Diversity Newsletter

Summer 2018

Message from the Chair

A terrific by-product of the firm’s three consecutive years of record growth is the ability to increase engagement on diversity and inclusion efforts in the legal community. The firm has been privileged to share background on efforts that have increased diversity and financial growth with valued clients, leaders of affinity bar associations, and distinguished experts in the area of inclusion. An example of this shared thought leadership was the participation of Managing Member Bob Bodian on a panel with senior in-house counsel and other law firm leaders at the Boston Symposium on Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession hosted by Vertex in May. We look forward to further opportunities to work with the in-house bar to share strategies for success on inclusion.

With the increased engagement on diversity across the firm, we are encouraging all firm citizens to participate in our Do One Thing initiative. Started in 2014, this initiative encourages everyone to lead, support, or create an idea that is supportive of diversity and inclusion, here at Mintz Levin and in the community. We would love to hear the great things being done across the firm, so please share your activity with Bobbie Jo Kalamaras.

In This Edition

» ACC Diversity & Inclusion Sponsor

» Citi & Mintz Levin’s International Women’s Day Celebration

» Upcoming Unconscious Bias Training

» LCLD Fellow

» MIND Your Business Webinar: Diversity and Business Development – A Powerful Combination

» Out & About: Diversity at Mintz Levin

» Recent Diversity Achievements

ACC Diversity & Inclusion Sponsor

Mintz Levin is the 2018 Diversity & Inclusion sponsor for the Association of Corporate Counsel - Northeast Region. Engagement with in-house counsel is an important piece of our diversity efforts and we regularly evaluate opportunities to develop these relationships. Through our relationship with ACC, we are able to engage in diversity and inclusion efforts with a number of in-house counsel.

As part of our sponsorship, the Boston office hosted an event featuring attorney, author, advocate, and TV personality Areva Martin. The program, “Rise to Influence – Developing Your Brand to Lead and Succeed,” included a lively discussion with Ms. Martin regarding personal branding, creating visibility, and tips from her new book Make It Rain! Ms. Martin shared tips on how to build a personal brand that creates the visibility, influence, and power needed to become a successful lawyer and leader. We have a limited quantity of books still available. Contact Bobbie Jo Kalamaras if you would like a copy.

Citi & Mintz Levin’s International Women’s Day Celebration

Mintz Levin celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting an evening of discussion and networking highlighting women’s economic impact on the global economy. This event was kicked off with an overview of Citi’s Women in the Economy report from co-author Dana Peterson. Panelists, including Meredith Leary (Chair of the Mintz Levin Women’s Initiative), discussed ways to empower women investors and the role of companies in increasing women’s economic independence and reducing workplace inequality. The interactive evening ended with networking over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.

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Unconscious Bias Training

This fall, Mintz Levin will host Unconscious Bias Training in each of our offices. The trainings will be facilitated by Nextions under the guidance of Dr. Arin Reeves, a nationally recognized researcher, author, and advisor in the areas of leadership and inclusion. We all are subject to unconscious bias and it impacts many aspects of our lives in interactions and decision-making. The training will focus on the unintended effects of unconscious bias, including how it impacts productivity, team dynamics, and overall effectiveness, and the benefits of being more conscious in our decision-making.

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Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow Gauri Punjabi

Gauri Punjabi was named as Mintz Levin’s 2018 LCLD Fellow. The LCLD Fellows Program is a year-long professional development series focused on leadership and relationship building. Each year, fellows are invited to attend in-person conferences and participate in peer-group projects to foster collaboration and build relationships, and they are given opportunities for extensive contact with LCLD’s top leadership, including the general counsel who host the fellows for Learning Experiences and Leadership Lunches.

Gauri notes that her experience so far “has been extremely rewarding for me, both professionally and personally. Not only have I expanded my professional network, but the in-house and private practice attorneys I have met through the program have helped me develop skills to become a more effective attorney in my own practice. As the first Mintz Levin fellow, I’m happy to be in a position to help raise the firm’s profile among the tight-knit LCLD network.”

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MIND Your Business Webinar:
Diversity and Business Development – A Powerful Combination

Susan Berson and Tyrone Thomas sat down with the firm’s business development team for the fifth installment in its series of MIND Your Business webinars, “Diversity and Business Development – A Powerful Combination.” The discussion focused on how growing client concerns about diversity are making it increasingly important to think about the constitution of the client service team. Susan and Tyrone also discussed Mintz Levin’s diversity profile (including helpful comparative information relative to peer firms) and shared tips on how to proactively engage clients in a conversation about diversity that can lead to new work opportunities. If you have not yet had a chance to listen to the webinar, the 17 minute recording is available on Mintzport.

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Out & About: Diversity at Mintz Levin

Trailblazers – 21st Century Women Leaders

The LA Office hosted Trailblazers – 21st Century Women Leaders at Shutters on the Beach. The event began with an introduction by Nada Shamonki, and featured a conversation facilitated by Arameh Zargham O’Boyle with Payal Kadakia Pujji, founder and executive chairman of ClassPass. Crystal Lopez ended the evening by facilitating the audience Q&A. We welcomed over 150 guests, including attorneys from several Mintz Levin offices. Everyone had a great time and left inspired. By all accounts, this event was a huge success!

2018 Member Retreat

This year’s Member Retreat was an enlightening experience, as the keynote speaker was Michele Mayes – vice president, general counsel, and secretary of the New York Public Library. In addition to being an accomplished member of the in-house bar who has also held leadership positions with Allstate Insurance, Colgate Palmolive, and Pitney Bowes, Ms. Mayes is a nationally respected champion for diversity in the legal sector. Ms. Mayes shared her thoughts on the outside counsel relationship and diversity in the legal profession. Her session closed with a Q&A facilitated by Tyrone Thomas.

HNBA Corporate Counsel Conference

In March, Pedro Suarez and Ben Sigel represented Mintz Levin at the HNBA’s Corporate Counsel Conference in San Francisco, where the firm was a sponsor. The conference provides opportunities for outside counsel to network with representatives from Fortune 500 Companies. The theme of this year’s conference was “Innovate” and focused on what’s next in law and how to get ahead of the curve with respect to trends and opportunities that are changing the face of the legal industry.

The firm will continue its support of the HNBA as a sponsor of its annual meeting in Philadelphia in September. This annual meeting will have special meaning for the firm as our own Ben Sigel will be sworn in as president of Region I of the HNBA. Congratulations Ben and good luck!

Greater Boston Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) Conference

In March, Joseph Wang participated on a panel at the Greater Boston APALSA Conference, Work, Society, and the Asian American Identity, which addressed how Asian American identity enhances and affects our legal practice. Angel Feng, Hana Sahdev, and Catherine Xu joined Joseph in representing Mintz Levin in the Speed Networking event at the conference.

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Recent Diversity Achievements

WILEF Gold Standard Certification

Mintz Levin was one of 42 firms recognized with the 2018 Gold Standard Certification Award from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF), an organization dedicated to advancing the interests of women at law firms. Gold Standard Certification is given to firms that have shown a dedication to advancing the interests of women in law firms. Each year WILEF changes the standards in an effort to raise the bar for attaining Gold Standard status. We are honored to be recognized this year.

Working Mother

Mintz Levin was named among Working Mother magazine’s Best Law Firms for Women in 2018. The annual list honors 60 US law firms that utilize best practices around retaining and promoting women lawyers. This is the second time Mintz Levin has been recognized with this honor. The key factors that contributed to the firm’s recognition include our gender neutral parental leave policy and our commitment to retaining and promoting women attorneys.

Tyrone Thomas

Tyrone Thomas has been recognized by Savoy Magazine as one of the “2018 Most Influential Black Lawyers.” Savoy recognizes the “best of the best” of Black lawyers who are partners within leading national law firms and also corporate counsel from Fortune 1000 corporations. This special issue focuses on showcasing visionaries, leaders, and advocates within the legal profession who are widely recognized for their professionalism, protection of rights, and community service.

Rebecca Lee and Ben Sigel

Rebecca Lee and Ben Sigel were named to Get Konnected!’s second annual GK100: Boston’s 100 Most Influential People of Color list, which recognizes those making positive contributions to the Greater Boston community while serving as role models for the next generation of leaders. Get Konnected! is Boston’s premier urban, professional, social, and multicultural networking event. Honorees were recognized at the March 27 event held at the Boston Foundation.

Meghan Burke

Meghan Burke was named vice president of Women in Public Finance, a national organization focused on advancing women’s leadership opportunities in the public finance industry. Meghan was previously president of the organization’s Boston chapter and has served on its national board of directors for two years.

Don Davis

Don Davis was recognized by the DC bar as a Social Justice Changemaker for his work on LGBTQ issues. Don was featured in the Washington Lawyer for his advocacy for LGBTQ rights. He has worked with LGBTQ advocacy organizations since 2010 and currently serves as the president of the LGBT Bar Association of DC. Don also sits on the board of directors of Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL). Don recently co-authored the LGBTQ Employment Law Practice Guide.

Joshua Briones and Ralph Campillo

Joshua Briones and Ralph Campillo were recognized as two of the 50 Most Influential Minority Attorneys in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Joshua and Ralph have been tremendous in increasing our firm’s brand not only in the LA business community, but also within diverse associations in the legal community.

Narges Kakalia

Narges Kakalia was recognized by Crain’s New York Business on its list of Leading Women Lawyers in New York City, including 100 women who have both distinguished careers and exceptional civic and philanthropic activities. In addition to her litigation practice, Narges serves as the firm’s ombudsperson and manages the pro bono program in the New York office.

Arameh Zargham O’Boyle

Arameh Zargham O’Boyle was one of 75 women named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s list of Most Influential Women Attorneys, which recognized LA-area women for their exceptional legal skill and achievement across the full spectrum of responsibility, for their exemplary leadership, and for their contributions to the Los Angeles community at large.

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Diversity Committee

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