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SU M M ER 2015 D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N NE WSLET TER
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Diversity & Inclusion Committee Update: New Parental Leave Liaison, Work Allocation Plan Implemented The Barnes & Thornburg Diversity & Inclusion Committee has worked to create several new initiatives this year to foster an inclusive work environment. Two initiatives at the forefront are the work allocation system and creating the parental leave liaison position. The work allocation system provides broader access to work opportunities for diverse and female attorneys. The management committee and the firm’s chairman emeritus, Alan Levin, work hand-in-hand with the firm’s marketing department to ensure responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) include a diverse team of lawyers whenever substantive skills are in line with the client needs. “The management committee feels strongly that fielding a diverse team of lawyers not only is consistent with the needs and desires of our clients and prospective clients, but also helps deliver a better work product as a result of the different and diverse perspectives that a diverse team brings to the table,” Alan said. “Our lawyers responding to RFPs have embraced this approach with open arms. We expect for this to be a successful endeavor that will make us a more successful and stronger firm.” The firm’s new parental leave liaison, Julia Gard of the Indianapolis office, serves as a resource for attorneys going on maternity, paternity or family leave. Julia helps attorneys navigate the phase-in and phase-out process and assists with return-to-work strategies. “We hire some of the best, most talented young associates in the country, and then we make a tremendous investment of time and money to train them and engage them in our practice and our clients’ business,” Julia said. “They are vitally important to the future of our firm, so when we realized that too many were leaving, often after starting families, we took a long, hard look at what we could do to better support them. I am passionate about helping our lawyers find creative solutions to work/life challenges.”
Attorneys, Staff Hear Singer-Songwriter Melissa Etheridge Speak at Women’s Fund Keyholder Event Laing Akers, Kelly Atkinson and Katrina Thompson of the Columbus office attended the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio 2015 Keyholder Event with clients. Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge was the featured speaker at the May 6 event. “Melissa Etheridge’s main message was one of being genuine,” Katrina said. “One of her quotes that stuck with me was ‘People say I’m courageous for being who I am. What does this say about our society?’ I think so often people think they are being encouraging by talking
about how brave it is to be you when being true to yourself should be the expectation and not the exception. I also loved her emphasis on being a great example for your kids in following your passions. Being a lawyer may not be as glamorous as being a ‘rock star,’ but I think her advice is still applicable that whenever you are spending a significant amount of time away from your family, they need to understand that you are doing something you love.” The Women’s Fund’s mission is to transform the lives of women and girls by mobilizing the collective power and passion of all women working together. “The Women’s Fund has given voice and visibility to issues that impact women and girls in our community by promoting social Photo submitted by Katrina Thompson of Barnes & Thornburg, Melissa Etheridge is pictured on right change in four priority areas: gender norms, economic self-sufficiency for women, leadership for women and life skills for girls,” Katrina said. “Not only does the fund raise a significant amount of money to effect change in these areas (for example, the 2015 Keyholder event raised more than $510,000 in one night!), but, in raising funds to change the lives of others, they motivate and inspire the women who are fortunate enough to be able to give and donate their time.”
Women Candidly Talk About Legal Careers, Mentoring at Indianapolis Event Terri Bruksch of the Indianapolis office coordinated the “Candid Talk Women at the Bar” event hosted in the Indianapolis office on March 19. The event’s presenters were attorneys Bernadette Catalana, national coordinating counsel for firm client 3M, and Kelly Odorisi of the Law Office of Kelly Odorisi, P.C. Their discussion covered navigation of legal careers, how to command respect, networking and mentorship. Thanks to the assistance of Andrea Warren of the Indianapolis office, the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana was a co-sponsor; 100 participants attended the seminar and networking reception.
Terri Bruksch
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Spotlight on....
Roger Maldonado, Associate, Minneapolis Roger Maldonado of the Minneapolis office helped organize “The Corporate Push for Diversity,” an event hosted by the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA). The event was held in Minneapolis on May 21. Roger is a board member of the association. “Organizing events like this is a great way for young associates to network and start building professional relationships,” Roger said. “By planning this event, I was able to get to know the panel, consisting of several deputy general counsels from Fortune 500 companies, and connect with numerous other in-house counsel at the event.” Roger, whose family moved to Minnesota from Honduras when he was 3 years old, got involved with the MHBA during law school at the University of St. Thomas after participating in the MHBA’s mentorship program, where law students were assigned a mentor from the Minneapolis legal community. “I was connected with a great mentor who was inhouse counsel at a Fortune 500 Company,” Roger said. “Joining and supporting the MHBA was an easy choice for me. Through the MHBA, I am able connect with other Hispanic attorneys and judges who have had similar experiences. The MHBA is also not only dedicated to promoting professional growth and opportunities for Hispanics attorneys and law students in the legal community, but also promoting social justice and legal access for all.”
Thorne Authors Op-Ed on Equal Pay for Crain’s Chicago Business Deborah Thorne of the Chicago office wrote an opinion piece for Crain’s Chicago Business. The article, “Women can’t wait until 2065 for equal pay - and they shouldn’t have to,” was published on April 14. Deborah wrote the article on behalf of Women Employed; she is the vice chair of the Women Employed board of directors. “The wage gap is a fact of life for women regardless of career level, their field, educational level or whether they are Deborah Thorne mothers,” Deborah wrote. “Census data show that women earn more than men in only nine out of 342 professions. This includes nursing, a female-dominated field, where men make $5,100 more on average annually than women. Even in low-paying jobs in food service, retail and hospitality, the gender wage gap persists. Here in Chicago, nearly 1 in 3 employed women are working a low-wage job compared with 1 in 4 men.”
Work Wear, Monetary Donations Benefit Women Served by Dress for Success Indianapolis Barnes & Thornburg was a premier sponsor for this year’s Send One Suit Week drive benefiting Dress for Success Indianapolis. Thanks to the generosity of attorneys and staff, the Indianapolis office donated 115 items, including suits, shoes, accessories and other work wear. Angela Wessler and Jennifer Whitley of the Indianapolis office coordinated this year’s drive.
In addition to clothing donations, the firm collected nearly $500 that will help provide clothes, confidence and career development support to women. “Dress for Success operates solely on private donations,” Jennifer said. “Funds go toward providing professional attire as well as career development tools for disadvantaged women. A woman referred to Dress for Success may have an initial meeting with a personal shopper to obtain a suit for an interview and assistance with her resume; once she obtains the job, she can come back for more workappropriate clothing. She can also receive additional counseling on career advancement, leadership skills, financial planning, networking, etc. It’s a great program.”
McMillian Honored at Annual Diversity, Alumni Dinner
Jimmie McMillian of the Indianapolis office was recognized for providing outstanding mentoring and leadership to student organizations at the 3rd Annual Diversity and Alumni Dinner hosted by the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Black Law Students Association and Hispanic Law Society. Barnes & Thornburg was a sponsor of the reception held at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis on April 9. Doris Pryor, national security chief for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, was the keynote speaker; her talk was entitled, “A Dream Deferred: A Dialogue Regarding Today’s Social Justice Movement.” Also attending from the Indianapolis office were Chris Tucker, Rubin Pusha, Alicia Raines, Shannon Williams, Ladene Mendoza (2015 Summer Associate) and Portia Bailey (2015 Summer Associate).
“The firm has been sponsoring the Send One Suit week for nearly 10 years,” Jennifer said. “I started as a personal shopper volunteer 10 years ago, and have remained involved as coordinator of the firm’s Send One Suit Week drive and volunteer at their annual Stepping Out in Style event.” Left to right: Russell Hollis, deputy director at the Marion County Clerk’s Office, retired Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan, Jr., and Jimmie McMillian of Barnes & Thornburg
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Atlanta Attorneys Take Part in Celebration of Female Role Models Cassandra Best and Kara Cleary of the Atlanta office attended the sixth annual “Womenetics POW!” awards luncheon in Atlanta to celebrate 13 female role models who have made lasting impacts on their businesses, communities and the next generation of female leaders. The 2015 POW! honorees shared their successes and failures, revealing insights into their compelling leadership and unique secrets to success. The firm sponsored a table and invited female clients, targets and referral sources to the April 29 event.
Women in Leadership: Exploring Pathways and Nancy Sullivan Award Nearly 150 women in the business and legal sectors attended Barnes & Thornburg’s fourth annual “Women in Leadership: Exploring Pathways” event hosted by the Minneapolis office on April 16 at the Edina Country Club. The host attorneys were Felicia Boyd, Emily Brandes, Connie Lahn, Laura Maupin, Sarah Rowley, Mary Sennes, Emily Grande Stearns, Tina Syring and Erin Westbrook. Attorneys attending from other offices were Rachel Lerman of the Los Angeles office, Laing Akers of the Columbus office, Terri Bruksch of the Indianapolis office, Kathleen Anderson of the Fort Wayne office and Heather Delgado of the Chicago office. This year’s program, chaired by Laura Maupin, featured keynote speaker Sarah Buxton, formerly of Federated Insurance Company in Minnesota who moved to Napa Valley to tackle a new challenge: relaunching a failing winery. The vineyard Left to right: Tina Syring of Barnes & Thornburg, Sarah Buxton and developed a new vision and purpose that Felicia Boyd of Barnes & Thornburg reflected Sarah’s core values and principles. With the vineyard now successful, Sarah has stepped away from the day-to-day operations and focuses her efforts on promoting women in all aspects of the wine industry. The program also included a panel discussion regarding exploring pathways to success. The panelists shared their personal journey to leadership and how they each mentor and support others and stay motivated. Panelists were the Honorable Hildy Bowbeer, magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; Jan Ballman, president and CEO of Paradigm Reporting; Christine Esckilsen, global head of human capital and assistant general counsel for Piper Jaffray; and Kathy Lantry, director of the Department of Public Works of St. Paul, Minnesota.
A breakout session was moderated by Lisa Brabbit, senior assistant dean for external relations and programs of the University of St. Thomas Law School. During the breakout, attendees examined ways in which women can overcome the challenges in business and law. A highlight of the day was the presentation of the Nancy A. Sullivan Community Leadership Award. Nancy was a partner in the Left to right: Lisa Brabbit, Laura Maupin of Barnes & Thornburg and Sarah Rowley of Barnes & Thornburg Minneapolis office who lost her life in 2013 and effortlessly devoted her time and energy to helping others through a variety of charitable organizations in the Twin Cities. This year’s recipient was Kimberly Foster Price, vice president of community affairs at 3M Company. After the event, attendees attended a reception featuring wine from the vineyard of St. Helena in Napa Valley. Peter Ekberg, Minneapolis office managing partner, and the male attorneys of the Minneapolis office attended the reception, along with Bob Grand, firm managing partner.
The Indiana Lawyer Recognizes Freeman as Leader in Law Angela Freeman of the Indianapolis office was recognized as a 2015 Leader in Law by The Indiana Lawyer, and was named an Up and Coming Lawyer. Angela, a former molecular biologist with Eli Lilly and Company, was asked about her switch from the lab to the law. “Rather than a switch, it has felt more like a transition from focusing on one aspect of scientific innovation – the research and development of an invention – to focusing on an equally important aspect of innovation – the protection of legal rights and commercial revenue derived from that invention,” Angela said in the article. “I appreciate the opportunity to use both my technical and legal expertise to ultimately benefit my clients.”
Angela Freeman
The article also mentioned Angela’s focus on furthering diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace. “I am very passionate about increasing diversity, particularly women and people of color, in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and certainly, the law,” Angela said. “I believe that many others who look like me can also benefit from pursuing a career in STEM whether or not it leads to the law.”
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Thompson Re-elected to Women Lawyers of Franklin County Board
‘White Hot Wines of Spain’ Win Over Attorneys in Chicago Office
Katrina Thompson of the Columbus office was elected secretary of the Women Lawyers of Franklin County. Prior to this election, Katrina served as treasurer. The Women Lawyers of Franklin County is a bar association for female attorneys in Central Ohio. Barnes & Thornburg was a sponsor for the annual meeting of the Women Lawyers of Franklin County, during which two $2,500 scholarships were awarded to female students at Capital Officers for Women Lawyers of Franklin County, pictured from left to right: University Law School and The Ohio Megan Gonzalez, Ashley Oliker, Katrina Thompson of Barnes & Thornburg, Katherine Ivan, Caitlin Anderson and Monica Waller State University - Moritz College of Law. Adrienne Pietropaolo and Madison Meredith of the Columbus office were also in attendance.
On May 27, the Chicago office hosted the “White Hot Wines of Spain” Women’s Wine Tasting featuring Diana Hamann from The Wine Goddess in Evanston. Guests tasted five Spanish wines and discussed food pairings along the way. Mercedes Badia-Tavas, Kathryn Erickson, Jill Fortney, Kailey Grant, Amy Michelau, Liz Peters, Claire Reed, Nancy Schimmel, Christine Skoczylas, Megan Weaver and Katherine Yonover of the Chicago office were in attendance. The event also featured an appearance from former partner, Judge Alison Conlon.
Attendees Network, Dance and Celebrate at Soul, Salsa and Sushi Event On April 30, the Indianapolis office hosted a Soul, Salsa and Sushi event sponsored by the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, National Black MBA Association, Inc., and Asian American Alliance, Inc. David Wong, Christopher Tucker, Angela Freeman and Adey Adenrele of the Indianapolis office attended the multi-cultural event.
Kerridge Graduates From Leadership Development Series Jeanine Kerridge of the Indianapolis office graduated from the Richard G. Lugar Series for Excellence in Public Service in Washington, D.C., on May 15. “The D.C. trip was the culmination of the year-long series and gave us an opportunity to get to know our classmates better, as well as meet with political and business leaders in D.C.,” Jeanine said. The Lugar Series is a competitive, year-long national leadership development program for Indiana women professionals. Senator Lugar presided over the graduation ceremony, which marked the Jeanine Kerridge 25th anniversary of the series. During the program, participants learned substantive leadership lessons and practiced other skills such as public speaking. “The Lugar Series introduced me to many other women in high-level positions with a desire to improve our communities, as well as the extensive alumni network of more than 400 Lugar Series graduates,” Jeanine said. “It also taught me leadership skills that I will carry forward in practicing law and serving the community.”
Pollack-Milgate, Freeman Appear on STEM Panel at First ‘Girls in STEM’ Conference Angela Freeman and Deborah Pollack-Milgate of the Indianapolis office, along with Debbie Gordon of Allison Transmission and Christina Dunbar of HealthX, represented Women & Hi Tech on a STEM professionals panel at the inaugural “Girls in STEM” day held at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis on May 30. “The focus of the panel was to familiarize the talented pool of young women with the many Left to right: Deborah Morton, Dr. Erin Albert, Deborah Pollack-Milgate of Barnes & and varied careers open to Thornburg, Angela Freeman of Barnes & Thornburg, Debbie Gordon, Dr. Tamiko Porter them in STEM fields and to and Christina Dunbar inspire in them the courage to persevere,” Deborah said. “If other women and women of color have succeeded, so can they.” More than 150 diverse high school girls from 11 states who are interested in STEM fields attended the conference. “I enjoy these panels because of the energy in the room and because of the opportunity to directly inspire a young woman to believe in all she can become,” Deborah said. “And, of course, to motivate young women on the path to fulfilling careers in STEM.”
Firm Sponsors Women Employed Lunch With Former Obama Advisor The firm sponsored The Working Lunch hosted by Women Employed in Chicago, which featured remarks by Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama, who discussed the importance of family-friendly workplaces. Stephen Fatum, Denise Lazar, Tim McFadden, Paul Olszowka, Liz Peters and Deborah Thorne of the Chicago office attended the event on May 14, at which Rhiannon Broschat, a working mother, also shared her personal story highlighting the importance of paid sick days. Women Employed advocates for advancement for women to ensure that more women can benefit from training and educational opportunities.
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Los Angeles Office ‘Leans In,’ Sponsors Annual Event
United Way of Central Indiana Features Freeman in Article
On June 25, Rachel Lerman and Melanie Mawema of the Los Angeles office attended the annual “Lean In and Thrive” event in Los Angeles. Barnes & Thornburg was a sponsor of the event, which featured a panel discussion on motherhood, maintaining a successful work/life balance, tips for negotiating a salary and getting what you want in the workplace. Panelists included Lisa Gates of SheNegotiates, Laura Berens of LovenFit Community and Kibibi Springs, founder of Life on Springs.
Angela Freeman of the Indianapolis office was featured in an article published by the United Way of Central Indiana for her participation in Leadership United, the organization’s signature board development and leadership training program. Participants are selected from a pool of applicants and attend 75 hours of training, workshops and retreats over a nine-month period, ultimately preparing them to serve on nonprofit boards.
Attorneys Attend MCCA Gala at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Leasa Anderson, Christine McCarthy, Karen McGee and David Spooner of the Washington, D.C., office and Trace Schmeltz of the Chicago office attended the Minority Corporate Council Association’s Diversity Gala on June 30 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The event honored Joseph K. West, president & CEO of Minority Corporate Counsel Association; Hon. Left to right: Christine McCarthy of Barnes & Thornburg, David Spooner of Barnes & Thornburg, Rachel Clark, a George Washington University law student, Karen McGee of Barnes & ThornDeval L. Patrick, former burg, Leasa Anderson of Barnes & Thornburg and Trace Schmeltz of Barnes & Thornburg Massachusetts Governor; Brad Smith, executive vice president and general counsel, legal and corporate affairs of Microsoft Corporation; Virginia Johnson, artistic director of Dance Theater of Harlem; and Richard Lui, MSNBC & NBC news anchor.
“I’m not from Indianapolis, so having the opportunity to truly get immersed into the community I thought was really fascinating,” Freeman said in the article. “One of the biggest personal takeaways was that I very much felt a sense of being blessed. What I realized is that so many of these programs are for people who have real issues and needs, so if you don’t have those issues and needs, you’re not really exposed to all the services out there. Being kind of naïve to all that was happening, the breadth of services, and all the people these organizations were serving, I repeatedly came home saying, ‘Wow, I am very blessed,’ and feeling even more energized and motivated to continue to give back to the community as I can.”
President of Minnesota Women Lawyers Praises Barnes & Thornburg for Support In a personal letter to Annamarie Daley of the Minneapolis office, Pamel Rochlin, the outgoing president of Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL), thanked Barnes & Thornburg for its continued support of the organization. “[MWL] has had another very successful year, providing countless leadership and professional development opportunities, working toward parity for all women in the profession, advancing MWL’s strategic plan through 2015, and celebrating the many successes of our members,” Pamela writes. “Please know that the growth and vitality of our organization is due in large part to the support of Barnes & Thornburg LLP.”
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Diversity & Inclusion Barnes & Thornburg is committed to building a more diverse workplace and promoting an environment of inclusion through various diversity initiatives. We strive to sustain a work environment in which each individual’s perspective, background, skills and abilities are valued. The Diversity & Inclusion Committee advises on diversity issues; provides career development for women and minorities; develops flexible work options; and serves as a liaison among personnel, recruiting and management to create an inclusive environment. Barnes & Thornburg is committed to supporting diversity throughout our communities. Organizations and initiatives Barnes & Thornburg supports include: American Immigration Council l American Indian Center l American Red Cross l Asian American Alliance l Asian Bar Association of Central Ohio l Asian Law Student Associations l Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Indiana l Black Law Student Association l Center for Leadership Development l Charting Your Own Course l Chicago Foundation for Women l Circle City Chapter of the Links l Columbus Bar Association Managing Partners l Diversity Initiative l Constitutional Law Foundation l Constitutional Rights Foundation l Council on Crime and Justice l David White Award & Scholarship l Down Syndrome Association l Dress for Success l Emma Norton Services l Equality Illinois l Euell A. Wilson Center l Floyd Skinner Minority Clerkship Program l Happy Hollow Children’s Camp l Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association l Hispanic Law Student Association l Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund l HNBA Annual Convention & Corp Counsel Conference l Human Rights Awareness Day l Human Rights Campaign l Indiana Black Expo l Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence l Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity l Indiana Governor’s Conference For Women l Indiana Latino Scholarship Fund l Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair l Indianapolis Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Luncheon l Japan – America Society of Indiana l Joseph Maley Foundation l Just the Beginning Foundation l Lambda Legal l Leadership
Counsel on Legal Diversity l LGBT Law Student Associations l LifeTown & Friendship Circle l Los Angeles Gay Lawyer’s Association l Louis Redding Benefit & Awards Gala l Managing Partners l Diversity Collaborative l March of Dimes March for Babies l Marion County Bar Association l Michigan Diversity Leadership Initiative l Michigan Women’s Tax Association l Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal Women’s Leadership l Awards and Diversity in Business Awards l Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association l Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers l Minnesota Hispanic Association l Minnesota Women Lawyers l Minority Corporate Counsel Association l MLK Dream Classic Basketball Shootout l MLK Foundation l NAACP Chicago l National Asian Pacific American Bar Association l National Association for Women Business Owners l National Association of Students with Disabilities l National Association of Women Lawyers l National Bar Association l National Bar Association Corporate Counsel Conference l National Black Students Association l National Coalition of 100 Black Men l National Coalition of 100 Black Women l National LGBT Bar Association l Neighborhood House l Ohio Women’s Bar Association l One Billion Rising Fort Wayne l People for Parks l Project Home Indy l Providence Cristo Rey High School l Race for All Races l Reach for Youth, Inc. Teen Court Program l Republican Women’s Leadership Institute l Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services l Starfish Initiative l Tahirh Justice Center l The Junior Blind of America l The Mentor Teacher Brother Mock Trial l Twin Cities in Diversity in Practice Hiring and Retention Program l United Negro College Fund l United Way Executive Women’s Leadership Program & Leadership Training and Diversity Series l Upward Bound House l Urban League l Volunteer Lawyers Network l VSA Indiana l West Michigan WomenOwned Business Certification Committee of the Women’s Business Enterprise l Wheeler Mission Center for Women & Children l Who’s Who in Black Indianapolis l Women & Hi-Tech l Women Employed l Women in Leadership – Minnesota l Women Lawyers of Franklin County l Women’s Bar Association of Illinois l Women’s Fund of Central Indiana l Women’s Fund of Central Ohio l YWCA
The Diversity & Inclusion Committee collaborates to improve diversity and increase growth opportunities for legal professionals and staff firmwide. Co-chairpersons: Bob Grand Kathleen Anderson Members at large: Edward Ayoob Kara Cleary Marques Crain Annamarie Daley
Lindsey Dates Michael DeLargy Angela Freeman Jeanine Gozdecki Steve Hernandez Jeffrey Hopper Ken Inskeep Karoline Jackson
Naomi Kwang Nick Kile Sarah Kuhny Connie Lahn Denise Lazar Alan Levin Rachel Lerman Melanie Mawema
LeDonna Nichols David Paragas Hae Park-Suk Paul Olszowka William Padgett Tony Prather Alicia Raines James Robinson
Dawn Rosemond Alice Springer Lisa Starks Jennifer Stocker Katrina Thompson Deborah Thorne Steve Thornton Christopher Tucker
Heather Willey Shannon Williams Erin Westbrook