The 2015 Women's Power Summit on Law and Leadership, organized by the Center for Women in Law, took place from April 15 to 17, 2015, in Austin, Texas. This invitation-only event convened preeminent women in the legal profession, including general counsel, judges, law firm managing partners, government officials, law school deans, and state bar presidents, to discuss and promote leadership and change within the legal industry.
The summit's theme, "Using Power for Change," focused on guiding senior industry leaders in leading change and thriving in a rapidly evolving environment. Participants explored strategies to achieve critical objectives such as parity in compensation and advancement to executive positions through real-life examples from business, academia, government, and law practice.
Notable speakers included Sara Martinez Tucker, CEO of the National Math + Science Initiative; Cheryl Mills, Founder and CEO of the BlackIvy Group; Cokie Roberts, political commentator for ABC News; Brooksley Born, retired partner of Arnold & Porter LLP; and Sheila C. Bair, former Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The event also featured interactive breakout sessions, leadership luncheons, and a Legacy Dinner at the LBJ Presidential Library, providing ample networking opportunities for attendees.
The summit was particularly beneficial for women leaders in the legal profession seeking to drive change within their organizations and the broader industry. Attendees gained valuable insights into effective leadership strategies, networked with peers at the pinnacle of their careers, and engaged in discussions aimed at advancing women in law.
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Speakers(55)
Anastasia D. Kelly
Co-Managing Partner (Americas) at DLA Piper
Anastasia D. Kelly is the Co-Managing Partner (Americas) at DLA Piper and former Vice Chairman of AIG, overseeing global legal and regulatory functions.
Arleas Upton Kea
Brooksley Born
Retired Partner at Arnold & Porter LLP
Brooksley Born is a retired partner of Arnold & Porter LLP, where she led the firm's derivatives practice and served as chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 1996 to 1999.
Caren Ulrich Stacy
Founder at Legal Talent Lab and OnRamp Fellowship
Caren Ulrich Stacy is the Founder of Legal Talent Lab and OnRamp Fellowship, and an Adjunct Professor at Denver College of Law.
Catherine Lamboley
Retired Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Shell Oil Company
Catherine Lamboley is the retired Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Shell Oil Company, a native of Monroe, Wisconsin.
Catherine Robb
Counsel at Haynes and Boone, LLP
Catherine Robb is Counsel at Haynes and Boone, LLP and Founder and Board Member of the LBJ Library Future Forum.
Cheryl Mills
Founder and Chief Executive Officer at BlackIvy Group
Cheryl Mills is the founder and CEO of BlackIvy Group, a values-driven investment company building enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Cokie Roberts
Political Commentator at ABC News
Cokie Roberts was a political commentator for ABC News and NPR, providing analysis for network news programming.
Cynthia D. Mares
President at Hispanic National Bar Association
Cynthia D. Mares is the President of the Hispanic National Bar Association.
Deborah Epstein Henry
Founder at Flex-Time Lawyers LLC
Deborah Epstein Henry is an expert on new legal models, women's issues, and work/life balance, and founder of Flex-Time Lawyers LLC.
Deborah Gillis
Former President & Chief Executive Officer at Catalyst Inc.
Deborah Gillis is the former President and CEO of Catalyst Inc., inspired by advocates for gender equality in the Canadian constitution.
Dr. Larry Richard
Founder and Principal Consultant at LawyerBrain LLC
Dr. Larry Richard is the Founder and Principal Consultant at LawyerBrain LLC, advising law firms on leadership and change management.
Elizabeth K. McCloy
Partner at Sidley Austin LLP
Elizabeth K. McCloy is a Partner at Sidley Austin LLP.
Gloria Santona
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at McDonald’s Corporation
Gloria Santona is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at McDonald’s Corporation.
Heidi D. Lewis
Vice President & Group General Counsel – Corporate at Dynegy Inc.
Heidi D. Lewis is the Vice President & Group General Counsel – Corporate at Dynegy Inc.
Jami Wintz McKeon
Chair at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Jami Wintz McKeon is the Chair of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
Jane C. Sherburne
Chair, Board of Directors at National Women’s Law Center
Jane C. Sherburne is the Chair of the Board of Directors at the National Women’s Law Center and former Senior Executive Vice President at Bank of New York Mellon.
Janet B. Wright
Vice President, Corporate, Securities and Finance Counsel & Assistant Secretary at Dell
Janet B. Wright is the Vice President, Corporate, Securities and Finance Counsel & Assistant Secretary at Dell.
Janice L. Block
Chief Legal and Administrative Officer at Kaplan, Inc.
Janice L. Block is the Chief Legal and Administrative Officer at Kaplan, Inc.
Jerry Clements
Chair at Locke Lord LLP
Jerry Clements serves as Chair of Locke Lord LLP, an international law firm, and is one of the few women heading a top 100 law firm in the country.
Jessie Kornberg
CEO at Bet Tzedek
Jessie Kornberg is the CEO of Bet Tzedek, a nonprofit organization providing free legal services to low-income individuals.
Jin Y. Hwang
President-Elect at National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Jin Y. Hwang is the President-Elect of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
JoAnne A. Epps
Dean and Professor of Law at Temple University Beasley School of Law
JoAnne A. Epps is the Dean and Professor of Law at Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Joan C. Williams
Distinguished Professor of Law at University of California Hastings College of Law
Joan C. Williams is a Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of the Center for WorkLife Law, reshaping debates over women's advancement.
Karen Popp
Partner at Sidley Austin LLP
Karen A. Popp is a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, global co-chair of the White Collar Practice group, and a member of the firm's Executive Committee.
Kim Koopersmith
Chair at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Kim Koopersmith is the Chair of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
Kimberly Leach Johnson
Firm Chair at Quarles & Brady
Kimberly Leach Johnson is the Firm Chair of Quarles & Brady, recognized as a top attorney in Southern Florida and a leader in the legal profession.
Lauren Stiller Rikleen
President at Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership
Lauren Stiller Rikleen is a nationally recognized expert on developing a diverse and multi-generational workforce, conducting workshops and speaking at conferences.
Linda Addison
Immediate Past U.S. Managing Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright
Linda Addison is the Immediate Past U.S. Managing Partner and Chair of the U.S. Management Committee at Norton Rose Fulbright.
Linda Bray Chanow
Executive Director at Center for Women in Law
Linda Bray Chanow is the Executive Director of the Center for Women in Law, leading national conversations on gender equity in the legal profession.
Linda Szymanski
Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Shell Oil Company
Linda Szymanski is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Shell Oil Company.
Louise M. Parent
Of Counsel at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Louise M. Parent is Of Counsel at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and former Executive Vice President and General Counsel at American Express Company.
Lynne Liberato
Partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP
Lynne Liberato is a Partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP.
Maggie Wilderotter
Executive Chairman, Board of Directors at Frontier Communications
Maggie Wilderotter is the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Frontier Communications.
Marissa C. Wesely
Global Fellow at Global Women’s Leadership Initiative, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Marissa C. Wesely is a Global Fellow at the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Mary L. Smith
President at National Native American Bar Association
Mary L. Smith is the President of the National Native American Bar Association.
Michele Coleman Mayes
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at The New York Public Library
Michele Coleman Mayes serves as Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at The New York Public Library, guiding its legal strategy.
Milana L. Hogan, Ed.D.
Chief Legal Recruiting and Professional Development Officer at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Milana L. Hogan, Ed.D., is the Chief Legal Recruiting and Professional Development Officer at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.
Pamela J. Meanes
President at National Bar Association
Pamela J. Meanes is a partner at Thompson Coburn and the first African American elevated from associate to partner in the firm's history.
Patricia K. Gillette
Partner at Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP
Patricia K. Gillette is a partner at Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP, co-founder of the Opt-In Project, and focuses on employment law.
Paula Davis-Laack, JD, MAPP
Founder & CEO at Davis Laack Stress & Resilience Institute
Paula Davis-Laack, JD, MAPP, is the Founder & CEO of the Davis Laack Stress & Resilience Institute.
Paulette Brown
President-Elect at American Bar Association
Paulette Brown is the President-Elect of the American Bar Association.
Rachel Moran
Dean and Michael J. Connell Distinguished Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law
Rachel Moran is the Dean and Michael J. Connell Distinguished Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law.
Rangita de Silva de Alwis
Associate Dean of International Programs at University of Pennsylvania Law School
Rangita de Silva de Alwis is the Associate Dean of International Programs at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School.
Roberta D. Liebenberg
Senior Partner at Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C.
Roberta D. Liebenberg is a senior partner at Fine, Kaplan and Black, focusing on class actions, antitrust, and complex commercial litigation.
Roberta Lang
Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel at Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Roberta Lang is the Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel at Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Sally E. Blount
Dean at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Sally E. Blount is the Dean of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Sara Martinez Tucker
CEO at National Math + Science Initiative
Sara Martinez Tucker is the CEO of the National Math + Science Initiative, an organization dedicated to improving student performance in STEM subjects.
Scott Westfahl
Faculty Director, Executive Education at Harvard Law School
Scott Westfahl is the Faculty Director of Executive Education at Harvard Law School.
Sheila C. Bair
Chairman at Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (2006-2011)
Sheila C. Bair served as Chairman of the FDIC from 2006 to 2011, overseeing the agency during a tumultuous period in the banking system.
Shemin V. Proctor
Partner at Andrews Kurth LLP
Shemin V. Proctor is a Partner at Andrews Kurth LLP.
Susan L. Blount
Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Prudential Financial, Inc.
Susan L. Blount is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Prudential Financial, Inc., and served as the Summit Chair for the 2015 Women's Power Summit.
Teresa Wynn Roseborough
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at The Home Depot, Inc.
Teresa Wynn Roseborough is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at The Home Depot, Inc.
Veta T. Richardson
President & CEO at Association of Corporate Counsel
Veta T. Richardson is the President and CEO of the Association of Corporate Counsel, the world's largest bar association for in-house counsel.
Ward Farnsworth
Dean at The University of Texas School of Law
Ward Farnsworth is the Dean of The University of Texas School of Law, previously teaching at Boston University law school.
Event Details
- Date
- April 15-17, 2015
- 3 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 Austin, United States
- Four Seasons Hotel
- Audience
- Women leaders in the legal profession, including general counsel, judges, law firm managing partners, government officials, law school deans, and state bar presidents.
- CLE Credits
- Texas 6.5 (1 ethics); additional states pending.