mosaic - polsinelli · 2016-05-06 · mosaic hristopher l.e. hines, hicago associate – awarded...

Polsinelli Diversity Newsletter

MOSAIC

2016 Spring Review

Atlanta | Boston | Chattanooga | Chicago | Dallas | Denver | Houston | Kansas City | Los Angeles | Nashville | New York

Overland Park | Phoenix | Raleigh | St. Joseph | St. Louis | San Francisco | Washington, D.C. | Wilmington

polsinelli.com

In this Issue:

Building Community .................................. 3

Excellence in Professional and

Community Activities ................................ 4

Attorney Spotlight ...................................... 5

Professional Impact —

Leadership Positions ................................... 6

Event and Sponsorship Spotlight ................ 7


Honors and Distinctions


Pro Bono .................................................. 10

Women’s Initiative Committee ................ 12

Diversity Committee ................................. 14

olsinelli posted a 15-point improvement over last year’s ranking

on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2016

Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey

and report on corporate policies and practices related to the lesbian, gay,

bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. “Our improvement is due, in

part, to the firm’s increased outreach to LGBT organizations,” said Kansas

City Shareholder Gabe Zorogastua, who was involved in crafting the firm’s

response to the survey. “At the firm, we value all of our employees, and

I’m excited that Polsinelli is being recognized for those efforts.”

Polsinelli is rated among 1,027 businesses in the report, which evaluates

several initiatives including non-discrimination workplace protections,

(Continued on page 2)

Polsinelli Names First Director of Diversity and Inclusion

The workplace has become increasingly diverse. Diversity can encompass

differences in gender, age, ethnic group, sexual preference and those with

disabilities. Recognizing both the business and cultural imperatives of

fostering a diverse environment, Polsinelli’s leadership decided to seek out

experienced leadership for the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion programs. In early

January of 2016, J. Danielle Carr was named the firm’s first Director of Diversity

and Inclusion. “I accepted the offer to join Polsinelli because of the vision the firm

has for creating a nationally recognized diversity and inclusion program,” said

Danielle. “The firm is truly committed to developing a professional community

where all its employees find success. I am excited to be part of a firm that strives to

cultivate that kind of inclusive culture.”


Polsinelli Climbs Higher in National LGBT Index and is Recognized

as a “Best” in Local Index

T

P

of 9 © 2014 Polsinelli For Internal Purposes Only

Mosaic MOSAIC | DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER 2016 Spring Review

© 2016 Polsinelli Page 2 of 14

engaging diverse perspectives benefits Polsinelli as a business and

helps us better serve our clients,” said Chairman Russ Welsh.

Polsinelli’s diversity and inclusion efforts consist of a four-pillar focus

on relationship building, professional development, recruitment and

excellence in client service. “I have already received a tremendous

amount of support from firm leadership, attorneys and staff

members. Polsinelli’s diversity and inclusion strategy and initiatives

will be a collaborative effort and everyone is engaged and excited

about continuing the progression of the firm,” said Danielle.

Danielle will work closely with Dan Cranshaw, Chair of the firm’s

Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Jane Arnold, Chair of the firm’s

Women’s Initiative Committee and firm management to recruit

diverse attorneys, retain diverse talent and ensure that equal

opportunities exist for all employees. “Diversity and inclusion are

extremely important to our firm and we are so excited to bring an

experienced leader in this field to partner with

our attorney leadership team to develop a

comprehensive plan to recruit and develop

diverse attorneys throughout our firm,” said

Dan. “We want to be a leader in this space and

we are confident that Danielle’s rich

background in legal diversity programming will

lead us in the right direction to reach our

goals.”

Danielle, who is located in the firm’s St. Louis location, brings deep

experience in diverse and women attorney initiatives, professional

development and recruiting, and will help lead the firm’s efforts to

advance across all areas of diversity and inclusion. Danielle recently

partnered with the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and

wrote a great spotlight called “Inclusion Killer: A Multipart

Commentary,” which provides detail about divisive language that

has become commonplace in today’s society. To read this feature,

please click here.

Danielle spent the first 13 years of her professional career practicing

as a commercial litigation attorney. She has since gained deep

experience in diversity roles within law firms and major global

recruiting firms, including six years as Executive Director for the

Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large

Law Firms and three years as a Managing

Director for the nation’s largest legal

recruiting firm. Prior to joining Polsinelli,

Danielle served as the Director of Professional

Development and Diversity & Inclusion for a

large regional law firm.

“Diversity and inclusion are integral to our

firm’s ongoing success. We know that

(Polsinelli Names First Director of Diversity and Inclusion - continued from page 1)

domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care

benefits, competency training and public engagement with

the LGBT community.

The index is the national benchmarking tool on corporate

policies and practices pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual and

transgender employees. The CEI helps gauge trends and best

practices among all businesses or in particular industries, and

spans all geographies. It is interesting to note that when the

CEI started in 2002, LGBT individuals in the United States had

no federal law protecting their most basic of rights. Not until

the pivotal Lawrence v. Texas case in 2003 was the LGBT

community finally free from statutes in the U.S. criminalizing

(Polsinelli Climbs Higher in National LGBT Index - continued from page 1)

their lives. Now, 14 years later, so much has improved and

yet, much work remains.

The firm also received recognition for its focus on diversity

when it received notice that the Kansas City branch of the

HRC had selected Polsinelli to receive its “Best Places to

Work” award for achieving an 85 percent on the 2016

Corporate Equality Index. In 2016, HRC will present awards

to 30 different businesses and organizations from Nebraska,

Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.

For more information on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index,

or to download a free copy of the report, click here.

“Diversity and inclusion are integral to our firm’s ongoing success. We know that engaging diverse perspectives benefits Polsinelli as a business and helps us better serve our clients...”

http://sftp.polsinelli.com/publications/diversity/2016/resources/DCarr0216.pdf

http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files/assets/resources/CEI-2016-FullReport.pdf


MOSAIC | DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER 2016 Spring Review


Mosaic

Polsinelli and other businesses in the

corporate environment, participants must

graduate from an eight-week workshop

that equips them with the skills to have a

meaningful internship experience. In her

role as a Program Associate, Leslie is an

active mentor and coach at the

workshops, which allows her to help

prepare the kids not only for their

internships, but she also helps them to

learn valuable life skills. “The impact of

this program on them is huge. The All

Star Program and DSY utilize the

developmental power of performance

language and techniques when

interacting with the students. They are

essentially learning their professional

performance, or how to behave in a

professional environment. Without DSY, I

just don’t think that would be possible for

most of them.”

But the benefit of the program isn’t a one

-way street; Leslie has been impacted

significantly. “I have to admit that the

impact on me has been just as

meaningful. The All Stars Project has


For Chicago Office Administrator Leslie

Bobb, being a mentor for the All Stars

Project has allowed her to witness

growth and development for young

people in remarkable ways. ”On the day

these kids walk in the door they are often

shaking in their boots. By the time they

leave, they have the confidence to shake

hands with the CEO,” she observed.

Leslie is referring to young people

participating in the Development School

for Youth (DSY) program she and Office

Managing Partner Tony Nasharr are

involved with through their work

supporting the All Stars Project. The DSY

program connects inner-city youth with

the business community through

workshops and paid internships

sponsored by companies in Chicago. This

exposure allows youth to connect to

people outside their neighborhoods, and

helps them learn skills needed in a

professional environment that they likely

wouldn’t have a chance to learn

otherwise. “They just don’t know a lot

about interacting with professionals, so

when they enter the program, they have

a lot of questions. They are in absorb-

mode. They want to know about a whole

range of things. From knowing what

Mentoring and Making a Remarkable Impact

Building Community

qualifications they need to get a certain

job, to whether it’s okay to wear white

socks to work. They are just here to learn

and to improve,” said Leslie.

Polsinelli’s involvement with the program

began five years ago, when Chicago

Shareholder Spencer Wood joined the

firm. Spencer brought the program to

Tony Nasharr for his consideration for

involvement, and soon after, the firm was

hosting its first paid intern. Leslie was

selected to be the intern’s supervisor,

and from that point forward she made

the commitment to invest more and to

personally

encourage

others at the

firm to get

involved. Leslie

reflected on her

observations of

the impact the

program has by

saying, “I’ve

seen this

program make such a difference in these

kids’ lives. Some of them have never been

in a professional office before,

let alone a 50-story

skyscraper. They get a taste

of what it’s like to be in our

shoes and they learn skills like

resume writing, networking,

how to get to work on time

and, when it’s possible, they

even get to experience what

it’s like to be in a courtroom.”

Leslie’s commitment to the

program is demonstrated by

the significant investment of

her personal time outside the

office. Prior to interning with

© 2016 Polsinelli


of 14

Mosaic

Christopher L.E. Hines, Chicago Associate – Awarded

the Young Alumni Award by Washington University

Law School Black Law Student Association at the 11th

Annual Scholarship Banquet. Washington University's

BLSA chapter has rapidly grown and developed as a

student organization on campus. The Young Alumni

Award is given each year to individuals who have

been making exceptional strides in the legal

community. St. Louis Associate Elton Dean accepted

the award on Chris’ behalf.

Since the beginning of the year,

numerous diverse attorneys at the firm

have received recognition for their

excellence in professional and

community activities.

Brook M. Bailey, Kansas City Shareholder

– Selected as “Best of the Bar” by the

Kansas City Business Journal in 2015.

Melissa S. Ho, Phoenix Shareholder –

Named one of the "Most Influential

Women in Arizona Business," by

Arizona Business Magazine. Melissa

and the other 49 honorees are women

who have procured influence in their

fields through their track records of

profitability, business ethics and

leadership.

Michael D. Pegues, Dallas Shareholder –

Named “Best Lawyer” by D Magazine in

2015.

Melissa Miller Proctor, Phoenix

Shareholder – Selected to serve on the

Working Board of the Metropolitan

Phoenix Export Alliance (MPEXA).

MPEXA is considered the “go to” outlet

for all Small and Medium Enterprises

(SMEs) looking for export assistance

and guidance.

Nancy Rafuse, Atlanta Shareholder –

Selected for inclusion by Benchmark

Litigation in the Benchmark Top 250

Women in Litigation. A distinction she

has now achieved in each of the last

three years. The Top 250 Women in

Litigation is dedicated to honoring the

accomplishments of leading female trial

attorneys in the United States, and is

determined through targeted research

and peer review process.

Henry Talavera, Dallas Shareholder –

Named “Best Lawyer” by D Magazine in

2015.

(Mentoring and Making a Remarkable Impact - continued from page 3)

opened my eyes to the disparity in terms of experiences and opportunities that exist

between so many of our inner-city youth and someone like me. I certainly don’t

consider myself as being affluent, but I know I’ve been fortunate to have good role

models and opportunities that simply don’t exist in the lives of most of these kids,”

she observed.

Although it was not her goal when she began volunteering for DSY, Leslie’s passion and

involvement has resulted in the spotlight being pointed at her during the annual Chicago

Loves Its Youth benefit reception late last year. “Honestly, I don’t know why they

selected me as one of the honorees for this event. I don’t have a deep network of people

that could donate a lot of money, but I appreciate that they recognize my commitment.”

Although Leslie was honored for her personal contribution to the organization, she

knows her efforts weren’t solo. “I definitely felt honored, and with Tony Nasharr’s

assistance as my co-chair, and along with the other honorees, the All Stars Project raised

over $60,000. So many people at Polsinelli make the program possible. They should have

all been with me to receive recognition,” said Leslie. In addition to Spencer Wood, Tony

Nasharr, and Leslie, Chicago Legal Administrative Assistant Tanya Cobb is also heavily

involved in DSY and the internship program at Polsinelli. “Each year, Tanya takes the

time to help out as either a supervisor or a mentor, and I rely on her to help out with our

interns. She does a fantastic job,” Leslie added.

To learn more about the DSY program specifically, or the All Stars Project in Chicago

and other cities across the country, please visit their website at www.allstars.org.

http://www.allstars.org


© 2016 Polsinelli of 14

Attorney Spotlight Leane Capps: Leading the Only Bench-Bar Organization of its Kind

promotes recognition of the practice of

appellate law as a specialty.

At the end of Leane’s term this

November, she will lead CAL’s long-

range planning committee, a one-year

commitment. And although some

might think that means Leane’s

schedule begins to slow down, she will

remain plugged in to various other

organizations in leadership capacities,

including serving as vice-chair of the

ABA’s TIPS Aviation and Space Law

Committee and editor of its newsletter.

Additionally, she has been invited to

attend the Judicial Conference of the

Fifth Circuit, a particular honor, as the

invitation was extended to her by the

Chief Judge of the Circuit. Under 28

U.S.C. §333 the Chief Judge of a Circuit

can summon a meeting of the circuit,

district, bankruptcy and magistrate

judges for the purpose of considering

the business of the courts and

improving the administration of justice

in the circuit. Under the Fifth Circuit

Rule, each judge may invite an attorney

to be a guest at the conference.

Leane’s commitment to her profession

and to the practice of law is evidenced

not only by her involvement in legal

industry organizations, but it is also

observed by organizations outside of

law. Recently, Leane was notified that

she would be recognized by the

National Diversity Council with its Most

Powerful & Influential Woman Award at

the Annual Texas Diversity & Leadership

Conference. The council will recognize

several women who have achieved

personal success and have also made it

possible for others to more easily follow

in their footsteps.

During her 10

year

involvement

with the Council

of Appellate

Lawyers (CAL),

Leane Capps had

served in every

capacity possible, with the exception of

one; Chairperson. In November of last

year, however, Leane was elected to that

pinnacle position during the annual

Appellate Judges Education Institute

summit held in Washington, D.C. “CAL is

one of the most outstanding professional

groups that I’ve had the privilege of being

a part of since my career began, so it’s

genuinely my honor to serve as Chair,”

said Leane. “The professional and

personal relationships I’ve formed and

the outstanding lawyers and judges I’ve

met through this organization have been

some of the most rewarding of my

career.”

CAL is the only national appellate bench-

bar organization in the country, and as

Chair, Leane also has the responsibility to

serve on the boards of the Appellate

Judges Conference and the Appellate

Judges Institute. In fact, Leane is the only

attorney serving on the boards that is not

a sitting judge.

CAL’s mission is to foster the professional

development of lawyers who practice

appellate law and to foster creative

dialogue between those lawyers and

appellate judges, both federal and state,

with the purpose of improving appellate

practice. The Council sponsors and

develops continuing legal education

programs and publications designed for

the needs of appellate lawyers, and

Diverse Polsinelli Attorneys

in Leadership Roles

in Diverse Professional Organizations:

Dan E. Cranshaw

Kansas City

Shareholder

Selected as a member of the 2016 Class of

Fellows by the Leadership Council on Legal

Diversity (LCLD). Cranshaw joins a select

group of experienced attorneys from

diverse backgrounds who have been

recognized for their potential as leaders in

their organizations. The organization

consists of more than 240 corporate chief

legal officers and law firm managing

partners.

Gemma Descoteaux

Dallas

Shareholder

Selected by the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter

of the Association for Corporate Growth

(ACG) to be its Women in ACG DFW chair.

Women in ACG DFW provides an

opportunity for ACG members to build and

promote women in the private equity

industry as well as other middle-market

industries.


© 2016 Polsinelli


of 14

Mosaic

Richard Juang

understands

firsthand the

benefits of

jumping in early

and getting

involved in legal

industry

organizations. While still in law school,

Richard was introduced to the activities

of the Missouri Asian American Bar

Association (MAABA), and now, some six

years later, he has been elected to the

position of president of the organization.

“The greatest benefits I’ve seen from my

involvement are the connections I’ve

been able to make. I’m in contact with

local judges, U.S. attorneys, and in-house

counsel, and none of that would have

happened if I’d just stayed in my office all

day,” said Richard. “It’s a really good

way to develop an experienced base of

contacts that I can ask questions or get

advice from to make me a better

attorney.”

The Missouri Asian American Bar

Association is a nonprofit organization

that aims to promote the professional

development of Asian-American

attorneys across the state. It is the local

affiliate of the National Asian Pacific

American Bar Association (NAPABA),

which represents more than 50,000

attorneys and 75 national, state and local

bar associations. NAPABA hosts a

national conference, which Richard will

attend on behalf of the Firm and MAABA.

“The national conference is a great way

for me to get my name out there. It’s

attended by in-house counsel from

various Fortune 500 companies like Wal-

Mart and Oracle, so I'll have

opportunities to connect on a

professional level and network with

decision-makers.” said Richard.

Richard’s involvement in MAABA is a

reflection of his personal commitment to

promoting diversity in the legal industry,

and he sees that commitment mirrored

at Polsinelli in ways that have made an

impression on him. “When the firm’s

new Diversity Director came to the firm, I

don’t think a lot of folks outside St. Louis

knew who she was. To me, Danielle Carr

represents everything about diversity. I

think that by bringing her in, diversity at

Polsinelli is being elevated to the next

level in St. Louis and nationally.”

Getting involved in national, and even

some state bar associations, can feel a bit

overwhelming due, in part, to their size

and structures. Richard hasn’t

experienced that barrier with MAABA,

and in fact, credits the smaller, diverse

organizations for shaping leaders early in

their careers. “Diverse organizations are

a little smaller than the larger

bars. Organizations like MAABA aren’t

overwhelmingly large, so they allow you

to get involved and rise to the top of the

organization and make a mark,”

observed Richard. “Diverse organizations

also allow me to get a better perspective

on the issues in the community and the

industry, and I can take those learnings

back to my firm.”

Polsinelli leadership fully supports

Richard’s involvement and recognizes the

importance of MAABA and other diverse

professional organizations. “Richard has

continued MAABA's tradition of bringing

together diverse attorneys to celebrate

inclusion in the legal profession and

promoting the professional development

of minority attorneys,” said Danielle.

To learn more about MAABA, click here

to visit the organization’s website.

Leadership in Diverse Bar Reaps Benefits Diverse Polsinelli Attorneys

in Leadership Roles

in Diverse Professional Organizations:

Karen R.

Glickstein

Kansas City

Shareholder

Appointed by the Missouri Bar

Association to serve as Commission co-

chair to the Joint Commission on

Women in the Profession. The

commission - a joint effort between the

Supreme Court of Missouri and The

Missouri Bar - was created in part to

gather data on women’s representation

in the profession and to identify best

practices for retaining and advancing

women in the field.

Randye B. Soref Los Angeles Principal

Appointed Vice Chair of the State Bar

Financial Institutions Committee and

Board Member to the ABI Bankruptcy

Battleground West.

(Continued from page 5)

Professional Impact

http://maaba-law.org/



Event and Sponsorship Spotlight

The Washington, D.C. Women’s Initiative

hosted an event featuring U.S. Senator

Claire McCaskill, at Polsinelli’s D.C. office.

The boardroom was transformed into an

elegant talk show-like setting allowing for

a special connectedness between the

audience and the senator. The evening

was designed to inspire and motivate

women to attain their personal and

professional goals.

This event was spearheaded by D.C.

Senior Policy Advisor Julie Shroyer and

highlighted the distinctive personality of

the firm’s D.C. office, which services a

mix of legal and public policy clients. The

intimate evening also brought a unique

team of public policy advisors, attorneys,

and recruiting and marketing

professionals together to demonstrate

the power of harnessing Polsinelli’s

Culture of Collaboration. “The event was

extraordinary for all that attended.

Senator McCaskill's warmth, openness

and infectious humor put all of us and our

guests at ease,” said Julie. “The

atmosphere was welcoming and

authentic.”

From prosecutor to legislator, Senator

Claire McCaskill had an interesting and

inspiring story to share with the guests.

Following law school, Claire started work

as an assistant prosecutor in Kansas City,

where she eventually served as a felony

courtroom prosecutor

specializing in sex

crimes and arson

cases. Fast forward to

2007 when she

became the first

woman elected to the

U.S. Senate from the

state of Missouri.

She’s serving in her second term now,

after winning re-election in 2012.

Attendees commented that her story

was truly inspiring as she elaborated on

the challenges and adversity she faced.

Senator McCaskill also became the first

woman in the Missouri State Legislator

to have a baby while in office, leading

her to juggle the responsibilities of

lawmaker and mother. She made history

in 1992 when she became the first

woman to be elected Jackson County

Prosecutor. She launched one of the

nation's first drug courts, and

established a domestic violence unit, a

first-of-its-kind initiative for the region,

aimed at curbing domestic and sex

violence, as well as child abuse.

Unique to the event was the firm’s first

ever live stream Twitter experience.

Attorneys and policy advisors tweeted

their thoughts in “real time” as the

event was happening, and the posts

were retweeted by their followers,

which included Polsinelli attorneys and

their guests. The D.C. office expressed its

gratitude to guests which included

clients, prospective clients and Polsinelli

recruits in a post-event eblast which

thanked guests for attending and

encouraged them to continue the

important conversation started during

the one-of-a-kind event.

An Intimate Evening with U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill Polsinelli hosted or sponsored

numerous women-focused events:

American Bar Association's Women of

the Section of Litigation

Conference

November 11-13, 2015

Chicago, IL

Girls on the Run Race

November 14, 2015

St Louis, MO

2020 Women on Boards

November 19, 2015

Los Angeles, CA

Kansas City Annual Women's Event –

The Culinary Center of Kansas City

January 21, 2016

Kansas City, MO

Girls on the Run: Pacesetters

March 3, 2016

St. Louis, MO

Women in Global Business

March 23, 2016

Dallas, TX

Girls on the Run – The Power of One

Gala

March 31, 2016

St. Louis, MO

Wine & Wardrobe Event: Celebrating

Women in Business

May 3, 2016

St. Louis, MO




Attendees were encouraged to consider

bringing a donation of juice boxes,

oatmeal, cereal, apple sauce and other

food items to be donated to The

Children’s Place pantry, which provides

backpacks of food to students whose

families are not otherwise eligible for

food donations from other sources. A

representative of The Children’s Place

made a point to follow-up after the event

to express her gratitude and to share her

own impressions. “I just wanted to say

thank you for last night. We were

amazed at the amount of food that was

donated. Thank you for the thinking of

TCP,” wrote Ann Thomas, President/CEO.

“It was truly a great venue and Paige was

so interesting. I realized that I know

nothing about spirits and craft cocktails!

I was also able to meet several interesting

people, so a success in the networking

department as well.”

The event invitation garnered as much

interest as the event itself, and featured

a small box holding five double-sided

drink coasters that included the details of

the event, featured a short bio of the

mixologist, contained both alcoholic and

non-alcoholic drink recipes, and provided

information about The Children’s Place.

The Women’s Initiative Committee in

Kansas City took a unique approach to its

recent annual networking event, and the

final product resulted in a jigger of

networking, a dash of visiting with

current clients and a splash of learning.

The event definitely wasn’t old

fashioned, but it certainly derived its

theme from the 19th century beverage.

The January 2016 event featured

mixologist Paige Unger Cline, an award-

winning cocktail enthusiast and one of

Kansas City’s best-known bartenders.

Paige provided a unique history of spirits

while she walked attendees through the

process of mixing several craft cocktails.

Both before and after Paige’s talk,

attendees had an opportunity to try their

hands at making their own specialty

drinks at various stations.

“This year’s event was really unique

because it was held in a small setting, and

there were loosely structured stations to

mix drinks that allowed us plenty of

opportunities to mingle with guests. It

made for an enjoyable evening that left a

great impression,” said Kansas City

Shareholder Brook Bailey. The Culinary

Center of Kansas City was selected as the

event venue because it offered an

KC Women’s Event Features Mixing and Mingling in the Literal Sense

Event and Sponsorship Spotlight

intimate setting for the

themed event, and it

featured video cameras

that enabled guests to see

the cocktail demonstration

regardless of where they

were sitting or standing.

Several factors were

considered when the

committee began

brainstorming the theme

and location, with a focus

on creating a comfortable

environment that would be conducive to

business networking for both newer and

more seasoned Polsinelli attorneys.

“From my perspective, the event was a

learning opportunity. I was able to

connect someone inquiring about our

health care practice to a more senior

attorney, which allowed me to be

involved in the networking process on a

more professional level than my

experience would otherwise permit,” said

Associate Emily Shaw. “I was able to

learn by watching,” she added. Emily’s

experience of easy and comfortable

networking was echoed by Shareholder

Karen Glickstein. “It was great to learn

so much about the history of cocktails

and spirits. The stations where we mixed

our own drinks gave us an easy

opportunity to start a conversation and

speak with someone, even if it was

someone that you didn’t know

personally.”

Each year, the Women’s Initiative

Committee in Kansas City identifies a

local non-profit to feature in the event

invitation and the firm encourages

participation by all guests. This year’s

event benefited The Children’s Place,

which provides services for the youngest

survivors of abuse and neglect.



In 2015, Saint

Louis University

School of Law

was proud to

announce its

inaugural class of

the Order of the

Fleur de Lis. Fourteen honorees were

inducted as the first members of the

school’s Hall of Fame, its highest

distinction. Our very own Doreen

Dodson is one of these distinguished

members of the 2015 inaugural Hall of

Fame class. She is currently a Senior

Partner at Polsinelli in the St. Louis

office where she works within the

Labor and Employment Litigation

practice group. “Doreen is an

exemplary model of the spirit of The

Order of the Fleur de Lis and what its

members should embody,” Randy

Gerber, managing director of the St.

Louis office of Polsinelli, said.

“Throughout her career, she has been a

consummate professional, outstanding

mentor and remarkable leader in the

field of law. I am proud to call her my

colleague and thrilled that she has

been recognized with this well-

deserved honor.”

A 1974 graduate of Saint Louis

University School of Law, Doreen was

chosen for her professional success

and significant contributions to the

legal community. “This award meant so

much to me from the law school that

took a chance on me, returning to

school after five years with three very

young children. So many women

graduates from that period owe their

Honors and Distinctions

careers to then Dean Childress,” said

Doreen.

Inductees were selected by a

committee of the dean, alumni and

staff. Doreen is an outstanding lawyer

and public servant, she was the first

woman president of The Missouri Bar.

Among her many accomplishments,

she spearheaded the effort to provide

advance directives and other

assistance to those facing issues of

aging.

Doreen brings good judgment, practical

solutions, and extensive experience to

serving the employment needs of clients

in a variety of industries. For more than

35 years, she has proactively helped

clients reduce their exposure and avoid

litigation. Doreen counsels nonprofit and

for-profit clients in industries ranging

from health care to manufacturing to

wholesale beverage distribution in

developing policies, investigating

complaints and employee misconduct,

and counseling clients in discipline and

termination matters. She also provides

comprehensive immigration assistance,

helping employers obtain and keep the

foreign national employees their

businesses require.

“To be mentioned in a class that included

real heroes of the law is overwhelming

and completely humbling,” said Doreen,

“I am very grateful.” The fourteen

honorees of SLU LAW’s inaugural class

have certainly set the bar high and will

serve as aspirational examples for future

generations.

Saint Louis University School of Law Installs Polsinelli's

Doreen Dodson with Highest Honor Polsinelli hosted or sponsored numerous

other diverse events:

Parents Step Ahead: 10th Anniversary

“Building the Educational Tool Box”

December 7, 2015 | Dallas, TX

Trailblazers Luncheon with Kansas City

Mayor Sly James and Judge Kevin

Harrell

February 26, 2016 | Kansas City, MO

(pictured below)

Washburn Law's Diversity Committee

Symposium – Corporate and Law

Firm Diversity

March 9, 2016 | Topeka, KS

(pictured below)

The University of Memphis Law Review

Annual Symposium – Urban

Revitalization: The Legal Implications

in Restoring a City

March 18, 2016 | Memphis, TN




William D. Blakely

Co

mm

ercial Litig

atio

n

Polsinelli’s Pro Bono Committee

Troy B. Froderman

Insu

ran

ce Reco

very Litig

atio

n

Stacy A. Carpenter

Co

mm

ercial Litig

atio

n

Pro Bono and Client Work in Balance

Chicago Associate Sohil Shah, decided early in his career that

focusing on pro bono work, in addition to billable work, was

important to him so he makes it a priority to integrate the two

into his practice whenever possible. “Focus on community has

always resonated with me, and if I can blend my work life with

activities that benefit people in my community, then I think it’s

my obligation to do that,” said Sohil. “I can’t imagine not

putting my background to work for people that genuinely need

someone to advocate for them.”

For many attorneys new in their careers, it’s easy to feel the tug

to focus only on generating billable work, but Sohil has

managed to strike a good balance. And it’s his opinion that

finding the balance is due, in part, to the firm’s culture of

supporting attorneys in their pro bono interests. “Leadership

has created an environment where pro bono work is embraced

and they allow us time to pursue those interests. They know


Dennis D. Palmer

An

titrust

Paula S. Kim

Fina

ncia

l an

d Fid

ucia

ry

Robert J. Selsor

Fina

ncia

l an

d Fid

ucia

ry

Leane K. Capps

Co

mm

ercial Litig

atio

n

Jay M. Dade

Lab

or a

nd

Emp

loym

ent

Litiga

tion

Quentin L. Jennings

Co

rpo

rate a

nd

Tra

nsa

ctio

na

l

Pro Bono Activities Polsinelli’s Urban Renewal Project

If you strolled through Kansas City's historic east neighborhoods

in the early 1900s, you would have seen beautiful homes with

wraparound porches and well-tended lawns. By the 1990s,

however, Kansas City's historic east neighborhoods had

changed dramatically. Many of the homes had been demolished

or were abandoned. Absentee landlords neglected many of the

remaining homes, and crime had risen dramatically. In the past

few years, though, the neighborhood is changing thanks to

tough abandoned-housing legislation, a strong neighborhood

group and a team of volunteer lawyers.

Legal Aid of Western Missouri (LAWMO) recently received a

grant titled, “Adopt-A-Neighborhood Grant” intended to

partner law firms with Kansas City’s urban core neighborhoods.

LAWMO asked Polsinelli to join the program, and the firm has


Over the course of 2015, Polsinelli attorneys have dedicated 28,704 hours toward the firm’s

pro bono efforts, with 207 attorneys performing more than 20 hours of pro bono work.




Mosaic stayed tremendously active. Polsinelli agreed to provide pro

bono legal services to Historic East Neighborhoods Coalition’s

Key Coalition Neighborhood Association (KCNA). The KCNA, an

organizing entity and voice for area residents, viewed the

legislation as a tool to implement its strategic plan: economic

development, crime reduction and neighborhood beautification.

Brendan McPherson is leading Polsinelli’s efforts with assistance

from Marc Abbott and Dennis Palmer to bring legal actions

under Missouri’s Abandoned Housing Act to have titles to

abandoned property in the boundaries of the Key Coalition

neighborhood transferred to a company that agrees to

rehabilitate the property. The Missouri Abandoned Housing Act

permits courts, upon petition, to transfer ownership of vacant,

neglected, tax-delinquent properties to nonprofit organizations

for rehabilitation. “We as a firm were especially attracted to

KCNA because it is one of the neighborhoods associated with the

Urban Neighborhood Initiative, where we are also focusing pro

bono efforts,” Brendan said.

The Kansas City's historic east neighborhoods didn’t change

(Polsinelli’s Urban Renewal Project—continued from page 10) overnight. Due to changes that took place in the 1960s during

our nation’s civil rights movements, the urban sprawl began

and many long-term residents that could move out of the

neighborhood did so, in search for better-quality jobs and

schools. This outward migration away from central urban areas

depressed property values, which made the historic east

neighborhoods more affordable to lower-income families and

attractive to absentee landlords. Currently, the historic east

neighborhoods are among the most challenged neighborhoods

in the metropolitan area.

“Although the program only started back in October, we have

40 attorneys that have already started work on behalf of KCNA,

or have committed to take on work in the future,” Brendan said.

Through the efforts of our pro bono attorneys and assistance

with KCNA, Polsinelli hopes to have a major impact in the Key

Coalition Neighborhood. The work has only begun, and there

still remains much work ahead. Although with time, Polsinelli

collectively hopes the people of this once proud and beautiful

community can give new life to Kansas City's historic east

neighborhood for generations to come.

pro bono work is important to communities, but they also know

it helps attorneys to more fully develop legal skills that benefit

our clients,” said Sohil.

Scott Gilbert, a Shareholder also located in the firm’s Chicago

office, has witnessed Sohil’s commitment firsthand, and has

noted his efforts. “Sohil is unique among practitioners,

especially younger practitioners, who are often relatively myopic

in focusing on revenue-generating billable work. Sohil, on the

other hand, has taken steps to ensure he uses his practice to not

only benefit himself and the firm, but also his community,”

observed Scott.

Very recently, and on his own accord, Sohil discovered the

Settlement Assistance Program facilitated by the United States

District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, which assigns

counsel to pro se litigants on a pro bono basis for the limited

purpose of providing counsel during settlement conferences and

related negotiations. After learning of the program, Sohil

(Pro Bono and Client Work in Balance—continued from page 10) registered to participate, and was ultimately assigned to assist a

pro se litigant in relation to a discrimination claim pending

against the City of Chicago. Sohil’s proactive steps to get

involved caused Scott and other attorneys at the firm to take

note. “Representing a pro se litigant is difficult as a general

matter, but even more so when the opposition is the

immovable object that is the City of Chicago. Despite being

stonewalled on multiple fronts, not to mention having tough

facts, Sohil worked tirelessly on behalf of his client to obtain the

best possible settlement that could be reached under the

circumstances,” said Scott. “Moreover, he helped to see that

his client was able to receive the full benefit of the settlement

process because he finally had an advocate.“ For these reasons,

as well as for his ongoing efforts to provide pro bono services

for the good of the community, the firm endorsed Sohil for

consideration for the 2016 Excellence in Pro Bono and Public

Interest Service in the United States Court for the Northern

District of Illinois recognition. Regardless of the outcome, Sohil

has certainly proven that a balance between practice and

community service can be found.




J Danielle Carr Leane K. Capps Lauren P. DeSantis –Then

Wh

ite Co

llar D

efense

Go

v’t Investig

atio

ns Bernadette Herward

Davida

Rea

l Estate

Co

rpo

rate

Kate J. Doty

We maintain a high performing, inclusive organization where all persons can thrive personally and professionally. This is essential to creating the most innovative and agile firm for the benefit of our clients and colleagues.

The Vision of Polsinelli Diversity

Our Core Values

The acceptance, pursuit and promotion of diversity and inclusion are core values of Polsinelli. These values inform, enlighten, and shape the strategy and actions that define our business at its essence, allowing us to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of a globally competitive marketplace.

We define diversity to include people from various ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and socio-economic backgrounds who offer a mosaic of beliefs, experiences, perspectives and values. It is our belief that diversity is critical to providing unique and creative solutions for our clients’ greatest challenges, and to the benefit of those with whom we work, engage and interact.

Polsinelli defines inclusion as the comprehensive, coordinated and complete integration of all diverse persons across the various sectors of our business enterprise as contributors, leaders and agents of change. Ours is a culture that promotes and invites openness, creativity and tolerance for bold thinking and creative ideas.

The Polsinelli PC Women’s Initiative is committed to providing opportunities, education, mentoring and support to the firm’s women attorneys to

promote their personal and professional development, advancement, leadership and well-being, both within and outside the firm.

Polsinelli’s Women’s Initiative Committee

Tiffany J. Andersen Brook M. Bailey Allison Berey Jane E. Arnold Mahsa Aliaskari

Lab

or a

nd

Emp

loym

ent

Anne Cherry Barnett Anne E. Callenbach Rebecca N. Cain

Co

mm

ercial Litig

atio

n

Jeanie Botkin Dani Barnard

Ch

ief Recru

itin

g O

fficer

Insu

ran

ce Reco

very Litig

atio

n

Hea

lth C

are

Ch

ief Ma

rketin

g O

fficer

Rea

l Estate

Toxic a

nd

Ma

ss Tort

Litiga

tion

Directo

r of P

rofessio

na

l D

evelop

men

t

Energ

y

Co

mm

ercial Litig

atio

n

Directo

r of D

iversity a

nd

Inclu

sion




Mosaic

Judy Yi Emily Wey Randye B. Soref Allison A. Schaper

Enviro

nm

enta

l Litig

ati

on

Julie A. Shroyer

Senio

r Po

licy Ad

visor—

Pu

blic P

olicy

Mary T. McKelvey Dawn M. Lurie

Lab

or a

nd

Emp

loym

ent

Litig

ati

on

Shanti M. Katona B

an

krup

tcy an

d Fin

an

cial

Hea

lth C

are

Bragg E. Hemme

Pu

blic P

olicy

Susan Henderson Moore Lisa Greer Quateman Elizabeth L. Phillips

Lab

or a

nd

Emp

loym

ent

Litiga

tion

Deborah Murphy

Ma

rketing

Directo

r

Tara A. Nealey

Science a

nd

Techn

olo

gy

Anne Frohock

Reg

ion

al M

arketin

g

Ma

na

ger

Jennifer R. Growcock Virginia C. Gross Karen R. Glickstein

Lab

or a

nd

Emp

loym

ent

Litiga

tion

Elizabeth T. Gross La

bo

r an

d Em

plo

ymen

t Litig

atio

n

Kimberly K. Enders

Rea

l Estate Fin

an

ce

Kara M. Friedman

Hea

lth C

are

Angela E. Fones

Toxic a

nd

Ma

ss Tort

Litig

ati

on

Jennifer L. Evans

Hea

lth C

are

Co

rpo

rate a

nd

Tra

nsa

ctio

na

l

Gemma L. Descoteaux

No

np

rofit O

rga

niza

tion

s

Co

mm

ercial Liti

ga

tio

n

Toxic a

nd

Ma

ss Tort

Litig

ati

on

Lauren E. Tucker-McCubbin

Insu

ran

ce Reco

very

Ca

p M

arkets | C

om

mercia

l Len

din

g

Law

Enfo

rcemen

t

Hea

lth C

are

Lab

or a

nd

Emp

loym

ent

Litiga

tion




Pictured from top left:

Dan E. Cranshaw Chair and Chief Diversity Officer Commercial Litigation Kansas City

Attorney Representatives:

Cecelia K. Carroll Toxic and Mass Tort St. Louis

Ana I. Christian

Health Care Los Angeles

Melissa S. Ho

White Collar Defense and Government Investigations Phoenix

Michael D. Pegues

Intellectual Property Litigation Dallas

Michael A. Williamson

Science and Technology Kansas City

Judy Yi Labor and Employment Kansas City

Administrative Leaders:

Dani Barnard

Chief Recruiting Officer Washington, D.C.

Jodie Hughey

Chief Human Resources Officer Kansas City

Quentin L. Jennings

Corporate and Transactional Kansas City

Amanda Katzenstein

Science and Technology Washington, D.C.

On Lu

Intellectual Property Litigation San Francisco

Anthony J. Nasharr

Real Estate Finance Chicago

Michael F. Patterson

Corporate and Transactional Phoenix

Jeanie Botkin

Director of Professional Development Kansas City

J. Danielle Carr

Director of Diversity & Inclusion St. Louis

Cristy Johnson

Director of Firm-wide Legal Recruiting Kansas City

Deborah Murphy

Marketing Director Kansas City

Diversity & Inclusion Committee

mosaic - polsinelli · 2016-05-06 · mosaic hristopher l.e. hines, hicago associate – awarded...

Documents