mosaic - Polsinelli

MOSAIC Polsinelli Diversity Newsletter 2016 Fall Review

In this Issue: The Vision of Polsinelli Diversity ........... 2 Professional Impact Community Recognition ...................... 4 Building Community ............................ 5 Attorney Spotlight ................................ 6 Event and Sponsorship Spotlight: Hiring Our Heroes: Helping Military-to-Civilian Transition for Women Veterans ................................. 7 Event and Sponsorship Spotlight: Diversity and Inclusion as a Matter of Business ............................... 8 Event Listing ........................................ 9 Pro Bono Committee John Peterson: Hague Convention and International Child Abduction Act Pro Bono Case ............................. 11 Diversity-Focused Events .................... 12 Pro Bono Case Highlights ................... 12 Women’s Initiative Committee ............ 14 Diversity Committee ........................... 16

Remembering a Legal Pioneer: Grace Day

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n July 13, 2016 Polsinelli lost Grace Steinberg Day, a former firm attorney and a pioneer for women in law, who lead a storied and distinguished legal career. “Grace’s charm and professionalism garnered her many accolades and honors over the years. She was truly aptly named as she was full of grace and style,” said Chairman Russ Welsh. Grace grew up in Onawa, Iowa and went to college at the University of South Dakota. She was a stellar student who competed on the college debate team, and eventually gained admittance to the university’s law school. When she enrolled in 1948, it didn't occur to her she was doing anything unusual. In fact, it wasn’t until Grace arrived at school that she realized how resentful people were toward women attending professional school, including fellow students and even her professors. After World War II, Grace had become the only woman in a law class of 175 men attending the University of South Dakota School of Law. (Continued on page 2)

Future Executives in Health Care - Shaping Diverse Leaders

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ause for a minute to think about the vast changes seen in the health care industry over the last two decades. HIPAA. Managed care. Health care reimbursement. Public policy. Health care technology. These areas and countless others in health care are in a state of dynamic evolution, and they will only continue to morph and grow in the decades to come. Now, pause for another moment to think about the future leaders in health care, particularly diverse leaders, and the critical importance of developing their talents and skills today so that they may lead the health care community in the future. Enter John Bluford, a 40-year health care management executive and founder (Continued on page 3)

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MOSAIC | DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER

2016 Fall Review

Diversity & Inclusion at Polsinelli Vision We maintain a high performing, inclusive organization where all persons can thrive personally and professionally. This is essential to creating the most innovative and agile firm for the benefit of our clients and colleagues.

Core Values The acceptance, pursuit and promotion of diversity and inclusion are core values of Polsinelli. These values inform, enlighten, and shape the strategy and actions that define our business at its essence, allowing us to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of a globally competitive marketplace. We define diversity to include people from various ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and socio-economic backgrounds who offer a mosaic of beliefs, experiences, perspectives and values. It is our belief that diversity is critical to providing unique and creative solutions for our clients’ greatest challenges, and to the benefit of those with whom we work, engage and interact. Polsinelli defines inclusion as the comprehensive, coordinated and complete integration of all diverse persons across the various sectors of our business enterprise as contributors, leaders and agents of change. Ours is a culture that promotes and invites openness, creativity and tolerance for bold thinking and creative ideas.

(Remembering a Legal Pioneer: Grace Day - continued from page 1)

While studying at the university, Grace met her future husband, Milton Day, who had moved there from St. Joseph, Missouri to earn his degree. Milton knew right away she was a beautiful person whom he must ask out on a date. They married in December of 1949 and moved to St. Joseph. Grace passed the Missouri Bar exam in April 1950 and became one of the first women to practice law in St. Joseph. She began her own practice as a court-appointed attorney for indigent clients, and later decided to specialize in family law to provide a voice for women during a time when they were rarely allowed their own. The presence of women in the legal profession was routinely met with the general reaction that women were not fit for the practice of law. But Grace persevered and bucked this trend, becoming a long-sought-after divorce attorney. She joined Watkins, Boulware, Lucas, Miner, Murphy & Taylor in St. Joseph in 1996, which eventually merged into Shughart Thomson & Kilroy in 2002, which combined with Polsinelli in 2009 to become Polsinelli Shughart. Grace was the first female president of the St. Joseph Bar Association in 1973 and was named Missouri Weekly’s Woman of the Year in 2011. She was also honored with a lifetime achievement award by the YMCA for Women in the Workplace. After practicing law for 63 years, Grace decided to retire in October 2013, marking 45 years in her own practice. © 2016 2014 Polsinelli

A documentary titled, “Amazing Grace,” was produced in 2015 about her life and can be found on PBS stations throughout the Midwest. The documentary highlights a recent trip Grace took to her law school, where she discovered that currently 40 percent of the law students are women. In honor of Grace’s retirement in 2013, Polsinelli produced a short video about her life and career; click here to view. Grace was a strong, independent woman who believed women should seek an education so that they may stand on their own two feet. She shattered many glass ceilings in her career and earned a reputation for advancing women´s issues in a manner that should be replicated but will likely never be duplicated.

For Internal Purposes Only

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(Future Executives in Health Care - continued from page 1)

of the Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute (BHLI), a prestigious, intense professional development program for military college sophomores and juniors who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential. Through a series of guest speaker presentations, experiential activities, on-site visits, and internships, the program is designed to expose these diverse participants to today’s global health care environment and to encourage scholars to explore and consider a future career in executive administration. Also enter Polsinelli, which, due to its commitment to shaping the future of the health care industry and its leaders, served as sponsor, host and presenters to BHLI scholars during a one-day program this summer aimed at sharing health care law information. To be sure, there are likely several programs around the country whose aim is to accomplish a goal similar to that of BHLI. There are likely few, however, if any, with the stated goal of shaping future minority leaders, specifically African-American men and women. “With nearly a third of patients in the U.S. being minorities, less than 15 percent of health care management positions are held by minorities, and the pipeline for upcoming talent has been missing African-American representation,” said Bluford. “It’s been my pleasure to mentor students over the last 20 years, however, few of those students have been minorities. My goal is to remedy the disparities in health care for vulnerable individuals by ensuring there is minority representation at the leadership level,” he added.

host to one of the summer day-long sessions are particularly gratifying. “Providing those students with not only knowledge of the health care industry, but also helping them to gain access to leaders in the legal field means the next generation of minority leaders is that much more equipped to make a significant impact on the health care industry,” said Jennings. Polsinelli’s Kansas City office hosted the June 13 session, “Health Law; Federally Qualified Health Centers,” where students from Fisk University, Florida A&M, Morehouse College, and the University of Missouri – Kansas City were in attendance. Of the day’s agenda, observed Bluford, “The addition of Polsinelli to the day’s line-up was fascinating. We want to make sure these students have exposure to health care law, and Polsinelli brought tremendous flavor to the curriculum.” Kansas City Shareholder, Jay Howard was instrumental in orchestrating the day’s events. Polsinelli attorneys Quentin Jennings and Gabe Zorogastua and Senior Policy Advisor Julius Hobson presented on the topics of the Washington landscape and what it means to be a health care lawyer. They were joined by in-house counsel and executive leaders of Kansas City health care institutions who also spoke on various topics impacting the health care space. For more information on the Bluford Health Care Institute, please visit www.blufordinstitute.org.

Approximately four years ago, Bluford fully realized his goal of creating a standalone organization aimed at educating young minority students around the country by formally introducing BHLI, a 501c3 entity. Kansas City Shareholder, Quentin Jennings, provided pro bono legal services to put the wheels in motion to secure nonprofit designation, and his work and the firm’s participation as © 2016 2014 Polsinelli


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Professional Impact Jennifer Growcock Wins Local Primary Election for County Judge Polsinelli Shareholder Jennifer Growcock recently won the Republican primary for the newly created Christian County Circuit Court judge position, a county south of Springfield, Missouri. Approximately 30 percent of registered voters in Christian County turned out for the primary election on August 2, 2016. Jennifer won handily, receiving 8,188 votes, which equals 59 percent of the vote, defeating opponents Kevin Elmer and Tony Brown. "I'm very grateful to everyone in this community who supported me and recognized my qualifications," Jennifer said. "We just worked hard and everybody ran a clean campaign. The amount of support we had from the community was very humbling and amazing." As a shareholder in Polsinelli’s Commercial Litigation practice, Jennifer is well versed in trying cases. She built her reputation trying complex commercial, construction, trust and fiduciary and employment litigation matters in both state and federal courts. She also has built a significant appellate practice in the Missouri Courts of Appeals and Supreme Court. “It is my training, experience and dedication to my career as a lawyer that provide me with the principles, patience and perseverance to decide cases fairly,” Jennifer said. “It is my love of this community and commitment to serve others that compel me to run. My pledge is to use my experience and every ounce of my ability to decide each case carefully and correctly.” Her commitment to the local community is clear through her volunteer service on the Board of Directors of the Kingswood Preschool at her church; the Board of Directors of the Ozark West Elementary School PTA; in her time spent on the committee supporting the Developmental Center of the Ozarks; as a Past President and Board Member of CASA of Southwest Missouri; and time spent on the Planning & Zoning Commission of Fremont Hills. Her campaign emphasized her commitment to the integrity of the law and the people of Christian County. In the heavily Republican Southwest Missouri County, Jennifer is running unopposed in November’s general election. She expects to be sworn in on December 30 in Ozark, Missouri. Jennifer’s dedication to her family, the law, and community over politics has prepared her to take on the duties of judicial office. © 2016 Polsinelli


Several diverse and women attorneys at the firm received recent recognition for their excellence in professional and community activities. Doreen D. Dodson, St. Louis Senior Partner, was presented with a resolution from the Missouri Bar Board of Governors for her 23 years of service to the Missouri Bar and as a delegate to the ABA. Jennifer Growcock, Kansas City Shareholder, was named one of this year’s Springfield Business Journal ‘s Trusted Advisers. Jennifer was honored at the Trusted Advisers Awards luncheon on September 16 in Springfield. Danielle Carr, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, was appointed to the Black Women Lawyers Association of Chicago Scholarship Board.

Mary Jane Judy, Kansas City Shareholder, was selected for inclusion by Ingram’s 40 under 40.

Caitlin Morgan, Dallas Associate, was selected as a 2016 Texas Rising Star. This is an annual list by Super Lawyers and is limited to fewer than 2.5 percent of the young attorneys in Texas. Karen Dickinson, Phoenix Shareholder, was selected by Republic Media in Women’s Who’s Who in Business in the State of Arizona in 2016. (Continued on page 5)

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Building Community The Equity Project Working to Revitalize Local School System A native New Yorker raised on the upper east side of Manhattan, Polsinelli Shareholder Brooks Clark made a commitment to address education issues in disadvantaged communities by joining The Equity Project (TEP) Board of Trustees in 2012. The TEP Charter School opened in September of 2009 in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, which is one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, and is punctuated by fewer than 5 percent of public school students graduating from high school by the time they are 18. It was this challenge Brooks set out to tackle as a member of the Board. “The Equity Project Charter School has a bright future and its mission to provide rigorous and high quality education to New York City’s poorest families will serve this community well,” Brooks said. Shrinking budgets seen by states, cities, and schools have resulted in several state governors extracting whatever dollars they can from groups that support public education. The Equity Project, a privately run but publicly funded charter school is offering teachers $125,000 a year - more than double the national average - to come teach at this groundbreaking school. The school depends on public funding, and TEP is able to pay their teachers well by reallocating resources. Before recent plans for new schools, there were no state-of-the-art facilities, and classes took place in trailers. The money that would go to pay for an assistant principal, a reading specialist and other staff goes towards teachers' salaries. TEP aims to prove that attracting the best and brightest teachers and holding them accountable for results are the essential components to a school's success. The hopes are that this school will become a national model for the future of public education. Currently TEP Charter School seats 480 students in grades 5-8. Recently, TEP set out to expand into an elementary school and will soon open a 120-seat K-4 school. Brooks was vital in negotiating a lease for the newly created K-4 school, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2016. Additionally, Brooks negotiated the school’s expanded use provision to ensure the new school facility will be utilized to it’s full potential. This includes guidelines for cooking on the premises and the right to use the surrounding streets for student entry and exit at the new building. Brooks attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the 60,000-sf building that will house the new middle school, which is expected to open in the summer of 2018. Brooks helped to raise money to fund the facility, and collectively, TEP raised more than $6 million. © 2016 Polsinelli

Mosaic Melissa Ho, Phoenix Shareholder, was selected by the Phoenix Business Journal as a 2016 Outstanding Woman in Business. This year’s winners were recognized at an awards luncheon on April 4 at Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Phoenix. In front of 1,000 leaders at the ceremony, Melissa gave an inspiring speech on diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. She was also featured in the January/February 2016 edition of AZBusiness. She is listed as one of Arizona’s Most Influential Millennials. Sohil Shah, Chicago Associate, was presented an Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service by The United States District Court, in conjunction with the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Gabrielle Ilaria, Kansas City Associate, was profiled in the Winter 2015 Washburn Lawyer alumni magazine. Alexis Angell, Dallas Associate, was accepted into the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers 2016 Leadership Class. The Leadership Program was created to allow an avenue for young lawyers who want to make a difference in their community and the bar. Through an application process, approximately 40 young lawyers are selected to the program each year. Emma Schuering, Kansas City Associate, was recently presented as a member of the Leadership Academy on a service project she submitted. The project included a 12 -week social media campaign for new lawyers. Page 5 of 16

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Attorney Spotlight Motivated Powerlifting Attorney Takes on a New Challenge Fitness centers can sometimes be reminiscent of grade school gym class, with girls on one side and boys on the other. In gyms everywhere, for women who cross that invisible line, it can still feel a bit intimidating even today, and can be a tough barrier to overcome. These social norms, however, did not stop Phoenix Associate Ashley Gleckler from not only crossing that barrier, but taking it to a whole new level. Ashley competed in the USPA Western Warrior Powerlifting Challenge on February 20, 2015, where she squatted 281.1 pounds, bench pressed 126.7 pounds, and deadlifted 347.1 to finish with a 755-pound Master’s total in her weight class. With that great performance, she qualified for a spot to compete at both the National-level and International/World-level Championship meets in 2016. Ashley began powerlifting seriously during her third year of law school. She was originally attracted to it after attending a Powerlifting Club meeting at the University of Iowa with a general interest in strength training. Powerlifting is a physically exerting sport that Ashley quickly fell in love with and has taken seriously for over two years now. She has competed in six different sanctioned and unsanctioned competitions to date. “I find the human body and what it can do, to be amazing – this includes more than just powerlifting. I think it’s amazing © 2016 2014 Polsinelli

when people are Olympic lifters, marathon runners, triathletes, you name it,” Ashley said. Recently, Ashley has been getting involved in charity meets. On July 31, 2016 she competed in an all-women’s charity meet. The entry fees went toward two women’s charities – Hope’s Crossing and EmpowHER Phoenix. There were also raffles for prizes donated by local businesses which raised more than $1,600 for the charities. Click here to watch the video of Ashley lifting at this competition. (https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ZGDMFhhnzig) “It means a lot to me to be involved in these charity meets,” Ashley said. “Because not only does it provide an extra layer of depth to a sport I already love, but it helps a lot of people along the way.” She is heavily involved in fundraising for another charity meet called Relentless Detroit. Relentless Detroit is a 501(c)(3) organization that raises funds for the families of children with life threatening illnesses. The biggest fundraising event of the year for Relentless Detroit is a powerlifting meet. Their motto is that Relentless Detroit connects strong men and women with even stronger children. At the 2015 Relentless Detroit meet, they raised nearly $200,000 for the Relentless families.

traveling to compete in that powerlifting event as well. She is in the process of fundraising, with a goal raising at least $5,000. If you are interested in supporting Ashley in her efforts, please click here or visit https://purecharity.com/ fundraisers/26468/fund. Ashley’s most recent lifting accomplishment is squatting 300 pounds unwrapped, deadlifting 370 and breaking an 800 total, including her bench press for the first time. She currently holds a Master’s level total, but she is extremely close to an Elite level total. Assuming everything goes as planned, she should be able to attain an Elite total at Relentless Detroit in November.

Honors and Distinctions Equality Illinois recognized Polsinelli as a Top Illinois firm for LGBT diversity & inclusion practices.

Their flagship meet will take place in early November and Ashley plans on


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Event and Sponsorship Spotlight Hiring Our Heroes: Helping Military-to-Civilian Transition for Women Veterans The Women’s Initiative Committee hosted a unique event called Women in Finance Support Women Veterans, hosted at Polsinelli’s New York office. "The event was designed to give our female clients an opportunity to connect with and explore opportunities to support female veterans," said Bernadette Herward Davida, a Polsinelli Shareholder who organized the event on behalf of the firm's Women's Initiative Committee. A panel discussion was held in partnership with Mission: Getting to Next (MGTN), a career transition program recognized as the essential first step for women in leadership and senior executive positions in the private, public, not-for-profit and military sectors. The program is designed to aid women military officers who retire or transfer out of the military to transition and integrate into civilian employment at the executive level. Many of the audience members were former Navy, Army and Air Force women who are now working for large companies and support the need for this type of program, and included one young woman who received a purple heart for combat in Afghanistan. "It was an honor to host an event that included such esteemed women from the private, public and military sectors," said Dan Flanigan, Polsinelli’s New York Office Managing Partner. Bernadette spoke about her own military family connection which is why she decided to get involved in the organization. She has a 23-year-old daughter who is a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, and a recent recipient of the Naval and Marine Corp Achievement Medal. Her daughter is a licensed pilot and a surface warfare officer whose next assignment is with the Force Protection Office as an anti-terrorism officer for a warship stationed in Norfolk, VA. Carole Hyatt, Founder/CEO of MGTN, delivered the welcoming remarks to open the evening. The special guest speaker was Retired Army Brigadier General Loree Sutton, MD, who serves under the leadership of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio as the first commissioner of the newly established Department of Veterans' Services. The panel was moderated by Joan Firestone, Executive Director of MGTN, and the panel discussion that followed featured: © 2016 2014 Polsinelli

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Sarah Frank, media consultant, executive producer and Board Co-Chair for MGTN

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Dr. Ellen S. Hurwitz, Ph.D., an award winning professor of comparative medieval and philosophy of history who serves on arts and education boards around the globe

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Eden J. Murrie, Retired Brigadier General, USAF and Director of Government Transformation and Agency Partnerships for the Partnership for Public Service

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L.J. Rittenhouse, CEO of Rittenhouse Rankings, a pioneer in Financial Analytics Research and consulting

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Marianne Watson, Retired US Army Brigadier General, Director of Outreach for Center for America and Board CoChair for MGTN

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Phyllis J. Wilson, Chief Warrant Officer Five and Military Fellow with the Chief of Staff of the Army's Strategic Studies Group

Honors and Distinctions For the second year in a row, Polsinelli has received “Gold Standard Certification” from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for incorporating women into the highest levels of firm leadership. Each year, WILEF takes a hard look at the roles achieved by equity women partners at firms around the country, and awards those firms achieving particular standards with a notable designation. The Gold Standard Certification is the only program of its kind directed toward certifying, publicly recognizing, and broadly publicizing eligible law firms that have integrated women into the highest leadership positions. With eligibility limited to U.S. firms with 300 or more attorneys, only 31 firms nationwide achieved this recognition, down from 44 in 2015 and 49 in 2014. For more information about WILEF and the Gold Standard designation, visit www.wilef.com.


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Event and Sponsorship Spotlight Diversity and Inclusion as a Matter of Business At Polsinelli, diversity and inclusion are an integral part of the firm. From recruiting efforts to firm-wide policy making, Polsinelli is committed to integrating diversity into its organizational construct, strategic plans, and business decisions. But what does the concept of diversity mean to the legal community outside our four walls, and how are other organizations prioritizing diversity and inclusion as a matter of business? Kansas City Shareholder Dan Cranshaw (pictured) recently had an opportunity to join in on this very conversation as a participant during a June 8th panel discussion at the Saint Louis University School of Law. A program presented by Wells Fargo and the Missouri Minority Counsel Program (MCP) and sponsored in part by Polsinelli, the fourth annual Keep Moving Forward with Legal Diversity Summit provided attendees with an opportunity to learn about how organizations are making diversity and inclusion a priority in order to realize transformative organizational and cultural shifts. “One of Polsinelli’s long-term goals is to establish itself as a national leader for affecting positive change in the area of diversity and inclusion in the legal community. Participation on the panel, which included leaders at the national level from firms like Deloitte, was another positive step in that direction, and I’m really glad I was a part of it,” said Dan. This year’s event featured keynote speaker and panel moderator, Jan Anne Dubin, CEO and Principal at Jan Anne Dubin Consulting. Her introductory remarks focused on shaping the framework for law departments and law firms to think about the type of organizational changes that are required to support a diverse workforce. As moderator, she led the discussion on how panelists have transformed their organizations by weaving

© 2016 2014 Polsinelli

diversity and inclusion efforts into the fabric of their cultures, specifically through sponsorship and mentorship, and by considering diversity and inclusion as a business imperative. “Inhouse legal representatives in attendance made it abundantly clear that they value and look for diverse teams to work with on their legal matters and that they consider diversity as a part of their selection process,” said Dan. “Polsinelli and other firms like us are moving in the right direction, but some firms have a head start, so it’s important that we remain focused on the goal,” he added. Following the panel discussion, the 120 attendees had an opportunity to engage in breakout sessions to discuss professional and business development strategies for diverse lawyers and future steps forward to effectuate organizational change. The best learnings, ideas, and principles identified during the breakouts were reported back to the full audience and included an agreement that diverse legal teams are a business imperative; that intentional care needs to be given to mentoring and sponsoring diverse attorneys; and that major corporations want to partner with legal counsel that attracts, retains, and promotes diversity and inclusion. To learn more about this event, please contact Dan Cranshaw at [email protected].

Honors and Distinctions The Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City has elected Polsinelli as “Law Firm of the Year”. The organization typically gives six awards during its annual holiday gathering: Judge of the Year, Woman of the Year, Law Firm of the Year, Special Recognition, AWL Excellence and Public Service. The Association for Women Lawyers promotes the equality of women and others within society in general and within the legal profession in particular.


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Event Listing Missouri Asian American Bar Association’s Unity Dinner St. Louis, MO | April 28, 2016 Polsinelli continues to be a premier sponsor for the St. Louis area’s Unity Dinner. This year’s dinner was a resounding success, as over 280 people from across the St. Louis metro area attended. Attendees to the event included in-house counsel from nearly every major corporation located in St. Louis, including Emerson Electric, Peabody Energy, AT&T, and U.S. Bank. Sponsorship provided Polsinelli with an opportunity to showcase its continued commitment to diversity. Two associates from Polsinelli, Richard Juang and Lilian Doan Davis, serve on the board of directors for the Missouri Asian American Bar Association - showing that Polsinelli’s attorneys are leaders in the St. Louis legal community. Demonstrating leadership in the community increases the chance that major corporations will turn to Polsinelli for their legal needs in the future.

Roseborough (The Home Depot). The panel discussion featured a candid discussion on the surge in the number of black women serving as chief legal officers at many of the nation’s most influential and profitable corporations, and the impact the surge has had on the legal profession and what can be done to replicate the success. Polsinelli was a Silver Sponsor of the event. HNBA Corporate Council Conference LGBT Summit Las Vegas, NV | March 16, 2016 Dallas Shareholder Henry Talavera and Kansas City Associate Gabrielle Ilaria attended the Hispanic National Bar Association’s 7th Corporate Counsel Conference on March 16-19, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Approximately 800 attorneys, including in-house counsel, participated in the conference this year. The HNBA’s Corporate Counsel Conference also held its first-ever HNBA LGBT Summit, which Polsinelli sponsored. The Summit featured a roundtable panel of national LGBT and Latino leaders on Latino/ a LGBT rights and a workshop to frame the national agenda for leadership and advocacy among Latino/a LGBT professionals. Over 60 attorneys attended the Summit. Polsinelli was a sponsor of the HNBA’s September 2016 Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois, where it participated in the convention’s career fair and interviewed summer associate candidates. (Continued on page 10)

Black Women Lawyers Association of Chicago Spring Scholarship Luncheon - Chicago, IL | April 22, 2016 Tony Nasharr, Danielle Carr and invited guest Peggy A. Davis, Chicago Community Trust Executive Director, attended the annual Black Women Lawyers Association of Chicago Spring Scholarship Luncheon on April 22, 2016. The theme of the luncheon was The Rise of the Black Female GC and featured a panel discussion by General Counsels Dorothy Capers (National Express), Denise Cade (IDEX Corp.), Aisha Christian (Rent the Runway), Gail Sharps Myers (Snyder’s-Lance) and Teresa © 2016 2014 Polsinelli


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Event Listing (continued from page 9)

13th Annual CelebrASIAN Awards Gala Kansas City, MO | May 9, 2016 Polsinelli was a proud sponsor of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City’s (AACC) 13th Annual CelebrASIAN Awards Gala, which was held on May 9, 2016. This year, Polsinelli’s Chairman and CEO, Russell Welsh, served as the Honorary Chair of the event, and provided opening remarks. Polsinelli attorneys and firm clients attended the annual Gala, which honors the accomplishments of local Asian Americans in business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and professional leadership. This year’s keynote speaker was Juju Chang, an Emmy award-winning co-anchor of the ABC News show Nightline. Ms. Chang also reports regularly for Good Morning America and 20/20. In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of this year’s award recipients, attendees were inspired by Ms. Chang’s remarks where she shared her personal stories and commentary regarding race, gender equality and the importance of building community relationships. SABA Conference Houston, TX | May 12, 2016 Polsinelli attorneys Shanti Katona, Ajay Sharma, and Khurram Naik attended the South Asian Bar Association of North America’s annual conference in Houston from May 12-15. Attended by nearly 300 professionals, the conference brought together South Asian in-house attorneys, outside counsel, and government employees from all across North America. Polsinelli attorneys will continue to support SABA for the meaningful opportunities to strengthen and develop new relationships within the South Asian bar. Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) St. Louis, MO | June 26, 2016 Polsinelli Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Danielle Carr, Practice Chair Keith Grady and other members of the St. Louis office showed support for gay rights by joining forces and marching with the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) at the St. Louis Gay Pride Parade. (pictured right and top right) © 2016 2014 Polsinelli

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA) Kansas City, MO | July 13, 2016 On July 13, Polsinelli’s KC office hosted a meeting of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. The bar’s president, Litigation Department Chair Russ Jones, KC, and executive director Vickie Schatz met with presidents or representatives from five KC area diversity bar associations, including the Hispanic Bar Association (represented by Gabe Zorogastua, Polsinelli KC), the Jackson County Bar Association, Association for Women Lawyers, the Asian American Bar Association, and KC Legal, the affinity bar association for LGBTQ lawyers in the KC area. The meeting explored what diversity bars are doing and ways that KCMBA can provide support for their efforts through donating physical resources such as meeting space and staff assistance, as well as monetary resources and promotional opportunities to help the diversity bars communicate with their members and the legal community at large.


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Polsinelli’s Pro Bono Committee

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Pro Bono Activities

William D. Blakely Commercial Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Commercial Litigation

John Peterson: Hague Convention and International Child Abduction Act Pro Bono Case

Leane K. Capps

Insurance Recovery Litigation

Labor & Employment Litigation

Stacy A. Carpenter

Jay M. Dade Corporate and Transactional

Troy B. Froderman Financial Services Litigation

Quentin L. Jennings Antitrust

Paula S. Kim Financial Services Litigation

Dennis D. Palmer

Robert J. Selsor


Polsinelli recently accepted a case from the United States Department of State to represent a Mexican citizen in a matter under The Hague Convention and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act (ICARA). The purpose of the two remedies is to secure the proper return of children wrongfully removed to, or retained in, any participating state and ensure that rights of custody and of access under the law of one participating state are effectively respected by the other participating state. Polsinelli represented a Mexican citizen, whose wife unexpectedly absconded to Tennessee with their five-year-old daughter in June, 2015. The father and mother are both Hispanic and the mother fled while her husband was at work so that she could be with her boyfriend in Tennessee. There was no evidence of domestic abuse of any kind. After two trips to the United States, he was unable to convince his estranged wife to return to Mexico with the child. Devastated by the loss of his daughter, he initiated proceedings under the Hague Convention to secure her return home to Mexico. A passionate Polsinelli team including Nashville Shareholder John Peterson, Nashville Associate Michael Malone and Phoenix Associate Monica Thompson, along with Elizabeth Wagner from the Department of State, worked collaboratively to meet all the requirements under The Hague Convention and ICARA.

John Peterson Commercial Litigation

Michael Malone Commercial Litigation

Monica R. Thompson Commercial Litigation

We are pleased to report that on April 27, 2016, after extensive testimony at a hearing in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, Judge Aleta A. Trauger granted our client’s petition and ordered that the child return home to Mexico with him that same evening. Michael Malone demonstrated impressive advocacy skills in his first court appearance since law school.



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Events Several Polsinelli offices around the country hosted, sponsored or attended Diversity-focused events: Grow Globally Tucson Fair March 15, 2016 Phoenix, AZ

Inner City Law Center Annual Awards Luncheon sponsorship June 2, 2016 Los Angeles, CA

Go Formal For Freedom - Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network March 18, 2016 Atlanta, GA

Equal Rights Advocates 2016 Gala Luncheon sponsorship June 8, 2016 San Francisco, CA

Phoenix Committee On Foreign Relations (PCFR) 40th Anniversary Event March 11, 2016 Phoenix, AZ AZ State Bar Diversity Convention sponsorship April 1, 2016 Phoenix, AZ

PracticePro’s Inaugural Chicago Career Conference sponsorship June 10, 2016 Chicago, IL Mexican Consul Farewell Event June 10, 2016 Phoenix, AZ South Asian Bar Association of Delaware’s Speaker Series called SCOTUS: An Insider’s Perspective June 14, 2016 Wilmington, DE Moderated by Shareholder Shanti Katona. (pictured left and below)

Chinese Ambassador Reception April 12, 2016 Phoenix, AZ 2016 Lambda Legal AZ sponsorship April 12, 2016 Phoenix, AZ Asian American Bar Assoc. Scholarship & Installation Banquet sponsorship April 14, 2016 Phoenix, AZ Law Foundation of Silicon Valley Celebration of Justice sponsorship May 18, 2016 San Francisco, CA Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity 1L scholars program May 19, 2016 Richmond, VA West Coast Liberty Awards sponsorship June 2, 2016 Los Angeles, CA © 2016 2014 Polsinelli

Metro Phoenix Export Alliance’s Going Global with Exporting Event June 16, 2016 Phoenix, AZ (Continued on page 13) For Internal Purposes Only


2016 Fall Review


Ryan M. McAteer Financial Services Litigation

PRO BONO CASE HIGHLIGHT: Ryan McAteer (LA-AS) and Mike Cutler (KC-SH) successfully argued and won asylum for their pro bono client, Wilson Sagastume, before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. At age 17, Wilson escaped Guatemala with his younger brother after a series of threats and attacks against his family. He is now be able to legally reside in the United States and plans to learn English and attend college.

Health Care

Environmental

PRO BONO CASE HIGHLIGHT: Andrew Stanley (PHX-AS) took on a pro bono landlord-tenant matter that was weeks away from trial. The client signed a lease with an unscrupulous landlord. The apartment the client leased was uninhabitable and, despite complaints and Andrew C. Stanley pleas, the landlord did nothing to fix the problems. After lawfully vacating the apartment, the landlord sued him for unpaid rent and other baseless claims. With little time to prepare, Andrew drafted a disclosure statement accompanied by a hammer letter that (within days of its receipt) resulted in a settlement. Andrew’s efforts were singularly responsible for saving this family from a judgment that would have possibly ruined them financially.

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Michael P. Cutler

(Continued from page 12)

Filipino Bar Association of Northern California’s 36th Annual Installation Dinner sponsorship June 14, 2016 San Francisco, CA

KC Chamber of Commerce Power of Diversity Breakfast sponsorship July 27, 2016 Kansas City, MO 2016 Equality Illinois Raising the Bar Breakfast July 29, 2016 Chicago, IL Polsinelli was recognized as a Top Illinois firm for LGBT diversity & inclusion practices.

Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Annual Pathways Conference & Diversity Gala, honoring former US Attorney Eric Holder, the firm sent two attendees to the event. July 11, 2016 Washington, D.C.

Mexican Consul General Reception August 18, 2016 Phoenix, AZ

AZ Mexico Commission Luncheon July 11, 2016 Phoenix, AZ 91st Annual National Bar Association Convention July 16-22, 2016 St. Louis, MO Polsinelli sponsored and Danielle Carr served on the planning committee for the Youth Enrichment Program; Dan Cranshaw, Latrice Lee, Alexia Noble, Elton Dean, Kirra Jones, Danielle Carr and Jon Otto attended the convention. Danielle Carr received the NBA Presidential Award. (NBA Convention pictured center.) (Youth Enrichment Program pictured right.) © 2016 2014 Polsinelli



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2016 Fall Review

Polsinelli’s Women’s Initiative Committee The Polsinelli Women’s Initiative is committed to providing opportunities, education, mentoring and support to the firm’s women attorneys to promote their personal and professional development, advancement, leadership and well-being, both within and outside the firm.

Several Polsinelli offices hosted or sponsored womenfocused events: The Phoenix Business Journal's Outstanding Women in Business April 4, 2016 Phoenix, AZ Women in India: Between Tradition and Modernity, hosted by Randye Soref at Brandeis University April 11, 2016 Los Angeles, CA

Tiffany J. Andersen Insurance Recovery

Alexis Angell Health Care Litigation

Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) Litigators Forum sponsorship April 21, 2016 Los Angeles, CA

Jane E. Arnold Health Care

LA Women's Initiative Committee Spring Event May 17, 2016 Los Angeles, CA

Brook M. Bailey Real Estate

Dani Barnard Chief Recruiting Officer

Anne Cherry Barnett Labor & Employment

Celebrating Women in Business—Mix, Mingle and Muddle April 28, 2016 Dallas, TX Association for Corporate Growth’s Women in Business May 19, 2016 Phoenix, AZ WLALApalooza 2016 Annual Fundraising Festivities sponsorship June 9, 2016 Los Angeles, CA

Carol Barnett Labor & Employment

Allison Berey Chief Marketing Officer

Jeanie Botkin Director of Professional Development

Continued on page 15...

Rebecca N. Cain Commercial Litigation


Anne E. Callenbach Energy

Association for Corporate Growth’s Women Wine Tasting Event June 14, 2016 Dallas, TX YWCA Metro St. Louis Walk a Mile in Her Shoes sponsorship August 18, 2016 St. Louis, MO (pictured right)




2016 Fall Review

Mosaic

Leane K. Capps Commercial Litigation

J. Danielle Carr Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Bernadette Herward Davida Real Estate

Lauren P. DeSantis–Then Gov’t Investigations & Compliance

Gemma L. Descoteaux Corporate & Transactional

Kate J. Doty Science & Technology

Kimberly K. Enders Real Estate Finance

Jennifer L. Evans Health Care

Angela E. Fones Products Liability & Toxic Tort

Kara M. Friedman Health Care

Anne Frohock Regional Marketing Manager

Karen R. Glickstein Labor & Employment

Elizabeth T. Gross Labor & Employment

Virginia C. Gross Nonprofit Organizations

Jennifer R. Growcock Commercial Litigation

Bragg E. Hemme Health Care

Shanti M. Katona Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring

Dawn M. Lurie Labor & Employment

Lauren E. Tucker McCubbin Insurance Recovery

Mary T. McKelvey Products Liability & Toxic Tort

Susan Henderson Moore Public Policy

Deborah Murphy Marketing Director

Tara A. Nealey Science & Technology

Elizabeth L. Phillips Labor & Employment

Lisa Greer Quateman Cap Markets | Commercial Lending

Allison A. Schaper Environmental Litigation

Julie A. Shroyer Senior Policy Advisor—Public Policy

Randye B. Soref Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring

Emily Wey Health Care

Judy Yi Labor & Employment




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2016 Fall Review

Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Pictured from top left:

Dan E. Cranshaw

Michael A. Williamson

Quentin L. Jennings

Chair and Chief Diversity Officer Commercial Litigation Kansas City

Corporate and Transactional Kansas City

Science and Technology Kansas City

Attorney Representatives:

Amanda Katzenstein

Judy Yi

Science and Technology Washington, D.C.

Labor and Employment Kansas City

Anthony J. Nasharr

Administrative Leaders:

Cecelia K. Carroll

Products Liability & Toxic Tort St. Louis

Ana I. Christian Health Care Los Angeles

Melissa S. Ho

White Collar Defense and Government Investigations Phoenix


Real Estate Finance Chicago

Dani Barnard

Chief Recruiting Officer Washington, D.C.

Michael F. Patterson

Corporate and Transactional Phoenix

Michael D. Pegues

Jodie Hughey

Chief Human Resources Officer Kansas City

Intellectual Property Litigation Dallas


Jeanie Botkin

Director of Professional Development Kansas City

J. Danielle Carr

Director of Diversity & Inclusion St. Louis

Cristy Johnson

Director of Firm-wide Legal Recruiting Kansas City

Deborah Murphy

Marketing Communications Director Kansas City
