Biographies
Shaping Tomorrow: Accelerating Gender Equity Today
Grace Aduroja
Manager of Women’s Initiatives, Williams and Connolly LLP
Grace Aduroja is a Michigan native, facilitator and executive coach whose career has spanned multiple industries. After graduating from Wayne State University in Detroit, she began her career as the youngest reporter at the Chicago Tribune. For four years she worked as a journalist at the newspaper before heading to law school at the University of Michigan.
Upon graduation, Grace moved to Washington, D.C. to work as an associate at Williams & Connolly. After a stint working in crisis communications, Grace received her leadership and executive coaching certification from Georgetown University and now works as the Manager of Women's Initiatives at Williams & Connolly. In this role, Grace focuses on all things that empower women attorneys and staff to have fulfilling professional lives. This includes exploring ways to train, retain and recognize female talent across the firm. She also empowers private clients as an executive coach and facilitator of retreats and workshops, serving leaders in a large swath of industries. Full bio »
Danielle Allison
President & Chief Executive Officer at Ms. JD
Danielle Allison is Chief Executive Officer of Ms. JD. She is a graduate of Florida State University and Harvard Law School. Danielle clerked for then Chief Judge UW Clemon of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. She spent six years working in the litigation group at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP (now Eversheds Sutherland) in Atlanta, Georgia. Danielle was the founding chair of Sutherland’s "Women Stepping Up" philanthropy initiative, co-chair of the firm’s women attorneys’ group, and a member of the hiring committee. She is a former American Bar Association, Business Law Section Fellow (2013-2015) and a former member of the State Bar of Georgia Committee to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Profession; Leadership Atlanta, LEAD Atlanta Class of 2012; Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Destiny Fund Class of 2009; Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, Former Executive Board Member; and Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, Former Foundation Council Member. Danielle is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations (NCWBA) and as a Past President of the Junior League of Lee County, Alabama. Full bio »
Michelle Banks
Strategic Advisor and Coach, BarkerGilmore
Michelle Banks is a Strategic Advisor at BarkerGilmore, specializing in providing executive leadership coaching to women general counsels. She also delivers keynote speeches and leads strategic and professional development workshops. For ten years, Michelle was Executive Vice President, Global General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer of apparel retailer Gap Inc. (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta). Before joining Gap, she worked as legal counsel for the Golden State Warriors NBA team and in Tokyo as American counsel for Itochu Corporation. Her prior law firm practices with Sheppard Mullin and Morrison & Foerster in California and New York focused on corporate finance and international commercial transactions.
Michelle co-founded UCLA Law Women LEAD, a network of more than 4,500 women law students and alumnae from her alma mater supporting their leadership, empowerment, advancement, and distinction. She also co-founded Ms. JD’s award-winning LaddHer Up retreat, which pairs women general counsel with women law firm associates for inspiring professional development and mentorship. For three years, Michelle served as a Commissioner on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession and she has continued to support their gender equity initiatives since then.
Michelle has been recognized widely for her professional accomplishments and her dedication to enhancing the careers of others, including receiving the American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Woman Lawyer of Achievement Award. Michelle and 22 co-authors published a best-selling anthology, Women in Law Discovering the True Meaning of Success, available from Amazon, bookshop.org, and other booksellers. This book chronicles the career journeys of 23 women lawyers and is intended to inspire people to define their own pathways to success in their lives. Proceeds are donated to nonprofit Ms. JD. Full bio »
William Bay
Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP and President, American Bar Association
Full bio »Hon. Sharon Bowen
Chair of NYSE, Director of Intercontinental Exchange
Commissioner Sharon Bowen was the first African American to be appointed as Commissioner of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. She was sworn in on June 9, 2014 and served in the CFTC until 2017. Prior to her role in the CFTC, Commissioner Bowen was confirmed by the US Senate and appointed by President Obama to serve as Vice Chair and Acting Chair of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Previous to her work in the Obama administration, Commissioner Bowen had a renowned three-decade career in corporate and transactional law as an associate at Davis, Polk & Wardwell and later as associate and partner at Latham & Watkins. She currently serves on the Board of the Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) and certain of its affiliates, including as Chair of the New York Stock Exchange. She also sits on the Board of Neuberger Berman and serves on its Audit Committee, the Board of Akamai Technologies and serves on its Audit and ESG Committees and Chairs Bakkt Trust. She is a partner of Seneca Women, a global leadership platform dedicated to connecting and advancing women in the economy. She is also a recipient of the 2011 Diversity Trailblazer Award of the New York State Bar Association and was selected as the New York City Bar Association 2007 Diversity Champion and the Metropolitan Black Bar Association 2006 Lawyer of the Year. In 2022, she was inducted into the Futures Industry Association Hall of Fame. She is also the recipient of the 2022 Women in Derivatives Luminary Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023, Commissioner Bowen received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Northwestern University. Commissioner Bowen holds a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia and a JD-MBA from Northwestern University. Commissioner Bowen has also served as a former Executive Committee Member and Chair of the Law School Board. Full bio »
Alfreda Bradley-Coar
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & People Officer, Obama Foundation
Full bio »
Alpha Brady, JD '86
Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association
Alpha M. Brady is the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association. She is the executive staff leader of more than 1,000 staff in Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; Harlingen, TX; Houston, TX; and San Diego, CA; and is responsible for a budget of approximately $220 million, including significant grant funding and 501(c)(3) contributions. Ms. Brady works collaboratively with the Officers of Association to ensure implementation of the mission, goals and objectives of the ABA.
Prior to assuming the position of Interim Executive Director, Ms. Brady served as the Deputy Executive Director of the American Bar Association. She had executive management responsibilities for the Division of Policy and Planning Administration, the Division for Legal Services, the Center for Professional Responsibility, the Division for Bar Services, the Division for Public Education, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Office of the President and the Center for Innovation. These entities provide management, national leadership, legal policy development, and strategic planning for ABA entities and affiliates.
Before serving as the Deputy Executive Director, Ms. Brady was Senior Associate Executive Director and Chief Governance Officer. She has been with the Association since 1988, beginning her tenure with the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity, where she served as Associate Director.
Ms. Brady received her JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and her BS Degree in Business Administration and History from Elmhurst College. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois. Alpha Brady has also received an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Elmhurst University.
Alpha Brady is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Women Lawyers, the Association Forum, the American Society of Association Executives (“ASAE”) and the ASAE’s Key Professional Association Committee. She serves on the Law Board of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. She also serves as President of the Center for Re-Creation and Family Training, Inc. Full bio »
Paulette Brown
Former President of the American Bar Association
Paulette Brown is the first woman of color to lead the American Bar Association (ABA) as its president in its history. Brown also made history by simultaneously serving as the first person of color to Chair the Labor & Employment Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Brown is a past president of the National Bar Association (NBA), retired Partner and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at an AmLaw law firm, and a former judge in New Jersey. Brown is the co-author of three ground-breaking reports: “Visible Invisibility: Women of Color in Law Firms”; “Left Out and Left Behind: The Hurdles, Hassles and Heartaches of Achieving Long-Term Legal Careers for Women of Color”; and “Legal Careers of Parents and Caregivers.” Brown is a graduate of Howard University and Seton Hall University School of Law, where she has been honored with their alumni awards and has received numerous other awards and honors, including the Margaret Brent Woman of Achievement Award from the ABA and the C. Francis Stradford Award, the highest award conferred by the NBA. Full bio »
George Chen
Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
George Chen is a nationally recognized, award-winning intellectual property lawyer who litigates high-stakes intellectual property disputes and who also helps clients grow their patent and trademark portfolios. He serves on the global Board of Directors of the law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (BCLP), which is one of the world’s top 100 law firms, with over 30 offices and 1,300 lawyers worldwide. George also is the leader of the Intellectual Property Practice in the Phoenix office of BCLP.
George partners with long-term clients to develop, protect, litigate, and license patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He has been recognized by the Chambers and Partners as Band 1 for Intellectual Property in Arizona; Best Lawyers of America as the Intellectual Property Litigation “Lawyer of the Year”, the Patent Law "Lawyer of the Year", and the Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year”, all in Phoenix; IAM Patent 1000 as a “World’s Leading Patent Professional”; World Trademark Review as a "World's Leading Trademark Professional"; the State Bar of Arizona as the "Member of the Year"; and the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education as a “Top Pro Bono Attorney."
George has testified before a Congressional committee, has appeared in the media (including on NBC News), and is a co-inventor of 4 US patents. He served as a past President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), which represents the interests of more than 80,000 AANHPI lawyers and judges across the country.
George has served as a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates, which sets policy for the ABA, an organization that represents the interests of over 1.3 million lawyers and judges in the United States. George also is a Commissioner on the ABA Commission for Women in the Profession, where he co-chairs the Men in the Mix Committee. Full bio »
Karol Corbin-Walker
Partner, Kaufman Dolowich & Chair, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
Karol Corbin Walker is a partner at Kaufman Dolowich and Chair of the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession, focusing her law practice on commercial litigation, business and transactional litigation, labor and employment, toxic tort, and product liability matters. Her clients have included many Fortune 500 corporations, publicly and privately held corporations, financial institutions, entertainers, and insurance companies.
With her dedication to the law, community, and volunteerism, Ms. Walker has conquered many barriers to equality during her career. In 1995, she became the first African American woman to attain partner status at any major New Jersey law firm. In 2012, Ms. Walker became the first African American female President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, and in August 2020, she became the first person of color and first woman, to serve as Chair of New Jersey’s delegation of the American Bar Association’s Nominating Committee of its House of Delegates. Full bio »
Kelly McNamara Corley
Principal, The Red Bee Group
Full bio »
Kelley Cornish, JD '83
Partner, Selendy Gay PLLC
Full bio »
Maria Doughty
President and CEO, The Chicago Network & Commissioner, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
Full bio »Paula Edgar
CEO of PGE Consulting Group LLC & Commissioner, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
Paula T. Edgar, Esq. is the CEO of PGE Consulting Group LLC, an organizational strategy firm offering training and education at the intersection of professional development and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Paula is a sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator, delivering presentations for clients across industries. Additionally, Paula hosts the Branding Room Only podcast, dedicated to career stories, strategies, and lessons on building personal brands. She serves as a New York City Bar Board Officer, a Commissioner of the ABA's Commission on Women in the Profession, a Diversity Fellow for the ABA's Criminal Justice Section, a past President of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association (MBBA), and a founding Board Member of The Black BigLaw Pipeline, Inc.
As an attorney, Paula practiced employment and workplace discrimination law for the New York City Commission on Human Rights, with professional experiences in leadership roles focused on talent development and inclusion.
Paula has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Bloomberg Law, Essence Magazine, Shondaland, and Business Insider. Her impact has been recognized by several organizations, receiving the CUP 2023 Law Catalyst Award, the Outstanding Non-Traditional Career Award from the NBA's Women Lawyers Division, the Ruth Whitehead Whaley Service Award from the ABWA, and the Ms. JD "Woman of Inspiration" award. She has also been named a “40 Under Forty” honoree by the Network Journal Magazine and a “Rising Star” by A Better Chance. Paula holds a BA in Anthropology from California State University, Fullerton, and a JD from the City University of New York School of Law. Full bio »
Christine Evans, JD '03
Founder, Shared Roots Mediation & President, Evans Family Foundation
Christine is the founder and principal director of Shared Roots Mediation L3C. Christine is passionate about fostering positive connections and resolving conflicts through restorative and transformative justice approaches, with a particular focus on addressing sexual harm. With over two decades’ experience as a human rights attorney in Chicago and internationally, she draws from her knowledge of the criminal legal system, victims' and gender rights, and issues related to sexual harm to create processes for survivors seeking accountability and justice outside traditional legal systems. Beyond her restorative justice work, Christine also teaches gender rights as an adjunct professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and serves as the president and chief funding officer of the Evans Family Foundation, supporting Chicagoland non-profits. Christine holds a bachelor's degree from Boston University, a JD and LLM in International Human Rights from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and a graduate certification in Restorative Justice from Eastern Mennonite University. Full bio »
Ellen Kaye Fleishhacker
Co-Managing Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP
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Elisa Garcia
Principal, The Red Bee Group
Elisa D. Garcia is an accomplished corporate executive and attorney with more than 30 years of experience advising management and boards of directors on strategy, legal, business, structuring, activism, capital markets and government relations matters. Until October 2023, Ms. Garcia served as the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Macy’s, Inc. and as a member of Macy’s Enterprise Committee, which sets the overall strategic direction for the company. Ms. Garcia led the legal, government relations, compliance, internal audit, information security, enterprise risk management, business resiliency and data privacy functions. From 2007 to 2016, Ms. Garcia served as the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Office Depot, Inc.
Ms. Garcia served as the first general counsel for Domino’s Pizza and prepared the company for its IPO. She also led Philip Morris International’s Andean Pact, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean legal operations. She has worked as counsel to GAF Corp., a chemical and roofing manufacturer, and began her legal career with the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher in New York City. Prior to her career as an attorney, Ms. Garcia was an Energy Analyst working in-country with developing country governments and the US Agency for International Development. Ms. Garcia serves on the Board of Directors of Dollarama, Inc. (DOL:TSX), a leading Canadian value retailer with sales of more than $4 billion and more than 1,800 stores in Canada and Latin America. Ms. Garcia also serves on the Board of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession and the Board of DirectWomen, a non-profit that prepares women lawyers for service on corporate boards of directors. Full bio »
Faith Gay, JD '86
Founding Partner, Selendy Gay PLLC
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Tracey E. George
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education, Vanderbilt University
Tracey George serves as the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education at Vanderbilt University. George is also the Charles B. Cox III and Lucy D. Cox Family Chair in Law and Liberty and Professor of Law and Political Science. She examines empirically how institutional design influences actions and outcomes in state and federal judicial systems. Along with co-authors Mitu Gulati and Albert Yoon, she has brought a political economic lens to elite legal labor markets in work featured in the New York Times and other news outlets. She and Russell Korobkin have published an innovative casebook on contract law, a subject for which she has earned Vanderbilt's student-selected Hall-Hartman Award for Outstanding Teaching eight times. Full bio »
Nancy Gerrie, JD '90
Retired Partner and Co-Chair, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice, Winston & Strawn, LLP
Prior to her retirement in 2022, Nancy counseled clients on a variety of retirement plan and other employee benefit plan matters, including the design, amendment, administration and termination of pension, profit sharing, and 401(k) plans, and served as Co-Chair of the practice group at Winston & Strawn. Prior to joining Winston, Nancy was the managing partner of the McDermott Will & Emery Chicago office, and a founding member of the Chicago Women Managing Partner Roundtable. Nancy was recognized as a leader in the field of employee benefits and executive compensation by The Legal 500 United States and one of the "Best Lawyers in America" for 2013-2022. Nancy received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement award in Employee Benefits from the Plan Sponsor Council of America. Nancy is a strong advocate for advancing women in professional and business fields, and enjoys mentoring, training, retaining and encouraging women to excel in their chosen professions. Nancy is a member of the Law Board of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and serves on the Advisory Council on the school’s Gender Equity Initiative. Nancy is also on the board of the Chicago Bar Foundation, serving as its Treasurer, and is a Trustee of The Adler Planetarium in Chicago, serving on the Executive Committee of the Adler Board. Full bio »
Anna Gressel
Counsel, Paul Weiss LLP & Commissioner, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
Anna is deeply experienced in regulatory investigations, examinations and civil litigation related to digital technologies. She leverages her extensive knowledge of emerging regulations and industry best practices to counsel companies in implementing effective compliance, governance, and enterprise risk management policies and procedures to mitigate AI legal and regulatory risks. She has also represented global financial institutions and technology companies in challenging and complex regulatory inquiries and supervisory examinations concerning AI and data governance.
Anna regularly advises clients on the applicability of a broad range of laws and regulations to AI and emerging technologies, including the EU AI Act, Digital Services Act, Communications Decency Act, General Data Protection Regulation, Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Copyright Act, FTC Act, federal banking regulations, and state insurance, privacy and biometric privacy laws. She has advised major public companies, global financial institutions, insurers, technology companies, fintech companies, blockchain and DeFi companies, and private equity and venture capital firms.
Anna is an active thought leader and speaker on emerging issues related to AI and data regulation, enforcement and litigation. She is the co-founder of the Women in AI Law and Governance Network, and previously created and chaired a roundtable series in collaboration with the IEEE focused on delivering cutting-edge information on AI regulation and risk management to senior legal executives. She also actively participates in industry efforts to establish best practices in the areas of AI risk management, compliance and governance.
Anna is actively involved in the development of junior lawyers and particularly women lawyers. She currently serves as a commissioner on the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, and was previously a member of the board of directors of Ms. JD, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the success of women in law school and the legal profession. She also co-chairs the National Association of Women Lawyer’s Next Level Affinity Group.
Anna was awarded the senior prize in neuroscience while at Pomona College. Prior to attending Harvard Law School, she was the recipient of a Fulbright Research Fellowship to Morocco. She is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Full bio »
Donna Haddad, JD '95
Vice President, Associate General Counsel, IBM Corporation
Donna is currently Vice President, Associate General Counsel, with global responsibility for supporting IBM’s cloud business. Donna is also a Founding Board Member of IBM’s AI Ethics Board, and she led IBM’s Global Pro Bono Program for three years. From 2011 to 2014, Donna worked in Dubai on international assignment as Senior Regional Counsel, IBM Middle East, North and West Africa. Donna has over 25 years of experience in advising her senior business clients on various legal issues as well as more than 25 years of non-profit board service in a variety of leadership, advisory and committee roles. Donna has been involved in AI legal matters since the inception of IBM’s Watson AI business unit in 2014. Donna is a speaker on AI, AI Ethics, AI and the Law and the intersection of STEM and the Law. Donna holds a JD from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and a BA in Economics and Political Science from Northwestern University. Donna is a member of the Executive Committee of the Law Board at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, chair of the Law Board’s Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group, past president and current member of the Board of Directors of the Arab American Bar Association of Illinois and founding board member of the newly launched National Arab American Bar Association. She was recently awarded the Chicago Bar Association’s Vanguard Award, which honors individuals who have made the law and legal profession more accessible to and reflective of the community at large. Full bio »
Marie Oh Huber, JD '86
Board Member, Portland General Electric & Adevinta ASA
Marie Oh Huber is a public company independent director and Fortune 500 C-suite business and legal/public policy leader. She has more than 30 years of experience partnering with boards and executive teams of three global public companies as they executed on major corporate transformations. She is an independent director of Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) where she chairs the Nominating, Governance & Sustainability Committee and serves on the Compensation Committee.
She previously served on the board of European-based Adevinta (formerly ADE.OL), a digital classifieds company that was recently acquired in a $13 billion take-private transaction; the James Campbell Company LLC, a private national real estate company, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, where she chaired the CEO search committee and the nominating committee. She is a member of the University Council of Yale, an advisory group to the President appointed by the Yale Corporation, and the Northwestern Law Board.
Until recently, Marie was a public company GC at eBay (NASDAQ) and Agilent Technologies (NYSE), and served in senior roles at Hewlett-Packard Company. Marie led through major transformations of B2B, B2C and C2C businesses during major strategic, competitive and customer disruption: HP’s IPO & spin-off of Agilent Technologies (largest Silicon Valley tech IPO at the time); Agilent’s spin-off of Keysight, its IPO and spin-off of Verigy, Agilent’s sale of its semiconductor business (became Avago and later Broadcom), major M&A and transformation into a life sciences company; and eBay spinning off PayPal and selling its StubHub, Classifieds and Korea businesses.
She steered global enterprises through disruptive geopolitical, technology, regulatory and public policy developments. During her role as Chief Legal Officer of eBay for nine years, she led through transformative global M&A; two rounds of shareholder activism; Board, CEO and executive leader succession; complex financial transactions; crisis management; global restructurings; and litigation, union and employment matters. She navigated dynamic products liability, IP, data privacy, Gen AI, cybersecurity, sustainability, social/political, and risk management developments affecting consumer tech platforms operating at scale globally. Full bio »
Michelle Kallen
Partner, Steptoe LLP
Full bio »
Gabrielle Kohlmeier
Managing Associate General Counsel for Verizon Consumer Group & Commissioner, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
As Market General Counsel, Gabrielle leads legal teams supporting Verizon Consumer Markets across the United States. Her work involves leading the legal team on everything from consumer law, physical and cybersecurity, privacy, AI, regulatory, network, and legislative matters. She also leads numerous legal transformation projects.
Previously, Gabrielle was lead counsel for Verizon Consumer Omni-Channel Organization. Before that, she served as associate general counsel for antitrust and led the company’s FTC and competition policy strategy; counseled consumer, business, and media groups on all types of antitrust issues; created compliance programs; and represented the company before US and international competition agencies. Internally, she sits on Verizon’s Global Public Policy & Legal DE&I Council, and is part of the Verizon AI Policy cross-functional team.
Externally, she is a governing officer of the American Bar Association (ABA) Antitrust Section, member of the ABA House of Delegates; commissioner to the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession; and co-chair of the ABA Section AI Task Force. A relentlessly enthusiastic learner with a passion for creating sustainable leadership and inclusive equity, Gabrielle is a leader in various equity creating organizations; a VC Limited Partner in How Women Invest Fund; accredited in ESG Sustainable Accounting; holds a Masters in AI + Law; and is an EqualAI (Responsible AI) Badge holder. She co-hosts the Lifting Up podcast, and is a frequent speaker and writer on competition, technology, compliance, business, sustainability, transformation, and diversity issues. Full bio »
Roberta Liebenberg
Senior Partner at Fine, Kaplan and Black, RPC & Co-Chair of the ABA Presidential Initiative on Achieving Long-Term Careers for Women in Law
Roberta (“Bobbi”) Liebenberg is a senior partner at Fine, Kaplan and Black in Philadelphia, co-founder of DirectWomen, and a principal in The Red Bee Group, a women-owned consulting group that uses data-based strategies to attain DEI objectives. She has written and spoken extensively about many issues of importance to women lawyers, including co-authoring groundbreaking reports about the underrepresentation of women as lead counsel in lawsuits (“First Chairs at Trial: More Women Need Seats at the Table”); the attrition of experienced women lawyers from the profession (“Walking Out the Door: The Facts, Figures and Future of Experienced Women Lawyers in Private Practice”); the effect of the pandemic on women lawyers (“Practicing Law in the Pandemic and Moving Forward. The Results and Best Practices from a Nationwide Survey of the Legal Profession”); the effect of motherhood on the careers of women lawyers (“Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers: Results and Best Practices from a National Study of the Legal Profession”); and bullying in the legal profession (“Bullying in the Legal Profession: A Study of Illinois Lawyers' Experiences and Recommendations for Change.”). She has also served as chair of numerous organizations devoted to gender equality in the profession, including the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Women in the Profession, the ABA Gender Equity Task Force, the ABA Presidential Initiative on Achieving Long Term Careers for Women in Law, DirectWomen (the only organization devoted to increasing the number of women attorneys on corporate boards), the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations’ respective committees on women in the profession, and the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness. She was recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of “America’s Top 200 Lawyers,” and the National Law Journal named her as one of the “50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America.” She is a recipient of The American Lawyer’s Lifetime Achievement Award and received the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession. Full bio »
Hari Osofsky
Dean and Myra and James Bradwell Professor of Law, Professor of Environmental Culture (courtesy)
Professor Hari M. Osofsky is Dean and Myra and James Bradwell Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Professor of Environmental Policy and Culture (courtesy) at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. As Dean, her leadership focuses on advancing the innovation that is needed at this time of change in the legal profession and society. This has included ambitious faculty hiring, cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and teaching initiatives, and concrete action to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and social and racial justice. She also is very involved in mentorship and sponsorship to support greater diversity in law school and university leadership. The American Bar Association’s Legal Technology Resource Center recognized her as one of the 2019 Women of Legal-Tech.Prior to joining Northwestern University, Dean Osofsky served as dean of Penn State Law and the Penn State School of International Affairs and on the faculties of University of Minnesota Law School, Washington and Lee University School of Law, the University of Oregon School of Law, and Whittier Law School. Dean Osofsky received a PhD in geography from the University of Oregon and a JD from Yale Law School. Full bio »
Yvette Ostolaza
Chair, Management Committee, Sidley Austin LLP
Full bio »
Peter M Reyes, Jr.
Judge, Minnesota Court of Appeals
The Honorable Peter M. Reyes, Jr. is a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He previously served as a judicial law clerk, as an associate at Robins Kaplan, as a senior Intellectual Property lawyer at Cargill, Incorporated, and as a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP.
Judge Reyes has been active in numerous local, state, and national and international bar associations and nonprofit organizations. He served as president of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA), on the Board of Trustees for Mitchell-Hamline College of Law, and national president of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). Judge Reyes is active in the American Bar Association (ABA) as a member of the House of Delegates and as chair of the Judicial Division’s Ethics & Professionalism Committee. He has served on several commissions, including the Commission on Women in the Profession. Judge Reyes serves on the Board of the American Bar Foundation (ABF) and as chair of the ABF Fellows Research Advisory Council. He is currently president of the Executive Council for the Minnesota Historical Society and president of the US National Committee of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA).
Among his recognitions, Poder Magazine named him as one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics in America” in 2012 and 2013. Judge Reyes received the Ohtli Award in 2016, the highest award given out by the Mexican government to a non-Mexican citizen. He received the ABA 2024 “Honorable William D. Missouri Civility” Award, the HNBA 2023 “Lifetime Achievement” Award, the 2019 “MHBA Courage in Leadership Award,” and the 2019 ABA “Spirit of Excellence Award.”
Judge Reyes received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of St. Thomas and his law degree from Mitchell-Hamline College of Law, graduating with honors. Full bio »
Emma Rodriguez-Ayala
Executive Vice President Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Ariel Investments
Emma serves as Ariel’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and General Counsel as well as Board Secretary of Ariel Investments and Ariel Alternatives. In her role as CAO, she collaborates with the Co-CEO and President on the firm’s administrative and operational strategy and execution. Specifically, Emma helps oversee the administrative functions of legal, compliance, governance, investment operations, and technology, as well as risk oversight for all the firm’s entities, including Ariel Distributors, Ariel Investment Trust and Ariel’s private funds. Emma is a member of Ariel’s Operating Committee, among other governance roles. Prior to joining Ariel, she was the general counsel, chief compliance officer, and board secretary of LGIM America, a diversified asset manager with $220 billion under management, which included traditional and alternative strategies across managed accounts, mutual funds, private funds, and collective investment trusts. At LGIM America, she oversaw all operational risk, compliance, legal, and governance functions, was a member of the executive committee and chaired the firm-wide risk committee. Emma also previously served as general counsel at Mesirow Advanced Strategies—one of the largest alternatives fund-of-funds managers globally at the time—where she was a member of the executive committee and operating committee. Previously, she was a partner in the investment management practice of the law firm Faegre Drinker, advising across investment product types, primarily in active equity and alternative strategies, including private equity. She began her career at Sidley Austin LLP’s investment funds, products and derivatives group. Emma is an independent director of First Bank Chicago, one of the largest privately held banks in Chicagoland. She serves on the board of Chicago television station WTTW and the Chicago classical music station WFMT. Additionally, she is a founder and board member of Angeles Investors, a Latino-focused angel investing group and is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association. A native of Puerto Rico, Emma graduated summa cum laude with a BA in international business from Saint Louis University and earned her JD from the University of Chicago Law School. She is also qualified as a chief compliance officer by the Canadian Securities Institute and holds Diligent’s climate leadership certification. Full bio »
Stephanie Scharf
Partner, Scharf Banks Marmor LLC
Stephanie Scharf has practiced law for over 35 years, including as a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, a partner at Jenner & Block and, most recently, founding partner of Scharf Banks Marmor LLC, a nationally prominent women-owned law firm. She concentrates on litigation of complex commercial disputes, class action defense, product liability and mass tort defense, and employment disputes.
Stephanie is also founder of The Red Bee Group, LLC, an innovative consulting firm of former General Counsels, Managing Partners, and Corporate Executives, which advises businesses, not-for-profits and law firms on retaining and advancing professional talent, attributes of effective leadership, and strategies for growth and talent development.
Stephanie received a PhD in behavioral sciences and a JD from the University of Chicago. She has advised about and studied approaches to organizational change, the impact of policies and practices on business goals, strategies for effective leadership, and initiatives for growth and talent development. Stephanie also conducts innovative empirical research about legal careers. Her most recent reports (with co-author Roberta Liebenberg), include "Bullying in the Legal Profession" (2024); Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers (2023); "Where Does the Legal Profession Go from Here?" (2022); "Practicing Law in the Pandemic and Moving Forward" (2021); and "Walking Out the Door: the Fact, Figures and Future of Experienced Women Lawyers in Private Practice" (2019).
Stephanie has held leadership positions in national and not-for-profit organizations, including as current board member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Retirement Funds Program; Chair of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession; co-chair of the ABA Presidential Initiative on Achieving Long-Term Careers for Women in the Law; Board Member of DirectWomen; and President of the National Association of Women Lawyers. Full bio »
Michelle Speller-Thurman, JD '99
Divisional Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Licensing & Acquisitions, Abbott Laboratories
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Kalpana Srinivasan
Managing Partner, Susman Godfrey LLP
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Tina Tchen, JD '84
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Obama Foundation
Tina Tchen is an Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Impact Officer for the Obama Foundation. At the Foundation, she is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Foundation’s strategy. Tchen also oversees the Girls Opportunity Alliance, the Obama Foundation program that works to empower adolescent girls around the world through completing their education.
Tchen is an attorney, activist, and lifelong advocate for women and girls. She served in the Obama White House through both terms, and was an Assistant to President Barack Obama, Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, and Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls. At the White House, Tchen spearheaded the first-ever White House Summit on Working Families, helped form the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, and led the Administration’s effort to promote education for adolescent girls worldwide, including Mrs. Obama’s Let Girls Learn Initiative.
Prior to the White House, Tchen practiced law for 23 years at Skadden. At the firm, she was a corporate litigation partner, chaired the pro bono committee, and was a long time leader of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation. Full bio »
Richard Trobman, JD '91
Chair and Managing Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
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Kirsten Keegan Vasquez
Partner and Vice President, Law Firm Recruiting and Interim Legal Solutions, Major, Lindset & Africa
Kirsten is Partner & Vice President, Law Firm Lateral Recruiting, Interim Legal Talent, & MLA’s Hire an Esquire at the world’s largest and most award-winning legal search firm, Major, Lindsey & Africa. From her 18 years at MLA, she has deep experience in assisting law firms with the opening of new offices, helping law firms explore all available options for solving workforce and bandwidth challenges, and guiding elite partners, associates, and counsel through the myriad options available to them as they build their business and their professional legacies. Kirsten has also been tasked with innovating within the industry by growing MLA’s legal staffing footprint and by leading the acquisition of the industry’s first technology-driven, legal staffing organization. As a member of MLA’s Senior Leadership Team, Kirsten collaborates on development of MLA’s overall strategic plan and is directly responsible for the go-to-market strategies for the business lines she leads. Before joining Major, Lindsey & Africa, Kirsten practiced law (JD, University of Wisconsin-Madison) as a litigator and frequently served as court-appointed guardian ad litem for children in Family and Juvenile Criminal Courts across multiple Wisconsin counties. Full bio »
Miriam Vogel
CEO and President, EqualAI
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