The Advocate | Summer 2023

ADVOCATE

Maryland

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Kerri Smith, Chair

Lauren Lake, Chair-Elect

Rima Kikani, Treasurer

Emily Greene, Secretary

Genna Hoy, Member At-Large

Jessica Gorsky, Past Chair

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

REPRESENTATIVES

Josephine Bahn

Heather Krick

Christian Noble

Kerri Smith

STANDING COMMITTEES

ACTIVITIES CO-CHAIRS

Ashley Fellona, Rachel Samakow & Megan Micco

ABA REPRESENTATIVE

Chris Jennison

DISASTER RELIEF CHAIR

Valerie Desroches

DIVERSITY CO-CHAIRS

Jasmine Caesar-England & Dania

Ayoubi

EDUCATION CO-CHAIRS

Chaitra Gowdra, Kaitlin Corey & Jon Huddleston

FAMILY FRIENDLY CO-CHAIRS

Elizabeth Rosen & Lisa Fishelman

LAWYER WELLNESS CO-CHAIRS

John Thompson & Ashley Bond

LEGISLATIVE CHAIR

Grason Wiggins

MEMBERSHIP / LAW STUDENT OUTREACH CO-CHAIRS

Divya Potdar, Manny Fishelman & Sara Lucas

NOMINATING CHAIR

Jessica Gorsky

POLICY CHAIR

Lauren Lake

PRO BONO / WILLS FOR HEROES CO-CHAIRS

Alex Raby, Bill Kiniry, & David Scull

PUBLICATIONS CO-CHAIRS

Heather Krick, Sonjay Singh

PUBLIC SERVICE CO-CHAIRS

Garrett Mannchen, Christian Noble, & Amy Rappole

SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR

Letam Duson

STRATEGIC PLANNING COCHAIRS

Lauren Lake & Elizabeth Howard

TECHNOLOGY CO-CHAIRS

TJ Keilty III & Joseph Kavanagh

YLS SUMMIT CO-CHAIRS

Greg Waterworth & Lauren Lake

CIRCUIT REPRESENTATIVES

Jeff Sadri, Anne Arundel

James Robinson, Baltimore City

Alexis Holiday, Baltimore County

William Sasse, Carroll

Spencer Cropper, Lower Shore

Clark Adams, Frederick

Tyler Brown, Howard

Leslie Miller, Montgomery

Meagan Allen, Prince George’s

David Arnold, Western Maryland

Ernesto Villasenor, UB Law

Margaret (Meg) Tippett, UMD Law

The Advocate is published quarterly by the Young Lawyers Section of the Maryland State Bar Association, 520 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201.

The opinions exercised in this publication are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent the opinions of the Young Lawyers Section or the Maryland State Bar Association ©2022 Maryland State Bar Association, Inc.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

By Kerri Smith

A year ago, I boasted that the Young Lawyers Section provides opportunities for young lawyers to develop into leaders who do great things in the MSBA, in the profession, and in our community. This year was no different as I had the privilege to work with an outstanding and dedicated group of young lawyers who accomplished some amazing things. I hope they are as proud of their accomplishments as I am!

A few of the highlights include:

• On August 31, 2022, the Membership Committee kicked off the year by welcoming back nearly 150 members at a networking event in Baltimore City along with colleagues from the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Bar Association of Baltimore City Young Lawyers’ Division, the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association, and our sponsor Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company.

• On September 28, 2022, the Education Committee hosted Tips for Young Lawyers, and offered meaningful advice to young lawyers about the “dos” and “don’ts” of practice.

• On October 15, 2022, the Family Friendly Committee hosted a day of Fall Fun at Sharp’s at Waterford Farm including pumpkins, hayrides, animals and autumn treats for the whole family.

• On November 10, 2022, the Open Meetings Committee presented the YLS Fall Open Meeting, a panel discussion entitled How Women & Minorities Navigate the Legal Profession. The panel included Judge Lisa Hall-Johnson, Judge Ana Hernandez, Tara Barnes, Esq., and Daniella Prieshoff, Esq. and they offered an informative and honest discussion on topics such as deciding when it is opportune to make a lateral career move, advice on what steps to take to advance your career, and how to manage challenges in obtaining new opportunities.

• On November 16, 2022, the YLS Summit was held during Legal Excellence Week. The evening of programming included a fireside chat with the Honorable Angela M. Eaves of the (now) Supreme Court

of Maryland where we heard about her fascinating path to the bench. The programming continued with an interactive discussion with Dr. Aneil Mishra on “Intentional Leadership.” There were also receptions that offered plenty of opportunities for networking for young lawyers in attendance.

• On December 14, 2022, the Technology Committee presented a program entitled Social Media as Evidence – A Practical Application, which was an opportunity to learn how to preserve, collect, discover, and authenticate social media as evidence.

• On February 4, 2023, the Public Service Committee organized the Section’s annual participation in the Polar Bear Plunge benefiting Maryland Special Olympics at Sandy Point State Park.

• On March 22, 2023, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee invited members to a program entitled, Dialogue Over Debate: Building Community Through Difficult Conversations. This facilitated dialogue included strategies for engaging in difficult conversations that lawyers can apply in and outside of practice to develop genuine and mutual understanding and respect.

• On Friday, April 21, 2023, the Activities Committee hosted the annual Charity Event benefiting Athletes Serving Athletes at Gertrude’s at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA) is committed to elevating the quality of life for individuals with limited mobility by empowering them to train for and participate in mainstream running events. ASA is a champion of inclusion and works to break down barriers or inaccessibility in our communities.

• On May 8, 2023, the Pro Bono Committee partnered with the Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center to sponsor an EstatePlanning Clinic. This free clinic helped community members age in place, preserve intergenerational wealth, provide security for families, and protect the rights of homeowners. Volunteer attorneys helped prepare wills, advance medical directives, and financial powers of attorney for community members at Bon Secours Community Resource Center.

Organizing, advertising, and keeping track of the logistics for these many events is no small task, and I extend my most sincere thanks to Angela Munro for her guidance and hard work this year. We truly wouldn’t be able to do all that we do without you.

I am so grateful to Heather Krick, and the members of the Publications Committee, for their hard work this year in preparing and editing issues of The Advocate.

It’s been my honor to serve as YLS Chair this year, and I’m excited to pass the gavel to my friend, Lauren Lake. I have no doubts about Lauren’s ability to lead the YLS and ensure it continues to serve the profession and the community. Good luck, Lauren!

COMMITTEE UPDATES

ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

By Megan Micco, Co-Chair

The Activities Committee held the 32nd Annual YLS Charity Event on April 21, 2023. This year, the beneficiary of the event was Athletes Serving Athletes, a non-profit organization whose mission is to elevate the quality of life for individuals with limited mobility by empowering them to train for and participate in mainstream running events.

The MSBA YLS once again returned to Gertrude’s Restaurant to host the event and was fortunate to have had perhaps the best weather of the 2023 season to date, complete with bright sunshine, 80-degree temperatures, and a pleasant breeze to keep guests comfortable.

This year, the MSBA YLS implemented a new event layout, which focused the fun and activities outside in Getrude’s beautiful garden and patio space, while still offering mix and mingle opportunities in the indoor portion of the restaurant. During the event, Gertrude’s catered a delicious selection of food and drinks, while guests enjoyed live music by Off the Ladder. Guests were also able to capture even more of their event memories this year thanks to a photo booth (complete with plenty of costume options!) hosted by Snap Happy Photo Booth.

Due to its success in years past throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we once again hosted a silent auction

Activities Committee Co-Chairs with the MSBA staff who supported them

online. But, this year, we offered an extended silent auction, which went live on the morning of the event and was kept open through the weekend to generate a wider reach, allow more time for bidding on all of the fantastic donated items, and ultimately increase our profits to Athletes Serving Athletes. The link to the silent auction website was provided to attendees on the morning of the event, and QR codes to access the auction website were also dispersed throughout the venue, so guests could browse the generously donated items and place their bids while mixing and mingling.

Thanks to the hard work of our committee members and the generosity of our attendees, sponsors, and donors, the Activities Committee was able to raise more than $13,000 for Athletes Serving Athletes! We are grateful to have been able to join our friends and colleagues for another successful event and to work with and support such a deserving organization as Athletes Serving Athletes. In the true spirit of Athletes Serving Athletes, we are thrilled to say that “Together, We Finish[ed]” and made the MSBA YLS’s 32nd Annual Charity Event a success and a night to remember!

In addition to the silent auction, guests were invited to participate in a ticket raffle to benefit Athletes Serving Athletes. For cash donations, guests received raffle tickets to be entered into a raffle. At the end of the night, one lucky person won a gift card to Gertrude’s Restaurant.

Kerri Smith presents proceeds from the Charity Event to ASA

COMMITTEE UPDATES

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE

By Amy Rappole, Co-Chair

On the morning of April 22nd, MSBA volunteered with Athletes Serving Athletes at their annual RunFest! We were stationed at an intersection on the course, and directed the Athletes, their Wingmen, and other runners to make the proper turns during the race. Watching the Athletes and their Wingmen was inspiring, and it was great directing and cheering everyone on. After all participants finished this point of the race, we went to the last turn in the race and continued cheering on participants. It was a wonderful day!

FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMITTEE

By Lisa Fishelman, Co-Chair

The Family Friendly and Open Meeting Committees had a picnic at Crofton Park on May 21, 2023. Kids did art projects, played games, and watched the geese, ducks, and turtles at the lake, while YLS members relaxed with a Panera lunch and chatted. It was a nice relaxing way to connect with fellow young lawyers.

Kerri Smith and Heather Krick after the 5K at ASA Runfest

Kerri Smith and Angela Munro running with Team Shauna at ASA Runfest

COMMITTEE UPDATES

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Young Lawyers Section Membership Committee has had a busy end to the 2022-23 Bar Year. On April 26, 2023, the YLS co-sponsored a joint bar association happy hour in Columbia, Bringing the Bars Together. It was an incredibly diverse and well attended event held at a unique venue, The 3rd – a space built by and for Women of Color to network, collaborate, and thrive. The other co-sponsoring bar associations were Maryland Association for Justice, Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association, Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, and the Haitian American Lawyers Association.

The Membership Committee concluded the Bar Year with a rooftop networking happy hour on May 11, 2023 cosponsored with the Bar Association of Baltimore City Young Lawyers’ Division. The attendees enjoyed a sunny spring evening at the SkyBar, on top of the Lord Baltimore Hotel,

in downtown Baltimore. This day marked the official end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration. Drinks were flowing and scrumptious appetizers were appreciated by all those in attendance.

If you have any questions about your YLS Membership, feel free to contact Divya Potdar, at dpotdar@divalaw.net.

Kerri Smith addressing the audience

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YOUNG LAWYERS AT THE MSBA ANNUAL LEGAL SUMMIT

During the MSBA Annual Business Meeting on June 9, Kerri Smith, 2022-2023 Young Lawyers Section Chair, accepted the MSBA Presidential Best Section Project Award to Benefit the Public on behalf of the Young Lawyers Section for the Young Lawyers Section 32nd Annual Charity Event. The Charity Event raised $13,500 for Athletes Serving Athletes, which surpassed its goal of $10,000.

Natasha M. Dartigue, Maryland State Public Defender (4th from left), Michelle Daugherty Siri, Executive Director of the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, and Judge Michael Siri of the District Court for Baltimore County (2nd from right) joins Young Lawyers Section Members at one of the many events at Legal Summit 2023

Lake, Genna Hoy, Beatrice Thomas, Rebeka Bautista, Heather Krick, Kerri Smith, Ashley Fellona, Jasmine England-Caesar, Sara Lucas

Jeff Sadri, Manny Fishelman, Michael Hudak, Lauren Lake, Heather Krick at Seacrets Happy Hour

Kerri Smith accepting from MSBA President David Shapiro the Best Section Award for a Program Benefiting the Public

Lauren

Rima Kikani (left) on the panel for Are You Smarter than a Law Clerk

Section Members Maso Hamilton and Alexander Geraldo at the Maryland Bar Foundation Fundraiser with Jamie Alvarado-Taylor

Maya Zegarra, Christian Noble, and son

Emmanuel Fishelman participating in Are You Smarter than a Law Clerk