Putting the “Fun” in Fund for Justice · The Fund for Justice awards thousands of dollars in grants to nonprofits dedicated to education, research, and programming for “at-risk”

The luncheon benefits Lawyers Club’s charitable foundation, the Fund for Justice. The title sponsor of this year luncheon is Shustak and Partners, P.C., a specialty law firm with offices in San Diego, Irvine, San Francisco and New York and a national practice focused on securities, corporate, and business law.

The Fund for Justice awards thousands of dollars in grants to nonprofits dedicated to education, research, and programming for “at-risk” women and children. “I have been impressed over the years by the good the FFJ does,” says Fund for Justice Committee co-chair, Stay Fode, a past Lawyers Club president and partner at Brown Law Group. “It donates critically needed funds for programs directed at women and children, such as promoting literacy among incarcerated mothers, preventing domestic violence, helping teen mothers find self-esteem, and counseling families going through the trauma of divorce.”

All in the community are invited to join in this much-anticipated celebration of the best manifestation of the holiday spirit—directed giving. As in the past, attendees will enjoy a holiday feast, learn more about the incredible work of the organizations supported by the Fund for Justice, meet the impressive scholarship recipients from the three local law schools, and experience

the joy of contributing to something larger than themselves while visiting with friends. “As long-time supporters of Lawyers Club, it is our honor to serve as the title sponsor for this year’s Holiday Luncheon, which benefits at-risk women and youth,” says Erwin J. Shustak, Esq., Managing Partner of Shustak & Partners, P.C.

Last year, the luncheon raised more than $17,000 for the Fund for Justice, with contributions from more than half of the approximately 320 attendees. While this level of generosity is amazing, since when do lawyers settle for less than everything? This year, the luncheon organizers, which include the Fund for Justice Committee and the Lawyers Club Special Projects Committee, hope to inspire 100% participation in their giving campaign. And not because of a compulsive desire to best last year’s numbers, but because the need to serve women and children in our local community is so great.

The Fund for Justice awards grants twice a year, and this year, in its Fall Cycle alone, more than fourteen organizations have sought over $75,000 in grants to shelter, educate, rehabilitate, counsel, and advocate for women ranging from teen mothers to indigent domestic violence survivors. Members of the Fund for Justice Committee have fully vetted the nonprofits seeking funds, reviewed grant applications, conducted site visits, and drafted funding recommendations for the Lawyers Club Board, which will be announced at the luncheon.

Upcoming Events:

The 26th Annual Women’s Resource Fair is just around the corner! See page 20.

Of Note:

Congratulations to Lawyers Club members who will take positions with the San Diego County Bar Association! See page 5.

Learn how you can be part of the Membership Initiative on page 14.

Past events:

For all the details on another successful Mentorship Luncheon, see page 8.

Lawyers Club and NAWJ came together to honor and mingle with local and international judiciary. See page 9.

December 2014

What’s Inside

Putting the “Fun” in Fund for JusticeBy Rupa Singh

The leaves have fallen off the trees. Christmas jingles are on the radio. And the smell of pumpkin spice lattes fills the air. At Lawyers Club, that can only mean one thing—the countdown is on to the legal community’s signature charitable fundraiser, the annual Holiday Luncheon!

What? When? Where?What: Lawyers Club’s Holiday Luncheon

When: Thursday, December 11, 2014; 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Where: Westin San Diego, 400 W Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101.

Cost: Members, $35; Non-members, $50; Students, $25; Pre-registration required.

RSVP: www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

Rupa Singh

Continued on page 12

http://www.lawyersclubsandiego.com

2 december 2014Lawyers Club News

Happy Holidays: Take a Deep Breath and Remember the See’sBy Patricia P. Hollenbeck

I think of the holidays as the perfect storm; a crazy combination of 36 hour days and huge amounts of sugar. Don’t get me wrong—I love this time of the year, but the craziness of it all feeds my over-the-top OCD tendencies. That is to say, I admit that I can get a little carried away because, between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, a lot is going on. There was a time when I tried to do it all. When the kids were small, I was a room–mom so I organized the holiday party; I’d place the order with Oriental Trading Company and we’d have a sugar-fueled craft bonanza. Add to this the [always challenging] family photo, multiple office parties, neighborhood events, handwritten holiday cards, baking, 300 trips to the mall, wrapping presents, various holiday contests, travel to see our families, and last but not least, work. Patricia P. Hollenbeck

I want to tell you a secret. It’s something everyone knows, but few people will actually admit: the holidays can be overwhelming, consuming, and exhausting. There’s a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen, called “The Emperor’s New Clothes” which I think is instructive. It’s the story of an emperor who only cares about wearing beautiful clothes, and two swindlers who promise to weave him a fabulous new suit in exchange for a large sum of money. The weavers weave nothing, telling all that the new clothes are invisible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. The townspeople play along. Ultimately, the emperor parades before his subjects in his new “clothes,” and a child who is too young to understand the pretense cries out, “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!” The holidays can be like that. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by your “to do” list rather than enjoying what makes this time of the year special.

I think of it as the Facebook fallacy—the idea that everyone is doing something important every second of the day, and if you aren’t, you’re not living life to the fullest. Like the townspeople, we can get distracted by what isn’t real, rather than what is. But I’m convinced that with a little patience, we can focus on what matters and make the holidays both manageable and meaningful. And I think the child in the fairy tale would tell us there’s no need to do it all, and that making your own wrapping paper using metallic paint and decoupage can wait until a year when you don’t have trial in December.

I have been reading articles about holiday pressures. Unexpectedly, I found a blog in Huff Post Parents, written by Kristen Howerton, who describes herself as “blogger, rage against the minivan.” Her article, “Can We Bring the Holidays Down a Notch?” literally made me laugh out loud because in it she rails against the hyper-craziness surrounding St. Patrick’s Day. She describes her oldest stumbling into the family room the evening before the holiday offering to hide the gold coins and make the leprechaun trap. Wait. The WHAT? She muses that when she was a kid she celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by wearing something green. THE END. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-howerton/can-we-bring-the-holidays_b_2903040.html

I remember the year my tendency to overcommit spun out of control. It was also the year I learned a lot about what matters to me. I was a young lawyer and our office participated in a holiday gift drive. I believe it was through the Salvation Army. The idea was that our office would “adopt” families, and buy gifts that we would drop off at

the collection center. The requests were heartbreaking. Kids asked for shoes, school supplies, and coats. I adopted a family and bought what was needed. I didn’t pay too much attention to the remaining requests until the deadline for purchases arrived and I realized that ten families hadn’t been adopted. I asked our gift coordinator what would happen, and he said we’d just “give them back.” Somewhere deep inside I felt my soul twist. I simply could not accept that families with so little would go without. So I took all ten requests and, in the middle of the work day, I headed to Target. I bought everything, for all ten families—I still remember how stoked I was to find a chemistry set. When I returned to the office, I ran into the coordinator. I remember what he said to me, “You realize that these families aren’t real, right?”

Okay, I admit it. It never entered my mind that the adopted families weren’t real, even though it makes perfect sense. Logistically, it would be impossible to gather and distribute gifts to specific families. I felt ridiculous. But at that point I was pretty committed to the cause; in for a penny, in for a pound. So I volunteered to take everything to the collection center, and that experience forever changed my holidays. The volunteers at the center were exuberant, and appreciative. And I knew that, even if my eleven [yes, 11] families weren’t “real,” the need was real and the gifts I’d worked so hard to buy would go to people who really needed help.

This month is our Holiday Luncheon, a festive event where we celebrate Lawyers Club’s Fund for Justice (“FFJ”) grant recipients, and seek donations from our members to benefit future grantees. The purpose of the Fund is to make charitable gifts in the name of Lawyers Club to organizations that benefit “at risk” women and children in our local San Diego community. The money we award is subject to a detailed review by the FFJ committee, and the Lawyers Club board of directors. We are so pleased to be able to support our community, and to give financial support to organizations and people who need our help.

As you evaluate your holiday season, and balance the demands on your time, I hope you will consider attending the luncheon and making a donation to FFJ. Have a wonderful holiday season. Find some time to catch your breath, and have at least one piece of See’s. You deserve it.

Patricia P. Hollenbeck, President of Lawyers Club, is a Partner at Duane Morris LLP.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-howerton/can-we-bring-the-holidays_b_2903040.html



Lawyers Club News 3www.lawyersclubsandiego.com

Victoria Fuller, a senior appellate attorney at Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP, received a Pro Bono Publico award from Casa Cornelia Law Center on October 16, for her representation of a man from El Salvador seeking political asylum due to persecution by members of the Salvadoran National Police. Fuller represented the man before the Board of Immigration Appeals, which affirmed a decision against her client, and currently represents him in proceedings before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, where the case is now pending.

40 Under 40Nicole Heeder, founder of Law & [M]

ocean plaintiff’s employment boutique firm, was awarded 40 Under 40 Awards by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine in October. Other winners included Angela Jae Chun, an associate with Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP; board member Deborah Dixon, a partner with Wingert Grebing Brubaker & Juskie; and board member Susan Swan, an attorney with Gruenberg Law. Heeder also recently was appointed chair of the Forum for Emerging Lawyers, the successor to the San Diego County Bar Association’s New Lawyer Division.

Latinos Making a DifferenceSeveral Lawyers Club members were

finalists for the 2014 Latinos Making a Difference Awards presented by San Diego Magazine in October. Finalists for the Inspirational Leader of the Year Award included Juanita Brooks, a principal with Fish & Richardson; Rachel Cano, a San Diego County deputy district attorney; and

Rafael Castellanos, a partner with Solomon Minton Cardinal Doyle & Smith LLP. Finalists for the Volunteer of the Year award included Ben Aguilar, principal of the Law Offices of Ben Aguilar; and Lawyers Club board member Renée Galente, founding partner of Galente Ganci, APC.

ElectedMonty McIntyre, a mediator with ADR

Services, Inc., is the 2014 President of the San Diego Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). McIntyre has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2012 and in Super Lawyers since 2007.

AppointedJerrilyn Malana, a shareholder with

Littler Mendelson, recently was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Bench-Bar Coalition in California. The coalition is coordinated through the Judicial Council and composed of judges and leaders of local and statewide bar associations and legal services organizations. It is designed to enhance communication, perform legislative outreach, and coordinate the activities of the judicial community within the state.

Jamie Quient and Robert Marasco were invited to become members of the San Diego County Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee, an invitation-only committee dedicated to upholding standards of ethics and professionalism in the San Diego legal community, which provides advice on proposed opinions, rules and legislation to the SDCBA Board. Quient, a Lawyers Club board member, and Marasco, are both attorneys at Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLP.

... spoken at a professional conference? ...changed jobs? ...won any recent awards? Don’t be shy about sharing your good news. Submit news of your own, or of your colleagues’ career

accomplishments – awards, promotions, job changes, board appointments, published articles, presentations, etc. to Jodi Cleesattle at [email protected]. The deadline for each issue of Lawyers Club News

is the first of the month prior to the month of publication.

Victoria Fuller

About Us

Lawyers Club Members Making NewsBy Jodi Cleesattle

HAVE YOU...

Nicole Heeder Juanita Brooks Rachel Cano

Rafael Castellanos Ben Aguilar

Renée Galente Monty McIntyre

Honored

Jerrilyn Malana Jamie Quient

Robbert Marasco

Continued on page 4


mailto:[email protected]


Lawyers Club of San Diego

701 B Street, Suite 224, San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 595-0650 phone(619) 595-0657 fax

[email protected]

PresidentPatricia Hollenbeck

Vice PresidentsDeborah DixonRenee GalenteJessica Jagir

Anna RomanskayaTamera Weisser

TreasurerJennifer Chang

SecretaryBhashini Weerasinghe

DirectorsAmanda AllenOlga Alvarez

Jennifer ChangEric Ganci

Shalini KediaJamie QuientSusan Swan

North County ChapterPresident:

Danielle Hultenius Moore

EditorTara (Jacobson) Duester

Associate EditorCarla Sanderson

Executive DirectorElaine Lawrence

Administrative Coordinator Vicky Frank

Lawyers Club News is published monthly 11 times a year, with a combined

July/August issue.

Lawyers Club welcomes contributions to the newsletter, as well as your comments

and suggestions regarding Lawyers Club News; contact Tara (Jacobson) Duester at Duester@

brownlawgroup.com and Carla Sanderson at [email protected]. The deadline

for articles is the 1st of the month prior to the month of publication. Articles should be

submitted in Microsoft Word.

The advertising deadline is the 8th of the month prior to the month of publication.

For advertising information, contact Elaine Lawrence at [email protected].

Lizzette Herrera Castellanos was selected in November to serve on the Hispanic National Bar Association’s 2014-15 Latina Commission. Herrera Castellanos, one of only 25 appointees to the commission, is associate director for public service and diversity at University of San Diego School of Law.

CertifiedLawyers Club board member

Olga Álvarez recently was certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law. She is co-owner and co-founder of Heisner Álvarez, APC, a La Jolla-based firm dedicated to estate and business counseling.

On the MoveTruc Do has joined Jones

Day’s business litigation practice as a partner. Do previously was a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, where she handled complex litigation, white-collar criminal defense and internal corporate investigations. Previously, she was a deputy district attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where she served in the major crimes division and hardcore gang division.

Genevieve Ruch has joined Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge as an associate attorney. Ruch is a 2012 graduate of University of San Diego School of Law and previously worked for a national law firm, focusing on legal issues

related to nationwide mortgage-backed securities class actions.

Best FirmsKirby Noonan Lance & Hoge,

a Lawyers Club 2014 Annual Trifecta Sponsor, was ranked one of the 2015 Best Law Firms for commercial litigation in San Diego by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. Larrabee Albi Coker LLP, headed by Lawyers Club members Fausta M. Albi and Diana Vellos Coker, was ranked First Tier in San Diego in immigration law

for 2015 in the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers rankings. The rankings are based on client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews, and review of additional information provided by law firms cover nearly 70 national practice areas and 137 metropolitan-based practice areas.

Jodi Cleesattle is a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice and Lawyers Club’s Press Liaison.

Lizzette Herrera Castellanos

Olga Álvarez Truc Do Genevieve Ruch

About UsContinued from page 3





Lawyers Club Members Take Several Positions with the San Diego County Bar AssociationBy Rebecca Church

Lawyers Club is pleased to announce that Jodi Cleesattle and Lilys McCoy, the two exceptional candidates that Lawyers Club endorsed for the San Diego County Bar Association (“SDCBA”) Board of Directors, were elected on November 14, to serve three-year terms.

These remarkable leaders of our legal community, add to the complement of Lawyers Club members who were elected to the SDCBA’s executive committees taking leadership roles in practice sections that coordinate many of the Bar’s MCLE programs including: Anne Perry, Patricia Wilson and Angelia Gates, at large members of the Animal Law Section; Victoria Fuller, chair, and Shay Dinata-Hanson, at large member of the Appellate Court Section; Abigail Stephenson, vice chair of the Business & Corporate Law Section; David Fox, chair of the Civil Litigation Section; Shannon Stein, vice chair, and Judy Bae Soon, at large member of the Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section; Teodora Purcell, chair of the Immigration Law Section; Cheryl Dunn Soto, chair, and Jamie Duitz

Quient and Bridget Moorhead, at large members of the Insurance/Bad Faith Law Section; Christina Tapia and Camille Gustafson, at large members of the Labor & Employment Law Section; and Roxanne Carter, at large member of the Law & Medicine Section and Military Law Section.

Each of these leaders of the SDCBA exemplify Lawyers Club’s mission “to advance the status of women in the law and in society.” Congratulations all.

Rebecca Church is an associate at Duane Morris LLP and co-chair of the Endorsements and Nominations Committee

30 Years Ago in Lawyers Club NewsBy George W. Brewster Jr.

The December 1984 edition of Lawyers Club News featured on its first page then-Lawyers Club Board Member Christina (Tina) Dyer. From 1983-1997, Dyer was the first woman to serve as general counsel for the San Diego Unified School District. She retired in 2007 from private practice, but remains active in Lawyers Club, including serving on the President’s Advisory Board.

The Lawyers Club Holiday Luncheon announcement sought canned food and clothing to donate to a battered women’s shelter, a charitable request that continues to this day. The 1984 luncheon, at the Cuyamaca Club, featured a panel tasked with forecasting the challenges and opportunities San Diego County women were likely to face in 1985. Panel members included Jenny Hawkins (chair, Commission on Status of Women), Shirley Kovar (President, Women in Business), Candy Romaine (President, Grow Network) and Evonne Schulz (Assistant to Mayor Roger Hedgecock). Cost was $11.75 for members.

This edition also announced the formation of the East County Chapter of Lawyers Club, with meetings to be held monthly at the El Cajon Courthouse. The chapter contact was Mary Sessom, who years later would be elected Mayor of Lemon Grove.

Members were asked to complete a questionnaire to be tabulated and discussed at a later Brown Bag seminar. The questions included: salary range (low was “Less than $20,000” to the high of “$51,000 and above”), whether your firm has a maternity leave policy, whether you believe that a female attorney who is raising children should bill

less hours than her counterparts in the same firm and whether female attorneys were being treated differently in your firm/company than male attorneys in the same or similar position.

An announcement for a comprehensive Family Law Practice Seminar involved familiar names: from the bench (in 1984) Tony Joseph, Bill Kennedy, Jim Malkus and Eliabeth Zumwalt. From the bar: Barbara Brown, Marshall Hockett, Lynne Lugar, Andrew Wagner, Marge Wagner and Christine Pate.

Members at that time numbered 347. The organization was still small enough to allow (without a flood of calls) the listing in the newsletter of direct phone numbers for all of the board members, officers and each of the committee chairs. While there were a growing number of men in the organization, the list of board members, officers and committee chairs in 1984 did not include any men.

George W. Brewster Jr., is a member of the Lawyers Club History & Archives Committee.



LC Ad v1.0 BW 1 8/22/14 4:51 PM


Legislative UpdateBy Rebecca Zipp and Rebecca Kanter

FederalThe Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA) is sponsored by Sen. Barbara

Mikulski, D-Md. It has 55 co-sponsors as of this writing. The act would amend the Equal Pay Act so that discrepancies in pay rates between men and women must be based on a bona fide factor such as experience or education. The act also prohibits retaliation against employees who ask about their employer’s wage policies or who tell others how much they are paid.

The bill enjoys the overwhelming support of a vast majority of Americans of all political stripes and all walks of life. However, the Senate was unable to vote on the Act when 40 Senators—39 Republicans and one Independent—blocked final consideration in September.

CaliforniaGovernor Brown signed into law numerous bills affecting the

lives, health and safety of women.

SB 1053 – Sponsored by State Senator Holly J. Mitchell, this bill was signed into law in late September. The bill requires that group or individual health plans are required to provide coverage for the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives. In the wake of the Hobby Lobby decision, this is guaranteed to be an impactful state law.

AB 1585 – Allows a victim of human trafficking who was convicted of solicitation or prostitution, but can prove that the conviction was the result of their status as a victim of human trafficking, to petition the court to set aside the conviction.

AB 1791 – Strengthens penalties for human trafficking crimes involving minors. (Drafted by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego)).

AB 1761 – Amends the California Welfare and Institutions Code to clarify that social workers can and should place children with relatives or non-related extended family members as quickly as possible, and that they can do so based on an initial assessment of the caregiver, their home, and a background check. The Children’s Law Center indicates that this bill will help keep more children out of foster care and with familiar loved ones, thereby reducing the trauma to the child and helping them to heal.

AB 2668 – Amends the California Welfare and Institutions Code to provide additional financial and parenting support for parenting foster youth between 18 and 21 years old (referred to as non-minor dependents or “NMDs”) who are living in Supervised Independent Living placements, such as an apartment or renting a room from a family friend. Specifically, AB 2668 will authorize the development of a “parenting support plan” between a parenting NMD and an identified responsible adult. Once the supportive adult is identified and agrees to the plan, the youth would receive additional foster care support in the amount of $200 per month.

Mid-Term Election Results: Impacts on Equal Pay and Equality

Sick Leave and Minimum Wage: Voters in Oakland passed Measure FF, which provides for workers in companies with more than 10 employees to be eligible for up to nine sick days per year (and, in smaller companies, up to five paid sick days per year.) This is more than the three paid days of sick leave required by state-wide California law passed in September. Oakland also voted to increase the minimum wage to $12.25 per hour. San Francisco voters passed Measure J, which also boosted its minimum wage to $15 per hour, putting it at the top of the pay scale in the nation, along with Seattle.

Equal Rights: Oregonians passed Measure 89 by approximately 63% of the vote, which adds an Equal Rights Amendment to the Oregon Constitution. The measure’s passage will amend Article I, Section 20 of the state constitution to guarantee that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the state of Oregon or by an political subdivision in this state on account of sex.”

Judicial Elections: Californians affirmed Kathleen O’Leary, Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeals Fourth District, Division Three. San Diegans selected Brad Weinreb, the Lawyers Club endorsed candidate, for a seat on the Superior Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court and ContraceptionThe U.S. Supreme Court put a hold on provisions of a Texas

law that threatened access to safe, legal abortions for tens of thousands of women. The order temporarily allows health centers that were forced to close earlier in the month to resume providing abortions. This order came in response to an October 2 Fifth Circuit decision that required Texas abortion providers to meet the standards of an ambulatory surgical center (“ASC,” a small-scale hospital).

Rebecca Zipp is a deputy district attorney and co-chairs the Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee of Lawyers Club. Rebecca Kanter is an attorney and a member of the Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee.



October Mentorship Luncheon: “The Power of a Mentor” By Melissa Bobrow

What is mentoring? How do you find a mentor? Do you need more than one mentor? What can a new lawyer hope to gain from being mentored by a more experienced practitioner?

The attendance and enthusiasm at the Mentorship Committee’s October 16 luncheon was proof that Lawyers Club’s members want answers to these important questions. Mentorship Committee Chairs, Cassandra Hearn and Sasha Kamfiroozie and their committee gathered members of the Lawyers Club Advisory Board and community leaders in San Diego to spend time talking to attendees about the importance of finding a mentor.

Lawyers Club President Patricia Hollenbeck opened the luncheon by describing her own experience as both mentee and mentor. She reminded the audience how critical the mentorship relationship is for young lawyers developing a career and their ties to the community.

The room was filled with the roars of discussion, laughter and pointed advice as the tables turned to discuss the topics at hand. An elite group of judges, community leaders, and experienced practitioners acted as table-leaders. Each table was provided discussion points to help facilitate the dialogue. The audience was captured by the table-leaders’ words of wisdom and anecdotal stories. Among the table-leaders, the Advisory Board shared their own experiences and thoughts about mentoring and finding a mentor. The attendees joined in the discussion to ask questions and seek guidance about how the best ways to find a mentor and develop the mentoring relationship.

The tables were well matched with attendees of varying levels of experience. The intimate setting gave attendees an opportunity to get to know and learn from the all participants at the table. Lily McCoy and Stacy Fode led one such table, whose table guests included Nadia Bermudez and Olga Alvarez. Law students at the same table agreed that it was great to gain a valuable perspective on mentorship.

Angela Jae Chun of Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP commented, “This was one of my favorite Lawyers Club lunches.”

George W. Brewster, an experienced attorney and table-leader, led a discussion about the generation gap. Specifically he asked: “Has technology influenced or changed mentoring?” and “What, if any, difference exists between how younger and older generations view the mentoring relationship?” Younger attorneys at the luncheon opined that technology, especially listservs, helped them answer questions in their practice; however, they recognize that the value of that experience falls short of that provided by true mentoring.

Attendees and their table-leaders discovered that “mentorship” means something different for everyone. However, all agreed that participation in a mentorship program is an invaluable resource and an indispensable part of professional development.

The Mentorship Committee, hoping to facilitate meaningful mentorship relationships, announced the return of the successful

Above: Hon. Katherine Bacal, Wendy Behan, Catherine Kow-alewski, and Angela Jae Chun

Left: Mentorship Committee Co-Chair Sasha Kamfiroozie

Affi Eghbaldari, Patricia Hollenbeck, and Harvey Berger

“Influence” program starting in January. The Influence program is a one year commitment where lawyers are matched and then placed in small groups to help facilitate and develop a mentoring relationship. Lawyers Club expects its newer and more experienced lawyers will continue to develop trusting and mutually respectful mentorship relationships through the program.

Lawyers Club would like to give a special thanks to members of the Advisory Board and other community leaders who were table-leaders: Hon. Karen Crawford, Hon. Katherine Bacal, Hon. Cynthia Bashant, Hon. Jill Burkhardt, Hon. Maureen Hallahan, Hon. Cindy Davis, Hon. Patricia Cowett, Hon. Anthony Joseph, Wendy M. Behan, Susan Hack, Johanna Schiavoni, Charles Bird, George Brewster, Jr., Christina Dyer, Lilys McCoy, and Stacy Fode.

Melissa Bobrow is the owner of The Law Offices of Melissa Bobrow and a member of the Lawyers Club Membership Committee.


Lawyers Club Members Mingle with Local and International JudgesBy Katie Conrad

On the evening of October 17, Lawyers Club, in conjunction with the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ), hosted the Fall Judicial Reception at the U.S. District Court Annex and Jury Assembly Room with over 240 attendees. The Reception has traditionally served as a way to honor the local judiciary and foster the relationship between the legal community and the judiciary by providing an opportunity to interact with judges outside the courtroom in an informal yet professional setting. This year, Lawyers Club invited NAWJ conference attendees in addition to our local judges and Lawyers Club members.

Lawyers Club Board Member Bhashini Weerasinghe remarked, “it felt extraordinary to have so many of the local judiciary, attorneys, and law students there to talk with each other and get unparalleled access to the national and international judges that were visiting San Diego.” “It was an amazing chance to mingle with the truly inspirational members of our profession,” Weerasinghe said.

According to India Jewell, Lawyers Club member and the co-chair of the Friends Committee of NAWJ Conference, “the Judicial Reception was a beautiful evening, in a perfect space. The judges and participants of the Conference were smiling, engaged and entertained.”

Attendees enjoyed local wine tastings provided by Gen 7 Wines, the title sponsor for the event, and sampled an array of hors d’oeuvres and appetizers catered by the Wild Thyme Company. The event was well attended by both San Diego local judges and NAWJ participants, including Federal Magistrate Judge Karen Crawford who remarked, “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting judges and lawyers from all over the world, and learning about the differences and similarities between our system of jurisprudence and theirs. Recognizing that the challenges many NAWJ [members] have faced and the successes they have achieved mirror those of our Lawyers Club membership was both unifying and amazing.”

In keeping with the mission of Lawyers Club, the event brought together international and local judiciary members and young lawyers in support of women in the law. Jerrilyn Malana, a Lawyers Club member and the Co-Chair of the Friends Committee of NAWJ Conference, stated, “it was great to see our legal community come together” and see the “San Diego legal community shine very brightly.”

Against the backdrop of a beautiful San Diego sunset, Lawyers Club President, Patricia Hollenbeck greeted those in attendance and expressed her appreciation for being the only San Diego legal association to have the honor of co-hosting an event with the NAWJ. “We are so thankful to NAWJ, to the federal court for allowing us to use their beautiful facilities and to our title sponsor, Gen7 Wines, as well as our other event sponsors.”

The success of the Fall Judicial Reception would not have been possible without the tremendous help of our event sponsors, which included Gen 7 Wines as Title Sponsor, Wild Thyme Company, Jones Day, Virginia Nelson, Galente Ganci, APC, Duane Morris LLP, Beatrice L. Snider, and Ashworth Blanchet Christenson & Kalemkiarian.

Katie Conrad is a Lawyers Club Ad Hoc Special Projects committee member and a recent graduate of California Western School of Law.

Tamera Weisser, Rachel Cano, Rebecca Zipp, and Hon. Joseph Brannigan

Hon. Matthew Braner, Hon. Esteban Hernandez, and Hon. Gary Kreep

Hon. Daniel Danielson, Hon. Laura Halgren, and Hon. Daniel Lamborn



Membership Development Committee Helping Lawyers Club Reach New Heights!By Jamie Quient and Megan Mazza

With the start of Lawyers Club’s new fiscal year, the Membership Development Committee has been hard at work spearheading membership renewal outreach efforts and implementing several exciting new initiatives. Lawyers Club’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 and with every new year, its membership starts at zero. Given this membership “reset,” the Membership Development Committee’s primary focus is encouraging existing Lawyers Club members to renew their membership.

Last year, Lawyers Club reached an all-time high of 1,281 members. This year, under the leadership of President Patricia Hollenbeck, the Membership Development Committee hopes to surpass last year’s membership record. The goal is 1,300 members or more, and the Committee needs your help to achieve it!

The 2014-2015 fiscal year is off to a great start, with membership numbers climbing daily. With the help of the Board of Directors, the Committee has been busy with personal outreach. The Membership Development Committee is also partnering with the Student Committee to conduct membership recruitment at all three local law schools, and is partnering with the North County Chapter to help grow our membership in North County.

You can also help with personal outreach! Now is a great time to check in on your friends and colleagues who may have let their Lawyers Club membership lapse, or who have never been a member.

The Membership Development Committee is also implementing several exciting initiatives to grow membership among specific demographics and engage new members to help them get involved and stay involved. Beginning this year, all new members will get a Lawyers Club welcome packet and a personal email from a Membership Committee member inviting them to upcoming events.

Making our new members feel welcome at our events is crucial to keeping our organization strong and growing. To foster this, the Committee will have at least two “Membership Ambassadors” at every Lawyers Club event to greet new members.

Finally, the Committee is launching “Quarterly Cups” – a quarterly coffee break for new members to come meet each other and learn more about Lawyers Club in a causal and informal setting. The Committee is also hosting “Back to Lawyers Club Night” a special event for our lapsed members to invite them back to Lawyers Club and let them know about all of the exciting things we have planned for the year.

If you want to help the Membership Development Committee with these and other initiatives, we invite you to join the Committee! Meetings are held downtown on the first Thursday of the month at 8:00 a.m. To join, simply go to your Member Profile on the Lawyers Club website and join the Membership Development Committee Group. Please contact Megan Mazza (Megan.Mazza@

GreshamSavage.com) or Jamie Quient ([email protected]) if you have any questions or would like more information about getting involved.

Megan Mazza is Senior Counsel at Gresham Savage Nolan & Tilden and co-chairs the Membership Development Committee. Jamie Quient is an associate at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, co-chairs the Membership Development Committee, and chairs the Human Trafficking Task Force.





Simply Wine & CheeSe

The exeCuTive

ORDER TODAY! P.O. Box 9230, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, 92067 • 844.436.7946 • gen7wines.com

Over 180 Years of Tradition

Send our custom gourmet gift baskets when only the VERY best will do.

Time To CelebraTe

The big boSS

Gift_Bskt_Ad.indd 1 11/14/14 9:26 AM



During this holiday season, Lawyers Club and Fund for Justice encourage all attendees to engage fully in this valuable philanthropic experience and make an unequivocal statement about their commitment to the underserved women and children in our community. If the Fund for Justice pitch to attendees at the luncheon were a MasterCard commercial, it would go something like this:

· Holiday feast in the company of friends and colleagues: $30+ · Tax-deductible donation to Fund for Justice: $50+ · Being an agent of social change and women’s empowerment:

Priceless

And the voice over in this hypothetical commercial might continue – “Lawyers Club, Fund For Justice, and You: Harnessing the Power of Directed Giving.” And that brings us back to having fun: “There is no better feeling than getting to share the news with worthy organizations dedicated to Lawyers Club’s mission that they will be receiving a FFJ grant,” says Fund for Justice Co-Chair, Michelle Ialeggio, a Deputy District Attorney and a former Lawyers Club Board member. “I feel like Santa and it never gets old!”

Rupa Singh is a staff attorney at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and a member of the Lawyers Club Fund for Justice Committee.

Putting the “Fun” in Fund for JusticeContinued from cover

350 10th Ave., Suite 1300, San Diego, CA 619-231-8666

www.knlh.com

Quality. Expertise. Solutions.

S T R O N G A D V O C A T E S

As a member of this community for nearly 40 years, we are proud to support the

Lawyers Club of San Diego and their mission of advancing the status of women in law and in society.

2013 Fund for Justice Grantees: Alexia Peters, Kim Kelly, Betty Mohlenbrock, Anna Romanskaya, Carmen Chavez, Teresa Gunn, Barbara Gross, Cindy Grossman, Johanna Schiavoni, Marisa Ugarte, and Amy Fitzpatrick

http://www.knlh.com


Fund for Justice Supports Local Charitable Organizations That Further the Mission of Lawyers Club By Michelle Ialeggio and Stacy Fode

The Fund for Justice is the charitable giving arm of Lawyers Club. FFJ (originally the Judith McConnell Foundation Fund) was established in 1997 to make charitable gifts in the name of Lawyers Club to local nonprofit organizations that address social issues and specific problems which relate to the mission of Lawyers Club. The FFJ Statement of Purpose provides for grants to organizations addressing, through education, research, funding and programming, the following:

· Domestic violence with emphasis on legal services for victims;

· Sexual discrimination and harassment;

· Gender bias in the legal profession and the courts;

· The unmet legal need of women and children;

· The mythology of gender stereotypes and misconceptions;

· Contemporary thinking about gender related issues;

· Programs for women and girls involved in the legal system;

· The disparate impact of public policy and legislation on women and children; and

· The disparate treatment of women by the San Diego legal system.

From time to time, the Board may adopt a strategic priority or issue, which the Fund for Justice should consider in both soliciting grant applications and recommending the award of the grants. Most recently, the Lawyers Club board has made human trafficking a strategic priority, developing a Human Trafficking Task Force led by board member Jamie Quint. The Task Force was the result of an initiative of the board of directors to build upon prior initiatives aimed at educating the San Diego legal community about human trafficking and its direct impact on the San Diego community.

In addition, the Fund shall be utilized, in appropriate charitable contexts, to facilitate volunteerism and community service by members of Lawyers Club, and to bring positive attention to the efforts of members, and lawyers in general, in service to their communities.

The FFJ Committee entertains Spring and Fall grants and meets periodically to review grant applications and recommend grants to the Lawyers Club Board. The committee members do an in depth site visit of each applicant, learning about the organization, pouring over financials to determine how best the fund’s money can be used. Each organization is vetted and scored after careful consideration. Over the years FFJ has awarded grants totaling over $200,000 to local organizations. One of the great benefits of donating to FFJ is you know that your money will be put to use and has gone through an in-depth vetting process of well over 30 people.

One recent recipient of its first grant from FFJ is Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego (BBBS). Their mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change children’s lives for the better. BBBS expects to serve at least 1,725 children in 2014. BBBS has developed a new program which is a great example of fitting with the mission of Lawyers Club’s strategic priority in human trafficking. With the help of Lawyers Club’s Fall 2014 Fund For Justice grant, the BBBS program

is launching an innovative program designed to prevent young girls at-risk of human trafficking and gang-led juvenile prostitution, from walking down that deleterious path. The program called Beyond School Walls, “Sister to Sister,” will bring at-risk middle school-aged girls into a corporate setting for one-to-one mentoring with a female professional plus a guided female-empowerment curriculum designed in collaboration with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office Task Force on Human Trafficking.

BBBS will use the funding from Lawyers Club to support at least 20 girls and their mentors, while also offering an on-site staff specialist to conduct sessions and laisse with the corporate hosts, mentors, school and girls while providing all transportation and field trip expenses. BBBS is first launching in Escondido, Mission Middle School and Del Dios Middle School and hopes to offer Beyond School Walls, “Sister to Sister” across the entire San Diego County. Each site will meet twice per month for one year.

By supporting FFJ, Lawyers Club members have an opportunity to improve the lives of women and children in our local community. Please consider making your donation today to support the mission of Lawyers Club and allow us to support more organizations such as Beyond School Walls.

Michelle Ialeggio is a Deputy District Attorney, past Lawyers Club board member and Vice President and current co-chair of Fund for Justice. Stacy Fode is a partner at Brown Legal Group, past Lawyers Club President and current co-chair of Fund for Justice.



get free mobile access to all your case documentson your iphone and ipad

Access all of your Case 24/7™ even

when you are out of the office.

• View all your case documents

• View your deposition calendar

• Find directions to your deposition

• View details and status of your invoices

• Contact our team

800.939.0080telephone

619.239.0206facsimile

kramm.comweb2224 third avenue, san diego, california 92101800.939.0080

telephone619.239.0206

facsimilekramm.com

web2224 third avenue, san diego, california 92101

call us to schedule your

next deposition and start using our new mobile

app to your advantage.

download

the free kramm app

from itunes today!


Lawyers Club Members Learn to Negotiate Their CareersBy Assly Sayyar

Ann marie Houghtailing challenged Lawyers Club members to take an active part in designing their careers, during the Professional Advancement Committee’s “Negotiating Your Career” event on October 23, hosted and sponsored by Hughes Marino. Houghtailing dared attendees to change their long held assumptions about the workplace in order to effectuate change in their legal career.

Houghtailing addressed a misconception that many women believe: “If I work hard and do a good job, I will be rewarded.” She explained this misbelief is a “non-strategy,” passive, and is unlikely to lead to advancement or positive change in one’s legal career. Instead of waiting to be noticed, be appreciated or simply remaining grateful to have a job, she outlined two critical skills every lawyer should learn and practice: (1) develop a book of business; and (2) negotiate and advocate on your own behalf to avoid what she called, ‘career choice contraction’ down the road. Using examples from her own successful career as an entrepreneur, speaker, mother, and writer, she then detailed the process by which Lawyers Club members can learn those valuable skills.

First, Houghtailing explained lawyers should dismantle and disrupt their beliefs and belief systems to eliminate “assumptions.” “Do not default to what you assume is the truth,” she warned. Do not assume things about your boss, your career, the possibility of a raise, of advancement, company policy, or the economy. Such assumptions stop lawyers from asking for what they want.

Second, she demonstrated anecdotally how preparation is key to entering into any negotiation, either for career advancement or building business. Doing one’s homework ahead of time to find out what the market will bear and what fact-based arguments support the ‘ask’ is critical. Self-advocacy and self-reliance are also critical. Preparing a communication plan can reduce the stress that may accompany the negotiation process, as it should provide an outline of specific clear points to address with an employer or prospective client. Part of the planning process should include preparing a response to anticipated objections an employer or prospective client might have to your ‘ask.’

“Do not have a conversation you aren’t prepared to have” Houghtailing warned. She peppered her advice with key language to utilize during any negotiation. “You’ve got to create a fact based case. Take the feelings out of the script.” Instead of demanding or claiming that you “feel” you are entitled to something, instead say “I want to be compensated accurately for my contributions.” She reminded attendees that ‘compensation’ can be much more than money: It can be help, a new opportunity, business, and/or feedback.

Third, Houghtailing offered many helpful tips on how to handle the negotiation process itself, including slowing down and refraining from responding to every comment and avoiding ‘why’ questions if the answer to the ‘ask’ is no. “Here is where I would like to be, what needs to occur for me to get there?” is the question lawyer’s should ask, rather than ‘why.’ A good communication plan includes several different ‘asks’ and always includes an alternative, should the negotiation fail.

Negotiation and asking is always nerve wracking, Houghtailing assured attendees. But, the bigger issue is how much women leave behind when they do not ask. Houghtailing challenged each and every Lawyers Club member at the event to determine, “what’s the biggest ask you never made?” Furthermore, “what was lost by never asking?” All of the attendees were able to ruminate on Houghtailing’s lasting questions and will be able to use the skills she addressed to continue to negotiate their own careers.

Lawyers Club’s Professional Advancement Committee thanks Star Hughes and Hughes Marino for their generous support of this event.

Assly Sayyar is the owner of Assly Sayyar, Attorney at Law, Inc. and a member of the Lawyers Club’s Professional Advancement Committee.

Attendees listen to Houghtailing’s motivating words



It was a Spooky Read-In!By Monica Sherman

On Halloween Day, superheroes, witches, cowboys, and pirates filled Central Elementary School’s library for Lawyers Club’s Annual Halloween Read-In. The bi-annual Read-In is a vibrant event sponsored by Lawyers Club’s Community Outreach Committee and has been organized by the committee’s co-chair, Michele Macosky, for the past eighteen years. Rachel Cano and the La Raza Lawyer’s Association volunteered again this year to recruit and place bilingual volunteer readers. Each year, the event brings costumed volunteer readers to classrooms to read and inspire students to never give up on their dreams. This year there were 68 volunteers including judges, lawyers, law students, legal professionals, city council members, friends and children of volunteers.

Central Elementary is a pre-kindergarten through 5th grade school located in City Heights. Its students are from some of the most economically impoverished areas in the San Diego Unified School District; eighty-five percent of students are English learners with non-English speakers in the home. Central Elementary’s mission is to focus on “creating conditions in which all children become actively literate.”

The Read-In is a part of Lawyers Club’s partnership in education with Central Elementary and its goal is to encourage the Central Elementary way, “Work Hard. Be Kind. Dream Big! No excuses.” The Read-In gives legal professionals the opportunity to interact with students, share their stories, and remind students that there are no limits on their dreams.

The event was kicked-off with an introduction by Central Elementary’s principal, Elizabeth Duvall. She thanked Lawyers Club and all the volunteers for the continued commitment to Central Elementary and said that the school and the children look forward to the event all year. Macosky thanked all volunteers and shared a moving story about a successful lawyer who had grown up in an impoverished neighborhood with little exposure to what opportunities were possible for her, “until one day, a lawyer volunteered as a reader in her classroom.” The reader told the students in her class that each one of them could do anything they dreamed of and more. “She knew then that there are no limits. Although she could never tell the reader this, he changed her life,” Macosky shared. The story was a poignant reminder of the value and impact of the hour spent at the school that day.

Readers were divided into 38 classrooms with at least one reader was assigned to each classroom. Some readers partnered to read to classrooms and even wore coordinating costumes such as peanut butter and jelly toast!

Councilmember David Alvarez read to a 4th grade bilingual room. Marisa Berumen from Councilmember Marti Emerald’s office read to a 5th grade class. Volunteers often bring books, pencils, stickers, and a variety of other exciting gifts to share with the kids in their classrooms. Tara Duester, a long-time Community Outreach Committee member commented, “for the past five years, I have read to a class of pre-k children. Their genuine delight in welcoming us to their classroom is always contagious. This year, we read Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School. In this book, Pete learns it’s not what you wear, but how you wear it that makes you cool. The kids were so excited that we donated the book to their classroom!” The highlight for Duester and her co-reader, Caroline Choi: the kids’ rendition of the Frozen theme song. “What a fun and rewarding way to give back!”

At the end of the event, readers had the opportunity to sign up for the Annual Spring Read-In at Central Elementary. Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact Macosky at [email protected].

Monica Sherman is an associate attorney at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy, LLP and is a member of Lawyers Club’s Community Outreach Committee.

Ellen Van Hoften and Carla Sanderson read to second gradersCommunity Outreach Committee members Amanda Thompson and Laura Pflugfelder


2014 Halloween Read-In VolunteersThank You For Your Support!

Ben AguilarCouncilmember David Alvarez

Christin BattMarisa Berumen

Sarah BootAlison Boutilier

Hon. Ruben BrooksLinda Brown*Rachel Cano

Elizabeth CarinoCaroline Choi

Christina CiceronTamatha Clemens

Pina ColamussiDerek DaileyMelodie DanJeremy DavisJustin Davis

Matthew Davis*Tara (Jacobson) Duester

Joseph Dunn*Jane Engelman

Lauren FyfeBree Garcia

Susan Gathman*Dana Grimes

*Jennifer HansenKelly Harrison

*Nicole HeederKristin Hogue

Carrie JohnsonRosanna Kendrick*Kate KowalewskiPauline LaBarge

Alisa Loigman*Michele Macosky

Hon. Margaret MannJoseph Martinez

Vicky MejiasNellie Melgarejo

Jennifer MendozaSusan Miller

Monique MyersRenee Lande O’Malley

Hayley PetersonLaura PflugfelderAlexandra Preece

Heather RileyAnne Rudolph

Carla SandersonJohanna SchiavoniDaniel Schmeichel

Renee SchorJunichi Semitsu

*Monica ShermanTracy Skaddan

Cheri SomervilleChristen Somerville

Nimra SuhailSilvia Tenorio

*Amanda ThompsonRachel Travis

Danielle ValloneEllen Van HoftenMichele Walbrett

Evan WillisFelicia Yearwood

* Members of the Community Outreach Committee

All the volunteers who read at Central Elementary

Evan Willis as Fred Flintstone

Readers went all out in their costumes for the children



It’s Easy to Change a Life of Someone Less Fortunate By Making a Small DonationBy Leslie J. Mackay

The 26th Annual Women’s Resource Fair brings together social services agencies, housing opportunities, medical services, legal advice, job training information, and other assistance to women in need. It provides these free services in one place, at one time, in a friendly and supportive environment, making it easy to take advantage of these essential services. This year’s Women’s Resource Fair will be held on February 28, and over 800 women and children are expected to participate.

The Women’s Resource Fair operates on a very tight budget, thanks to strong volunteer support. Each year, the Women’s Resource Fair is staffed with volunteers from the San Diego community, many of whom are Lawyers Club members. The Fair is entirely dependent upon the monetary support of individuals and law firms, grants, and partnering organizations. Donations made will go towards renting the facility, providing free transportation to some participants, insurance costs, providing necessary supplies, and other similar costs.

Donating online is easy. To donate online, visit www.wrfsandiego.org and click on the “Please Donate” red icon on the homepage. Select your donation amount and the program “Women’s Resource Fair”. Or you can send your donation via check made payable to San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. (SDVLP) and directed to:

San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc.707 Broadway, Ste. 1400

San Diego, CA 92101

Please note on the check that the donation is for the Women’s Resource Fair.

All donations large and small are appreciated and are tax-deductible. Donors will receive a tax acknowledgment letter from SDVLP. Individuals, offices, and organizations that donate $50.00 or more are recognized in the Daily Transcript and on SDVLP’s website. For more information about making a monetary donation to the Fair, please contact Elizabeth Balfour at [email protected], Cynthia Morgan at [email protected] or Karin Vogel at [email protected].

Leslie Mackay is a Staff Attorney at San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. and the Publicity Chair for the Women’s Resource Fair.

caseygerry.comSan Diego Office: 619-238-1811 North County Office: 760-743-8448

L E A D I N G T H E W A Y

FREDERICK SCHENK

Meet longtime CaseyGerry partner Frederick Schenk who,for more than 30 years, has been a national leader in asbestos

litigation. He concentrates his practice on serious personal injury and products liability — and brings a keen insight,

dedication and compassion to every case and client.

Call 800-292-5865 to arrange co-counsel or to refer a case.

http://www.wrfsandiego




December 2014 Wednesday, 12/3/14

Lawyers Club East County Chapter Holiday Judges Reception 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Avenue, El Cajon, CA, 92020Register online at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

Thursday, 12/11/14Lawyers Club Monthly Luncheon12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.The US GRANT Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA, 92101It’s time for Lawyers Club’s annual Holiday Luncheon!Registration online at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

January 2015 Thursday, 1/15/15

Lawyers Club Monthly Luncheon12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.The US GRANT Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA, 92101Save the date for Lawyers Club’s Reproductive Rights & Women’s Advocacy luncheon. Registration to open soon at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

Tuesday, 1/20/15Meet Martha Wyrsch, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Sempra Energy11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Sandwiches, salads, chips, sodas and cookies will be provided)Sempra Energy HQ Auditoriums 1, 2, and 3Registration to open soon at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

Thursday, 1/22/15North County Committee’s Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Location to be determined. Registration to open soon at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com

February 2015 Thursday, 2/5/15

Lawyers Club Mentorship Committee’s “Speed Mentoring: Perfect Your Elevator Pitch”5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.Bootlegger, 804 Market Street, San Diego, CA, 92101Registration to open soon at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

Thursday, 2/11/15Lawyers Club’s 3rd Annual Red White & Brew5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 92101Register at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

Thursday, 2/19/15Lawyers Club Monthly Luncheon12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.The US GRANT Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 Lawyers Club’s Annual Bench-Bar luncheonRegistration to open soon at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.Lawyers Club of San Diego is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider (Provider #1401). Phone (619) 595-0650. Email: [email protected].

www.lawyersclubsandiego.com 19

Lawyers Club of San Diego is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider. (619) 595-0650. Email: [email protected].

Lawyers Club Calendar of EventsInformation for your calendar. All dates subject to change. For latest information, contact Lawyers Club

at (619) 595-0650 or visit our website at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

A comprehensive listing of

2015 Sponsorship Opportunities is now available at

www.lawyersclubsandiego.com/?page=SupportHome













http://www.lawyersclubsandiego.com/?page=SupportHome



La Raza Lawyers Celebrates at Annual GalaBy Amy Lepine and Alara Chilton

The San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association (SDLRLA) celebrated its annual Scholarship and Awards Gala on September 27, installing new officers, awarding scholarship winners, and recognizing Lawyers Club members. Actor and community activist, Edward James Olmos acted as keynote speaker.

Lawyers Club board member, Renee Galente, a partner with Galente Ganci, APC, stepped down as SDLRLA President and passed the reigns to the newly elected President, Rodrigo Guevara. Galente has served on the SDLRA Board since 2011.

Before stepping down as President, Galente, proudly awarded the SDLRLA President’s Award to Lawyers Club member, Alara Chilton. The award recognized Chilton’s significant contributions to SDLRLA, including her coordination of SDLRLA community service projects, Project LEAD, a ten week educational program taught to fifth graders at a local elementary school, and Neighborhood Law School, a joint Program with the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association that offers educational law classes to the public at no cost.

The newly elected SDLRLA board of directors was sworn in and is comprised of several Lawyers Club members including Ben Aguilar, Eran Bermudez, Lizzette Herrera Castellanos, and Victor Torres.

SDLRLA awarded over $25,000 in scholarships to several law students. The San Diego La Raza Lawyers Scholarship Fund, established in 2008, is one of the largest local scholarship programs aimed at increasing diversity in the legal profession. Its President is Lawyers Club past President, Nadia Bermudez.

Amy Lepine is Principal of Lepine Law Group and Co-Chair of the Lawyers Club Awards Committee. Alara Chilton is Principal of the Law Office of Alara T. Chilton and is Co-chair of Lawyers Club Awards Committee.

Alara Chilton

“Welcome to Wonderland” Post-Bar Exam Thirsty Thursday Happy HourBy Ashley Peterson

The Networking Events Committee was thrilled to collaborate with the Student Committee to host the Second Annual “Welcome to Wonderland” post-bar exam happy hour at Vin De Syrah Spirit and Wine Parlor on September 4th. The goal of this event was to encourage networking between post-bar exam takers, students, and attorneys of all levels of experience. With Syrah’s “Alice in Wonderland” decor, this was a perfectly themed event for post-bar exam takers to embark on their journey “down the rabbit hole” while waiting for bar results and searching for a career path as a new attorney.

Networking Events Co-Chair Parisima Roshanzamir noted, “this was a special event connecting the young incoming generation with prominent members of our legal community.”

The happy hour had a fantastic turnout of post-bar takers, attorneys, and students. During the happy hour, attorneys and bar-takers could be heard swapping bar exam stories, commiserating and discussing

next steps. Experienced attorneys, including some of San Diego’s best trial attorneys, shared interview advice, contacts, and ideas for potential jobs with law students and post-bars.

New member and new attorney Monica Killian observed, “as a new attorney, it was great to see such an enthusiastic turnout. As an attorney looking for employment, everyone I spoke with was quick to give advice and offer to help with my job hunt, a great way to meet and connect in a relaxed atmosphere.”

Networking is the key to success in the San Diego legal community, and this event was a great way to introduce soon-to-be new attorneys to the art of networking and the benefits of Lawyers Club membership.

Ashley Peterson is a business and real estate transaction attorney at Peterson & Price, and a member of the Networking Events Committee.

Networking Committee co-chairs Parisima Roshanzamir and Susan Swan

Leah Grace Dawson and Marie Maloney Robert del Junco, Jr. and Efrem Lawrence


Member Profile: Tara (Jacobson) DuesterBy Lauren T. Ogata

Ready for a change and seeking to pursue her goal of becoming an attorney, Tara Duester moved to San Diego at the age of 25. Born in Colorado, Duester moved to Ohio as a young child where she graduated from Ohio University in Athens. Upon graduating, Duester lived and worked in Columbus, Ohio where she remained until her move to San Diego with her younger sister. Duester knew just one person in San Diego prior to moving here. However, her genuine personality and drive to succeed allowed her to quickly put down roots and establish lasting relationships.

Key in making those connections was attending law school at the University of San Diego. Law school was always in the plans for Duester. In fact, she remembers her mom telling her that she “knew [Duester] was a lawyer before [Duester] could talk.” Duester herself cannot pinpoint exactly where her desire to become a lawyer originated; perhaps it was because her mom worked in several law firms while Duester was growing up, but Duester remembers always thinking it was “cool that lawyers were so smart.”

Duester first heard about Lawyers Club while attending USD; she heard it was a great way to get to know the market and to

better understand the legal culture of San Diego. Upon joining, Duester discovered that Lawyers Club is all of those things and more. Seeking to give back to the community that embraced her, Duester joined the Community Outreach Committee, a committee that she is still part of today. One of the events that Duester particularly enjoys is the bi-annual Read-In. Participants of the Read-In read and donate books to children at local schools in the Spring and at Halloween.

Duester’s most recent accomplishment in Lawyers Club is her role as Editor of the monthly Lawyers Club News newsletter. She enjoys being able to engage in creative non-legal writing and being able to “have her finger on the pulse of everything Lawyers Club—past and present.”

Every month there are new events, a great way for new and veteran members to get and stay involved in Lawyers Club. Duester highly recommends joining a committee to make lasting friendships and establish a sense of community in San Diego. It is that sense of community that motivates Duester to continue her active membership in Lawyers Club year after year. “We’re doing wonderful things,” Duester comments. “We have so many newsworthy events and amazing

speakers. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor spoke at our Annual Dinner last year. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

As for the future, Duester hopes to continue to grow professionally at the Brown Law Group where she is an associate focusing on employment law and litigation. Duester also aspires to continue her active role in Lawyers Club with an eye toward gaining a seat on the Board. “Lawyers Club has given me people to look up to, to know that it’s possible,” comments Duester. It is that sense of belonging and community that Duester hopes to instill in others.

Lauren T. Ogata is a Deputy District Attorney for the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

What is your idea of perfect happiness? No obligations, a walk to the beach, sun, a dip in the ocean.

What is your greatest fear? Regret.

What is your greatest extravagance? Travel.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Punctuality.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Totally,” and “bite the bullet.”

What is your greatest regret? Not moving to San Diego sooner.

When and where were you happiest? Today.

What talent would you most like to have? The ability to rap.

What is your current state of mind? Peacefully tired after a productive week.

What is your greatest achievement? Moving my little sister and myself to San Diego with nothing, and thriving.

What is your most treasured possession? My engagement ring, but not for the actual value; my husband designed it as a complete surprise and without any input and it is so totally “me.”

Where would you most like to live? San Diego.

What is your most appreciated trait in friends? Integrity.

What is your idea of misery? Spinning my wheels.

For what fault have you the most toleration? Tardiness.

Abridged Proust Questionnaire.

Hon. Matthew Braner

Ms. Irene Choe

Ms. Ashley Cook

Ms. Elizabeth Donovan

Mrs. Amanda Guy

Ms. Elizabeth Iglesias

Ms. Desislava Kalcheva

Ms. Diana Khoury

Ms. Elizabeth Elaine Loter

Mr. Brian Mason

Ms. Natalia Wiktoria Nyczak

Ms. Vincenzina Pitruzzello

Ms. Debbie Richardson

Ms. Pamela Rivera

Ms. Kaitlin Shelby

Ms. Myrna Shofany

Mr. Ramesses Surban

Ms. Vanessa Talucad Lu

Ms. Sara Gabrielle Vakulskas

Ms. Asha Wilbun

Welcome New Lawyers Club Members



San Diego Daily Transcript Young Influentials—This award highlights young entrepreneurs and successful business leaders who are the next generation of Top Influentials, San Diego County’s young movers and shakers. Young Influentials must be 45 and under, currently reside in or be active in the San Diego County business community and made an impact in business, in the community, or specific industry. The person you suggest can be a market leader, an entrepreneur or rising star. For more information about this award, visit http://www.sddt.com/microsite/younginfluentials14/#.VFbm9YvF800.

California Bar President’s Pro-bono Service Awards—This award recognizes California attorneys, law firms and associations of California lawyers who have provided or enabled the direct provision of legal services to poor persons or organizations whose primary purpose is to provide legal services to the poor, free of charge, without expectation of compensation from the client, in the preceding calendar year. For more information about this award, visit www.calbar.ca.gov/AboutUs/Awards/PresidentsProBonoService.aspx#award categories.

The State Bar of California Diversity Awards—This award recognizes outstanding efforts made by a bar association, law firm, organization or attorney to promote diversity in the legal profession, in their organization or among their peers. For more information about this award, visit www.calbar.ca.gov/AboutUs/Awards/DiversityAwards.aspx .

California Bar Education Pipeline Award—This award recognizes outstanding efforts of law-related educational programs that train and support students who are interested in the judicial system and careers in the law. For more information about this award, visit www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/awards/2014_EducationPipelineAwardGuidelines.pdf.

National Diversity Council Most Powerful & Influential Women in California—This award recognizes women who: (1) Provide leadership excellence in the public and/ or private sectors; (2) Sustain a record of accomplishments and/or contributions to field of work throughout her career; (3) Has clout within her organization in terms of significant impact on revenues, profitability, and/ or direction of the organization; and (4) Demonstrates leadership and commitment to community well-being and/or high visibility in the community. For more information about this award, visit http://californiadiversitycouncil.org/what-we-do/recognition/most-powerful-influential-women-of-california/.

If you know of a Lawyers Club member deserving of these award nominations, please contact the Awards Committee [email protected].

As of the time this article was written, none of these awards listed the date nominations are due. For more information about these awards, see the links below.

Amy Lepine is Principal of Lepine Law Group and Co-Chair of the Lawyers Club Awards Committee. Alara Chilton is Principal of the Law Office of Alara T. Chilton and is Co-chair of the Lawyers Club Awards Committee.

Awards Corner

Call For Writers and PhotographersLawyers Club News needs writers and photographers and you can help! Looking for ways to get involved? Interested in finding new ways to promote yourself, your work and your firm? Email the Lawyers Club News editor, Tara M. Duester at [email protected] for more information and you could see your name in print!

Upcoming Awards!By Alara Chilton and Amy Lepine

The Lawyers Club Awards Committee is committed to facilitating the recognition of Lawyers Club members by nominating those who have made important contributions to the community, the legal profession, or who otherwise best fit the specific award criteria. The Committee would like your help in recognizing Lawyers Club members for their accomplishments. We are currently evaluating the following awards:

http://www.sddt.com/microsite/

http://www.calbar.ca.gov/AboutUs/Awards/

http://www.calbar.ca.gov/AboutUs/

http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/

http://californiadiversitycouncil.org/what-we-do/recognition/most-powerful-influential-women-of-california/






Lawyers Club Annual Supporters 2014

Lawyers Club News

Annual Benefactor + 2014 Annual Dinner Title Sponsor Hughes Marino

Annual Benefactor + 2014 Annual Dinner Platinum Sponsors Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt &

Penfield LLPDuane Morris LLPHeisner Alvarez, APCJones Day

Annual Benefactors Best Best & Krieger LLPCalifornia Western School of LawFish & Richardson PCFragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLPGomez Trial AttorneysKlinedinst PCLittler Mendelson PCProcopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLPRobbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLPUniversity of San Diego School of LawWilson Turner Kosmo LLP

Annual Trifecta + 2014 Annual Dinner Gold SponsorsFisher & Phillips LLPKnobbe, Martens, Olson and Bear, LLPMillenium SettlementsUnion Bank

Annual Trifecta SponsorsAllen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory

& Natsis LLPFoley & Lardner LLPHiggs Fletcher & Mack LLPJones Lang LaSalleKirby Noonan Lance & Hoge LLPLatham & Watkins LLP

Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo PC

San Diego Gas & ElectricShustak & Partners PCThomas Jefferson School of LawWingert Grebing Brubaker & Juskie

Annual Corporate SponsorsAptus Court ReportingDolan XitcoDTI GlobalEsquireInventus LLCKramm Reporting

PatronsMr. Marc Adelman

Ms. Ann Parode Dynes

Ms. Joan Friedenberg

Hon. Maureen F. Hallahan

Ms. Danielle Hickman

Ms. Patricia P. Hollenbeck

Hon. Evan Kirvin

Hon. Sharon Majors-Lewis

Hon. Judith McConnell

Hon. Paula Rosenstein

Ms. Tracy Skaddan

Sustaining MembersHon. Cynthia Aaron

Mr. Steve Allen

Ms. Kimberly Arouh

Ms. N. Denise Asher

Hon. Katherine A. Bacal

Hon. Jeffrey B. Barton

Hon. Cynthia Bashant

Ms. Wendy Behan

Mr. Harvey C. Berger

Hon. Laura Birkmeyer

Ms. Sharon Blanchet

Ms. Gayle M. Blatt

Ms. Sarah Ruth Boot

Hon. Jill L. Burkhardt

Mr. Guillermo Cabrera

Ms. Rachel Cano

Ms. Lesa Christenson

Ms. Linda Cianciolo

Ms. Jodi Cleesattle

Ms. Diana Vellos Coker

Ms. Judith Copeland

Hon. Patricia Cowett (Ret.)

Hon. Karen Shichman Crawford

Ms. Cynthia H. Cwik

Hon. Cindy D. Davis

Ms. Darragh Jean Davis

Mr. Ken H. Dillingham Jr.

Ms. Deborah Dixon

Hon. Bonnie M. Dumanis

Ms. Ann Crane Durham

Ms. Christina L. Dyer

Ms. Amber L. Eck

Ms. Elizabeth C. Eldridge

Ms. Jessica K. Fawver

Hon. Susan P. Finlay (Ret.)

Hon. Carol M. Frausto (Ret.)

Hon. Patricia Garcia

Hon. Irma E. Gonzalez (Ret.)

Ms. P. Camille Guerra

Ms. Kristin N Guthrie

Hon. Judith L. Haller

Ms. Cassandra Hearn

Ms. Karen P. Hewitt

Ms. Erika Hiramatsu

Hon. Marshall Y. Hockett

Mr. Lawrence A. Huerta

Mr. Richard Huver

Hon. Joan K. Irion

Hon. Carol Isackson

Ms. Angela Jae Chun

Ms. Jessica Jagir

Mr. Jay William Jeffcoat

Hon. Anthony C. Joseph (Ret.)

Ms. Sharon Kalemkiarian

Ms. Rebecca S. Kanter

Hon. Julia Craig Kelety

Mr. Gregory E. Knoll

Mr. James D. Koerber

Ms. Catherine J. Kowalewski

Ms. Janice Ingold Lau

Ms. Kathryn R. Maas

Ms. Michele M. Macosky

Hon. Barbara Major

Ms. Jerrilyn T. Malana

Hon. Margaret M. Mann

Ms. Lilys McCoy

Ms. Denise Elizabeth McGuire

Hon. M. Margaret McKeown

Hon. Pennie K McLaughlin

Ms. Julie S. Mebane

Ms. Michelle A. Mierzwa

Ms. Danielle Hultenius Moore

Ms. Sandra J. Morris

Mr. Ron H. Oberndorfer

Hon. Christine Vetter Pate (Ret.)

Ms. Anne Kristina Perry

Ms. Natalie Prescott

Ms. Jamie Quient

Ms. Carra Lassman Rhamy

Ms. Heather Sullivan Riley

Hon. Charles G. Rogers

Ms. Tracy Rogers

Mr. Robert C. Ryan

Hon. Janis Sammartino

Ms. Johanna S. Schiavoni

Ms. Elizabeth Schulman

Ms. Abby Silverman Weiss

Prof. Jacquelyn H. Slotkin

Ms. Beatrice L. Snider

Hon. Stephanie Sontag

Ms. Kelly J. Spoon

Mr. Todd F. Stevens

Ms. Kimberly Ann Marie Stewart

Hon. Ronald Styn

Ms. Susan Swan

Ms. Vickie E. Turner

Hon. Theodore Weathers

Ms. Claudette G. Wilson

Hon. Joel R. Wohlfeil

Hon. Margie Gunthardt Woods

Ms. Patricia L. Zlaket

We appreciate our annual sponsors and events sponsors! To learn more about sponsoring Lawyers Club, contact Elaine Lawrence at 619-595-0650 or [email protected]

President’s Circle Mr. Charles Bird

Ms. Betty Evans Boone

Ms. Candace Carroll

Mr. Ezekiel Cortez

Ms. Heather Humble Forward

Mr. Josh Gruenberg

Ms. Virginia Nelson

Hon. David Oberholtzer

Hon. Lynn Schenk

Ms. Tamera Weisser

Ms. Deborah Wolfe



24 december 2014

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 2325

SAN DIEGO, CA

Change Service Requested

701 B Street Suite 224 San Diego CA, 92101

619.234.0660501 West Broadway | Ste. 400 | San Diego | CA | 92101

DTIVisit us online at dtiglobal.com

Bay Mitchell, Esq.Regional Litigation Consultant

Mobile [email protected]

www.esquiresolutions.com

Emerald Plaza | 402 West Broadway | Suite 1600 | San Diego | CA | 92101

Sheila K WiseRegional Litigation Consultant

Mobile [email protected]

www.lawyersclubsandiego.com


http://www.esquiresolutions.com



Documents

Putting the “Fun” in Fund for Justice · The Fund for Justice awards thousands of dollars in grants to nonprofits dedicated to education, research, and programming for “at-risk”