LACBA Annual Report 2020/21

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

BAR ASSOCIATION

lacba.org

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Tamila C. Jensen, President

Brad Pauley, President-Elect

Ann Park, Senior Vice President

Kristin Adrian, Vice President & Treasurer

Philip H. Lam, Vice President, Diversity, Inclusion & Outreach

Jo-Ann W. Grace, Assistant Vice President

David Gurnick, Assistant Vice President

Ronald F. Brot, Immediate Past President

Sharon G. Gelbart, Barristers President

Sarah Kelly-Kilgore, Barristers President-Elect

Stan Bissey, Executive Director/Secretary

LACBA 2020/21 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

STAN BISSEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Beginning in 2018, we embarked on a calculated and strategic effort to

stabilize membership, significantly reduce expenses, add and enhance revenue streams, right size the staff and the organization, and transition to a partial remote worker model while continuing to support our law practice sections, committees, and task forces.

We’ve traversed a global pandemic, an office relocation, and continued to deliver over 250 online and in-person

CLE programs and signature events. While it wasn’t easy, our officers, trustees, and amazing staff made this transformation possible. Through all this, LACBA, at its core, remains the county bar. From Lancaster to Long Beach and Pomona to the Pacific, LACBA is, and will remain, the preeminent voice for lawyers and the legal community in Los Angeles.

Thank you for your continued support and collective leadership, service, and dedication as we continue to build a better, more diverse, and inclusive bar.

LACBA HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED

BRAD PAULEY 2021-2022 PRESIDENT For almost a century and a half, LACBA has exemplified this ethic

of professionalism and service. Our impact on the legal community is immense and our chief functions are to serve our members, partner with the courts, assist the broader community, and support the rule of law.

In the 2021/22 bar year, LACBA seeks to increase membership, augment sponsorship revenue, and strengthen the Counsel for Justice’s fundraising so that its projects can continue to thrive. LACBA is about connecting lawyers, so virtual programming will be maintained as we explore safe and responsible ways to renew in-person and hybrid activities.

“A primary goal is to focus on attracting younger lawyers and law student membership knowing that they represent LACBA’s future.”

My confidence in reaching our goals stems from our leadership, staff, and members, who run sections and committees, organize programs, and devote their time and resources to making LACBA a preeminent metropolitan bar association.

For attorneys and law students who are not yet LACBA members, my message is simple: join. You will be glad you did. If you are a member, thank you and I encourage you to get more involved. Organize a CLE program for your practice section, seek out a leadership position, join a committee, write an article for Los Angeles Lawyer, or volunteer for a CFJ project. We will all be the better for it.

Digested from an article originally published in the July/August 2021

issue of Los Angeles Lawyer magazine.

LOOKING FORWARD

TAMILA C. JENSEN 2020-2021 PRESIDENT Looking back at the 2020/21 term, Los Angeles County Bar Association

(LACBA) leadership faced and resolved financial issues that had been plaguing the association for years. The largest step toward stable financial footing came with the move from LACBA’s high-rise office to 200 South Spring Street, which eliminated an obligation of about $1 million a year.

“LACBA has a new home in a building of historical interest in the middle of the action: near courthouses and governmental offices where our members work.”

This year saw LACBA assisting members though the COVID-19 response, hosting town hall meetings, serving as a key communications conduit to the Los Angeles

Superior Court, facilitating connections through listservs, and delivering sections meetings, CLE, networking, and even an installation event through online platforms.

Two new task forces formed. The Task Force on the Future of the Practice of Law tracks the activities of the State Bar and proposals set to drastically restructure the state’s legal services. The Task Force on Racial and Social Justice provides exciting and relevant member programming almost monthly. New sections were established; the Diversity in the Profession Section and the Cannabis Section.

The success of this unprecedented term has been a group effort, from our Board of Trustees and Executive Committee to the LACBA staff and our dedicated committees. There is no way any of us could have gotten through a year like 2020/21 alone.

Digested from an article originally published in the June 2021 issue of

Los Angeles Lawyer magazine.

THE BAR YEAR IN REVIEW

Sarvenaz Bahar

Julia L. Birkel

Katherine J. Blair

Brant H. Dveirin

Reema M. El-Amamy

Roy J. Jimenez

Donna E. Kirkner

Theresa Leets

Sam E. Lucas

Jeffrey B. Margulies

Nicholas J. Mireles

Jeanne L. Nishimoto

Merete E. Rietveld

Ibiere Seck

Benjamin G. Shatz

Shahrokh Sheik

Kendra Thomas

Kevin L. Vick

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

1

lacba.org

Live and Virtual Events ............................................................................................................................................ page 3

28 Practice Area Sections ........................................................................................................................................ page 3

Lawyer Referral Services ......................................................................................................................................... page 5

Attorney-Client Mediation and Arbitration Services .............................................................................................. page 5

20+ Committees ...................................................................................................................................................... page 6

Counsel for Justice Projects .................................................................................................................................... page 8

CLE-in-a-Box learning

Daily e-Briefs

Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine delivered to email

A wide range of vendor discounts and more

MEMBER BENEFITS

During a bar year dominated by California’s stay-at-home order in responses to COVID-19, LACBA continued to serve as an important advocate for its members. When offices and courts shifted to remote work, LACBA rapidly implemented virtual programming to provide members with information, training, connection, and a much-needed voice during the pandemic.

As in years past, new members were welcomed, and thousands of memberships renewed through an organized outreach campaign. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs carried on virtually and 2020’s e-learning “CLE-in-a-box” product was distributed through on-demand streaming and flash drive audio options. To stay on pace with California State Bar’s directive to implement a temporary supervised provisional licensure program, LACBA expanded membership categories to include Provisionally Licensed attorneys.

MEMBERSHIP

2020/21 BAR YEAR MEMBERSHIP DATA

18,492LACBA members8,870 paid members, 9,622 first year (new admittees to the bar)and second year attorneys plus law students as of July 15, 2021

350+ New MembersJuly 2020-June 2021

Despite the challenges posed by the public health crisis, LACBA delivered over 250 educational programs and networking events to members during the 2020/21 bar year. Most programs were products of LACBA’s sections (listed below) and made possible through a quick pivot to Zoom’s online conferencing and webinar services. The year’s most popular programs focused on the timeliest topics: the legal impact of and strategies for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and examinations of racial justice in the legal profession. Recognition that diversity, equity, and inclusion need to be increased and promoted in the legal profession led to the development of LACBA’s new Diversity in the Profession Section.

LACBA also worked in concert with the judicial officers of the Los Angeles Superior Court to produce multiple informational programs that kept the legal community up to date on rapidly evolving changes, including the introduction of LACourtConnect, a remote appearance portal.

LACBA PROGRAMS & EVENTS

LACBA sections give members opportunities to advance in their careers in specific areas of practice and interest through listservs, networking events, discounts on topical CLE events, and other resources.

SECTIONS | Membership Numbers

Antitrust and Unfair Business Practices Section | 73Appellate Courts Section | 238Barristers/Young Attorneys Section | 10,159Business Law Section | 459Cannabis Section | 108Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section | 219Criminal Justice Section | 221Diversity in the Profession Section | 76 NEW IN 2021!Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Section | 351Environmental Law Section | 234Family Law Section | 847Healthcare Law Section | 191Immigration and Nationality Law Section | 482Individual Rights Section | 28

International Law Section | 64Labor and Employment Law Section | 807Law Practice Management Section | 67Litigation Section | 1,133Privacy and Cybersecurity Section | 88Real Property Section | 715Remedies Section | 88Senior Lawyers Section | 292Small Firm and Sole Practitioner Section | 304Social Security Law Section | 22State and Local Government Law Practice Section | 104Taxation Section | 184Trusts and Estates Section | 893Workers’ Compensation Section | 73

187CLE-in-a-Box flash drive deliveriesJuly 2020-June 2021

294CLE-in-a-Box on-demand deliveriesJuly 2020-June 2021

1.2M+LACBA website views July 2020-June 2021

++

2020/21 BAR YEAR EVENT DATA

250+Total events July 2020-June 2021

16,600+ Virtual event attendeesJuly 2020-June 2021

$601,000+Event revenue & sponsor supportJune 2020-June 2021

100%Switch to fully online eventsApril 2020

18,520Total section membership

32

lacba.org

2020

Although the operating revenue for 2020 was down by close to 20%, the Association was able to remain fiscally stable by securing funding from U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) grants. While operations such as live events were halted, related costs were also reduced to minimalize the financial affect.

The enhanced need to carefully monitor expenses provided an opportunity to reevaluate the long-term space needs for the association moving forward. Ultimately resulting in our move to new headquarters location for LACBA. Although 2020 produced a loss in excess of $500,000 on a consolidated basis, important and strategic steps were made to assure the financial stability and profitability of the bar moving forward.

2021 Through the first two quarters of 2021 and on a consolidated basis, LACBA is showing a profit for the first time in many years. This positive trend is expected to extend throughout the 2021/22 bar year. As we prepared to re-open and resume limited in-person events, the bar as a 501(c)(6) was able to apply for and received funding during the second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) from SBA to ensure sufficient cash for operations for the second half of 2021. Based on the current 2021 budget, LACBA is expected to continue building a solid foundation for the future.

LACBA 2020/21 FINANCIALS

Attorney-Client Mediation and Arbitration Services (ACMAS) provides means to resolve fee disputes without going through the court system. During the 2020/21 bar year, ACMAS continued processing arbitration and mediation requests and answering questions related to attorney-client fee disputes. To ensure health and safety in the community, department rules were modified to allow videoconferencing as well as electronic service of documents.

On-demand training was developed by ACMAS’ Executive Committee to help 40 mediators and arbitrators effectively use Zoom communications. Basic arbitrator training was presented virtually in April 2021.

ATTORNEY-CLIENT MEDIATION & ARBITRATION SERVICES

During the pandemic, Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) continuously served LA county residents in need with free legal services found through the public portal SmartLaw.org. By the end of the bar year, more than 100,000 community members were served with referrals to qualified attorneys and supported with relevant legal information.

Through the work of LRS, three key projects were realized in 2020/21: a collaboration with the City of Los Angeles to build a cannabis pro bono panel, the addition of a new cohort to a “Limited Experience” panel to help recently licensed attorneys acquire clients and build their businesses, and an update of operation rules to better meet the changing needs of attorneys.

LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICES

2020/21 BAR YEAR DATA

300Arbitration cases openedJuly 2020-June 2021

$421,329 ACMAS revenueJuly 2020-June 2021

$1,350,000+In association revenue

70,000+Calls answered

$9,000,000+Billed by LACBA members through LRS referrals

35,500SmartLaw.org visits

104,900SmartLaw.org page views

54

lacba.org

LACBA committees provide members an opportunity to make a difference in the legal profession and practice of law by addressing issues and challenges facing attorneys and the community.

LACBA 2020/21 BAR YEAR COMMITTEES

ADVISORY COMMITTEESAttorney-Client Mediation and Arbitration Services (ACMAS), Anahid Agemian, Chair

Indigent Criminal Defense Appointments (ICDA), Christopher C. Chaney, Chair

Lawyer Referral Service Advisory Committee (LRS), Sanford Jossen, Chair

Los Angeles Lawyer Editorial Board, Carmela T. Pagay, Chair

STANDING COMMITTEESAccess to Justice Committee Kate (Kathryn) Anne Marr, Chair

Adequate State Court Funding and Operations Committee Shehnaz Bhujwala, Elizabeth Mann, and Jeff S. Westerman, Esq, Co-Chairs

Amicus Briefs Committee Richard A. Rothschild, Chair

Armed Forces Committee Margaret Johnson, Chair

Delegation to the Conference of Delegates Erin Joyce, Chair

Joint LACBA-LACMA Committee on Biomedical Ethics Terri D. Keville and Paul Schneider, MD, Co-Chairs

Judicial Appointments Committee (JAC) Catherine Valerio Barrad, Chair

Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee (JEEC) Jerrold Abeles, Chair

President’s Advisory Committee on Women in the Legal Profession (PAC-Women) Patricia Egan Daehnke and Roxanne M. Wilson, Co-Chairs

Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee (PREC) Elizabeth Bradley, Chair

State Appellate Judicial Evaluation Committee (SAJEC) Alana Rotter, Chair

AD HOC COMMITTEESDialogues on Freedom Committee Hon Kevin S. Rosenberg and Rasha G. Shields, Co-Chairs

Future of Lawyering Task Force Erin Joyce, Chair

LACBA/WLALA Joint Task Force on the Retention and Promotion of Women Lawyers Gabrielle Brumbach, Esq, and Janet E. Hong, Co-Chairs

Law School Outreach and Membership Committee Harmony Roselina Gbe and Martin Francis Hirshland, Co-Chairs

Membership Task Force Brad Pauley, Chair

Racial and Social Justice Task Force Philip H. Lam, Chair

505Total committee members

COMMITTEE

LACBA STAFF

EXECUTIVE OFFICEStanley Bissey, Executive Director

Glenn Benitz, Director Finance

Vanessa Villagomez, Director of Administration

Seth Chavez, Director of Operations

Jazmine Ramirez, Executive Coordinator

OPERATIONS & ADMINISTRATION| Thomas Walsh, Director, Events, Multimedia & CLE

Terrina Scott, Manager, Event OperationsFatima Jones, Meeting & Event SpecialistAraceli Murillo, Meeting & Event SpecialistShawn Talley, Coordinator Audio Video

| Phyllis Hauser, Director, Member ServicesShirleen Yorke, Senior Customer Care SpecialistNatalie Costales, Customer Care LeadDemi Clark, Customer Care Specialist & ReceptionistPatricia Medina, Membership Sales Administrator

| Karen Cofield-Benjamin, Manager, Human Resources& FinanceJose Quesada, Payroll AnalystMaria Olivia Martinez, Staff AccountantDonat Sine, Staff AccountantMandi Masai, Finance Clerk

| Catherine Jackson, Marketing Manager

| Tom Horne, Director, Web ServicesKara Chikamori, Internet Administrator

| Lindsey Garner, Director of Mailroom & Facilities ServicesAaron Gallegos, Mail Clerk

| Michael Ossou, Director, Information TechnologyDavid Perez, Network Administrator

| John Lowe, Senior Editor, Los Angeles LawyerLinda Bekas, Advertising Director

LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICECoco Su, Manager, Administrative Operations

Maribel Sainz, Manager, Call Center

Gabriela Gutierrez, Referral Interviewer

Sophia Diaz, Referral Interviewer

Luis Ramirez, Administrative Assistant

Rafaela Taylor, Referral Interviewer

Raul Vargas, Referral Interviewer

James Wu, Referral Interviewer

ATTORNEY-CLIENT MEDIATION &ARBITRATION SERVICESSharron McLawyer, DirectorArmando Castro, Case CoordinatorJesus Beltran, Case Coordinator

COUNTY CONTRACTSCyn Yamashiro, Director, Indigent Defense Services

Indigent Criminal Defense Appointments Ezekiel Perlo, Directing Attorney

Judi Smith, Office Manager

Harold Hall, Program Administrator

Eugenia Brown, Program Administrator

Diane Gladden, Program Administrator

Renecia Smith, Program Administrator

Veronica Gallegos, Senior Computer Program Assistant

Independent Juvenile Defender ProgramMarketa Sims, Program Attorney-Writs

Eric Rodstrom, Program Attorney-Resource

Karin White, Detective

Tracy Andrade, Program Coordinator

Danielle Tavasti, Social Worker

Shanice Hawthorne, Program Coordinator

Margot Parker-Elder, Program Coordinator

Kianna Anvari, Program Coordinator

COUNSEL FOR JUSTICE, a 501(c)(3)| Hazel Gaitan, Administrative Manager

AIDS Legal Services Project | Laurie Aronoff, Director and Pro Bono Coordinator

Domestic Violence Legal Services Project | Diana Trunk, Project Director

Alexandra Thorpe, Project AttorneyMireya Perez, ParalegalAlexa Avalos, Paralegal

Immigration Legal Assistance Project | Sylvia Martinez, Directing Attorney

Benjamin Alvarez, Project AttorneyJeronimo Centeno, Paralegal

Veterans Legal Services Project| Tara Hunter, Directing Attorney

Carolina Hernandez, Project Coordinator

76

lacba.org

With a history that spans 50+ years, LACBA’s charitable and pro bono Counsel for Justice (CFJ) has raised millions and provided critical legal services to hundreds of thousands in need by bringing together law firms, foundations, corporations, donors, and volunteers. Today, CFJ’s focus is within four key service projects:

AIDS Legal Services Project provides a lifeline to dignity and fundamental rights, including representation for estate planning, housing, healthcare access, privacy, debt relief, and immigration

Domestic Violence Legal Services Project gives victims of abuse and their families a chance for a safe life by assisting them to obtain domestic violence and elder abuse restraining orders

Immigration Legal Assistance Project keeps families together and provides accurate information about immigration rights, by providing immigration advice to citizens, immigrants and aliens, and preparing immigration and naturalization forms

Veterans Legal Services Project provides free legal assistance and representation to Veterans so they can clear tickets and warrants, expunge misdemeanor criminal convictions, and start small businesses

COUNSEL FOR JUSTICE

CFJ 2020/21 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Susan Koehler Sullivan, President

Brian K. Condon, Executive Vice President/Immediate Past President

John A. Clark, Senior Vice President

Jennifer B. Bonneville, Vice President

Jill A. Cossman, Vice President

David G. Kutzer, Vice President

Lana Manganiello, Vice President

Eric R. McDonough, Esq, Vice President

William L. Winslow, Vice President

Timothy B. Yoo, Vice President

Ronald F. Brot, Esq, Director

Tamila C. Jensen, Esq, Director

Philip H. Lam, Director

Ann Park, Director

Brad S. Pauley, Director

Kristin Adrian, Treasurer

Stan Bissey, Executive Director/ Secretary

--

Lilit Asadourian, Director

Paul D. Cass, Director

Harry W.R. Chamberlain, II, Director

Natasha Chesler, Director

Justin Olof Ehresmann, Director

Derek Ramon Flores, Director

Colleen Mary Hart, Director

Elliott S. Henry, Director

Shant A. Karnikian, Director

Raffi Kassabian, Director

Hon Mary Elizabeth Kelly, Director

Wes W. Kennedy, J.D., Director

Diane L. Kimberlin, Director

Neal R. Marder, Director

Katherine Ramlose McMorrow, Director

Geoffrey G. Moss, Director

Lauren M. Movsesian, Director

Austin C. Norris, Director

Jason Ryan Parnell, Director

Brett Safford, Director

Matthew E. Sloan, Director

Stephanie Michelle Taft, Esq., Director

Juan A. Torres, Director

Catalina J. Vergara, Esq, Director

Derek S. Whitefield, Director

Hee Sung Yoon, Director

In 2020, CFJ published Lawyers of Los Angeles: 1950 to 2020 in association with Angel City Press. As of May 2021, 80% of the sale proceeds, or $20,721, have gone to CFJ and its projects.

In December 2020, CFJ was awarded the Excellence in Diversty Award by the California Lawyers Association.

2020 CFJ TOP CORPORATE & FOUNDATION DONORS Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation | $35,000Wells Fargo Foundation | $29,550Latham & Watkins LLP | $24,800Orrick | $20,000Proskauer | $12,000Venable Foundation, Inc. | $10,000Raymond James Financial, Inc. | $8,500Reed Smith LLP | $7,500Southern California Gas Co. | $6,500Clyde & Co | $5,600Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company | $5,600The Steptoe Foundation | $5,600Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP | $5,000Arnold & Porter | $5,000DivcoWest | $5,000NBCUniversal | $5,000Phoenix Construction Management | $5,000Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | $5,000

2020 CFJ TOP INDIVIDUAL DONORSAnonymous | $25,000Susan Koehler Sullivan | $5,683Brian K. Condon | $4,505Joanne Robbins | $4,000William L. Winslow | $3,605Laurie Rice | $3,500Justin O. Ehresmann | $3,005Derek R. Flores | $2,500Mark Gross | $2,400Diane L. Kimberlin | $2,105Jill A. Cossman | $2,005Mark Garscia | $2,000

2020 CFJALL PROJECTS COMBINED

8,140CFJ clients served

409 Attorneys, law students,paralegals, interpreters, mediators, and other volunteers

6,624Pro bono hours donated

$2,004,898In pro bono services

$169,000+Raised through the end-of-year campaign

98

lacba.org

AIDS LEGAL SERVICES PROJECT 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

In response to closed courthouse offices, developed a new remote services model to provide legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence

Raised over $40,000 through its #BeAware campaign during Domestic Violence Awareness month

Expanded services available through our partnership with the City of Los Angeles and the LA Police Department at the Central Bureau Family Justice Center

Through a State Bar of California award, began partnership with the LA Superior Court to create self-help services to litigants in domestic violence cases

Assisted more than 4,000 individuals

Served as liaison for individuals seeing services from the U.S. Immigration Services, ICE, and Executive Office for Immigration Review

Collaborates with NGOs to provide free or low-cost services for individuals who are homeless, elderly, or receiving mental health services

IMMIGRATION LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT 2020/21 HIGHLIGHTS

Through the work of Proskauer volunteers, won an appeal on behalf of a veteran to successfully upgrade her military discharge status

Who Are You Remembering? campaign raised over $19,000 to support VLSP’s delivery of free legal services to veterans

Conducted the first Virtual Record Clearing Workshop and Legal Clinic for Veterans

Started Virtual Advocate Training that trained over 120 advocates to deliver pro bono assistance to veterans.

Partnered with a panel of national law firms to launch LEAP, a program that delivers legal services to veteran entrepreneurs and small business owners

VETERANS LEGAL SERVICES PROJECT 2020/21 HIGHLIGHTS

*1/1/20 - 5/31/21

*1/1/20 - 5/31/21

2020/21 DATA*

4,022Individuals served

784 Pro bono hours

$207,400 Of donated hours

2020/21 DATA*

330Veterans served

22 Legal clinics

15 Self-help workshops

13 Advocate trainings

320 Referrals for veterans’ assistance outside services scope

Developing a pilot Homelessness Prevention Dispute Resolution project for people living with HIV and AIDS using funding from the City of Los Angeles

Collaborating on a Legal Needs Assessment Study for people living with HIV and AIDS in LA County using funding from Inner City Law Center

Developed a video series to address healthcare access for people living with a disability using funding from the City of Los Angeles

Enhanced the project webpage to address COVID-related rights, advance planning, debt relief, and workplace protections

Held 14 remote legal presentations on immigration, debt relief and employment rights for HIV-impacted communities

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEGAL SERVICES PROJECT 2020/21 HIGHLIGHTS

*1/1/20 - 5/31/21

2020DATA

526People using service

$6,300 Raised for HIV legal services by 56 donors and the AIDS Walk Team

2020/21 DATA*

4,346Litigants served in domestic violence and elder abuse cases

1,900+ Domestic violence restraining orders prepared

2,995 Hours worked by 129 volunteers and 91 pro bono attorneys

1110