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Committees

Advisory Committee

Comprised of original board members and committee chairs, any former executive officer may join this committee once she transitions off the Executive Committee. The same is true for any former committee chair. In addition, upon invitation, the Board may invite up to 5 additional members and/or other senior women lawyers per year to join the Committee. 

The Committee has following responsibilities: 

  • To support the Board and the Coalition, as called upon to do so, by serving as speakers, mentors, media contacts and advisors regarding programs, initiatives or existing Coalition business or work; 
  • To coordinate with the Board and Programming Committee to develop at least one event or reception annually targeted at senior women lawyers; and
  • To communicate with the Board from time to time when called upon to do so or to help identify trends, issues and concerns impacting the progress of women lawyers in their careers 
     
    The Advisory Committee runs “Coalition Connects,” a program intended to address the formation of closer personal relationships amongst members of the Coalition for purposes of business development, employment opportunities and other ways that Coalition members may be able to help one another. The committee is also interested in helping to address other issues, including the need for senior lawyers, both men and women, to transition work to younger women lawyers, overall succession planning, leadership development for women lawyers and the changing law firm business model. 

 Co-Chairs:

  • Leslee Cohen, Hershman Cohen LLC
  • Julianne Hartzell, Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

Associates Committee

The Associates Committee works with the Programming Committee and is responsible for developing programming directed to the associate delegates of the Coalition and for ensuring that the Coalition is relevant to associates at member firms and that associates take advantage of the opportunities presented to them by the Coalition.

Co-Chairs:

  • Nerissa Diaz Moisan, American Arbitration Association
  • Christina Flores Furman, Gordon & Rees
  • Danielle Moore, Foley & Lardner

Career Development

The Career Development Committee is intended to be a resource for attorneys associated with the Coalition that supports the attorneys’ career advancement at every stage of their careers. Our committee goals include helping attorneys (1) identify and learn new skills, (2) refer and receive referrals from one another, and (3) build relationships within the legal field, and (4) make smooth transitions during their careers. Goals for the year include a job program with the associates committee, continuing work on salary data points for in-house attorneys, and, if timing allows, an additional program with the in-house committee or a relaunch of our speed networking event.

Co-Chairs:

  • Hayley Gladstone, Kunik
  • Camille Khodadad, Much Shelist

Community Outreach Committee

The Community Outreach Committee partners with charitable organizations to support and promote a variety of women’s issues and initiatives consistent with our mission.  The Committee organizes fundraising and volunteer opportunities for our Chicago Chapter members.

Co-Chairs:

  • Susan Best, Gordon & Rees
  • Alison Constantine, Gould Ratner
  • Brianne Straka, Quinn Emanuel

Finance Committee 

The Finance Committee provides financial analysis, advice, and oversight of the Coalition’s budget. Their responsibility is to ensure the organization is operating with the financial resources it needs to provide programs and services to its membership.

Chair:

  • Meghan Dalton, Clyde & Co.
  • Stephanie Jones, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP 

In-House Counsel Committee

The In-House Counsel Committee works with the Programming Committee and is responsible for developing and increasing the Coalition’s in-house/corporate counsel membership and for developing programming directed to the in-house counsel members of the Coalition. The In-House Counsel Committee conducted the second annual In-House to Power-House series, a program first launched in 2015. The series covered topics ranging from tapping into your emotional intelligence and developing your brand to relationship building and relaunching your career.

Co-Chairs:

  • Denise Beihoffer, Equity Residential
  • Sarah Shaw, Mayer Brown
  • Jennifer Nichols, CRG

Leadership Forum Committee

This committee works to develop the annual Leadership Forum and typically begins work in early spring. The Leadership Forum program includes the Coalition’s annual awards, selected by the Community Outreach committee.

Co-Chairs:

  • Jennifer Kraft, Seyfarth Shaw
  • Kim Metrick, Walgreen Co.

Managing Partners General Counsel Committee

This committee works to develop the annual Managing Partners General Counsel and typically begins work in late winter.

Chair:

  • Sonya Rosenberg, Neal Gerber, & Eisenberg LLP

Marketing & Online Outreach

The Marketing & Online Outreach committee works to advance the Coalition brand and promote programs, events and membership through the use of social media outlets such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. This committee will also be focused on maintaining the website.

Chair:

  • Lauren Sharkey, GE Healthcare
  • Peggy Herrmann, The Kraft Heinz Company

Outreach & Inclusion Committee

The Outreach & Inclusion Committee works to ensure that the Coalition provides an inclusive environment for all of its delegates, to increase diversity within the Organization and to support the Coalition’s commitment to the advancement of women of diverse backgrounds, including based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.  The Committee is focused on effectively partnering with minority and LGBTQ organizations and reviewing and contributing to the Coalition’s programming ideas and plans in furthering its mission of inclusion.

Co-Chairs:

  • Gray Mateo-Harris, Fox Rothschild
  • Avanti Bakane, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP 

Programming Committee

The Programming Committee is charged with creating and coordinating the annual programming schedule for the Coalition, including (a) an event every 6-8 weeks for Coalition members from “brown bag” telephonic events to formal in-person events; (b) one more expansive annual in-person event open to all member firms, law departments and individual members; and (c) networking opportunities and events for Coalition members. The Committee often invites speakers or other guests to speak at the programming events to educate the members on various legal, business, leadership and professionalism topics. In addition, the Committee liaises with other committees (e.g., Membership, PR, etc.) to increase awareness of the Coalition in general, to advertise upcoming events, and to post information regarding or summaries about past events. Our goal is to make the Coalition’s programming valuable, relevant and engaging for all members of the Coalition.

Co-Chairs:

  • Devon Beane, K&L Gates
  • Jessica Ekhoff, Pattishall McAuliffe
  • Kate Johnson, Steptoe & Johnson
  • Tanvi Patel, Neal, Gerber, & Eisenberg LLP

Sponsorship Committee

The Sponsorship Committee works with the Programming Committee and is tasked with contacting and contracting with vendors or other third parties to sponsor or to underwrite the Coalition’s general costs and expenses or those associated with a specific Coalition program or event.

Co-chairs:

  • Irene Fiorentinos, Jones Day
  • Avani Patel, Adecco Group

To find out more or to sign up to serve on a committee, email info@thewomenscoalition.com.