center_for_women_in_law_enclosed_no_fill_blue.png
Wednesday, April 10th
2:00 PM - General Counsel Meeting (Haynes and Boone, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 1500)
3:00 PM - Registration Opens - Waterloo Ballroom Foyer – 5th Floor
4:00 PM - Opening Session - Waterloo Salons # 1-3, 5th Floor
- Moderator: Nicole Perry
- Keynote Speaker: Rachel Lloyd, Internationally Recognized Sex Trafficking Survivor Advocate and Founder of Girls Education and Mentoring Services (GEMS) - Rachel is a leading child sex trafficking survivor advocate who established Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS) in 1998 with only a computer and $30. GEMS supports girls and young women survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. It is now the nation's largest organization offering direct services to American victims of child sex trafficking so they can exit the sex industry and develop to their full potential. Rachel played a key role in the successful passage of New York State's groundbreaking Safe Harbor Act for Sexually Exploited Youth, the first law in the country to end the prosecution of child victims of sex trafficking. Her trailblazing advocacy is the subject of the critically acclaimed documentary Very Young Girls (Showtime, 2007) and her memoir Girls Like Us (Harper Collins, 2011).
- Approved for 1 hour of CLE with the State Bar of Texas
5:00 PM - Opening Reception (Waterloo Salon #4, 5th Floor) – Sponsored by Haynes and Boone, LLP
6:30 PM - Dine Around Austin
Thursday, April 11th
7:30 AM - Breakfast (Waterloo Salon #4-6, 5th Floor) - Sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM - Kendra Scott Jewelry pop-up booth (Waterloo Foyer)
8:30 AM - Opening Remarks - Waterloo Salon #1-3, 5th Floor
8:45 AM - Session 1 – Keynote (Waterloo Salon #1-3)
- Sara Moss, Senior Advisor, The Estée Lauder Companies, former Vice Chairman, The Estée Lauder Companies - The visionary behind legal strategies that propelled The Estée Lauder Companies to global success, Sara will share her expertise on navigating corporate law with integrity and foresight. Her outstanding career with The Estée Lauder Companies began in 2003 when she joined the organization as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, a position she served in until 2019 when she was promoted to Vice Chairman. A recognized thought leader, collaborative partner, and keen legal and business strategist, Sara served as a trusted advisor to the business, the Board of Directors and the Lauder Family throughout her tenure.
- Approved for 1 hour of CLE with the State Bar of Texas
9:50 AM - Momentum Moment
- Thinking Outward – Kathryn Holt Richardson
10:00 AM - Session 2 – Waterloo Salon #1-3
- Bold Career Moves - The opportunities for lawyers today are ever-evolving. This panel of trailblazing lawyers will share the courage and strategy behind making bold career moves! From venturing into entrepreneurship and leading legal and business functions at large multinational organizations, to navigating the board room, these legal innovators will share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Gain valuable insights and inspiration from this insightful discussion to chart your own path to success.
- Moderator: Samantha Hale Crispin
- Panelists: Alfreda Bradley-Coar, Margot Carter, Sandra Phillips Rogers
- Approved for .75 hours of CLE with the State Bar of Texas
10:45 AM - Morning Break (Waterloo Foyer) – Sponsored by Alexander, Dubose & Jefferson LLP
11:00 AM - Session 3 - Waterloo Salon #1-3
- Building a Bold Legacy - Ask yourself this question: when the day comes that someone is giving your eulogy—what do you want them say? She was: a good mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, or friend? A force of nature who blessed the lives of those around her? A preeminent practitioner of the law? A leader in philanthropy in the arts, education, justice, or equality? And now consider whether you have a plan for achieving these goals? Is it written? Can you tell someone about it in a pithy elevator speech? Although a legacy can mean a lot of things, and many of them do not require a lot of money, all of them require effort and intention. As with most things in life our impact will be amplified by planning. This panel will talk about women, money, and developing a toolkit for building a bold legacy. We will explore topics including women’s relationship with money, identifying meaningful goals, forming a team of advisors, and honing your financial and legacy building skills.
- Moderator: Nadira Clarke
- Part I – Legacy Building Toolkit -
- Ronni Davidowitz, Private Wealth Partner, Katten
- Einat Sadka, Texas Team Lead, Sr. Private Banker, Citi Bank
- Stuart Smith, Wealth Management Advisor
- Jen Taboada, Director, BlackRock Business Consulting
- Part II – Bold Legacy in Action -
- Melanie Barnes, Melanie H. Barnes PLLC & CWIL Founder
- Melba Whatley, Founder/President Waller Creek Conservancy
12:00 PM - Lunch (Waterloo Salon #4-6) – Sponsored by Latham & Watkins LLP
- Welcome: Robert Chesney, Dean, The University of Texas School of Law
- Moderator: Veronica Vargas Stidvent, Executive Director, Center for Women in Law
- Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Mari Carmen Aponte - A pioneer in diplomacy and the first female Puerto Rican Ambassador, offers unparalleled insights from her tenure in law and public service, emphasizing the power of resilience and strategic leadership. Please join us for this Fireside chat wherein the Ambassador will discuss leadership and resilience; humility; lessons learned from foreign service officers (intergenerational leadership); and her second act of diplomacy.
- Approved for .75 hours of CLE with the State Bar of Texas
2:00 PM - Session 4 – Waterloo Salon #1-3
- Driving Change While Breaking Barriers - Gender equality in the legal profession remains an ongoing challenge and the need for women lawyers to drive change and break barriers is more pressing than ever. This panel will delve into the unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs of women in the legal profession by bringing together a group of accomplished women lawyers who have achieved professional success in industries or areas where few women have previously. The panelists have each challenged norms and paved the way forward for others in their respective fields. This promises to be a thought-provoking discussion that celebrates the achievements of women in the law and considers ways to drive meaningful change for other women lawyers within their own organization and communities, as well as in the profession more generally. This panel will inspire and empower so you can continue to navigate the legal landscape with confidence and tenacity.
- Moderator: Betty Ungerman
- Panelists: Katie Pothier, Julie Wong, Jennifer Wuamett
- Approved for .75 hours of CLE with the State Bar of Texas
3:00 PM - Afternoon Break (Waterloo Foyer) – Sponsored by Scoular
3:15 PM - Session 5 – Waterloo Salon #1-3
- The Portia Project Podcast - Join us for a live recording of M.C. Sungaila’s award winning podcast – the Portia Project. Portia was a character in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice; her name became synonymous with women lawyers and women’s entry into the legal profession because Portia disguises herself as a man then assumes the role of a lawyer’s apprentice in order to save the life of her beau’s best friend—and wins, despite having no formal legal training. M.C. Sungaila, a highly regarded appellate attorney recognized as one of California’s 100 Leading Women Lawyers, will interview Lori Cohen, Vice Chair of Greenberg Traurig and Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Litigation Practice. Nationally recognized for her extraordinary trial record of 58 defense verdicts, Lori leads a global practice that focuses on complex litigation of all types. In March 2022, Lori lost her voice suddenly and unexpectedly. However, with the help of AI, Lori was back in the courtroom by Fall 2023! You will not want to miss this interview as Lori shares how she refused to be sidelined and how technology and AI have been instrumental in helping her live her life “fully and vigorously and to practice law in the same ways.”
- Speakers: M.C. Sungaila and Lori Cohen
- Approved for 1.25 hours of CLE with the State Bar of Texas
4:15 PM - Momentum Moment
- Inner Reflection – Kathryn Holt Richardson
6:00 PM - Reception - Waterloo Ballroom Foyer
7:00 PM - Legacy Dinner - Waterloo Salon #4-6
- “Manifesto Momentum!” Dinner with Keynote Speaker Jill Ellis - Coach Jill Ellis, the strategist whose leadership guided the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team to historic victories, will discuss the dynamics of team leadership and the importance of building a winning culture in any field.
Friday, April 12th
8:00 AM - Networking Breakfast - Waterloo Salon # 4-6