12th Annual Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession
5.00 CLE Credit Hours (including Ethics and
Professionalism)
For
the last eleven years, the LSBA has convened a Conclave on Diversity in the
Legal Profession. The LSBA chose to host a "conclave" rather than a
"meeting" because a conclave signifies "an assembly or gathering, especially one
that has special authority, power, or influence.
12th
Annual Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession
"Strides in Diversity:
Opening Doors for the Next Generation"March 8, 2019
Sheraton New
Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA
5.00 CLE Credit Hours
(including Ethics and Professionalism)
Registration:
Registration (BEFORE February 8, 2019) $85
Registration (AFTER February 8,
2019) $110
For more information,
click here to download the 2019 Conclave registration brochure.
Sponsorship Opportunities are
Available (
Click
here for a sponsorship form)
Please contact the Member
Outreach and Diversity Team at diversity@lsba.org.
Exhibitor
Opportunities are Available (
Click
here to view the Exhibitor Fees and Details and
click
here to register)
Speaker Highlights:
Keynote
SpeakerDima Ghawi, Dima Ghawi, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA.
Throughout her career, Ms. Ghawi
has led global teams, facilitated leadership workshops and initiated woman
advancement programs. Her focus now is helping her clients with leadership,
employee engagement programs, and women advancement programs. Ms. Ghawi’s life
mission is to enable individuals across cultures to shatter their internal and
external limitations. Diversity
and Inclusion Workshop Presenter Dr. Katrice Albert, Executive
VP of Inclusion and Human Resources. Dr. Albert is the NCAA’s executive vice
president of inclusion and human resources. In this role, she leads efforts to
enhance diversity, inclusion, leadership development, and education and
community engagement. Additionally, she is responsible for leading national
office employee relations, performance management, professional development, and
compensation and benefits programs. Before joining the NCAA, she served in
executive capacities with the University of Minnesota System from 2013 to 2017,
and at Louisiana State University from 2005 to 2013. She led diversity,
inclusion and equity strategies in both positions.
Special RequirementsThe LSBA is committed to ensuring full
accessibility for all registrants. Please contact the LSBA (at
diversity@lsba.org) if you have a disability which may require special
accommodations at this conference.
Need a hotel room? We have a great
rate!The LSBA has reserved a block of rooms at the Sheraton New
Orleans at a discounted rate of $189.00 per night (excluding taxes and fees).
You are urged to make reservations early, as there are only a limited number of
rooms available at the discounted rate listed above. The LSBA room block is
reserved for seminar attendees only. To reserve a room,
please click here.
Hotel
cancellation policy:All reservations must be guaranteed with a
credit card by February 7, 2019 and the credit card will be charged a deposit of
one night's room and tax when reservations are made. Any requests received
after February 7, 2019 will be handled on a space and rate availability basis
only. Please note that if your plans change and you do not timely cancel
your room reservation by March 5, 2019, you are responsible for the room
charge.
Wi-Fi AccessPlease note that
wireless access will not be available in the conference area (on the second
floor where the program will be held) and electrical outlets may be
limited.
Free wi-fi will only be available downstairs in the main
lobby.
We hope you can join us and look forward to
your continued support of the LSBA's Diversity programs.
QUESTIONS?Contact the Member Outreach and Diversity team members by
email at
diversity@lsba.org.
Become a LSBA Diversity Signatory!Click here to learn more about becoming a Signatory.
Download the LSBA Statement of Diversity
Principles.
Excellence in Diversity
Reception
The Excellence in
Diversity Reception honoring Diversity
Signatories of the LSBA Statement of Diversity Principles will be held on
Friday, March 8, 2019 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel at 8:00 a.m. – 8:45
a.m. Speakers, sponsors, and Conclave registrants are invited to
attend.
Materials
The LSBA is working on ways to reduce the amount of paper we use at seminars and
symposia. This is an effort both to be responsible toward our environment
and to increase the quality and timeliness of the resources provided through
this learning experience.
To view
the course materials for this year's Conclave, please click the download link
beside a session title below to obtain the materials available for that
session. We recommend that you do so PRIOR to the
seminar.
If you choose to review the materials from an electronic
device, we strongly suggest that you charge the device's battery, as electrical
outlets are limited.
9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. – Interactive Workshop 1.00
CLE credit hour
| Dr. Katrice A. Albert, NCAA |
|
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions
(PLEASE SELECT ONE) 1.00 CLE credit hour each
| Breakout
Session One - Immigration 1.00 CLE credit hour |
|
| Dalia
Castillo-Granados, American Bar Association |
|
| Laila L. Hlass, Tulane
University Law School |
|
| Thomas A.
Saenz, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund |
|
| Breakout Session Two - Best Practices 1.00 CLE
credit hour |
|
| Sharon Bridges, Baptist Memorial Health Care
Corporation |
|
| Dominique
R. Bright-Wheeler, Toyota Financial Services |
|
| LaTanya
Langley, BIC International |
|
12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. – Keynote Speaker 1.00 CLE
credit hour
1:20 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. – Labor and Employment
Session 1.00 CLE credit hour
| Jack Chen, Microsoft Corporation |
Download |
| Andrea L. Gilliam, Unwanted,
LLC |
|
| Jenny R. Yang, Working IDEAL |
|
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Trending Legal Issues 1.00
CLE credit hours
| J. Tyler Clemons, Southern
Poverty Law Center |
|
| Hon. Royce I. Duplessis, Duplessis Law Firm,
LLC |
|
| Alysson L. Mills, Fishman
Haygood, LLP |
|
Download Agenda
Agenda
5.00 CLE Credit Hours (including Ethics and Professionalism)
| Time: |
Details: |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Registration
|
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
|
Excellence in Diversity
Reception honoring Diversity Signatories
Rhythms
Foyer, 2nd Floor
|
8:45 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.
|
Acknowledgments
Sponsor and
Co-host Recognition/Sponsor and Co-host Representative
Photos
Rhythms Ballroom, 2nd
Floor
- Denia S. Aiyegbusi, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, New Orleans, LA
- Deidre D. Robert, Southern University System, Baton Rouge, LA
- John A. Womble, Frederick A. Miller & Associates, Metairie,
LA
Co-chairs, LSBA Diversity Committee
Chair and Co-chairs,
Conclave Subcommittee
|
| 9:05 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. |
Welcoming Remarks
- Deidre D. Robert, Southern University System, Baton Rouge, LA
Chair, Conclave Subcommittee |
9:15 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
|
Introduction of Interactive Workshop
Speaker
- Deidre D. Robert, Southern University System, Baton Rouge,
LA
Chair, Conclave Subcommittee |
9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
|
Interactive Workshop
(Professionalism)
1.00 CLE credit hour,
Rhythms Ballroom, 2nd Floor
Leadership on Purpose:
Harnessing our Collective Strength Toward Inclusive
Excellence
If we are serious about future proofing all
sectors (especially the legal profession) at every level, intentional
efforts toward equity and diversity in the comprehensive talent strategy
should be of highest priority. Across the nation and especially in my
beloved State of Louisiana, there are far too many bridges yet to cross
such that women, ethnic minorities, those with disabilities, LGBTQ, and
other diverse citizens have full access to employment opportunities and
career advancement. There is one thing that I know for sure
and that is when diverse top talent is left on the sidelines, we are
unable to accelerate innovation and race ahead. Therefore, with
blazingly articulated courage and bold leadership, the legal profession
must model the gold standard of purposeful and intentional inclusive
excellence leadership. As nothing is more powerful than every
Louisianan reaching their highest potential.This keynote address will
offer conclave participates the “power of possibilities” in several
distinctive ways. It will challenge the conclave participants to
IGNITE leadership on purpose, to be future forward, and to bend the arch
toward success by focusing on how to accelerate their unyielding
commitment to equity and diversity. As nothing is more powerful than
every Louisiana State Bar Association member heeding this call-to-action
and becoming a champion for inclusive excellence.
- Dr. Katrice A. Albert
Executive VP of Inclusion and Human
Resources, NCAA, Indianapolis, IN |
10:20 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
|
Transition Break
|
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
|
Breakout Sessions (PLEASE
SELECT ONE) 1.00 CLE credit hour
each
Breakout Session One - Immigration
(Ethics)
Rodrigue Gallery Ballroom, 1st
Floor
From
Child Migration to Detaining Asylum-Seekers: Emerging Crisis in
Immigration Law
Locally and nationally, immigration
issues have taken center stage with large-scale shifts in law and
policies which stem from the current government priorities. This
panel will take a look at the legal landscape of recent changes in
immigration law, specifically focusing on DACA, changes in state
law, challenges for immigrant children, asylum-seekers, as well as
Louisiana-specific immigration issues.
- Dalia Castillo-Granados, Director of Children's Immigration
Law Academy, American Bar Association, Houston, TX
- Laila L. Hlass, Director of Experiential Learning, Tulane
University Law School, New Orleans, LA
- Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, Mexican
American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Los Angeles,
CA
|
Breakout Session Two - Best Practices
(Professionalism)
Waterbury Ballroom, 2nd Floor
Drivers of Initiative: The Role of
In-house Counsel in Growing the D&I
Pipeline Building a talented and diverse team internally as
well as externally (outside counsel) is a collaborative effort.
Without true leadership within corporate law departments of in-house
counsel and outside counsel law firms, meaningful improvements in
the areas of diversity and inclusion will remain elusive. Despite
the increased attention to diversity, there has been little or no
change in the racial or gender composition of firms. The lawyers at
the top – those that have the power to drive Diversity and Inclusion
(D&I) have an obligation to identify the best or most-renowned
diverse subject-matter experts in the legal profession for future
opportunities. Talent development is the role of not only in-house
counsel but also outside counsel. This panel will explore key
components of creating an internal environment for D&I and how
leaders of legal departments can only improve the pipeline if they
are involved in the effort of identifying and hiring diverse
candidates.
- Sharon Bridges, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation,
Jackson, MS
- Dominique R. Bright-Wheeler, Managing Counsel, Toyota
Financial Services, Plano, TX
- LaTanya Langley, Vice President and General Counsel, BIC
International Corporation, Shelton, CT,
Moderator
| |
11:30 a.m. - 11:45
a.m.
|
Transition Break |
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. |
Luncheon, Presentations, Committee on
Diversity in the Legal Profession Award
Rhythms
Ballroom, 2nd Floor
Introduction
of recipient of Commitee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award
(Wayne J. Lee, Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann, LLC)
- Kim M. Boyle, Phelps Dunbar LLP, New Orleans,
LA
|
Introduction
of Keynote Speaker
- Deidre D. Robert, Southern University System, Baton Rouge,
LA
Chair, Conclave
Subcommittee | |
| 12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. |
Keynote Speaker
(Professionalism)
1.00 CLE credit hour, Rhythms
Ballroom, 2nd Floor
Diversity
and Inclusion: Worth More than Gold
There is compelling
research that diversity increases the competitive advantage of companies,
enhances creativity, and elevates employee engagement. Despite this, there
is still resistance to workplace diversity. Through engaging personal
narratives, Ms. Ghawi shares the many different types of diversity beyond
race and gender and covers its proven benefits. She provides the audience
with tools to enable them to increase diversity in their teams and focus
on attracting, engaging and retaining diverse talent. The audience gains
new understanding of managing resistance, tracking progress, and creating
a climate that celebrates diversity in their company.
- Dima Ghawi, Dima Ghawi LLC, Baton Rouge, LA
|
1:10 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.
|
Networking Break |
1:20 p.m. – 2:20
p.m.
|
Labor and Employment
(Professionalism)
1.00 CLE credit hour, Rhythms
Ballroom, 2nd Floor
#MeToo and Beyond: What Have We Learned And Where
Will We Go?
The #MeToo movement continues to propel a
national dialogue on the importance of recognizing and combating
harrassment in the workplace. What are some of the lessons that employers
have learned about the need for changes in workplace culture? How are
in-house and outside counsel advising their clients on best practices and
approaches to confronting risks and realities? How is the legal community
addressing its own issues around harrassment in the workplace? This
session will delve into each of these dimensions of the movement and
explore the kinds of new thinking and approaches needed to end harrasment
and foster safe and respectful workplaces for all people.
- Jack Chen, Assistant General Counsel for Employment Policy and
Society, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
- Andrea L. Gilliam, CEO, Unwanted LLC, Washington, D.C.
- Jenny R. Yang, Strategic Partner, Working IDEAL, Washington,
D.C.
|
| 2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
Networking
Break
|
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:30
p.m. |
Trending Legal Issues
(Ethics)
1.00 CLE credit hour, Rhythms Ballroom, 2nd Floor
Social Justice:
Ethical Considerations for Change Agents
Lawyers play a
vital role in advancing social justice issues. We constantly ask ourselves
"how we can help" or are asked by others "can we help?" As advocates, we
want to represent underserved communities and champion causes that seem
impossible. Sustainability seems challenging when there is so much work to
be done. This panel will explore what are our legal and moral obligations
as lawyers and as members of society to protect disenfranchised
groups.
- J. Tyler Clemons, Southern Poverty Law Center, New Orleans, LA
- Hon. Royce I. Duplessis, Duplessis Law Firm, LLC, State
Representative, District 93, New Orleans, LA, Moderator
- Alysson L. Mills, Fishman Haygood, LLP, New Orleans,
LA
|
Speaker Biographies
Dignitaries
| Denia S. Aiyegbusi, Deutsch,
Kerrigan, LLP |
Download |
| Deidre D. Robert, Southern University
System |
Download |
| John A. Womble, Frederick A. Miller
& Associates |
Download |
Immigration Breakout Session One
| Dalia Castillo-Granados,
American Bar Association |
Download |
| Laila L. Hlass, Tulane
University Law School |
Download |
| Thomas A. Saenz, Mexican
American Legal Defense and Educational Fund |
Download |
Best Practicies Breakout Session Two
| Sharon Bridges,
Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation |
Download |
| Dominique R. Bright-Wheeler,
Toyota Financial Services |
Download |
| LaTanya Langley, BIC
International Corporation |
Download |
Labor and Employment Session
| Jack Chen, Microsoft
Corporation |
Download |
| Andrea L. Gilliam,
Unwanted LLC |
Download |
| Jenny R. Yang, Working
IDEAL |
Download |
Trending Legal Issues Session
| J. Tyler Clemons,
Southern Poverty Law Center |
Download |
| Hon. Royce I. Duplessis,
Duplessis Law Firm, LLC
|
Download |
|
Alysson L. Mills, Fishman Haygood,
LLP |
Download |