Weekly Newsletter        |        July 14, 2015
In This Issue
Message from the BALIF Board 
Greetings!

 

 

I want to take this opportunity to talk briefly about intersectionality and why I think it is important to the future of the LGBT movement. Intersectionality is the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, sexual orientation, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage. Being oppressed is a struggle many groups in society face, whether it be the very real threat of police harassment and brutality for a person of color or being paid only 70% of what a man makes.Yet, oppression becomes even greater and more complex when one includes intersectionality.

 

Increasing the inclusion of those who face multiple forms of oppression is a necessary goal for our community. Racism, sexism and other isms impact our community just as they do our greater society.  In a community that boasts acceptance and equality, the LGBT community as a whole must rally for other social issues that deeply impact a great number of our members and allies. To do this, it's time we start looking inward and address bias and oppression within our selves and our community. Volunteering our time, participating in legal advocacy, and spreading awareness (via social media or otherwise) are a few ways in which we can come together to combat all types of oppression, but to truly do these things effectively, the work really must begin from within.

 

Viewing oppression through the lens of intersectionality is empowering. It gives us a different manner of examining oppression and exploring ways to combat it. It can help unite all of our community toward causes that effect all of us. It also can potentially create new alliances between oppressed communities and thus create greater coalitions to fight for all of our freedom from discrimination and oppression. After all, these social categorizations are all interconnected and to truly eradicate oppression, we must unite to combat it in every form - from the individual, to the group, to society as a whole.

 

 

Sincerely, 


Jennifer Orthwein

BALIF Board Communications Chair

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BALIF Partner Exchange Luncheon Thursday, July 16, 2015

 

When: Thursday, July 16, 2015; and Thursday August 20, 2015


 

Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm

Where: San Francisco City Club (155 Sansome, 10th Floor)

What: Gourmet buffet lunch with other partners and firm owners

Cost: $40 payable by cash or check only

 

BALIF has created the BALIF Partner Exchange to bring together our members that are looking to network and exchange business and ideas.  This event is exclusively for BALIF members who are partners or owners of their firm with 7 years or more of experience. 

 

July's luncheon topic:  Finding "good" clients and collecting our fees from them.  What tips do you have for screening your clients?  What makes a "good" client and can you tell in advance?  What are the best practices to ensure a positive client relationship and getting paid?  What do you do when a client doesn't pay? 

 

Space is limited so only the first 11 to RSVP to [email protected] may attend. 

RSVPs being accepted for July 16, 2015 only. 

 

Next BALIF Happy Hour in August

BALIF's next Happy Hour will be August 6, 2015.

6:00- 8:00 pm

 

Location:

Blackbird Bar
2124 Market St

San Francisco, CA 94114

 
We hope you are having a great summer and hope to see you soon!

BALIF Files Ninth Circuit Amicus Brief Supporting Medical Care 
for Transgender Prisoner

June 12, 2015 - San Francisco - Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) filed an amicus curiae brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Norsworthy v. Beard. Ms. Norsworthy is a transgender woman held in a California men's prison. The district court concluded that the denial of necessary medical care to Ms. Norsworthy violated the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It issued a preliminary injunction requiring the CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide Ms. Norsworthy with adequate medical care, including sex reassignment surgery. CDCR appealed the preliminary injunction to the Ninth Circuit.
 

BALIF's brief in support of Ms. Norsworthy argues that when sex-reassignment surgery - or any medical treatment required for a serious medical need - has been identified as medically necessary for a prisoner, CDCR must provide it. There is no authority for a blanket denial of a particular procedure due to anticipated security and administrative issues. The brief explains that state and local detention systems throughout the country, including CDCR, have developed policies and procedures that ensure the health and safety of transgender prisoners while effectively balancing security and administrative issues. CDCR's asserted security issues ignore important aspects of California's prison system and are entirely manageable with respect to Ms. Norsworthy. Constitutional and other federal law require that CDCR take steps to ensure both the health and safety of a transgender prisoner like Ms. Norsworthy, as the district court correctly held.
 

"CDCR cannot hide behind its asserted security and administrative concerns to avoid its constitutional duty to provide medically necessary care to all prisoners, including Ms. Norsworthy," said Julie Wilensky, chair of BALIF's Amicus Committee.
 

BALIF's brief was filed by pro bono amicus counsel Rosen, Bien,  Galvan & Grunfeld LLP, whose team includes attorneys Aaron J. Fischer and Sanford Rosen, summer associate Abbye Klamann, and paralegal clerk Charlotte Landes. 

 

Click here to read the brief.

 

American Association for Justice's 
LGBT Caucus & CLE Lineup

 

The newly formed LGBT Caucus with the American Association for Justice has planned its first-ever CLE lineup for the American Association for Justice Annual Convention this summer in Montreal being held on July 11-15. Started less than two years ago, the LGBT caucus has gained in size and momentum and aims to have its huge coming out this summer at the convention.

 

The lineup will consist of three events. On the afternoon of July 11, the caucus will host a 1.5 hour CLE presentation focused on marriage equality, which will have just been argued before the Supreme Court.

 

The panel of speakers will include:

  • Justice John Greaney (ret.) of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, who authored the powerful concurring opinion in the Goodridge case.
  • Chuck Herring, Esq., of Texas, whose tireless efforts and creativity got a marriage license issued in Texas for the same-sex marriage of two of his clients.
  • Professor Michael Kavey, of NYU School of Law, who has worked for Lambda Legal, clerked for Justice Sotomayor (while on the Second Circuit) and been named by the national LGBT Bar Association as one of the "Best LGBT Attorneys Under 40."
  • Elizabeth Schwartz, Esq., of Miami, FL, who has worked tirelessly for marriage equality as counsel in a case challenging Florida's marriage ban.

 

The LGBT Caucus will also host a business meeting for its caucus members and a cocktail reception for its members to network and socialize.

 

For information on becoming a member of the American Association for Justice and the LGBT Caucus, or attending the convention, please contact the AAJ at [email protected] or (800) 424-2727, ext. 8611.

Office Available for Rent
BEAUTIFUL UPPER CASTRO Semi-Private Space For Rent 
Ideal for any professional. Located in a unique mid-century modern corner building with loads of natural light, and a sunny patio. Use of either front or separate side-entrance. Shared full kitchen, full bathroom and reception area. Plenty of on-street parking, easy Muni access and a truly pleasurable working environment. This is an open floor plan that can fit up to four desks or any other creative use of the space. Reception area also serves as art gallery with seasonal art openings. Water, PG&E, WiFi and garbage included in rent. Share space with two progressive attorneys. Don't be fooled by the attorney titles though, this is not a stuffy or stodgy space. Our office is a creative, cooperative and congenial place to work. We are looking for a another simpatico soul to join us!

Follow BALIF on Twitter!

 

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 in the right hand column of the newsletter or here.

 

Join the BALIF Listserv!

 

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 [email protected] or [email protected].

We Want Your BALIFBuzz

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 [email protected].

 

Can't wait to hear your great news!

 

Meaghan Zore 

BALIF Membership Chair

 

Job Postings Now on BALIF Website

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 JOBS from the menu on the left.

July 16 - BALIF Partner Exchange Luncheon
August 6- BALIF Happy Hour 

Our 2015 Sponsors
Partner Level
Seyfarth
 
Counsel Level

A&P

Fenwick
HB Logo
Kilpatrick

Mofo
Sedgwick2


Wilson

Advocate Level

 

A.L. Nella & Company, CPAs 

AT&T

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher  

Jones Day 

Latham & Watkins LLP 

Morgen Lewis & Bockius LLP 

MUFG Union Bank

O'Melveny & Meyers LLP 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP 

Pacific Gas & Electric

Perkins Coie LLP 

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 

Sanford Heisler Kimpel, LLP 

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton 

Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP 

 

Benefactor Level

 

Callaway & Wolf

Carroll, Burdick & McDonough LLP

Clarence, Dyer & Cohen LLP / Swanson & McNamara LLP 

Cooley LLP 

Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP

Farella Braun + Martel LLP 

Futterman Dupree Dodd Croley Maier LLP 

Golden Gate University, School of Law 

Jackson Lewis LLP 

JAMS  

Lewis, Feinberg, Lee & Jackson, P.C. 

Littler Mendelson P.C. 

Lubin Olson & Niewiadomski LLP

Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP 

Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP 

Novak Druce Connolly Bove + Quigg LLP

Paul Hastings LLP 

Pritzker Levine LLP

Reed Smith LLP 

Roeca Hass Hager LLP 

San Francisco City Attorney's Office 

San Francisco District Attorney's Office 

Schiff Hardin LLP 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP  

 

Individual Sponsors

 

Dave Arellano, Altep, Inc.   

Michael Colantuono, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley, PC 

David Fermino, Sideman & Bancroft LLP 

David Helbraun, Helbraun Law 

Frederick Hertz, Law and Mediation Office of Frederick Hertz

John Hill, Law Offices of John E. Hill, P.C.

Hon. Stuart Hing & Rhoda Hing, Alameda County Superior Court

James Kealohi, Pathways Personnel

David Monroe, Able & Monroe P.C.

Todd Norris, Bullivant Houser Bailey 

Debra R. Schoenberg, Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. 

Cheryl Sena, Sena Family Law 

Hon. James L. Warren (Ret.), JAMS  

BALIF Board of Directors
Jessica Bogo & John Robert Unruh
  
Peter Catalanotti
Secretary

Mario Choi
Treasurer

Denise Bergin 
Judiciary Chair

Nick Clements & 
David Sims
Gala Co-Chairs  

 

Meaghan Zore 

Julie Wilensky
Amicus Chair     

 
Jennifer Orthwein
Communications Chair 

Jamie Dupree
Programs Chair

Felicia Medina & Shauna Madison
Young Lawyers & Law Students Co-Chairs  

Brandon Lawrence & Daniel Faessler
Social Action Co-Chairs 


Dmitri Pikman
Lindsey Rosellini
Community Ambassador Chair  

Joseph Deignan, Alex Lemberg & Sam Potts
Katie Carlson
BALIF Administrator 
Follow BALIF

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BALIF | | [email protected] | http://www.balif.org
P.O. Box 193383
San Francisco, CA 94119