presenters: 

• Laura Koss, Assistant Director, Federal Trade Commission Division of Enforcement
• Krista McDonough, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Sustainability Officer, Capri Holdings Limited (Versace | Jimmy Choo | Michael Kors
• Lisa Keith, General Counsel, Steve Madden, Ltd.
• Moderator: Allyn Stern, Of Counsel, Beveridge & Diamond, PC & co-chair of the NAWL Environment & Energy Affinity Group

Clear the (Virtual) Clutter   February 22, 2021 

Presented by NAWLMoms. Free Apps and Tech Tips to Get Organized and Stay Motivated During the Workday (and beyond!)  Learn about some easy and free tools to get organized and boost productivity using the technology and devices that you already have. We will go over the best calendar apps and to do lists for lawyers, managing your e-mail inbox, and programs or services to make the best use of your time. Tech-curious/beginners welcome.

Presenter: Marla McGowan, Director of Training, Outreach and Support, Michigan Indigent Defense Commission

Privacy In Global Corporate Transactions: Key data protection considerations in the US and the EU  February 2, 2021

Presented by Women in Corporate Transactions. In the context of corporate transactions, businesses are dealing with an unprecedented variety of legal matters. Privacy is one of the topics that should not be overlooked when businesses gather and process data assets in corporate transactions to facilitate pre-closing arrangements and post-closing integration issues. Businesses should be aware of the different privacy laws, regulations and rules applicable to the transaction, including the GDPR and the CCPA (newly amended by the CPRA). The discussion included:  

• Developing privacy due diligence questionnaires
• Identifying key privacy and data security compliance risks and developing a risk-mitigation strategy
• Incorporating key privacy and data security representations and warranties
• Addressing data protection issues during integration of products and services post-closing
• Assessing data transfer requirements for EU personal data

Presenters:

• Jenna Rode, Counsel, Hunton Andrews Kurth
• Anna Pateraki, Senior Associate, Hunton Andrews Kurth

Assisting Military Veterans and Servicemembers in Financial Distress  November 30, 2020

Presented by the Women in Bankruptcy & Restructuring and the Women in Military Services. An overview of the work of the American Bankruptcy Institute Task Force on Veterans and Servicemembers, as well as a deep dive into the Haven Act and bankruptcy implications for members of the military (current and former). 

Presenters: 

• Kristina M. Stanger, an attorney and shareholder, Nyemaster Goode
• Rachel Albanese, restructuring partner, DLA Piper
• Moderator, Mary Card Mina, Supervisory Attorney, Government Agency

Conversation with Lily Li: CCPA Update    November 19, 2020

Presented by Women in Compliance. Lily assists clients from startups to multinationals with their compliance obligations under CCPA, GDPR, HIPAA, and a variety of domestic and international regulations. In addition, Lily holds the GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA) certification for advanced incident response and digital forensics, and assists clients through the incident response and breach notification process.

Presenter: Lily Li, Owner of Metaverse Law, CIPP/US/E/M, GCFA

HOW TO GET YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE: Rainmaker Sharla Frost shares tips for empowering your career  November 18, 2020

Presented by Women in Litigation. Join a conversation with Sharla J. Frost, the author of Power at the Table, the Woman Lawyer’s Guide to Gaining Clients and Control. Learn how to develop your own set of clients and strengthen your position within both the legal profession and your law firm. Identify those personal characteristic that increase your ability to control your time and finances, regardless of your current rung on the ladder.

Presenter: Sharla Foster

SOCIAL MEDIA LAW PRIMER FOR FASHION BRANDS: The Power and the Pitfalls November 10, 2020

Presented by Women in Fashion Law. This panel covers all the major considerations and best practice for effectively and safely using third party social media platforms to promote your fashion brands. While social media has proven to be one of the leading drivers of customer interest (the Power), it is also fraught with many difficult to navigate legal issues (the Pitfalls).
Presenters: Michelle Mancino Marsh (Arent Fox), Eva Pulliam (Arent Fox)

SHOP TIL YOU DROP: A Look at Bankruptcy Issues in Retail & Fashion October 27, 2020

Presented by Women in Fashion Law and Women in Bankruptcy & Restructuring A panel of experts in the retail and bankruptcy space discuss how retailers can navigate restructuring during an unpredictable economy and strategize for successful growth in the future. Panelists will analyze recent retail bankruptcy cases and pitfalls and best practices in the retail industry.

Presenters: Demetra Liggins(Thomson & Knight), Jamila Willis(DLA Piper), Rachel Barnett(Brooks Brothers),
Christa Hart(FTI Consulting)

THE DISCRIMINATORY USE OF PERSONAL DATA October 15, 2020

Presented by NAWL and Hinshaw & Culbertson The explosive growth in the use of Artificial Intelligence to develop and deliver financial services and products to consumers comes with great opportunity and risk. Deploying these technologies to automate simple and complex decision-making processes has enabled financial institutions and fintechs to deliver faster, highly curated products and services to more customers. While not entirely new, these technologies have grown increasingly complex and opaque raising a host of civil rights, consumer protection, and privacy issues which governments, regulators and industry are grappling with. This presentation touches on some of these recent developments as well as future trends and the increasing legislative attention.

Presenters: Heather McArn(Hinshaw & Culbertson), Hailey Barthel (Hinshaw & Culbertson)

THE PANDEMIC'S OUTSIZE IMPACT ON WOMEN: Keeping Your Career on Track During Unprecedented Times  September 30, 2020

Presented by the Women in Real Estate Law. In the wake of the pandemic, traditional ways of practicing law have been abruptly upended.  The vast majority of lawyers continue to work remotely, affecting professional and personal lives, the day-to-day practice of law, and client relationships.  A discussion was held on the ways in which the pandemic has affected women lawyers;  results of current research suggesting what the future may hold for women in the law; best practices for employers for developing and advancing diverse talent at all levels; and best practices for women to keep their careers on secure paths.

Presenters: Roberta "Bobbi" Liebenberg(Fine, Kaplan and Black) , Stephanie A. Scharf (Scharf Banks Marmor, LLC)

CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN WHEN YOU ARE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS: Building skills to foster resilience  August 27, 2020

Presented by the Women in Environmental & Energy Law.Life has a way of putting new mountains in front of us, many very much out of our control. Building our resilience skills help us navigate so that our life decisions can be made in spite of obstacles not decided for us because of obstacles. Almost ten years after her panic attack, Libby Stennes is still afraid of heights.  She climbs mountains anyway – sometimes reaching the top, other times not so much.  Libby shared some things she has learned along the journey.

PRESENTER: Libby Stennes (Greenbery Traurig)

Back to Work:  Rules for the New Normal in the COVID-19 Era  July 29, 2020

Presented by the Women in Employment Law. As employers reopen, or expand current operations, they face host of new issues, including who can return to work, how to ensure social distancing, what needs to be done to protect the safety of employees and how to maintain employee morale in such uncertain times.  This webinar addressed the key considerations employers should begin to examine now, in order to adjust to the New Normal.  Practical guidance and best practices for moving forward were offered.

PRESENTERS: Michele Ballard Miller (Cozen O’Connor), Beth Kaufman (Schoeman Updike Kaufman & Gerber),
Ariane Panter (McDonald’s Corporation), Nandini Sane (Cozen O’Connor), Jessica D. Shaw (Publix Super Markets, Inc.)

Business Continuity During the COVID-19 Pandemic...and How Alternative Dispute Resolution Can Help! June 23, 2020

Presented by Women in Insurance + JAMS. Our esteemed panelists discussed tactics to encourage business continuity during this uncertain time and how ADR can support your organization's efforts.

PRESENTERS: Sheryl Axelrod (The Axelrod Firm), Laura B. Frankel (JAMS), Nancy Holtz (JAMS), and Heather Howell Wright (Bradley)

An Employer's Action List for Employee Benefit Plans   June 15, 2020

Presented by Women in Compliance.This informative and timely presentation focused on action items to help employers and their legal counsel navigate through these challenging times, including recent federal legislation, regulatory guidance and other current issues affecting employee benefit plans as a result of COVID-19.

PRESENTERS:  Sherrie Boutwell (Boutwell Fay LLP), Alison Fay (Boutwell Fay LLP)

Mindfulness: Cultivating Resiliency and Well-Being During Times of Stress   May 20, 2020

Presented by Women in Intellectual Property & Tech Law. While modern legal practice can be intellectually and professionally satisfying, it can also produce intense pressure and stress. Clients and colleagues expect immediate responses. Deadlines loom. These days, it feels like lawyers are expected to be “on” 24/7. Often lawyers need to juggle too many balls. How do we relate to ourselves and others under stress or when one of those balls drops? “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf them.” This quote, by Jon Kabat-Zinn, sums up the usefulness and benefits of mindfulness. Mindfulness practices can be like a surfboard to help us ride the inevitable waves of life as a human. Indeed, how we respond to stress can make or break our health, well-being, relationships and careers. Science is providing insight into skills we can actively cultivate and build to deal with stress more effectively in the moment, to have more focus, to be more present for and kind to ourselves and others, and to live more integrated lives in alignment with our goals and values. A body of developing research shows practicing mindfulness and compassion can enhance our health, reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, and increase healthy habit. In this one-hour webinar, Ruth provides a general overview of mindfulness skills, shares some of the research findings that demonstrate its benefits and offers

practical ways to incorporate it into daily life to reduce stress and increase well-being and resiliency

PRESENTER: Ruth Hauswirth, Special Counsel, Cooley LLP

GOOD Guys Program, Part 2 - The GOOD Guys Panel, May 6, 2020

GOOD Guys is a national model program designed by the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations to break the impasse in advancement of women and diverse men by engaging male leaders to join us in leveling the playing field.
In this discussion, our distinguished panelists:

- Sheryl L. Axelrod, Esq., President and CEO of The Axelrod Firm
- Gerard Gregoire, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, Litigation Services West at Allstate
- Marty Lorenzo, Vice President Legal Affairs & Assistant Corporate Secretary of Petco
- Phillip Rudolph, former Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Jack in the Box Inc.

will share their tips on what men can do to help women achieve economic parity, their stories about why they are invested in doing so, and what they've done to advance women.

How New York City's Matching Funds Program Empowers Candidates and Votes, April 29, 2020

Women in Public Service host Amy Loprest, Executive Director of NYC's Campaign Finance Board, to explain how NYC's landmark matching funds program empowers candidates for office and the voters who support them. She will outline the aims of the program and how it works.

COVID-19's Impact on Corporate Transactions, April 29, 2020

Women in Corporate Transactions host this presentation led by Heather Bethancourt, Partner at
McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Stacie Cargill, Counsel, at Alston & Bird. Heather will discuss Contract Issues During COVID-19 & Beyond and Stacie will share an Overview of COVID-19 Relief Loan Programs.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): Impacts, Updates, and Implications, April 28, 2020

Women in Compliance will get you up to speed on the latest round of revisions to the draft regulations and find out what processes businesses have implemented to come into compliance with the CCPA now that it has been effective for nearly 5 months. 

PRESENTERS: Hilary Gardner (Corporate Counsel, Credigy Solutions) and Mitzi L. Hill (Partner, Taylor English)

GOOD Guys Program, Part 1 - The Profitability of Diversity: How Leveling the playing field for women and minorities can increase your bottom line. April 1, 2020

Women in Litigation present an interactive webinar where Ms. Axelrod, President of The Axelrod Firm, a woman-owned
law firm with offices in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, will explore what we know about the profitability of diversity.
She will discuss how much money U.S. law firms are losing by not having greater gender inclusion, what gender equality would look like, and how we can create more inclusive work environments.

PRESENTERS: Sheryl L. Axelrod and Teresa L. Beck.

Hot Employment Law Trends & 5 Tips for Non-Employment Lawyers, February 25, 2020

Women in Employment Law present a fast-paced discussion of the top employment law trends and developments that may impact your practice and your clients -- even if you’re not an employment lawyer. We’ll cover worker classification, fair pay, recent legislation, #MeToo developments, and new leave laws. We’ll highlight what you need to know and explain the impact for corporate transactions, contracts, and litigation, and best practices for compliance.

PRESENTERS: Michele B. Miller (Cozen O'Connor) and Carolyn Rashby (Covington & Burling LLP)

Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption Compliance, February 24, 2020

Presented by the Women in Compliance, Winston & Strawn partners, Eva W. Cole and Staci Yablon, discuss anti-bribery laws, the hallmarks of an effective ABAC compliance program, key ABAC compliance flashpoints, and the potential for the intersection of bribery issues with other compliance areas such as antitrust and sanctions.

CCPA Ripple Effect: The Impact of CCPA Outside of California, February 18, 2020 (audio only)

Presented by Women in Intellectual Property & Technology Law with guest speaker Debbie Reynolds, "Data Diva" Founder, CEO, Chief Data Privacy Officer of Debbie Reynolds Consulting, LLC

User's Guide to the ABA Private Market M&A Deal Points Study, February 6, 2020

This presentation -- from Women in Corporate Transactions Co-chairs Jessica Pearlman (K&L Gates LLP) and Tatjana Paterno (Bass, Berry & Sims PLC) -- is the ultimate primer on the latest and greatest Private Target M&A Deal Points Study published by the American Bar Association. Learn about the study’s scope, what it tells us about market trends in M&A, and what it tells us about practitioners in this space, all directly from the chairs who are the architects of the study.