Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Baker&Hostetler llp
For the tenth year, first-year associates traveled to Cleveland in late February for the four-day Associate Academy program, which was co-chaired by partners Greg Mersol and Elizabeth Smith. The Academy brought together 29 new associates from the Firm’s ten offices. From business etiquette and communication skills to client interviews and pre-trial preparation, the Associate Academy provided targeted training for the first-year attorneys, while giving them the opportunity to meet and network with peers from other offices.
Beginning with an overview of the program by Mersol, a partner in the Employment & Labor Group in Cleve-land, the associates also listened to opening remarks from Executive Partner Steve Kestner.
The program provided the opportunity for guidance on topics relative to all new associates, including career development, firm management and culture, effective legal negotiation, client communication, personal marketing, professional liability and communication skills.
One full day was spent focusing on training spe-cific to the Practice Groups. Business and Tax attorneys learned about due diligence and e-discovery. Members of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) worked with the Litigation and Em-ployment and Labor Groups and also provided training to the IP, Business and Tax associates.
During the busy week, there was time for socializing dur-ing dinners, at a wine tasting presentation, over cocktails at the Cleveland office and learning how poker can be the key to negotiation skills.
Spring 2009 — Volume 8 — Issue 4
LEAP
Tenth Annual Associate Academy Convenes in Cleveland
The 2009 Associate Academy Class
Baker&Hostetler llp
-2-
Francesca M. Ambrosio University of Michigan, New York office
The Associate Academy was perfectly organized to allow associates to interact and develop friendships that will benefit us for years to come.
While the days were full, there was just the right mix of work and fun to keep the program flowing and interest-ing. Our first event was a wine tasting which was both informative and a perfect way for everyone to interact and get to know one another.
The most valuable aspect, for me, was a commu-nication workshop. In law school, we all learned to write perfectly organized memos—laying out our key points upfront, recapping the issue to be ad-dressed, and then logically organizing the memo so it is easy for the reader. After I started working I realized that most partners prefer that you simply tell them what your research has revealed rather than drafting a memo.
I always struggled with formulating concise and coherent answers to the partners’ questions, but we learned how to structure our response in a manner very similar to a legal memo in order to effectively deliver the information we have gathered.
In the short term, I will benefit by having more confidence in my work product and my position in the Firm. In the future, I will benefit by having colleagues in practice areas throughout the Firm that I feel comfortable contacting when I need assistance. In addition, I gained valuable skills regarding negotiation strategy and communication with both clients and partners.
Reflections on Associate Academy
First-year associates were asked to comment on their experiences at Associate Academy—how it compared to their expectations, what they found most valuable, and how they see the training they received benefiting them, both now and in the future.
Joseph M. Esmont University of Virginia, Cleveland office
Associate Academy exceeded all my expectations. It was a lot of fun, well taught, and a great growth opportunity.
It helped me improve on im-portant skills, such as probing for information, and it helped make me more aware of what partners are looking for in my work product.
The hands on sessions, particularly the negotiating and client interview skills, were most valuable to me. Nothing teaches like experience.
Erin Murdock University of Texas, Cleveland office
When I heard about Associ-ate Academy, I had visions of listening to lectures like in law school. Instead, we were engaged in numer-ous activities which were extremely informational and applicable to our careers.
My favorite activity was learning poker, and taking that knowledge into our negotiation activities the next day. Not only were both of the activities extremely educational, but they were entertaining as well.
It was wonderful to meet the associates from other Baker Hostetler offices, and the Firm provided us plenty of opportunities to interact at the Academy as well as informally in the evenings.
LEAP
-3-
I found the NITA session the most valuable. Learning how to interview and interact with a reluctant client is something which will be extremely beneficial throughout my career. Observing the tactics of the other associ-ates was very helpful in learning which strategies would work best for me, and which aspects of my interviewing skills needed to be strengthened.
Associate Academy enabled me to interact with all of the other associates who came to the Firm the same year as I did. Knowing at least one other person in every Baker Hostetler office is a great help when working on projects across offices.
Law School Support
Baker Hostetler has a long tradition of supporting the law schools of our partners. For more than forty years, our Founders Trust program has made donations to the law schools of partners who are practicing with the Firm when they reach 60 years of age. In addition, the Firm has endowed chairs at six law schools. Combined, this support of law schools totals nearly $20 million.
Baker&Hostetler llp
-4-
Strong Start in 2009
During the first quarter of ‘09, Baker Hostetler:
• Continued to recover funds for victims of Bernard Madoff as court appointed Trustee and Counsel to the Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard Madoff Investment Securities, LLC.
• Co-sponsored the 20th Annual Legislative and Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C.
• Launched an alumni website.
• Was named “Best Branded Legal Website” in the ABA Journal.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (left) with The Honorable Mike Oxley.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
Baker Hostetler alumni website.
Alumni websiteBaker Hostetler launched the Baker Hostetler alumni network, “Staying Connected.” The website provides alumni with helpful networking, com-munication and career resource tools, including the ability to interact with other alumni and current Baker Hostetler attorneys.
Baker Hostetler’s websiteSeveral experts in Internet presence were asked to recommend websites they feel work well, and Burkey Belser, president of Greenfield/Belser, a professional services marketing firm based in Washington, D.C., selected Baker Hostetler’s web-site for its branding effort.
According to Belser, “It’s almost impossible to find law firm websites that effectively succeed in the all-important job of branding the firm—creating a distinct identity based on a promise of value that is different from any other . . . My job was to discover an exemplar of effective brand ing. I’m giving the nod to Baker Hostetler.”
Madoff LiquidationIrving Picard, David Sheehan and a number of Bak-er Hostetler lawyers in New York and throughout the Firm are active in the high profile Bernie Mad-off case, one of the largest securities fraud cases in history. Picard is the court appointed Trustee responsible for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC, and Baker Hostetler was appointed by the court to serve as counsel to Picard.
20th Annual Legislative and Policy SeminarThis year featured the most impressive list of speakers in the event’s history. Five Senators and seven Congressmen addressed clients and friends of the Firm on current issues that concern them including healthcare, the economy and tax policy.
LEAP
-5-
Diversity Committee Plans Recruiting, Hiring and Retention Initiatives
The Firm’s Diversity Committee met in March to plan a series of initiatives to continue to strengthen and expand diversity within Baker Hostetler.
The Committee, which consists of women and minority attorneys and members of the Firm’s management team, discussed recruiting, hiring, and retention plans for the remainder of 2009 and beyond.
Pictured front row, left to right— Scott E. Damon (ORL), Executive Partner R. Steven Kestner, S. Jeanine Conley (NY) and Shana Yates (CLE).
Pictured back row, left to right—Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr. (NY), Michele D. Pector (HOU), José C. Feliciano (CLE), Phong D. Nguyen (DC), Ronald S. Okada (CLE), Johnine P. Barnes (DC), Lisa H. Pennington (HOU), Gregory C. Ulmer (HOU) and Loura Alaverdi (LA).
Members not pictured: Hewitt B. Shaw (CLE), Monica S. Verma (CLE), Alec Wightman (COL), Joseph L. Chairez (CM), Maurice Sanchez (CM), A. Jeremy Atencio (DEN), William F. Kuntz, II (NY) and G. Thomas Ball (ORL).
Firm Unifies Lawyer Professional Development Programs
Outstanding professional development opportunities for our lawyers is a critical priority for the future of the Firm. This fall, committees and programs focusing on recruiting, training, diversity, lateral integration and pro bono have been integrated into one cohesive professional development program under the direction of the Professional Development Partner.
Ron Okada, who has been with Baker Hostetler for more than 23 years and has served two terms as a member of the Policy Committee, has been named to this newly created position. Ron currently serves as Firmwide Hiring Partner and Litigation Practice Group Coordinator for the Cleveland Office.
Ron will bring a long-term perspective to all of our lawyer development efforts begin-ning with associate recruiting and training, continuing through the initial years of partnership, and will also focus on lateral partner integration into the Firm. Finally, Ron will bring a firmwide perspective to our continu-ing efforts to increase diversity and perform meaningful pro bono work in all of our offices.
Baker&Hostetler llp
-6-
Women Leaders in the Law
The Washington Post Magazine recently featured a special section, “Washington, D.C.’s Women Leaders in the Law,” which included Baker Hostetler’s D.C. women lawyers.
At Baker Hostetler, the generation-spanning ranks of experienced attorneys more closely resemble a family than a firm, and for good rea-son. Through the firmwide initiatives addressed by the Women’s Committee, Baker Hostetler has attracted a core of women with a shared entre-preneurial spirit, cultivating relationships and mutual respect among attorneys at all levels.
Through the Firm’s stalwart efforts, half of Baker Hostetler’s new hires over the past eight years were women and minorities, all of whom enjoy healthy work/life balances, family-friendly atmospheres, and notoriously long tenures.
Swiss Invite Tom McDonald to Conference on Fragile Nations
Tom McDonald, who leads the Baker Hostetler Government Policy Practice and is the Hiring Partner in the Washington office, was recently invited by the Swiss government to participate in a conference in Geneva, Switzerland on the topic of “How to Assist Fragile Nation States / Democracies.” McDonald, who was also a panelist on the BBC’s World Debate Series in conjunction with the conference, was selected to participate in part based on his service as United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 1997-2001. He currently advises Multinationals on a variety of issues in various emerging markets throughout the world.
Tom McDonald (right), recently met with Bill Clin-ton at the Clinton’s residence in Washington, D.C. McDonald served as United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe during the Clinton Administration and subsequently worked with the Clinton Foundation on the HIV/AIDS problem in Africa and around the world.
LEAP
-7-
Firm Supports Rocky Mountain Black Law Students Association
The Firm's Denver and Cleveland offices participat-ed as sponsors of the Rocky Mountain Black Law Students Association (RMBLSA) Regional Conven-tion, "Mile High Aspirations: Scholarship, Service, and Success," held this past February in Denver.
RMBLSA is part of the National Black Law Students Association, the largest student run organization in the United States with over 6,000 members, which was formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuate change in the legal community. The Firm was the presenting sponsor of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition at the convention and was the sponsor of the Opening Reception at the event.
Attorneys from both Cleveland (Leah Williams and Shana Yates) and Denver (Larry Lee, Tina Amin, Casie Collignon and Laurin Quiat) acted as Judges for the Mock Trial Competition. Others from Den-ver (Rebecca Alexander, Paul Enockson and Holli Hartman) represented the Firm at the Opening Reception.
"This event, along with others in which the Firm participates, strengthens our diversity commitment throughout the country," said Quiat. "Not only were we able to give back to the community at this time, but we were able to use the event as a recruiting/networking opportunity, and to continue the Firm's search for high quality legal minds coming out of law school."
Rebecca Alexander (left) and Laurin Quiat (second from right), with representatives of the RMBLSA organizing committee at the firm-sponsored Opening Reception.
Baker Welcomes Fall Associates
Eight of Baker Hostetler’s offices welcomed new associates this fall. Twenty-one associates from 14 law schools began their careers in a BH office, representing many of the country’s top law programs. This year’s class includes former editors of law school publications and members of numerous academic organizations.
CincinnatiRobert Oestreicher The Ohio State University
ClevelandErin Barker-Brown The Ohio State UniversityJoseph Esmont University of VirginiaSusan Hughes Cleveland Marshall College of LawErin Murdock University of TexasMatthew Oliver The Ohio State UniversityAlexis Osburn Cleveland Marshall College of LawChristopher Stanek The Ohio State University
ColumbusMagdeline McAllister University of North CarolinaWinnie Sim Capital University School of LawCatherine Woltering The Ohio State University
DenverTina Amin University of Colorado
HoustonAmeena Ashfaq Vanderbilt UniversityAdam Law University of TexasRobyn Goldstein University of HoustonJoshua Thomas University of Houston
Los AngelesSierus Erdelyi University of California
New YorkFrancesca Ambrosio University of MichiganMary Elizabeth Howe Northwestern UniversityChristy Monier New York Law School
OrlandoKrista Sivick Florida State University
Not all fall associates were notified of state bar exam results at press time. In accordance with District of Columbia Bar rules, fall associates in our Washington, D.C., office will be announced after they have been admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.
Baker&Hostetler llp
-8-
Baker Hostetler Recruiting ContactsOffice Hiring Partner recruiting cOOrdinatOr
Cincinnati Ted Martin, 513.929.3416, [email protected] Kimberlee Nickolas, 513.929.3480, [email protected]
Cleveland Ron Stepanovic, 216.861.7397, [email protected] Kylie Wilhelmy, 216.861.7479, [email protected]
Columbus Dan Guttman, 614.462.4740, [email protected] Jeanie Fulton, 614.462.4703, [email protected]
Denver Rebecca Alexander, 303.764.4062, [email protected] Maureen Herschberger, 303.764.4130, [email protected]
Houston Sameer Mohan, 713.646.1309, [email protected] Elizabeth Turney, 713.276.1647, [email protected]
Los Angeles Bruce Greene, 310.442.8834, [email protected] Paula Schwartz, 310.442.8858, [email protected]
New York Ona Wang, 212.589.4254, [email protected] James Coffman, 212.589.4257, [email protected]
Orlando Scott Damon, 407.649.4071, [email protected] Kelly Searcy, 407.649.3929, [email protected]
Washington, DC Tom McDonald, 202.861.1664, [email protected] Ettastine Williams, 202.861.1697, [email protected]
Firmwide Ronald S. Okada, 216.861.7645, [email protected] Dee Driscole, 216.861.7092, [email protected]
LEAPBaker Hostetler publishes LEAP to keep law students informed of the legal experience and associate programs (LEAP) across our Firm. If you would like to view past issues of LEAP, please visit www.leap2baker.com.
Coming Soon!Baker Hostetler representatives will be visiting your campus this Fall. Check with your Career Services Center or our website (www.bakerlaw.com) for dates. We look forward to meeting you!
All our offices will be represented at the following schools:
Capital UniversityCase Western Reserve UniversityCleveland State UniversityFlorida State UniversityFordham UniversityGeorgetown UniversityOhio State UniversitySouthwestern Law School
University of AkronUniversity of California Los AngelesUniversity of CincinnatiUniversity of ColoradoUniversity of DenverUniversity of FloridaUniversity of HoustonUniversity of Minnesota
University of Notre Dame University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of WisconsinVanderbilt University For the most current list of visits, please visit our website: www.bakerlaw.com
Columbia UniversityDuke UniversityHarvard UniversityNew York UniversityNorthwestern UniversityStanford University
University of California BerkeleyUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of MichiganUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Texas University of Virginia Yale University
Select offices will also be visiting the following schools:
