Managing Director and Associate General Counsel for Global Research Bank of America Merrill Lynch Ray Abbott is Managing Director and Associate General Counsel for Global Research at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. His responsibilities include managing legal support for Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s global research business. He is also a member of the Legal Department’s Diversity and Inclusion Business Council. Mr. Abbott joined Merrill Lynch in as Investment Banking Counsel in New York and has since served as Global Markets & Investment Banking Counsel in London, Global Head of Research Compliance, Co-General Counsel for Merrill Lynch's GMI Group, and, immediately prior to his present role, as General Counsel and Global Head of Research Compliance. Before joining Merrill Lynch, Mr. Abbott was an Associate at Shearman & Sterling in New York, where he specialized in securities underwriting and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Abbott has a J.D. from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. |
Ilah Adkins |
Nicole Auerbach |
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Gretchen C. Bellamy
Chief Impact Officer ClassRebel Gretchen C. Bellamy is the Senior Director, Education, Operations and Initiatives in the University Office for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also the President & Consulting Director for Bellamy Management Consulting. Previously, Ms. Bellamy worked as a Senior Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategist in the Office of Global Culture, Diversity and Inclusion at Walmart Stores, Inc. Through her role, she worked to develop and support global culture, diversity, and inclusion strategies that transform and drive the company’s culture and that embed diversity and inclusion as integral components for supporting the company’s 2.2 million employees and business operations. Working collaboratively with executive leadership, she developed strategies related to measures and analytics, activating company culture evolution, and embedding the culture into the employee lifecycle. |
Bonita K. Black |
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Gabrielle Lyse Brown
Head of Diversity & Inclusion, EMEA Morgan Stanley Gabrielle Lyse Brown is an Executive Director on the Global Diversity and Inclusion team at Morgan Stanley where she serves as the Head of Diversity & Inclusion for EMEA. She joined the firm in 2018 and previously supported the Investment Management, Technology, Operations, Finance, Risk Management, Internal Audit, Legal/Compliance, and Corporate Services divisions. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Gabrielle served as the Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the New York City Bar where she led the Association’s efforts to enhance diversity in the legal profession across a broad range of internal and external constituents, including law firms, corporate legal departments, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. In this capacity, Gabrielle spearheaded the Association’s qualitative and quantitative research and developed individualized strategies to increase the retention and advancement of women and minority attorneys. She is a frequent speaker and trains organizations on data-driven initiatives, implicit bias, professional readiness, mentoring, networking, and developing diversity and inclusion “better practices.” She has spoken at the Practicing Law Institute (PLI), Bloomberg Big Law Diversity Summit, and ALM Legal Week and her work has been featured in publications including the New York Times, New York Law Journal, Bloomberg, Crain’s New York Business and Thomson Reuters. She is a recipient of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association George B. Vashon Innovator Award, the Metropolitan Black Bar Association Presidential Impact on Diversity Award, and the Asian American Bar Association of New York Women’s Leadership Award. Gabrielle served as the co-chair of the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) Fellows Board and was a 2014 Fellow. She is a member of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP) Advisory Board, the Diversity Lab Move the Needle (MTN) Fund Community Leaders Board, The National Association for Law Placement (NALP), the Oberlin College Alumni Council and served on the Executive Board of Directors of Practicing Attorneys for Law Students, Inc. (PALS). Additionally, she serves as a special advisor to the Pipeline to Practice Foundation and as a consultant to the New York Financial Services Diversity Group. |
Director and Associate General Counsel, Head of Patents, Licensing and Open Source Meta Jeremiah Chan is Head of Patents, Licensing and Open Source at Meta. He and his team are responsible for Meta’s worldwide patent portfolio, intellectual property transactions, open source software, and risk mitigation initiatives, as well as industry-wide efforts to promote greater diversity, equity and inclusion in innovation and the IP profession. Meta’s approach to patents and innovation is described in this blog post, and Jeremiah and his team have launched several industry-wide DEI initiatives, including the Diversity Pledge, ADAPT.legal, and the Patent Pipeline Program. Prior to joining Meta, Jeremiah led an international team at Google that was focused on patent portfolio strategy, operations and data science (featured in IAM Magazine, Issue 69, January/February 2015); and before Google, Jeremiah served as Head of IP for JDSU, a global supplier of broadband and optical solutions. Jeremiah started his career in private practice with the law firm of Fish & Neave, where he specialized in litigation, opinion work, and client counseling. He graduated from UC Berkeley with highest honors while working as a marketing assistant at the University of California Press, and he received his JD from Cornell Law School, where he also worked in its Legal Aid Clinic. Jeremiah is a member of the American Bar Association’s Task Force for diversity, equity and inclusion and previously served on the USPTO’s Patent Public Advisory Committee. He also serves as an advisory board member for the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law (law.scu.edu/hightech) and as chairman of the board for the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (www.baatc.org), a nonprofit organization that combats human trafficking in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. |
Ann H. Chen Ann Chen is Senior Director and Assistant General Counsel at TransUnion, overseeing legal matters in corporate litigation, employment, diversity, equity & inclusion, intellectual property, real estate, and tax. She has significant in-house experience advising global businesses, including in the financial services, healthcare, and consumer goods industries. She is a leader in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion, including previously leading the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion program for the in-house legal department of a Fortune 100 company, as a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow, and currently serving as an alumna advisor on the University of Michigan Law School’s Advisory Board on Race and Racism. She also proudly serves as an advisory board member for the Asian American Bar Association (Chicago), the Chinese American Bar Association (Chicago), and as a director on the Asian American Bar Association Law Foundation (Chicago), and the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic. Ann received her BA from Yale University and her JD from the University of Michigan Law School. She clerked for U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan in the Southern District of Florida (now on the 11th Circuit). The National Law Journal previously named Ann a "Top 40 Under 40 - Chicago's Rising Stars.” She is a recipient of the Chicago Bar Association’s Vanguard Award as an honoree of AABA Chicago. |
Partner Haynes and Boone LLP Tom Chen is a member of Haynes and Boone LLP’s Executive Committee and an experienced patent attorney who prides himself in being trusted and valued by his clients. Tom is dedicated to going above and beyond the standard attorney-client relationship by providing quality patent counsel and by taking the time to learn about the true business goals, strategies, and ambitions of his clients. Clients value Tom for his technical understanding and strategy with regard to their specific patent issues. Under Tom’s lead, the firm handles patent matters for start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. Tom plays a major role in not just expanding his client’s patent portfolio, but more importantly maximizing its value to his clients. He provides his opinion and analysis, at least weekly, on patent related matters for his clients and regularly works with a large number of inventors, as well as various in-house counsel. Tom’s experience is founded on multiple advanced degrees in electrical engineering and significant engineering work at Hughes Aircraft, covers a variety of technologies, including e-commerce, mobile payments, electrical circuits, semiconductor memories/processing, semiconductor equipment, fiber optic and wireless communications, televisions, mechanical devices, Internet-related applications, microprocessors and other computer architecture. Tom’s experience extends to patent litigation as well, including matters before the International Trade Commission and district courts. He has been involved in all phases of litigation, including discovery, depositions, expert reports and briefs. Tom has presented alongside key decision makers from his clients’ companies, which has helped Tom strengthen his deep understanding of his clients’ core values. Additionally, he has written on various intellectual property issues and risk management, Supreme Court patent decisions and issues before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Aside from Tom being a skilled and insightful intellectual property attorney and member of the firm’s board of directors, he is co-chair of Haynes and Boone's Attorney Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which focuses on advancing the hiring, retention and promotion of diverse lawyers within the firm. Tom advocates the importance and necessity of a diverse law firm and truly strives to make Haynes and Boone a leader in law firm diversity. Tom is also a member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association where he attends events and contributes to meaningful initiatives. Tom has long been recognized for his accomplishments in patent law and DEI, including having been selected by the Daily Journal, Daily Journal Corporation, as one of the 2016 Top 100 Lawyers in California, and more recently, as “The Lawyer of the Year” in Patent Law in Orange County by The Best Lawyers America, Woodward/White, Inc., 2024. Tom was also listed in Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, Globe White Page Ltd, 2018-2023. Tom was recognized in Managing Intellectual Property Magazine, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, as an IP Star in 2019-2023. He was also named in the Lawyers of Color’s inaugural “Nation’s Best” list which recognizes 100 firm partners and senior-level corporate counsel for noteworthy accomplishments and their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. |
Partner Kirkland & Ellis LLP He represents corporate clients in a wide range of complex litigation practice areas, from products liability and antitrust to patent and other types of intellectual property matters. Super Lawyers honored him as a "Texas Rising Star" and the Dallas Business Journal named him to its "40 Under 40." Taj was previously chair of Winston & Strawn's Domestic ADR group, and before that served as principal in the Dallas office of another international firm and as law clerk to Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Prior to practicing law, Taj began his career in sports in the Management Council of the National Football League. Later, he worked as a consultant at ICG Commerce, an e-procurement consulting firm. |
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David L. Douglass |
Associate Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe Deena Dulgerian is a fierce advocate for both her corporate clients and all matters and interests related to her Armenian heritage. She is a seventh-year associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe’s Los Angeles office in the Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group. Her clients range from international construction companies, start-ups, real estate technology companies, and crypto investors. She has practiced in both state and federal courts across the country and in ICC arbitrations. She served as the co-chair for the firm’s Middle Eastern and North African affinity group and the Los Angeles office’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee for several years, and currently serves on the firm-wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. Her pro bono practice has consisted of asylum work and prisoner’s rights. She is a member of the Armenian Bar Association and an executive committee member of the Armenian Women’s Bar Association, where she has worked on issues related to the 2020 war in Artsakh, and local efforts in mentoring and staunchly supporting female Armenian attorneys. In her spare time, she is an avid skier and rock-climber, and although loves exploring her local community of Pasadena, is often traveling internationally. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in History, Spanish, and Classic Civilizations and received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Following law school, she clerked in the United States District Court, District of Nevada (Las Vegas). |
Barack Echols
Partner Kirkland & Ellis Barack Echols is a partner in Kirkland and Ellis’s Chicago office. Barack concentrates his practice in the areas of antitrust and complex commercial litigation, and has broad experience in class action defense, bankruptcy-related litigation, arbitration and government investigations regarding anticompetitive practices and consumer fraud. Barack has represented corporate clients in arbitration and in federal and state courts throughout the United States in price-fixing class actions, merger litigation, price-discrimination suits, consumer fraud matters and contract disputes. Barack has been recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business every year since 2014, with clients noting he is a "terrific lawyer" who is "making a name as a 'sharp' practitioner." He has been selected as an "Illinois Super Lawyer" in Antitrust by Super Lawyers magazine every year since 2013. Barack also was named one of Savoy Magazine's 2015 Most Influential Black Lawyers, a list of the "best of the best" of black partners within leading national law firms and counsel from Fortune 1000 corporations. In addition to serving on the IILP Advisory Board, Barack has served in numerous roles promoting diversity and inclusion. He is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Chicago Scholars; he is a 2013 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity; he has served as a Midwest Lead for the American Bar Association’s Judicial Intern Opportunity Program; he is a member of the planning board of the Diversity Scholarship Foundation; and, he is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Barack served as an enlisted active-duty soldier in United States Army Intelligence, and also produced a radio talk-show in Chicago. |
Community Manager, Employee Resource Groups Leslie Funk is a Community Manager, Employee Resource Groups at Google, based in New York. Originally from Massachusetts, her background is in mediation (practicing, presenting, and mentoring) and diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a particular focus on religious diversity in the workplace. Leslie serves as a mentor for Brooklyn Law School Mediation Clinic students and mediates through the New York Peace Institute. Prior to Google, Leslie worked at the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding and Community Mediation Services, two New York City-based nonprofits. She has previously served on the boards of the Association for Conflict Resolution of Greater New York (ACR GNY) and the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA). Leslie earned her JD from Hamline University School of Law and BA in Communications from the University of Connecticut. Outside of work, she loves taking walks with her dog Mini and enjoys baking and doing art. |
Nora E. Garrote Nora Garrote led the Intellectual Property Transactions Group at Venable, and served as the firm's national partner in charge of Diversity and Inclusion until her retirement in June 2022. Nora's expertise focuses on technology and intellectual property transactions and counseling, internet and new media law, technology transfers, and entertainment. For 30+ years, she has counseled clients in a variety of sourcing engagements, including those involving information technology procurement, cloud arrangements, data exploitation, outsourcing and IT services. She has represented clients in the information technology, social media, hospitality, health, energy, direct marketing, financial, and insurance services, and telecommunications sectors. Nora offers clients a combination of in-depth business law, technology, intellectual property, and commercial transactions knowledge that leads to practical and creative solutions to the client's needs regarding procurement, use, exploitation, and disposition of technology, data and other intangible assets. With deep familiarity of the full range of established and evolving technologies, she assists companies with comprehensive technology, intellectual property, and contracting matters. Nora's work includes:
As partner in charge of Diversity and Inclusion at Venable, Nora developed and implemented programs, outreach, and mentoring opportunities that foster equity and inclusion within the firm. She previously chaired Venable's Diversity and Inclusion Committee. |
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Joan Haratani |
Jason E. Hazlewood |
Erika A. James Erika A. James is an associate in the Litigation Department at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP where she specializes in white collar criminal defense and investigations. Her matters have included grand jury, regulatory and independent investigations, representing companies and individuals in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct, securities fraud, and anti-money laundering violations, among other areas. Erika also has experience in representing corporate directors and officers and companies in complex civil matters, involving antitrust aspects of mergers and acquisitions, whistleblower claims and securities fraud. Erika maintains a robust pro bono practice. She recently briefed and argued a criminal resentencing appeal before the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, and co-authored an amicus brief concerning federal gun possession laws before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Everytown for Gun Safety, which is the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization. Erika also has worked on a myriad of other pro bono matters, including immigration, contract disputes, criminal, and civil rights cases. In 2019, she received a Davis Polk Pro Bono Award for her outstanding work and dedication to pro bono services. Erika also engages in leadership at Davis Polk, including currently serving as a Steering Committee member of Davis Polk’s Black Affinity Group. She is also a 2019-2020 fellow of the New York City Bar’s Associate Leadership Institute (ALI). In 2015, Erika served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Susan G. Braden in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Law from Temple University, and a J.D. from the Howard University School of Law where she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Howard Law Journal. Prior to law school, Erika worked as a paralegal in the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau at the Office of the District Attorney, Bronx County. Outside of work, Erika serves on the Executive Leadership Team of C.O.O.L. Kids, Inc., a New York based not-for-profit organization that is committed to cultivating the next generation of socially conscious leaders in underserved communities by mobilizing young professionals of color. She also is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. |
Sylvia P. James |
Jeffrey Jamison |
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VP, Deputy General Counsel Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Erica oversees a broad range of legal advice and programs within the business. It includes legal advisor to the people team providing global labor and employment advice in over 60 countries, including, inclusion and diversity initiatives, pay equity, compensation, reorganizations and terminations. Creating and now overseeing the global ethics and compliance program. Work with business partners across the organization to assess legal risk as it relates to third parties, conflicts of interest, anti-bribery and corruption and all HR compliance-related matters. Oversight for all internal investigations. Create and conduct training on all aspects of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, e.g. anti-bribery, gifts and entertainment, conflicts of interest, insider trading, among others. Oversight of the intellectual property strategy and portfolio team who ensures IP is identified and protected and our corporate IP portfolio has maximum impact and value to the company. As claims arise, she also oversees global litigation, including IP, Employment, Commercial, Torts. Finally, she oversees the legal operations team within the legal department and is responsible for strategy to optimize the legal function for maximum impact to the business and efficiency within the team. Erica not only advises the company on important inclusion and diversity legal issues, but she’s a part of the cross-functional I&D team an ally and member of our Employee Networking Groups and a champion of creating the most inclusive environment for everyone to bring their best and most authentic self to work everyday. Before Palo Alto Networks, Erica worked in private practice for ten years. She started at a medium-sized insurance defense firm, then transitioned to Littler Mendelson for seven years representing employers in advice and litigation, leaving the firm to go in-house just after making partner! Erica grew up in Michigan and went to University of Michigan for undergraduate studies and ventured to California for law school at Santa Clara University School of Law. The sunny days were alluring, but the work and community of friends and professionals are what keeps her here….along with the sun! |
Sandra E. Langs
Human Resources and Professional Development Director Phillips Lytle LLP Sandra Langs is Human Resources and Professional Development Director at Phillips Lytle LLP. Ms. Langs is responsible for the firm's training programs, both practice-specific and firm-wide. She works closely with associates and their mentors to establish and achieve individual development goals. Ms. Langs coordinates recruiting on behalf of the firm and is responsible for overseeing the summer program. She is chair of the firm's Diversity Committee. Ms. Langs brings to the firm over 20 years of legal and management experience with New York City law firms as a commercial litigator and employment law specialist. She received her B.A. from Brown University and her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law where she was a member of the Law Review. |
Director, Competition & Litigation DoorDash Katherine Larkin-Wong is Director, Competition & Litigation at DoorDash. Before joining DoorDash, Katherine was Associate General Counsel for Competition & Regulatory at Meta Platforms, Inc. and practiced in the San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins LLP. She has dedicated a substantial amount of her time towards worthy organizations including the American Bar Association President’s Gender Equity Task Force and the Commission on Women in the Profession. She co-chairs the Commission on Women in the Profession’s Men in the Mix Project and was a founding Co-Chair of the Commission’s Grit Project. Katherine also sits on the board of the First District Appellate Project which manages the panel of attorneys serving indigent criminal defendants in California’s First District. Between 2011 and 2016, she served as President of Ms. JD, a national nonprofit that supports aspiring and early-career women lawyers. The organization, which began as a law school blog, now boasts a nationwide network of campus chapters, the largest readership of any blog of its kind, and an array of other programs including an international scholarship fund. In 2014, Ms. JD’s blog was inducted into the ABA Journal’s Blawg Hall of Fame as a leading source of information for aspiring and early career women lawyers. Katherine is a frequent speaker and writer on issues related to millennials, women law students, and young lawyers and has been featured in Forbes Woman, The Glass Hammer, The American Bar Association's Woman Advocate, The National Journal, AmLaw Daily, and Today’s Chicago Woman. She has been invited to speak at national conferences including the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting, The University of Texas Center for Women in the Law’s Women in Power Summit, Ark Group’s Women Legal and the National Association of Women Lawyers Annual Meeting. She was also an advisor to the winning team at the first Women in Law Hackathon, sponsored by Diversity Lab. |
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Deborah Lloyd |
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Director of Diversity & Engagement O'Melveny & Myers Bendita Cynthia Malakia is a global justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) executive and talent cultivation expert whose aim is to ensure that individuals that are underrepresented, underserved and underestimated can thrive in the workplace. She serves as the Director of Diversity & Engagement at O’Melveny & Myers and the Founder & C-Suite JEDI Consultant at Malakia Group. Bendita is a catalyst for underrepresented colleagues to be their authentic selves in the workplace and helps organizations structure for their success, including working across difference to create community – by building systems, inspiring investment, and fostering connections. With a people-centric, metrics-driven approach, Bendita also leverages her JEDI, leadership development, and executive coaching capabilities to help clients achieve their DEI ambitions. Bendita draws on her prior experiences as a chief diversity & inclusion officer, a large law firm lawyer financing projects in emerging markets, in-house counsel at two global financial institutions, and as a diversity consultant for large and mid-size organizations, and a certified professional coach to co-create change individually and institutionally. Bendita's thought leadership and advocacy extend to being a prolific writer and speaker on JEDI in the workplace, with specialized capabilities in intersectionality, women of color and LGBTQ+ issues. She is President-Elect of the National LGBTQ+ Bar, and contributes to the development of JEDI more broadly through initiatives bringing metrics and accountability globally. Bendita graduated from Harvard Law School, Barnard College and Cicero-North Syracuse High School. |
Sarretta C. McDonough
Associate General Counsel, Antitrust and Commercial Litigation Intel Corporation Sarretta McDonough is Associate General Counsel, Antitrust and Litigation, at Intel Corporation. Sarretta joined Intel in 2018 after practicing at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she represented multinational clients in litigation and regulatory competition matters around the globe. Global Competition Review recognized Sarretta in 2018 as one of the leading practitioners in competition and named her a "Future Leader" in 2017. Sarretta served as President of the National Association of Women Lawyers for 2018-2019 and continues to serve on its Advisory Committee and as NAWL’s representative to the ABA’s House of Delegates. She currently serves as an officer for the Antitrust Section of the International Bar Association, is a member of the ABA’s International Task Force, and is an advisor to the Antitrust Section of the California Lawyers Association. She is a member of the California Bar and a solicitor of England and Wales. |
Nerissa Coyle McGinn
Partner Loeb & Loeb LLP Nerissa Coyle McGinn’s practice focuses on matters involving the convergence of advertising and promotions, emerging media, technology, privacy and intellectual property law. She has particular experience advising on matters involving the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU). Nerissa works with many of the best-known brands in the country, including H&R Block and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. and its confection brands. Embracing a business-minded approach, she helps clients develop new brand assets and assists them in promoting and advertising their brands and products.Clients — including Turner Broadcasting and its programming properties, for which she handles trademark clearances for new shows, web properties, interstitials and sweepstakes — regularly turn to Nerissa for trademark counseling services. I try to anticipate issues and provide innovative, effective solutions expeditiously for my clients. In the advertising and promotions facet of her practice, she works with clients on sweepstakes review, copy review, and promotion design and fulfillment, with an emphasis on internet and interactive advertising and promotions. Her diverse roster of clients includes advertising agencies, large corporations, and professional sports teams including the New York Giants, the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Red Wings. Nerissa also provides legal services for digital companies and app developers, handling a variety of IP matters and privacy policies and practices relating to websites and mobile applications. As a thought leader in her industry, Nerissa frequently speaks at events and conferences. She also serves as the firm’s first chief diversity partner and co-chair of the Diversity Committee, overseeing and revamping diversity policies and initiatives. |
Luisa Menezes
Former VP & Associate General Counsel Regulatory Frameworks & Policy Philip Morris International Luisa Menezes served as VP & Associate General Counsel Regulatory Frameworks & Policy. She has previously served as the Vice-President and Associate General Counsel, Latin America & Canada, for Philip Morris International, Inc. since July 2010. Luisa joined Philip Morris International in December 1996 as Counsel for Tabaqueira S.A. in Portugal, when this company was acquired by Philip Morris International. Luisa was appointed Counsel for Philip Morris Europe in Switzerland in 1998 and, in 2001, returned to Portugal for three years as Senior Counsel for Tabaqueira S.A.. In 2005 Luisa was appointed Assistant General Counsel for Latin America & Canada and moved to New York, United States, and held this position through June 2010. Luisa’s in-house counsel experience spans a wide variety of legal matters, including among others, regulatory frameworks, consumer protection, human rights, marketing and advertising, merger & acquisitions, employment and collective bargaining, data protection and privacy, and competition law. Luisa holds a graduation degree in Law and a Post-Graduation in European Law from Universidade Católica, Lisbon. She has also attended several management and leadership courses, including Leadership programs at the IMD, and the Management Program for Lawyers at Yale School of Management. Luisa has served as Vice-Chair of the International Corporate Counsel Committee (ABA Section of International Law). Luisa is a member of the Advisory Board of The Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession |
Gillian Emmett Moldowan |
Partner Baker & McKenzie Robert Moore is a partner in the Firm's North America Tax Practice Group and the former managing partner of the Miami office. He focuses his practice mainly in the areas of international tax planning, supply chain tax management, reorganizations, funds formations, inbound real estate investment, and wealth management. He regularly advises U.S. and foreign-based multinational corporations and partnerships focused on luxury hotel, residences, and resorts, real estate development, and consumer goods and retail in luxury and fashion. He is Chambers rated in Chambers USA for Tax. Robert is actively focused on the Firm's inclusion and diversity efforts and is the Chair of the North America Diversity and Inclusions Committee, was a member of the North America Anti-Racism Taskforce, and was the past co-chair of the New York and Miami I&D Committee. In 2020, Robert led the team in establishing the North America Tax Practice Group's first annual tax mentorship program in partnership with the National Black Law Students Association. Robert received the Firm’s “Outstanding Pro Bono Volunteer Award” in 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for his work with numerous organizations and continues to be actively involved with several pro bono initiatives as part of his practice. In 2013, he was recognized as one of the Daily Business Review's "40 Under 40 Rising Stars" and was a finalist in the Daily Business Review's "Most Effective Lawyer" contest. |
Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel JPMorgan Chase & Co. At JPMorgan Chase, Nuris manages the Executive Office Legal Team, a team of lawyers and legal specialists empowered to respond to regulatory inquiries, mitigate media and litigation threats and create resolutions for escalated customer complaints. Nuris started her career at Chase in March 2011. She managed the Legal Review Team which conducted third party oversight activities for legal vendors. She also managed a legal team that provided regulatory change management support for the Consumer and the Asset & Wealth Management businesses. A graduate of Purdue University with a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law in 1997. Intern to U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlene Lindsey, in the District Court for the EDNY; Intern to Edgardo Ramos, in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the EDNY; and Judicial Clerk in the Superior Court, Essex County, NJ. Nuris is of Cuban descent, is fluent in Spanish and French, and is a certified wine educator. |
Jennifer M. Reddien
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Venable LLP Jennifer Reddien has spent much of her career pursing diversity and inclusion efforts. In addition to her background and personal experiences, Jennifer’s passion for equity makes her an effective and invaluable leader as Venable’s inaugural chief diversity and inclusion officer. Jennifer’s charge is to build upon Venable’s award-winning diversity initiatives by strategizing, elevating, implementing, and executing the firm’s diversity plan. She will closely monitor progress and hold the firm accountable for results. Jenn will also focus on education by training the firm’s attorneys on implicit bias and similar topics, as well as by speaking and serving on panels outside of the firm. Prior to joining Venable, Jennifer served as the director of diversity and inclusion at Haynes and Boone, a global law firm and one of the largest in the United States. Before that she served as the executive director of the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, a nonprofit organization that promotes racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession. Jennifer also spent many years as a litigation lawyer and served as co-chair of the Diversity Task Force at her previous law firm. Jennifer was recently appointed to serve on the advisory board for the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession. She was recognized in D CEO’s 2021 Dallas 500 Directory for her achievements as Haynes and Boones’ director of diversity and inclusion. And, in 2019, Jennifer was listed among Profiles in Diversity Journal’s list of Women Worth Watching. She is a member of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, Inc. and many other minority organizations. Following the racial protests that erupted in 2020, Jennifer was invited along with other thought leaders to take part in D CEO’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Impact Symposium. During her legal career, Jennifer was named an Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, from 2009 to 2014. Jennifer received a bachelor of arts from Duke University, a juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, and a master of business administration from the University of Notre Dame. |
Leslie Richards-Yellen |
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General Counsel JLL Technologies
Tarek Sultani is the General Counsel for JLL Technologies. Previously he was a lead counsel for Google supporting its Devices and Services division. Prior to Google, Mr. Sultani was Director - Senior Counsel at Motorola Mobility and the lead counsel for business development and commercial strategy. Before moving in-house, he was an Associate in the corporate groups at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, LLP and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. Tarek has advised public and private clients in a variety of U.S. and international transactions, including supply chain, sales, distribution, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, auctions, joint ventures, debt offerings, initial public offerings and other corporate matters across a variety of industries. Tarek was named a UK Young Dealmaker of the Year in 2011 by Mergermarket and Intralinks and was the first ever recipient of Google’s Devices & Services Values award in 2017. He is admitted to practice in New York and is a Registered In-House Counsel in California. Tarek Sultani is also a CFA charterholder, having earned his charter in 2007. He previously worked as a financial analyst for a government contractor supporting the FAA and as a mutual fund accountant for State Street Bank. He graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and received his Bachelor’s from Cornell University |
Mona Mehta Stone |
Assistant Corporation Counsel - Tax and Bankruptcy Division New York City Law Department Yasmean Tamoor is an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the New York City Law Department's Tax and Bankruptcy Division. Prior to this role, she worked as an A.C.C. in the Workers' Compensation Division. She is active in several bar associations, including the New York City Bar Association's Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Hispanic National Bar Association as Deputy Regional President for Region II, New York. In March of 2022, Yasmean was named to the National Association of Women Lawyers Rising List. The NAWL Rising List is made up of individuals advancing in their careers, helping others advance in their careers, and/or fighting to advance women under the law. This year, Yasmean joined New York County Lawyers Association's Young Lawyer Section as a C0-Chair, her first time serving as a Chair of a bar association committee. Working with young lawyers, law students and first generation legal professionals is a professional commitment of hers and she looks forward to co-chairing NYCLA's Young Lawyers' Section this upcoming year. In her leisure time, Yasmean is a supporter of performing and visual art institutions, including Lincoln Center, the Whitney Museum and the National Arts club in New York City. |
Derrick M. Thompson, Jr. |
Mark G. Tratos |
Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary Eli Lilly and Co. Crystal Williams is currently Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary at Eli Lilly and Company and has been with Eli Lilly for nearly eight years. In this role, she manages two of the five committees of the Eli Lilly’s Board of Directors and counsels the business and other support functions on disclosure requirements pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission. Prior to this role, Crystal was the Global Brand Counsel in Eli Lilly’s Bio-Medicines Business Unit, counseling the neuroscience and cardiovascular sales and marketing leadership responsible for establishing and carrying out U.S. and/or global brand and marketing strategies. Prior to working at Eli Lilly, Crystal worked at Barnes & Thornburg LLP in litigation, focusing on food and drug law and policy. Crystal received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University and her law degree from Duke University School of Law. Throughout her career she has been actively involved in several civic and professional organizations, including has been a board member for Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, Heritage Place, and Indiana Fair Chance. |
James H. Wooten, Jr.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (Ret.) Illinois Tool Works Inc. James H. Wooten, Jr. recently retired as the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Illinois Tool Works Inc., a Fortune 200 company with 16.2 billion dollars in revenues. James began his career with ITW in 1988 as a Senior Attorney providing legal counsel to the Company's decentralized business units around the world. He was elected to his current position in 2005 and is responsible for legal, environmental and safety, risk management and governmental affairs. James was born in Chicago, Illinois, May 31, 1948. He earned his B.A. from the University of Illinois (Chicago Circle), 1978 and his J.D. from the University of Chicago, 1982. He is admitted to the Illinois Bar, 1982. Previously he practiced with Gardner, Carton & Douglas: Associate, 1982-1987James is a Member, American and Chicago Bar Associations, Executive Leadership Council, Minority Corporate Counsel Association, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Junior Achievement. He is a Board member, Children Memorial Hospital, Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago, Congo Square Theatre Company, Window to the World Communications, Inc. (WWCI), University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). |
Melanie E. Younger
Associate General Counsel, Privacy Commerce Meta Melanie E. Younger is Associate General Counsel, Privacy Commerce at Meta. She has experience in marketing law, product development, compliance, procurement, and privacy. She has provided marketing counsel as well as legal counsel on products and features from concept to launch, ensuring that the products being developed are not only ushered into the marketplace expeditiously, but are legally compliant.Melanie received her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and received a Health Law certificate and was recognized as a Beazley Health Law Fellow. During her time before, during, and after her Juris Doctor candidacy, she participated in various programs (CLEO, JIOP, MSK/MBK and others) and sought mentors who helped orient, guide, and expose her to the legal profession as well as the many professional angles one could explore after completing her degree and passing the bar. After receiving and benefiting the love and labor of so many throughout my professional journey, I now see it as my duty to support and lead inclusion and diversity efforts for those in the pipeline. At my company I have joined the newly created Legal and Compliance Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging group where my intent is to expand access to more diverse outside counsel as well as improve my company’s processes with respect to attracting and retaining diverse talent. |
Michael D. Zeoli Michael joined IAT in 2019. Michael is responsible for the Litigation & Vendor Management team which includes management of panel counsel, nonpanel counsel utilization, audit services and processes and all claim vendor relationships and utilization. Responsibilities include oversight and management of: - Legal (panel and non-panel counsel) - Litigation related vendors - Nonlegal vendor relationships - Quality Assurance, Audit and ebilling processes - Utilization and supply chain management; provide strategic oversight of supply chain of service providers - Advancement of diversity and inclusiveness in litigation services supply chain - Engagement as advisor in dispute resolution and practices; overall strategy and on case-by-case basis - Financial and quality review and analysis - Advancement of operational efficiency and effectiveness in all aspects of the litigation and vendor management processes and resolution initiatives Prior to joining IAT, Michael held various roles at Chubb, including: - Vice President, Head of Litigation and Legal Vendor Management, North America - Assistant Vice President, Home Office Litigation Management Specialist - Assistant Vice President and Manager of the Litigation Cost Management Group. From 2001 to 2010, Michael held various roles at The Hartford including: - Regional Manager of Panel Counsel - Counsel - Trial Attorney He also held positions with Sentry Insurance as Trial Attorney and The Public Consulting Group, Inc. as a Case Director and Counsel. Michael earned his JD from Suffolk University Law School where in his 3rd year he participated in the prosecutor’s clinical program representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in criminal proceedings. Michael earned his MBA from Southern Connecticut State University and his BA in Economics from Albertus Magnus College, where he later served as an Adjunct Professor teaching Business Ethics, Business Law and Sports Law. Michael has been a speaker and faculty member on litigation management and claim topics. Michael is a Certified Litigation Management Professional (LMI – CLM designation), Certified Claims Professional in Casualty Claims (CLM designation) and a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). Michael is also a member of NAMWOLF’s Advisory Council (National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms) and IILP’s Advisory Board (The Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession). |