Diversity Newsletter

March 2016

A Note from the Chair – Diversity Developments at Mintz Levin

 

Tyrone Thomas

Tyrone Thomas, Chair
Mintz Levin Diversity Committee

I recently had the pleasure of speaking at a seminar on diversity and inclusion in the workplace where it was said that, “Diversity is about who is on the team. Inclusion is about who gets to play.” That is a tremendous analogy and captures the essence of the firm’s core values for inclusion. As Mintz Levin furthers its standing as a leader and facilitator of diversity in the legal profession, we look forward to new programs and partnerships (including those listed in this newsletter) that will enhance the quality and strategic thinking of our team.

One good problem to have is a number of acknowledgments regarding diversity achievements in between newsletter cycles. Therefore, I hope you enjoyed the recent “Highlights in Diversity Achievements,” which celebrated special achievements of our colleagues that have brought recognition for themselves nationally and regionally, but also solidified our firm’s standing as a diversity leader. We encourage our clients and alumni to share their accomplishments furthering diversity and inclusion so that we may support and recognize them in the future.

  Tyrone Thomas

 

 

 

In This Edition

» MIATTY Retreat

» Marriage Equality Seminar

» Women’s Leadership Seminar

» Recent Diversity Achievements

» Spotlight: Jessica Catlow

 

MIATTY Retreat

On October 22 and 23, the firm’s attorneys of color gathered in New York City for the annual Mintz Levin MIATTY Retreat to spend a day discussing issues faced by minority attorneys. On the 22nd, the retreat kicked off with a sunset rooftop cocktail party for all New York office attorneys and members of MIATTY, followed by dinner for just MIATTY members.

MIATTY members were welcomed by Steve Gulotta, the head of the New York office. Steve’s welcoming remarks were followed by Bob Bodian’s humorous but astute take on the critical need for diverse viewpoints within every institution. MIATTY then received updates on the firm’s plan for recruiting of minority candidates from Shannon Davis, and a primer on “How the Soup Gets Made” from David Ballinger.

While the retreat did not have a formal theme, a singular focus emerged from the discussions: leveraging relationships and legal excellence for promotion. The first formal discussion of the retreat – “Moving up within Mintz” – was an interactive discussion among Senior Associates and Members about leveraging exceptional legal skills. Later in the day, Pedro Suarez, Fred Hernandez, and other key MIATTY members shared business development strategies for success as a Mintz Member.

The highlights of the retreat were two afternoon panel discussions, each rounding out the de facto theme of promotion through excellence. Tyrone Thomas moderated the first of these – a candid conversation about succeeding as an attorney of color, with distinguished guests Michael Henry (Chief Compliance Officer for Merchant Banking and Real Estate Investing, Morgan Stanley), Emerson Moore II (General Counsel, TMP Worldwide), and Reginald M. Rasch (General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Rakuten Marketing). These in-house attorneys shared valuable insight on success and also on navigating the occasional speedbumps on the road to success. In particular, they advocated being true and authentic to one’s identity, initiating and developing strong relationships (internally and externally), and above all, becoming indispensable by providing stellar service.

The second panel discussion of the afternoon was with Mintz Levin alumni Sedi Doobay (General Counsel, Resins and Chemicals, Honeywell), Jennifer Cukier (Senior Counsel, HBO), and Omar Khondker (Head of Regulatory Relations, JPMorgan Chase). The panel was moderated by Narges Kakalia and the discussion revolved around career trajectories and life after Mintz Levin. These alumni reflected on the skills they acquired at Mintz Levin (being innovative, leveraging Mintz Levin’s entrepreneurial spirit, developing a specialty, building a personal brand), as well as what they could have done differently in the early stages of their own careers. Again, the message from these panelists was consistent with the theme of the entire retreat — do excellent work, be nimble and open-minded, and keep climbing the success ladder. The panelists also discussed the importance of diversity to each of their institutions’ recruiting and outside counsel hiring practices.

 

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San Diego Office Hosts Marriage Equality Seminar
with Client ThermoFisher

On August 4, 2015, following the Supreme Court’s Obergefell marriage equality decision, Jen Rubin teamed up with Peter Kim, Vice President and Chief Employment Counsel for ThermoFisher, Inc., the Human Rights Campaign, and San Diego’s Tom Homann LGBT Law Association, to celebrate the decision with a seminar regarding Obergefell’s impact on employment policies and benefits in the workplace and on other legal rights. A month later, Jen and Peter teamed up again, but this time for a webinar on marriage equality for ThermoFisher’s entire workforce. Both the seminar and webinar were very well attended and well received by the community and represented another opportunity for Mintz Levin to demonstrate its longstanding support for the LGBT community.

 

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Women’s Leadership Seminar

Under the coordination of Meredith Leary, leader of the firm’s Women’s Initiative, Mintz Levin recently hosted an interactive workshop for all women attorneys. The program, titled “The Centered Leadership Model: Thriving as Professional Women,” was conducted by Grant Thornton and was focused on content developed by McKinsey and taught at Fortune 500 companies all over the world. The attendees learned about and discussed the latest research and insights from leadership experts, neuroscientists, and women leaders. The program included a Mintz Levin panel moderated by Meredith Leary and featuring Susan Berson, Lisa Glahn, Ann-Ellen Hornidge, and Julie Korostoff. The program was a great success internally and we are in discussion with Grant Thornton to collaborate on a potential joint program for our clients.

 

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Recent Diversity Achievements

 

Yalonda Howze

Yalonda Howze, a Member of the Litigation Practice, has been named a recipient of the Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys Association’s Ida B. Wells Award.

The Ida B. Wells Award is named for the remarkable civil rights leader and women’s rights activist. The award recognizes women who, through the practice of law, exemplify the pioneering spirit and perseverance of Wells.

The award will be bestowed at the Association’s 35th year celebration on Saturday, April 9th at the Boston Langham Hotel.

 

Cynthia Larose

Cynthia Larose, Chair of the Privacy & Security Practice and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP), has been recognized by the National Diversity Council (NDC) as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology.

Recipients of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology awards are designated by the NDC as the most prominent women leaders in their industry. They drive change, innovation, and inspiration while contributing to business growth.

The award will be given at NDC’s Top 50 Women in Technology Awards Dinner on October 13th in San Francisco.

 

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Spotlight: Jessica Catlow, Member

 

Jessica was elevated to Member in May 2015 and has been previously honored as both a New York Super Lawyers “Rising Star” and a Chambers USA “Associate to Watch.” She is based in the firm’s New York office.

ML:

Tell us a little about your practice.

 

JC:

I represent senior executives and companies in all matters regarding compensation.

 

ML:

You have been identified by Chambers and other legal publications as an attorney to watch, and last spring you were named a Mintz Levin Member. What advice do you have to offer young, diverse attorneys who are pursuing their goals?

 

JC:

Always ask yourself if you are doing the best that you can do. Be responsive, strive to learn as much as you can, ask questions, and challenge yourself. It’s critical that clients and colleagues trust you — you have to demonstrate that they can. You can’t just expect it.

 

ML:

As an employment lawyer, have you advised clients on diversity in the workplace, and why does it matter to them?

 

JC:

Yes. While I have never advised an employer to hire a particular person because of a diversity goal, I have advised that diversity generally is a positive goal and important for business. People’s perceptions are based on their experience, and experience is shaped by that person’s unique position in the world. Two people can view one problem and come up with very different solutions, because of their unique perceptions. One attorney may see things that the other cannot.

 

ML:

Tells us about your life outside of Mintz Levin. What keeps you busy outside of work?

 

JC:

At least every other week I see some sort of performance or art, and I dance somewhere at least once a month. While at home I garden, eat, make things, and read lots of books. I just binge watched the second season of Transparent. Brilliant.

 

ML:

Are there any little known facts about yourself that you could share with us?

 

JC:

I travelled in seven countries in Africa when I was 24 years old for six months — much of that time on my own. I have been to a few other countries in Africa since and hope to see them all one day.

 

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Diversity Committee

Tyrone Thomas, Chair
Member, Washington, DC
[email protected]

Theresa Carnegie
Member, Washington, DC
[email protected]

Jessica Catlow
Member, New York
[email protected]

Shannon Davis
Director of Legal Recruiting, New York
[email protected]

Peter Demuth
Member, Boston
[email protected]

Francis Earley
Member, New York
[email protected]

Meryl Epstein
Member, Boston
[email protected]

Christopher Gosselin
Practice Group Manager –
Bankruptcy, Public Finance & Real Estate
[email protected]

Brian Hall
Marketing Manager
[email protected]

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]

Cynthia Larose
Member, Boston
[email protected]

Marty Lorenzo
Member, San Diego
[email protected]

Gauri Punjabi
Associate, Boston
[email protected]

Dawn Saunders
Member, San Diego
[email protected]

Terri Shieh-Newton, PhD
Member, San Francisco
[email protected]

Benjamin Sigel
Associate, Boston
[email protected]

Wendy Starr
Director of Human Resources, Boston
[email protected]

Sahir Surmeli
Member, Boston
[email protected]

 

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