Diversity in the News

Rebecca Rodrigues Appointed to the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania Board of Directors

On November 13, Rebecca Rodrigues was appointed to the Board of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania (HBAPA) and will also be serving as the Vice President of Communications. Rebecca was also appointed to the Board of the HBAPA Legal Education Fund and will be serving as the Secretary. The HBAPA is a professional organization composed of members of the Bar and law students of Hispanic ancestry as well as other interested persons. The HBAPA was founded to provide a forum for Hispanic and other lawyers who are interested in effecting change in our communities. The HBAPA Legal Education Fund is a non-profit organization that raises money to award financial assistance to Hispanic law students at Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware law schools.

Stradley Ronon Hosts Inclusion Forum For Its Associates and Counsel

On November 13, 2019, the firm's Diversity Committee hosted an inclusion forum for all associates and counsel. At this forum, nearly forty attorneys addressed questions regarding diversity and inclusion issues and formulated recommendations for best practices. Those issues included what actions the firm could take to make Stradley a truly inclusive environment, how to best encourage all firm attorneys to participate in diversity and inclusion discussions and initiatives, and what actions can be taken to best support attorneys who have a need for leave and who return from leave. The results of this forum - and recommendations for best practices - will be presented to firm management in January 2020.

Chairman William R. Sasso and Partner Deborah Hong Recognized by Philadelphia Business Journal’s Best of the Bar Awards

Stradley Ronon Chairman William R. Sasso and Partner Deborah Hong have been recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as recipients of the Best of the Bar Awards. William R. Sasso has been inducted into “Best of the Bar: Hall of Fame” to honor his outstanding 47-year legal career and commitment to making those around him embrace the things that matter most. Deborah Hong was selected as a “Best of the Bar: Philadelphia’s Top Lawyers” recipient in the corporate category for her recent achievements and the impact of her work.

Danielle Banks Named to Lawyers of Color Inaugural Nation's Best List

Stradley Ronon Partner Danielle Banks has been named to the Lawyers of Color’s inaugural Nation’s Best list, which recognizes leading attorneys with a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Lawyers of Color is a nonprofit devoted to promoting diversity in the legal profession and advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities.

Craig Blackman Co-Chairs and Moderates at National Flood Conference

Stradley Ronon Partner Craig R. Blackman served as an organizing co-chair and moderator for the National Flood Conference from June 2-5 in Washington, DC. Blackman’s panel, entitled, “NFIP Legal Issues” discussed recent trends in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) litigation, including the status of the litigation from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and the 2016 Louisiana flooding.

Craig Blackman Moderates Business Insurance America’s Emerging Risks and Innovation Summit

Stradley Ronon Partner Craig R. Blackman served as a moderator for Business Insurance America’s Emerging Risks and Innovation Summit on May 14 in New York. The panel, “Tip of the Iceberg: Proactive Risk Mitigation in the Age of Climate Change,” showcased recent innovations in risk management and underwriting to best protect against the drastic implications of climate change. The panel comprised of Mathew Mampara, Associate Vice President, Dewberry; Robert Petrilli, President, Underwriting Division AmWINS Group, Inc.; and Peter Sousounis, VP and Director of Climate Change Research, AIR Worldwide.

Stradley Ronon Hosts Tribe 12 Annual Fellowship Launch Night

Stradley Ronon recently hosted more than 200 attendees at the 9th Annual Fellowship Launch Night on behalf of Tribe 12 on May 14 in Philadelphia. The Fellows pitched their ventures on stage, and networked with seasoned and up-and-coming entrepreneurs. The Tribe 12 Fellowship is a leadership experience for individuals that are dedicated to personal growth, enriching our communities, and making Judaism their own. Stradley Ronon Partner Craig R. Blackman is a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee, and is a founding member and vice president of Tribe 12.

Stradley Ronon Hosts Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Luncheon

On May 9, 2019, Stradley hosted more than twenty attorneys for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity luncheon in our Philadelphia office. The agenda focused on personal and organizational goals in hierarchical and team-driven work environments. Attendees included attorneys from PPL, Exelon, Comcast, PNC Bank, TD Bank, Prudential, Cigna, Eli Lilly and Morgan Lewis, and LCLD’s President, Robert Grey.

Kristen Gibbons Feden and Elizabeth Kuschel Named to the 2019 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Classes of Fellows and Pathfinders

Stradley Ronon Associates Kristen Gibbons Feden and Elizabeth Kuschel have been selected to participate in the 2019 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity program as representatives of Stradley Ronon. Ms. Feden was named to the LCLD Fellows, a landmark program created by LCLD to identify, train, and advance the next generation of leaders in the legal profession. Ms. Kuschel was named to the LCLD Pathfinders, a program designed by LCLD to train high-performing, early-career attorneys in critical career development strategies including leadership and the building of professional networks. Since 2013, Stradley Ronon has been an active member of LCLD, a growing organization of more than 300 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners who are personally committed to creating a truly diverse legal profession.

Stradley Ronon and Kristen Gibbons Feden Host Judicial Candidate, Virgil B. Walker

On January 30, 2019, Stradley Ronon Associate Kristen Gibbons Feden had the pleasure of hosting Virgil B. Walker, Candidate for Judge in Montgomery Country Court of Common Pleas in Stradley Ronon's Philadelphia office. Over the course of the night, supporters heard from Ms. Feden, who spoke about Mr. Walker's achievements and qualifications to serve as judge for Montgomery County.

Shawn Hendricks Appointed to Justice Rising Advocates Committee

Shawn Hendricks on JRA Committee

On October 16, Shawn Hendricks was appointed to the executive committee of Justice Rising Advocates. JRA – the young professionals’ development organization of Community Legal Services, Inc. – uses substantive, service, and networking opportunities to engage young Philadelphians by broadening their understanding of CLS’s work and why advocacy is crucial to the fight for access to justice for all.

Stradley Hosts Inclusion Social For All Attorneys

Stradley Inclusion Social October 2018

On October 25, 2018, the Stradley Women Attorneys and Stradley Diversity Committee hosted an inclusion social in the café of the Philadelphia Office. The social was one in a series of events designed to encourage the entire firm - attorneys, support staff, and management - to continue in their support of the firm's diversity and inclusion efforts. The next event in the series is the inclusion lunch hosted by associates Elizabeth Kuschel and Chelsea Biemiller. The topic will be their recently published article, "Improving the Discourse Between Women Associates and Their Firms."

Rebecca Cabrera Awarded Scholarship from the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania

Hispanic Bar Association

On October 17, 2018, the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania awarded Rebecca Cabrera with one of its annual Legal Education Fund scholarships. Ms. Cabrera, a third-year law student at the Charles Widger School of Law at Villanova University, will be joining Stradley Ronon in the fall of 2018 as an associate in the Investment Management department. The Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania Legal Education Fund hopes these scholarships will not only promote the success of Latino law students, but also attract more Latino lawyers to practice in Pennsylvania.

Kristen Gibbons Feden Nationally Recognized for Her Role in the Bill Cosby Trial

Kristen Gibbons-Feden

Kristen Gibbons Feden was interviewed and profiled by several media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS and MSNBC discussing her role in the successful prosecution of Bill Cosby and his recent sentencing. These stories cover Ms. Feden's experience as a prosecutor for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office and how she secured a verdict against Bill Cosby.

Elizabeth Kuschel and Chelsea Biemiller Co-Author Article on Improving the Discourse Between Women Associates and Their Firms

Chelsea Biemiller and Elizabeth Kuschel

Elizabeth Kuschel and Chelsea Biemiller co-authored an article in The Legal Intelligencer regarding the discourse between women associates and their firms. In this article, they discuss the need for more women associates to make equity partner and the ways women can better achieve this goal. To read the article, click here.

Kristen Gibbons Feden Delivers Keynote Address at Victim Rights Law Center Gala

Kristen Gibbons Feden served as the keynote speaker at the Victim Rights Law Center’s 2018 Shining Star Gala. Ms. Feden, the special prosecutor in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault re-trial and recent conviction, also received the leadership award. All proceeds go toward advancing the mission of VRLC: to provide free, comprehensive legal services for survivors of sexual violence to help them rebuild their lives, and promote a national movement committed to seeking justice for each and every rape and sexual assault victim.

Gretchen Santamour Speaks at Annual Celebration for the Education Law Center

On September 28, 2018, Gretchen Santamour spoke at the Education Law Center’s Annual Celebration. The celebration raised funds to support ELC’s mission to ensure access to a quality public education for all children in Pennsylvania. Ms. Santamour currently serves as president of the ELC board and is committed to executing the organization’s mission for quality public education.

Kristen Gibbons Feden Praised by Andrea Constand for Work in Cosby Trial

Kristen Gibbons Feden and Andrea Constand

Kristen Gibbons Feden was lauded by Andrea Constand in an impact statement made after a verdict was secured in the Bill Cosby Trial. Ms. Constand thanked Ms. Feden for her perseverance throughout the trial and her passion for justice for victims of sexual assault.

Deb Hong Receives Most Powerful & Influential Women of Philadelphia Award

Deborah Hong Most Powerful & Influential Woman of the Year

Deb Hong was recently recognized with the Most Powerful & Influential Women of Philadelphia Award at the 9th Annual Philadelphia Diversity & Leadership Conference on September 6. This annual event is held to educate and create local dialogue on diversity and inclusion and to celebrate the wide array of differences in our communities.

Dean Krishna Joins Stradley's Tax Practice Group

Dean Krishna Joins Stradley Ronon

Dean Krishna, who focuses his practice on domestic and international income tax matters, has joined Stradley’s Philadelphia office as counsel from Dechert. Mr. Krishna advises on U.S. and international mergers and acquisitions, acquisition financing, syndicated lending arrangements, securities offerings, structured finance transactions, business restructurings, and general domestic and cross-border tax planning.

Ellen Rosen Rogoff Authors Article on Age Discrimination in the Workplace

Ellen Rosen Rogoff authored an article in Recruiting Trends & Talent Tech detailing how to limit workplace age discrimination claims and retain older workers. Her article discusses methods to promote age equality such as managerial training, diverse employee task forces and training sessions for new procedures and technologies.

Cheri Johnson Appointed to DiverseForce Board Development Cohort

Cheri Johnson was named to DiverseForce’s 2018-2019 board development cohort. Ms. Johnson is an associate at Stradley in the Investment Management department, and serves on the diversity committee. DiverseForce specifically trains mid- to senior-level professionals of color on the ins and outs of nonprofit board leadership over seven months and are matched with board placement opportunities at the end of the program.

Craig Blackman Co-Chairs and Moderates 2018 National Flood Conference

Craig Blackman at the National Flood Insurance Program

Craig Blackman served as organizing co-chair and moderator at the National Flood Conference. His panel discussed national flood claims issues and lessons learned from the 2016 and 2017 hurricane seasons. Craig is a nationally recognized authority on the National Flood Insurance Program, and focuses his practice on a variety of insurance industry issues.

2019 Summer Associate Chris Hirokawa Awarded Diversity Scholarship

Christopher J. Hirokawa Receives Diversity Scholarship

Second to right: Christopher J. Hirokawa

Stradley Ronon and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania announced Temple University Beasley School of Law student Christopher J. Hirokawa as the recipient of the 2019 Stradley/APABA-PA Diversity Scholarship. Hirokawa will join the firm as a summer associate in May 2019, splitting his time between Stradley Ronon and firm client Macquarie Investment Management, a global asset manager headquartered in Philadelphia. In addition to the paid summer associate position, Mr. Hirokawa will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Craig Blackman Co-Presents on Cyber Threats and Basic Security at Convocation 2018

Craig Blackman at Convocation 2018

Craig Blackman co-presented at Convocation 2018 in Minneapolis. Craig, and his co-presenter Jana Landon, spoke about cyber threats and basic security for religious institutions. Their presentation detailed how to identity and quantify cyber incidents, build a cost-effective management plan and evaluate cyber insurance to cover any potential losses.

Kristen Gibbons Feden Discusses Child Protection Laws at NALS Conference

On June 4, 2018, Kristen Gibbons Feden presented at the NALS Pennsylvania Annual Conference discussing global child abuse and the need for local solutions. She explained the need for laws that protect children and adults against perpetrators and the role local law enforcement and advocacy agencies play to further protect children.

Mark Greer Promoted to Partner in Investment Management Practice Group

Mark Greer promoted to partner

On May 5, 2018, Mark Greer was promoted to partner in the investment management practice group at our Chicago location. Mark concentrates his practice on representing registered investment companies, independent board members and registered investment advisers on a broad range of regulatory and compliance matters.

Elizabeth Kuschel Co-Authors Article in Insurance Coverage Law Report

Elizabeth Kuschel authors in FC&S Legal

Elizabeth Kuschel co-authored an article in Insurance Coverage Law Report regarding this year’s potential regulatory changes for the life insurance industry. In this article, Elizabeth and her co-authors, Steve Davis and Bill Mandia, discuss the future of DOL’s fiduciary rule and its impact on life insurance sales.

Kristen Gibbons Feden Profiled for Her Role in the Bill Cosby Trial

Kristen Gibbons Feden and Bill Cosby trial

Kristen Gibbons Feden was profiled by several news outlets for her role in the successful prosecution of Bill Cosby, including CNBC, Essence, The London Times and The National Law Journal. These stories cover Kristen’s experience as a prosecutor for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office and how she secured a verdict against Bill Cosby.

Stradley Ronon Hosts Panel Presentation on Diversity

Lawrence Dietrich, Brian Seaman, Denise Zamore, Jerel Hopkins

On April 26, 2018, Stradley Ronon welcomed firm clients Lawrence Dietrich (Liberty Coke, far left), Denise Zamore (United HealthCare) and Jerel Hopkins (Macquarie) to speak to both the partnership of the firm and the Stradley diversity committee on how to become leaders in creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all attorneys. The panel was moderated by Brian Seaman, the chair of Stradley’s diversity committee. A similar panel presentation will be presented to the associates of the firm in the Summer of 2018.

Stradley Ronon Welcomes Its 2018 Summer Associates

Stradley Ronon Summer Associates 2018

Stradley Ronon recently hosted its 2018 summer associates for a reception in its Philadelphia office. The reception included a question and answer session regarding the summer program and provided an opportunity for the students to mingle with the Hiring Committee and with other members of the firm. Pictured are Stradley Ronon’s 2018 summer associates (from left to right): Stephen LaChine, Linh Nguyen, Cameron Redfern, Rebecca Cabrera, John Dikmak, Jr., Aliza Khan, and Tanin Kazemi. Not pictured is Julie Rafatpanah Tamerler.

Joe Nguyen Receives Leadership Excellence Award

Nguyen Excellence in Leadership Award

Stradley Ronon Partner Joe N. Nguyen was recently recognized with the Leadership Excellence Award at the 8th Annual Philadelphia Diversity and Leadership Conference on Aug. 31 in Philadelphia. The awards recognize a “select group of individuals from diverse fields who exhibit exceptional leadership qualities” and “exceed the scope of what is expected in their organizations and communities.” Nguyen also spoke on the panel, “Leading with Emotional Intelligence,” which discussed the characteristics of emotional intelligence and why emotional intelligence is important for leaders.

Stradley Ronon Attorneys Attend National LGBT Bar Conference

Counsel Brian P. Seaman and Associate Corey S. D. Norcross attended the meeting of the National LGBT Bar (Lavender Law) in San Francisco, CA from August 2-5, 2017. Highlights of the conference included sessions regarding successes in the civil rights movement over the past eight years, where our nation stands in the fight for LGBT, racial, and ethnic equality, and how best to create an inclusive environment for LGBT attorneys and employees in the law firm setting.

Stradley Ronon Sponsors 2017 Barristers' Annual Awards & Scholarship Gala

Barristers Gala Event

Stradley Ronon sponsored the 2017 Barristers' Annual Awards & Scholarship Gala at the Warwick hosted by the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia, Inc. The Gala awards scholarships to current law students, and presents awards to current judges and practitioners for distinguished service. Recipients of this year's awards were Vernon Francis, Esq., the Honorable Gregory Smith, and the ACLU of Pennsylvania. Danielle Banks, Elizabeth Kuschel, Shawn Hendricks attended from Stradley Ronon, along with summer Associates Taurien Buffaloe, Shareda Coleman, and Sara Mohamed.

Deborah Hong Moderates Asian Pacific American Bar Association Panel on Women in the Legal Profession

Hong APABA PA

Stradley Ronon Partner Deborah Hong moderated an Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania panel on May 18 in the firm’s Philadelphia office. The panelists for “Leaning into Success: Words of Wisdom from APA Women in the Legal Profession” included Jannie Lau of InterDigital, Sophia Lee of Blank Rome, Jennifer Lin of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Grace Manno of Qlik and Stella Tsai of Archer & Greiner.

Hong, co-chair of Stradley Ronon’s corporate & securities practice group, counsels public and private companies in business transactions, including domestic and cross-border acquisitions and restructurings. She also provides general corporate counseling for large institutional clients, as well as closely held businesses. Additionally, she is the former president and a current executive committee member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania, and is also a trustee of the Board for the Center for Literacy.

Brian Seaman Selected to Participate in Bloomberg Big Law Business Diversity Symposium

Bloomberg Law Bloomberg Big Law Business Diversity Symposium

On May 11, 2017, Stradley Ronon Diversity Chair, Brian Seaman, attended the Big Law Business Diversity Symposium at the headquarters of Bloomberg Government in Washington, D.C. This symposium convened in-house counsel from some of the most prestigious businesses in the United States with senior lawyers from major law firms to share ideas and inspire immediate and meaningful improvements to diversity in their legal representation. Highlights of the symposium included success stories from general counsel from Fannie Mae, Capital One, and Verizon and a workshop designed to inspire accountability.

Seaman is currently Stradley Ronon’s Diversity Chair and is an experienced products liability and commercial dispute attorney with significant trial experience. He was a 2013 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity program, and was honored by The Legal Intelligencer both in 2012 as a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” and in 2015 as one of only 23 Pennsylvania “Diversity Attorneys of the Year.” Seaman was also named by the Philadelphia Business Journal as “40 Under 40” in 2014 and by the National LGBT Bar as one of its “Best LGBT Attorneys Under the Age of 40” in 2015, an award given to only 40 attorneys in the United States each year.

Stradley Ronon Hosts Reception for Judge Stella Tsai

On April 25, 2017, Stradley Ronon hosted a reception for the Honorable Stella M. Tsai. Judge Tsai was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in June 2016 and assigned to the criminal trial division. Judge Tsai is running for election to the bench in her own right in 2017. When elected, Judge Tsai will be only the third Asian-American elected to a judicial position in the Commonwealth. The event was hosted by Stradley Ronon partner Deborah Hong.

Adriel Garcia Honored at Al Dia's Emerging Lawyers Awards Luncheon

Stradley Ronon Associate Adriel J. Garcia was recognized at Al Día News’Emerging Lawyers Luncheon held on Jan. 12 at the Pyramid Club in Philadelphia. The awards honored the region’s top Latino Lawyers and recognized how their professional accomplishments have contributed to diversity in Philadelphia. The event, which was hosted by City Solicitor Sozi Tulante, highlighted the contributions of seven talented Latino lawyers in Philadelphia who have made a difference in their organizations through their excellent legal work and commitment to supporting the advancement of Latino attorneys.

Garcia focuses his practice on general litigation matters, including securities enforcement, securities and business litigation, and employment law. He assists in the representation of public companies, investment companies and advisers, broker-dealers and individuals in connection with examinations, investigations, and enforcement actions by federal and state regulators and industry self-regulatory organizations. Garcia is also a member of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group and the Stradley Ronon Diversity Group.

Prufesh Modhera Speaks at Annual ICI Mutual Risk Management Conference

Stradley Ronon Partner Prufesh R. Modhera spoke at the annual ICI Mutual Risk Management Conference on April 6 in Charleston, South Carolina. His panel, “The Times They Are A-Changin’: The New Presidential Administration and the Mutual Fund Industry,” discussed White House communications, SEC rulemaking and the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule.

Modhera’s practice includes counseling investment companies, investment advisers and independent directors on complex securities law issues arising under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940. He assists in responding to SEC inquiries and provides advice to boards of directors on various governance issues. Modhera counsels sponsors and investment advisers in forming and structuring private investment funds including domestic and offshore hedge funds, funds of hedge funds and private equity funds.

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