WBA Committees, Subcommittees & Forums

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Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee, established in June 2021, was created to consider how the WBA could more consistently and effectively advocate on behalf of its members within the tenets established in the WBA mission statement.  The overall goals of the Advocacy Committee are to ensure effective synergy of advocacy channels and recommend programming to promote progress for women.

Co-Chairs: Candace Beck, Rachel Hardwick
Email: advocacy at wbadc.org

Subcommittees

The Amicus Subcommittee supports the law that promotes issues important to women.

Co-Chairs: Susannah Merrit, Monica Milton, Sarah Mugmon

Email: amicus at wbadc.org

Co-Chairs: Fara Gold, Linda Goldwyn, Rachel Hardwick
Email: legislative at wbadc.org

Co-Chairs: Kiara Anthony, Mary Blatch, Kerri Castellini
Email: outreach at wbadc.org

Co-Chairs: Upnit Bhati, Elisabeth Doyle, Bridgette Stumpf
Email: strategic at wbadc.org

Diversity Committee

The Diversity Committee promotes greater inclusion of ethnically, religiously, LGBTQIA, and culturally diverse women attorneys at all levels of the legal profession by offering programs to address issues related to real and perceived barriers to advancement, and the unique challenges that diverse women attorneys face daily. We will accomplish this through heightening awareness and promotion of the intrinsic value that women from diverse backgrounds offer.

Co-Chairs: Lesa Lawrence, Ananta Saxena, Aaron Szat
Email: diversity at wbadc.org

Subcommittees

Engagement Committee

The Engagement Committee is responsible for developing and implementing recruitment and retention campaigns, and to ensure WBA members have avenues for engagement with the association.

Board Chair: Bridget Richardson
Board Members: Anne Collier, Ana Jara, Emily Lagan, Michelle Webster
Co-Chairs: Nasar Ali, Kate Mueting, Sameena Safdar
Email: engagement at wbadc.org

Subcommittees

Co-Chairs: Claire Esmonde, Paige Gold, Patty Jaron
Email: salons at wbadc.org

Co-Chairs: Gaffar Chowdhury, Charise Naifeh, Samantha Sloane
Email: wellbeing at wbadc.org

This Subcommittee provides working parents with informative programs that will further parents’ ability to balance family and career obligations. The Subcommittee addresses issues such as flexible work schedules, time management, communication between genders, and networking, all from the perspective of the busy working parent.

Programs also provide parents with opportunities to exchange information and ideas for successfully balancing their many responsibilities. The co-chairs recognize that work as a parent takes all different forms and we strive to present opportunities to parents who are full-time or part-time caregivers to remain connected to the WBA through our activities.

Co-Chairs: Inna Brady,Gabrielle Majewski, Rose Whelan
Email: workingparentslah at wbadc.org

The Young Lawyers Subcommittee is committed to fostering connections amongst the WBA’s junior members. The Subcommittee’s networking events and informative programs are aimed at providing an environment for young women lawyers to form relationships and gain skills that are particularly useful in the early years of their legal careers.

Co-Chairs: Zuka Chuka-Obah, Chiara Tondi Resta, Jacquelyn Sherman
Email: younglawyers at wbadc.org

Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development Committee focuses on networking, career enhancement, career alternatives, and job search techniques. The Committee focuses on providing career-enhancing opportunities and information.

Co-Chairs: Dina Broydo, Debra Friedmann, Tamara Kraljic
Email: professionaldevelopment at wbadc.org

Subcommittees

The Government Attorneys Subcommittee is intended to promote the discussion of issues that are of interest to female attorneys who work for Federal, state, and local governments, including employees of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The forum offers government attorneys opportunities to discuss pertinent issues, professional development, educational programs about government employment and benefits, and informational sessions for attorneys interested in government employment.

Co-Chairs: Patricia Davison-Lewis
Email: governmentattorneys at wbadc.org

The In-House Counsel Subcommittee is responsible for planning programs to help advance in-house practitioners in their professional roles and provide informational programs on corporate matters. This Committee provides WBA members working in in-house roles an opportunity to share best practices, participate in substantive presentations, and create and expand a social and professional network. The Subcommittee also provides venues to help answer questions that other WBA members interested in transitioning to the in-house role might have.

Co-Chair: Elizabeth Roman Jones, Tara Emory
Email: inhouse at wbadc.org

The Non-Profit Organization Practice Subcommittee promotes the discussion of issues that are of interest to attorneys who represent non-profit organizations and attorneys who serve as in-house counsel for the organizations. The mission of the sub-committee is to address the often unique legal needs of the many non-profits in the DC area-which range from large educational institutions, to business trade groups, to charitable foundations. The sub-committee offers substantive programs on the legal issues affecting non-profits and also offers networking opportunities for lawyers who work for or represent clients in the non-profit sector.

Co-Chairs: Linda Goldwyn, Catherine Hedgeman, Betsy Harned
Email: nonprofitorgs at wbadc.org

Co-Chairs: , Jessica Nam, Aisha Smith
Email: privatepractice at wbadc.org

The Solo and Small Practice Subcommittee offers its members an opportunity to network with others who have similar professional interests. Activities include a Referral/Resource List, programs on how to get started in a solo practice, how to move a new practice from your home to an office, how to develop your client base, how to organize an office, how to hire an assistant, and much more.

Co-Chairs: Pratibha Agarwal, Jacqueline Nguyen, Amy Norris
Email: solosmall at wbadc.org

The Women in Public Service/Politics Subcommittee encourages and educates women regarding the opportunities that are available in the public arena.  The Subcommittee’s prior programs have included panel discussions about leadership and career development, the Presidential appointment process, and how to survive the highs and lows of running for political office.

Co-Chairs: Bayliss Fiddiman, Nancy Kuhn
Email: womeninpolitics at wbadc.org

Endorsements Committee

The Endorsements Committee makes recommendations for endorsements to the WBA Board following a complete investigation of candidates seeking endorsement by the WBA. The WBA’s principal goal in endorsing qualified candidates for executive positions in the District of Columbia and federal governments and in bar associations is to increase the number of qualified women in those positions. Click here to learn more.

Co-Chairs: Rachel Hardwick, Grishma Pradhan
Email: endorsements at wbadc.org

Forums

Co-Chairs: Amy Griggs, Melanie Hallas Kirsch, Tram Nguyen
Email: antitrust at wbadc.org

The Employment Law Forum plans programs to advance the professional development of practitioners in the substantive areas of labor, employment, and employee benefits law, as well as to educate them on litigation practice and procedure issues. This committee provides the members of the WBA working in these areas an opportunity to share topical information, participate in substantive presentations, and create a social and professional network.

Co-Chairs: Kelle Kruse, Erin Schiffman
Email: employmentlaw at wbadc.org

The Energy, Environment & Science Law Forum plans programs to advance the professional development of practitioners in the substantive areas of environmental law and to educate them on environmental litigation, regulatory counseling, and enforcement. The Forum also provides informational programs on energy laws, regulations, and policies. This committee provides WBA members working in these areas an opportunity to share topical information, participate in substantive presentations, and create and expand a social and professional network.

Co-Chairs: Christina Bonanni, Kathryn Caballero, Laura Yaffe
Email: energyenvironmentlaw at wbadc.org

The International Law Forum plans programs to advance the professional development of practitioners in the substantive areas of both public and private international law, as well as to educate them on alternative methods of international dispute resolution and international rule and policy making. The Forum also provides opportunities to foster international collaboration and mentorship. This committee provides WBA members working in these areas an opportunity to share topical information, participate in substantive presentations, and create and expand a social and professional network.

Co-Chairs: Nudrat Piracha, Jinling Wang
Email: internationallaw at wbadc.org

The Law & Technology Forum plans programs to advance the professional development of practitioners in the areas of data and legal technology.  This Forum promotes discussion and learning relating to changes in technology that will impact the future of law. The mission of the Forum is to educate our members about developments in legal technology while strengthening the connections of our members.

Co-Chairs: Jigna Dalal, Emily Thomas
Email: lawtechnology at wbadc.org

The Litigation Forum offers programs designed to develop the skills of both novice and experienced litigators and to provide opportunities to socialize with members of the judiciary and other attorneys. Programs address topics such as effective discovery techniques, trial preparation, and practice, the use of jury consultants, computer technology for litigation, and issues facing women litigators.

Co-Chairs: Serafina Concannon, Rosemary Loehr
Email: litigation at wbadc.org