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Diversity Newsletter
Fall 2014
A Note from the Chair – Diversity Developments at Mintz Levin
I hope that all had a refreshing and enjoyable summer. I welcome you to read the great news regarding our ongoing diversity initiatives at Mintz Levin. As the new Chair of the Diversity Committee, I look forward to hearing your insight and concerns about how we can take the next step as a model law firm for diversity and inclusion.
In that respect, please feel free to share your activities, whether large or small, which have supported diversity in the legal profession. There are many unsung activities undertaken by our attorneys and staff, which your colleagues would love to hear about. Similarly, we always want to highlight diversity initiatives sponsored by our clients, and they in turn will benefit from seeing how we share their values on this important issue.
Thank you for your interest in diversity initiatives by taking a minute to read this newsletter. Your opportunity to support the firm’s diversity initiatives are endless and can range from volunteering to support an activity sponsored by one of the firm’s affinity groups, working on a pro bono matter for a client in an underserved community, or supporting our talent pipeline by referring diverse candidates not known to be in the job market. You will be proud of the work that we have done and even prouder of the work we are about to do.
In This Edition
» Diversity Spotlight: Geoffrey Why, Member, Boston
» Out & About: Diversity at Mintz Levin
» Upcoming Events
Geoff Why joined Mintz Levin in May of this year as a Member in the Communications Section. Prior to joining Mintz Levin, he served as the Commissioner (2009 – 2014) and General Counsel (2007 – 2009) of the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC). In his role as Commissioner, Geoff directed all administrative, legal, and policy priorities for the department.
ML: Tell us a little about your work in the community supporting diversity.
GW: |
I am the vice treasurer and serve on the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of the Asian Community Development Corporation, an organization devoted to serving the Asian American community of Greater Boston, with an emphasis on preserving and revitalizing Boston’s Chinatown. A big focus of this organization is developing affordable housing in Chinatown, to foster and maintain the neighborhood as a living, working community for families, services, and businesses.
I’m also the former commissioner with the Asian American Commission (AAC) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The AAC is a permanent body dedicated to advocacy on behalf of Asian Americans throughout Massachusetts, bringing together all segments of the Asian American community to help raise awareness of issues and achievements.
My son and I are volunteers at Ricesticks and Tea, a Boston-based Asian American food bank, where once a month we volunteer our time bagging groceries for low-income Asian American families. What’s different about this food bank is that it focuses on providing familiar foods to the Asian community — allowing families to continue to prepare and eat the types of meals that they know and embrace. |
ML: What organizations have you worked with that advance diversity in the legal profession?
GW: |
I was a long-time board member of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM). During my tenure at AALAM, we focused on increasing the diversity of the judiciary in Massachusetts. When I graduated from law school, there was one Asian American judge serving in the Commonwealth. Through efforts of the board and members of the AALAM, the number of Asian American judges in the state is more than a dozen today. I was also co-chair of the MA Office of the Attorney General’s Diversity Committee. One of the initiatives that we created was the AGO Fellowship Program, which we used as a recruiting tool to get more diverse candidates to the AG’s Office.
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ML: What is the focus of your practice here at Mintz Levin?
GW: |
I’m starting with building out existing relationships with our communications clients, such as T-Mobile, by deepening our work on the state regulatory side. I’d also like to build out newer areas of practice for the communications team, such as working with “competitive local exchange carriers” (CLECs). CLECs are often more entrepreneurial and nimble than the larger carriers, and need state regulatory advice to stay competitive in their local markets.
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ML: What advice would you give a young attorney today?
GW: |
I probably have a unique career path compared to many other attorneys at Mintz Levin. I would encourage anyone to identify and craft their personal story — what makes them different — and be able to share that story along the way. Lawyers are great at writing briefs — but sometimes not so great at writing a story or narrative of their own life and achievements. Being able to tell your story to your peers, leaders, and colleagues will help you obtain your goals.
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ML: Tell us a little about your life outside of Mintz Levin.
GW: |
I receive a lot of joy from my family — my wife and two sons. We like to spend time together as a family and most of my free time can be found enjoying time with them. My sons are both very active in music, tennis, and baseball, so we spend time as a family watching performances and games — it is very fun! I personally enjoy photography and documenting our family moments with photos. A little known fact about me is that I was a photographer for the first seven years of my career.
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Our New York office recently co-hosted a pro bono clinic with the City Bar Justice Center. Participants, comprised of current Mintz Levin attorneys as well as a few Mintz Levin alumni, met in Harlem to provide legal advice to low-income micro entrepreneurs. Our in-house counsel alumni found the event very rewarding and want more opportunities to do this kind of work in partnership with Mintz Levin. Our rock star attorneys dug in and advised 18 low-income entrepreneurs on every aspect of their legal and business needs, including entity formation, leasing, bankruptcy, dispute resolution, trademark, copyright, licensing, private placements, and crowdfunding. Here’s some of the feedback we received from the people we helped: “The attorney was knowledgeable, engaging, and willing,” “Very helpful and thorough with reviewing documents and giving advice,” and “Very productive session — attorney was pleasant, professional, and knowledgeable.”
On July 24 – 25, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference was held in Washington, DC.
The conference was an excellent opportunity to interface with in-house counsel and offered a great deal of practical advice relating to diversity issues, business development, and advancement. Speakers and attendees included the general counsels of Gap, Inc., NBCUniversal, DuPont Canada, and Huntington Ingalls, and assistant general counsels from corporations such as Microsoft, Target, HP, Wells Fargo, IBM, P & G, Bristol Myers Squibb, AARP, Prudential Financial, and General Electric.
Aarti Shah spoke on a panel titled “Speaking Your Client’s Language: Being a Lawyer and a Strategic Advisor,” and both Aarti and Dionne Lomax attended the conference. In addition, Mintz Levin sponsored a 10-person table at the Lunch Plenary session which included a presentation on the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Tyrone Thomas, Stephanie Willis, Angela Kung, Aarti, and Dionne attended the luncheon and were joined by several invited guests.
Marty Lorenzo hosted a Q&A session following the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s annual Congressional Reception, which was held in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. Marty, who co-founded NAPABA’s Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, is a decorated veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. Marty provided his unique insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Asian Pacific Americans in both the legal and military professions during a dinner following the reception.
Dionne Lomax and Stephanie Willis have been selected to serve as co-chairs of the Health Law Forum in the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia (WBA), along with Amanda Brino, a senior manager at Accenture. They will focus on planning networking and educational events related to health law topics throughout the 2014 – 2015 program year. Founded in 1917, the WBA is one of the oldest and largest voluntary bar associations in metropolitan Washington, DC. The WBA’s mission is to continue “maintaining the honor and integrity of the profession; promoting the administration of justice; advancing and protecting the interests of women lawyers; promoting their mutual improvement; and encouraging a spirit of friendship among [its] members.”
The Boston Chapter of SABA received an award for best chapter at the association’s annual convention. Our own Gauri Punjabi, who is president of the Boston Chapter, accepted the award on behalf of the chapter.
Marty Lorenzo was recognized by the Dean of the University of San Diego School of Law for his efforts on behalf of Mintz Levin to help the school recruit and retain a diverse student body. The Dean said, “Marty is truly demonstrating Mintz Levin’s commitment of service to the San Diego community by setting the standard for meaningful volunteerism and encouraging the next generation of lawyers to do the same.”
Andowah Newton was admitted to the US Supreme Court earlier this year. The formal admissions ceremony was followed by a private reception with Justice Ginsburg in a meeting room in the Supreme Court Building as well as an additional private reception with Solicitor General Verrilli.
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Mintz Levin San Diego will host Success Strategies for Women, a book launch and networking reception featuring author Rhonda Rhyne discussing her new book, Keys to the Corner Office.
» Event Details & Registration
MIATTY Retreat, Washington, DC
» Contact Tyrone Thomas for more information
Mintz Levin is a sponsor of the annual California Minority Counsel Program’s annual conference in San Francisco.
» Event Details & Registration
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Diversity Committee
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Tyrone Thomas, Chair
Of Counsel, Washington, DC
[email protected]
Betsy Burnett
Member, Boston
[email protected]
Theresa Carnegie
Member, Washington, DC
[email protected]
Shannon Davis
Director of Legal Recruiting,
New York
[email protected]
Peter Demuth
Member, Boston
[email protected]
Meryl Epstein
Member, Boston
[email protected]
Amy George
ELB & Health Law Practice Manager, Boston
[email protected]
Michelle Gillette
Member, San Francisco
[email protected]
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Kanasha Herbert
Associate, Boston
[email protected]
Fred Hernandez
Member, San Diego
[email protected]
Narges Kakalia
Member, New York
[email protected]
Heather Kelly
Senior Manager of Professional Development, Boston
[email protected]
John Koss
Associate, Boston
[email protected]
Cynthia Larose
Member, Boston
[email protected]
Marty Lorenzo
Member, San Diego
[email protected]
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Jennifer Rubin
Member, San Diego
[email protected]
Dawn Saunders
Member, San Diego
[email protected]
Benjamin Sigel
Associate, Boston
[email protected]
Wendy Starr
Director of Human Resources, Boston
[email protected]
Sahir Surmeli
Member, Boston
[email protected]
Aaron Tidman
Associate, Washington, DC
[email protected]
Renee Winchell
Marketing Manager, San Francisco
[email protected]
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