Conference Agenda

Thank you to our CMCP2020
Title Sponsors

Allen Matkins Leck Gamble
Mallory & Natsis LLP
and
Apple

CMCP-2020-VCS


Tuesday, September 22, 2020

9:00am – 10:00am

Welcome to CMCP2020
"Driving Diversity Forward"

Learn how CMCP’s first Virtual Business Conference will foster authentic online connections, build business opportunities, and help you develop knowledge and skills to enhance personal and career development for the future.

Thanks to our sponsor:

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

9:00am – 10:00am

Coffee with a General Counsel (raffle)

Conference registrants can enter for a chance to join a private 15-minute virtual meeting with a General Counsel. This singular opportunity gives raffle winners first-hand career insights from a leading GC.

Thanks to our sponsor:

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovski and Popeo, P.C.

10:00am – 10:25am

Opening Plenary

CMCP Board and Executive Director will offer remarks on “CMCP: Successes, Challenges, and Advancing the Professional and Business Development of Attorneys of Color.” 

Thanks to our sponsor:

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

10:25am – 11:25am

GC Panel: Lessons on Managing and Leading

CA MCLE: 1.0 hour

Proven leaders in legal departments discuss effective leadership and management of organizations, guiding teams and individuals, navigating business challenges, and identifying and developing talent to create productive and inclusive workplaces.

  • Iris Chen, Deputy General Counsel, Product, Airbnb, Inc.
  • Cassandra Knight, VP, Chief Litigation Counsel, PayPal, Inc.
  • Kerry McLean, EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Intuit Inc.
  • Michael Tang, SVP, General Counsel & Secretary, Agilent Technologies, Inc.
  • Moderator: Randall Collins, Trademark, Copyright & Marketing Counsel, HP Inc.

Thanks to our sponsor:

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

11:25am – 11:30am

Break

11:30am – 12:30pm

Breakout Sessions (Concurrent)

Session 1A

How to Succeed at Corporate Connections

How can you get the most benefit from a 15-minute interview? Join this roundtable discussion for best practices to get value from Corporate Connections. Past interviewers share how to research and prepare before the meeting, tips to making a great first impression (that includes virtual too) and an effective plan for follow-up. 

  • Hasani Caraway, General Counsel, Zendesk, Inc.
  • Camilo Echavarria, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
  • Theodora R. Lee, Shareholder, Littler Mendelson, P.C.
  • Margaret Wu, Deputy General Counsel, University of California Office of the President
  • Moderator: Robert J. Gandy, Member (Partner), Severson & Werson

Thanks to our sponsor:

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Session 1B

Negotiation Skills for In-House Lawyers

CA MCLE: 1.0 hour

For in-house lawyers engaged in advising internal business partners, managing outside counsel, litigating, or doing deals, strong negotiation skills are essential. This session will cover some fundamental principles for achieving excellent results in any negotiation, with attention given to the negotiation experiences of diverse lawyers.

  • Shirish Gupta, Mediator, JAMS
  • Juan D. Walker, Senior Corporate Counsel, Oracle Corporation

Thanks to our sponsor:

Wells Fargo

12:30pm – 12:50pm

Break

12:50pm – 1:20pm

Roundtables (Concurrent)

Roundtable A

"No Bosses Allowed"

Virtual roundtable topics:

  • Promotions, career development/advancement during this new work-remote era
  • Managing morale during stressful times in light of the current political climate and economy
Facilitators:
  • Christopher A. Braham, Associate, McDermott Will & Emery
  • Evie M. Hightower, Lead Counsel, Real Estate
    Facebook, Inc. 
  • Alejandro E. Moreno, Partner, Sheppard Mullin
  • Brenda Rosales-Carrillo, Associate, Reed Smith LLP
  • Tiffany Tran Madison, Associate, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • Kenneth Trujillo-Jamison, Senior Associate, Willenken LLP

 

Thanks to our sponsor:

Robins Kaplan LLP

Roundtable B

"Know Your Peers" Practice Groups

“Adjusting Professional Life to a Pandemic” How has professional life changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? 

Virtual roundtable discussion topics:

  • Practice and industry-specific problems caused by COVID-19
  • Work-from-home policies
  • Career changes and opportunities prompted/enabled by COVID-19 and related environmental shifts
  • Preparing for similar business interruptions going forward
Facilitators:
  • Yuri Mikulka, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
  • Nicholas J. Waddles, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • Robert P. Watkins III, Senior Counsel, Apple
  • Kenya L. Williams, Trademark & Copyright Attorney

Thanks to our sponsor:

Alston & Bird LLP

1:20pm – 1:30pm

Break

1:30pm – 2:15pm

Diversity Awards, Ambassadors Council Recognition, and Keynote Address

Thanks to our sponsor:

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

2:15pm – 2:30pm

Break

2:30pm – 5:00pm

Women of Color Forum

CA MCLE credit: 0.5 hour (Recognition and Elimination of Bias credit)

Leading women lawyers of color spearhead conversations for connection, inspiration, and insight on managing professional life. 

  • Phuong Y. Phillips, Chief Legal Officer, Zynga Inc.
  • L. Song Richardson, Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law, University of California Irvine
  • Alanna C. Rutherford, VP, Legal, Visa Inc.
  • Moderator: Tiffany R. Thomas, Senior Counsel–Employment Law, Genentech

Following the presentations, participants engage in facilitated discussion groups to explore the opportunities and issues faced by women of color in the law. 

Thanks to our sponsors:

Hueston Hennigan LLP

Visa Inc.

Women of Color Forum Topics:

The Juggle Is Real: Caregiving and Breadwinning in the Time of COVID-19

  • Grace Chen, Senior Counsel, Employee Benefits & Equity, Genentech
  • Roxanne Anderson, Counsel, Global Privacy and Data Use, Visa

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

  • Camille Hamilton Pating, Principal, Meyers Nave
  • Candice E. Kim, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig

Bringing Your Whole Self to Work: A Requirement or a Risk?

  • Cammie Phan, Associate General Counsel, AR/VR, Facebook
  • Heather Anderson, Assistant Chief Counsel, The Walt Disney Company

D&I as a Vehicle for Professional Development and Advancement

  • Angel L. Garrett, Director, Trucker Huss APC
  • Danielle Woods Coleman, Senior Litigation Counsel, VMWare

Worrying From Home: Professional and Economic Uncertainty

  • Jerri Kay-Phillips, Associate, Hanson Bridgett LLP
  • Mia Mitchell Grandpre, Of Counsel, Ivie, McNeill & Wyatt Purcell & Diggs

Karens, Cops, and COVID: Protecting Your Energy

  • Kendra Okposo, Director – Global Compliance, Visa
  • Brittani A. Jackson, Associate, Hueston Hennigan LLP

War Stories: The Impact of Discussions of Race in the Workplace

  • Elizabeth A. Sperling, Partner, Alston Bird LLP
  • Sara Haji, Associate, Hueston Hennigan LLP

Recognizing our Power: Networking with other Women of Color

  • Vicki Chou, Counsel, Hueston Hennigan LLP
  • Yasmin Cader, Founder, Cader & Adams LLP

It’s a Woman’s World: Overcoming Gender Bias as a Woman of Color

  • Marwa Elzankaly, Counsel, McManis Faulkner
  • Bonnie Lau, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP

5:00pm – 5:30pm

Women of Color Reception

Thanks to our sponsors:

Hueston Hennigan LLP

Visa Inc.

Thanks to our Platinum sponsors:

Southern California Edison Company

Thanks to our Gold sponsors:

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Facebook, Inc.

Hanson Bridgett LLP

Littler Mendelson P.C.

Perkins Coie LLP

Thanks to our Silver sponsors:

Amazon

CEB I Continuing Education of the BAR

eBay Inc.

Kaiser Permanente

King & Spalding LLP

Netflix

Reichman Jorgensen LLP

Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Sidley Austin LLP


Wednesday, September 23, 2020

9:00am – 10:00am

Welcome to CMCP2020
"Driving Diversity Forward"

Learn how CMCP’s first Virtual Business Conference will foster authentic online connections, build business opportunities, and help you develop knowledge and skills to enhance personal and career development for the future.

Thanks to our sponsor:

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

9:00am – 9:30am NoCal 9:30am - 10:00am SoCal

Coffee with the CMCP Ambassadors Council (CMCPAC)

Join members of the CMCP Ambassadors Council for a relaxed chat. This is a great opportunity to make a personal connection with talented NextGen attorneys of color who are already leaders in their organizations and in the legal community. 

9:00am – 10:00am

Coffee with a General Counsel (raffle)

Conference registrants can enter for a chance to join a private 15-minute virtual meeting with a General Counsel. This singular opportunity gives raffle winners first-hand career insights from a leading GC.

Thanks to our sponsor:

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovski and Popeo, P.C.

10:00am – 11:00am

Breakout Sessions (Concurrent)

Session 2A

Branding, Confidence and Owning the Room

CA MCLE: 1 hour

Do you present as capable, personable, and trustworthy? Our panel of successful attorneys will share diverse approaches to ensure you instill confidence and “leave a great impression.”

Attendees from law firms and legal departments will practice delivering their elevator pitch and developing a unique style.

  • Kobie Conner, Director, Business & Legal Affairs, Netflix
  • Katy Goshtasbi, CEO, Puris Consulting
  • Suchitra Narayen, VP & DGC, Commercial Legal, North America, Informatica
  • Aurelio J. Pérez, VP, Legal, Wonolo Inc.
  • Moderator: Seong Kim, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
 

Session 2B

Hacking Potential Bias in Artificial Intelligence

CA MCLE: 1.0 hour (includes 0.5 hour of Recognition and Elimination of Bias credit)

The expanding use of AI and technology presents both ethical and technical challenges at the intersection of diversity, consumer rights, privacy and other issues.  Explore the implications and potential solutions with a panel of experts.

  • Charlyn Ho, Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP
  • Dominique R. Shelton Leipzig, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP
 

Session 2C

Law Firm Economics: How Money Gets Made and Shared

CA MCLE: 1.0 hour (includes 0.25 hour of Recognition and Elimination of Bias credit)

Understanding the basics of law firm economics – from origination credit and billable hours to collections and distributions – can help you advance your career and manage outside counsel spend.

  • Ralph Allen, Chief Operating Officer, Allen Matkins
  • Laura J. Maechtlen, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • Mike Moye, General Counsel, Alameda Health System
  • Jennifer Yu Sacro, Partner, Sacro & Walker, LLP
  • Moderator: Josh Ludmir, Attorney, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

11:00am – 11:30am

Break

11:30am – 12:15pm

Roundtables (Concurrent)

Roundtable A

"No Bosses Allowed"

Interactive Leadership, Career Development and Networking Roundtable for:

  • Law firm associates and other non-partners
  • In-house non-managers

Virtual roundtable topics:

  • How to utilize the current political climate as a springboard to promote diversity in the workplace
  • Succeeding as a First Generation Professional
Facilitators:
  • Christopher A. Braham, Associate, McDermott Will & Emery
  • Evie M. Hightower, Lead Counsel, Real Estate
    Facebook, Inc. 
  • Alejandro E. Moreno, Partner, Sheppard Mullin
  • Brenda Rosales-Carrillo, Associate, Reed Smith LLP
  • Tiffany Tran Madison, Associate, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • Kenneth Trujillo-Jamison, Senior Associate, Willenken LL

Thanks to our sponsor:

Robins Kaplan LLP

Roundtable B

"Know Your Peers" Practice Groups

“Effectiveness of Racial Equity Initiatives at Firms and Companies”
What are companies and law firms doing right (and not so right) to address racial inequity issues? And how have these changes been received?

Virtual roundtable discussion topics:

  • Internal efforts within firms and companies to encourage open discussion
  • Identifying and addressing practices and policies that disadvantage women, minorities, other underrepresented groups
  • New strategies women, minorities and other underrepresented groups can use to position themselves for promotion/advancement
  • Sponsorship and support of external organizations pursuing equality and justice initiatives
Facilitators:
  • Jesse M. Jauregui, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
  • Christophe D. Mosby, Associate General Counsel & VP, HP Inc.
  • Robert P. Watkins III, Senior Counsel, Apple
  • Kenya L. Williams, Trademark & Copyright Attorney

Thanks to our sponsor:

Alston & Bird LLP

12:15pm – 1:30pm

Break

1:30pm – 2:30pm

3rd Breakout Sessions (Concurrent)

Session 3A

Does Legal Cannabis Present a Level Playing Field for Minorities?

CA MCLE credit: 1.0 hour (includes 0.5 hour of Legal Ethics credit)

Minority entrepreneurs may face hurdles in obtaining capital and navigating the legalities of their cannabis business. Government officials determine who does and does not get licensed. And cannabis advocates struggle to educate decision-makers on the market realities while combating the black market. Are minorities competing on a level playing field?

  • Reese Benton, Founder + CEO, Posh Green
  • Cedric C. Haynes, Director, Public Policy & Partnerships, Weedmaps
  • Lanese Martin, Co-Founder, The Hood Incubator
  • Shahiedah Palmer, Associate, Arent Fox LLP
  • Moderator: Embert P. Madison, Jr., Attorney, Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel

Session 3B

Allyship is a Necessity, But It’s Not Easy

CA MCLE credit: 1.0 hour (Recognition and Elimination of Bias credit)

Learn how to establish and grow the relationships we call allyship to advance your career: explore strategies, lessons learned, and how to navigate needed but uncomfortable conversations:

  • Defining allyship
  • Recruiting allies
  • Our role in cultivating allies, including sharing basic expectations as well as “wish-fors”  
  • Understanding that effective allyship is more than just about words
  • The effects of intersectionality and bias
  • Kori S. Carew, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • John Iino, Chief Diversity Officer, Reed Smith LLP
  • Patti Perez, Founder/CEO, PersuasionPoint
  • Moderator: Mohammed Elayan, Associate, Rutan & Tucker LLP

Session 3C

Keeping the Client: Make Sure They Think of You First

CA MCLE: 0.75 hour

In-house and outside counsel offer insights on becoming an indispensable advisor, partner, and problem solver for your clients. 

Learn how to identify the organizational structure and key stakeholders of client groups, how they operate, and their expectations of legal counsel. Explore how to maintain and grow client relationships, and gain advice on effective communication with client contacts.

  • Mimi M. Lee, Managing Counsel, Chevron Corporation
  • Byron McLain, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
  • Scott B. Murray, Principal Counsel & Senior Manager, Apple, Inc.
  • Bijal V. Vakil, Partner, White & Case
  • Moderator: Robert P. Watkins III, Senior Counsel, Apple

2:30pm – 2:45pm

Break

2:45pm – 3:45pm

Corporate Connections Mixer
(In-House Counsel and
Newer Partners Only)

The first-ever Corporate Connections Mixer is a special reception exclusively for in-house lawyers and minority partners elevated to partner in the last three years. The goal is to create opportunities for dialogue and connection in a more relaxed format than Corporate Connections interviews – and form relationships that will benefit all parties for years to come.

NOTE: Registration for Corporate Connections is required. Space is limited.

  • Hasani Caraway, General Counsel, Zendesk, Inc.
  • Thomas Chow, General Counsel & Secretary, PubMatic, Inc.
  • Timothy Ernst, EVP, General Counsel & Secretary, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
  • Jacqueline Lee, General Counsel, Flynn Restaurant Group
  • Jason Lee, Senior Managing Director – GC/CCO, Lido Advisors, LLC

Thanks to our sponsor:

Intuit Inc.

  • Kerry McLean, EVP & General Counsel, Intuit Inc.
  • Sheniece Smith, VP, General Counsel, Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, Inc.
  • Michael Tang, General Counsel, Agilent Technologies, Inc.
  • Bart Volkmer, Chief Legal Officer, Dropbox, Inc.
  • Chris Young, General Counsel, Ironclad, Inc.

3:45pm – 4:00pm

Break

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Legal Department Diversity Summit
(In-House Counsel Only)

In-house counsel are invited to engage in small group discussions focused on how the national dialogue on race is playing out in corporate/public agency legal departments.  What constitutes “meaningful action” for legal departments seeking to build racial equity internally?

Breakout room topics:

  • Town halls, listening sessions and discussions with POC and Black attorneys
  • Changing systems for recruiting and advancing minority attorneys
  • Engaging in racial equity efforts outside of the legal department
Facilitators:
  • Alex Ponce de Leon, Counsel and Discovery Team Manager, Google LLC 
  • Jennifer Shigekawa, Assistant General Counsel, Southern California Edison Company
  • James Williams, Associate General Counsel, Snap Inc. 

Thanks to our sponsor:

Google LLC

5:00pm – 6:00pm

General Counsel Reception

Meet and mingle with Chief Legal Officers and General Counsel during a social reception of small groups hosted in virtual meeting rooms. 

  • Hasani Caraway, General Counsel, Zendesk, Inc.
  • Thomas Chow, General Counsel & Secretary, PubMatic, Inc.
  • Timothy Ernst, EVP, General Counsel & Secretary, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. 
  • Chadwick Ho, General Counsel & SVP,  Hulu, LLC
  • Jacqueline Lee, General Counsel, Flynn Restaurant Group  
  • Jason Lee, Senior Managing Director-General Counsel and CCO, Lido Advisors, LLC
  •  Kerry McLean, EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Intuit Inc.

Thanks to our sponsor:

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

  • Phuong Phillips, Chief Legal Officer, Zynga Inc.
  • Shana Simmons, General Counsel, Everlaw
  • Sheniece Smith, VP and General Counsel, Hannibal Regional Healthcare System
  • Michael Tang, SVP, General Counsel & Secretary, Agilent Technologies, Inc.
  • Bart Volkmer, Chief Legal Officer, President of Dropbox Foundation, Dropbox, Inc.
  • Chris Young, General Counsel, Ironclad, Inc.

Thanks to our Platinum sponsors:

Southern California Edison Company

Thanks to our Gold sponsors:

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Facebook, Inc.

Hanson Bridgett LLP

Littler Mendelson P.C.

Perkins Coie LLP

Thanks to our Silver sponsors:

Amazon

CEB I Continuing Education of the BAR

eBay Inc.

Kaiser Permanente

King & Spalding LLP

Netflix

Reichman Jorgensen LLP

Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Sidley Austin LLP


Thursday, September 24, 2020

9:00am – 10:00am

Coffee with a General Counsel (raffle)

Conference registrants can enter for a chance to join a private 15-minute virtual meeting with a General Counsel. This singular opportunity gives raffle winners first-hand career insights from a leading GC.

Thanks to our sponsor:

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovski and Popeo, P.C.

9:00am – 12:15pm

Corporate Connections Interviews

Thanks to our sponsor:

Intuit Inc.

10:00am – 11:30am

Speed Mentoring

CMCP connects you to potential mentors for a speedy “get acquainted” conversation that could boost your career and professional network to the next level.  

 Mentees will have access to a diverse panel of accomplished, self-elected mentors and can choose between mentors and topics during a “lightning round” of small group meetings. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with your community and build your network. 

Facilitators:

  • Carlos Rosario, Product Counsel, Wing (an Alphabet company)
  • Leslie Stevens, Privacy and Compliance Counsel and Data Protection Officer, Agilent Technologies Inc.
  • Nykia J. Wilson, Assistant General Counsel, Ethics, Intuit Inc.
  • Honorable Rupert A. Byrdsong, Superior Court Judge, Los Angeles County, California

Thanks to our sponsor:

Latham & Watkins LLP

12:00pm – 1:00pm

Break

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Breakout Sessions (Concurrent)

Session 4A

You Picked a Stressful Career, Now What?

CA MCLE: 1.0 hour (includes 0.5 hour of Competence Issues credit)

Attorneys are constantly placed in high-pressure environments and faced with ever-increasing demands from both internal and external clients. This stress and anxiety can potentially lead to burnout, substance abuse, and other grave outcomes.

Learn strategies and tips to help decrease stress and anxiety, find time for self-care, cope in the face of a pandemic, and explore workplace wellness programs that can help improve diverse attorneys’ well-being.

  • Dr. Cortney Beasley, Clinical Psychologist and Founder, Put In Black
  • Rudhir Krishtel, CEO, Krishtel Coaching
  • Moderator: Michelle Samuels, Attorney, Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

Session 4B

Diversity within Diversity: Identity, Intersectionality and Belonging in the Workplace

CA MCLE: 1.0 hour (Recognition and Elimination of Bias credit)

This interactive session will explore why the ways we define ourselves across social and political identities play a key role in diversity and inclusion efforts.

Leaders will be empowered to create environments that inspire authenticity and a sense of belonging for their teams and themselves.

  • Tonik Matthews, Director and Senior Corporate Counsel, Autodesk, Inc.
  • Erin N. Reid, Senior Counsel, Internet Services & Marketing, Apple Inc.
  • Yusuf Z. Zakir, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Holland & Knight LLP
  • Moderator: Pamela Onyekaba, Legal Counsel, Intuit Inc.

Session 4C

"Know Your Peers" (In-House Counsel Only)

In-House counsel are invited to participate in roundtable discussions to elicit best practices and develop ideas for systemic improvements to hiring, retention, and advancement of attorneys of color and women of color in legal departments.  
 
Virtual roundtable discussion topics:
 
  • Sourcing and Hiring Talent: Looking in the Right Places, and Using the Right Hiring Criteria
  • Keeping Talent:  Building an Inclusive Culture and Equitable Systems for Review and Promotion
  • Identifying and Removing Roadblocks for Advancing Women of Color

Facilitators:

  • Arjun Agarwal, Senior Counsel (International Litigation), Chevron
  • Jennifer Blakely, Senior Counsel, Litigation, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
  • Komal Chokshi, Senior Counsel, University of California Office of the President 

Thanks to our sponsor:

Chevron Corporation

2:00pm – 2:15pm

Break

2:15pm – 3:25pm

From the Desk of the General Counsel

Corporate Leaders Reflect on the Future.

  • Jeffrey S. Harleston, General Counsel, EVP Business & Legal Affairs, Universal Music Group
  • Kim M. Rivera, President Strategy Business Management and CLO, HP Inc.
  • Wanji Walcott, EVP, CLO & General Counsel, Discover Financial Services
  • Tony West, SVP, CLO, and Corporate Secretary, Uber
  • Moderator: Diego Arp, Senior Counsel, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Thanks to our sponsor:

DLA Piper LLP-US

3:30pm – 4:15pm

CMCP2020 Closing Reception

Welcome Remarks: Vanessa Washington, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Bank of the West

Thanks to our sponsor:

Bank of the West

Thanks to our Platinum sponsors:

Southern California Edison Company

Thanks to our Gold sponsors:

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Facebook, Inc.

Hanson Bridgett LLP

Littler Mendelson P.C.

Perkins Coie LLP

Thanks to our Silver sponsors:

Amazon

CEB I Continuing Education of the BAR

eBay Inc.

Kaiser Permanente

King & Spalding LLP

Netflix

Reichman Jorgensen LLP

Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Sidley Austin LLP


Thank you for joining CMCP2020

California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP) is an approved provider for California (CA) Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit.

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