Message from the BALIF Board
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Greetings!
Our annual Gala is upon us! I cannot wait to see all of you this Friday at the Bently Reserve!!! Just in case you have not bought your tickets, you can do so here!
 | Photo by Trish Tunney Photography | As we reflect on another amazing year of advancing the rights of our LGBT brothers and sisters nationwide, let us look at the most recent opinion overturning Virginia*s legislated prohibition on same-sex marriage:
*Gay and lesbian individuals share the same capacity as heterosexual individuals to form, preserve and celebrate loving, intimate and lasting relationships. Such relationships are created through the exercise of sacred, personal choices--choices, like the choices made by every other citizen, that must be free from unwarranted government interference.* Bostic v. Rainey, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19080 (E.D. Va. Feb. 14, 2014).
While we hold these truths to be self-evident, we must remember that the fight against LGBT discrimination is far from over. More importantly, it cannot be fought alone. At the Gala this year, look around the room of 600+ attendees. It is because of these generous, wonderful, thoughtful, creative people that BALIF is able to advance this fight.
Peter Catalanotti BALIF Board Outreach Committee Chair
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BALIF's 34th Annual Gala Standing Proud
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Standing Proud, BALIF's 34th Annual Gala is next week on February 28, 2014. If you haven't done so yet, now is the time to sponsor BALIF and purchase your tickets to the Gala ASAP. This year's format is an elegant cocktail party with food stations and drinks sprinkled around the venue. It's a fabulous format for mingling with old friends and meeting new ones. Don't miss the best party of the year!
Your sponsorship of BALIF and ticket purchases will fund law student scholarships, mentor programs, CLE, Amicus briefs on LGBT issues, LGBT recruiting, social events to LGBT lawyers, community outreach, and much more. If your business or firm would still like to sponsor the Gala, it is not too late to take advantage of some of the many benefits of sponsorship, such as recognition through the end of 2014 on the BALIF website and newsletter, and complimentary tickets to the gala.
The Gala is BALIF's largest annual event with more than 600 attendees, including lawyers, judges, lawmakers, legal professionals, students, and in-house counsel. This year we are thrilled to be honoring Judge Vaughn Walker with the Legal Service Award and LYRIC, A San Francisco LGBTQQ Youth Organization with the Community Service
Award. Please join us to celebrate the amazing progress our community has made over the past year.
When: Friday, February 28th from 6:30-11pm
Where: The Bently Reserve, 301 Battery St., San Francisco, California
Want to get the party started early? BALIF members and Gala attendees will be meeting at two different pre-party Gala locations: Blanc et Rouge and Bar 333. Starting at 5:30 pm on the night of the Gala, please stop by for a pre-Gala cocktail, meet new friends, reconnect with old ones, and prepare yourself for the Gala!
Please visit the BALIF website at www.balif.org for sponsorship information or to purchase individual tickets. For more information email gala@balif.org.
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BALIF March Happy Hour
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Please join us for the BALIF March Happy Hour!
Sponsored by Jinah Conroy of Courtroom Sciences
When: Thursday, March 27, 6-8 p.m.
Where:Infusion Lounge
124 Ellis Street (between Mason and Powell)
San Francisco, CA
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BALIF/ NCLR/ FAP Social Movie Night
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BALIF/NCLR/FAP Social Movie Night with a Conscience, and Filmmaker
Thursday, March 20, 2014 6-7:30 pm; Generously Hosted by: Covington & Burling LLP , One Front Street (at Market St.), 35th floor San Francisco, CA 94111 www.cov.comScreening of 30-minute documentary film; discussion with Family Acceptance Project (FAP) Film Director, Dr. Caitlin Ryan; hosted light refreshments. Tickets $15 or $25 Donor Choice. Host Committee: Bruce Deming, Ruth Herring, Shannon Minter Charles Spiegel This short documentary film "Families Are Forever" was created by the Family Acceptance Project (FAP) and chronicles the journey of a devout Mormon family living in a conservative community who attended Church every Sunday, actively served in their ward, went door-to-door to stop same-sex marriage in support of California's Prop 8-- and whose lives were turned upside down when their 13-year-old son revealed he was gay. This story of love and acceptance has won awards at film festivals around the world. Families are Forever is part of a series of short documentaries produced by the Family Acceptance Project that depict the journey of ethnically and religiously diverse families to support their LGBT children - based on FAP's compelling research. FAP's work was designated as the 1st "Best Practices" resource for suicide prevention for LGBT people by the national Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention, including the only Best Practice resources for suicide prevention for Mormon families. Other films in the series include a Mexican American Marine accepting his son.
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BALIF Mixer with CAOC & MBC
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BALIF Mixer with the Consumer Attorneys of California and members of the Minority Bar Coalition. Hosted bar and appetizers.
When: Thursday, April 10th, 5:30-7:30 Where: Otis Lounge, 25 Maiden Lane, San Francisco
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Calling All Past & Present
ALRP Board Members
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Please join us for the ALRP 2014 Board Emeritus Wine & Cheese Party...a special evening of reuniting, socializing and networking as we gather to honor all of those who have served on ALRP's Board of Directors since our founding in 1983.
Wednesday, MARCH 19- 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Morrison & Foerster LLP / 425 Market Street, 33rd Floor - Town Hall
The party will feature ALRP Private Reserve Wines & Champagne along with wonderful cheeses and desserts. Hosting & catering arranged by ALRP Board Co-Chair Vince Novak/Morrison & Foerster LLP. By Invitation Only for Former ALRP Board Members*: RSVP by 5:00pm MARCH 17 to Jim McBride at (415) 701-1200 ext. 301 or jim@alrp.org. We hope to see you there!
*If you are interested in serving on the ALRP Board of Directors or a committee, contact ALRP Executive Director Bill Hirsh at 415-701-1200 ext. 308 or bill@alrp.org
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LGBT Legal &
Political Developments in Israel
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The legal and political landscape for LGBT residents of Israel is changing rapidly, with emerging issues involving surrogacy for gay male couples, co-parenting arrangements, accommodation for transgender people, and the lack of civil marriage. Elinor Sidi is the director of Jerusalem Open House, a central location for social support, political activism and legal advocacy for the LGBT community. Sidi has also been involved in numerous social and political engagements regarding the role of Orthodox religion in LGBT affairs, and the concerns of gay Palestinians living in Israel. Come hear Sidi discuss the recent legal and political developments that affect the gay community in Israel. Thursday, April 17, 2014, 5:30 p.m. at the Law Offices of Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica. Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica 180 Sansome Street, 5th Floor San Francisco , CA 94104
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Pride Law Fund
Upcoming Events
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Celebrate the 35th Anniversary with Pride Law Fund in 2014.
To maximize the snowy experience, the first annual Pride Law Fund Gay Ski Day has been rescheduled to March 8, 2014. Join us for a gay day on the slopes, raising money for LGBT fellowships. Purchase tickets here!
Additionally, save the date for our third annual Boat Cruise around the Bay on May 31, 2014 and keep an eye out for details about the first annual Pride Law Fund Wine Bus Adventure in Napa in the fall.
Pride Law Fund is currently accepting applications for Tom Steele Post Graduate Fellowships and Law Students Summer Fellowships. Applications are due on March 3, 2014 and can be found on our website here.
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2014 Supreme Court Appointment to the State Bar Board of Trustees
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The California Supreme Court is charged with appointing five members of the State Bar of California's Board of Trustees. Pursuant to Rule 9.90 of the California Rules of Court, the Supreme Court has created the State Bar Trustees Nominating Committee to solicit, receive, screen and evaluate all applications for appointment or reappointment to the State Bar Board of Trustees and to make recommendations to the Supreme Court.
The California Supreme Court's State Bar Trustees Nominating Committee is seeking qualified candidates to serve as Board of Trustees of the State Bar of California. In 2014, two Board of Trustees positions will be filled during this process.
The Board of Trustees of the State Bar is charged with the executive functions of the State Bar. Public protection is the highest priority of the board in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. The board meets approximately eight times a year to consider organizational, policy and professional issues.
If you are interested in applying for appointment, please complete the application form and follow the filing instructions.
2014 Schedule of dates and deadlines
- Feb. 28: Last day to submit application
- Sept. 11-14: Annual Meeting - San Diego
- Sept.14: Appointees sworn in at Annual Meeting
For more information, please click here!
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Jack Berman Award of Achievement
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Each year, CYLA recognizes a young or new lawyer for distinguished service to the public sector, the judiciary, or the profession with the Jack Berman Award of Achievement.
The California State Bar established this prestigious award in 1992 to recognize the individual achievements of a lawyer who is either in his/her first five years of practice or age 36 and under. The award is named in memory of Jack Berman, a young lawyer who demonstrated outstanding service to the profession and the public, and who was tragically killed in a San Francisco shooting. This annual award honors his dedicated service to issues of concern to the profession, especially its young lawyers.
You can read about past Award Recipients and Nominate a fellow attorney using the Program Materials on CYLA's webpage:
http://cyla.calbar.ca.gov/CYLA/JackBermanAward.aspx. The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, February 25, 2014. Early applications are encouraged! The award recipient will be recognized alongside the President's Pro Bono Service Award recipients at the State Bar Annual Meeting, held September 11-14, 2014 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California.
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The CWL Rose Bird Memorial Award
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CWL is now accepting nominations for the ROSE BIRD MEMORIAL AWARD. This annual award is named for one of CWL's founding members and is given to a jurist from Northern California. NOMINATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 28, 2014.The candidate should be from the Northern California area and will be evaluated on excellence as a jurist with longstanding or groundbreaking public service and inspiration to women lawyers in California. The nominations will be reviewed by the Awards Committee and the Board of Governors will announce the recipient of this honor on March 7, 2014. The Award will be presented at the Northern California Judicial Reception to be held in April of 2014. The awardee must be available to attend the reception held in their honor. The nomination should consist of the following: A. Nominee's Resume/Bio- Include the nominee's resume or biography. B. Nominee's Photo- Include a high resolution photograph of the nominee. C. Supporting Statement- A letter supporting the nominee as a worthy recipient of this honor with a description of the candidate's qualifications for this award. D. Articles and Letters- To present a comprehensive picture of the nominee, you may include news/magazine articles written by or about the candidate and letters of support from individuals or organizations. The nomination and supporting materials should be sent to co-chairs of the Awards Committee, Jaimi Groothuis at Jaimi@bermanandmore.com and Amee Mikocich at Amee.Mikacich@sedgwicklaw.com.
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Lambda Legal Salon
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Join Lambda Legal and its San Francisco Leadership Council for complimentary cocktails, conversation and equality at SALON. You will hear the latest news about Lambda Legal's work across the country protecting and advancing the rights of LGBT people and people living with HIV, while connecting with Lambda Legal supporters, friends and colleagues. Friday, March 7, 2014, 6:00 to 8:30 pmMcGuire Showroom, San Francisco Design Center Two Henry Adams Street, Suite 233 RSVP to Jennifer Bing, 415.800.8127 or info@bing-sf.com Join and share at http://www.bit.ly/SFSalon
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Berkeley Law School's McBaine Moot Court Competition- Volunteer Attorneys Needed to Judge
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Attorney volunteers are needed to serve as judges for Berkeley Law School's McBaine Moot Court Competition. Boalt is looking for judges for the preliminary rounds, Monday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 19. They are encouraging Minority Bar Coalition members to participate to increase the diversity of judges. Dinner for the judges on both nights will start at 5:30 pm at Boalt (at Bancroft and College Ave), and the competition will start around 6:30 pm. Please contact Anne Gordon at adgordon@law.berkeley.edu if you are interested.
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ALRP Free Winter 2014 MCLE Trainings
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Uncontested Divorces
- Thursday, March 20, 5:30-7:00pm
- Presented by Brent Seymour, Esq., Shapiro Thorne Inc.
- Bar Association of San Francisco, 301 Battery Street, 3rd Floor, Board Room, San Francisco, CA 94111
- 1.5 General CLE Credits
To RSVP:
Alex Taylor
Volunteer Coordinator
AIDS Legal Referral Panel
1663 Mission St., Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-701-1200 ext. 303
alext@alrp.org
www.alrp.org
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Marriage for Same-Sex Couples:
Is it Over Yet?
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Marriage for Same-Sex Couples: Is it Over Yet?
Lecture by Professor Matthew Coles
Wednesday, March 26, 2014 from 3:30 - 4:30pm
Room B at UC Hastings
It looks like the question of whether the U.S. Constitution says states must marry same-sex couples is headed back to the Supreme Court. Is that a good thing? Would a win mean that the LGBT movement is mostly over? Stop in for some speculation on the next big moment in the legal movement for LGBT rights. Matthew Coles is the Deputy National Legal Director of the ACLU and Director of the ACLU's Equality Center.
For more information, visit here!
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2014 Lavender Law Conference &
Career Fair Student Awards
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The National LGBT Bar Association is now accepting submissions for the Student Leadership Award, the Michael Greenberg Writing Competition and the International Association of LGBT Judges Writing Competition
Student Leadership Award
The National LGBT Bar Association's Student Leadership Award is the organization's highest honor for law students. The award will recognize a law student who has demonstrated leadership within their school and in the surrounding community, especially in the area of LGBT equality.
Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition
Established in memory of Michael Greenberg, a former National LGBT Bar Association board member and Philadelphia attorney who died in 1996 from complications with AIDS, this exciting competition is dedicated to encouraging and recognizing outstanding law student scholarship on the legal issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons.
International Association of LGBT Judges Student Writing Competition
The International Association of LGBT Judges sponsors a writing competition for all law students attending the 2014 Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair. This is an exciting opportunity for law students who wish to pursue their career as a member of the United States judiciary.
Timeline
All three student awards will follow the same final submission date of Friday, May 16, 2014 at 5:00pm ET. Late entries will not be considered. Students are able to enter all competitions, but only if they turn in different works for each submission.
Click here for full competition details. Should you have any questions, please send them to info@LGBTbar.org.
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Transgender Law Center's
Cooperating Attorney Network
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Transgender Law Center is in the process of creating a robust cooperating attorney network. They are especially interested in developing a network of attorneys who can assist them with cases - either by sharing their expertise and knowledge or by serving as co-counsel. Transgender Law Center also needs attorneys to whom they can refer some of the 2,500 individuals who contact them each year from across the country. If you haven't yet joined their cooperating attorney network, please do so now at the link below. And please forward this information to your friends and colleagues. Thanks!
http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1628454-1kVsVna0mW
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Lambda Legal 2014-2015 Tyron Garner Memorial Fellowship
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Lambda Legal is pleased to announce its posting for the 2014-2015 Tyron Garner Memorial Fellowship for African-American LGBT Civil Rights, expanded in 2013 from a summer position to a year-long funded fellowship. Lambda Legal is a national nonprofit organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBT") people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas. The Garner Fellowship is a paid, full-time, year-long legal internship awarded to a recent law graduate to work in any of Lambda Legal's five offices.
Please click here for more info!
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Government Watchdogs Wanted
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The Civil Grand Jury - the "watchdog" of the City and County of San Francisco - needs a diverse group of informed, intelligent, and interested San Francisco residents/U.S. citizens to serve a one-year term beginning on July 1, 2014. If you are passionate about a government that is effective and efficient, acknowledges the citizens' needs as a priority, and you are willing to devote 20 or more hours a week, please consider volunteering for the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury. You will come away with an in-depth knowledge of how your local government functions, as well as meet a variety of fascinating people while making a significant contribution to your community. For additional information and to apply, visit: http://civilgrandjury.sfgov.org
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Follow BALIF on Twitter!
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BALIF's twitter feed is up and running. Follow us to see BALIF news, event info, #ThrowbackThursday posts, and more. Just click the Twitter button at the bottom of the newsletter or here.
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Uber Discount for BALIF Members
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Request a ride with the push of a button! Uber is offering new users $20 off your first ride. Text BALIF to 827-222. You can also sign up at uber.com/go/BALIF and download the app for Android, Blackberry, or iPhone. Then sit back and enjoy the magic of Uber, everyone's private driver. (Valid for new users only, TAXI excluded).
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Are you an expert in your field? Get your name in BALIF's new Expert Directory and get quoted!
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BALIF members are experts in almost every legal specialization from antitrust to family law and we want to leverage our extensive media contacts list to raise the profiles of our experts. When a journalist needs an expert on securities law, prison law, employment law, or whatever your specialization is, she'll call you for that quote.
If you want to be included in the BALIF Expert Directory,
please send a short email with the following to PR@balif.org:
Name, title and place of business
Fields and/or sub-fields you are an expert in (E.g., Employment and ERISA)
No more than 500 words on what makes you an expert: specific work experience, length of experience, published articles or books, and speaking appearances related to your topic.
Please reply only if you can truly be considered an expert in your field; general guidelines are at least 7-10 years of practice and/or additional qualifications that separate you from other attorneys.
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Join the BALIF Listserv!
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Have a job or need one? Civil procedure question? Need a
referral? Have something important to ask ... or news to tell? Want to get to our members quickly? Join our Listserv!
BALIF members should have received our invitation to join our newly-created Listserv. You must proactively respond to the request in order to be added to our Listserv. If you didn't get a request, please let us know by emailing technology@balif.org or balif@balif.org.
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We Want Your BALIFBuzz
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We all love that section in our alumni newsletters that talks about who's doing what.
Well, we're introducing the BALIFBuzz to show-off all the great things that our members are doing. BALIFBuzz will be appearing in the weekly BALIF newsletter.
New job?
New client?
Promotion?
Court victory?
Significant settlement?
Baby on the way?
Recently married or engaged?
Speaking engagement?
Award, recognition, certification, or degree?
Or anything else you're excited about...
Keep it to one or two lines. Please send to membership@balif.org.
Can't wait to hear your great news!
Meaghan Zore
BALIF Membership Chair
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Job Postings Now on BALIF Website
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All job postings can be found here!
BALIF membership must be current to view the job postings. Simply log into the BALIF website with your membership ID and password, and select the JOBS from the menu on the left.
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March 20- BALIF/ NCLR/ FAP Social Movie Night
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March 27- Happy Hour Sponsored by Courtroom Sciences
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March 29- BALIF Career Fair |
April 5- BALIF East Bay Family Friendly Social
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April 17- LGBT Legal & Political Developments in Israel
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On Lu & Jamie Dupree
Elizabeth Pritzker & Andrew Vu
Dustin Helmer & Midori Hirai
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Senior Partner Level
Partner Level
    

Advocate Level
A.L. Nella & Company, CPAs
AT&T
Bingham McCutchen
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Jones Day
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Nixon Peabody LLP
O'Melveny & Meyers LLP
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Perkins Cole LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Santa Clara University School of Law
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Benefactor Level
Clarence, Dyer & Cohen LLP / Swanson & McNamara LLP
Cooley Godward Kronish LLP
FTI Consulting
Futterman Dupree Dodd Croley Maier LLP
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Golden Gate University
HaleyNelson & Heilbrun LLP
Heath Newton LLP
HendricksMurry, P.C.
Jackson Lewis LLP
JAMS
Latham & Watkins LLP
Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renacker & Jackson, P.C.
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Littler Mendelson
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Paul Hastings LLP
Pritzker Law
Reed Smith LLP
Roeca Hass Hager LLP
San Francisco District Attorney's Office
Schiff Hardin LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Special Counsel
Stein & Lubin LLP
Individual Sponsors
Altep, Inc.
Todd Norris, Bullivant Houser Bailey
Michael Colantuono, Colantuono & Levin, P.C.
Peter C. Catalanotti, Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP
Debra R. Schoenberg, Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C.
Cheryl Sena, Sena Family Law
Judge Vaughn Walker ADR/Law Office Vaughn R Walker
Hon. James L. Warren (Ret.), JAMS
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dore LLP |
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