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SHYLAH ALFONSOPartner, Firmwide Chair, Antitrust & Unfair Competition Litigation PracticePerkins CoieShylah Alfonso is a partner in the Business Litigation practice and is the Firmwide Chair of the Antitrust and Unfair Competition Litigation Practice. She focuses her practice on antitrust counseling and litigation, antitrust clearance for mergers and acquisitions, class action and complex commercial litigation, and intellectual property litigation.Shylah has extensive experience working with multinational companies across the market spectrum. Whether involving the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Justice or private litigants, she has represented manufacturers, retailers, distributors, research and development companies, and patent portfolio holders in a range of industries, including telecommunications, semiconductor, computer software, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, manufacturing, retail, the internet and aerospace. She has particularly in-depth experience working with technology companies on issues arising from the intersection between intellectual property and antitrust.THERESA AMATOCounselShearman & SterlingTheresa Amato has spent nearly three decades as a litigator, advisor, counsel, of counsel, inhouse counsel, general counsel or executive director in various nonprofit, for profit and political entities. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois, New York, and Washington, D.C. and has experience litigating at all levels of state and federal courts, testifying in front of public bodies, navigating regulatory agencies, conducting corporate transactional work in the areas of banking, trusts, and securities, and advising on or appearing in various international arbitration proceedings and enforcement disputes. Theresa joined Shearman & Sterling in 2015 and works to advance women in the firm and the profession.Ms. Amato previously served as the executive director of various nonprofit organizations, including the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, where she reinvigorated the Women Leaders in Philanthropy program. She became a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation in 2015 and was elected to the American Law Institute (ALI) and the Chicago Economic Club in 2014. From 2013-2015, she was a Distinguished Scholar in Residence and adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and a member of the University’s Board of Regents; she currently serves on the Advisory Boards of the Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies and the Consumer Law Review.LYNNE ANNE ANDERSONPartnerDrinker BiddleLynne Anne Anderson is a practiced jury and bench trial lawyer who handles a wide range of employment litigation, including whistleblower cases, restrictive covenant disputes and wage and hour class/collective actions. Her litigation background gives her the insights necessary to effectively counsel clients who are dealing with frontline employee issues to effectuate a win-win resolution of workplace disputes, and to implement policies and protocols to limit litigation. Lynne is Co-Chair of the Labor and Employment Group’s Fair Pay Act Obligations Team.Whether providing strategic counseling on reductions in force, or drafting employment contracts and personnel policies, Lynne approaches each situation with sensitivity to the impact to the individuals involved, and on the business operations. Clients trust Lynne implicitly to counsel them through the ever-growing maze of labor and employment laws, and to tenaciously represent their interests in the event of litigation.LAUREL BELLOWManaging PrincipalTHE BELLOWS LAW GROUPThe Bellows Law Group is a general practice firm offering transactional, counseling, and litigation services to entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations.? Client matters range from complex commercial litigation to business strategy and startups. Ms. Bellows is an experienced business lawyer, counseling and litigating on behalf of senior executives and corporations on employment matters, employment and severance agreements, executive compensation, and workplace disputes. Laurel licensed to practice law in Illinois, Florida and California and is an arbitrator and certified mediator through the Institute for Conflict Management.Ms. Bellows is past president of the nearly 400,000 member American Bar Association and past president of The Chicago Bar Association.? Laurel is president of the International Women’s Forum Chicago.? Her law firm offers strategic business counseling and litigation services to entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes, including large corporations.? Laurel is an internationally recognized business lawyer, counseling senior executives and corporations on executive employment and severance agreements, workplace disputes, business conduct standards, anti-trafficking, risk assessment, supply chain and recruiting policies and cybersecurity.? Laurel serves on Minister Gordon Brown’s Global Citizenship Commission to update the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??TAMARA BOCKMemberEpstein Becker GreenTamara Bock is a Member of the Firm in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management and Litigation practices, in the New York office of Epstein Becker Green.Ms. Bock:Advises national and multinational companies on all facets of employment issues, including compliance with state, federal, and international laws and regulations, assists companies with creation, maintenance, and communication of employment contracts and policiesConducts workplace training seminars for employees, managers, and human resource personnelConducts internal investigations into complaints of employee misconduct and in response to shareholder demands regarding allegations of, among other things, securities violationsRepresents employers in federal and state trial and appellate courts and in arbitrations and mediations on a broad range of employment law issues, involving, among other things, breach of employment contracts, restrictive covenants, and confidentiality agreements; compensation disputes; misappropriation of confidential information and trade secrets; raiding; partnership disputes; and harassment and discrimination claimsRepresents clients in complex commercial litigation matters, including business and banking disputes and real estate, contract, breach of fiduciary duty, limited liability company law, and securities actionsAdvises prospective hires in the financial services industry on employment issues, including restrictive covenants, employment contracts, and the confidentiality of business informationBefore joining Epstein Becker Green, Ms. Bock was an attorney at a litigation boutique in New York City, where she focused on complex commercial litigation, including sophisticated business disputes and employment, real estate, contract, and securities matters. Previously, she was a litigation attorney at an international law firm, where her practice included securities, antitrust, and bankruptcy litigation.MICHAEL BURDChair & PartnerLewis Silkin LLC, LondonMichael Burd is the Chair of Lewis Silkin LLP based in London and a partner in its Employment, Immigration and Reward department. He also sits on the Executive Committee of Ius Laboris, the global alliance of human resources law firms of which Lewis Silkin are UK member.?He advises on many aspects of employment and partnership law, with a particular focus on the resolution of high level disputes (including through mediation and arbitration), senior level departures, boardroom issues, business transfers and restructuring.? He also provides advice aimed at preventing employment disputes and ensuring compliance with regulatory regimes.?Much of his work has an international element to it, dealing with both UK clients’ employment law needs globally and with UK issues for clients in numerous other jurisdictions.He has been consistently listed as a leading individual in the Employment field in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories.? He is listed in the top five Thought Leaders by Who’s Who: Labour and Employment 2018, for receiving the highest number of nominations by peers, corporate counsel and other market sources; and is also recognized for the 10th consecutive year in The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2018 for Employment Law.TERRIE CAMPBELLChief Executive OfficerEsquire Deposition Solutions, LLCTerrie is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLC. Her promotion to lead the organization comes after joining the company as Chief Operating Officer early 2015 with the goal of driving improved and consistent operating practices for the organization. As CEO, Terrie is committed to premium client care and the orchestration of all areas within the organization to achieve optimum effectiveness allowing true innovation within the court reporting and deposition services industry. Clients include traditional and non-traditional users of deposition services and products.DIANE CARTERPartner and Executive Board Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ChairHusch BlackwellDiane, a member?of the firm’s Executive Board, has passionately served the healthcare industry for a quarter-century.Diane advises?clients on strategic planning, corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring, transactional, regulatory and compliance matters.Diane’s extensive work on behalf of industry clients has included:Organizing and structuring joint ventures nationwide, including hospitals, physicians, ambulatory surgery centers and imaging centers.Interpreting and analyzing compliance with federal and state antifraud and abuse statutes and applicable regulations and the Stark statute and regulations.Advising clients regarding the formation, merger and acquisition of medical groups and facilities.Advising and assisting clients in obtaining licensure to operate in Texas as a health maintenance organization, third-party administrator and utilization review agent.Diane is board certified in health law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Before joining Husch Blackwell, Diane was a Partner with Brown McCarroll.MARY ELLEN CONNERTYDirector of Diversity and EngagementO’Melveny & MyersMary Ellen Connerty is the Director of Diversity and Engagement at O’Melveny & Myers and is a member of the Firm’s Business Management Team. She is based in New York and is responsible for developing and implementing the Firm’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy and initiating and implementing talent development programs. She is also responsible for the firm’s attorney staffing program. Prior to joining the Firm, Mary Ellen was with Mercer Consulting holding a number of human resource, learning, talent management and diversity leadership positions including Global Leader of Talent Development and Diversity. She also spent three year as a Mercer human capital consultant advising global clients on talent strategy and supporting programs and technology with a particular focus on leadership development and succession planning. Prior to Mercer, Mary Ellen held human resource positions at Chase and ITT.CHRISTY TOSH CRIDERShareholderBaker DonelsonChristy Tosh Crider is chair of the Baker Donelson’s Health Care Litigation Group and Women’s Initiative. Christy concentrates her practice in health care litigation, managing the litigation of numerous health care facilities around the country as well as serving as outside general counsel. Christy provides counsel to health care companies on quality assurance, corporate compliance, general business advice and litigation avoidance challenging survey citations, and government investigations. She represents many health care related organizations, including organ procurement organizations and tissue banks, long term care providers, onsite health centers, and one of the largest behavioral health companies in the country.During Christy’s tenure as the Women’s Initiative Chair, Baker Donelson has earned numerous recognitions an exceptional workplace for women, including being named by Working Mother magazine to its “Best Law Firms for Women” list, being certified as a Gold Standard Firm for four consecutive years by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF), and being ranked tenth nationally in diversity for women in the 2019 edition of Vault, Inc.‘s “Best Law Firms for Diversity.” The Firm was also recognized by the Chambers Women in Law Awards: USA 2018 as a finalist in the category of Outstanding Firm in Advancing Gender Diversity and Inclusion.These national accolades are the culmination of years of Christy’s leadership. She has overseen numerous key initiatives including the adoption of an industry-leading parental leave policy; implementation of a firm-wide mentoring program for women; creating a program that awards business development grants to women attorneys; and a training program designed to help women attorneys achieve equity shareholder status. Christy was named a 2018 recipient of the A Great Place to Work? For All Leadership Award by FORTUNE magazine.MAREIL? B. CUSACKSenior Vice President, General CounselAriel InvestmentsMareilé Cusack is the senior vice president and general counsel of Ariel Investments.? In this capacity, Mareilé advises Ariel’s senior leadership, external Mutual Fund Board of Trustees and external Company Board of Directors on a wide range of legal and regulatory matters regarding the investment adviser, investment company, broker-dealers, securities compliance, corporate and labor and employment issues. She also serves as board secretary for the investment adviser, broker-dealer and Ariel Investment Trusts and oversees fund administration. Mareilé joined Ariel in 2007, bringing more than two decades of legal experience to the firm. Most recently, she worked at the Chicago Stock Exchange, where she held the positions of associate general counsel and chief enforcement counsel. She also served as the chief legal counsel for the Illinois Gaming Board, served as an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission and started her legal career as a corporate/securities attorney at a Chicago-based law firm. Outside of Ariel, Mareilé serves on the boards for The Smart Museum and the Lincoln Park Zoo. She graduated with a BA in European history and economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the University Of Virginia School Of Law.AIMEE DELANEYPartnerHinshaw & Culbertson LLPAimee Delaney concentrates her practice in the area of labor and employment. She is the leader of Hinshaw’s Labor and Employment Practice Group and was appointed to the firm’s Management Committee in 2019. Delaney counsels employers on all aspects of the employment relationship and works with clients to develop policies and training. She also represents employers in employment-related litigation and has a traditional labor law practice representing management in grievances and labor arbitrations. ERIN ENGLANDPartnerHaynes and Boone, LLPErin England represents some of the world’s largest institutions in connection with structuring and negotiating domestic and international complex commercial transactions.Erin navigates her clients through the complexities of commercial transactions, with an emphasis on credit facilities to private equity funds and REITs secured by the capital commitments of fund investors, mergers and acquisitions financing, general corporate matters, and a variety of real estate transactions, including construction loans and leasing matters.A devoted advocate to diversity in the legal community, Erin is the co-chair of the Haynes and Boone Women’s Initiatives Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association. Erin is also on the Board of her local YMCA, and is an active member of the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association, the Texas Women’s Foundation, the Women’s Finance Exchange of Dallas, where she served on the Board for two consecutive terms.HELEN FRIEDMANCEOMerit Analytics Group LLCHelen Friedman is the CEO of Merit Analytics Group LLC, which she co-founded as a women-owned business in 2017 after over 30 years of working in HR consulting at the three largest global HR consultancies. In this role, Helen is able to focus on helping organizations bring the power of data analytics to inform critical HR and business decisions.? Her prior tenure included global leadership for talent analytics consulting and technology services, where she focused on developing intellectual capital, leading the largest and most complex client engagements and tailoring technology solutions to meet unique client needs.Helen’s work in the field of talent analytics spans all major industries and work areas, including workforce planning and optimization, dashboards and reporting, site selection and labor market analysis, and predictive/prescriptive analytics. Helen is a well-known thought leader, who has spoken regularly at national conferences and has published on a diverse array of topics in this field with credits in well-known media outlets ranging from The New York Times and Yahoo! Finance to and the Journal of Organizational Excellence.? She also supports the enhancement of the human capital analytics and technology community as an adjunct faculty member at New York University.JENNIVER LEVIN GERSHONPresident and Co-FounderFirst Chair, LLCPATRICIA K. GILLETTEAuthor and Keynote SpeakerJAMS NEUTRALPatricia Gillette, Esq. is a full-time neutral at JAMS with many years of experience as a top rated trial lawyer and mediator. When she was in practice, Ms. Gillette focused on all aspects of employment law, including litigation of wrongful discharge and discrimination class actions and individual/multi-plaintiff cases in both state and federal court, representation of employers before administrative agencies, and counseling and training employers on preventive personnel practices.Ms. Gillette has a reputation for connecting and relating deeply with people.? While she was known as a tough litigator, she is also known for her ability to settle cases.? Her intuitive skills as well as her ability to problem solve give her the ability to see all sides of an issue and to find workable and fair solutions.? She has knack for breaking through the barriers that often impede settlement efforts, by inspiring the parties to think differently about how to realize their goals.Ms. Gillette is the co-founder of the Opt-In Project, a nationwide initiative focused on changing the structure of law firms to increase the retention and advancement of women in the workplace and has been recognized on several occasions for her contributions to women in the profession.?TARA GIUNTAPartnerPaul HastingsTara Giunta is a partner in the Washington, DC, office of Paul Hastings LLP and is a Vice Chair of the Investigations and White Collar Defense Practice which was recently selected as GIR’s Investigations Practice of the year.? Ms. Giunta also serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Diversity Council and Chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative.? ?She advises clients and their officers and directors in high risk, regulated industries, on global compliance focusing on anti-corruption, data privacy and national security. ?Ms. Giunta performs risk assessments for global enterprises, develops comprehensive compliance programs, conducts internal investigations, and represents clients before U.S. enforcement agencies. She was recognized by Global Investigations Review (GIR) in its Women in Investigations list, which recognized 100 women across the globe who are “achieving great things in a competitive and notoriously tough area of law.” She is also Founder and Editor of the firm’s publication, Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in the Boardroom. Ms. Giunta received her J.D. from Columbus School of Law, Catholic University, and her B.A., cum laude, from Tufts University.ANDREA GREENEPrincipalBressler, Amery & RossAndrea Greene is a principal at Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.. Andrea offers her clients over 15 years of experience in defending brokerage firms and financial institutions against claims asserted by customers in court and in arbitration proceedings throughout the country. Andrea’s practice also involves the defense of brokerage firms and financial institutions in connection with regulatory investigations conducted by FINRA, the SEC and the Alabama Securities Commission. Andrea focuses her practice in financial products litigation, covering an array of investment-related products, services and transactions. She has extensive experience representing brokerage firms and insurance companies in the defense of claims involving annuities, collateralized debt obligations and structured products. ?Andrea is the co-founder of SWIFS (Southeastern Women in Financial Services), a network of more than 130 women attorneys in the financial services arena. Since it was established in 2016, SWIFS has become a professional organization that is dedicated to the development and advancement of female leaders through its training and educational programs. In addition, SWIFS supports the financial education and economic security of women in the Southeast through community partnerships, education, and advocacy.LAINA MILLER HAMMONDInvestment Manager & Legal CounselValidity FinanceAs head of Validity’s Houston office, Laina Miller Hammond leverages her extensive litigation experience to partner with leading trial attorneys to help clients manage risk.Laina and her Validity team work on the cutting edge of commercial litigation funding – investing in both individual cases and law firm case portfolios.? In her role, Laina handles everything from finding the right cases to structuring the financial terms of Validity’s investment and monitoring the case through the course of litigation. Laina’s more than sixteen years as a trial lawyer representing businesses and individuals in complex commercial and energy litigation uniquely position her to identify and work with talented lawyers with strong cases and great clients.? Armed with that experience, Laina and her team are able to quickly evaluate case merits and structure deals that provide companies and law firms the capital they need to pursue worthy cases without financial constraints.Laina understands the landscape attorneys and their clients face when pursuing important claims.? In her trial practice, she litigated disputes on behalf of both established and emerging businesses in Houston’s diverse economy.? Laina’s experience makes her an ideal match for companies and trial counsel looking for a financing partner who brings strategic perspective alongside capital.? Laina is driven by her desire to help exceptional firms deliver the most effective and creative client service possible.DEBBIE EPSTEIN HENRYFounder DEH Consulting, Speaking, WritingCo-FounderBliss LawyersDebbie Epstein Henry is an expert, consultant, best-selling author and public speaker on careers, workplaces, women and law. For 20 years, hundreds of news outlets have featured her work including The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and The National Law Journal. Debbie runs the DEH Speaker Series, offering programming with thought leaders in NYC and by webcast, drawing more than 1,000 participants per quarter. In 2007, she conceived of the Best Law Firms for Women initiative, a national survey she developed and ran for a decade with Working Mother to annually select the top 50 law firms for women and report on industry trends. By 2008, Debbie’s public speaking, press exposure and advocacy enabled her to build a national network of over 10,000 lawyers. From there, in 2011, she co-founded Bliss Lawyers, a company that employs high caliber attorneys to work on temporary engagements for in-house legal department and law firm clients. Debbie is the author of LAW & REORDER, the #1 best-selling ABA Flagship book for 2011 and the co-author of another ABA best-selling Flagship book in 2015, FINDING BLISS. Her international work includes multiple engagements in The Hague as well as in Paris at the French Senate and in London and Vienna and elsewhere abroad. Debbie volunteers her time with a number of non-profits including the Forum of Executive Women where she is a Member of the Board and Co-Chair of the annual Leadership Symposium. She also chairs Brooklyn Law School Women’s Leadership Circle which runs a national women’s law student and alumnae initiative. Debbie has received numerous awards including being named among the Philadelphia Business Journal‘s “Women of Distinction.” In 2017, she received the Anne X. Alpern Award, presented annually to a female lawyer who demonstrates excellence in the legal profession and who makes a significant professional impact on women in the law. She received her B.A. from Yale and her J.D. cum laude from Brooklyn Law School. A native New Yorker, she lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband; they have three sons.PAULA HINTONPartnerWinston & Strawn LLPPaula’s practice focuses on representing businesses in complex civil litigation. She has represented clients in courtrooms across the country, before administrative agencies and in international and domestic arbitration forums to resolve a wide variety of disputes, including those concerning contracts and general business issues, business torts, consumer disputes, environmental issues, trademark issues, trade secret issues, product liability, telecommunications litigation, energy-related litigation, and numerous class actions.AMY HINZMANNClient Experience OfficerConsilioAmy is responsible for supporting her colleagues across the organization in creating a single vision for the client experience at Consilio. Amy is responsible for ensuring Consilio’s commitment to service excellence – always putting the client first – is embedded in every step along the e-discovery journey.Reporting to the Consilio’s CEO, Amy partners with other members of the executive team to influence operational processes and sales best practices to maximize client acquisition, retention and profitability. Amy draws on her past experience in operations and client relationship roles to engender frank conversations with clients regarding the quality and value of Consilio’s delivery of services. Working with key members of the Consilio team, Amy puts that feedback to work, using it to improve existing processes and operationalize innovations made during the e-discovery process.DENEEN HOWELLPartnerWilliams & Connolly, LLPDeneen C. Howell is Co-Chair of both Williams & Connolly’s Employment Counseling and Litigation practice group, where her focus is on counseling clients regarding executive employment and internal investigations, as well as its Transactions and Business Counseling practice group. She is a highly skilled negotiator with broad experience advising senior executives, former government officials, authors, broadcasters and journalists as well as privately held businesses and non-profit organizations largely centered on employment and other personal services matters.ROBIN HULSHIZERPartnerLatham & WatkinsRobin Hulshizer is a member of the firm’s Litigation & Trial and Environmental, Land & Resources Departments. Ms. Hulshizer is a trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience litigating complex commercial and environmental matters. Her experience is multi-disciplinary, including toxic torts, product liability, consumer fraud, business contract, insurance coverage, and securities litigation. She has represented clients across various sectors such as manufacturing, oil and gas, consumer products, energy, and industrial hygiene. Ms. Hulshizer currently serves as Local Chair of the Chicago Environmental, Land & Resources Department, and as a member of the firm’s Diversity Leadership Committee.In the environmental arena, Ms. Hulshizer’s experience has spanned every major environmental statute and includes not only litigation but regulatory work, investigation/enforcement actions, and counseling in connection with financial transactions. In addition to her representation of clients in litigation arising out of mobile emissions, toxic tort, and the Superfund/cost recovery arena, her experience includes explosion cases, citizen suits, private cost recovery actions, and claims brought by or against federal and state governments. Ms. Hulshizer has also worked on variances and penalty actions for a variety of clients.In the business disputes forum, Ms. Hulshizer has extensive trial and court experience, representing various companies in high-stakes commercial litigation, as well as before governmental agencies including the SEC and EPA. She also has served as counsel in numerous complex, multiparty cases as well as class actions and multi-district litigations, in various federal and state courts around the country. KRISSY KATZENSTEINPartnerMorgan LewisKrissy A. Katzenstein represents employers in a wide range of employment disputes, with a focus on class and collective actions involving systemic discrimination claims and complex multiplaintiff matters. She also has experience handling a variety of single plaintiff matters involving discrimination and harassment claims, FLSA and state wage and hour claims, and Family Medical Leave Act claims. In addition, Krissy regularly works with clients on large internal investigations involving sensitive allegations.Krissy also works with clients to develop diversity programs and identify strategies and initiatives to increase diverse representation and foster an inclusive work environment. In addition, she regularly counsels clients on class action avoidance strategies, including conducting pay equity and other self-critical statistical analyses. Krissy also has experience handling complex issues such as large corporate restructurings.TIFFANI LEEPartnerHolland & KnightTiffani G. Lee?is a partner in Holland & Knight’s Miami office and a member of the firm’s South Florida Litigation Group. She concentrates her practice in the?area?of commercial litigation in the state and federal courts of Florida. In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Lee has been involved in the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout her career at the firm. Since 2009, she has served as the firmwide Diversity Partner. In that capacity, she?leads?the firmwide Diversity Council and serves on the firm’s Practice & Operations Committee and Partner Compensation Committee. She frequently speaks on diversity and inclusion topics at conferences sponsored by national organizations and at client-sponsored diversity programs.? In the community, Ms. Lee is a member of the Orange Bowl Committee, Greater Miami Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Professionalism Panel. She is also a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami.SUSAN L. LEESExecutive VP and General CounselAllstateSusan (Susie) L. Lees is executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of The Allstate Corporation. She leads Allstate’s 1,600-person legal team to guide the company’s business strategy, ensure sound compliance and foster a healthy legal, legislative and regulatory environment, all grounded in a culture of social responsibility. Lees joined Allstate in 1988 progressively holding leadership positions with increasing responsibility, including her previous role as senior vice president and deputy general counsel for Allstate Financial. During her extensive tenure at Allstate, Lees led a multitude of complex initiatives, including major acquisitions. While leading the corporate law division of Allstate’s law and regulation department, she gained deep experience working with business areas across the broader corporation. Earlier in her career, Lees built a foundation of business acumen through professional sales roles at Celanese Corp. and Exxon Chemical.She has been a champion of solutions to key societal issues and serves on The Allstate Foundation Board of Trustees. Lees also serves on the boards of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Association of Women Lawyers, Rand Institute for Civil Justice, the Institute for Legal Reform and the Children’s Hospital of Chicago Medical Center / Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Lees is pastpresident of the board of directors for the Riverside Foundation, a nonprofit organization offering life-enrichment opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities, and she is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Life Insurance Counsel. She believes deeply in the importance of giving back and encourages all team members to engage with their local communities.LAURA LAU MARINELLIPartnerSaul Ewing Arnstein & LehrLaura Lau Marinelli’s practice focuses on the areas of condominium related litigation and the general representation of condominium and community associations. She has extensive experience representing condominium associations and common interest community associations in complex litigation matters involving various injunctive and equitable remedies, as well as covenant enforcement, developer issues, mixed use property disputes, and breach of fiduciary duty matters. Laura also advises associations on various issues including the interpretation of the association’s governing documents, the Illinois Condominium Property Act and the Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act, as well as resolution of issues with homeowners, the developer, and the city or county. She has presented to lawyers, property managers, board members and unit owners on various condominium issues.ANNA MARLEYCOO and Market LeaderMerit Analytics Group LLCAnna Marley is the COO and Market Leader at Merit Analytics Group LLC, which she co-founded after over 15 years working at large HR consulting firms.? Her diversified analytics experience and specific thought leadership in workforce-related analytics based on her wide range of evidenced-based workforce management engagements—from examining labor dynamics and building workforce dashboards to developing predictive and prescriptive statistical models. She differentiates her approach through her understanding of organizational business and HR strategy, which leads to more aligned, practical and effective solutions for clients.Anna has worked with large-scale employers across several industries, which is a testament to her versatility and cross-industry knowledge. Over her years in consulting, she has had both direct consulting responsibilities and global management roles for service development, including leading efforts to build proprietary technology to support workforce analytics and planning.She holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. in Economics from Bates College, both Magna Cum Laude.KATHLEEN MCKENNAPartnerProskauerKathleen M. McKenna is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department.?With a formidable track record for success in major employment matters, she has extensive experience litigating employment disputes of all types, including defending employers against claims alleging all forms of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, wage and hour and breach of contract as well as conducting high-profile investigations. Her clients include major multi-national businesses, such as television networks, pharmaceutical companies, international retailers and law firms. Adept at counseling clients at every turn of the litigation process, Kathleen employs a creative mix of litigation experience and business acumen to determine which cases should be litigated in court, which should be resolved in some alternative forum and which can and should be settled.?While she is regularly successful on her clients’ behalf through negotiation and dispositive motions, she possesses significant jury trial experience, and is well-versed in all forms of alternate dispute resolution.Kathleen is regularly called upon to support clients with strategies, counseling and training to help them avoid litigation and government investigations, and provides practical advice on all workplace-related issues to today’s top employers. These topics include employee discharge and discipline, reductions in force, employment policies and procedures, and compliance with federal, state and local employment laws.Kathleen also has significant experience dealing with traditional labor matters. She has litigated the full range of labor proceedings and has served as the chief spokesperson or advisor in numerous collective bargaining negotiations.?She also has advised management on National Labor Relations Act issues, including union organizing campaigns and representation elections, strikes, picketing, plant closings and work transfers, and purchase and acquisition issues.Kathleen is a member of the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers. She is?also a sought after lecturer on?labor and employment issues.LORI MCMULLENPartnerCrowley FleckLori McMullen is a Partner in the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Department in the firm’s Sheridan, Wyoming office. Lori is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Co-Chair of the firm’s Oil and Gas Practice Group.Lori has a broad practice in natural resources, real property, and secured transactions, but is largely focused in oil and gas with a primary emphasis on title examination, acquisitions and divestitures, and title curative matters.After graduating from the University of Wyoming College of Law, Lori served as a staff attorney in the Wyoming Legislative Service Office in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for two years before entering private practice with Lonabaugh and Riggs, LLP in Sheridan, Wyoming. Lori was a partner at Lonabaugh and Riggs, LLP before joining Crowley Fleck PLLP in January of 2012.MARGO WOLF O’DONNELLPartner and Co-chair, Labor & Employment GroupBeneschMargo is Co-Chair of Benesch’s Labor & Employment Group. She regularly serves as lead counsel in litigation relating to restrictive covenants and trade secrets. She also defends claims involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, wage and hour violations, and breach of contract.Margo uses her?25 years of legal experience to counsel clients on best practices for strategic training, drafting employment and separation agreements, managing individual and group discharges, and conducting high-level internal investigations.Margo’s experience ranges from the defense of one of the largest race discrimination class actions in history to two-party restrictive covenant disputes. Clients praise Margo’s ability to contribute to a “positive and productive work environment for employees” and describe her advocacy as “persistent, smart, tough and innovative.”Margo’s legal work is recognized locally and nationally. Crain’s named Margo as one of the “Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago” and Leading Lawyers named Margo as one of the “Top 10 Women Employment Management Attorneys in Illinois.” The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin named Margo as a “Woman Making an Impact” and included her in their “40 Attorneys Under 40 Hall of Fame.” Best Lawyers named Margo as one of 15 “Women of Influence” in the legal profession nationwide, and Chambers & Partners recognized Margo as an “Inspiring Role Model Promoting Gender Diversity.” Margo is a Corporate Counsel 2018 National Women in Law Honoree. She holds an “AV Preeminent” Peer Rating by Martindale-Hubbell (the highest possible rating).Margo is Past President and recipient of the Leadership Award of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law. She is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Margo serves on the Boards of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, the Yale Club of Chicago, the Women’s Board of the University of Chicago, and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.Margo is the founder of and currently leads B-Sharp, Benesch’s professional development program for women in-house attorneys.CHERYL ORRPartnerDrinker BiddleCheryl Orr is an elected managing partner of the firm and chair of the firm’s national Labor and Employment Practice Group. Cheryl concentrates her practice on defending employers nationwide against complex wage and hour class, collective, and representative actions arising in industries including retail, health care, education, insurance, finance, and manufacturing. She also has a long history of resolving wrongful termination, unfair competition and discrimination cases through a winning motion practice. In addition to litigation, she provides a full range of employment law counseling, audit and training services.DAVID OSKANDYFormer General Counsel and SecretaryAvanade, Inc.David led Avanade’s global legal group and served as principal legal advisor to Avanade’s executive leadership and board of directors. He also served as corporate secretary to the board of directors and contributes to Avanade’s overall strategy as a member of its executive leadership team.David came to Avanade from Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company where he was Associate General Counsel of Global Commercial Operations responsible for legal aspects of the company’s global commercial operations. Previously, he held legal leadership roles at Honeywell, where he served as Vice President and General Counsel for Latin America and Canada, and Andersen Worldwide, where he served as Global Lead Counsel for Business Consulting and Global Lead Counsel for Expansions.David holds a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Northwestern University.JULIE ANN OVERCASHVice President of Human Resources (HR) and the Director of Global Rewards and Talent RetentionIntelJulie Ann Overcash is vice president of Human Resources (HR) and the director of Global Rewards and Talent Retention at Intel Corporation. She is responsible for designing innovative compensation, benefit, and talent retention practices, and for overseeing enterprise performance solutions and total rewards programs, including salary, bonus, stock, healthcare and retirement programs for Intel employees worldwide.An accomplished HR professional, Overcash joined Intel in 2017 with two decades of experience spanning multinational businesses, including board engagement, executive compensation and global total rewards. Most recently, she was a senior vice president at Starbucks Corp., where she led the company’s global talent development, inclusion and diversity, and compensation and benefits programs for more than 300,000 employees. Before joining Starbucks in 2015, Overcash spent 12 years with Honeywell International Inc., culminating in her role as vice president of global compensation and benefits for the company’s aerospace and transportation systems organization. Earlier in her tenure at Honeywell, she served as executive director of compensation and benefits for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, which encompassed multiple business groups across 46 countries. Her HR career also includes various leadership roles at Advanced Micro Devices Inc., TDS Telecom, Motorola Inc. and MicroAge Inc.ANN RAINHARTChief Operating OfficerBriggsAnn Rainhart enjoys being an agent of change int the legal profession, understanding the needs of clients, collaborating within the firm, and spending time with the team of directors and other professionals at Briggs.As Briggs’ chief operating officer and member of the firm’s senior leadership team, Ann collaborates with the managing partner and executive committee on strategy and oversees the firm’s business operations departments. Ann will serve as chief strategy officer beginning January 1, 2020 when Briggs combines with Taft.During her tenure at Briggs, Ann has led the firm through a merger decision with Taft and a major remodel process, helped develop innovative processes including client development coaching, legal transactional operations and eDiscovery. She has also seen the firm through leadership transitions.Prior to joining Briggs, Ann was a key member of the operations team at Faegre Baker Daniels. She played a significant role in the 2012 combination of Faegre & Benson LLP and Baker & Daniels LLP. In her role as chief talent officer, Ann worked with the firm’s management board and executive committee around strategies for retention, development and feedback for the firm’s 750+ lawyers, consultants and professionals, and collaborated with other administrative department leaders in key areas of business operations.SARAH E. REDFIELDProfessor EmeritaUniversity of New Hampshire School of LawAffiliate ProfessorUniversity of New Hampshire College of EducationSarah Redfield is Professor Emerita at the University of New Hampshire School of Law and Affiliate Professor at the University of New Hampshire College of Education and Women’s Studies Program.Education law (including special education) is her primary practice and teaching area. Her primary research and scholarship focus on diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and along the education pipeline. Her current work concentrates on implicit bias (including its manifestations in legal, medical, education, and workplace environments) and on strategies to interrupt that bias and reduce its manifestations at all levels.Professor Redfield currently serves on the American Bar Association (ABA) Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council; the ABA Commission on Disability Rights; the Criminal Justice Section Council; and the Food to Institution New England Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee; with Judge Bernice Donald she is Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Section Implicit Bias Initiative. She is a member of the Maine Bar.Professor Redfield is a nationally respected author, presenter, and trainer. She is the editor and chapter author of the ABA book on implicit bias, Enhancing Justice: Reducing Bias, and her recent publications also include Reversing the School-to-Prison Pipeline Preliminary Report, 47 Memphis Law Review 1. She was a lead author for the ABA Section on Litigation’s Toolbox on Implicit Bias, lead consultant for the ABA project on Achieving an Impartial Jury, and expert advisory for the State Bar of California’s online implicit bias course. Her recent presentations include Implicit Bias and Bias Interruption for Arizona State University, Vermont Law School, the Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys, and various state agencies.Professor Redfield earned her B.A. degree from Mount Holyoke College, her J.D. degree from Northeastern University School of Law, and her LL.M. from Harvard Law School.MARY SMIGIELSKIPartnerLewis BrisboisMary Smigielski is a partner in the Chicago office of Lewis Brisbois, a member of the Labor & Employment Practice, and co-chair of the firm’s Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) practice group. Ms. Smigielski handles class/collective actions and single-plaintiff employment litigation, administrative charges, nationwide counseling, training, and sensitive workplace investigations, including at the C-Suite level. Having spent nearly a decade as in-house employment counsel for a multi-national, Fortune 50 company with responsibility for over 100,000 employees, Ms. Smigielski is in a unique position to recognize the challenges faced by our clients and is committed to achieving creative and cost-effective solutions.Ms. Smigielski partners with all levels of leadership to achieve complex business objectives, define, assess and control legal risk, and implement workplace policies and best practices. She routinely represents employers in State and Federal Courts, and she has appeared in courts across the United States in individual, class, collective and multi-district litigation as well as mediations and arbitrations. She has extensive experience with administrative agencies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Labor, Illinois Department of Human Rights, Chicago Commission on Human Relations and various other agencies nationwide.Ms. Smigielski has been on the cutting-edge of the defense of class action litigation brought against employers and others under the Illinois Biometric Information Protection Act (BIPA). She works closely with national insurance carriers and private clients for defense, compliance and mitigation of risk related to BIPA.Ms. Smigielski’s counseling practice involves partnering with clients on all aspects of the employee life cycle, including pre-employment screening, the application process, restrictive covenants, orientation, handbooks, policies, compensation programs, exemption analysis, leaves of absence, accommodations, crisis response/threat management, training, wage/hour audits, reductions-in-force, facility closures, termination counseling, separation agreements and responding to inquires from the media and regulatory officials.Her practice also involves unfair competition law, business-to-business disputes, gig-economy initiatives, executive agreements, non-disclosure agreements, non-competition agreements, non-solicitation agreements, professional services and independent contractor arrangements, mergers and acquisitions, asset purchase/sale agreements, and intellectual property matters such as the defense of trademarks.KATIE STENBERGPartner, Board of Directors WallerBanks, specialty lenders, healthcare companies, and indenture trustees trust Katie Stenberg for representation in financial transactions, corporate reorganizations, bankruptcy proceedings, and state and federal court litigation. Katie provides counsel to clients in a variety of industries – including healthcare, senior living, technology, manufacturing and logistics – regarding a wide range of matters, such as:Acquisition financingAsset-based lendingDebtor-in-possession financingReal Estate lendingCorporate restructurings and workouts, bankruptcy and commercial transactionsDefaulted bond issues, corporate trust administrationAcquisitions of distressed healthcare assets, buy and sell side, in and out bankruptcyCommercial litigation, federal court receivershipsKatie serves as a member of Waller’s Board of Directors and is the former leader of the firm’s Finance and Restructuring practice. During her tenure as Waller’s Finance and Restructuring practice leader, the firm served as counsel to indenture trustees in the two largest municipal bankruptcies in U.S. history – the City of Detroit and Jefferson County, Alabama.WILLIAM STOERIManaging PartnerDorsey & Whitney, LLPBill is a highly experienced litigation and trial lawyer and his practice covers general commercial litigation, with special expertise in the area of healthcare, and has included cases involving a wide variety of contract and tort claims, such as trade secrets, product liability, consumer fraud, class actions, ERISA, and medical malpractice. He has extensive experience before state and federal courts around the country and before national and international arbitration panels. Bill has tried over forty jury trials to verdict in federal and state courts.Bill is the Managing Partner of Dorsey & Whitney. He previously served on the Firm’s Management Committee as Partner-in-Charge of the Firm’s Global Trial Group. Before that he was a member of the Firm’s Policy Committee (Board of Directors) and was head of the Health Litigation Practice Group and Health Industry Group.MICHELE STUMPEPartnerTaylor EnglishMichele Stumpe is a seasoned litigator with both plaintiff and defense experience who is a trusted adviser to clients in the hospitality and retail industries. At Taylor English, Ms. Stumpe focuses her practice on premises liability, business litigation, hospitality and dram shop litigation, as well as alcohol licensing and consulting. Known as one of the top attorneys in Georgia for alcohol licensing and permits, Ms. Stumpe provides clients with a full range of services, including licensing compliance, training, policy implementation, risk management, and disciplinary and litigation representation.In addition to her hospitality practice, Ms. Stumpe represents individuals and corporations in general litigation matters. She works as a strategic partner to evaluate her clients’ policies, procedures and implementation to ensure they have best practices in place to minimize litigation risks. Ms. Stumpe provides consulting services for various trade associations in the hospitality industry, including the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA), Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA) and the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores (GACS). In 2002, she developed “The Responsible Alcohol Sales & Service” (RASS) workshops to educate owners and licensees on the legal obligations and responsibilities of serving alcohol to consumers. The program was so well received that many Georgia jurisdictions now require attendance as a prerequisite to obtaining an alcohol license.Business groups frequently ask Ms. Stumpe to speak on alcohol sales compliance and responsibility issues. She has been a featured speaker at trade associations, legal education and law enforcement seminars, and on consumer radio programs. Her work also has gained recognition from peers, and in 2013 she was awarded the Georgia Restaurant Association Chairman’s Award.MICHELE THATCHERGlobal Head of Employment Law and Human RightsPepsiCoMichele joined PepsiCo in 1998 as the Sr. Employment Law Counsel for Frito-Lay North America.? Created Center of Excellence for Employment Law to support Foods and Beverages and was promoted to Assistant General Counsel in 2003.? Promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer of FLNA in 2005 and remained in role until returning to law department in early 2012.? Currently serve as the SVP of Global Employment Law and Chief Human Rights.Prior to joining PepsiCo Michele was a partner in the Employment Law section of the Dallas office of Baker Botts specializing in litigation and labor relations.? Attended Texas A&M University for undergraduate degree in Accounting and Southern Methodist University Law School.Member of the Texas Bar Association, Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specializations.? Serve on Board of Directors for Prince of Peace Christian Academy School, The Storehouse Food Pantry and am a member of the Women of Tocqueville with United Way Dallas.MATTHEW R. THOMPSONVice PresidentCharles River AssociatesMatthew Thompson has worked extensively with attorneys and human resource professionals in analyzing labor-related issues, including employment discrimination and wage and hour violations. He specializes in the empirical analysis of the ways in which gender, age, race, and ethnic origin are related to employment practices, and he assists clients with the development and production of complex databases that are instrumental in analyzing wage and hour and other labor related issues.Dr. Thompson helps clients respond to Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program (OFCCP) audits and develop processes to proactively monitor employment decisions. In addition, he provides economic loss estimates for single plaintiff and class action cases, and has provided expert witness testimony in state and federal cases. Dr. Thompson has presented employment discrimination issues to attorneys and human resource professionals at seminars on the use of statistics in employment litigation and has been an invited speaker at Atlanta Bar Association and Jacksonville Industry Liaison Group conferences. Prior to joining CRA, he was a principal with ERS Group.ANNETTE TYMANPartnerSeyfarth ShawMs. Tyman is a partner in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.? She is the co-chair of the firm’s Organizational Strategy & Analytics Group and co-lead of the Pay Equity Group.? She is also a member of the firm’s Complex Discrimination Litigation practice group.Ms. Tyman’s primary focus is on providing strategic advice and counsel to employers in a wide range of employment matters, with an emphasis on pay equity, diversity and inclusion, and people analytics.? In this regard, Ms. Tyman co-leads a forward-thinking team who partner with employers to design and implement metrics for tracking, assessment and achievement of workforce objectives including effective talent acquisition and management, pay equity, diversity and inclusion, workforce restructuring, and other objectives where data can be leveraged to improve human capital management.Ms. Tyman also represents federal contractors on their obligations under Executive Order 11246 and related statutes and regulations.? She assists contractors in affirmative action compliance matters involving OFCCP proceedings, including compliance evaluations, and pre-audit review and analysis of general compliance obligations.? Her practice also includes representation of multi-state employers in a wide range of complex collective, class action and multi-plaintiff litigation brought under various federal and state statutes including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and state employment laws.Ms. Tyman has also contributed to written and oral testimony on proposed labor and employment legislation and regulations pending before the United States Senate, House of Representatives, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.? Ms. Tyman is a member of the Chicago Diversity Action Team, supports the firm’s National Diversity leadership and actively participates in pro bono and other community charitable activities.KENNETH WILLIAMSShareholderSegal McCambridge Singer Mahoney, LTDKen Williams is a shareholder in Segal McCambridge’s Michigan office where he concentrates his practice in the insurance coverage and premises liability arenas. His litigation work has included no-fault first and third party cases and uninsured and underinsured cases.Mr. Williams is also a participant, speaker and writer for the firm’s Technology & Cyber Risk Practice Group. He participates in consulting and research on current and upcoming industry trends, technology, standards, best practices, concepts and solutions for risk management and compliance. Mr. Williams is also available to serve as a consult in cyber risk management. His additional areas of expertise focus on insurance coverage and claim analysis for insurance carriers and private clientsJoining the firm as a lateral hire in 2017, Mr. Williams came to Segal McCambridge with career experience as a dedicated litigator. He has sophisticated familiarity trying cases in courtrooms across the state of Michigan with a marked history trying cases which resulted in defense verdicts. He also has litigated matters in Illinois and Florida. In addition to his notable trial work, Mr. Williams has significant experience at the appellate level, including post appellate-submission work which includes oral argument before the Michigan Court of Appeals. Mr. Williams has also served as firm managing attorney and lead trial counsel throughout his work as a trial attorney.KATHARINE WOLANYKManager Director Burford CapitalKatharine Wolanyk is a Managing Director at Burford Capital, where she leads the Chicago office as well as Burford’s IP business.? Ms. Wolanyk also serves as a director on the Board of Acacia Research Corporation.Ms. Wolanyk’s career spans the business, legal and engineering arenas, with a particular focus in intellectual property. She was named a World’s Leading IP Strategist by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) in 2015 through 2019, and writes and speaks frequently on intellectual property issues.Prior to joining Burford in 2015, Ms. Wolanyk was President, Chief Legal Officer and a Board member of Soverain Software, IP counsel to a publicly traded IT solutions firm, General Counsel of a managed hosting provider, Senior Vice President of corporate development at a publicly traded enterprise software company, a corporate attorney at Latham & Watkins LLP, and a systems engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company.Ms. Wolanyk earned her JD from the University of Chicago Law School, and a BS in engineering from Michigan State University. ................
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