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June 2016

LAWYERS CLUB NEWS

INSIDE THE FIFTH ANNUAL GENERAL COUNSEL ROUNDTABLE LUNCHEON, Featuring Martha Wyrsch of Sempra Energy

THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE gives The Center a renovation

ROUNDTABLEGeneral Counsel

June 16

2 june 2016Lawyers Club News

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President’s Message to Members

Elevating Our Members Elevates Equality I can’t believe this is my last newsletter article! The year has truly flown by. It has been

an incredible year for me personally, and I am so honored to have served as Lawyers Club President. But, I have always known this year was never, and could never, be about me. This year was about our members and our organization. This year has been about how we can elevate our members so we can change those numbers!

We have all worked very hard this year to raise the profile of our members to provide leverage in salary negotiations, promotion discussions, partnership tracks and to increase the overall confidence of our members. The

more confidence one gains, the easier it becomes to advocate for oneself. It is easier to advocate for oneself when there is a strong support network like Lawyers Club to help along the way.

We have elevated our members in several critical ways: We have featured more members in our newsletter and on our website; we have dedicated 10 minutes at each luncheon for business referrals; we have created a referral and employment forum; we have selected members to be our speakers on panels, luncheons and events; and we have created a culture of encouragement. We have created an organization where we are comfortable and secure to ask for help in advancing our careers and accomplishing our goals. Our members have been recognized with local, state and national awards through Lawyers Club’s awards nominations. Lawyers Club’s endorsements have helped with County Bar elections, judicial races, and for our members’ own professional advancement.

We, together as members, help refer business and nominate each other for recognitions which are deserved, but which may have otherwise been unrecognized. We have committed to support each other in meetings to ensure that credit for one another is not missed; to stop the “mansplaining” and to be each other’s allies. We are changing the discussion to focus on

our members’ merits and not their looks; to build each other up and not participate in tearing each other down. Our members are role models, mentors, friends and colleagues. All of us serve as examples to each other and the community at large in living the values of equality.

As we continue to support our members we will see our members reach new goals, both personally and professionally. It is important to continue to elevate our members, to raise our members’ profiles and to show the community the powerhouse that is Lawyers Club. I am so proud to have been a small part in this incredibly important effort. I am dedicated to continue to be not only a voice, but to take actions to ensure women are treated equally, judged for our merits and not our gender or our appearance, and to have parity with our colleagues.

This year has reminded me of the resolve each of us has for our mission. It has illustrated the dedication of our members, the generosity of our sponsors, and the commitment of our community to advance the status of women in the law and society. I leave my presidency more motivated than ever to continue to fight for the advancement of women, to continue to raise our voice in unison for our fellow members so we can all elevate within this great community of ours. I will continue to work with each of you to not only break that glass ceiling, but to crush it so that it can never be restored. I stand with each of you, and I have deeply appreciated the support I received throughout this year as we stand together for equality.

Deborah Dixon Senior Trial Attorney, Gomez Trial Attorneys

Ms. Carmela Birnbaum

Ms. Amy Chambers

Ms. Melanie Delgado

Ms. Elida Espinoza

Ms. Rachel Gelb

Ms. Hananh Girer-Rosenkrantz

Ms. Eden Goldman

Ms. Alexandra Gonzales Buchanan

Ms. Injae Kang

Ms. Hoori Khandani

Ms. Tatiana Kline

Mr. Matthew La Terza

Ms. Julie Lewin

Ms. Erin Morgan

Ms. Tran Nguyen

Ms. Linh Nguyen

Ms. Barbara Norman

Ms. Safora Nowrouzi

Ms. Kate Oliver

Mr. Bryan Pease

Mr. Michael Shanahan

Mr. Phillip Simpler

Ms. Ramisi Sukumu

Mr. Andrew Sussman

Mr. Phillip Tencer

Ms. Suneeta Tumati

Ms. Jeanne Vanderhoff

Ms. Helen Zeldes

New Member List


Lawyers Club of San Diego

402 West Broadway, Suite 1260, San Diego, CA 92101

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

[email protected]

PresidentDeborah Dixon

Vice PresidentsEric Ganci

Shalini KediaJamie Quient

Bhashini WeerasingheTreasurer

Jennifer ChangSecretarySusan Swan

Assistant SecretaryAmanda AllenDirectorsOlga Alvarez

Danna CotmanTara Duester

Rebecca KanterFrann Setzer

Sara SimmonsNorth County Chapter

PresidentDanielle Hultenius Moore

Co-EditorsTara Duester

Carla Sanderson Staff Articles Coordinator

Kate LangmoreMember Profile Coordinator

Roxy CarterExecutive Director

Elaine LawrencePrograms & Events Coordinator

Rhianna MarasAdministrative Coordinator

Mary Ordonez

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 tduester@sheppardmullin.

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 Elaine@

lawyersclubsandiego.com.

Fifth Annual General Counsel Roundtable Discussion Featuring Martha B. Wyrsch of Sempra Energy

By Carla Sanderson

Join the Professional Advancement Committee of Lawyers Club as it hosts the Fifth Annual General Counsel Roundtable Luncheon on Thursday, June 16 at The U.S. Grant Hotel. This event will feature keynote speaker Martha B. Wyrsch, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Sempra Energy.

Wyrsch has had an extensive career in the male-dominated energy industry. Before joining Sempra Energy in 2013, Wyrsch served as president of Vestas American Wind Systems, the Portland, Oregon-based affiliate of Danish-owned Vestas Wind Systems A/S. Previously, Wyrsch served nearly 10 years at Duke Energy and its spin-off, Spectra Energy Corp. Before entering the energy industry, Wyrsch practiced corporate law in Denver, Colorado.

Following Wyrsch’s presentation, attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage in breakout roundtable discussions with general counsel from the San Diego legal community. The general counsel table leaders represent a wide variety of industries and companies and will lead interactive dialogue about the importance of diversity in their leadership roles.

Thank you to all the general counsel who have graciously committed as table leaders for the luncheon: Rose Bowlus, Noble Americas Energy Solutions; Scott DeNike, Seirus Innovative Accessories, Inc.; James Edwards, Cubic Corporation; Karen Landers, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System; Paul Najar, Gafcon, Inc.; Michelle Philo, Adtile Technologies; Jared Quient, BayWa USA; Bill Sailer, Qualcomm Incorporated; Janine Sarti, Molina Healthcare, Inc.; Brittany Applestein Syz, San Diego Gas & Electric Company; Eden Yaege, Square One Development Corporation; and more!

Do not miss this unique opportunity. For more information on the luncheon, contact coordinators Morgan Wazlaw ([email protected]), Megan Walker ([email protected]), or Carla Sanderson ([email protected]).

Carla Sanderson is an associate at TencerSherman LLP, a co-editor of Lawyers Club News and a coordinator for the General Counsel Roundtable Luncheon.

Martha Wyrsch

What: General Counsel Roundtable LuncheonWhen: Thursday, June 16, 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.Where: The U.S. Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101Cost: Members, $30; Non-members, $45; Students, $20.Register: www.lawyersclubsandiego.com Sponsor: Gresham Savage Nolan & Tilden, PC

What? When? Where?


Acclaimed Trial Attorney Therese Lawless Offers Perspective and Suggestions at Lawyers Club’s Fourth Annual Equal Pay Day LuncheonBy Arlene Yang

Therese Lawless, a renowned plaintiff’s employment attorney and women’s advocate, urged Lawyers Club members and representatives of 19 equality-focused local organizations to work together to ensure equal pay for women and fair working environments, at Lawyers Club’s Fourth Annual Equal Pay Day luncheon on April 12 at The U.S. Grant Hotel. Lawless made national headlines last spring, when she represented Ellen Pao in her gender discrimination case against the famed venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins.

Equal Pay Day symbolizes the day in the year that a woman must work in order to earn what a man earned in the previous year. As Lawyers Club President Deborah Dixon noted, “Women could solve a lot of the world’s problems if we had another 550 hours of time that we did not have to work to make up for what men made last year.”

Lawless, a partner at the San Francisco-based firm of Lawless & Lawless, addressed a full house. She focused her remarks on three areas: the studies and statistics documenting the pay gap, new and pending legislation to combat pay disparities, and personal reflections on her background and the Ellen Pao case.

Lawless provided stark examples of the pay gap. For example, she explained, “What is particularly frightening is the evidence that when women enter fields in greater numbers, pay declines, even though they are doing the very same jobs as men. For example, janitors, usually men, earn 22% more than housecleaners and maids, typically women. For those of you who counsel clients who work in the tech field, the median wages of IT managers—mostly men—are 27% higher than human resources managers—mostly women.” On the legislative front, Lawless noted that there was good, but slow, progress. She discussed the implications of California’s new Fair Pay Act, which makes it easier for an employee to prove discrimination. Lawless also described California State Assembly Bill 1676, which prohibits an employer from asking for salary history information about an applicant to help to prevent a wage gap from being perpetuated.

Lawless argued that the pay gap is part of the larger problem of implicit and unconscious biases against women. She reflected that Ellen Pao’s case against Kleiner Perkins was representative of the many cases that pass through her office each year–so many women are not permitted to advance and are subjected to double standards.

Lawless explained that even though Ellen Pao lost her case, it was still valuable. She explained, “Ellen Pao brought to the eyes of the world something that many of us knew was going on. And during that trial, when she received letters, emails, gifts from around the world, when women stopped us on the streets and said “thank you.”..I knew then, that while we lost, in the eyes of public opinion, we won.”

She ended her talk stating, “This is a fight that we have to do together. This is not just about women. This is about our culture and our society. And I do have hope that things are getting better.”

In response to her speech, Equality and Action Committee Co-Chair Frann Setzer, remarked that “Lawless not only educated us on the strides made in California regarding Equal Pay, she also pointed out the work that still needs to be done.”

Swan Employment Law generously sponsored the luncheon. Stephanie Reynolds and Rebecca Reed coordinated the event. The Equality and Action Committee, led by co-chairs Amanda Allen and Frann Setzer, thank all of the supporting organizations.

Arlene Yang is Of Counsel at Brown Law Group, and a member of Lawyers Club’s Equality and Action Committee.

Frann Setzer, Stephanie Reynolds, Therese Lawless, Rebecca Reed, Deborah Dixon, and Amanda Allen.

Keynote speaker Therese Lawless shares the importance of equal pay for equal work.

Hon. Susan Finlay (Ret.), Hon. Cindy Davis, and Hon. Tamila Ipema show their support for Equal Pay Day.


HonoredCalifornia Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani

Cantil-Sakauye selected Justice Judith McConnell, administrative presiding justice of the Fourth Appellate District Court of Appeal, for the Chief Justice’s Award for Exemplary Service and Leadership in May. McConnell, who was honored for her work in civic learning, chairs a non-partisan statewide civic learning initiative called the Power of Democracy Steering Committee, which partners with school districts to provide civic learning opportunities for students.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Tamila Ipema was honored with the Friend of the Community Award by the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association at its annual dinner in April.

Three Lawyers Club members were named 2016 Top Women Attorneys in California by the Daily Journal in May. The list includes: Juanita Brooks, a principal at Fish & Richardson PC; Karen Hewitt, a partner at Jones Day; and Stephanie Reynolds, a partner at Pope Berger Williams & Reynolds LLP, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in June.

Thomas Luneau, a partner at CaseyGerry, has been elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only national association comprised of the country’s leading judges and trial lawyers. Luneau focuses his practice primarily on serious personal injury and premises and products liability – including cases involving defective industrial drilling machinery, motorcycle lane splitting injuries, concussion injuries, wrongful death and more.

ScholarshipsThe National Association of Women Judges

awarded California Western School of Law third-year law student Safora Nowrouzi an Access to Justice Scholarship in April. Nowrouzi, who is producing a documentary about the LGBT community in Iran, has served in leadership roles in Pride Law and the Middle Eastern Law Students Association.

Sworn InBen Aguilar, managing attorney of the Law

Offices of Ben Aguilar, was sworn in as president of the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association at its annual dinner in April.

On the MoveAlison Adelman has joined Schwartz Semerdjian

as an associate. She represents individuals and business entities in civil litigation matters including employment, business tort, and personal injury. Adelman is a 2015 graduate of University of San Diego School of Law and previously practiced civil litigation with her father, Marc Adelman.

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

About Us

Lawyers Club Members Making NewsBy Jodi Cleesattle

Hon. Judith McConnell Hon. Tamila Ipema

Juanita Brooks Karen Hewitt

Stephanie Reynolds Thomas Luneau

Ben Aguilar Alison Adelman

...changed jobs? ... spoken at a professional conference?

...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.

HAVE YOU...


Demystifying Pregnancy and Maternity Leave LawsBy Abigail G. Stephenson

Navigating the web of pregnancy and maternity leave laws is no easy task, especially in California. Because the laws related to pregnancy, childbirth, and baby bonding have developed over time, the laws protecting rights related to those life events—and all that goes with them—are not found in one single location. Rather, there are a number of applicable and overlapping statutes and regulations at both the state and federal levels. This article covers the nuts and bolts of the various applicable bodies of law. Not every exception or nuance is covered (there are simply too many), nor are the laws included that relate to nursing or discrimination. Instead, the following paragraphs offer a basic starting place to understanding a woman’s rights during this exciting time of life.FN

The laws can be broken down into two main categories: (1) job protection laws; and (2) wage replacement laws.

Job and Benefit ProtectionFamily Medical Leave Act of 1993 (“FMLA”) (29 U.S.C. §§ 2601-2654)

Under the FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of job and benefit protected leave during a 12-month period for several reasons, including: (1) an employee’s serious health condition which renders the employee unable to perform one or more essential functions of the employee’s position; and (2) the birth of a child to an employee, to care for the child. 29 U.S.C. §§ 2612(a), 2614.

California’s equivalent to the FMLA is housed within the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) (Cal. Govt. Code §§ 12900-12996) under the pregnancy disability leave law (“PDL”) (Cal. Govt. Code § 12945) and the California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”) (Cal. Govt. Code §§ 12945.2 and 19702.3). Generally, PDL leave is taken before the birth of a child and CFRA leave is taken after the baby has arrived.

California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (“PDL”)

PDL provides eligible employees with up to 4 months (the working days you normally would work in one-third of a year or 17-1/3 weeks) of job-protected leave if the employee becomes disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, is unable to perform any one or more of the essential functions of her job, or is unable to perform those functions without undue risk to herself, the successful completion of her pregnancy, or to other persons. Cal. Govt. Code § 12945(a); 2 Cal. Code Regs § 11035(f ). An employee also may be considered to be disabled by pregnancy if, in the opinion of her health care provider, she is suffering from severe morning sickness or needs to take time off for: prenatal or postnatal care; bed rest; gestational diabetes; pregnancy-induced hypertension; preeclampsia; post-partum depression; childbirth; loss or end of pregnancy; or recovery from childbirth, loss or end of pregnancy. 2 Cal. Code Regs § 11035(f ).

PDL does not make the employee eligible for leave under the CFRA, and time off due to pregnancy disability therefore does not count against an employee’s 12-week CFRA entitlement, as discussed further below.

California Family Rights Act or Moore-Brown-Roberti Family Rights Act

CFRA closely resembles FMLA, and CFRA regulations incorporate by reference FMLA regulations to the extent they are not inconsistent with CFRA regulations or other state laws. 2 Cal. Code Regs § 11096. Thus, as with FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of job and benefit protected leave during a 12-month period for the birth of a child. Cal. Govt. Code § 12945.2. CFRA, however, does not permit leave for an employee’s disability caused by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Id. Such leave is covered in California under PDL as discussed above. Leave that is common to both FMLA and CFRA runs concurrently. 2 Cal. Code Regs § 11090(b).

Job/Benefit Protection Eligibility/Applicability ChecklistFamily Medical Leave Act of 1993 and California Family Rights Act

FMLA and CFRA apply to all private employers with 50 or more employees on each working day during each of 20 or more workweeks in the current or preceding year. 29 U.S.C. § 2611(4); 29 C.F.R. § 825.104; Cal. Govt. Code § 12945.2; 2 Cal. Code Regs § 11087(d)(1).

In order to qualify for leave and other benefits under FMLA or CFRA, an employee must: (1) have been employed by the employer for at least 12 months; (2) worked for at least 1250 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the first day of leave; and (3) worked at a worksite where 50 or more employees are employed by the employer within 75 miles. 29 U.S.C. 2611(2); 29 C.F.R. §825.110(a); Cal. Govt. Code § 12945.2; 2 Cal. Code Regs § 11087(e).

Even if neither FMLA or CFRA apply to an employee, that employee is eligible for the same benefits or medical leave to which any other disabled employee at that employer is entitled under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.) as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e(k)) and FEHA (Cal. Govt. Code § 12940(a)). Essentially, employers must treat pregnancy and childbirth like other causes of disability under benefit plans such as health or disability programs, although it is a little archaic that pregnancy, the natural process of bringing human life into this world, is considered a “disability.” Additionally, employees of employers with five or more employees may be eligible for disability leave under PDL.

California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (“PDL”)

PDL applies to all employers regularly employing five or more employees. Cal. Govt. Code § 12926(d); 2 Cal. Code Regs § 11035(h).

Each female employee who becomes disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition is entitled to job reinstatement and other benefits under PDL. Cal. Govt. Code § 12945(a). There is no required length of service or number of hours worked in the year prior to the commencement of the leave.

FOOTNOTE This material is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.


Wage Replacement LawsCalifornia State Disability Insurance (“SDI”)

SDI is a partial wage replacement program funded through employee tax contributions available to any employee who needs time off due to her own non-work related injuries, illnesses, or conditions, including pregnancy or related medical conditions that prevent her from performing her regular or customary work. Cal. Un. Ins. Code §§ 984 and 2626(a)-(b). Employees apply for SDI through the California Employment Development Department. Weekly benefits range from $50 to a maximum of $1,129. Employment Development Department, Disability Insurance Benefit Amounts, available at http://www.edd.ca.gov/disability/State_Disability_Insurance_(SDI)_Benefit_Amounts.htm (last checked May 9, 2016).

Generally, an individual’s weekly benefit amount is 55 percent of the employee’s earnings up to the maximum weekly benefit amount. Id. For many lawyers because their income exceeds the annual wages to receive the maximum weekly benefit amount ($104,283.68), the percentage of their income replaced will be less than 55 percent.

An employee may receive up to 52 weeks of SDI benefits. Id. As a rule of thumb, it is fairly standard for a woman to receive four weeks of SDI coverage prior to the birth of a child and six weeks following a vaginal birth or eight weeks following a caesarian section.

For purposes of SDI, an employer is “any employing unit which has ... one or more employees”; thus, employers of every size must withhold the required taxes and employees of even the smallest of employers are eligible to receive for SDI payments. Cal. Un. Ins. Code § 675.

California Paid Family Leave or Family Temporary Disability Leave (“PFL”) (Cal. Un. Ins. Code §§ 3300-3306)

PFL is also a partial wage replacement program funded through employee tax contributions available to employees who suffer a wage loss when they take time off from work to bond with a new child. Cal. Un. Ins. Code § 3300(e). Employees apply for PFL through the California Employment Development Department and the benefit amounts mirror those available under SDI. Employees may receive up to 6 weeks of PFL benefits in a 12 month period. Cal. Un. Ins. Code § 3301(d). Because the Internal Revenue Service has determined PFL benefits are in the nature of unemployment compensation, the benefits are taxable income at the federal level.

Federal Law –nonexistent

Unfortunately, no federal laws exist which provide women with wage replacement in connection specifically with pregnancy or child birth related leave. Although beyond the scope of this article, Social Security Disability benefits generally apply only to persons with long-term disabilities, i.e., disabilities lasting longer than a year or which will result in death. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1505(a).

Wage Replacement AlternativesSalary Continuation by employer (oft referred to as “Integration” or

“Cooperation”)

At first glance, it appears that an employee’s benefit amount is reduced by any other wages received during a period when the employee is covered under SDI or PFL. However, an employee’s SDI or PFL benefits are only reduced to the extent any additional wages combined with the benefits would exceed the employee’s weekly wages before the benefits were being received. Cal. Un. Ins. Code § 2656. In other words, an employer may “make the employee” whole from a compensation standpoint while the employee is on leave by “integrating” or “coordinating” payments from the employer in addition to the benefits the employee is receiving from the State of California. Information

about the procedure to integrate/coordinate is found here: http://www.edd.ca.gov/disability/FAQ_Integration_Coordination.htm.

Paid Time Off

Under the FMLA and the CFRA, an employee may elect to substitute employer-provided paid leave for unpaid leave and employers may require an employee to do so. 29 CFR § 825.207(a); 2 Cal. Code Regs § 11092(b).

Short-Term Disability Insurance

Some employers and private insurance companies may offer short-term disability insurance which could offer wage replacement for women disabled by pregnancy or child birth.

NegotiationThe job protection and wage replacement laws discussed above provide

a floor, not a ceiling on an employee’s leave and other benefits afforded due to pregnancy and childbirth. Employees, especially lawyer employees, can and should use their powers of persuasion to secure the pregnancy and baby bonding leave most appropriate for that particular employee. In approaching such a negotiation, an employee should: (1) review the articulated benefits listed in the employee handbook; (2) consider whether the employee’s desires and expectations are consistent with the benefits provided under law or the employer’s policies; and (3) bridge the gap, if it exists, by meeting with an appropriate supervisor and expressing the desired benefits (ideally, in a way that illustrates to the employer that what is desired is mutually beneficial). Any agreement reached should be memorialized in writing for both the employee and employer to refer back to.

ConclusionPregnancy and child birth are exciting, life changing, stressful, and heart

opening times of life. Education on both the employee and employer side can help ease the transition for all involved into the new phase of the employee’s life. Employers who are flexible and accommodating will likely reap the rewards of creating a work environment supportive of women and families. And open communication throughout an employee’s pregnancy and maternity leave will facilitate a smooth transition back into the work place including any accommodations an employee needs after returning to work such as a private place to nurse or pump.

Additional Resources- United States Department of Labor Family and Medical Leave Act: https://

www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/ (includes links to general guidance as well as fact sheets, employer posters, forms, interpretive guidance, and applicable statutes and regulations).

- California Department of Fair Employment and Housing Brochures and Posters: http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Publications_Publications.htm (includes links to “Your Rights and Obligations as a Pregnant Employee” (DFEH-100-20) and “Family Care and Medical Leave (CFRA Leave) and Pregnancy Disability Leave” (DFEH-100-21)).

- California Employment Development Department About the State Disability Insurance Program: http://www.edd.ca.gov/disability/About_the_State_Disability_Insurance_(SDI)_Program.htm (includes general information and links to information regarding SDI and PFL).

Abbey Stephenson is an associate at Blanchard, Krasner & French, the 2016 Coordinator for Lawyers Club’s Take Your Child to Work Luncheon and Mock Trial, and is a member of Lawyers Club’s Professional Advancement Committee.


Quient is an associate at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, where she represents companies and municipalities in all areas of civil litigation with a focus on intellectual property and insurance bad-faith litigation. Prior to joining Procopio, she served as a judicial law clerk to Southern District Court Judge Michael M. Anello. Quient is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and Wilfrid

Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. Before starting law school, Jamie spent two years as a paralegal at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York, New York.

Throughout her career, Quient has dedicated time to advancing the status of women and increasing diversity in the legal profession. In May of 2014, Jamie spearheaded Lawyers Club’s Human Trafficking Task Force, an initiative to engage the legal community in the fight against human trafficking in San Diego. Under Quient’s leadership, the Task Force has grown to over 150 members and has become a key player through education, outreach, and advocacy.

Quient first became involved in Lawyers Club as law school liaison for the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Women’s Resource Fair, which has long been co-sponsored by Lawyers club, where she organized law student volunteers and collected toiletry donations from all three San Diego law schools.

Reflecting on when she first joined Lawyers Club, Quient noted, “I immediately felt at home with Lawyers Club. Everyone was so welcoming and supportive. Many of the people I met when I first joined became mentors and friends – and have been instrumental in my personal growth and professional advancement.”

After graduating from law school, Quient served on Lawyers Club’s Professional Advancement Committee. She was later tapped by then-president Sarah Boot to launch the Networking Events Committee, which

developed a number of signature programs including the popular “Thirsty Thursday” Happy Hours and the International Women of Color Day Reception.

In 2013, Quient was elected to serve on the Lawyers Club Board of Directors. During her tenure on the board, along with co-chairing the Human Trafficking Task Force, she also co-chaired the Membership Development Committee and served as vice president of the Community Relations Section.

Looking to the year ahead, Quient commented: “I am truly honored to lead this incredible organization and to work with our amazing board, staff and committee leadership. I am humbled to follow such incredible past-presidents – I aim to honor their legacy by continuing the work they started and cultivating the next generation of leaders to carry on the fight for women’s equality for years to come.”

Tara Duester is a Labor Employment associate at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, a co-editor of Lawyers Club News, and a member of Lawyers Club’s Board of Directors.

Meet Jamie Quient – Lawyers Club’s Incoming PresidentBy Tara Duester

Jamie Quient, current vice president of Community Relations and co-chair of the Lawyers Club Human Trafficking Task Force, will serve as the 2016-2017 president of Lawyers Club. Her term begins on July 1.

Jamie Quient

Outgoing Lawyers Club President Deborah Dixon with incoming President Jamie Quient.


Lawyers Uncovering their Magic Marketing Message By Anna C. Howard

What is a Magic Marketing Message? For attendees of the workshop, the answer was presented by Kathleen Harp who presented several individualized marketing strategies. On the evening of April 19, about twenty-five members of Lawyers Club and the North County Bar Association met at Hera Hub, a large co-working space in Carlsbad, to participate in “Building a Brand that Reflects What You’re Worth.”

The program began with wine and light snacks, and the spokesperson for the North County Committee of Lawyers Club, Renie Leakakos, introduced the speaker. Harp got underway immediately by sharing three main goals: how to get found, how to get ‘clicked’, and how to inspire action. Specifically, Harp discussed how to optimize key word searches, what a LinkedIn profile should contain or avoid, what elements a headshot needs to make the lawyer appear most trustworthy, and how to entice good leads to get in touch while discouraging nuisance calls. There were so many helpful tips and insights that the author of this article took over three pages of notes!

After speaking to the group for about twenty minutes, Harp encouraged everyone seated at small tables to complete branding self-assessment sheets. Lawyers employed at law firms were especially encouraged to assess their content on Avvo, Yelp, Facebook and LinkedIn. Solo practitioners pulled up one anothers’ webpages and compared business cards. At the same time, Harp visited each small table and shared more of her expertise.

One lawyer mentioned, “I thought the event was interactive, and the speaker has great ideas about websites.”

At the end of the program, Harp returned to the front of the room to pull up sample websites, business cards, and promotional materials from each small table to gather more feedback from the audience. She fielded questions and facilitated an engaging group discussion about how to ‘triage’ social media exposure. The program ended right on time, and attendees applauded enthusiastically for Harp.

“She is such an expert on this important issue,” observed another lawyer present.

Leakakos announced the next North County Committee meeting: May 17 at 5:30 at Hera Hub Carlsbad, and encouraged participants to be on the lookout for the annual Taste of North County mixer event next fall.

Should any readers of this article wish to connect with Harp or learn more about her tips and ,suggestions contact Leakakos at [email protected].

Anna C. Howard is the founding attorney of A. C. Howard Law and active member of the North County Committee of Lawyers’ Club.

Branding profiler, Karleen Harp, explains strategies to build a better brand.


The Annual Take Your Child to Work Event Took Participants to a Galaxy Far, Far AwayBy Kristen Marquis Fritz

Lawyers Club members and their children gathered at the Bristol Hotel for the annual Take Your Child to Work Luncheon hosted by the Professional Advancement Committee on Thursday, April 28. Children were encouraged to dream about their future, be inquisitive, and work hard to achieve their goals.

After lunch, younger children made career-oriented crafts and older children participated in a mock trial. The mock trial, based on the latest Star Wars movie, was written and presided over by Judge Joan Weber. Light saber-wielding Lawyers Club members escorted participants and their parents to the Superior Court. Once assembled before Weber, the children role-played as parties, attorneys, witnesses, jury members, and courtroom staff. The Force was strong as the children immersed themselves in the trial of Rey for the attempted murder of Kylo Ren. In her defense, Rey asserted she only hit Kylo Ren with a light saber to protect her friend, Finn.

When the weapon was introduced into evidence, Weber exclaimed, “This is the coolest exhibit I have ever had in my courtroom!”

After the defense rested and the jury was instructed, the children retired to the jury room to deliberate. The jury was not unanimous, with only 4 of the 16 members believing Rey was guilty, thus leading to a hung jury.

Following the trial, Presiding Judge Jeffrey Barton spoke to the group, explaining his job and telling the children that he would see them “in a few years” when it was time for them to serve on a jury “for real.”

Weber and her staff then spoke about their jobs and generously answered many probing questions from children and parents alike. For example, one participant asked if the courtroom deputy had ever been tased (a complicated answer); and one asked why Kylo Ren himself was not on trial since he killed Han Solo (requiring an explanation of prosecutorial discretion). Weber then showed participants her chambers, easily chatting about everything from the legal process to powdered wigs. The deputy also showed children the holding cell. Finally, children

were invited to sit at the bench, bang the gavel (which they did vigorously), and have their photos taken.

When asked what they thought of the event, many children responded that it was “cool” or “fun.” Bianca Miller’s “favorite part was going on the tour down to the tank.” Joshua McCoy raved, “The best part was how realistic it was.”

Member Tamera Weisser shared a sentiment common to several parents: “My son looks forward to this every year and he was so excited to participate this year.”

Member Lindsay Stevens observed that the event was “a great opportunity for our kids to see what we do every day.”

As the event concluded, chatter in the courtroom was animated, and children and their parents remarked about what they had seen and done as they left to return to “work.”

Lawyers Club thanks generous title sponsors Louis Masry and Rosa Florentino of Millennium Settlements, Inc.

Kristen Marquis Fritz is an attorney with Fritz Legal, and is a member of the Lawyers Club’s Professional Advancement, Bench Bar, and Networking and Events Committees.

Community Outreach co-chair Michele Macosky and her family, Mathew Davis, Justin Davis, and Jeremy Davis.

Teodora Purcell, and her daughters Danika Purcell and Katrina Purcell enjoy the luncheon before the mock trial.

First group mock trial participants join Hon. Weber at the bench.

Children and parents listen intently as San

Diego Presiding Judge, Hon. Jeffrey Barton

explains the court system.


San Diego County Bar Association AwardsBy Alara Chilton

Five Outstanding Lawyers Club Members Receive County Bar Awards

Five Lawyers Club members received 2016 San Diego County Bar Association (“SDCBA”) Service Awards on May 6, 2016 at SDCBA’s Annual Law Week Luncheon and Celebration of Community Service.

The Honorable Tamila Ipema of the San Diego Superior Court received the Outstanding Jurist Award. Judge Ipema has led the National Association of Women Judges’ Mentor Jet/ Color of Justice Program, which hosts an annual luncheon event for high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds and provides them the opportunity to meet and be mentored by judges and lawyers.

Lawyers Club board member Olga Álvarez received the Service to Diversity Award for her outstanding service in promoting and encouraging diversity within the legal profession. Álvarez currently co-chairs the Lawyers Club Membership Committee. Álvarez is also an active member and past board member of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association. Álvarez is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, and is co-founder of Heisner Álvarez, APC, where she litigates both trust and probate disputes.

Long-time Lawyers Club supporter George Brewster was honored with the Outstanding Service by a Public Attorney Award. Brewster is Chief Deputy of the Office of County Counsel and has been a public attorney for 32 of his 33 years in practice. Brewster is currently a member of the Lawyers Club Advisory Board, and serves on the board of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Additionally, Brewster formerly served as a Lawyers Club board member (elected twice) and chair of the Lawyer’s Club History and Archives Committee. Brewster is also a past president and

board member of the First Courthouse of San Diego, Inc., a non-profit that oversees the Courthouse Museum in Old Town State Park.

Frederick Schenk was recognized with the Community Service Award for his outstanding service to the needs of the community. Schenk was appointed in 2011 to the 22nd District Agricultural Association, otherwise known as the Del Mar Fairgrounds Board. Schenk has taken on a variety of roles in the organization, including past president. Schenk has also served as president of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center of San Diego, and the Washington, D.C.-based Civil Justice Foundation, a national non-profit charitable organization. Schenk is a partner at Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt and Penfield, where he handles products liability and serious personal injury cases.

Brigid Campo received the Outstanding Service by a New Lawyer Award. Campo co-chairs the Lawyers Club Leadership Development Committee and co-chairs the SDCBA Children at Risk Committee. She is also a past board member of the SDCBA’s New Lawyer Division Board of Directors. Campo practices family law with the Law and Mediation Firm of Klueck & Hoppes, APC.

Alara Chilton co-chairs the Lawyers Club Awards Committee and owns the Law Office of Alara T. Chilton.

Honorable Tamila Ipema Olga Álvarez

George Brewster

Frederick Schenk

Brigid Campo

Champion TitleHeisner Alvarez

AceGomez Trial AttorneysCasey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt

& Penfield LLPDTI GlobalAptus Court Reporting

EagleABC Family LawAntonyan MirandaBoyd Law APCDuane Morris LLP

Louis Masry & Rosa Florentino for Millennium Settlements

Jones Day

BirdieFisher & Phillips, LLPFragomen Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy, LLPKlinedinst PCOverland & Shannahan Wealth Advisors,

Inc.Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP

LuncheonShelburne Sherr

Silver AnnualBest, Best & Krieger LLPBrown Law GroupCalifornia Western School of LawCooley LLPDLA Piper LLP (US)Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLCFish & Richardson, P.C.Foley & Lardner LLPHiggs Fletcher & Mack LLPJackson Lewis P.C.Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLPLatham & Watkins LLPLittler Mendelson, P.C.

Mintz Levin Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLPSan Diego Gas & ElectricTencerSherman LLPThorsnes Litigation ServicesUnion BankUniversity of San Diego School of Law

Hole-In-One SponsorWestPac Wealth Partners, LLC

Hole SponsorRobert Half LegalSan Diego Courtroom ReportersVeritext LLC

Thank You To Our 2016 Golf Tournament Sponsors


Community Outreach Committee Project at The Center Winds DownBy Christine M. Chacon

Some hard-working and enthusiastic Lawyers Club volunteers gathered on April 30, a rainy Saturday morning, to implement Phase 1 of the Community Outreach Committee’s (COC) project benefiting the San Diego LGBT Center. The Center, located in Hillcrest, is a local organization with dual goals of promoting human rights and LGBT health. Women are highlighted throughout all of the services offered at The Center. They come to The Center for professional counseling, legal referrals, family reunification services, HIV testing, healthcare enrollment, housing, peer-led support groups, free computer classes and other necessities.

While most volunteer events occur rain or shine, the weather presented the committee with a challenge. The committee’s project for that weekend was scheduled to include outdoor painting. Volunteers quickly learned that surfaces should not be painted until three days after even the lightest rain, so they would not be able to paint as planned. This change in plans did not thwart the group of energized volunteers who fervently built two large planters, painted some interior spaces, and pressure-washed the building’s front patio and retaining walls.

Five Lawyers Club volunteers worked for eight hours straight to carefully build up two outdoor planters under the experienced direction of COC veteran Merrianne Dean and Mike Palladino. Volunteers chiseled and sawed cinder blocks, mixed mortar, and carefully placed and leveled the blocks to ensure that there were no holes or cracks in the planters. The detailed and physically exhausting work resulted in two new planters that are aesthetically pleasing while providing protection from flooding during the next El Nino rains. Volunteers spent hours prepping and painting inside The Center. The results of the volunteers’ work made quite the contrast.

Kate Langmore, of Bohm Law Group, commented that “it was incredibly rewarding to see how our efforts made such a visible impact.” After she completed painting a colorful interior staircase, she said “It’s amazing what a new coat of paint can do to brighten up a room!”

This project exemplifies the benefit of local partnerships and camaraderie. It was made possible at a low cost thanks to the committee’s fundraising efforts, a generous paint donation by Sherwin Williams Paint Store in downtown San Diego, a donation from The Home Depot’s Fairmount and Genesee locations, tools and supplies provided by Merrianne Dean, of The Dean Law Group, and the contracting expertise of both Dean, and Mike Palladino of Milestone Home Inspections.

A special thank you to our volunteers: Christine Chacon, Michael Chacon, Jeremy Davis, Justin Davis, Matthew Davis, Merrianne Dean, Erin E. Dillon, Dr. Harry Heeder, Nicole Heeder, Kate Langmore, Michele Macosky, Jylan Megahed, Mike Palladino, and Jennifer Suberlak.

The second and final phase of the project is expected to occur over the weekend of May 14.

Christine M. Chacon is a trust and estates attorney at Walsh Law Firm, APC, serving as Co-Lead for the project at The Center with Nicole Heeder of Law & [M]ocean.


A Celebration of History and Diversity at the International Women of Color ReceptionBy Yahairah Aristy

Spellbound silence took over when keynote speaker Judge Elizabeth A. Riggs (Ret.) began to share her inspiring story. Riggs overcame racial inequities when she became the first and only African-American woman judge in San Diego County in 1979. On March 29, Lawyers Club members, supporting diversity bar members, and members of the judiciary, came together to celebrate Lawyers Club’s International Women of Color Reception, which was graciously sponsored by and held at Higgs Fletcher & Mack, LLP.

Riggs began by sharing stories about her upbringing in Camden, New Jersey. Her father worked in the United States Post Office, her paternal grandfather fought in the Civil War, and her mother was the first African-American Bill Clerk. Riggs graduated third in her class from Bennett College. Next, after witnessing her hard-working father become the victim of racial profiling, Riggs decided to attend law school, and graduated from Rutgers University School of Law.

Riggs explained that her life story is best told through the Langston Hughes poem “Mother to Son,” which begins, “Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up . . . But all the time, I’se been a climbing on.”

Riggs shared obstacles that accompanied her achievement of becoming the first African-American woman judge in San Diego County. For 21 years she remained the only African-American woman judge, serving in El Cajon. Guests were mesmerized by Riggs, and many were clearly moved with emotion as they nodded their heads with admiration for a woman who overcame great challenges with grace and humor.

Riggs described how despite being deemed

exceptionally qualified, her appointment was questioned. Riggs decided: “If my currency was being black and a female, so be it.”

Riggs wove poetry throughout her speech, including an excerpt from the poem “Andrea del Sarto” by Robert Browning: “Ah, but a [wo]man’s reach should exceed h[er] grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”

Riggs also reflected on her life via Maya Angelou’s poem, “And Still I Rise,” reading to those gathered: “Out of the huts of history’s shame, I rise, Up from a past that’s rooted in pain, I rise, I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise, Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, I rise, Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave…I rise, I rise, I rise.”

Lawyers Club’s Diverse Women’s Committee co-chair Elvira Cortez and International Women of Color Reception coordinator Shanly Hopkins presented Riggs with a certificate of appreciation. Riggs stayed after her speech, mixing and mingling with the guests who enjoyed wine from Gen 7 and a delicious spread catered by Waters. It was especially touching when Riggs posed for a picture with the fifth African-American woman appointed

in San Diego County to the Superior Court, Judge Tilisha T. Martin, who stepped down as a co-chair of the Diverse Women’s Committee when she was appointed to the bench on November 17, 2015.

Riggs concluded with words of wisdom to the women in the crowd: “Build your voice, speak the truth, and remember choosing a profession in law makes you phenomenal women.”

The International Women of Color Reception is held in March, women’s history month, to celebrate the courage and achievements of women of color as well as to recognize the struggles that still remain. The Fourth Annual International Women of Color Reception was supported by the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego, Iranian American Bar Association San Diego Chapter, Korean-American Bar Association of San Diego, Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, San Diego Chinese Attorneys Association, San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, South Asian Bar Association of San Diego, and Tom Homann LGBT Law Association.

Yahairah Aristy is a criminal defense attorney at the Office of the Public Defender and a member of the Diverse Women’s Committee.

Samara Hakim, Shanly Hopkins, Kate Lee Carey, Elvira Cortez, Angelica Sciencio, and Bhashini Weerasinghe.

Hon. Tilisha Martin and keynote speaker, Hon. Elizabeth Riggs (Ret.).

Guests enjoy an evening of networking.


Lawyers Club Swearing In of New Board Members at the July Monthly LuncheonBy Tara Duester

President-elect Jamie Quient and Lawyers Club will soon welcome five new board members: Roxy Carter, Elvira Cortez, , Carla Sanderson, Rebecca Zipp and Lawyers Club’s first North County Regional Director, Renie Leakakos. The new board members will be installed at Lawyers Club’s July luncheon, and will join current board members Amanda Allen, Olga Alvarez, Jennifer Chang, Danna Cotman, Tara Duester, Rebecca Kanter, Frann Setzer, Sara Simmons, and Susan Swan.

The new board members will serve three year terms. They were elected from a slate of eight candidates, each of whom has been active within Lawyers Club and has demonstrated the principles of Lawyers Club as practicing attorneys. Each new board member will bring their unique and diverse backgrounds to the Board of Directors, the members of which oversee the activities of the organization and serves as liaisons to Lawyers Club committees. We are excited to welcome the new board members and share their background.

Since joining Lawyers Club, Roxy Carter has co-chaired the Bench Bar Committee, served as a coordinator for the LC Newsletter, organized golf lessons, crafted raffle baskets, assisted with event logistics, and authored

several newsletter articles. After graduating from University of San Diego School of Law and passing the bar in 2008, she spent several years working in nonprofit management. Carter’s responsibilities ranged from grant writing and budget management to event facilitation and substantive program development. She currently practices summary civil litigation and represents low-income tenants.

Elvira Cortez is currently the chair of the Diverse Women’s Committee (DWC). As Chair of DWC, Cortez planned a number of events, including the October Luncheon featuring Speaker of the State Assembly Toni Atkins

and the International Women of Color Reception featuring Hon. Elizabeth Riggs (Ret.). Cortez also organized brown bag luncheons with prominent local speakers to advise DWC members on issues affecting women in the legal profession. She is also active on the Membership Development Committee. Cortez is an associate at Sullivan Hill, specializing in construction defect, insurance defense, and general civil litigation. As a board member, Cortez says she, “plans to create small workshops on issues directly affecting women lawyers and draw more experienced lawyers in the community to assume leadership positions.”

Renie Leakakos, a Managing Attorney and Shareholder at Leakakos Law, APC, will serve as Lawyers Club’s first-ever Regional Director for North County. Leakakos joined Lawyers Club after returning to Southern

California in 2012. Since then she has served on various committees including Annual Dinner, Membership Development, and has also chaired the Bylaws & Policy and North County Committees. As a North County attorney and resident, she is an active member of the North County Bar Association, serving as Lawyers Club liaison to the North County Bar Association for two years. Leakakos has helped plan events including Champagne & Cupcakes, Taste of North County, Thirsty Thursday, Concerts in the Park and more. Leakakos is also active in organizations which support women such as Hera Hub, where she enjoys mentoring other women business owners.

Carla Sanderson also joins the Board of Directors in 2016 after many years in Lawyers Club’s leadership, including serving for three years as the Associate Editor and now Co-Editor of Lawyers Club News. She also serves as a coordinator

for the General Counsel Roundtable June Luncheon through the Professional Advancement Committee, and previously co-chaired the Student Committee, volunteered for San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Women’s Resource Fair, and participated in the Community Outreach Committee’s Read-Ins. In May, at this year’s Annual Dinner, Sanderson was honored as recipient of the C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer Award. Outside of Lawyers Club, Sanderson is involved in the Welsh Inn of Court, Jewish Family Services of San Diego, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Pro Bono Panel Program. An associate at TencerSherman LLP, Sanderson’s practice focuses on school district defense, employment, and business litigation.

Rebecca Zipp insists that Lawyers Club first served her and that she now seeks to serve Lawyers Club. Since 2013, she served as Lawyers Club’s liaison to the Coalition for Reproductive Choice (CRC). In this role, she planned

CRC’s annual dinners, instituted an annual retreat, and served as both Vice Chair and Chair. A past co-chair of Lawyers Club’s Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee (RRWAC), Zipp currently co-chairs the Awards Committee and remains active on RRWAC. In 2015, Lawyers

Club honored Zipp with the prestigious C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer Award. Zipp joined the District Attorney’s Office after graduating from New York University School of Law. Zipp counts forty-five jury trials, ranging from real estate fraud to murder, on her resume that includes a Master’s Degree in Education she earned while teaching in a Bronx public elementary school. In 2012, Zipp was named Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year by MADD San Diego. Recently, she initiated a program to educate senior citizens about securities fraud. In her spare time, she is a leader in the networking and mentoring group Women Prosecutors of San Diego.

Lawyers Club also thanks its outgoing Vice Presidents: Eric Ganci, Shalini Kedia, and Bhashini Weerasinghe, and outgoing Director Danielle Moore.

Kedia felt grateful for the opportunity, saying “serving on the board has been a great honor and will be a highlight of my professional career.”

Moore, a board member and also a long-time North County President, has left a lasting legacy by fostering Lawyers Club’s North County presence over the past several years. Of her time on the board, Moore says she is most proud of “having made lasting connections with successful women who are now colleagues, clients and friends, and who serve as a support network as I continue to grow in my career and as a working mom.” Moore also credits her Lawyers Club service as having had an impact on her firm, saying “it has helped me shape and strengthen our own efforts to advance women internally and externally.”

Ganci was honored to serve on the board and plans to continue his passionate support for Lawyers Club. “Serving on the Lawyers Club board is hands down one of the most important opportunities I’ve had,” Ganci says. “It is so important to continue pushing equality forward in every form, and Lawyers Club’s focus and initiatives really help keep us progressing as a profession.”

Of her service, Weerasinghe said, “I feel truly privileged to have served on the board for the last three years and have enjoyed the collaborative atmosphere of Lawyers Club.” She also has high hopes for the incoming class, commenting that she is “happy to see the dedication these leaders have already shown Lawyers Club and look forward to seeing how they shape our organization.” Weerasinghe plans to stay involved at the committee level and by attending the “extraordinary events” Lawyers Club puts on year round.

Tara Duester is a Labor & Employment associate at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP, and is a co-editor of Lawyers Club News and a member of Lawyers Club’s Board of Directors.


Member ProfilesStacie L. Patterson

Yale Law School graduate Stacie L. Patterson focuses on criminal defense and professional license defense, and has owned her own law practice for over seven years. Prior to opening her office, Patterson worked for a private firm and served as a public defender.

Patterson joined Lawyers Club because it provided her with an opportunity to “network, meet

interesting attorneys and think about issues in ways that [she] had not before.”

Patterson has been a member of Lawyers Club for over a decade. She was involved with the Diverse Women’s Task Force, and has served on

Lawyers Club’s Board of Directors. Through her involvement with Lawyers Club, Patterson has met and befriended many lawyers in the San Diego Community. Serving on the Lawyers Club Board also provided Patterson with an opportunity to develop her leadership skills.

Patterson is married with two teenage daughters and three cats. In her free time, she cultivates personal fitness goals and is committed to meditating on a regular basis. Patterson is happiest when she is outside near a lake, the ocean, trees, or big rocks.

Roxy Carter is a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, co-chair of Lawyers Club’s Bench Bar Committee and member profile coordinator of Lawyers Club News.

Jan MulliganUniversity of San Diego law graduate Jan

Mulligan represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice and other types of catastrophic personal injury cases with Mulligan, Banham & Findley.

Mulligan joined Lawyers Club in 1982 because it was a “safe zone with like-minded people in a time when the practice of law didn’t have many female mentors readily available.”

Lawyers Club lived up to Mulligan’s expectations. Through her involvement, she has met mentors and life-long friends. She has also gained valuable experience in leadership roles. In addition to chairing Lawyers Club’s Judicial Endorsements Committee for five years, Mulligan has served on Lawyers Club’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

Mulligan’s family life is as impressive as her legal accomplishments. Mulligan met husband Harvey Berger in law school in 1979. The couple has one daughter, a medieval scholar, and will soon have a son-in-law. Mulligan also enjoys a close relationship with her parents who live one block from her and who join her family for weekly Sunday dinners. Mulligan’s two dogs, Dolce and Siri, complete her happy clan.

Not surprisingly, Mulligan considers a healthy work-life balance her greatest achievement, noting, “It takes incredible effort and it sometimes threatens to get out of whack, but overall, it has brought me a fulfilling marriage, a fabulous career and amazing friends and family. This balance is possible in part because I am fortunate to work with talented people who are smart, industrious, ethical and genuinely nice, caring individuals. I love what I do and I am grateful for the people in my life.”

Roxy Carter is a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, co-chair of Lawyers Club’s Bench Bar Committee and member profile coordinator of Lawyers Club News.

Claudia D. GarciaClaudia D. Garcia works as a family law attorney at

her firm, The Law Offices of Claudia D. Garcia, APC. Before Garcia opened her firm in 2001, she worked with the Legal Aid Society of San Diego and the San Diego Department of Child Support Services.

Garcia is a proud, single mother of two boys: Michael, 26, and Diego, 17. Michael attends Medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Diego is a high school student. In her free time she enjoys cooking,

reading, running and taking long walks.

Garcia joined Lawyers Club in 2014, recognizing she possessed many of the values identified in the Lawyers Club mission, including a shared commitment to advancing women in society. Through her involvement in Lawyers Club, she has especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet amazing individuals and the many programs made available to members.

Garcia hopes to become more involved with Lawyers Club in the future by participating in committees, including the Diverse Women’s Committee and the Community Outreach Committee.

When asked which talent she would most like to have, Garcia shared: “Although I am bilingual, I would love to have the ability to learn more languages.”

Collette Tesauro is an Associate Corporate Counsel for AMN Healthcare and is a member of Lawyers Club’s Equality and Action Committee.


4The number of CaseyGerry attorneys who are Past-Presidents of diversity

bar organizations

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Legislative UpdateBy: Amanda LoCurto

Federal:House Blocks Troop Access to Abortion Services. Under HR 2126,

a 1996 Department of Defense (“DOD”) appropriations act, the DOD cannot provide abortion care at defense medical facilities, except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother’s life.

House Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced HR 4909, an amendment in the House Armed Services Committee, which would have enabled service members to obtain out-of-pocket abortion services.

However, that amendment failed by a vote of 37 to 25. Opponent Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) stated that no one is preventing a service member from accessing off-base state abortion facilities. However, as a result of state-level targeted regulation of abortion-providers laws, multiple abortion clinics have closed. Many hurdles exist for service members to access off-base facilities. For example, overseas service members may be stationed in a country that bans abortion, and service members at home must disclose personal health information to their commanding officer to obtain permission to travel off-base.

AmeriCorps Targeted by Anti-Choice Groups. AmeriCorps volunteers at health centers often provide medical care to low-income people. A recent investigation revealed that six of its more than 75,000 volunteers were trained as abortion doulas to provide emotional support to women receiving abortions. As a result, AmeriCorps was found to be in violation of Section 132 of the Serve America Act (the federal statute authorizing the AmeriCorps program). After calls from anti-choice lawmakers, the National Association of Community Health Centers issued a statement saying it “moved to immediately cease the activity in question, and suspended the identified site’s AmeriCorps members for a period until they and their supervisors were retrained…,” and added that all of its sub-grantee program coordinators were retrained. NARAL Pro-Choice America has launched a campaign to repeal the so-called “gag rule” in the federal law prohibiting AmeriCorps volunteers from discussing abortion care with those they are commissioned to help.

State:Mississippi: Bill to Update Outdated Divorce Laws Fails. SB 2418, which

would make domestic violence a justification for divorce, failed in the Mississippi Senate in April 2016. Under current state law, if both spouses do not agree to divorce, the spouse seeking divorce must settle on unfavorable terms or claim one of the 12 grounds allowed by state law, and the court will decide whether to grant it. Domestic violence would have been the 13th ground had SB 2418 passed. Domestic violence victims usually allege “habitual cruel and inhuman treatment.” However, that ground is difficult to prove because one must demonstrate the abuse was “habitual.” State Senator Sally Doty (R), who sponsored the bill, stated that it failed due to another ground for divorce, “which would be separation for at least two years.” Sen. Doty plans to reintroduce a new version of the bill next year.

Texas: Medication Abortion on the Rise After FDA’s Label Change. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved a label change for mifepristone, the drug used in medication abortions. As a result, medication abortions in Texas have increased dramatically. HB 2 is a 2013 omnibus abortion bill that prohibits abortion-inducing drugs from being dispensed by anyone other than a physician, and requires that administration of the drugs follow FDA protocols as “outlined in the final printed label of the abortion-inducing drug.”

The new FDA labeling protocol has had a positive impact on reproductive health in Texas, according to Sarah Wheat, chief external affairs officer at Planned Parenthood. Wheat stated: “From our perspective, it’s restoring options for women. It’s putting decisions back in the hands of women instead of politicians at the Capitol.”

Sixteen States: Legislation Introduced to Allow 12-Month Supply of Birth Control. Lawmakers have introduced state bills to allow pharmacists to dispense a year’s supply of contraceptives at one time and also require health insurance companies to reimburse for the year’s supply at the time the contraceptives are dispensed. These measures are already in effect in Oregon and the District of Columbia.

Twelve States: Legislation Introduced to Allow Pharmacists to Prescribe and Dispense Hormonal Birth Control. Details of each state’s bill differ as some require pharmacists to receive training and provide patient counseling (Hawaii and Iowa); some apply only to adults (Hawaii); while others apply to minors as well (Iowa).

South Dakota & Utah: Abortion Ban at 20 Weeks. South Dakota enacted a law banning abortions beyond 20 weeks post-fertilization (i.e., 22 weeks after a woman’s last period). The Utah measure requires the use of anesthesia for the fetus when an abortion is performed at or after that point. This measure increases the likelihood that abortion providers will stop performing abortions because health risks to women increase when anesthesia to the fetus is required. Another 12 states already have similar 20-week bans in place.

Amanda LoCurto is an associate attorney at Singleton Law Firm in Solana Beach and co-chair of the Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee. LEGISLATIVE


Wednesday, 6/1/16Lawyers Club Dine Around with Janice Mulligan5:30 p.m.Location will be provided upon registration

Wednesday, 6/1/16Lawyers Club Dine Around with Claudette Wilson5:30 p.m.Location will be provided upon registration

Friday, 6/3/16Lawyers Club Dine Around with Karen Hewitt6:00 p.m.Location will be provided upon registration

Friday, 6/3/16Lawyers Club Dine Around with India Jewell6:00 p.m.Location will be provided upon registration

Friday, 6/3/16Lawyers Club Dine Around with Patricia Hollenbeck5:30 p.m.Location will be provided upon registration

Friday, 6/10/16Lawyers Club Dine Around with Hon. Cindy Davis6:00 p.m.Location will be provided upon registration

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 5/12/16 – 6/18/16

Golf Lessons Tecolote Canyon Golf Course 2755 Snead Avenue, San Diego, CA 92111 Thursdays (Beginner): 5/12/16, 6/2/16, 6/9/16, 6/16/16 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Fridays (Beginner): 5/13/16, 6/3/16, 6/10/16, 6/17/16 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.Saturdays (Intermediate/Advanced): 5/14/16, 6/4/16, 6/11/16, 6/18/16

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, 6/16/16

Lawyers Club Monthly Luncheon: General Counsel Round Table12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.US Grant, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101

Friday, 6/24/16Lawyers Club Golf TournamentThe Country Club of Rancho Bernardo 12280 Greens East Road,San Diego, CA 92198

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.

June 2016

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Lawyers Club Annual Supporters 2016Diamond Annual SponsorGomez Trial Attorneys

Platinum Annual SponsorsABC Family LawAntonyan Miranda Boyd Law APCDuane Morris LLPJones DayLouis Masry & Rosa Florentino for

Millennium Settlements

Gold Annual SponsorsFisher & Phillips, LLPFragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen &

Loewy, LLP

PatronsMr. Marc AdelmanMs. Ann DynesMs. Joan FriedenbergMs. Danielle HickmanMs. Patricia HollenbeckHon. Evan KirvinHon. Sharon Majors-LewisHon. Judith McConnellHon. Paula RosensteinMs. Tracy Skaddan

Ms. Susan Swan

Sustaining MembersHon. Cynthia AaronMr. Steve AllenMs. Kimberly ArouhMs. N. Denise AsherHon. Katherine BacalHon. Jeffrey BartonHon. Cynthia BashantMs. Wendy BehanMs. Leslie BenderMr. Harvey BergerHon. Laura BirkmeyerMs. Gayle BlattMs. Sarah BootHon. Jill Burkhardt

Mr. Guillermo CabreraMs. Lesa ChristensonMs. Linda CiancioloMs. Jodi CleesattleMs. Diana CokerMs. Judith CopelandMs. Danna CotmanHon. Patricia CowettHon. Karen CrawfordMs. Cynthia CwikHon. Robert DahlquistMs. Darragh DavisHon. Cindy DavisMs. Deborah DixonHon. Bonnie DumanisMs. Ann DurhamMs. Christina DyerMs. Amber EckHon. Selena EpleyHon. Susan FinlayHon. Carol FraustoHon. Patricia GarciaHon. Christine GoldsmithHon. Irma GonzalezMs. P. Camille GuerraMrs. Kristin GuthrieHon. Maureen HallahanHon. Judith HallerMs. Cassandra Hearn

Ms. Karen HewittMs. Erika HiramatsuMr. J. Daniel HolsenbackMr. Lawrence HuertaMr. Richard HuverHon. Joan IrionHon. Carol IsacksonMs. Angela Jae ChunMs. Jessica JagirMr. Jay JeffcoatHon. Anthony JosephMs. Rebecca KanterHon. Julia KeletyMr. Gregory KnollMr. James KoerberMr. Peter LynchMs. Kathryn MaasMs. Michele MacoskyHon. Barbara MajorMs. Jerrilyn MalanaMs. Lilys McCoyMs. Denise McGuireHon. M. Margaret McKeownHon. Pennie McLaughlinMs. Julie MebaneMs. Michelle MierzwaMs. Suzy MooreMs. Danielle MooreHon. Dwayne Moring

Ms. Sandra MorrisMr. David NoonanMr. Ron OberndorferHon. Christine PateMs. Anne PerryMs. Regina PettyMs. Jamie QuientMs. Carra RhamyMs. Heather RileyHon. Charles RogersMs. Tracy RogersHon. David RubinHon. Janis SammartinoMs. Johanna SchiavoniMs. Elizabeth SchulmanMs. Abby Silverman WeissProf. Jacquelyn SlotkinMs. Beatrice SniderHon. Stephanie SontagMr. Todd StevensMs. Kimberly StewartHon. Ronald StynMs. Vickie TurnerHon. Theodore WeathersMs. Claudette WilsonHon. Joel Wohlfeil

Hon. Margie Gunthardt Woods

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 BirdMs. Betty BooneMs. Candace Carroll

Mr. Jose CastilloMr. Ezekiel CortezMs. Heather Forward

Mr. Josh GruenbergMs. Virginia NelsonHon. David Oberholtzer

Hon. Lynn SchenkMs. Tamera WeisserMs. Deborah Wolfe

Klinedinst PCOverland & Shanahan Wealth

Advisors, Inc. Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP

Silver Annual SponsorsBest Best & Krieger LLPBrown Law GroupCalifornia Western School of LawCooley LLPDLA Piper LLP (US)Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLCFish & Richardson, P.C.Foley & Lardner LLPHiggs Fletcher & Mack LLPJackson Lewis P.C.

Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLPLatham & Watkins LLPLittler Mendelson, P.C.Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo,

P.C.Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLPSan Diego Gas & ElectricTencerSherman LLPThorsnes Litigation ServicesUnion BankUniversity of San Diego School of Law

Corporate Annual SponsorsDTI GlobalAptus Court Reporting

24 june 2016

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