The Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership: Chicago
CenterForce is hosting the Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership Summit, an exclusive event dedicated to providing solutions and fostering collaboration in tackling the critical DEI challenges currently affecting the legal landscape in Chicago and surrounding areas.
Our summit takes a comprehensive approach to address the obstacles posed by the backlash against DEI initiatives and the consequences of Affirmative Action repeal, encouraging an insightful dialogue on the continuously evolving aspects of the legal profession.
We invite you to join us and be a part of this solution-oriented event. Connect with industry leaders and legal professionals for a day filled with powerful discussions, fresh perspectives, and practical strategies centered on empowering talent across socioeconomic lines, breaking down glass ceilings, and effectively navigating the ever-changing landscape of workplace diversity initiatives.
In addition to these enlightening discussions, our summit provides unparalleled networking opportunities, offering a vibrant platform to engage with industry leaders and benchmark against best practices. By participating in this event, you will not only gain valuable knowledge but also become part of a dynamic community of support that extends far beyond the conference itself. We eagerly anticipate your presence at the summit, and we look forward to your active involvement in shaping the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal field.
PLEASE NOTE: On the other side of the wall–in a connecting room–our Employment Law Summit will be taking place concurrently. Your registration gives you access to both events, thereby offering a wide range of topics to choose from and more networking opportunities with your peers. Select sessions from both Summits that resonate with your professional goals and allow you to explore groundbreaking insights on diversity and employment law.
*CLE Pending Approval
- Distinctive DEI Progress and Dynamics: Chicago’s Dynamic Business Landscape
- Breaking the Mold: Empowering Legal Talents Across Socioeconomic Lines
- Shattering Glass Ceilings: The Unwritten Playbook for Career Success Beyond Hard Work
- From Fitting In to Standing Out: Transforming Code-Switching and Imposter Syndrome into Strengths
- De-Risking and Future-Proofing Workplace Diversity Initiatives in a Changing Legal Landscape
- Redefining Success: From Burnout to Balance in a Multigenerational Workforce
- From Vision to Reality: Making ERGs a Driving Force in Your DEI Initiatives
- Chief Legal Officer
- C-Suite Executives
- General Counsel
- Associate General Counsel
- Assistant General Counsel
- Senior Vice President Legal
- Vice President Legal
- Assistant Vice President
- Senior Counsel
- Corporate Counsel
- Counsel
Agenda
Set against the dynamic backdrop of Chicago’s diverse business landscape, this panel unveils the unique DEI challenges and opportunities that emerge in the heart of commerce. As a bustling economic hub, Chicago demands a tailored approach to corporate DEI initiatives, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all strategy falls short in addressing the intricacies of the city’s business dynamics. This discussion delves into the specific DEI framework required to navigate Chicago’s corporate environment, exploring the complex interplay between the city’s economic history, business demographics, and the ever-evolving landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.
This panel will explore:
- The DEI Landscape in Chicago’s business sector
- Relevant legislative cases and their impact on DEI, with a focus on Chicago’s economic context
- Addressing the backlash or realignment within the unique business culture of Chicago
- De-Risking your DEI initiatives amid the challenges presented by Chicago’s economic and business dynamics
- Highlighting the profitability & ROI of equity & inclusion in Chicago’s vibrant and diverse business environment
Dana O. Williams is a Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Northern Trust in Chicago. Dana supports global Human Resources groups, providing legal advice and counsel to the Human Resources Consulting Function, Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Human Resources Service Center, regarding all aspects of the employee lifecycle. Dana also manages pending and threatened employment litigation against the company.
Prior to joining Northern Trust, Dana practiced in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in the Labor and Employment and Litigation, Trade Secrets and Corporate Espionage groups, primarily defending Fortune 500 employers in state and federal court litigation. Dana also worked in the Chicago office of Sonnenschein, Nath and Rosenthal LLP (n/k/a Dentons) in the Litigation group.
Dana has a B.A. in African-American Studies from Dartmouth College, and a J.D. from Georgetown University.
For over ten years, Dana has been an active member of the board of Primo Center, a provider of permanent and transitional housing to homeless women and children on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Dana was recently appointed to the board of CARPLS, Cook County’s largest provider of free legal aid services.
Dana is currently serving as Co-Chair of the Women of Color Alliance within Northern Trust’s Women in Leadership Business Resource Council.
Dana is also a Leadership Greater Chicago Class of 2022 Fellow.
Dana lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago with her husband and three children.
Legal Executive with success delivering global Governance, Complex Transactions, Compliance, Litigation, Data Privacy, ESG, and Executive Compensation solutions for leading manfacturing companies including BorgWarner, Mobex Global, Nexteer Automotive.
I develop trusted advisor relationships with corporate officers and am known for advising executive leadership and the Board of Directors. Stakeholders across business areas value my ability to implement changes in business practices meeting business and regulatory needs.
Successes include:
✦ CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: Generate agendas and coordinate committee, board, and annual shareholder meetings. Attend board meetings and prepare meeting minutes as Assistant Secretary & Corporate Secretary. Lead development/gain approval for Annual Shareholder Report; produce annual proxy and Sustainability Report. As Disclosure Committee Co-Chair, manage efforts to generate SEC rule-dictated filings.
✦ TEAM MERGER LEADERSHIP: Assisted in integration of Corporate Administrative Office expansion from 32 to 70 members across Compliance, ESG, Governance, Litigation, and Data Privacy. Currently lead 8 direct, 9 indirect, and 100+ dotted line compliance coordinators. Direct reports include: Dir Environment & Sustainability, Dir Export Controls, and Securities, Employment, Compliance, and Global Regulations attorneys. Set strategy for areas.
✦ COMPLIANCE & DATA PRIVACY: Continuously assess and identify areas to comply with key privacy laws, including: GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, and PIPL. Design in-house training strategies and goals and initiate cultivate internal and external expertise to deliver appropriate training and operating protocols.
✦ EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION/HUMAN RESOURCES SAVINGS: Implemented programs and policies capturing $400K+ annual savings in uniform, payroll, travel, mobile phone, and credit card expenses.
✦ REGULATORY LEADERSHIP: Advised Audit Committee, senior management, and Board of legal obligations related to regulatory inquiries and allegations of irregularities. Interfaced with government agencies including: EEOC, FBI, DOL, OFAC, SEC, and various international regulators. Conducted internal investigations and resolved regulatory findings.
SPECIALTIES:
• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
• Compliance
• Data Privacy
• Sustainability
• Team Leadership
• Culture of Compliance
Professionals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds encounter significant challenges including biases, stigmas and misconceptions that hinder their journey from well before law school, through the hiring process, and into their professional career. They are also at increased risk of leaving the professional workforce, suffering burn-out due to prioritizing finance over work-life integration, facing imposter syndrome, and attaining less advancement. What can be done to develop and guide legal professionals across socioeconomic lines?
This panel will explore:
- Bridging the cultural gap between lower socioeconomic backgrounds and the corporate legal environment
- Stereotypes and misconceptions tied to socioeconomic background
- Recruitment & retention strategies to overcome inadvertent bias and stereotypes
- Importance of mentorship programs and providing invaluable insights into career navigation
Over 10 years of legal experience, specializing in advising on all aspects of the fintech product life cycle, including the negotiation, development, implementation, and operation of legally compliant products. Deep knowledge of the financial regulatory landscape, as well as state and federal licensing requirements, impacting card programs, stored value products, payment processing, merchant services, and bank partnerships. Skilled in providing tailored, practical solutions, and risk mitigation strategies to businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Dena Milligan is Director & Assistant General Counsel, Student Loans, at Discover Financial Services and leads the team that provides legal coverage for the student loan business. Dena has also advised on anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance, the Community Reinvestment Act program, and other prudential regulatory matters in her time with Discover.
Prior to joining Discover in 2013, Dena was a Senior Attorney in the Legal Division of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. where she focused on regulation related to payment systems and monetary policy.
She holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University. She is admitted to the Massachusetts and Illinois bars. She currently lives in Chicago, IL.
Cara M. Houck is an experienced litigation attorney and a member of Holland & Knight’s Real Estate Capital Markets Practice Group, with a particular practice emphasis on commercial real estate workouts and foreclosures. With more than two decades of litigation experience in various legal areas, her knowledge lies in providing legal counsel and representation to a diverse clientele, including lenders, special servicers, financial institutions, receivers, private investors and other businesses.
Ms. Houck’s approach to legal matters is characterized by her ability to blend her business acumen with legal strategies, aiming for amicable resolutions that align with her clients’ business objectives. Nonetheless, she is also well prepared to engage in litigation when necessary. Her extensive litigation background includes trying lawsuits, conducting arbitrations and making appearances in state and federal courts across the United States.
Before her tenure at Holland & Knight, Ms. Houck was a principal at an international law firm based in Chicago, where she led the the firm’s Commercial Real Estate Workout Team. Additionally, her career is marked by a commitment to social causes, evidenced by her participation on various not-for-profit boards focused on helping the disadvantaged obtain free legal services and aiding underprivileged children. This blend of professional experience and social commitment highlights her multifaceted career and her dedication to both her field and community.
For many diverse professionals, trusting that good work, dedication, and responsiveness will propel their careers has created a glass ceiling and disillusionment. It’s time to break the rules and propel your career to the next level. Unlock the secrets to career advancement by cultivating a clear vision, fostering self-belief, and proactively advocating for your accomplishments. Discover actionable steps to showcase your achievements, express your goals, strike the right balance between networking, soft skills, technical knowledge, and more. Are you ready to overcome obstacles and take control of your career trajectory?
This panel will explore:
- Steps to showcasing the quality of your work
- Elevating your professional visibility by expressing what you want and your goals
- Developing sponsors, advocates, and allies
- Utilizing feedback as a catalyst for professional development
Kate Dennis Nye is Associate General Counsel & Senior Director at Gap Inc., the parent company to The Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta. In her role at Gap, Kate manages the team responsible for marketing and advertising legal issues companywide and serves as the senior legal partner to the Old Navy brand on marketing, advertising, and intellectual property matters. Among the kinds of issues she handles on a day-to-day basis are trademark clearance, claim substantiation, promotions and pricing, and product review, as well as managing related contracts and disputes. Prior to joining Gap Inc., Kate was a partner at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP in Chicago, where her practice encompassed a broad range of intellectual property and marketing matters for clients across industries.
Untress “Trez” Quinn is a seasoned trial lawyer, focusing his practice on commercial and tort litigation for clients across industry sectors. He has defended multiple complex, high-stakes litigation cases in both state and federal courts.
He also regularly serves as outside corporate counsel, leveraging the business and operational acumen he gained as an executive in the health care industry. His experience extends to human resources and people management, further supporting his clients’ diverse corporate, transactional and policy needs.
Victoria Friedman is an IP attorney specializing in client counseling, procurement, and management of intellectual property. Her day-to-day practice involves patent and trademark preparation and prosecution, opinions of counsel, portfolio strategy and management, licensing, business transactions and much more. Her technical background is in Computer Information Systems and her patent practice primarily focuses on software, telecommunications, computer, search, email, and social network arts.
In her trademark practice, she manages international portfolios for top global brands in various industries. Friedman is one of a handful of attorneys who have been successful in registering a color mark. She enjoys developing and implementing efficient, practical solutions to her clients’ IP challenges.
Victoria Friedman speaks English and Russian and has been active in the field of IP since 2003.
Code-switching and Imposter Syndrome derail and haunt many talented diverse executives. How can you turn these phenomena into strengths allowing you to fulfill your potential and work authentically? This is a call to action, empowering you to navigate your identity, embrace your unique voice, and foster a workplace that celebrates diversity and authenticity.
This panel will explore:
- Distinctions between code-switching and imposter syndrome
- Strategies for conquering fear and breaking free from the grip of imposter syndrome
- Navigating workplace identity and working with authenticity
- Transforming imposter syndrome into a driving force of career advancement
Nicole has twenty years of experience litigating some of the largest and most high-profile cases in the country. She has represented plaintiffs in some of the largest defamation cases in U.S. history, the defendant in one of the largest auditor liability cases ever tried, and Fortune 100 companies in multibillion-dollar securities fraud claims.
Nicole’s clients have described her as “a creative and aggressive, but practical advocate” and as having “an outstanding work ethic.” She has been described by opposing counsel as having a “great presence in front of a jury.”
Her unmatched experience in these “bet the company” cases led Benchmark Litigation to select Nicole as part of its “Under 40 Hot List” for Commercial Litigation in 2017. She was also recognized by Chicago Lawyer in its 2021 Inaugural Class of 50 exceptional women lawyers for achieving success while mentoring other women.
Nicole has extensive complex commercial litigation experience. Her litigation and trial practice is diverse, ranging from nine-figure business disputes to multibillion-dollar class actions to complex MDL proceedings, where she has served as national and coordinating counsel in defending industry-leading companies. Her subject matter expertise is likewise diverse. She has represented individuals and companies in litigation involving trade secret misappropriation, defamation and disparagement, contract disputes, securities fraud, consumer fraud, product liability and internal investigations.
Some of her representative experience includes:
- Representing a global election technology in a defamation suit seeking over $2 billion against Fox News and others.
- Representing a global energy company in defending against an over $100 million trade secret misappropriation claim.
- Representing a teledentistry company in a defamation suit seeking over $1 billion against NBC News.
- Representing a Fortune 100 telecommunications company in defending against a multi-million dollar trade secret misappropriation claim.
- Represented a beef producer in a defamation case against ABC News seeking over $6 billion in damages. Secured a confidential settlement after four weeks of trial testimony that was characterized by the press and industry leaders as vindicating the producer.
- Represented a Fortune 500 food company’s espresso/coffee products business in a dispute with an international postal/e-commerce provider over its insolvent U.S. subsidiary supplier.
- Served as lead counsel for a medical device company in product liability actions. Obtained multiple dismissals and favorable settlements for the company before discovery.
- Represented a manufacturer of cable set-tops in securities fraud litigation seeking over $2 billion in damages. Secured summary judgment in favor of the manufacturer with a precedent-setting decision that was affirmed by the 11th Circuit.
- Represented a “Big Four” accounting firm in auditor liability litigation seeking over $3 billion in damages. Secured a directed verdict in favor of the accounting firm following 103 days of trial testimony and argument.
- Represented a Fortune 50 financial institution in a class action seeking recovery of transaction fees associated with thousands of securities transactions. Prevailed on a motion to dismiss the complaint with prejudice.
Kyla Vick is an associate attorney at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC in Chicago, where she advises clients on private fund formation matters and private equity investment management matters under U.S. federal securities regulations. Kyla started her career as an attorney at Baker & McKenzie LLP, where she advised clients on the formation, operation and financing of private investment funds (including real estate funds and Delaware statutory trusts) and related SEC compliance matters in connection with private investment activities. Kyla brings a unique lens to her practice as a former fund finance attorney at Mayer Brown LLP, where she represented clients as lenders and borrowers in complex investment fund financing transactions.
Kyla received her J.D. from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, MO in 2019. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2015 with a B.A. in English and a minor in philosophy.
This panel offers a comprehensive examination of de-risking strategies for businesses in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling. Justices Gorsuch and Thomas have hinted that they would like to go further on affirmative action. As a result, there has been increased litigation from advocacy groups and reverse discrimination cases from employees. Companies need to audit and safeguard their operations while effectively running their DEI initiatives that align with their values and culture. What is the balance between robust DEI practices and the management of potential liabilities? How can we future-proof for what is coming? This panel is crucial for businesses looking to navigate the complexities of a changing legal and social environment.
This panel will explore:
- Strategies for de-risking companies in light of the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling and related litigation
- Auditing values and the importance of DEI to the organization
- Methods for future-proofing businesses while maintaining active DEI initiatives
- ESG, hiring, and firing, to align with evolving DEI expectations
- Balancing DEI practices with potential legal liabilities
- Training leadership, managers, and stakeholders
Legal executive in a technology setting with diverse experience acquired over 15 years in commercial contracts/negotiations, employment law, compliance/risk management, data privacy, litigation, and human resources.
*Executive Management – Functional lead of a global team of attorneys and HR/legal professionals, responsible for overseeing employment law, immigration and employee mobility, employee relations and labor and employment support of M&A transactions
*Commercial Contracts/Negotiations – Experience drafting and negotiating a wide variety of development, licensing, managed service, supply and sales agreements
*Compliance/Risk Management/HR Support – Create and implement periodic compliance training; responsible for external compliance reporting; advise HR business partners on legal compliance, HR policies/procedures, personnel decisions, RIF’s, AAP’s, wage/hour, employment litigation, and M&A transactions/integration activities.
*General Advise and Counseling – Provide general legal counseling to EC, executive officers, HR Directors/managers, internal/external auditors, business until leads, and all other employees on a daily basis.
Kenyatta Beverly is Labor and Employment Counsel for The Davey Tree Expert Company. Davey provides a wide range of arboricultural, horticultural, environmental, utility support, and consulting services to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Employing nearly 13,000 employees, Davey is one of the largest employee-owned companies in the country. In her role, Kenyatta provides Davey and its subsidiaries with strategic legal counsel on all labor and employment related issues.
From her first day at Davey, Kenyatta has been a force for meaningful change, encouraging the implementation of policies that make Davey an even more inclusive workplace for all employees. Kenyatta was instrumental in the formation of Davey’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, and along with her human resources partners, formally launched Employee Affinity Groups.
Prior to joining Davey, Kenyatta served as the Director of Labor Relations for Acero Charter Schools, Inc.; as Labor Relations Counsel and an Administrative Law Judge for the State of Illinois; and as an associate attorney at boutique and global law firms.
Kenyatta is heavily involved in various civic and professional organizations and is passionate about mentoring our youth. She currently serves on the following boards: the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Young Professionals Board; the National Conference of Bar Presidents Executive Council; the Force of Lawyers Against Sexual Harassment Board of Directors; Girls Inc. of Chicago’s Board of Directors; and Civitas Education Partners Board of Directors. Additionally, Kenyatta is a Past President of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc.
Kenyatta is a recognized leader and philanthropist who has been honored by multiple organizations for her legal expertise, leadership, dedication to mentorship, and consistent community service. She was named a 2023 40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch honoree by Chicago Lawyer Magazine and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin; selected as a 2023 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow; received the Cook County Bar Association’s 2023 Next Generation Award; honored by Law Bulletin Media with the 2022 Salute! Top Women in Law Award; selected by Diversity MBA Magazine as a 2021 Top 100 Under 50 Executive Leader; and named a 2020 She Shines Honoree by Girls Inc. of Chicago, an organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Kenyatta has also received multiple distinguished service and leadership awards.
Kenyatta is from East St. Louis, Illinois and currently resides on the southside of Chicago. She earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Kenyatta is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She loves fishing, enjoys weightlifting, spoils her 13 nieces and nephews, has a true green thumb, and dislikes cooking – immensely.
In today’s rapidly changing professional landscape, the pursuit of career fulfillment and a well-balanced life transcends generational boundaries. Every generation brings its unique perspective to the table – from those who have witnessed the traditional, career-centric model, to younger generations advocating for a life that equally values personal and professional satisfaction. This panel aims to bridge these diverse viewpoints, offering insights into how each generation can learn from the other to achieve a harmonious blend of career success and personal well-being.
This panel will explore:
- Shifting attitudes towards mental health and burnout: what this means for creating healthier work environments
- The evolving definition of ‘success’ and moving towards a more holistic view
- Managing and perfecting the work-life integration balancing act
- The impact of remote and in-office work environments on career advancement opportunities and preferences across different age groups
Chantal serves as Director & Senior Counsel – Litigation for Discover. She has over 14 years of litigation experience. In her position, she has the primary or secondary responsibility for managing all aspects of significant and routine litigation matters including, investigation, strategy development, discovery, meditation, settlement negotiations, trial, and appeal. She collaborates with in-house advisory attorneys, compliance professionals and business executives to identify, mitigate and prevent litigation risk. Currently, she serves as the Pro Bono Co-Chair for Discover’s Legal Department.
Prior to joining Discover, Chantal worked at Aon, where she managed risk and litigation. Her role included expanded secondary responsibilities for EMEA, particularly the UK and its British Caribbean Territories for the captive management business. She has experience handling government and regulatory inquiries and providing litigation risk analysis for prospective mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Directly out of law school, Chantal worked in-house at Liberty Mutual Group, where she represented policyholders and the carrier in first and third-party insurance claims.
Chantal routinely gives back to the legal and Chicago community at large. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Family Services’ Legal Aid Society (“LAS”). She is actively involved with the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (“ACC”) as a Member of the Board of Directors & Treasurer, Publicity Committee Member, Podcast Committee Chair, and a frequent volunteer of their Street Law Program. She is a Working Group Member and was the Interview/Screening Co-Chair of the ABA Section of Litigation’s Judicial Internship Opportunity Program (“JIOP”). JIOP places law students that are traditionally underrepresented in the legal community in state and federal internships with judges across the country. She is a former Auxiliary Board Member for the Big Shoulders Fund. From 2015–2017, she held the role of Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division – Corporate Counsel Committee.
Chantal earned her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She received her bachelor’s degree from New York University.
Experienced lawyer with a demonstrated history of managing attorneys and litigating cases in the government administration industry. Skilled in labor and employment law, human resources, trials, arbitrations, administrative hearings, police accountability, and public policy. Strong legal professional with a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago, an M.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago, and a B.S. in History from St. Joseph’s College.
I am CIPM and CIPP/US certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and was selected as a Foundry Fellow by the Internet Law and Policy Foundry. I received my J.D. with honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and am licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin.
I was recently named to the Lawyers Of Color’s 2023 “Hot List,” an annual publication spotlighting junior- and mid-level lawyers who “have achieved prominence and distinction in their fields” and “have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession.”
Kathleen also regularly represents companies in cases involving allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination brought by single-plaintiff employees at all levels of a company. In addition, she proactively counsels clients to ensure their employment practices comply with current or new workplace laws and regulations. For example, she has guided clients through new workplace issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also offered training and guidance on the legalization of recreational and medical cannabis and its impact on a client’s workplace drug policies, complaint procedures, disciplinary action policies, and accommodations practices.
Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Kathleen worked in medical prosecutions at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. She has published numerous articles and presented on a variety of employment law topics, including the impact of the legalization of cannabis on the workplace, wage and hour compliance, and reasonable accommodations in health care workplaces. She also speaks on developments in wage and hour class action law, managing remote employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fair Labor Standards Act classification, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and cannabis workplace issues.
Natalie focuses her practice on products liability litigation, and professional and medical malpractice matters. She has extensive experience defending clients in complex litigation involving automotive, trucking, construction, premises liability, and catastrophic personal injury claims. Natalie litigates cases in state and federal courts nationwide, and has tried multiple cases to verdict. She also handles Seventh Circuit appeals and Illinois State Court appeals.
Natalie’s clients have included nonprofit organizations, physicians, construction companies, security companies, manufacturers and sellers of products involving industrial machinery, power tools, firearms, automotive products and juvenile products. She also provides risk management services to her clients, advising them on issues related to product liability law, government regulations, product safety, premises liability and other related matters.
In addition to her law practice, Natalie is an adjunct professor at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and is a moot court coach for one of Loyola’s national competition teams. She regularly presents at products liability conferences, and has lectured at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Professional Engineering Continuing Education Program. Natalie has taught courses on topics such as risk management, and the use of warnings and instructions to increase safety and reduce liability in products liability matters.
While attending Loyola University Chicago School, Natalie was involved in the Corporate Law Moot Court Team, the American Bar Association Moot Court team, the Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Honors Program, the London Comparative Advocacy Program, Women’s Law Society as president and social chair, the Student Bar Association and the Legal Writing Program as research assistant.
Organizations nationwide have established ERGs, but transforming these groups into catalysts for genuine, diverse change requires strategic guidance. How can we leverage these invaluable resources to effect diverse change within the corporate sphere? Uncover the keys to success, best practices for recruiting and engaging membership, and aligning your DEI group with organizational objectives to secure essential buy-in and support in the current landscape.
This panel will explore:
- Blueprints for running successful ERGs and committees
- Showcasing wins to build momentum and ensure lasting impact
- Embedding DEI principles into organizational policies and procedures
- Building robust membership and the importance of allyship
- Measuring outcomes and demonstrating the positive organizational impact
Stephanie Vitale is Director, Safety & Insurance Litigation US East at Uber Technologies, Inc. She oversees the eastern half of the United States for the insurance litigation team, which handles claims and litigation related to Uber’s U.S. insurance policies, both general liability and auto. Prior to joining Uber three years ago, she litigated insurance defense matters in Chicago, Illinois.
Not your typical attorney. I bring a blend of business and legal acumen to my role as in-house counsel. Global experience in striking the right balance between achieving business objectives and mitigating risks.
My credentials include MBA and JD degrees, conflict resolution and mediation training, and licenses to practice before the Supreme Court of Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Kara Goodwin serves as RRD’s Vice President, Associate General Counsel – Labor, Employment & Compliance. Reporting directly to the Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel, Kara advises Senior Management and Human Resources on all areas of the employment relationship and compliance with key ethical mandates, including adherence to the Company’s Principles of Ethical Business Conduct, the Company’s policy on Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption, and the Company’s treatment of Whistleblower complaints. Kara conducts or oversees many of the Company’s internal investigations, develops and reviews Company policies to ensure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations, and works with new hires and managers regarding compliance with the Company’s ethical requirements. Kara also oversees all aspects of the Company’s employment litigation and provides instructional leadership to the Company’s Corporate Human Resources, Corporate Communications, DEI, and Environmental, Health and Safety functions.
Prior to joining RRD in 2019, Kara spent 10 years at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, a leading global law firm, representing companies in employment-related disputes, business counseling, and internal investigations.
Roundtable 1: Defending Litigation Attacks on DEI Programs and Where Do We Go From Here?
Heather Renee Adams, Shareholder, Roetzel
Heather Renée Adams is a shareholder at Roetzel who practices traditional labor and employment law and provides practical guidance to employers across a spectrum of commercial and employment litigation matters, including single-plaintiff and multi-party cases, high-stakes whistleblower actions, wage and hour disputes, restrictive covenant litigation, and various other areas of employment law. She has a wealth of experience defending employers before civil rights and fair employment administrative agencies and commissions across the country. Heather has represented clients from diverse industries, including transportation; federal, state, and local government; higher education; healthcare; financial services and global retailers. She also has experience representing employers in union disputes, collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, fact-findings, conciliations, and hearings. Additionally, Heather routinely performs internal investigations and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility assessments.
Speakers
Dana O. Williams is a Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Northern Trust in Chicago. Dana supports global Human Resources groups, providing legal advice and counsel to the Human Resources Consulting Function, Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Human Resources Service Center, regarding all aspects of the employee lifecycle. Dana also manages pending and threatened employment litigation against the company.
Prior to joining Northern Trust, Dana practiced in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in the Labor and Employment and Litigation, Trade Secrets and Corporate Espionage groups, primarily defending Fortune 500 employers in state and federal court litigation. Dana also worked in the Chicago office of Sonnenschein, Nath and Rosenthal LLP (n/k/a Dentons) in the Litigation group.
Dana has a B.A. in African-American Studies from Dartmouth College, and a J.D. from Georgetown University.
For over ten years, Dana has been an active member of the board of Primo Center, a provider of permanent and transitional housing to homeless women and children on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Dana was recently appointed to the board of CARPLS, Cook County’s largest provider of free legal aid services.
Dana is currently serving as Co-Chair of the Women of Color Alliance within Northern Trust’s Women in Leadership Business Resource Council.
Dana is also a Leadership Greater Chicago Class of 2022 Fellow.
Dana lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago with her husband and three children.
Legal Executive with success delivering global Governance, Complex Transactions, Compliance, Litigation, Data Privacy, ESG, and Executive Compensation solutions for leading manfacturing companies including BorgWarner, Mobex Global, Nexteer Automotive.
I develop trusted advisor relationships with corporate officers and am known for advising executive leadership and the Board of Directors. Stakeholders across business areas value my ability to implement changes in business practices meeting business and regulatory needs.
Successes include:
✦ CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: Generate agendas and coordinate committee, board, and annual shareholder meetings. Attend board meetings and prepare meeting minutes as Assistant Secretary & Corporate Secretary. Lead development/gain approval for Annual Shareholder Report; produce annual proxy and Sustainability Report. As Disclosure Committee Co-Chair, manage efforts to generate SEC rule-dictated filings.
✦ TEAM MERGER LEADERSHIP: Assisted in integration of Corporate Administrative Office expansion from 32 to 70 members across Compliance, ESG, Governance, Litigation, and Data Privacy. Currently lead 8 direct, 9 indirect, and 100+ dotted line compliance coordinators. Direct reports include: Dir Environment & Sustainability, Dir Export Controls, and Securities, Employment, Compliance, and Global Regulations attorneys. Set strategy for areas.
✦ COMPLIANCE & DATA PRIVACY: Continuously assess and identify areas to comply with key privacy laws, including: GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, and PIPL. Design in-house training strategies and goals and initiate cultivate internal and external expertise to deliver appropriate training and operating protocols.
✦ EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION/HUMAN RESOURCES SAVINGS: Implemented programs and policies capturing $400K+ annual savings in uniform, payroll, travel, mobile phone, and credit card expenses.
✦ REGULATORY LEADERSHIP: Advised Audit Committee, senior management, and Board of legal obligations related to regulatory inquiries and allegations of irregularities. Interfaced with government agencies including: EEOC, FBI, DOL, OFAC, SEC, and various international regulators. Conducted internal investigations and resolved regulatory findings.
SPECIALTIES:
• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
• Compliance
• Data Privacy
• Sustainability
• Team Leadership
• Culture of Compliance
Over 10 years of legal experience, specializing in advising on all aspects of the fintech product life cycle, including the negotiation, development, implementation, and operation of legally compliant products. Deep knowledge of the financial regulatory landscape, as well as state and federal licensing requirements, impacting card programs, stored value products, payment processing, merchant services, and bank partnerships. Skilled in providing tailored, practical solutions, and risk mitigation strategies to businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Legal executive in a technology setting with diverse experience acquired over 15 years in commercial contracts/negotiations, employment law, compliance/risk management, data privacy, litigation, and human resources.
*Executive Management – Functional lead of a global team of attorneys and HR/legal professionals, responsible for overseeing employment law, immigration and employee mobility, employee relations and labor and employment support of M&A transactions
*Commercial Contracts/Negotiations – Experience drafting and negotiating a wide variety of development, licensing, managed service, supply and sales agreements
*Compliance/Risk Management/HR Support – Create and implement periodic compliance training; responsible for external compliance reporting; advise HR business partners on legal compliance, HR policies/procedures, personnel decisions, RIF’s, AAP’s, wage/hour, employment litigation, and M&A transactions/integration activities.
*General Advise and Counseling – Provide general legal counseling to EC, executive officers, HR Directors/managers, internal/external auditors, business until leads, and all other employees on a daily basis.
Chantal serves as Director & Senior Counsel – Litigation for Discover. She has over 14 years of litigation experience. In her position, she has the primary or secondary responsibility for managing all aspects of significant and routine litigation matters including, investigation, strategy development, discovery, meditation, settlement negotiations, trial, and appeal. She collaborates with in-house advisory attorneys, compliance professionals and business executives to identify, mitigate and prevent litigation risk. Currently, she serves as the Pro Bono Co-Chair for Discover’s Legal Department.
Prior to joining Discover, Chantal worked at Aon, where she managed risk and litigation. Her role included expanded secondary responsibilities for EMEA, particularly the UK and its British Caribbean Territories for the captive management business. She has experience handling government and regulatory inquiries and providing litigation risk analysis for prospective mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Directly out of law school, Chantal worked in-house at Liberty Mutual Group, where she represented policyholders and the carrier in first and third-party insurance claims.
Chantal routinely gives back to the legal and Chicago community at large. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Family Services’ Legal Aid Society (“LAS”). She is actively involved with the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (“ACC”) as a Member of the Board of Directors & Treasurer, Publicity Committee Member, Podcast Committee Chair, and a frequent volunteer of their Street Law Program. She is a Working Group Member and was the Interview/Screening Co-Chair of the ABA Section of Litigation’s Judicial Internship Opportunity Program (“JIOP”). JIOP places law students that are traditionally underrepresented in the legal community in state and federal internships with judges across the country. She is a former Auxiliary Board Member for the Big Shoulders Fund. From 2015–2017, she held the role of Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division – Corporate Counsel Committee.
Chantal earned her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She received her bachelor’s degree from New York University.
Stephanie Vitale is Director, Safety & Insurance Litigation US East at Uber Technologies, Inc. She oversees the eastern half of the United States for the insurance litigation team, which handles claims and litigation related to Uber’s U.S. insurance policies, both general liability and auto. Prior to joining Uber three years ago, she litigated insurance defense matters in Chicago, Illinois.
Experienced lawyer with a demonstrated history of managing attorneys and litigating cases in the government administration industry. Skilled in labor and employment law, human resources, trials, arbitrations, administrative hearings, police accountability, and public policy. Strong legal professional with a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago, an M.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago, and a B.S. in History from St. Joseph’s College.
Not your typical attorney. I bring a blend of business and legal acumen to my role as in-house counsel. Global experience in striking the right balance between achieving business objectives and mitigating risks.
My credentials include MBA and JD degrees, conflict resolution and mediation training, and licenses to practice before the Supreme Court of Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Dena Milligan is Director & Assistant General Counsel, Student Loans, at Discover Financial Services and leads the team that provides legal coverage for the student loan business. Dena has also advised on anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance, the Community Reinvestment Act program, and other prudential regulatory matters in her time with Discover.
Prior to joining Discover in 2013, Dena was a Senior Attorney in the Legal Division of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. where she focused on regulation related to payment systems and monetary policy.
She holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University. She is admitted to the Massachusetts and Illinois bars. She currently lives in Chicago, IL.
Kate Dennis Nye is Associate General Counsel & Senior Director at Gap Inc., the parent company to The Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta. In her role at Gap, Kate manages the team responsible for marketing and advertising legal issues companywide and serves as the senior legal partner to the Old Navy brand on marketing, advertising, and intellectual property matters. Among the kinds of issues she handles on a day-to-day basis are trademark clearance, claim substantiation, promotions and pricing, and product review, as well as managing related contracts and disputes. Prior to joining Gap Inc., Kate was a partner at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP in Chicago, where her practice encompassed a broad range of intellectual property and marketing matters for clients across industries.
Kara Goodwin serves as RRD’s Vice President, Associate General Counsel – Labor, Employment & Compliance. Reporting directly to the Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel, Kara advises Senior Management and Human Resources on all areas of the employment relationship and compliance with key ethical mandates, including adherence to the Company’s Principles of Ethical Business Conduct, the Company’s policy on Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption, and the Company’s treatment of Whistleblower complaints. Kara conducts or oversees many of the Company’s internal investigations, develops and reviews Company policies to ensure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations, and works with new hires and managers regarding compliance with the Company’s ethical requirements. Kara also oversees all aspects of the Company’s employment litigation and provides instructional leadership to the Company’s Corporate Human Resources, Corporate Communications, DEI, and Environmental, Health and Safety functions.
Prior to joining RRD in 2019, Kara spent 10 years at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, a leading global law firm, representing companies in employment-related disputes, business counseling, and internal investigations.
I am CIPM and CIPP/US certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and was selected as a Foundry Fellow by the Internet Law and Policy Foundry. I received my J.D. with honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and am licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin.
I was recently named to the Lawyers Of Color’s 2023 “Hot List,” an annual publication spotlighting junior- and mid-level lawyers who “have achieved prominence and distinction in their fields” and “have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession.”
Untress “Trez” Quinn is a seasoned trial lawyer, focusing his practice on commercial and tort litigation for clients across industry sectors. He has defended multiple complex, high-stakes litigation cases in both state and federal courts.
He also regularly serves as outside corporate counsel, leveraging the business and operational acumen he gained as an executive in the health care industry. His experience extends to human resources and people management, further supporting his clients’ diverse corporate, transactional and policy needs.
Kathleen also regularly represents companies in cases involving allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination brought by single-plaintiff employees at all levels of a company. In addition, she proactively counsels clients to ensure their employment practices comply with current or new workplace laws and regulations. For example, she has guided clients through new workplace issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also offered training and guidance on the legalization of recreational and medical cannabis and its impact on a client’s workplace drug policies, complaint procedures, disciplinary action policies, and accommodations practices.
Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Kathleen worked in medical prosecutions at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. She has published numerous articles and presented on a variety of employment law topics, including the impact of the legalization of cannabis on the workplace, wage and hour compliance, and reasonable accommodations in health care workplaces. She also speaks on developments in wage and hour class action law, managing remote employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fair Labor Standards Act classification, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and cannabis workplace issues.
Nicole has twenty years of experience litigating some of the largest and most high-profile cases in the country. She has represented plaintiffs in some of the largest defamation cases in U.S. history, the defendant in one of the largest auditor liability cases ever tried, and Fortune 100 companies in multibillion-dollar securities fraud claims.
Nicole’s clients have described her as “a creative and aggressive, but practical advocate” and as having “an outstanding work ethic.” She has been described by opposing counsel as having a “great presence in front of a jury.”
Her unmatched experience in these “bet the company” cases led Benchmark Litigation to select Nicole as part of its “Under 40 Hot List” for Commercial Litigation in 2017. She was also recognized by Chicago Lawyer in its 2021 Inaugural Class of 50 exceptional women lawyers for achieving success while mentoring other women.
Nicole has extensive complex commercial litigation experience. Her litigation and trial practice is diverse, ranging from nine-figure business disputes to multibillion-dollar class actions to complex MDL proceedings, where she has served as national and coordinating counsel in defending industry-leading companies. Her subject matter expertise is likewise diverse. She has represented individuals and companies in litigation involving trade secret misappropriation, defamation and disparagement, contract disputes, securities fraud, consumer fraud, product liability and internal investigations.
Some of her representative experience includes:
- Representing a global election technology in a defamation suit seeking over $2 billion against Fox News and others.
- Representing a global energy company in defending against an over $100 million trade secret misappropriation claim.
- Representing a teledentistry company in a defamation suit seeking over $1 billion against NBC News.
- Representing a Fortune 100 telecommunications company in defending against a multi-million dollar trade secret misappropriation claim.
- Represented a beef producer in a defamation case against ABC News seeking over $6 billion in damages. Secured a confidential settlement after four weeks of trial testimony that was characterized by the press and industry leaders as vindicating the producer.
- Represented a Fortune 500 food company’s espresso/coffee products business in a dispute with an international postal/e-commerce provider over its insolvent U.S. subsidiary supplier.
- Served as lead counsel for a medical device company in product liability actions. Obtained multiple dismissals and favorable settlements for the company before discovery.
- Represented a manufacturer of cable set-tops in securities fraud litigation seeking over $2 billion in damages. Secured summary judgment in favor of the manufacturer with a precedent-setting decision that was affirmed by the 11th Circuit.
- Represented a “Big Four” accounting firm in auditor liability litigation seeking over $3 billion in damages. Secured a directed verdict in favor of the accounting firm following 103 days of trial testimony and argument.
- Represented a Fortune 50 financial institution in a class action seeking recovery of transaction fees associated with thousands of securities transactions. Prevailed on a motion to dismiss the complaint with prejudice.
Kyla Vick is an associate attorney at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC in Chicago, where she advises clients on private fund formation matters and private equity investment management matters under U.S. federal securities regulations. Kyla started her career as an attorney at Baker & McKenzie LLP, where she advised clients on the formation, operation and financing of private investment funds (including real estate funds and Delaware statutory trusts) and related SEC compliance matters in connection with private investment activities. Kyla brings a unique lens to her practice as a former fund finance attorney at Mayer Brown LLP, where she represented clients as lenders and borrowers in complex investment fund financing transactions.
Kyla received her J.D. from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, MO in 2019. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2015 with a B.A. in English and a minor in philosophy.
Kenyatta Beverly is Labor and Employment Counsel for The Davey Tree Expert Company. Davey provides a wide range of arboricultural, horticultural, environmental, utility support, and consulting services to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Employing nearly 13,000 employees, Davey is one of the largest employee-owned companies in the country. In her role, Kenyatta provides Davey and its subsidiaries with strategic legal counsel on all labor and employment related issues.
From her first day at Davey, Kenyatta has been a force for meaningful change, encouraging the implementation of policies that make Davey an even more inclusive workplace for all employees. Kenyatta was instrumental in the formation of Davey’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, and along with her human resources partners, formally launched Employee Affinity Groups.
Prior to joining Davey, Kenyatta served as the Director of Labor Relations for Acero Charter Schools, Inc.; as Labor Relations Counsel and an Administrative Law Judge for the State of Illinois; and as an associate attorney at boutique and global law firms.
Kenyatta is heavily involved in various civic and professional organizations and is passionate about mentoring our youth. She currently serves on the following boards: the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Young Professionals Board; the National Conference of Bar Presidents Executive Council; the Force of Lawyers Against Sexual Harassment Board of Directors; Girls Inc. of Chicago’s Board of Directors; and Civitas Education Partners Board of Directors. Additionally, Kenyatta is a Past President of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc.
Kenyatta is a recognized leader and philanthropist who has been honored by multiple organizations for her legal expertise, leadership, dedication to mentorship, and consistent community service. She was named a 2023 40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch honoree by Chicago Lawyer Magazine and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin; selected as a 2023 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow; received the Cook County Bar Association’s 2023 Next Generation Award; honored by Law Bulletin Media with the 2022 Salute! Top Women in Law Award; selected by Diversity MBA Magazine as a 2021 Top 100 Under 50 Executive Leader; and named a 2020 She Shines Honoree by Girls Inc. of Chicago, an organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Kenyatta has also received multiple distinguished service and leadership awards.
Kenyatta is from East St. Louis, Illinois and currently resides on the southside of Chicago. She earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Kenyatta is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She loves fishing, enjoys weightlifting, spoils her 13 nieces and nephews, has a true green thumb, and dislikes cooking – immensely.
Natalie focuses her practice on products liability litigation, and professional and medical malpractice matters. She has extensive experience defending clients in complex litigation involving automotive, trucking, construction, premises liability, and catastrophic personal injury claims. Natalie litigates cases in state and federal courts nationwide, and has tried multiple cases to verdict. She also handles Seventh Circuit appeals and Illinois State Court appeals.
Natalie’s clients have included nonprofit organizations, physicians, construction companies, security companies, manufacturers and sellers of products involving industrial machinery, power tools, firearms, automotive products and juvenile products. She also provides risk management services to her clients, advising them on issues related to product liability law, government regulations, product safety, premises liability and other related matters.
In addition to her law practice, Natalie is an adjunct professor at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and is a moot court coach for one of Loyola’s national competition teams. She regularly presents at products liability conferences, and has lectured at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Professional Engineering Continuing Education Program. Natalie has taught courses on topics such as risk management, and the use of warnings and instructions to increase safety and reduce liability in products liability matters.
While attending Loyola University Chicago School, Natalie was involved in the Corporate Law Moot Court Team, the American Bar Association Moot Court team, the Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Honors Program, the London Comparative Advocacy Program, Women’s Law Society as president and social chair, the Student Bar Association and the Legal Writing Program as research assistant.
Victoria Friedman is an IP attorney specializing in client counseling, procurement, and management of intellectual property. Her day-to-day practice involves patent and trademark preparation and prosecution, opinions of counsel, portfolio strategy and management, licensing, business transactions and much more. Her technical background is in Computer Information Systems and her patent practice primarily focuses on software, telecommunications, computer, search, email, and social network arts.
In her trademark practice, she manages international portfolios for top global brands in various industries. Friedman is one of a handful of attorneys who have been successful in registering a color mark. She enjoys developing and implementing efficient, practical solutions to her clients’ IP challenges.
Victoria Friedman speaks English and Russian and has been active in the field of IP since 2003.
Heather Renée Adams is a shareholder at Roetzel who practices traditional labor and employment law and provides practical guidance to employers across a spectrum of commercial and employment litigation matters, including single-plaintiff and multi-party cases, high-stakes whistleblower actions, wage and hour disputes, restrictive covenant litigation, and various other areas of employment law. She has a wealth of experience defending employers before civil rights and fair employment administrative agencies and commissions across the country. Heather has represented clients from diverse industries, including transportation; federal, state, and local government; higher education; healthcare; financial services and global retailers. She also has experience representing employers in union disputes, collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, fact-findings, conciliations, and hearings. Additionally, Heather routinely performs internal investigations and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility assessments.
Cara M. Houck is an experienced litigation attorney and a member of Holland & Knight’s Real Estate Capital Markets Practice Group, with a particular practice emphasis on commercial real estate workouts and foreclosures. With more than two decades of litigation experience in various legal areas, her knowledge lies in providing legal counsel and representation to a diverse clientele, including lenders, special servicers, financial institutions, receivers, private investors and other businesses.
Ms. Houck’s approach to legal matters is characterized by her ability to blend her business acumen with legal strategies, aiming for amicable resolutions that align with her clients’ business objectives. Nonetheless, she is also well prepared to engage in litigation when necessary. Her extensive litigation background includes trying lawsuits, conducting arbitrations and making appearances in state and federal courts across the United States.
Before her tenure at Holland & Knight, Ms. Houck was a principal at an international law firm based in Chicago, where she led the the firm’s Commercial Real Estate Workout Team. Additionally, her career is marked by a commitment to social causes, evidenced by her participation on various not-for-profit boards focused on helping the disadvantaged obtain free legal services and aiding underprivileged children. This blend of professional experience and social commitment highlights her multifaceted career and her dedication to both her field and community.
Sponsors
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., is a national law firm with a primary focus on health care and life sciences; employment, labor, and workforce management; and litigation and business disputes. Founded in 1973 as an industry-focused firm, Epstein Becker Green has decades of experience serving clients in health care, financial services, retail, hospitality, and technology, among other industries, representing entities from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Operating in locations throughout the United States and supporting domestic and multinational clients, the firm’s attorneys are committed to uncompromising client service and legal excellence.
Armstrong Teasdale
Armstrong Teasdale, one of the nation’s largest 200 law firms with offices in the United States and China, provides essential business related legal services to clients across a wide range of industries. Intellectual property, our fastest growing practice area, is one of the firm’s core strengths. Our team of more than 80 IP professionals, including 45 attorneys who are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, provides both administrative and litigation counsel in all key areas including copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secrets. In addition to law degrees, many of our IP attorneys have advanced degrees and work-related experience in scientific areas and understand clients’ complex inventions and ideas. We are particularly known for our patent infringement litigation successes, many of which have been obtained in “hotbed” federal districts where high stakes patent suits often land.
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP is an intellectual property law firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with a second office in Raleigh, North Carolina. Marshall Gerstein provides legal counsel to many of the world’s largest, most innovative businesses, research institutions, universities, and entrepreneurs. For more than 65 years, Marshall Gerstein has served clients nationally and internationally in the legal areas of patent and trademark prosecution, transactional and litigation counseling, and copyright and trade secret protection. Marshall Gerstein is committed to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion and fosters diversity of thought, which drives innovation to better serve our clients.
Benesch
Benesch is an Am Law 200 business law firm and limited liability partnership with more than 400 attorneys and offices in Cleveland, Chicago, Columbus, New York City, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Wilmington. The firm is known for providing highly sophisticated legal services to national and international clients that include public and private, middle market and emerging companies, as well as private equity funds, entrepreneurs, and not-for-profit organizations.
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres
Founded by entrepreneurially minded alumni of some of the country’s largest law firms and most powerful government agencies, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres (CFDB) and it’s lobbying and government affairs partner, Point of Difference Strategies, is setting a new standard for excellence in client service and legal acumen. Driven to create a firm that would meet the needs of the modern business enterprise, CFDB was built with a focus on anticipating threats, navigating complexity, delivering pragmatic solutions, and advancing our client’s long-term interests.
Litchfield Cavo LLP
Litchfield Cavo LLP is a premier litigation defense law firm founded in 1998 on one principle – client service comes first. Our experienced trial attorneys provide creative and responsive services with reasonable billing practices, in all practice areas, from each office, and from every individual working on their matter.
With more than 250 attorneys, Litchfield Cavo operates out of 23 offices servicing clients in more than 35 states nationwide.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world.
We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality and value to our clients.
We achieve this through practical and innovative legal solutions that help our clients succeed. We deliver consistent services across our platform of practices and sectors in all matters we undertake.
Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies. They include more than half of the Fortune 250 and nearly half of the FTSE 350 or their subsidiaries. We also advise governments and public sector bodies.
Dennemeyer
Dennemeyer is a full-service IP solutions provider, managing over three million IP rights for over 8,000 customers globally through more than 20 offices. Dennemeyer has provided high-quality services for the protection and maintenance of intellectual property rights since 1962. Our 360-degree approach brings innovative solutions to IP management, including law firm services, IP maintenance services, consulting, IP management software DIAMS, and patent analysis software Octimine.
Roetzel
Founded in 1876, Roetzel is full-service law firm with offices located throughout Ohio and Florida, and in Chicago. Our clients are at the center of everything we do as we provide comprehensive legal services in business services, litigation, labor and employment, and public law and finance. Our 160+ attorneys collaborate seamlessly across disciplines throughout our 12 offices to achieve our clients’ objectives. Roetzel is one of the 300 largest law firms in the United States, as determined by The National Law Journal, and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA.
Holland & Knight LLP
Holland & Knight LLP is a global law firm with approximately 1,700 lawyers and other professionals in 32 offices worldwide. The firm’s lawyers and advisors provide representation in litigation, corporate and finance, real estate and governmental matters. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with efficient access to attorneys throughout the firm.
Venue
Voco Chicago Downtown
350 W Wolf Point Plaza
Chicago, IL
Pricing
Register By | In House Counsel | Law Firms & Vendors |
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February 28, 2024 | 0.00 | $895.00 |
March 6, 2024 | 0.00 | $1195 |
March 20, 2024 | 0.00 | $1395 |
- Payment is due in full at the time of registration and includes lunches, refreshments and detailed conference materials.
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- You may substitute delegates at any time. CenterForce does not provide refunds for cancellations.
- For cancellations received in writing more than seven (7) days prior to the conference you will receive a 100% credit to be used at another CenterForce conference for up to one year from the date of issuance.
- For cancellations received seven (7) days or less prior to an event (including day 7), no credit will be issued. In the event that CenterForce cancels an event, delegate payments at the date of cancellation will be credited to a future CenterForce event. This credit will be available for up to one year from the date of issuance.
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- CenterForce is not responsible for any loss or damage as a result of a substitution, alteration or cancellation/postponement of an event. CenterForce shall assume no liability whatsoever in the event this conference is cancelled, rescheduled or postponed due to a fortuitous event, Act of God, unforeseen occurrence or any other event that renders performance of this conference impracticable or impossible. For purposes of this clause, a fortuitous event shall include, but not be limited to: war, fire, labor strike, extreme weather or other emergency.
- Please note that speakers and topics were confirmed at the time of publishing, however, circumstances beyond the control of the organizers may necessitate substitutions, alterations or cancellations of the speakers and/or topics. As such, CenterForce reserves the right to alter or modify the advertised speakers and/or topics if necessary. Any substitutions or alterations will be updated on our web page as soon as possible.
- All discounts must require payment at time of registration and before the cut-off date in order to receive any discount.
- Any discounts offered whether by CenterForce (including team discounts) must also require payment at the time of registration.
- All discount offers cannot be combined with any other offer.