Weekly Newsletter        |        September 15, 2015
In This Issue
Message from the BALIF Board 
Greetings!
 

Happy Pride once again for all who made it out to the Oakland Pride Festival this weekend!

While I practice in San Francisco, I live in the heart of Downtown Oakland. I have come to call this vibrant town home and a place where I find community. Oakland is home to many wonderful organizations and businesses who are leading the way for the advancement of LGBTQ issues on both a local and national level.

As some of you may know, LGBTQ spaces are particularly vulnerable right now. Many queer and trans-identified residents are migrating to more affordable areas outside of San Francisco and much-beloved businesses that have provided safe, inclusive spaces for us are closing. While times are changing for the better, many LGBTQ individuals, especially PoC, still face discrimination here in the Bay Area. It is critical to show up and support local LGBTQ businesses and organizations providing safety and inclusivity, such as a place to simply get work done or a place to socialize without fear of harassment.

In light of this, I want to take a moment to recognize an exciting new venture opening up called, Qulture Collective! Qulture Collective is a multi-purpose space serving the local LGBTQ Community right in Downtown Oakland. The idea began when one of the founding owners noticed that fellow LGBTQ locals would stop by her other retail shop and ask to sit and work on their laptops. It turned out, these individuals were having a hard time finding welcome spaces to do work and found refuge in her shop. She partnered with two other queer-identified business women to make Qulture Collective a reality. Qulture Collective's mission is to provide a safe and inclusive space to lounge, work, host events or open your pop-up business. More information about Qulture Collective can be found here I urge you to check it out and support in any way you can!

Like BALIF, places like Qulture Collective begin with an idea and they are sustained by the support of the community.

  
Sincerely, 
 
Lindsey Rosellini 
BALIF Board Community Ambassador Chair 

Mentor / Mentee Kick-off & 
Back-to-School Mixer

lookout  

Join us for drinks to welcome back the law students to a new school year! We will also be kicking off our Mentor / Mentee Program!

 

Friday, September 18, 2015 

6:00-8:00 p.m. 

 

Lookout

3600 16th St.

San Francisco, CA 94114

San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Tribute Celebration
 
Tribute Celebration honors the achievements of leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS and benefits the work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.  The event is on September 19, 2015 on the Waterfront at the Exploratorium and includes dinner, hosted bar, live music, and a limited amount of inspiring speakers and speeches.  The event starts at 7:30pm with a VIP reception that starts at 6pm.
 
For those not prepared to spend the entire evening, there is also a later evening (9pm-11pm) portion of the event being hosted by the First City Council, an entry-level philanthropic arm of the SF AIDS Foundation. This portion of the event includes artisanal desserts, a hosted bar, and a live cover band.
 
Click here to purchase tickets. I hope to see you at Tribute Celebration!
Back-to-School BBQ and Kickball!

 


 

Please join the BALIF Law Student Representatives for a BBQ and game of kickball!

 

Sunday, September 20, 2015

12:00-3:00 p.m.  

 

Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park

860 John F. Kennedy Dr.

San Francisco, CA 94121

BALIF Partner Exchange Luncheon

When: Tuesday, September 22, 2015; Thursday, October 22, 2015; Thursday, November 19, 2015; Tuesday, December 15, 2015; Thursday, January 21, 2016  
 
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. 

September's Topic:  Business development.  What specific things have you done to market your business in the last 30 days?  Where did your most recent client come from?  Have you done anything that was a total waste of your time?  What has been the most fruitful?

Space is limited so only the first 11 to RSVP to [email protected] may attend. RSVP's being accepted for Tuesday, September 22, 2015 only. 

SPARK! Transgender Law Center's
13th Anniversary Celebration


Congratulations to Herman Hoying, a BALIF member, Attorney at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, and passionate advocate on behalf of incarcerated transgender people, for earning Transgender Law Center's Ally Award. On October 1st Herman, along with an inspiring cohort of awardees, will be honored at SPARK! - Transgender Law Center's 13th Anniversary Celebration, taking place at Sir Francis Drake, a Kimpton Hotel in downtown San Francisco. The event will be emceed by Ian Harvie, comedian and co-star of the award winning series Transparent. If you were one of the 400+ people who attended last year, you know this is a party to NOT miss.

Check out this year's fantastic cohort of inspiring honorees, join the host committee, buy tickets or sponsor the event. - http://transgenderlawcenter.org/spark

ALRP Free 2015 MCLE Trainings
ALRP

Obtaining a Judgement & Litigating Post-Judgment Motions
Workers' Compensation
  • Thursday, September 24, 5:30-7:30pm
  • Presented by Kenneth Martinson, Esq. - Abogado Gomez San Bruno
  • 2.0 CLE Credits (1.0 General, 1.0 Ethics)
Separating with Heart and Smarts: Consensual Dispute Resolution in LGBTQ Separation and Divorce
Transferring Assets at Death: Do You Really Need Probate?
  • Tuesday, October 20, 5:30-7:00pm
  • Presented by Sandra Price, Esq. - Partner at Sideman & Bancroft LLP
  • 1.5 General CLE Credits
Social Security & Overpayments
  • Thursday, October 22, 5:30-7:00pm
  • Presented by Amy Orgain, Esq - Staff Attorney at Homeless Action Center
  • 1.5 General CLE Credits
Asylum Law for LGBT and Gang-Based Claims
  • Wednesday, November 4, 5:30-7:00pm
  • Presented by Christine Lin, Esq. - UC Hastings Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
  • 1.5 General CLE Credits
Wage & Hour Claims for People Living w/ HIV - Sponsored by the State Bar's Labor & Employment Law Section
All Classes take place at:
Bar Association of San Francisco
301 Battery Street, 3rd Floor, Board Room
San Francisco, CA 94111
To RSVP
Email:
Call: 415-701-1200 ext. 303 
Volunteer at the Castro Street Fair

Sunday, October 4, 2015
Come out and Volunteer at Castro Street Fair on behalf of ALRP
Shift 1: 10am - 2pm
Shift 2: 1:30pm - 5:30pm

Volunteer for one or both shifts collecting donations at the gates.  All donations and proceeds go directly to charitable causes important to the Castro community.  This is a family-friendly event, so feel free to bring friends, coworkers, classmates, children, significant others, and pets! 

For questions about volunteering or interest in volunteering, please email [email protected].
Save the Date for BALIF's Social Action Fundraiser
Save the Date for BALIF's Social Action Fundraiser
On Thursday, October 29, 2015
Lookout Bar (3600 16th St. in SF)
6pm - 9pm

This event will be a Fundraiser with proceeds going to El/La Para Translatinas.  In addition to fundraising, there will also be food, drinks, and of course, fun!
Details to Follow...
LGBT Asian / South Asian Attorney Networking Reception
Thursday, Oct 29, 2015
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
505 Montgomery Street, Suite 800 | San Francisco, CA 94111
Thanks go out to SABA-NC and Vid Prabhakaran for helping us secure the host.
BALIFBuzz

Deb L. Kinney
Johnston, Kinney and Zulaica LLP was recently named as one of the 25 largest LGBT owned companies in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times.  With 12 attorneys, two offices and a bilingual Spanish speaking staff, Johnston Kinney and Zulaica LLP assists individuals and families with estate planning, trust and probate administration and family law.  www.jkzllp.com
BALIF's Connections
 Mentorship Program
It's that time of the year again! BALIF's Connections mentorship program is seeking mentors and mentees for 2015-2016. For more information, see the program guidelines and description on the BALIF website. If you are a law student, recent law school graduate, or newer attorney seeking a mentor, or if you are an experienced attorney interested in serving as a mentor, please contact the Young Lawyers and Students Programs Committee, [email protected]. Mentor/mentee pairs will be assigned on a rolling basis from July-September.
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.

September 18 - BALIF Mentor / Mentee Kick-off & Back-to-School Mixer
September 20 - Back-to-School BBQ and Kickball!
September 22 - BALIF Partner Exchange Luncheon
October 8 - BALIF October 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 M. Helbraun, Helbraun Law Firm 

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