D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N NE WSLE T TER
T H I R D Q UA R T ER 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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T H I R D Q UA R T ER 2 015 A L L I N Attorney Q&A: Meet Victor Vital Ida Abbott Presents ‘Women at the Top’ to Female Attorneys On Sept. 21, nationally recognized speaker Ida Abbott spent a day in the Indianapolis office to present “Women at the Top.” Her presentation was also available via video conference to female attorneys throughout the firm. She spoke about leadership, sponsorship and business development. Ida also conducted meetings with the management committee, and department chairs and administrators to facilitate an open-dialogue conversation about attracting, retaining and advancing women and attorneys of color. Ida has authored several books and regularly speaks about mentoring, advancing women, developing leaders, and managing and retaining talent.
Victor Vital, a partner in the Dallas office, concentrates his trial practice on major crimes, white collar criminal defense cases, and on complex or multiparty disputes in a variety of forums such as civil, probate and bankruptcy courts. Having tried more than 100 cases in two decades of trial practice, he is well-versed in difficult and complex courtroom matters. As an active member of his community and profession, among his many accolades is receiving the Dallas Business Journal’s “Minority Business Leader Award” in 2015. Q: What does a day in your life look like? A: If I’m not in court, I’m thinking about and working up cases strategically to be presented in court. My office is thus a virtual war room. Q: What made you go in to law? A: I went to college to be a minister, but quickly changed my major to social work after an evangelistic effort I worked after my freshman year, realizing that perhaps I wasn’t cut out for the gospel ministry. Photo submitted by Vital Vital of Barnes & Thornburg A pivotal moment occurred in my junior year when a friend noted that, because I loved to argue and did so all the time, I should go to law school. I’d never met a lawyer, but I loved the show “LA Law” — especially the courtroom scenes portrayed by actors Blair Underwood and Jimmy Smits. After interning with some legal aid lawyers in my senior year, I knew I wanted to be a trial lawyer. I’d do this work for free, but my wife likes to spend a lot of money (smile). As to my initial calling, I think I missed it. It was there, I just misinterpreted it. I was called to help people and to “preach,” I just do both of those things in courtrooms before juries. Thematically, I’m always on the side of righteousness. Q: What’s the most interesting case you have worked on? A: A major public corruption case—called the “Dallas City Hall Case.” It’s the largest corruption case to date in Dallas’s history. I learned a lot of valuable lessons in that case. It was a lot of fun. Q: If you could meet any famous person who would it be? A: I’d like to bring famed trial lawyers Edward Bennett Williams or Johnnie Cochran back from the grave to meet either of them in person. Q: What do you find most challenging about the legal industry, law or your job? A: Balancing my intense passion for trial work with family and personal obligations.
Ida Abbott with Kathleen Anderson of Barnes & Thornburg
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D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N NE WSLE T TER
Miles for a Mission:
Peters Links Up With NAACP on America’s Journey for Justice Grant Peters of the Chicago office, his wife Jill, and their rabbi, Rabbi Seth Limmer, joined members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other supporters on the NAACP’s America’s Journey for Justice. The journey was a historic 1,002-mile march from Selma, Alabama, to Washington, D.C. Grant started off from Selma marching toward Montgomery, Alabama, in mid-August and participated in the final portion marching into Washington, D.C., in mid-September.
John Lewis (D-GA), Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), as well as many others. After the rally, Grant and others met and discussed the act with Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Merkley), and Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) in their personal offices on Capitol Hill. “The rally at the Lincoln Memorial was attended by a huge group,” Grant said. “It was encouraging to see large groups of younger people of many different races working together, actively participating in the rally and subsequent lobbying, and taking ownership of the American democratic process.”
Grant Peters
Grant and the marchers traveled the same path Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led followers on in 1965 to advocate for voting rights, where Alabama State Troopers gassed and beat nonviolent protesters, and where Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), who was then a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, was almost killed. During the Selma portion of the march, Grant met, marched with and got to know Cornell William Brooks, president of the NAACP, and his family; Aaron Mair, president of the Sierra Club; and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The objective of the march was to build awareness of and support for the NAACP’s legislative agenda. Most notable is the NAACP’s support for and work on the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. The goal of the act, in part, is to modernize the preclearance formula to cover states with a long history of discrimination to support voting by all voters, in all demographics, to reduce or eliminate disenfranchisement. The act is a response to the Supreme Court’s Shelby County, Alabama, v. Holder decision that effectively invalidated The Voting Rights Act of 1965.
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The experience at the start of the march in Selma, during the 50th anniversary of the ‘Bloody Sunday’ confrontation on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, was awe-inspiring.
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“The experience at the start of the march in Selma, during the 50th anniversary of the ‘Bloody Sunday’ confrontation on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, was awe-inspiring,” Grant said. “To cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge without fear, to be greeted by police officers who were protecting the march, and to see that every police officer was African-American gave hope for our future.” Rallies were held at the end of the march on the Mall in Washington, D.C., as well as on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial was attended and led by Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus), Rep.
1. Left to right: Aaron Mair (president of the Sierra Club), Grant Peters, Rabbi Beth Singer and Cornell Brooks
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2. Edmund Pettus Bridge on Aug. 1, 2015, looking SE across the Alabama River. 3. Two marchers working together, the marcher in the rear, tired and walking with a cane, is aided by a compassionate tow. 4. Cornell William Brooks (president of the NAACP), Rabbis Limmer and Lustig, Janise Brooks, and others. All photos were submitted by Grant Peters of Barnes & Thornburg.
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T H I R D Q UA R T ER 2 015 A L L I N Firm Honors First Female Partner With Reception Barnes & Thornburg hosted an event honoring the late Shirley Shideler, a former partner, and Indiana’s trailblazing women lawyers in the Indianapolis office on Sept. 17. In September 1964, Shirley became the first female associate at Barnes & Thornburg and in 1971 became the first woman to be named a partner in a large Indiana law firm.
As a lasting tribute to Shirley, visitors can see a plaque memorializing Shirley’s legacy in the lobby of the Indianapolis office.
Chicago Office Celebrates Diversity at Annual Event
Pictured from left to right: Loretta Rush, Sarah Evans Barker and Carol Stephan.
The event was co-hosted by the Indiana Bar Foundation. “[Shirley] was really one of the kindest people,” retired partner Kristin Fruehwald said. “She was also pretty smart and talented. She expected you to give your all to your client.” Kristin joined the firm in 1975. Nick Kile of the Indianapolis office led the effort to honor Shirley. Joining the firm as a young associate, Nick remembers Shirley for her reputation around the firm and for her stories at lunch. “Shirley was an amazing person,” Nick said. “She was so approachable to younger lawyers, constantly willing to mentor. She never lost sight of the path she had traveled.” Nearly 130 lawyers, judges, friends and family gather to celebrate and remember Shirley’s legacy. Three prominent women judges Nick Kile and lawyers were also honored: Judge Sarah Evans Barker, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the first female judge on the district court; Chief Justice Loretta Rush of the Indiana Supreme Court, the court’s first female chief justice; and Carol Stephan, current chair of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, the first female named to that post.
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“I wanted to honor Shirley with this event because I had the sense that we had begun to forget her legacy and that we had young lawyers who really had no idea who she was or what she had accomplished,” Nick said.
The firm hosted its 6th Annual Celebration of Diversity on Aug. 11 at the University Club of Chicago. The 2015 honorees included Theresa Mintle, president and CEO of Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Craig Freedman, president and CEO of Freedman Seating, and Steve Pemberton, vice president and chief diversity officer of Walgreens. The Hon. Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General, gave a poignant keynote address. The 150 guests included clients, firm friends and elected officials in the Chicago area.
Pictured from left to right: Richard Boykin of Barnes & Thornburg, The Hon. Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General, and Mark Rust of Barnes & Thornburg.
2015 Diversity Dinner Honorees from right to left: Theresa Mintle, president and CEO of Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Craig Freedman, president and CEO of Freedman Seating and Melissa Donaldson of Walgreens.
D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N NE WSLE T TER Deborah Thorne Appointed Federal Bankruptcy Judge by Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Nearly 30 years of experience and a successful bankruptcy and restructuring legal practice has led former Chicago partner Deborah Thorne to the next chapter of her career where she finds herself on the bench. Deborah Thorne With a recent appointment by Chief Judge Diane Wood of the Seventh Circuit of Appeals, Thorne now serves as a judge in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Her 14-year term began on October 22, a formal investiture ceremony follows on December 9. “It is an honor that Deborah has been selected for this important role as she is a talented lawyer with a career built on professional excellence,” said Mark Rust, Chicago Managing Partner. “With more than 30 years of experience in bankruptcy and restructuring, she’ll be a tremendous asset to the Northern District Federal Bankruptcy Court.”
current member of the Federal Bar Association, International Women’s Insolvency Confederation and the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, she was also past chair of the Board of Women Employed and continues to serve as co-chair of the Governance Committee.
Maldonado Travels to Boston for HNBA Annual Convention
Judge Thorne was named a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, which recognizes attorneys for their Roger Maldonado of the Minneapolis office attended the “professional excellence and exceptional contributions” Hispanic National Bar Association’s (HNBA) 40th Annual Convention in Boston on Sept. 5-8. The HNBA annual convention to the fields of bankruptcy and insolvency. She is attracts hundreds of attorneys, judges and law students from across frequently included in The Best Lawyers in America the country, including public officials, business leaders and general in the area of bankruptcy and creditor-debtor counsels from many Fortune 100 and other corporations. rights law, is recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois and has been recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers every year since 2005. Admitted to practice law in 1983, Judge Thorne earned her J.D. with honors from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago Kent College of Law and her Masters of Arts in teaching from Duke University. She received her B.A. from Macalester College.
“I had the opportunity to connect with HNBA leadership and also several in-house counsel and business leaders (Walmart, General Motors Company, Boston Red Sox, DuPont Company, Microsoft) from across the country,” Roger said. “My personal highlight for the trip was making a connection with an individual who is going to introduce me to an executive with the Minnesota Vikings.” Roger is pictured, second from the right, with Judge Peter Reyes, Judge Leonardo Castro (with his Latino Judge of the Year Award), Ann Anaya, and Angelita Hernandez, who are members of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA). Judge Reyes is a former Barnes & Thornburg partner.
Thorne joined Barnes & Thornburg in 2002 and has been a member of the Finance, Insolvency and Restructuring Department. With a practice focused on bankruptcy, corporate restructuring, secured lending and insolvency law, she has represented parties in some of the largest and most complex restructuring matters. Having played an active role in her community and profession throughout the years, she has held a number of leadership roles within industry associations and organizations including being the current vice president of the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) and serving on the board of governors of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association. A
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T H I R D Q UA R T ER 2 015 A L L I N McMillian Talks About Navigating Road to Partnership in NY Times, Appears on Local TV Show The New York Times featured Jimmie McMillian of the Indianapolis office in an article entitled, “Many Black Lawyers Navigate a Rocky, Lonely Road to Partner.” The Aug. 17 article highlights Jimmie’s path to partnership. Jimmie, who “had no experience, or even exposure, to corporate America” when he joined the firm, was promoted to partner six years ago. In the article, Jimmie states, “I had challenges, including developing my technical skills and juggling my family responsibilities. When I came to the firm, I had to learn to develop relationships with people internally.
Jimmie McMillian
“There were cultural barriers,” he added. “I had gone to majority-white schools, but I hung with the people I knew so I never had to develop close relationships with other groups. I quickly realized that in a law firm, your livelihood depends on more than just the work.” Jimmie also appeared on The Derwin Smiley Show on Sept. 9. The Derwin Smiley Show is an Indianapolis-area television program that caters to community issues and interests. During the show, Jimmie and Derwin discussed law firm partnership, the importance of mentorship and Jimmie’s journey to where he is today.
Hallberg Honored With VIP Woman of the Year Award Deb Hallberg of the Indianapolis office was honored as a 2015-2016 VIP Member of the National Association of Professional Women and inducted into the VIP Woman of the Year Circle. Inductees are recognized for excellence, leadership and commitment to her profession, while encouraging the achievement of professional women. Deb is Business Development Manager – Industry Groups.
Preparatory School Gains New Board Member Stephen Fatum of the Chicago office was invited to join the board of directors of Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School. The school was founded in 2008 and serves African-American boys and girls on west side of Chicago. All the students come from families below the federal poverty level. For the fourth consecutive year in a row, 100 percent of Christ the King graduates have been accepted into college.
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Young Professionals Leadership Series Hosts Events in Indianapolis On July 8, Aug. 19 and Oct. 14, the Young Professionals Leadership Series hosted its “Community Leadership Initiative” at the Indianapolis office. “The purpose of the Community Leadership Initiative is to increase the number of African-American professionals in decision-making roles in corporate America, public and government service, and entrepreneurship and to foster a culture of multigenerational mentoring and leadership development such that the pipeline of leadership in the African-American community is deepened and broadened,” said Jimmie McMillian of the Indianapolis office. “This is the inaugural year of this annual leadership series focused on African-American professionals under 45. This is an outstanding program.” Through the Young Professionals Leadership Series, Jimmie has hosted a personal plan workshop and engaged as a professional mentor and coach to many of the initiative participants to assist them in identifying different career and leadership opportunities. He has also moderated sessions regarding opportunities to engage in politics and education and led informative discussions with community leaders and initiative participants regarding the definition of a leader in Indianapolis Angela Freeman of the Indianapolis office has also been active in the development of the Community Leadership Initiative. She has participated in a panel discussion about taking risks, which focused on sharing the big risks that each speaker has taken and how they have influenced them professionally.
Cleary Attends Womenetics Academy
Angela Freeman
On Sept. 11, Kara Cleary of the Atlanta office attended the Womenetics Academy, “Influence Change and Drive Action.” The seminar focused on learning techniques great leaders possess and to be compelling in your communications.
Firm Sponsors Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Steve Fatum
On Sept. 1, Barnes & Thornburg was the only law firm sponsor of the Indiana Latino Institute’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Annual Luncheon. Chris Felts, Jimmie McMillian, Kate Jung and Shannon Williams of the Indianapolis office attended the event. The event is geared toward embracing Latino culture, recognize Hispanic heritage and celebrate the significant contributions made by Latinos in Indiana and throughout the nation. It was noted that there are 420,000 Latinos in Indiana with a purchase power of $8.5 billion.
D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N NE WSLE T TER Chicago Committee Selects Dates to Sit on Board of Directors
Diversity & Inclusion
Lindsey Dates of the Chicago office has been selected to sit on the board of directors for The Chicago Committee. The Chicago Committee seeks racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession by collaborating with its law firm and corporate membership to: drive sustainable institutional change at law firms and corporate legal departments; provide professional development; and cultivate the community of minority lawyers through programming and leadership opportunities.
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.
Lindsey Dates
Firm Continues Involvement in Lavender Law John Fischer of the Chicago office and Beth Davis of the Atlanta office attended the National LGBT Bar Association’s 2015 Lavender Law Conference in Chicago on Aug. 5-8. The program was a mix of CLE in both LGBT law and other substantive practice areas, and non-CLE presentations related to diversity topics. On Aug. 7, Shannon Williams of the Indianapolis office and Laura Luisi (2015 Fall Associate) of the Chicago office represented the firm at the 2015 Lavender Law Career Fair held in Chicago.
Firm Sponsors Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Event The firm was a sponsor of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund event held in Chicago on Sept. 27. The event honored gay and lesbian political officeholders and candidates from around the country. Fred Andes, Wesley Broquard and Laura Luisi of the Chicago office and John Fischer of the Indianapolis office attended the event. One of the honorees was the Mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg, and the firm was asked to be a sponsor by another client, Commissioner Debra Shore of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
Fred Andes
Wesley Broquard
Laura Luisi
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 Steve Thornton Christopher Tucker Heather Willey Shannon Williams
John Fischer
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