Calling for MCCA® Stories And Stars!
MCCA® was founded to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms they retain. As we approach our 10th anniversary in 2007, we would like to know more about how our organization has affected the lives of our members and stakeholders. We want to celebrate the individual triumphs of our members along with the success of our organization.
Please share some of your stories with us. We want to know the funny things that have happened to you as well as the inspiring ones—as we have all sought to work together to advance diversity. We plan to feature this individual side of MCCA at our 10th Anniversary Gala event.
So please tell us about any funny, exasperating, inspirational, touching, or otherwise emotionally meaningful things that have happened in connection with your membership in MCCA.
Feel free to express yourself in any form that feels right to you. We will happily accept stories, anecdotes, poems, songs, videotapes, drawings, and audio tapes…in whatever way you want to express how MCCA has impacted you or the profession over the last 10 years (or however long you have been participating). If your story is selected to be spotlighted but you would prefer to remain anonymous, just let us know when you send your reply. Your identity will remain confidential.
We're Also Looking For MCCA Stars Of Tomorrow
If your talents are in the performing arts area (singing, dancing, acting, or comedy), please inform us. MCCA hopes to draw on some of the talented folks in our network to be a part of a gala evening celebration of MCCA's 10th Anniversary! We know that finding frustrated performers in the ranks of practicing lawyers is virtually unheard of (not true!), so just in case there are a few of you, don't be shy about sharing your performing arts talents! It will be great fun and who knows—with the number of people in MCCA's network—you could be the next American Idol.
Please send responses, inquiries, and submissions in the following formats: JPEG, TIFF, PDF and Word to jenchen@mcca.com. Send audio and videotapes to MCCA, Attention: 10th Anniversary Committee, 1111 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20004.
MCCA® ANNOUNCES ITS 2007 EVENT DATES
The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF) hosted its annual awards gala last October honoring individuals who help Latinos "Achieve the Dream" through Latino-rights advocacy and education.
Elpidio "PD" Villarreal, vice-president and associate counsel, Schering-Plough was presented with the coveted
Lucero Award. Villarreal was honored for being a leading light in the legal community. "This event brings together the business, academic and civic communities to support the cause of equality and justice," says PRLDEF Chairman Ambassador Gabriel Guerra-Mondragón.
PRLDEF's inaugural Pro Bono Publico Award was presented to Dewey Ballantine LLP. Additionally, Richard L. Carrion, Popular, Inc. chairman, president and CEO, was honored with its Corporate Leadership Award.
The event raised funds in support of PRLDEF's mission of promoting equality and justice. Proceeds raised will fund legal aide programs and assist minority law students.
MCCA® ANNOUNCES THE 6TH ANNUAL CLE EXPO CONFERENCE
Save the date! In 2007, MCCA® will celebrate its 10th Anniversary in a region near you. We will be recognizing 10 years of diversity progress in the legal profession. Additional information will be posted at www.mcca.com. Stay tuned!
- February 22—Dallas, Texas—Westin Galleria
- March 21-23—Chicago, Ill.—Marriott Downtown
- June 21—Washington, DC—JW Marriott
- October 11—San Francisco, Calif.—TBD
- November 7-9—New York, N.Y.—Marriott Marquis
EEOC Chair Cari Dominguez
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Cari Dominguez stepped down on August 31, 2006. She has not yet announced her plans.
EEOC Vice Chair Naomi Earp will be acting chair until a permanent chair is appointed. Earp has held a series of federal leadership positions, including with the National Institute of Science and Technology, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Nominated by President George Bush, Chair Dominguez was sworn in as the 12th commissioner of the EEOC in August 2001 for a five-year term in which she focused on organizational efficiency and strategic enforcement of civil-rights policy.
REMEMBERING JOAN GUGGENHEIMER, GENERAL COUNSEL, JPMORGAN CHASE
Joan Guggenheimer, general counsel, JPMorgan Chase, died on Sunday, July 30, 2006. With sincere regrets, MCCA® deeply mourns her loss. We extend our deepest sympathy to her husband Peter, children Laura and Eric, and sister Ellen Blechman. Ms. Guggenheimer's legal career spanned nearly 25 years, including chief legal officer of Bank One, which merged with JPMorgan Chase in 2003; co-general counsel of Citigroup, among other positions; and a litigator at Davis, Polk and Wardwell. She clerked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
"With more than 25 years of financial services legal experience, Joan served brilliantly as head of the firm's Legal and Compliance group. But she was much more to our management team and to the people who worked with her. She was a trusted colleague and advisor, absolutely honest, kind and caring, courageous and thoughtful. She was a mentor to many, and truly an inspiration for me," says Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer, JPMorgan Chase. "We were privileged to know her, and I know she will be sorely missed," he added.
A recipient of the YWCA Women Achievers Award, she served on the S.I.A. Federal Regulation Committee and the New York County Bar Association Diversity Committee. Ms. Guggenheimer was a graduate of Binghamton University and Columbia University, where she was an editor of the Law Review. Born April 22, 1952, she was an admired and respected colleague, known for her integrity and thoughtfulness.
Ms. Guggenheimer had been a supporter of MCCA and her company's Houston-based division had been named an MCCA Employer of Choice in 2001. In addition, Ms. Guggenheimer was featured in the September/October 2004 cover story of Diversity & the Bar magazine . She was a role model for all lawyers, but especially for women aspiring to lead Fortune 500 companies, and will be missed.
Donations in Guggenheimer's memory may be made in honor of Dr. William R. Jarnagin and his team to: The Colon Cancer Research Fund, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021; www.mskcc.org"; 212-639-2000.
TWO TEXAS PRACTICES FORM MWBE LAW FIRM
Two Texas legal firms, Warner & Associates, LLP and Phillips & Reiter, PLLC, have entered into a joint venture to create the new MWBE-certified legal practice-The Warner Law Firm, PLLC.
The Houston-based firm will involve more than 15 transactional attorneys, according to Principal T. Deon Warner, who says the joint venture has been established as a direct response to corporate America's demands for diversity in the legal profession, particularly in the area of transactional law.
"Large corporations have transactional legal needs for MWBE-certified law firms," says Warner, who will manage The Warner Law Firm with Gregory L. Phillips of Phillips & Reiter. "However, minority attorneys, particularly those at large law firms, tend to gravitate to litigation and other specialties—and that's left many MWBE firms without the talent pool necessary to create effective transactional practices."
The Warner Law Firm attorneys provide counsel in general corporate, mergers and acquisitions (including medical practice transitions), joint venture structuring, securities regulation (including public reporting), private equity financings, debt financing (both lender and borrower), blue sky regulation, real estate transactions, and corporate tax. For more information, go to www.thewarnerlaw.com.
From the September/October 2006 issue of Diversity & The Bar®