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May 2016

LAWYERS CLUB NEWS

INSIDE READ ABOUT LAWYERS CLUB 2016 ANNUAL DINNER AWARDEES

THE CALIFORNIA FAIR PAY ACT’S AUTHOR to speak on May 5

ANNUAL DINNER SPEAKERSElevating Equality

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2 may 2016Lawyers Club News

Lawyers Club News 3www.lawyersclubsandiego.com

President’s Message to Members

How We are Perceived Still Matters“Good morning, as the court reporter you can sit on this side of the table,” I was told.

The problem was, I was not the court reporter. I was, however, the only other female in the room and therefore presumed to be the court reporter. This happened to me too many times to count. I was not offended because I believed the court reporter’s position is unimportant, but because it was not my position. I was the attorney taking the deposition, or I was the attorney defending the deposition; I was not reporting the deposition. I was offended at the presumption that because I was a female, I was not a lawyer.

When I have repeated these stories ad nauseam (because it happened

so frequently) some have tried to explain to me that the mistake was made because of my age and not my gender. As flattered as I wanted to be that I was perceived as “young,” I knew that explanation was simply not true. My male colleagues who were my same age and same level of experience, or even less experienced, were never mistaken as the court reporter.

The reality was, I was mistaken as the court reporter because I was a female attorney and there is still an overwhelming association with the word “attorney” and “male,” just as there are with most positions of power, including judges, legislators, doctors and other professionals. I constantly hear male pronouns replaced for the words “judge” or “doctor” or “legislator” (what did he rule/say/announce). Even if a judge before whom I have appeared is a male, I find myself compelled to respond with “she ruled in my favor” because I want to emphasize the subtle ways in which our nomenclature identifies men in positions of power. I am reminded that our language is important and our words do matter.

As innocent as the “male preference” may be for the general population, I believe it does have a negative effect on the way women are perceived. If we are not associated with positions of power or careers, then what are we associated with? Well, next time you go to the store to pick out a birthday card for your mom, sister, aunt or any female you know, pay close attention to the types of cards and how women are portrayed. In my journey to find a birthday card for my mom, a working mom who raised five daughters, I was

overwhelmed by the portrayals of “super moms” who could cook and clean and raise kids. What was obviously missing from the card was my mom who did all that and had a career too. I was barraged with cards that depicted pictures of moms holding a child in one arm and the mop or cleaning supplies in the other arm with some catchy phrase as “you can do it all mom.” The message was correct, but the illustration was limiting and, quite honestly, offensive.

The way in which women are portrayed in our media, our greeting cards and our diction does matter and it does impact how well women are accepted in our profession, or any profession. As women are depicted more and more in leading roles in films and television, and we are more conscious of avoiding the use of “male pronouns” we might see fewer women mistaken as something other than the lawyer, the doctor or the legislator.

This issue is a key focus for our Annual Dinner keynote speaker, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who experienced first-hand Hollywood’s prejudices against well-educated women. She has dedicated her career to challenging the way women are misrepresented in the media, contributing to the objectification and degradation of women. Her work and story are fascinating and eye-opening. We are so excited to have her come share her story with us on Thursday, May 19. I am sure we will be entertained, educated and inspired.

Deborah Dixon is a Senior Trial Attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys and President of Lawyers Club.

Lawyers Club Has Moved!

Lawyers Club of San Diego has moved to a new office located at 402 West Broadway, Suite 1260, San Diego CA 92101. Please update your records with our new address.

Lawyers Club Has Moved!

Lawyers Club of San Diego has moved to a new office located at 402 West Broadway, Suite 1260, San Diego CA 92101. Please update your records with our new address.


Lawyers Club of San Diego

402 West Broadway, Suite 1260, San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 595-0650 phone(619) 595-0657 fax

[email protected]

PresidentDeborah Dixon

Vice PresidentsEric Ganci

Shalini KediaJamie Quient

Bhashini WeerasingheTreasurer

Jennifer ChangSecretarySusan Swan

Assistant SecretaryAmanda AllenDirectorsOlga Alvarez

Danna CotmanTara Duester

Rebecca KanterFrann Setzer

Sara SimmonsNorth County Chapter

PresidentDanielle Hultenius Moore

Co-EditorsTara Duester

Carla Sanderson Staff Articles Coordinator

Kate LangmoreMember Profile Coordinator

Roxy CarterExecutive Director

Elaine LawrencePrograms & Events Coordinator

Rhianna MarasAdministrative Coordinator

Mary Ordonez

Lawyers Club News is published monthly 11 times a year, with a combined

July/August issue.

Lawyers Club welcomes contributions to the newsletter, as well as your comments and

suggestions regarding Lawyers Club News; contact Tara (Jacobson) Duester at tduester@sheppardmullin.

com and Carla Sanderson at [email protected]. The deadline for articles is the 1st of the month prior to the month of publication. Articles should be

submitted in Microsoft Word.

The advertising deadline is the 8th of the month prior to the month of publication. For advertising information, contact Elaine Lawrence at Elaine@

lawyersclubsandiego.com.

Ms. Rosa AcevedoMs. Catherine ArambulaMs. Carlie BouslaughMs. Erin BrandtMs. Lauren BushmanMs. Amy CollinsMr. Wayne DernetzMr. Thomas Scott DudleyMs. Stephanie FitzsimmonsMr. Evan FloresMs. Katherine GarciaMs. Elizabeth GerbasiMs. Cara Lyn Greco

Ms. Samara HakimMs. Kelly HaleMs. Alexandra HappersettMs. Jan MaidenMrs. Sammie McPhersonMr. Chuck MerkenMr. Cassandra MichelMrs. Angelika OliverMs. Anastasia OsbrinkMs. Susan ParkMs. Taryn PerezMs. Valerie PhanMs. Erica Pineda

Mr.. Mark PopeMs. Sophia RiosMs. Jamie RitterbeckMs. Catherine RodeyMr. Jose RodriguezMs. Katie ShankMr. Sam ShermanMs. Nathalie TangMr. Kaimi WengerMs. Connie Wu

New Member List

By George W. Brewster Jr.

The front page of the edition was filled with photographs of many familiar faces (all running for the Lawyers Club Board): Janice Ranson (Lawyers Club president 90-91), Jamee Patterson, Janice Mulligan, Susan Mercure, Amalia Meza (now Superior Court Judge), Margaret Mann (now District Court Bankruptcy Judge), Ann Harris, Judy Hamilton (Lawyers Club president 89-90), Judi Foley and Maria Arroyo-Tabin.

Several pages of the newsletter are devoted to candidate statements. Meza, then already a board member running for a newly-created three-year term, noted her on-going efforts to establish an oral history of prominent women lawyers, a project she developed with then-Municipal Court Judge Susan Finlay. This project, in fact, went forward with great results. Meza and Finlay, along with six additional Lawyers Club members, identified 32 potential interviewees and over a three-year period recorded 13 women lawyers. Here are the interviewees: Patricia Benke, Madge Bradley, Susan Finlay, Barbara Gamer, Irma Gonzalez, Laura Hammes, Mary Harvey, Janet Kintner, Patricia Mason, Judy McConnell, Lynn Schenk, Nancy Worthington and Betsy Zumwalt (Kutzner). In her candidate statement, Meza said, “Interviews of women will be tape-recorded, transcribed and stored for future historical research and publication.” They were, and these resources proved invaluable to the production of the Lawyers Club 40th Anniversary book and video.

Speaking of anniversaries, this year marks 50 years since the creation of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. “Bankruptcy Judge” was introduced into the federal system in 1973. Mann was appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California in 2010, filling a vacancy created by the

retirement of Bankruptcy Judge James Meyers. Mann graduated from the University of Illinois and the Tilburg School of Economics in the Netherlands in 1978, and received her JD from USC Law School in 1981. Back in 1986, in her candidate statement, she noted she was the Lawyers Club rep with the California Women Lawyers, was chair of the Lawyers Club Legislation Committee and taught the bankruptcy portion of the bar’s Bridging the Gap program. Later, she served as a Ninth Circuit lawyer representative from 2006-2009, and was the co-chair for the Southern District Lawyer Rep committee from 2008-09. This year, Mann is the 2016 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference Chair.

In other federal court news in this edition, it was announced that Peter Hughes, John Seitman and Melinda Lasater were named to a seven-member committee set up to review applicants and nominate up to five persons to replace U.S. Magistrate Edward Infante, who moved to Monterey to fill a magistrate judge position there. Since we are talking federal court history, Infante was the third U.S. Magistrate appointed to the Southern District, in 1972. Magistrates gained the title “Judge” (as in “Magistrate Judge”) in 1990. Who was selected to replace Infante? Barry T. Moskowitz, who was appointed in September 1986, and was the first Magistrate Judge to be inducted as a District Court Judge in the Southern District, in 1996. Moskowitz is now the Presiding Judge and will oversee the court’s 50th anniversary celebration this September (30 years after his initial appointment to the court).

George Brewster is a Chief Deputy with the Office of County Counsel and a member of the Lawyers Club History & Archives Committee.

30 Years Ago in Lawyers Club News


General Counsel of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest Shares Legal Developments in Reproductive Rights at the March LuncheonBy Amanda Weber

Lawyers Club’s Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee (“RRWAC”) presented the ”Body of Law: Legal Developments in Reproductive Rights,” program at the March luncheon, on March 17, at the U.S. Grant Hotel. The luncheon was graciously sponsored by Louis Masry and Rosa Florentino of Millennium Settlements. Attendees turned out to enjoy lunch and learn about the current legal climate impacting the already tenuous state of reproductive rights. After a laugh watching a clip of an Amy Schumer skit about the obstacles women often experience when trying to obtain birth control, Tracy Skaddan, General Counsel for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest (“PPPSW”) and keynote speaker, took to the podium to address less light-hearted issues.

Skaddan, former Lawyers Club president and past recipient of Lawyers Club’s Community Service Award, provided a room full of attendees with her invaluable inside perspective into the many legal and social hurdles PPPSW encountered in opening Imperial County’s only Planned Parenthood clinic in El Centro in 2015, including acquiring the mandatory Hospital Transfer Agreement; dealing with the various protesters and community opposition groups; the Imperial County fire chief’s unilateral attempt to have the facility reclassified under more stringent building codes and subsequent refusal to sign-off on mandatory inspection documents necessary to acquire licensing from the Department of Public Health, despite the facility’s compliance with all fire codes; PPPSW’s preparation to file a civil lawsuit against the City of El Centro in the event its fire chief persisted in refusing to sign-off on the fire safety inspection; and introduction of legislation to the California state legislature to do away with the Hospital Transfer Agreement requirement in order to obtain their license.

Skaddan also discussed the difficulties faced by Planned Parenthood in the wake of the anti-choice group, the Center for Medical Progress’ (CMP) release of skeptical and altered videos implying Planned Parenthood profits from the sale of fetal tissue. Skaddan discussed her role in the fall-out from those videos and the multiple Congressional investigations they triggered. Eventually, a Texas grand jury indicted two of the individuals behind the videos, and PPPSW filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California against CMP and against the individuals involved.

Attendees were also treated to an update about current and pending laws and cases affecting reproductive rights, which included a discussion of the current posture and possible outcomes of U.S. Supreme Court cases such as Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, and California’s Reproductive FACT Act (AB 775) and the flurry of lawsuits filed immediately after its enactment. Erika Vasquez, an attendee, commented, “I didn’t know there were mandatory reporting requirements for abortion providers in North Carolina, who must now provide documentation to the state for abortions performed after 16 weeks, including an ultrasound image!”

For further discussions of this important issue and ways to get involved, please contact the RRWAC CoChairs, Amanda Weber and Chelsea Mutual.

Amanda Weber is an associate attorney at Singleton Law Firm and the co-chair of Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee.

Tracy Skaddan, General Counsel for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, inspires the audience to take action.

Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee members Rebecca Zipp, Amanda Weber, Chelsea Mutual, and Tracy Rogers.

Guests applaud the keynote speaker.


HonoredHeather Rosing was honored in March by the San Diego Business Journal

as 2016 Chief Financial Officer of the Year in the small privately held company category. Rosing, a shareholder and CFO of Klinedinst PC, was recognized for her role in the success of her firm. She received the award twice previously, in 2011 and 2014, in the medium privately held company category.

Lawyers Club past president Lilys McCoy, director of the Center for Solo Practitioners and Solo Practice Concentration at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, received the 2016 Adjunct Professor of the Year award from the TJSL Student Bar Association in March.

Five Lawyers Club members who serve as coaches of Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s National Trial Competition teams were honored by the school in March as 2015 Adjunct Professor of the Year. The coaches include Kimberly Ahrens, Lea Fields-Bernard, Renée Galente, Eric Ganci, and Cassandra Hearn.

PromotedDanielle Hickman was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Superior Court

Division at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in February.

On the MoveEran Bermudez took a new position in March as a Complaint Resolution

Officer at the University of California, San Diego, Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. She previously was a partner with Garcia, Hernández, Sawhney & Bermudez LLP.

Jodi Cleesattle is a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice and Lawyers Club’s Press Liaison.

About Us

Lawyers Club Members Making NewsBy Jodi Cleesattle

Heather Rosing Lilys McCoy Danielle Hickman

Eran Bermudez Kimberly Ahrens Lea Fields-Bernard

Renée Galente Eric Ganci Cassandra Hearn

Lawyers Club of San Diego congratulates its members who were named “Best of the Bar 2016” by the San Diego Business Journal.


The California Fair Pay Act: An Insider’s ViewBy Daphne Delvaux

Lawyers Club is pleased to announce that State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson will speak to our members and guests about the California Fair Pay Act, the strongest equal pay law in the country. Senator Jackson, the author of the Act, will discuss its history, why the Act was necessary, its journey through the legislature, and the circumstances surrounding how it was passed.

The Fair Pay Act broadens the test for equal pay for “same pay for equal work” to “same pay for substantially similar work.” Job titles are no longer the determinative factor. Employers now have the burden to demonstrate that a pay difference is an absolute business necessity. The Act also prohibits retaliation for discussing wages and inquiring about wages.

SenatorJackson was elected to the California State Senate in 2012. During her time in the legislature, Senator Jackson has become known for championing equality for women, supporting access to justice for all Californians, improving access to early childhood education, and supporting veterans. She has received Legislator of the Year awards from a wide range of organizations. She is also the recipient of the prestigious California Women Lawyer’s Fay Stender Award, which is awarded annually to an attorney who serves as a role model for women, and is committed to effecting positive change with “zest, humanity (and) personal courage.”

The program will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2016, from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at One America Plaza, 600 West Broadway, Second Floor, San Diego 92101. Lawyers Club thanks Klinedinst, PC for generously sponsoring the event.

For more information on this event please contact Frann Setzer ([email protected]) or Amanda Allen ([email protected]), co-chairs of the Equality and Action Committee.

Daphne Delvaux is an employment lawyer at Gruenberg Law. She is the co-chair of the communications sub-committee of the Human Trafficking Task Force and a member of the Equality & Action Committee.

State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson

What: The California Fair Pay Act: An Insider’s ViewWhen: Thursday, May 5, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Where: 600 West Broadway, Second Floor, San Diego, CA 92101Sponsor: Klinedinst, PCRegister at: www.lawyersclubsandiego.com

What? When? Where?


The Representation Project quickly mobilized two successful social media campaigns to capitalize on the film’s momentum and to respond to the growing need for education and social action. First, the #NotBuyingIt / #MediaWeLike campaign seeks to inspire people to join together in calling out offensive and degrading sexist advertising and celebrate stereotype-free representations of women. In 2015, the #NotBuyingIt / #MediaWeLike hashtags garnered over 37 million impressions, and ignited a global conversation calling for representations free of limiting gender stereotypes in advertisements, media, and larger society. The campaign was enormously successful in positively changing how women were portrayed in Super Bowl 50 advertisements.

The Representation Project team joined with the 3% Conference, which addresses the lack of gender equality in the creative advertising agency, and ad agencies in San Francisco, Miami, and Boston to live tweet whether an ad was a fumble with #NotBuyingIt or a touchdown with #MediaWeLike. Media outlets, including ATTN: and Upworthy, joined thousands of participants to call out sexist ads during the Super Bowl. “Media is the message and the messenger, and the content of advertisements matter,” said Siebel Newsom. “It is because of conscientious consumers speaking up over the past few years that we have actually seen a shift in advertising during the Super Bowl and beyond. By being able to track and record feedback in real time, we can continue to advocate for ads that depict men and women as more than extreme and harmful gender stereotypes.”

The campaign highlights female consumers’ voices, which are often overlooked in the advertising industry, the media, and in larger society despite their considerable purchasing power. The results were encouraging: over 1500 women joined the live tweeting campaign, and The Representation Project found that Super Bowl 50’s ads were more respectful to women than in previous years.

More recently, the #NotBuyingIt campaign has further expanded to call out politicians, advertisers, and the media. The reach of the campaign becomes clear when examining the aftereffect of #NotBuyingIt tweets. For example, on March 28 at 12:30 a.m., user @EElizale13 tweeted, “@bakewithstork Tv ad is misogynist. Pitting 2 women – one young smiling, the other middle-aged sour faced, against each other. #notbuying it.” Less than 12 hours later, Stork responded: “We’re sorry to hear that’s how it came across, Eliza – it wasn’t the intention. We appreciate and will pass on your comments.” Twitter’s interactive format allows users to not only call out misrepresentations, but to engage in conversations about these issues, although they must do so in 140 characters or less.

Similarly, the #AskHerMore campaign inspires people to call out sexist reporting and suggest ways to re-focus on women’s achievements, not just their appearance. The campaign has received coverage from major media

outlets, including Entertainment Tonight and the New York Times, and has now become part of mainstream red carpet coverage. Its supporters include Reese Witherspoon, Shonda Rhimes, Gloria Steinem, Maria Shriver, Lisa Ling, and Sandra Fluke. Millions of social media users have embraced the #AskHerMore hashtag to demand better reporting on the red carpet, where women are asked solely about fashion or work/life balance, while their male coworkers are asked about character development and career aspirations. As Witherspoon noted, “We’re more than just our dresses.”

The #AskHerMore campaign expanded into politics, where media coverage and bias play an enormous role in determining local and national leadership, during a c debate in October 2015. The Representation Project asks Twitter users to call out reporters who ask women more questions about their appearance, families, and whether they are tough enough to handle it all, than about the issues on which they are campaigning. #AskHerMore plays a particularly important role in the 2016 election..

Siebel Newsom spoke out against the gendered media coverage: “Throughout this election cycle and those past, we’ve seen too many reporters use sexist rhetoric when covering female candidates – whether focusing on their appearance, critiquing their femininity, or diminishing their ability to lead. Yesterday, several reporters took to Twitter to admonish Hillary Clinton for her tone during her victory speech, while often ignoring her substance and not covering the male candidates in the same light. This behavior sends the wrong message and should not be part of this election . . . This type of reporting is precisely why we at The Representation Project expanded our #AskHerMore campaign into politics last year. We must demand equally substantive media coverage of male and female candidates on both sides of the aisle. This election is incredibly important, with very real issues at stake, and sexist commentary has no place in it.”

Although The Representation Project’s mission is “to create a world free of limiting stereotypes and social injustices” continues, the sheer volume of social media users engaged in these two campaigns, as well as the others spearheaded by The Representation Project, including #BeAModelMan and #BuildConfidence, shows that not only are the campaigns working, they are changing the landscape of advertising, media, and politics. Learn more about these social media campaigns at: http://therepresentationproject.org/the-movement/ and by attending Lawyers Club’s 2016 Annual Dinner, featuring Keynote Speaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, CEO of The Representation Project, Thursday, May 19 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.

Jenn French is Director of Business Development for W by Worth, and a member of the Annual Dinner and Red, White & Brew Committees.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom Deftly Uses Social Media to Change the Conversation About GenderBy Jenn French

When Lawyers Club’s 2016 Annual Dinner Keynote Speaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s first film Miss Representation premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, its mission was to expose the ways in which mainstream media and culture contribute to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. Siebel Newsom received overwhelming support for the film’s message and founded The Representation Project shortly thereafter to continue a constructive conversation about gender.Jennifer Siebel Newsom


Every spring and Halloween, dozens of volunteers participate in COC’s bi-annual Read-In. Attorneys from all backgrounds, practice areas, and experience levels partner with teachers to shine a light on the importance of reading and scholarship, and to educate the students about the legal profession.

This March, more than 55 volunteers gathered in the school’s library, eager to share their time and experiences with the young students. At the start of the event, principal Elizabeth Duvall expressed her gratitude to the volunteers for their participation. Principal Duvall explained that the students, pre-kindergarteners through fifth graders, look forward to the Read-Ins and draw inspiration from these events. “You inspire the students to study,” Principal Duvall exclaimed. “You inspire the students to go to college.”

Following the principal’s welcoming remarks, students escorted the attorneys to their assigned classrooms, where excited children awaited them. For the next thirty minutes, attorneys answered questions about their careers, read from students’ favorite books, handed out treats, and played educational games.

Returning participant Christen Somerville, an attorney for the Department of Justice, expressed delight at the fact that her students remembered not only her name, but also recalled the exact storyline of the book she had read at the previous Read-In. Somerville further noted that, in the few short months since her Halloween visit, the students had noticeably improved their language skills. “It’s fun seeing how their command of nouns, adjectives, and adverbs has gotten better,” Somerville remarked.

COC chair Michele Macosky, who has overseen the committee’s partnership with Central Elementary since its inception twenty years ago, has observed firsthand the effect of the partnership on the students. “When we first started the Read-Ins, and asked the students what they thought attorneys do, they responded that attorneys only come when something bad happens – when someone has been arrested or is about to be deported.” Now, when Macosky asks the students the same question, the resounding reply is, “Lawyers read to kids! They love to read!” Some kids now even say that they believe that they can become lawyers themselves.

Central Elementary, located in the neighborhood of City Heights, boasts a population of approximately 750 students, mostly from low-income families. Despite budget cuts, the teachers at Central Elementary endeavor to provide their students with a quality education, no matter what challenges the students may face. Peggy Onstott, who has been volunteering at Read-Ins for more than a decade, appreciates the school’s dedication to children with special needs: “I love the way the teachers are so student-oriented. They put a lot of effort into their special education students.”

The next Read-In is scheduled for Monday, October 31, and represents a milestone for COC’s partnership with Central Elementary. “This Halloween marks our twenty-year anniversary,” Macosky announced. Lawyers Club members are welcome to sign up for the Halloween Read-In by contacting Macosky at [email protected].

Jennifer P. Suberlak is a member of the Community Outreach Committee. She is an associate at Pettit Kohn Ingrassia & Lutz.

Community Outreach Committee Hosts Spring Read-In; Next Read-In Marks 20th AnniversaryBy Jennifer P. Suberlak

The Community Outreach Committee (“COC”) and San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association teamed up on March 11 for an hour of reading, games, and inspiration at Central Elementary School.

Students listen closely as volunteers read to their class.

Volunteers answer questions from eager

students.

Volunteer readers and their children gather for a group photo at Central Elementary.


Volunteer with the Community Outreach Committee at the San Diego LGBT Community CenterBy Christine Chacon

Join the Lawyers Club Community Outreach Committee (“COC”) on May 1 and May 14, to help with its hands-on community service project at the San Diego LGBT Community Center (“The Center”) located at 3909 Centre Street, San Diego, California.

COC supports organizations that further Lawyers Club’s mission of advancing the status of women in law and society by conducting hands-on community service projects for such local organizations. COC’s current project is aimed at supporting The Center by providing much-needed improvements at The Center’s Hillcrest facility. The Center is a local organization with twin goals of promoting human rights and LGBT health. Women are woven throughout all of the services offered at The Center. They come to The Center for professional counseling, legal referrals, family reunification services, HIV testing, healthcare enrollment, housing, peer-led support groups, and free computer classes. The Center also has services that are specifically for women, such as the Toni Atkins Lesbian Healthcare Fund, women’s discussion groups, professional mental health groups for transgender women, and an annual Women’s Health Fair. COC’s service project will improve the spaces where The Center conducts its woman-centered programs.

After raising the funds needed for the project and months of planning, COC is ready to start its work at The Center!

COC members and community volunteers will gather to visually and structurally enhance The Center’s facility. The dedicated team of volunteers

will raise and mend cracked planters, paint railings and stairways, refinish a mural in the room where Latina services meetings are held, and install a gate to secure a back entry way to the building. These improvements are greatly needed by The Center, but as a non-profit organization, it lacks the resources to carry them out. Through this volunteer project, COC will provide long-lasting improvements that will be enjoyed daily by The Center’s clients.

Lawyers Club members are invited and encouraged to help COC with this project. Supplies will be provided and volunteers will be supervised by skilled professionals. No experience is needed, but please let COC know if you or someone you know has a particular expertise to offer. In addition to providing this great service to The Center, this is a great opportunity to connect with other Lawyers Club members in fresh air, wearing casual clothes, and with a paintbrush in hand!

For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please email Christine Chacon at [email protected].

Christine Chacon practices in probate, business, and trust and estates at Walsh Law Firm, APC, and is the COC project lead with Nicole Heeder.

Spring Read-In Volunteers

Sarah Abshear

Mary Bajo

Christin Batt

George Brewster

Hon Ruben Brooks

Lauren Bushman

Brigid Campo

Jennifer Carbuccia

Josefina Carrillo*Christine Chacon

Christina Ciceron

Tamatha Clemens

Pina Colamussi

Robert Contreras

Derek Dailey

Melodie Dan

Jeremy Davis

Justin Davis

Deborah Dixon

Joseph Dunn

*Jane Engelman

Khara Erickson

Hon Ron Frazier

Rodrigo Guevara

Kelly Harrison

Rosanna Hendrick

Kim Houston

Holly Hunt

Rafael Hurtado*Kate Kowalewski*Michele Macosky

Hon. Margaret Mann

Araceli Martinez

Joseph Martinez

Joe McLaughlin

Marcella McLaughlin*Jylan Megahed

Jennifer Mendoza*Peggy Onstott

Luis Osuna

*Michelle Pacis*Anna Romanskaya

*Ana Sambold

Carla Sanderson

Daniel Schmeichel

Renee Schor

Junichi Semitsu

Christy Somerville*Jennifer Suberlak

*Amanda Thompson

Rachel Travis

Jennifer Truong

Danielle Vallone

Michele Walbrett

Hon Margie Woods

* Community Outreach Committee Members

Members of the Lawyers Club Community Out-

reach Committee.


Carla Sanderson to Receive the C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer AwardBy Amanda Allen

Lawyers Club established the C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer Award in 2013 to recognize members in practice seven years or less who are champions in advancing Lawyers Club’s mission and in demonstrating leadership and professionalism within the San Diego legal community. The award is named for Lawyers Club founding member Professor C. Hugh Friedman (1931-2013), husband to Lawyers Club founding mother, the Honorable Lynn Schenk, and the longest-serving professor in the history of University of San Diego School of Law. Professor Friedman’s excellence in the practice of law and his deep commitment to community service and gender equality have set high standards for our junior attorney members. Lawyers Club is proud to honor Professor Friedman’s legacy with this award.

Sanderson is a civil litigator in the areas of school district defense and employment litigation. Lawyers Club members know her as Co-Editor of Lawyers Club News and former co-chair of the Student Committee, with an unwavering commitment to Lawyers Club’s mission. In recognition of her accomplishments, Sanderson is this year’s recipient of the C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer Award.

Sanderson joined Lawyers Club in 2010, as a second year law student at California Western School of Law. She was invited to attend a Student Committee meeting where one of the first members she met was former board member, Natalie Prescott, and the rest was history. She immediately joined the Student Committee and became the co-chair in 2011. In part due to her work on the Student Committee, the Lawyers Club membership saw incredible growth during her two years with the Student Committee and additional programming geared towards law school students.

After graduating, Sanderson continued her work with the Student Committee and subsequently took on another leadership position as Associate Editor of the Lawyers Club newsletter. When former President Johanna Schiavoni asked her to take on the position, she agreed immediately because of the opportunity to work with the incredible leaders at Lawyers Club on a monthly basis. Most importantly, Sanderson knew the newsletter had a rich history and a bright future of engaging and promoting members of the Lawyers Club community. Three years later, and now as the newsletter’s Co-Editor, she has been instrumental in continuing that tradition and adapting the newsletter to new technology and content.

Sanderson has worked closely with the newsletter Editor, and her “partner-in-crime”, Tara Duester, to reimagine the cover page to include archived Lawyers Club photos and feature members more prominently.

Duester says, “Carla brings her commitment to excellence to every endeavor. As my right-hand on the newsletter team, she always managed to strike that perfect balance between suggesting creative ways to make the newsletter bigger and better while honoring its archival purpose.” Duester added, “I truly could not have imagined a better teammate.”

The newsletter has expanded significantly to include additional topics that highlight Lawyers Club’s mission to advance the status of women in the law and society. Sanderson is also aware of the opportunities to tie in social media and how the newsletter can still evolve as Lawyers Club continues to grow. At Lawyers Club, there is extensive programming and work being done to serve the membership and advance the mission. Behind the scenes, Sanderson works each and every month to ensure the newsletter highlights major events, legislation, members’ successes, and the Fund for Justice. Every year she works with the new president to reflect their own personal touch on the newsletter. Sanderson adapts and excels each year, and each month, to deliver a newsletter fit for Lawyers Club.

Sanderson is an attorney that simply gets it done in the courtroom and the newsroom. When asked why she is so committed to Lawyers Club and its mission, she said, “The mission of the Lawyers Club is so important, even in 2016. I am inspired by the commitment and generosity of Lawyers Club members to relentlessly advocate for the advancement of women. I have benefitted from the work of Lawyers Club and I must do what I can to contribute back to the organization.”

When asked about the award, Sanderson said she is honored to be recognized in this way. “Professor Friedman’s legacy is remarkable. His accomplishments and commitment to the community are examples to model my career on.” Sanderson is committed to continuing the hard work of those that came before her and Lawyers Club is honored to present Sanderson with the C. Hugh Friedman Award.

Amanda Allen is the Founder of Enrich, Managing Partner at Aguirre Allen Law, APC. and she is the inaugural winner of the C. Hugh Friedman Award.

C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer Award


Jerrilyn Malana, Community Service Champion and Leader, to Be Honored By Johanna S. Schiavoni

Fairness, inclusiveness and mentorship: these qualities have characterized Jerrilyn Malana’s service to her community and her profession, and have earned her the distinction of being awarded Lawyers Club’s Community Service Award at this year’s annual dinner. The Community Service Award recognizes outstanding local community activities that have served to improve the status of women and to promote equality. Malana, a longtime Lawyers Club member, exemplifies the values of this award.

Malana, who is consistently visible at Lawyers Club events, is always

approachable; she is known for providing sage advice to younger attorneys navigating their legal careers and helping create volunteer and leadership opportunities for others.

In 2009, Malana served as president of the San Diego County Bar Association, only the ninth woman and the first Asian Pacific-American to hold that post. During her SDCBA presidency, Malana placed a primary focus on community service, launching its Lawyers Giving Back campaign. The initiative focused on promoting pro bono work, volunteerism and community service, and challenged each member of the SDCBA to give back to the community with time, talent, or treasure.

Among Malana’s numerous other roles, she served as an appointed member of the Council on Access and Fairness, the think tank associated with the California State Bar. There, she was a member of the judicial committee, assisting with strategies to increase diversity on the bench. She is a frequent speaker on diversity and inclusion topics, and is passionate about increasing diversity in educational, employment, and leadership opportunities. Showing her commitment to the broader community and to education, Malana also currently serves as president of the UCSD Alumni Association.

Heather Rosing, who immediately preceded Malana as president of the SDCBA and worked closely with her for several years, said “Jerri is one of the most community-focused, selfless people I have ever met. While she has served in many high profile positions, the majority of her work is done quietly behind the scenes, with no desire for recognition.”

Rosing noted as a recent example that, Malana “organized a blanket-making project for hospitalized children. When the volunteers ran out of time to finish the blankets, Jerri spent her evenings cutting and sewing for the kids.” Rosing observed, “Jerri does everything that she does out of a very deep seated commitment to bettering the profession and the community. It is in her DNA, and we are all the beneficiaries!” Ellen Miller, Executive Director of the SDCBA, said of Malana’s commitment to community service: “I am amazed at all the efforts she is involved in and how much time she devotes. She has inspired me to get involved in short and long term projects. She reminds us that we all have time. I appreciate that reminder and am better for it.”

Malana, the middle child of three, was born to immigrant parents. Her mother was originally from Japan and her father from the Philippines. When asked what motivates her strong commitment to community service, Malana

turned to her roots, saying “San Diego is my hometown. I grew up in Southeast San Diego in the Paradise Hills area, and then moved to Chula Vista. I attended Castle Park High School, UCSD, and California Western School of Law. I have been blessed with so many opportunities, and want to pay it forward.”

She also noted the special contributions attorneys can make. “As lawyers, we have a unique set of skills and abilities. Whether serving on a board, or helping the PTA or a local church, I know that we can help,” Malana said.

Before becoming an attorney, Malana worked as a research assistant in the life sciences field and as a human resources professional for two companies. She obtained an MBA from Chaminade University, and became interested in the law after taking a business law class. In 1995, with the encouragement of a close mentor from her days in HR, she enrolled in law school at California Western, where she earned a full scholarship and continued to excel.

After graduating, Malana clerked for a federal judge and then spent 16 years practicing employment law with Littler Mendelson, rising to the position of shareholder while still dedicating significant time to community and pro bono service. Malana left the firm in March of 2016 to take on a new challenge, having recently joined the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office as Chief Deputy for Employment/Special Advisor. She sees her new role in public service as a natural opportunity to meld her legal skills and to work for the common good.

Setting a worthy example for us all, Malana certainly has paid it forward. She is a frequent mentor to college and law students. As one example, Malana has mentored Samantha McPherson since she was an undergraduate. McPherson went on to graduate from college, attend law school, and was admitted to the California bar last December.

McPherson says of Malana’s support, “Jerri is a long-time mentor, friend, and an inspiration. Her commitment to community service is unparalleled. Not only does she focus on her own commitment to our San Diego community, but she also encourages those around her to take action. Nothing is too small or too big for Jerri to tackle! I can only hope to follow in her footsteps.”

Lawyers Club is proud to honor and recognize Malana’s substantial contributions with its 2016 Community Service Award.

Johanna S. Schiavoni is an appellate attorney, past president of Lawyers Club, and current member of the San Diego County Bar Association Board of Directors.

Community Service Champion and Leader


Past President and Community Advocate Cynthia Bashant to be Honored at Lawyers Club’s Annual Dinner for Outstanding Contributions to Lawyers ClubBy Sarah Wellman

Cynthia Bashant is a federal judge, a community leader in children’s advocacy, and the recipient of this year’s Belva Lockwood Award. The Belva Lockwood Award is given annually to a recipient who has distinguished herself by her service to Lawyers Club and the San Diego community in the spirit of its namesake, Belva Lockwood, the first female attorney to be admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. Lawyers Club established the award in 1985 to honor the memory of Belva Lockwood by bestowing the annual award on a distinguished recipient at Lawyers Club’s Annual Dinner.

Bashant, who graduated from UC Hastings in 1986 after spending a year at the University of San Diego School of Law as a visiting student, spent her early years practicing as a civil litigator at Baker & McKenzie, where she worked on pro bono cases for both the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program and the ACLU.

As a Lawyers Club member early in her career, Bashant was inspired by women who were leading the charge for gender quality in the legal profession, including Lawyers Club founding mother Hon. Lynn Schenk, the first woman to represent San Diego in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Betty Evans Boone, the first recipient of the Belva Lockwood Award in 1985.

Bashant was the Newsletter Editor before being elected to the Board in 1991, where she served as treasurer and president. She stayed active after her presidency, serving on the Advisory Board and speaking at multiple Lawyers Club events. She recently spoke at the Federal Bar Association San Diego Chapter’s Women in Law Conference in October 2015, which was co-sponsored by Lawyers Club, on a panel entitled “Individual Challenges & Opportunities: The Confidence Gap,” which explored the “imposter syndrome” and the confidence gap.

In her senior year of college, Bashant wrote a letter to her mother listing her four top interests for her future: working with troubled teens, women’s rights, international relations, and acting. Now best known for her achievements in the two former pursuits, she did have the opportunity while at the Department of Justice to wet her international relations whistle by traveling abroad to train prosecutors in Latvia in the area of corruption and money laundering. Bashant has not completely forsaken the theatre, either: among her many volunteer commitments is serving as a piano accompanist for youth theater productions.

Bashant took a position as an Assistant United States Attorney in 1989 in order to spend more time trying cases. In her eleven years at the United States Attorney’s Office, she served as Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Division and Chief of the Border Crimes Unit. In 1995, she prosecuted the first federal domestic violence case in the Southern District in United States v. Delgado, 98-2507-JM (S.D. Cal. 1995).

Bashant furthered her advocacy for domestic violence victims through a longtime monthly commitment at the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Domestic Violence Prevention Project, where she assisted individuals in obtaining restraining orders against their abusers. She also served on the City Council’s Domestic Violence Blue Ribbon Task Force. Her dedication as a prosecutor and advocate for victims was recognized by the United States Attorney’s Office with the Victim-Witness Award, Special Commendations for Outstanding Performance as an AUSA, and the Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an AUSA, one of the highest honors within the Department of Justice.

Bashant was appointed to the San Diego Superior Court in 2000, which she attributes in part to her involvement with Lawyers Club. “I’ve been politically very lucky. Lawyer’s Club . . . was my only political juice. I met people there and knew people.” Bashant cites her service in the juvenile and dependency courts, where she was Supervising Judge for several years, as the highlight of her time as a Superior Court Judge. Working with troubled youth in a collaborative court atmosphere allowed her to see “drastic changes”; Bashant still keeps a folder filled with mementos from children and their families who send letters, pictures, and report cards. “This was where you could make a real difference with people and see the change happening,” Judge Bashant said. She also acknowledged that the most rewarding work can be emotionally taxing as well, noting that “It does draw on you after a while – compassion fatigue. You don’t get that in other practices of law.”

Appointed to the Southern District of California by President Obama in 2013 and confirmed in May 2014, Judge Bashant compares the atmosphere of the district court to a library. “Superior Court was like New York City. It was exciting, loud, and dirty.” Now her work is set at a different pace, though she finds the challenges in federal court stimulating and fresh.

Bashant has been recognized throughout her career for her contributions to work with children; among her countless accolades, she was the 2012 Judge of the Year Award from the San Diego Juvenile Justice Coalition. She has served on boards of numerous community organizations with a particular focus on children. On Bashant’s longtime activism in the community, former Congresswoman Schenk observed, “She’s been that way since her earliest days in practice, which is important because so many lawyers feel that there isn’t time. Cynthia has been passionate since the beginning.”

Bashant has also navigated the challenges of balancing her personal and professional life. Married with two children, Bashant enjoys playing piano, skiing, and reading, and credits her supportive partner as one of her most important life choices in helping make her time manageable.

“Now it is her turn to be a role model for women lawyers and women in business. Being successful is not just about your career and family life, but about being a part of society,” said Congresswoman Schenk. “Cynthia epitomizes why we started Lawyers Club and has carried the mantle forward.”

Sarah Wellman is a Law Clerk to Hon. J. Clifford Wallace and member of the Annual Dinner committee.

Outstanding Contributions to Lawyers Club


Dine Arounds are Back!By Mikhak Ghorban

Beginning in late May, Lawyers Club members will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in the third annual Dine Arounds series. The Dine Arounds allow members to enjoy a unique opportunity to dine and have discussions with prestigious Lawyers Club members in a small group setting. In its inaugural year, the Dine Arounds sold out within 30 minutes after registration opened. These gatherings have become a signature event for Lawyers Club.

Past attendees have been thrilled with the opportunity to not only connect with the host of the Dine Arounds, but to also make meaningful connections with the other attendees. Much of the Dine Arounds’ success can be attributed to the new and ongoing relationships that are fostered during these dinners.

Affi Eghbaldari recounted engaging in “dialogues about professional advancement, and issues affecting women in the legal industry.” Eghbaldari continued, “Each host graciously opened their chambers, offices, and/or homes to Lawyers Club members and shared their professional and personal experiences. I enjoyed every aspect of the event.”

Brigid Campo commented, “The Dine Arounds have allowed me to form closer connections with colleagues I regularly see at ‘larger’ events, but do not often get to know closely, and have also allowed conversations that become pointed and extended beyond what the lunch hour seminars typically entail.”

The Dine Arounds are professionally catered, and participants can expect to enjoy a full dinner, in addition to memorable conversation, in a warm and welcoming setting. The focus of this year’s Dine Arounds series is mentorship. Each of the dinners has limited space, so early registration is highly recommended. Any questions regarding this event or the Networking Events Committee should be directed to the committee co-chairs, Parisima Roshanzamir ([email protected]) or Amanda Singer ([email protected]).

Mikhak Ghorban is a partner with Ashtari Ghorban & Hanson LLP and a member of the Networking and Events Committee, as well as the Community Outreach Committee of Lawyers Club.

“Thirsty Thursday” Spring Networking by the BayBy Parisima Roshanzamir

Lawyers Club’s Networking Events Committee (NEC) hosted its third Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour of the year at the San Diego Yacht Club on March 3, with the generous support of event sponsor, Enrich. The San Diego Yacht Club was a spectacular setting for the event. Wine, delicious appetizers, and a great group of people were a formula for success.

With over 100 people registered to attend, Lawyers Club members and their guests showed up for an incredible night of networking and enjoyment. “The networking event at the San Diego Yacht Club was by far one of the best happy hours this year. The venue and views were beautiful and the open space allowed members to mix and mingle with ease,” noted Lawyers Club member, Stephanie Poli.

NEC member Roxy Carter concurred: “It was so amazing to see how much support Lawyers Club has that we could fill a happy hour venue just with our group alone!”

NEC is committed to providing opportunities for memorable networking events with a focus on advancing the status of women in the law and society. The NEC at its core is about the power of building relationships, and allowing attendees the chance to foster new professional connections that lead to long-lasting friendships. Connecting with friends and community members while appreciating a beautiful San Diego landmark was the goal of this happy hour, and the evening did not disappoint.

If you are interested in joining the Networking Events Committee, please visit the Lawyers Club website and join the NEC group. You may also contact the Co-Chairs of the committee, Parisima Roshanzamir or Amanda Singer.

Parisima Roshanzamir is owner of The Roshanzamir Law Firm and co-chair of Lawyers Club’s Networking and Events Committee.

Veronica Sandoval, Yana Laboda, Bobbi-Jo Dobush, and Francisco East build their networks while socializing.

Members and their guests enjoy a beautiful view of the San Diego Harbor.


Human Trafficking Task Force UpdateBy Colette Menaldino

The Lawyers Club Human Trafficking Task Force (“HTTF”) continues its fight against human trafficking through a variety of community awareness efforts, including supporting and mentoring women at GenerateHope, a safe house and recovery program for sex trafficking survivors.

On February 5, Jamie Quient, co-chair of HTTF and Lawyers Club President-Elect, moderated an MCLE panel discussion at the American Bar Association’s mid-year meeting organized by the ABA Young Lawyers Division on “Youth Internet Use and Human Trafficking. ” The panel featured HTTF members Jeffery Veltri, an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Alessandra Serano, Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California. Quient opened the program with an overview of human trafficking and its impact on San Diego. Veltri and Serano then spoke about online recruitment of children into the sex industry, the use of the internet for the sale of commercial sex, and investigation and prosecution of these crimes. Quient wrapped up the program by discussing Lawyers Club’s efforts to galvanize the San Diego legal community around this issue and urged attendees to get involved in local efforts to address human trafficking in their communities.

On March 11, Daphne Delvaux, co-chair of the HTTF Communications Subcommittee led three other Task Force members on a visit to GenerateHope where they met with four sex trafficking survivors to provide mentorship and to support their recovery. GenerateHope helps women escape sex trafficking by providing long-term, comprehensive housing and recovery programs, so that they are able to reintegrate into society and walk powerfully into their futures. Delvaux has regularly led such visits for over two years. During this particular visit, Lawyers Club volunteers facilitated an interactive discussion with survivors about their long-term goals and what Lawyers Club can do to support their reintegration into society. One woman spoke of her desire to become a chef or floral technician; another shared her hope to go back to college and earn her degree. Delvaux and the other volunteers listened carefully to the women and assisted them in breaking down their life dreams into smaller short-term goals.

On March 15, the HTTF Advocacy Subcommittee, under the leadership of its Co-Chair Megan Walker, presented to ten students and two staff members from Duke University on HTTF’s current efforts and various proposed legislation. The discussion focused on SB 823, a proposed bill to allow survivors of human trafficking to vacate and seal the records of any arrest or conviction committed while they were a trafficking victim. Walker and other HTTF members encouraged the Duke students to continue raising awareness when they returned to their campus.

Later that same day, the Coalition for Reproductive Choice, of which Lawyers Club is a member, presented “Dreamcatcher,” a feature-length film about Human Trafficking, at the Unitarian Church in Hillcrest. The film followed Brenda Myers-Powell, a former sex worker and Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Dreamcatcher Foundation. The Dreamcatcher Foundation is a survivor-founded, survivor-driven, and survivor-focused agency devoted to ending human trafficking in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. The film portrays Myers-Powell connecting with survivors on the streets and in

correctional facilities, and counseling at-risk youth in an after-school program she runs. The attendees left the film inspired by Myers-Powell’s decision to dedicate her life to serving the needs of this population, who face an ever challenging and exhausting fight for survival.

On March 17, Renee Galente gave a presentation to FOCUS entitled, “Human Trafficking in San Diego: It’s Closer Than You Think.” FOCUS is a non-profit organization of volunteers who raise funds to provide comfort and betterment for abused, homeless, disabled, disadvantaged, and foster children in San Diego County. This presentation was part of a broader community awareness program. With input from various experts in the human trafficking community, HTTF developed this community training. After piloting this program for the past year, HTTF is now conducting a “train-the-trainer” program, which will equip HTTF members with the knowledge to help raise awareness of this issue in the larger community.

The Task Force also continued its involvement in a number of community-based, anti-trafficking efforts. For example, on April 5, HTTF members participated in the “SAFE San Diego Hotel-Motel Human Trafficking Awareness Symposium,” an initiative led by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Sheriff Bill Gore, and the San Diego County Hotel-Motel Association. This program served as the official launch of a broader initiative to raise awareness of human trafficking among San Diego’s hotels and motels in advance of big events this summer that are likely to increase the local demand for commercial sex, including the Major League Baseball All-Star game, the Del Mar Races and ComicCon. This symposium helped train, equip and develop best practices for hotels and motels to recognize and respond to the warning signs of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

Colette Menaldino is an employment lawyer at Gruenberg Law, and a member of the Communications and Advocacy Subcommittees of the Lawyers Club Human Trafficking Task Force.


Member ProfilesCandace Carroll By Stephanie Poli

Candace Carroll is of counsel at Sullivan, Hill, Lewin, Rez & Engel, APLC. Carroll graduated from Duke University School of Law and practices appellate law.

She joined Lawyers Club in 1984 has very much valued getting to know a large number of women lawyers in San Diego. She believes Lawyers Club’s presence, visibility, and activities have raised the profile of women lawyers as a group in San Diego. Carroll has remained active throughout the years, attending meetings and dinners, securing luncheon speakers, and even speaking on a panel herself.

In addition to Lawyers Club, Carroll is very active in local politics and civil efforts. She chairs Senator Boxer’s Judicial Appointments Committee; she is

vice-chair of the Convention Center Board; she is chair of the Governance Committee on the Board of San Diego Opera; and she runs a 9th Circuit clinic at University of San Diego School of Law.

Carroll loves spending time with her husband of 42 years, attorney Len Simon, and her three grown sons, Dan, Matt, and David, and their significant others. Her hobbies include watching movies, plays, and operas; traveling (especially to visit her children, sister, and grand-nieces and nephew); and reading. Carroll’s idea of personal happiness is having all of her family at home and just spending time together. She thinks the most important decisions she has made in life are going to law school, marrying her husband, having children, and saying “yes” when Jim Hill offered her a job in 1983!

Stephanie Poli is an associate at Tatro & Zamoyski, LLP and Co-Chair of the Bench Bar Committee.

Adam B. LevineBy Roxy Carter

Adam B. Levine, whose practice with CaseyGerry focuses on serious personal injury, premises liability, and aviation, recently joined Lawyers Club in 2016. The California Western School of Law Graduate joined Lawyers Club because he believes “strongly in advancing progressive political issues, including gender equality.” As a new member of the Bar,

Levine also looks forward to expanding his professional network, becoming more involved in Lawyers Club, and engaging with the San Diego legal community.

In his short tenure as a Lawyers Club member, he has already “gained

valuable perspective on issues of gender equality within the practice of law, and the unique challenges that women face in the legal profession and in the broader society.” Levine believes that his “wife (of six years), daughter, sister, mother and female colleagues all deserve to be treated equally and with respect as a basic human right.”

Levine began mastering his work-life balance before his 1L year, as his daughter was born two weeks before he started law school and his son was born two weeks after he passed the Bar. In his free time, Levine spends time with his two children and enjoys photography and yoga. Levine’s greatest extravagance is sushi.

Roxy Carter is a Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Co-Chair of Lawyers Club’s Bench Bar Committee and the Member Profile Coordinator of the Newsletter.

Sandra J. MorrisBy Michelle Vescio Evenson

Sandra J. Morris has been practicing family law for 46 years. Her accolades and accomplishments are extensive. As a result of her passion for the law and commitment to doing everything to the best of her ability, she has become one of the foremost family attorneys in our community.

When asked how she has reached her goals, she advised, “Put one foot in front of the other.”

As longtime members know, Morris was one of the “founding mothers” of Lawyers Club. Morris explained that she and other professional women founded the group to provide a place for women in the law to find support, as well as like-minded people who also wanted to advocate for the advancement of women.

Morris thinks that while the world has changed, Lawyers Club has not – the group is still committed to turning “feminism to activism.” While Morris said the founders never dreamed that sex trafficking and reproductive assistance would be some of the causes Lawyers Club would herald, she is very proud of the current leadership and thinks they are doing a phenomenal job.

Morris enjoys participating in the Bradley Bunch and the Annual Dinner, in part because she believes these activities keep her informed. For those attorneys questioning their power, Morris urged, “If you don’t think you have power, you don’t.”

Morris believes those who support feminism can either play by the rules or raise consciousness in a strong but diplomatic way. Her clear message is that feminism is a good word, and soft peddling is less productive.

Michelle Vescio Evenson is a member of the Community Outreach Committee.


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Federal FocusFederal Drug Administration

On March 30, 2016, the FDA issued new recommendations that make it easier for women to gain access to abortions induced by the drug mifepristone, formerly known as RU-486. The change allows women to use the drug further into pregnancy and with fewer visits to the doctor. Although the FDA guidelines are not binding, some states, including Texas, Ohio, and North Dakota, require doctors to follow them. The change is therefore a victory for pro-choice advocates engaged in legal battles against those laws, which previously applied the more stringent FDA guidelines.

Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt on March 2, 2016. At issue in Whole Woman’s Health is: (1) whether, when applying the “undue burden” standard of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a court must consider whether and to what extent restrictions actually serve the government interest; and (2) whether the Fifth Circuit was correct when it determined that the standard permits Texas to enforce laws that would significantly reduce the availability of abortion in the state while failing to advance any state interest. Following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Anthony Kennedy will likely be the swing vote on the case. A 4-4 decision means the Texas law will stand.

Zubik v. Burwell

On March 23, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Zubik v. Burwell and six cases with which it is consolidated. This is the fourth challenge of the Affordable Care Act that has reached the Supreme Court. The cases were appealed by religious non-profit schools, colleges, hospitals, and charities, as well as Roman Catholic clergy. At issue is whether the Act’s mandated provision of free birth control methods to women violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by forcing the organizations to act in violation of their sincerely held religious beliefs. On March 29, the Court issued an order instructing attorneys for both sides to file supplemental briefs addressing whether and how employees of the organizations could obtain birth control through their insurance companies in a way that would not require the organizations to be involved.

California California SB 491: Self-Administered Hormonal Contraception (No Prescription Birth Control)

Women in California will soon be able to obtain birth control without a prescription pursuant to a 2013 law that is expected to go into effect this spring, which covers birth control pills, patches, and the vaginal ring. The law was expected to go into effect sooner, but has been tied up before the Board of Pharmacy, which is tasked with determining the relevant guidelines, including developing a protocol to be followed by pharmacists, and other state agencies that are also required to approve the guidelines. Virginia Herold, executive officer of the Board, stated in February that the law is expected to go into effect by April. A similar law went into effect in Oregon on January 1.

California SB 999: Annual Supply of Contraceptives

On February 10, 2016, SB 999, which authorizes pharmacies to dispense birth control in a 12-month supply, was introduced by Senator Fran Pavley and sponsored by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, the California Family Health Council, and NARAL Pro Choice California. The bill makes it easier for women to control their reproductive health, as they no longer have to visit the pharmacy for refills every 1 to 3 months. After the bill was amended, it was set for a hearing, which has since been postponed.

Around the CountryIndiana Enacts Anti-Abortion Law with Long List of Restrictions

On March 24, 2016, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law HB 1337, viewed as one of the most extreme anti-abortion bills in the United States due to its long list of restrictions that legislators were previously unable to pass. Notably, the law prohibits abortions based on objections to genetic abnormalities, such as Down Syndrome. Only one other state, North Dakota, has a law that does the same. The law also prohibits abortions based on the race or sex of the fetus. Doctors performing abortions are required to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital or to have an agreement with another doctor who does, and fetal tissue donation is restricted. The law also requires that the remains of aborted or miscarried fetuses be buried or cremated. Even some anti-choice members of the legislature spoke out against the bill.

Florida Defunds Healthcare Clinics Performing Abortions, Enacts Other Restrictions

On March 28, 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law HB 1411, which defunds preventative medical care—such as birth control, cancer screenings, and basic reproductive health care—at any facilities where privately funded abortions occur. The new law, which targets Planned Parenthood, also includes abortion restrictions, including requiring admitting privileges, providing for yearly licensure inspections of clinics, and banning the purchase, sale, or transfer of fetal remains. The law also makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to improperly dispose of fetal tissue. It is set to take effect on July 1, 2016. The Florida law is similar to the Texas law challenged in Whole Woman’s Health. Another Florida law requiring a 24-hour waiting period recently took effect and is still facing legal challenges.

Virginia Governor Vetoes Bill Defunding Healthcare Clinics

The day after Governor Scott signed Florida’s law, on March 29, 2016, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed a similar Virginia law defunding abortion clinics. Making a clear statement that he stands with Planned Parenthood in the face of nationwide efforts to defund it, McAuliffe issued his veto from a Planned Parenthood headquarters, noting that he was “very proud” to “smack down the latest attack on women’s health care rights.” Twenty-three states have tried to defund Planned Parenthood and similar organizations since last July.

Sarah Abshear is a member of Lawyers Club’s Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee.

Legislative Update


May 2016 Thursday, 5/5/16

The California Fair Pay Act: An Insider’s View with Senator Hannah BethJackson 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 600 West Broadway, Second Floor San Diego, CA 92101

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 5/6/16 – 6/11/16

Golf Lessons Tecolote Canyon Golf Course 2755 Snead Avenue, San Diego, CA 92111Thursdays (Beginner), 5/12/16, 6/2/16, 6/9/16, 6/16/16 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.Fridays (Beginner), 5/6/16, 5/13/16, 6/3/16, 6/10/16 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Saturdays (Intermediate/Advanced), 5/7/16, 5/14/16, 6/4/16, 6/11/16 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, 5/19/16 Lawyers Club Annual DinnerCheck-in 5:00 p.m.Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina333 W. Harbor Drive,San Diego, CA 92101

June 2016 Tuesday, 6/7/16

New Member Reception5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.450 B Street, #2900San Diego, CA 92101

Dates in June –TBD Dine AroundsThursday, 6/16/16

Lawyers Club Monthly Luncheon: General Counsel12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.US Grant, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101

Friday, 6/24/16Lawyers Club Golf TournamentThe Country Club of Rancho Bernardo 12280 Greens East Road,San Diego, CA 92198

Lawyers Club of San Diego is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider. (619) 595-0650. Email: [email protected].

Lawyers Club Calendar of EventsInformation for your calendar. All dates subject to change. For latest information, contact Lawyers Club

at (619) 595-0650 or visit our website at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.

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Platinum Annual SponsorsABC Family LawAntonyan MirandaBoyd LawDuane Morris LLPJones DayLouis Masry & Rosa Florentino for

Millennium Settlements

Gold Annual SponsorsFisher & Phillips LLPFragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen &

Loewy, LLP

PatronsMr. Marc AdelmanMs. Ann DynesMs. Joan FriedenbergMs. Danielle HickmanMs. Patricia HollenbeckHon. Evan KirvinHon. Sharon Majors-LewisHon. Judith McConnellHon. Paula RosensteinMs. Tracy Skaddan

Ms. Susan Swan

Sustaining MembersHon. Cynthia AaronMr. Steve AllenMs. Kimberly ArouhMs. N. Denise AsherHon. Katherine BacalHon. Jeffrey BartonHon. Cynthia BashantMs. Wendy BehanMs. Leslie BenderMr. Harvey BergerHon. Laura BirkmeyerMs. Gayle BlattMs. Sarah BootHon. Jill Burkhardt

Mr. Guillermo CabreraMs. Lesa ChristensonMs. Linda CiancioloMs. Jodi CleesattleMs. Diana CokerMs. Judith CopelandMs. Danna CotmanHon. Patricia CowettHon. Karen CrawfordMs. Cynthia CwikHon. Robert DahlquistMs. Darragh DavisHon. Cindy DavisMs. Deborah DixonHon. Bonnie DumanisMs. Ann DurhamMs. Christina DyerMs. Amber EckHon. Selena EpleyHon. Susan FinlayHon. Carol FraustoHon. Patricia GarciaHon. Christine GoldsmithHon. Irma GonzalezMs. P. Camille GuerraMrs. Kristin GuthrieHon. Judith HallerMs. Cassandra HearnMs. Karen Hewitt

Ms. Erika HiramatsuMr. J. Daniel HolsenbackMr. Lawrence HuertaMr. Richard HuverHon. Joan IrionHon. Carol IsacksonMs. Angela Jae ChunMs. Jessica JagirMr. Jay JeffcoatHon. Anthony JosephMs. Rebecca KanterHon. Julia KeletyMr. Gregory KnollMr. James KoerberMr. Peter LynchMs. Kathryn MaasMs. Michele MacoskyHon. Barbara MajorMs. Jerrilyn MalanaMs. Lilys McCoyMs. Denise McGuireHon. M. Margaret McKeownHon. Pennie McLaughlinMs. Julie MebaneMs. Michelle MierzwaMs. Suzy MooreMs. Danielle MooreHon. Dwayne MoringMs. Sandra Morris

Mr. David NoonanMr. Ron OberndorferHon. Christine PateMs. Anne PerryMs. Regina PettyMs. Jamie QuientMs. Carra RhamyMs. Heather RileyHon. Charles RogersMs. Tracy RogersHon. David RubinHon. Janis SammartinoMs. Johanna SchiavoniMs. Elizabeth SchulmanMs. Abby Silverman WeissProf. Jacquelyn SlotkinMs. Beatrice SniderHon. Stephanie SontagMr. Todd StevensMs. Kimberly StewartHon. Ronald StynMs. Vickie TurnerHon. Theodore WeathersMs. Claudette WilsonHon. Joel Wohlfeil

Hon. Margie Gunthardt Woods

We appreciate our annual sponsors and events sponsors! To learn more about sponsoring Lawyers Club, contact Elaine Lawrence at (619) 595-0650 or [email protected]

President’s Circle Mr. Charles BirdMs. Betty BooneMs. Candace Carroll

Mr. Jose CastilloMr. Ezekiel CortezMs. Heather Forward

Mr. Josh GruenbergMs. Virginia NelsonHon. David Oberholtzer

Hon. Lynn SchenkMs. Tamera WeisserMs. Deborah Wolfe

Klinedinst PCOverland & Shanahan Wealth

Advisors, Inc.Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP

Silver Annual SponsorsBest Best & Krieger LLPBrown Law GroupCalifornia Western School of LawCooley LLPDLA Piper LLP (US)Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLCFish & Richardson, P.C.Foley & Lardner LLPHiggs Fletcher & Mack LLPJackson Lewis PC

Knobbe, Martens, Olson and Bear, LLPLatham & Watkins LLPLittler Mendelson, P.C.Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo,

P.C.Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLPSan Diego Gas & Electric TencerSherman LLPThorsnes Litigation ServicesUnion BankUniversity of San Diego School of Law

Annual Corporate SponsorsDTI GlobalAptus Court Reporting

24 may 2016

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