Conference Day 1
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Pacific Ballroom
Salons 2 & 3
Women of Color Forum
This forum brings together women lawyers of color to kick off CMCP’s 30th Anniversary Business Conference for connection, inspiration and insights on careers and professional life. This signature event will feature brief presentations by outstanding leaders:
Hailyn J. Chen
Co-Managing Partner, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Vanessa Washington
Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Bank of the West
Denise Yee
Vice President, Brand, Marketing & Sponsorship Legal, Visa Inc.
Moderator:
Tiffany Renee Thomas
Counsel, Employment Law and Corporate Responsibility, Visa Inc.
Following the presentations, participants will engage in facilitated roundtable discussion groups exploring the opportunities and issues faced by women of color in the law.
Discussion Topics and Leaders:
- Overcoming the Imposter Syndrome
Monique D. Jewett-Brewster, Hopkins & Carley - Young, Gift and Partner: What Now?
T. Katuri Kaye, Trucker Huss, APC - Primary Caregivers and Breadwinners
Amber S. Finch, Reed Smith LLP - WOCs: Cultural Fits vs Cultural Additions
Adia Goss, Visa Inc. - The Great Escape: The Move from Big Law to In-House
Mimi M. Lee, Chevron Global Upstream - Charting Your Own Legal Course: Solo Practitioners, E ntrepreneurs, Non-Legal Careers
Maki Daijogo, Daijogo & Pedersen, LLP - Do Women’s Initiatives Work for Women of Color?
Shondella M. Reed, University of California - Rebutting the Presumption of Incompetence
Rasha Gerges Shields, Jones Day - Bringing Your Whole Self to Work: Can it be Done?
Amber M. Grayhorse, Sanchez & Amador, LLP - Building Your Personal Board of Directors
Monique E. Liburd, Google LLC - Recruiting, Retaining, and Promoting Women of Color – Tips for Allies
Lauren E. Pedley, Visa Inc. - Supporting Women of Color as Allies
Robert White, California Minority Counsel Program
Sponsored by
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Poolside, 1st Floor
Welcome Reception
Join conference attendees for a networking reception and welcome celebration of CMCP’s 30th Anniversary Business Conference!
Sponsored by
Conference Day 2
Thursday, September 12, 2019
8:00am
2nd Floor
Registration Opens
8:00am – 9:00am
California Grand Foyer
Continental Breakfast
9:00am – 10:30am
California Grand Ballroom
Opening Plenary and GC Panel
Welcome from the CMCP Board and Executive Director
CMCP Board Co-Chair:
Camilo Echavarria, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
CMCP Board Co-Chair Emeritus:
Laura J. Maechtlen, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
CMCP Executive Director:
Robert White, Executive Director, California Minority Counsel Program
GC Panel
Leading General Counsel talk candidly about the legal landscape and issues they face.
Moderator:
Cameron J. Johnson, Counsel, Litigation and Intellectual Property, Hulu, LLC
Speakers:
Irene Liu, General Counsel, Checkr, Inc.
Marie C. Mendoza, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
Mark Zemelman, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.
10:45am – 11:45am
California Grand Foyer
Conference Buddy Connect
Conference Buddies and Newbies:
Click here for more info on your Buddy Connect Participation
Peter Griffin of Allen Matkins, Jenine Hinkle of Honda North America, and Elizabeth Sperling of Alston Bird will lead a gathering of newbies and buddies in the foyer. Look for the disco ball! This is the opportunity to match up conference newcomers (“Newbies”) and conference veterans (“Buddies.”) Buddies and Newbies can also connect during the Thursday afternoon break from 3:15 – 3:45pm (see below)
10:45am – 11:45am
Pacific Ballroom
Salons 2 & 3
1st Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Concurrent Session 1A
Promoting Equity: The Influence of Implicit Bias and Racial Anxiety
Many individuals believe in racial and gender equity and reject discrimination in any form. Yet mental processes shaped by history and culture can lead us to view the world through a biased lens and to behave contrary to our deeply held egalitarian values. Dean Richardson will discuss how implicit bias and racial anxiety can impact our behaviors, perceptions and judgments in ways that lead to problematic disparities. She will offer some recommendations for increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes.
L. Song Richardson
Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law
University of California, Irvine School of Law
CA MCLE: 1.0 hour (Recognition and Elimination of Bias credit)
Sponsored by
Pacific Ballroom
Salon 1
Concurrent Session 1B
Emerging Technologies and the Law: Navigating Privacy Rights and Other Challenges
With new technology comes new opportunities but also new challenges, such as regulatory issues, data privacy, cyber security and digital equality.
Moderator:
Natalie A. Pierce, Shareholder, Co-Chair, Robotics, AI and Automation Practice Group, Littler Mendelson P.C.
Speakers:
Andres Carrillo, Associate General Counsel, Oculus
Marina Gracias, General Counsel, Varo Money, Inc.
James M. Lee, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, LegalMation
CA MCLE: 1.0 hour
Sponsored by
Bunker Hill Room
Concurrent Session 1C
Financial Success: Making Your Money Work for You
Panelists will discuss making financial decisions and recognizing the financial milestones related to your career, including budgeting, paying off law school loans, protecting your assets, understanding equity and tax implications, making a career change, making partner, and preparing for retirement. This session will provide tools and tips on how to strategically make your money work for you. This session will also touch on how we were taught to think about money and discuss how to address the ways our backgrounds impact our approaches and attitudes toward money management.
Moderator:
Zakiya Norton, Partner and Co-Founder, Norton Basu LLP
Speakers:
Dwayne M. Isaac, Director, Private Banker, Citi Private Bank
Jirayr R. Kembikian, Private Wealth Advisor, Citrine Capital, LLC
Lydia Mendoza Mosser, Owner, Mendoza Mosser Law
Olympic Room
Concurrent Session 1D
Take a Career Leap: Going In-House
What you need to know about navigating a path to a position in a corporate legal department for attorneys at law firms, in the public sector or other industries:
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How to get in-house referrals and networking tips
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Driving the referral – What to prepare and ask for?
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Advice on cover letters
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Understanding the roles and responsibilities
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“Off-the-record” discussions pre- and post-offer – Questions to ask
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Professional growth and development comparison firm v. in-house best strategies
Moderator:
Evie Hightower, Lead Counsel, Real Estate, Facebook, Inc.
Speakers:
Rebecka M. Biejo, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Pilgrim Media Group, LLC
Brittany D. Jones, Corporate Counsel, Autodesk, Inc.
Brian C. Lewis, Associate General Counsel, Security, Facebook, Inc.
Tam T. T. Pham, Managing Director, In-House Practice Group, Major, Lindsey & Africa
Sponsored by
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Pacific Ballroom
Salons 2 & 3
2 Concurrent Lunches
Concurrent Lunch A
The No Bosses Allowed Lunch
CMCP’s Signature Interactive Leadership, Career Development and Networking Lunch for:
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Law firm associates and other non-partners
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In-house non-managers
This popular, highly interactive lunch program will feature workshop-style table discussions.
Turning Your Real Response into the Right Response
Topics may include:
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How to deal with discussing political issues at work
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What management gets and doesn’t get on recruiting and keeping younger diverse attorneys
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What to do when discrimination is blatant or insidious
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Why networking (in and out of the firm/company/organization) is important and how to best go about it to advance your career
Session Leaders:
Lisa L. Garcia, Senior Associate, Alston & Bird LLP
Clynton Namuo, Associate, Alston & Bird LLP
Stephanie Padilla, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Southern California
Cassandra S. Payton, Counsel, Litigation, Employment and Compliance, Dine Brands Global, Inc.
California Grand Ballroom
Concurrent Lunch B
Lunch for Partners and Managing Counsel
This popular, highly interactive lunch program will feature workshop-style table discussions.
Topics may include:
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How to deal with discussing political issues at work
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What management gets and doesn’t get on recruiting and keeping younger diverse attorneys
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What to do when discrimination is blatant or insidious
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Why networking (in and out of the firm/company/organization) is important and how to best go about it to advance your career
Session Leaders:
Somita Basu, Partner and Co-Founder, Norton Basu LLP
Michelle M. Holmes, Associate, Littler Mendelson P.C.
Alex Ponce de Leon, Corporate Counsel and Team Lead, Google LLC
Negin Yazdani, Corporate Attorney, Virgin Orbit, LLC
Sponsored by
1:45pm – 3:00pm
Bunker Hill Room
2nd Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Concurrent Session 2A
Politics: NSFW? Navigating Political Landmines in the (Polarized) States of America
There may still be some careers that allow you to check politics at the door entirely, but law is not one of them. Whichever side of the divide you fall on, you likely agree that talking politics at work can feel like a minefield.
Join us as our panel explores topics that arise for all lawyers, such as:
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Do you avoid “friending” colleagues so they won’t see your political posts?
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Whether avoiding a topic as prevalent as current politics affects your ability to build a relationship with colleagues and clients and advance your career
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How employment laws, First Amendment protections, and ethical obligations affect our freedom to express political views as lawyers
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How are legal employers dealing with politics in the workplace on an institutional level? Are there any best practices?
Moderator:
Kenneth M. Trujillo-Jamison, Associate, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Speakers:
Neel Chatterjee, Partner, Goodwin Procter LLP
Akasha Perez, Workplace Investigator, Intuit Inc.
Manita Rawat, Partner, Duane Morris LLP
Sylvia Torres-Guillen, California Director of Education Equity, ACLU of Southern California
Sponsored by
Olympic Room
Concurrent Session 2B
Getting More Color on Top:
Successful Strategies to Promote Diverse Associates to Partners
Associates of color face unique challenges as they make the run for partner. This session will focus on the stories of successful partners of color, including winning and losing strategies for how get the brass ring. Potential issues to address:
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What are the stumbling blocks to recruiting and retaining partners of color?
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What is working and what has worked?
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What can we do at different levels to retain and recruit diverse associates?
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Why do diverse associates leave?
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When do you need to leave? Identifying when you won’t make partner and how to make the next right step
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Importance of mentoring/inclusion – what both associates and partners can do to further this goal?
Moderator
Barrington E. Dyer, Shareholder, Polsinelli LLP
Speakers
Julie Hawkinson, Partner, Clyde & Co US LLP
Monica Williams Monroe, Partner, Tucker Ellis LLP
Samuel J. Park, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
Raul F. Salinas, Managing Shareholder, Los Angeles Office, AlvaradoSmith, APC
CA MCLE: 1.25 hours (Recognition and Elimination of Bias credit)
Sponsored by
Pacific Ballroom
Salons 2 & 3
Concurrent Session 2C
Closed session for In-House counsel only. Attendance may be limited.
Take Charge of Your In-House Career!
Join a panel of experts for a candid and pragmatic discussion of forging a successful career path as an in-house attorney of color:
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Building relationships with internal clients and colleagues in-house
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Best strategies for professional and career development
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How to stay relevant and visible as in-house counsel
Moderator:
Carla Maria De Silva, Regulatory Counsel, Square, Inc.
Speakers:
Sandra Ambrocio, WC Field Counsel, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Coré S. Cotton, Associate General Counsel, Wells Fargo
Rahwa H. Ghebre-Ab, Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Lionsgate
David L. Pilson, Senior Director, Compensation, Benefits, and Securities Governance, eBay Inc.
Sponsored by
3:00pm – 3:45pm
California Grand Foyer
Afternoon Break
Sponsored by
3:45pm – 5:00pm
Pacific Ballroom
Salons 2 & 3
3rd Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Concurrent Session 3A
Who Are You Calling a Minority? Traditional Versus Expanding Definitions of Diversity
This interactive session will explore:
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Traditional categories of diversity: how “diversity” is defined in different legal settings (e.g., how in-house counsel look at diversity figures when they look for outside counsel, how firms define diversity for recruitment and public relations)
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How we may want to expand on traditional categories of diversity (e.g., women, varying socio-economic statuses, religion
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Should the definition of diversity be expanded, and how this could impact diverse groups, including communities of color
Moderator:
Vaneeta Chintamaneni, Associate, Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP
Speakers:
Genhi Givings Bailey, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Perkins Coie LLP
Robert Barton, Partner, Private Wealth Services, Holland & Knight LLP
Emily Bruce, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Student Services, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
Nicole Cowing Baciuska, Legal Operations Manager, Facebook, Inc.
CA MCLE: 1.25 hours (Recognition and Elimination of Bias credit)
Bunker Hill Room
Concurrent Session 3B
You Just Made Partner. Now What?
Many associates, after spending years of hard work and sacrifice in toiling for their firms, dream of making partner. But not many associates adequately plan for what life as a partner will be like, much less how to thrive as a partner. Those approaching the partnership may have questions such as:
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How will being a partner affect my finances?
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How will I deal with new administrative responsibilities as a partner, such as collecting payment from clients?
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How will I contend with business development expectations?
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How do I develop and further my partner relationships?
Please join our distinguished panel as they share advice and tips on navigating the switch from associate to partner.
Moderator:
Robert C. Rodriguez, Senior Counsel, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
Speakers:
Carolina Bravo-Karimi, Partner, Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP
Gloria J. Lee, Client Relations Partner, Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Aaron Lewis, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
Kevin S. Masuda, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Sponsored by
Pacific Ballroom
Salon 1
Concurrent Session 3C
Going for it: Betting on Yourself
As attorneys, our ability to identify and analyze risks is one of our greatest strengths but sometimes that strength creates an inherent aversion to risk. Learning how to effectively manage risks to make smart bets on yourself can make all the difference in your career and propel you to the next level professionally.
Moderator:
Thomas Bell, Regulatory Counsel, Square, Inc.
Speakers:
Shedrick Davis, Western Regional Director, Lambda Legal
Esther K. Ro, Writ Attorney, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District
Candice T. Zee, Shareholder, Vedder Price (CA), LLP
Sponsored by
11th Floor Lounge
Concurrent Session 3D
Closed session for In-House counsel only. Attendance may be limited.
The 2019 Legal Department Diversity Summit: Building Collaboration Among In-House Counsel
Roundtable meeting of in-house counsel to drive ongoing collaboration toward diversifying the legal profession. Member organizations and non-members welcome.
Discussion Topics and Leaders:
- GC Calls to Action
Derrick Boston, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, Virgin Orbit, LLC - Being a Business Leader
Phuong Phillips, Chief Legal Officer, Zynga Inc. - Leading as a Diverse Attorney
Jennifer Tsao Shigekawa, Assistant General Counsel, Southern California Edison Company - Growing Diversity Internally
Chris Young, General Counsel, Ironclad, Inc
5:00pm – 7:00pm
California Grand Ballroom
The General Counsel Reception
A time for in-house and outside counsel to meet and mingle in an informal setting.
5:20pm… Introduction of General Counsel and announcement of winners of ‘Lunch with a GC’ drawing.
Sponsored by
7:15pm
The Dine-Around
Venture out of the hotel and into the downtown Los Angeles dining scene with your fellow conference attendees at the CMCP Dine-Around! Savor the cuisine from a few of Los Angeles’ favorite restaurants, while networking in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.
Diners: At 6:40pm look for CMCP Ambassadors with restaurant signs during the GC Reception in the California Grand Ballroom. Groups will leave the hotel at 7:15pm for the 7:30pm reservations.
Sponsored by
Conference Day 3
Friday, September 13, 2019
8:00am
Registration Opens
8:00am – 9:00am
California Grand Foyer
Breakfast
Sponsored by
8:45am – 12:10pm
Corporate Connections
8:45am – 11:55am
Corporate Connections Desks Open
Desk 1: General Information – Near Registration
Desk 2: Interview Changes – Near Bunker Hill Room
8:45am – 9:05am
California Grand Ballroom
Corporate Connections Welcome
9:15am – 12:10pm
2nd Floor
Corporate Connections Interviews
Sponsored by
10:00am – 11:30am
Pico Room
Professional Digital Headshots
Stop by to have your new headshot taken by AG Media Enterprises
10:00am – 11:30am
11th Floor Lounge
Speed Mentoring
Take Your Career or Practice to the Next Level
Finding mentors can be a challenge at any stage of your professional life. Let CMCP bring the mentors to you for a speedy conversation that could be just what you need to take your career and professional network to the next level. Mentees will have access to a diverse panel of accomplished mentors and the opportunity to request mentors to meet with in a round-robin “speed dating” format. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with your community and build your network!
Topics and Speed Mentors:
- Think Like a Business Owner
Derrick Boston, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, Virgin Orbit, LLC - Building Your Brand to Grow Your Career, Increase Clients and Reduce Stress
Katy Goshtasbi, Founder, Puris Consulting - Developing Your Career Strategy
Frank Kim, General Counsel, Westlake Financial Services - Managing Career and Parenthood
Phuong Phillips, Chief Legal Officer, Zynga Inc.
Sponsored by
12:20pm – 2:00pm
30th Anniversary CMCP Recognition Lunch
12:45pm – 1:15pm
California Grand Ballroom
Presentation of CMCP Awards
CMCP annually bestows the following awards to recognize the organizations and individuals who capture the spirit of the CMCP mission:
Organization Recognition and Awards
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John Essex and Guy Rounsaville In-House Counsel Diversity Award
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Drucilla Stender Ramey Majority-Owned Law Firm Award
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Minority-Owned Law Firm Client Service Award
Individual Recognition and Awards
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Deborah J. Broyles Law Firm Diversity Leader Award
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Marci Rubin Emerging Diversity Leader Award
1:30pm – 2:00pm
Keynote Speaker
Lybra S. Clemons, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, PayPal, Inc.
Sponsored by
2:15pm – 3:30pm
California Grand Ballroom
From the Desk of the General Counsel:
In Conversation with Corporate Leaders About the Future
Moderator:
Nicholas N. Leach, Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property, Chevron Corporation
Speakers:
Hasani Caraway, General Counsel, Zendesk, Inc.
Landon R. Edmond, SVP and General Counsel Global Customer Organization and Cloud Business Group, SAP
Joni Lee Gaudes, Vice President, General Counsel, ASICS America Corporation
Kristin Sverchek, General Counsel, Lyft, Inc.
Sponsored by
3:30pm – 5:30pm
Ziran Restaurant, 1st Floor
