Another Successful Year for MCCA’s Golf Tournament
(Left to Right) Thornton Williams of Williams Wilson & Sexton P.A., Rob Hart of Hart Golf & Events, Frank Hiscox of White and Castle LLP, Keijon Waters of CLEO, Cheryl Wood of Huron Consulting Group
MCCA thanks everyone that supported and attended the 5th Annual General Counsel Invitational Golf & Spa Classic Weekend! The yearly event supports MCCA’s Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program, named for the founder of Minority Corporate Counsel Association. “When I learned that the MCCA board of directors wanted to launch a scholarship program in my honor, I was, frankly, speechless,” Johnson said. “And those that know me will tell you that it isn’t often that I’m caught without something to say.”
Sponsored by Marriott and held at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Fla., this year’s event was held from April 17–19. The event included a weekend full of education, recreation, and relaxation.
Marriott’s Doral Golf Resort & Spa is legendary among golfers. It hosted Florida’s first PGA event, the Doral Open Invitational, in 1962. The famous Blue Monster Course has challenged golf legends for more than 40 years. Noted architect Dick Wilson designed the 7,266-yard course to test power and finesse players alike. The famous par-4 18th hole consistently is ranked as one of the 100 hardest holes in the world.
In the second year of the Lawyer’s Cup Challenge (LCC)—an individual, competitive PGA-style tournament—Kathy Devlin, a partner with Saul Ewing, edged out defending champion Trey Cloud of Jones Walker to claim the oversized, shimmering trophy. The popular General Counsel Invitational—an 18-hole “best ball” tournament—was won by Michael Chavies, Darryl Franklin, James Bombulie, and Robert Chaskes, who shot a 63. In second place were Jason Liu, Thornton Williams, Kenza Kawanabe, and Stanley Kinnett, who shot a 64. The third-place team shot a 65 and included team members Frank Hiscox, Ruthie Ashley, Mike Malarky, and LCC champion Kathy Devlin. The weekend also included two lively CLE programs, spa activities, golf lessons, and several networking events that offered attendees a chance to build relationships.
The golf tournament is one of the many ways that MCCA helps to fund its scholarship program. The scholarship program comes at a time when corporate law is facing new challenges in the face of globalization. Globalization implies a need for increased diversification to handle legal affairs around the country and world. Another impetus for the program is dwindling resources for minority students. Federal scholarship programs have declined in recent years, making law school a difficult choice for some minority students. MCCA’s scholarship program is trying to fill the void.
The scholarship program is not strictly for minorities. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have overcome difficult obstacles or are the first in their family to attend law school are encouraged to apply, regardless of ethnicity.
The golf tournament is one of many ways that MCCA funds its scholarship program. MCCA would like to thank the sponsors of the golf tournament: Marriott, Mercedes Benz USA, American Airlines, Coors Brewing Company, Ernst & Young, ALM, Akerman Senterfitt, Baker Botts L.L.P., Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A., Freddie Mac, Holland & Knight L.L.P., Huron Consulting Group Inc., Navigant Consulting Inc., Nike Golf, Pfizer Inc., Saul Ewing L.L.P., Seyfarth Shaw L.L.P., Shell Oil, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan L.L.P., Vault, White & Case L.L.P., and Williams Wilson & Sexton P.A.
If you are interested in participating in or sponsoring the 6th Annual General Counsel Invitational Golf Classic in 2009, please contact Jennifer Chen at 202-739-5902 or email jenchen@mcca.com.
MCCA Remembers Michael Oshima
Michael Oshima
Michael Oshima passed away in July. As chair of the New York City Bar’s Minorities in the Profession Committee, Mr. Oshima was dedicated to diversifying the legal profession. He will be remembered as a steadfast supporter of diversity in corporate law.
Mr. Oshima’s legal expertise included securities, asset-based lending, and mergers and acquisitions. He worked on various loan transactions in such sectors as steel, energy, entertainment, and telecommunications.
He worked extensively with national governments, including those of Brazil, Panama, and Venezuela. He also represented the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro in a $125 million offering of debt securities, the first by a Latin American municipality in the international capital markets.
He was most recently deputy general counsel at Safe Horizon in New York City. Prior to joining Safe Horizon, Mr. Oshima had been the managing partner of the New York City office of Arnold & Porter. During his time as managing partner, the office was twice recognized for its diversity record by MCCA, which presented Mr. Oshima with the Thomas L. Sager Award for the Northeast Region.
Mr. Oshima earned a degree in English and American Literature from Brown University in 1979. He also received a M.A. in Sociology from Harvard University, and a J.D. from New York University School of Law. DB
Francisco Ramos Jr., Esq., is a freelance writer and partner at the Miami-based offices of Clarke Silvergate Campbell.
From the September/October 2008 issue of Diversity & The Bar®