2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference

Thank you to our phenomenal honorees, speakers, members, sponsors and partners for contributing to the success of MCCA’s 2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference! A special thanks to Andrew Dick and his team at In-House Focus for designing our virtual platform and helping MCCA deliver this unique user experience!

Congratulations again to our 2020 Paula L. Ettelbrick Award Honoree: Michelle Peak, Head of Labor Relations, Americas at LSG Sky Chefs, Inc; our 2020 George B. Vashon Innovator Honorees: Groom Law Group and NFM Lending, and our 2020 Rainmakers and Rising Stars! To view the Rainmakers and Rising Stars Sponsored Spotlight Videos, click here.

We hope that all who attended will be able to incorporate what they have learned at Pathways into their own companies and law firms. Pathways fostered discussions on leading through crisis, inclusive design in a remote world, D&I data and managing legal risk, origination credit, systemic racism in corporate America, how leaders can drive systemic change and much more!

The conference has ended, but the work has not. Continue to speak up, take action and demand change in the legal profession so that we can activate change together! From all of us at MCCA, again, thank you so much for your commitment, engagement, passion and support.

Together we will #RiseUnited!

Please add events@mcca.com to your Address Book or Contacts to receive future communications regarding the Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference.

2020 Pathways Highlights/CLEs

CLE Accreditation

SPONSORED BY:

COURSE MATERIALS

2020 Rainmakers

2020 Rising Stars

2020 Paula L. Ettelbrick Honoree

Evan Wolfson

The 2020 Paula L. Ettelbrick Award was presented to Michelle Peak, Head of Labor Relations, Americas at LSG Sky Chefs, Inc. at the MCCA Creating Pathways to Diversity Virtual Conference on October 27, 2020.

2020 George B. Vashon Innovator Honorees

Event Sponsors

MCCA would like to thank all of our generous sponsors who supported MCCA’s 2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference.

CHAMPION SPONSOR

Pathways Advisory Council

Justification Toolkit

You recognize the value of attending the Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference, but how do you convey that message to your manager? With budgetary constraints and increased scrutiny on business travel, gaining approval to attend conferences can sometimes pose a challenge. It is important to demonstrate the benefits of attending in order to justify the expense. Use MCCA’s Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference Justification Toolkit to help you make the ask, prepare for the Pathways Conference, and get the most from our conference and your membership.

EVENT AGENDA

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020

*Please note the agenda times are in EDT.

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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION DESK
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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

EXHIBITOR HALL

Connect with and learn more about our Pathways Conference sponsors. Attendees can visit exhibitor booths to watch videos, download materials, and directly request more information.

PARTICIPATING COMPANIES

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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

DIVERSITY CAREER EXPO

Sponsored by:

2020 Pathways Champion Sponsor

We know that in today’s world, career development and career mobility are closely intertwined, which is why we are offering an opportunity for our members to connect with each other in many different forums.

In 2017, MCCA launched the Diversity Career Expo at our annual Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference with great success. Prospective corporate employers connected with diverse talent from all over the country while promoting their legal department as an employer of choice. It was a fantastic opportunity for prospective candidates to learn about the different corporations, conduct informational interviews, and learn why our member organizations may be an employer of choice and the key to their career development.

Join us again as we host the Fourth Annual Diversity Career Expo virtually. Please keep in mind that any meeting does not in any way imply or guarantee an interview or a position. It is a forum for both parties to connect and learn more about each other.

2020 DIVERSITY CAREER EXPO PARTICIPATING COMPANIES

PROSPECTIVE CORPORATE EMPLOYER
If you are an interested prospective corporate employer, who may or may not have a current open requisition but, would like to connect with diverse talent for current open opportunities or long term planning please contact Sophia Piliouras at spiliouras@mcca.com for more details.

To learn more about the Diversity Career Expo and view past participants, click here.

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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

AMAZON INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW BLITZ

Amazon has once again partnered with MCCA to host its “Amazon Blitz” and meet with individuals interested in exploring opportunities with Amazon Legal.

*Applicants must register and attend the Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference in order to be considered.

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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

PITCH SESSION NETWORK

Sponsored by:
Amazon
2020 Pathways Champion Sponsor

MCCA’s Pitch Session Network (“PSN”) allows in-house counsel to connect with diverse law firm partners at majority law firms, diversify their preferred provider portfolios and hold law firms accountable for their diversity efforts. Member law firms and sponsors will have the ability to meet privately with in-house counsel to pitch the legal services they offer and develop meaningful connections with potential clients.

MCCA created the Pitch Session Network to address the lack of diversity at the equity partner-level in law firms and is in collaboration with:

To learn more about the Pitch Session Network, click here.

2020 PSN CORPORATE PARTICIPANTS

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1:00 PM – 4:30 PM

MCCA’S BLUEPRINT FOR SELLING & BUYING – A PITCH WORKSHOP FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL

Through instruction and experiential learning, participants will work together to learn skills and behaviors for building successful business relationships. Outside counsel will have the opportunity to work in teams to develop a formal pitch from a mock RFP for legal services, which will be presented to senior in-house counsel.

This workshop is open to law firm members only and has max capacity of 20 participants. Preference will be given to law firm partners; associates are welcome to apply if their firm is a two tier partner system. In-house members who would like to serve as workshop coaches, assisting law firm participants with their pitches and sharing best practices, are invited to email Sophia Piliouras at spiliouras@mcca.com.

Non-members will be placed on a waiting list as will any other participants once we reach max capacity. Additional information and workshop materials will be provided to participants prior to the conference. If you would like to be added to the workshop waitlist, please email Lauren Hossfeld at lhossfeld@mcca.com.

Workshop Coaches:

  • Patrick Dukes – Associate Vice President, Commercial Claims Legal, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
  • Jacqueline Davis – Vice President & Deputy General Counsel – Commercial Legal Group, VMware, Inc.
  • Frank DeCosta – Partner, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
  • Willie Hernandez – Director, Facebook Inc.
  • Phong Nguyen – Counsel, State Farm Insurance
  • Denise Zamore – Senior Associate General Counsel, UnitedHealthcare
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6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

AMAZON NETWORKING RECEPTION

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020

*Please note the agenda times are in EDT.

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10:30 AM – 7:00 PM

INFORMATION DESK
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10:30 AM – 7:00 PM

EXHIBITOR HALL

Connect with and learn more about our Pathways Conference sponsors. Attendees can visit exhibitor booths to watch videos, download materials, and directly request more information.

PARTICIPATING COMPANIES

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10:30 AM – 10:45 AM

WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS

Remarks by:
Jean Lee – MCCA’s CEO & President
Stuart Alderoty – MCCA Board Chair, General Counsel at Ripple

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10:45 AM – 12:05 PM

LEADING THROUGH CRISIS: MCCA 2020 INCLUSION INDEX REPORT

Presentation of the Paula L. Ettelbrick Award and the 2020 Rising Stars Award Ceremony

The disruption of 2020 has forced many legal organizations to take a new look at their workplace cultures. Between concerns about health and safety due to COVID, and renewed calls for racial justice across America, it has been nearly impossible to ignore what some might consider soft topics. Leaders in the legal community have responded, but against a challenging backdrop, with many – particularly people of color – experiencing little sense of belonging to their organizations.

In 2018, together with Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA), MCCA developed a proprietary Inclusion Index Survey, to help organizations assess leadership, practices and culture to create a baseline metric of inclusion and measure progress over time.

The panel will discuss this year’s survey results, how legal organizations and their leaders are navigating this challenging year and what it means to be an inclusive leader to effectuate change and develop a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace during a time of uncertainty.

Moderator:
Tina Shah Paikeday – Global Head of D&I Advisory Services, Russell Reynolds Associates

Panelists:

  • Deneen Donnley – Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
  • Cynthia Dow – Head of Global Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Practice, Russell Reynolds Associates
  • Eric Friedman – Executive Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
  • Jami Wintz McKeon – Chair, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
  • Steve McManus – Senior Vice President & General Counsel, State Farm Insurance
  • Dev Stahlkopf – Corporate Vice President, General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation
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12:05 pm – 12:20 pm

BREAK
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12:20 pm – 1:15 pm

INCLUSIVE DESIGN AND ACCESSIBILITY IN A REMOTE-WORK WORLD

According to the 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, just over 19% of people with self-identified disabilities are employed. Succeeding in the workplace is not easy for employees with disabilities, who often face discrimination, especially in highly competitive industries such as tech and finance. They currently face even more challenges as we navigate a global pandemic, civil unrest and working remotely in large numbers.

This year we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA paved the way for decades of incremental changes to the way buildings, businesses and laws accommodate people with a wide variety of disabilities. The law’s effect has been profound, but there’s still a lot of work to do.

This panel will focus on the current remote work reality and the increased need to incorporate inclusive design and accessibility into the workplace. Accessibility is about creating products that are usable by everyone. Inclusive design is a mindset that involves understanding user diversity. Neither is optional and must be part of your business ecosystem and managed/measured. It starts with people and is imperative as your organization builds an equitable and inclusive culture, and diverse pipeline of talent.

Moderator:
Jamie Dean – Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

Panelists:

  • Jack Chen – Corporate Counsel, Google LLC
  • Kareem Dale – Director & Senior Counsel, Discover Financial Services
  • Kristina Launey – Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
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12:20 pm – 1:15 pm

HOW TO MEASURE UP: D&I DATA TRANSPARENCY AND HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE LEGAL RISK

Businesses – and their employees, prospective employees, clients, and investors – are increasingly focused on the importance of having a workforce that is diverse, equitable and inclusive. What risks, if any, do businesses need to consider in the collection, disclosure, and use of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) information? After describing the legal framework for assessing potential discrimination-related risks associated with DEI data, this panel will discuss best practices and pitfalls in navigating how to balance these risks with DEI strategic goals and other business considerations. The panel will also discuss whether businesses can and should protect against disclosure of DEI data, as a “trade secret” or otherwise.

Moderator:
Darrell Gay – Partner, Arent Fox LLP

Panelists:

  • Teresa Hutson – Vice President/Deputy General Counsel, HR Legal, Microsoft Corporation
  • Alexis Mendoza – Vice President, Nokia Software General Counsel & Head of Customer Operations Legal for the Americas, Nokia Corporation
  • Yves Nguyen – Corporate Counsel, Global Labor & Employment, Salesforce
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1:15 pm – 2:00 pm

VIRTUAL NETWORKING RECEPTION

Sponsored by:
 

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2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

MCCA/ PAUL HASTINGS CASE STUDIES SERIES: STRATEGIES ON HOW TO BUILD A DIVERSE & INCLUSIVE WORK CULTURE

Collaboration and creating a diverse and inclusive workplace are key to talent retention, innovation and risk mitigation. In recent years, there were many noteworthy employee challenges in corporate America and around the world. Those events suggest that the world is changing and although there is growing division, many were finding strength in numbers and we saw employees standing united in protest demanding changes in their work culture and/or policies to reflect their collective values.

Thanks to the vision and leadership of Paul Hastings, MCCA partnered with Paul Hastings, its clients and our corporate members, to closely examine how corporations and its leaders are changing culture in their organizations. We examined three different industries across the country: pharmaceuticals (Boehringer Ingelheim), technology (Intel) and finance (Barclays), and will discuss the case studies’ findings and what it takes to create a diverse and inclusive work culture.

Moderators:
Dr. Catherine McGregor – CEO, Catherine McGregor Research
Sophia Piliouras – President, MCCA Advisory Practice

Panelists:

  • Evangelina Almirantearena – Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Intel Corporation
  • Sheila Denton – Senior Vice President & General Counsel Legal / Government Affairs & Public Policy, Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation
  • Jane Son – Director of Legal and Chair of the Americas Legal Department’s Diversity Committee, Barclays
  • K. Whitner – Partner & Co-Chair of the Diversity Council, Paul Hastings LLP
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2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

SHOW ME THE MONEY: ORIGINATION CREDIT AND OUTSIDE COUNSEL ENGAGEMENT

Join us for a panel discussing on the important and rarely discussed component needed for the advancement of lawyers of color at law firms – Origination Credit. We will discuss the credit allocation process and some of the challenges that exist and how that specifically affects lawyers of color. Discussion will also focus on the meaning of origination credit, why it matters, and how corporate counsel can navigate and challenge compensation systems that are not aligned with the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Moderator:
A. Scott Bolden – Managing Partner, Reed Smith LLP – Washington, DC

Panelists:

  • Nassib Abou-Khalil – Chief Legal Officer, Nokia
  • Michelle Banks – Senior Advisor, BarkerGilmore LLC
  • Sandra Leung – Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
  • Tom Robertson – Corporate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation
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3:00 pm – 3:15 pm

BREAK

Registration & Fees

Registration Date:
Regular (before October 4)
Late Registration (October 5 - 12)
MEMBERS
IN-HOUSE
$425
$500
MEMBERS
LAW FIRMS
$500
$650
NON-MEMBERS
GOVERNMENT / NON-PROFIT
$425
$500
NON-MEMBERS
IN-HOUSE
$550
$600
NON-MEMBERS
LAW FIRMS
$1,000
$1,200
NON-MEMBERS
VENDORS
$1,000
$1,200

PAYMENT MESSAGE

All payments must be received no later than October 8, 2021, 9:00 PM EDT.

Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted. Checks are accepted, although card payment is preferred. To ensure your payment is received and processed prior to the event payment deadline, you are strongly encouraged to pay by card.

Read more

 

MCCA Law Firm Members and Corporate Members: Please note as part of your company’s/firm membership benefits you may be entitled to complimentary registration(s) or a discounted member rate.

For complimentary registrations, members must obtain their complimentary registration codes from their organization and use them during registration. The complimentary codes should be entered in the discount code field at the Payment Page and members must click “Apply Now” to zero their balance.

For member discount rates to apply, members must select their “Company/Firm” from a drop down labeled “MCCA Law Firm/Corporate Members” during the registration process. The member discount rate will automatically be applied at the Payment page.

For any questions or inquiries regarding registration or membership confirmation, please contact events@mcca.com.

If paying by check, please make checks payable to the “Minority Corporate Counsel Association” and mail them to the following address: 1111 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

CANCELLATIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS

All cancellations MUST be received in writing.

Cancellations received no later than 72 hours prior to the first date of an MCCA conference may, at MCCA’s discretion made on a case-by-case basis, apply a credit in the amount paid for the 2021 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference towards attendance to MCCA’s 2022 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference.

There will be NO refunds or credits for cancellations received less than 72 hours prior to the first date of the MCCA conference.

Any approved credits will be processed after the MCCA conference.

An organization may substitute one paid participant for another participant from the same organization.

Cancellations and requests for substitutions must be submitted to events@mcca.com.

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP POLICY

To apply for the financial hardship scholarship, please click here to complete the application.

This financial hardship policy applies to attorneys from MCCA member organizations, non-member organizations, or attorneys in public service. Attorneys who are unable to afford event registration fees due to financial hardship may petition for registration fee waivers or discounted registration fees. Full scholarships and discounts to attend MCCA’s conference are given priority to pro bono attorneys, judges, law professors, lawyers who work for nonprofit organizations, legal services organizations or government agencies, and unemployed attorneys with financial hardships. MCCA may waive or reduce the registration fee for MCCA conference at their discretion.

Additional Information:

MCCA will review applications on a rolling basis. The deadline for the 2021 Virtual Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference financial hardship applications is September 3, 2021.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Full scholarship or reduced registration fees will not be granted retroactively.

Full scholarship or reduced registration fees are non-transferable from event to event or person to person.

MCCA will not review applications that are not submitted via the official application form.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Any special needs for facilities, visual aids or dietary requirements must be sent to events@mcca.com.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Click here to review the MCCA Conference Registration General Terms and Conditions.

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