In addition to being HBA president, I have the honor of serving with Cherry Tsai as co-chairman of the OCBA's Diversity and Equal Justice Committee.  This week, I am reminded of the great diversity we have in the Orange County legal community.  The appointment of an African American to the Superior Court's bench (see story below) is a terrific gain for diversity.  My best wishes to that new judge, Daphne Scott, and I reiterate the HBA's hope that we can work collaboratively to make the Orange County Superior Courts responsive and representative of all attorneys and legal services stakeholders in the OC.

I also want to congratulate the OC Asian American Bar Association for a wonderful annual dinner, and I wish OCAABA's newly installed president Kenneth Wang much success during his term.  Finally, I wish to acknowledge the Orange County Diversity Task Force's support for the HBA.  The OCDTF is one of the sponsors of the HBA's Memorial Day trip to Huatulco (see that story below as well).  The HBA is committed to enhancing and expanding diversity in the local legal community, and it thanks and supports our partners who are working toward that same goal.

-cXc

The Hispanic Bar Association celebrated their Annual Cinco De Mayo party on the Patio at Taleo in Irvine.  Beautiful weather made for a magic evening and a perfect setting to talk, mingle, network and enjoy the Southern California ambiance.  Over fifty people attended the event including most of the HBA Executive Board and Supv. Judge Marjorie Laird Carter, Hon. Andy Guilford, Hon. Salvador Sarmiento and Hon. Ron Kreber, whom we would like to thank for their participation in the event.  Additionally several attorneys from Affiliate Bars attended.  If you were not able to attend this year's event, you should plan on attending next years event, it's not like you don't know what day it will be, as it was the general consensus that the event was once again a great success.
 
The event featured Tequila tasting, delicious appetizers, thank you Taleo, and lots of camaraderie.  It was great to see people making new friends and reconnecting with old ones as well.  Our annual event was possible due the sponsorship of Union Bank who has supported the HBA generously throughout the years at this and many other HBA events.  Many more events are scheduled in the upcoming months including the Annual Judges Barbecue, the Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Mexico's Independence, and the End of Summer Joint Mixer with several other Bar Associations from Orange County.  There has never been a better time to join the HBA and we hope to see you at our upcoming events.

 

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Roundtable with In-House Counsel: Cross-Border Deals & Best Practices (1.5)

• Alfredo Sánchez, General Counsel, Banamex USA (Citigroup)
• Alejandro Razo, Vice President, Legal Department, Banamex USA (Citigroup)
• Arturo Alvarado, Counsel, Coca Cola de México
• Luis Armando Leviaguirre, Corporate Counsel, TenarisTamsa, Tubos de Acero de Mexico, S.A.
• Jorge Uriza, Director Jurídico (General Counsel), Ocesa Entretenimiento, S.A. de C.V.

Moderators:   Jerry Gumpel, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP
                     Fradyn Suárez, Mayer Brown, LLP

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 
The Proposed Reform to Mexican Antitrust Laws: A Primer and Proposed Reforms (1)

• Juan Francisco Torres Landa R., Barrera, Siqueiros y Torres Landa, S.C.
• Mark Riera, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP 

10: 30  a.m. - 12: 00  p.m.
Policy and the Law: Current Challenges Facing the Obama Administration (1.5)

• Mauro Morales, Policy Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Office of Personnel Management
• María Echaveste, Lecturer in Residence, Berkeley Law / Boalt Hall, former Assistant and Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton

Moderator: Norma García Guillén, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP

12:00  p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Criminal Law for the Civil Practitioner (i.e., Criminal Law for Dummies) (2)

• Felipe Plascencia, Law Office of Felipe Plascencia, President, Mexican American Bar Association, Political Action Committee

Moderator: Carlos X. Colorado, Jones Day

2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
The Intersection Between Family Law, Criminal Law and Immigration Law (.5)

• Felipe Plascencia, Law Office of Felipe Plascencia, President, Mexican American Bar Association, Political Action Committee
• Genoveva M. Talbott, Talbott & Kim, LLP
  

Moderator: Carlos X. Colorado, Jones Day

Monday, May 31st

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Benefits of Serving as an Attorney in a Federal Agency (1.5)

• Mauro Morales, Policy Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Office of Personnel Management
• María Echaveste, Lecturer in Residence, Berkeley Law / Boalt Hall, former Assistant and Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton

Moderator: Carlos X. Colorado, Jones Day

                      

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