Leadership
WBA Committees and Forums
Interested in becoming a co-chair? Please fill out this form and if you have any questions please email admin@wbadc.org.
Committees
20+ Years of Expertise Committee
Co-Chairs: Nancy Kuhn
Email: 20plus@wbadc.org
The 20+ Years of Expertise Committee provides programming focused on women who are veterans in the legal profession and are experts in their area of practice.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Amicus Committee
Co-Chairs: Monica Milton, Sarah Mugmon, Ana Jara, Susannah Merritt
Email: amicus@wbadc.org
The Amicus Committee supports the law that promotes issues important to women.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Career Development and Mentoring Committee
Co-Chairs: Debra Friedmann, Dina Broydo, Cheryl Howard, Lori Parris
Email: careermentoring@wbadc.org
The Career Development Committee focuses on networking, career enhancement, career alternatives, and job search techniques. The Committee focuses on providing career-enhancing opportunities and information.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Career Toolkit Committee
Co-Chairs: Bridget Richardson, Debra Friedmann, Jenny Bi
Email: careertoolkit@wbadc.org
Community Projects Committee
Co-Chairs: Sara Tennen, Kiara Anthony
Email: communityprojects@wbadc.org
The Community Projects Committee provides a vehicle for attorneys to assist local community organizations through fundraising and volunteer service efforts.
Diversity Committee
Co-Chairs: Lesa Lawrence, Kate Neville, Aaron Szot, Sabrina Argentieri, Chris Costa
Email: diversity@wbadc.org
The Diversity Committee promotes greater inclusion of ethnically, religiously, LGBT, 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.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Executive and Judicial Endorsements Committee
Co-Chairs: Grishma Pradhan, Caroline Ostro, Raquel Trabal, Rachel Hardwick
Email: endorsements@wbadc.org
The Executive and Judicial Endorsements Committee carefully evaluates candidates seeking WBA’s endorsement, focusing on the candidates’ qualifications, integrity, communications skills, temperament, experience, scholarship and commitment to the concepts of equal opportunity and equal justice under the law.
History and Archiving Committee
Co-Chairs: Jennifer Mammen
Email: historyarchiving@wbadc.org
Membership Committee
Co-Chairs: Jen Mika, Roya Vasseghi, Jennifer Mammen, Ana Jara, Nasar Ali, Kate Mueting, Michelle Webster, Sameena Kluck, Kevin Shehan
Email: membershipcomm@wbadc.org
WBA Salons
Co-Chairs: Paige Gold, Sarah Mugmon
Email: salons@wbadc.org
Well-Being Committee
Co-Chairs: Taylor Harrison, Brooke Welch, Danielle Hart, Sarah Ahmad, Gaffar Chowdhury, Samantha Sloane
Email: wellbeing@wbadc.org
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Women in Public Service/Politics
Co-Chairs: Bayliss Fiddiman, Nancy Kuhn, Grishma Pradhan
Email: womeninpolitics@wbadc.org
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Working Parents/Lawyers at Home Committee
Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Cassady, Gabrielle Machewski, Charise Naifeh
Email: workingparentslah@wbadc.org
This committee provides working parents with informative programs that will further parents’ ability to balance family and career obligations. Forum 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 Lawyers at Home portion of this group advances the interests of lawyers who have presently turned all, or a significant portion of their attention, from career to family.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Young Lawyers Committee
Co-Chairs: Emily Lagan, Ashley Bouchez, Chiara Resta
Email: younglawyers@wbadc.org
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Forums
Antitrust Law Forum
Co-Chairs: Sophie Meadows, Tram Nguyen, Amy Griggs, Melanie Hallas Kirsch
Email: antitrust@wbadc.org
Business, Tax & Financial Regulatory Forum
Co-Chairs: Lorren Patterson, Alexandra Serber, Aisha Smith, Ananta Saxena
Email: businessforum@wbadc.org
Employment Law Forum
Co-Chairs: Kelle Kruse, Deborah Foster, Inna Brady
Email: employmentlaw@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.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Energy, Environmental & Science Law Forum
Co-Chairs: Kathryn Caballero, Laura Yaffe, Christina Bonanni
Email: energyenvironmentlaw@wbadc.org
The Energy and Environmental 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.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Government Attorneys Forum
Co-Chairs: Kevin Shehan, Susannah Merritt
Email: governmentattorneys@wbadc.org
The Government Attorneys Forum 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.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Healthcare & Life Sciences Law Forum
Co-Chairs: Olivia Robinson, Karen Goldstein, Lois Liu
Email: healthscience@wbadc.org
In-House Counsel Forum
Co-Chairs: Lisa Brown, Meg Inomata, Elizabeth Roman Jones, Laura Hunt, Colleen Snow
Email: inhouse@wbadc.org
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
International Law Forum
Co-Chairs: Amy Lyons, Gabriela Arce, Debra Friedmann, Anne Cox, Jinling Wang, Nudrat Pirachi
Email: internationallaw@wbadc.org
Law & Technology Forum
Co-Chairs: Colleen Yushchak, Jigna Dalal, Christy Weisner, Tracy Drynan, Lesa Lawrence, Carrie Betts
Email: lawtechnology@wbadc.org
Law Student Leadership Forum
Co-Chairs: Amy Lyons, Lauren Talbert, Kevin Shehan, Jacquelyn Sherman, Patricia Davison-Lewis
Email: studentleadership@wbadc.org
Litigation Forum
Co-Chairs: Steve Jarreau, Ana Jara, Britt Biles
Email: litigation@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.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Non-Profit Organizations Practice Forum
Co-Chairs: Betsy Harned, Catherine Hedgeman, Linda Goldwyn
Email: nonprofitorgs@wbadc.org
The Non-Profit Organization Practice Forum 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 forum 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 forum 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.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
Solo and Small Practice Forum
Co-Chairs: Pratibha Agarwal, Amy Norris
Email: solosmall@wbadc.org
The Solo and Small Practice Forum 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.
Click here for a message from the 2021-2022 co-chairs.
WOC Taskforce
Co-Chairs: Yolanda Hawkins-Bautista, Chris Costa, Patricia Davison-Lewis
Email: womenofcolor@wbadc.org