Continuing the dream, advocating for the future
44TH ANNUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE WESTERN REGION BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION SEATTLE, WASHINGTON JANUARY 11-15, 2012
NATIONAL BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION 1225 11th Street. N.W., Washington, DC 20001 Chibundu Nnake NATIONAL CHAIR
January 1, 2012
Antoine Floyd NATIONAL VICE-CHAIR Alisha Burgin NATIONAL SECRETARY Erica Johnson NATIONAL TREASURER Riean Norman NATIONAL DIRECTOR-FREDERICK DOUGLASS MOOT COURT COMPETITION Chioma Chukwo NATIONAL DIRECTOR-THURGOOD MARSHALL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION Lizeth Lewis NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING Keven Leveille NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE Abre’ Conner ATTORNEY GENERAL Sheila Isong MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CHAIR Rodney Robbins, Jr. MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAIR Kendra Brown NORTHEAST REGIONAL CHAIR Elizabeth Humphrey ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL CHAIR Jamie Davis SOUTHERN REGIONAL CHAIR Chalak Richards WESTERN REGIONAL CHAIR Chris Hollins NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL MANAGAEMENT Lorraine Young EXTERNAL CHIEF OF STAFF Jomaire Crawford INTERNAL CHIEF OF STAFF Lisa Thelwell NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS T. Isadora Huntley NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Anitra Raiford NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP Ijeoma Okolo NATIONAL CONVENTION COORDINATOR Ademola Adewale-Sadik NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE RELATIONS Antonette Jefferson NATIONAL SOCIAL ACTION CHAIR Etienne Toussaint NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS COMPETITION Julie Wenah NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT Crystal Ikanih NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Nathan Williamson NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE PRE-LAW DIVISION Teleicia Rose NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT
Greetings WRBLSA, On behalf of the National Executive Board, I extend a warm welcome to the Western Regional Convention of the National Black Law Students Association. For more than forty years, NBLSA has prepared law students for the challenges they may face in the legal profession while reinforcing the importance of remaining committed to our communities. As we strive to uphold our tradition of excellence and service, we honor our rich legacy and reaffirm our dedication to the development of tomorrow’s talented, involved black attorneys. This year is no different, as NBLSA strives to continue “Building Pipelines for the Future. Today, we face declining African American law school enrollment; tomorrow, there will be fewer African American attorneys to serve as advocates and social engineers. It is imperative that we continue to encourage students to pursue a career in law. Under the leadership of Chalak Richards and the Regional Executive Board, the Western Region has made key strides in the development of stronger pipelines throughout the west including the formation of new prelaw chapters, reinstitution of old law school chapters, and addition of brand new law school chapters. The Western Region has not only addressed these important concerns, but also been instrumental in the admission of many of our other National Initiatives and Programs including CBC Weekend and our Charles Hamilton Houston Leadership Retreat. The National Board was also blessed to have an opportunity to host a reception in San Francisco in November where we were able to meet and interact with many of our Bay Area brothers and sisters. The passion in the West in evident and we need a new generation of committed students to carry the mantle for WRBLSA into the future. The members of the Western Regional Executive Board have worked hard to deliver a convention experience that is meaningful, motivational, and memorable. You will have the opportunity to experience their efforts firsthand as you participate in rewarding workshops, competitions, and networking events. I encourage you to take advantage of all the opportunities the Western Regional Convention has to offer as we come together in Seattle, Washington. I look forward to enjoying the convention with you and hope to see you again at our 44th Annual National Convention in Washington DC from March 7-11, 2012. The convention will be the culminating event of a year dedicated to building pipelines to legal education, through law school, and to the practice of law. Thank you again for your support and the wonderful opportunity to work with the nation’s most talented law students. It has truly been a privilege and pleasure to serve as your National Chair. Best Regards,
Pia Winston NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIAN Yvesner Zamar NATIONAL HISTORIAN Charles Tucker, Jr., Esq. NATIONAL MOOT COURT ADVISOR A.J. Cooper, Esq. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
Chibundu Nnake Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law National Chair, 2011-2012 National Black Law Students Association
WESTERN REGION NATIONAL BLACK LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION ALASKA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, HAWAII, IDAHO, NEVADA, OREGON, WASHINGTON
Chibundu Nnake NATIONAL CHAIR Chalak Richards WESTERN REGIONAL CHAIR Pepperdine University School of Law Erin Lovelace REGIONAL SECRETARY Southwestern University School of law Edward Brown REGIONAL PARLIAMENTARIAN University of California, Davis, School of Law Kia Hayes SOUTHERN SUB-REGIONAL DIRECTOR University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law Ashley Ray NORTHWEST SUB-REGIONAL DIRECTOR University of Idaho School of Law Celia Smalls REGIONAL CONVENTION COORDINATOR University of Washington School of Law Christopher Beckom REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE RELATIONS Western State University School of Law Alana Penn REGIONAL PRE-LAW STUDENT DIRECTOR University of California, Davis School of Law Cowanis Duckett REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE University of Oregon School of Law
Greetings WRBLSA! On behalf of the WRBLSA 2011-2012 Executive Board, I warmly welcome you to the 44th Annual Regional Convention of the Western Region Black Law Students Association. We are excited to host this year’s convention in Seattle, Washington. We anticipate a robust and fulfilling convention. WRBLSA is one of the most diverse regions of the National Black Law Students Association, and this year we have developed programming reflecting this diversity. All of this programming has led to our most anticipated event – our Regional Convention. This year, our convention programming has been organized around the theme, “Continuing the Dream: Advocating for the Future.” We have worked to create a convention that urges each of you to reflect on the dreams of our forerunners in the practice of law, evaluate the ways in which those dreams have remained unrealized, and most importantly, recognize the myriad of opportunities that exist for each one to advocate for a more perfect future. The Regional Board has worked tirelessly this year to meet our board vision of building a foundation of professionalism, developing a culture of excellence, and leaving a legacy of achievement. We are here to serve you and ensure that you have a great WRBLSA experience. I urge each of you to take a moment to greet our board members. Thank you for your continued support of WRBLSA. It is an honor to serve as your Regional Chair. In WRBLSA love, Chalak Richards Pepperdine University School of Law Western Regional Chair, 2011-2012 National Black Law Students Association
2011-2012 Western Regional Board
Chalak Richards
Edward Brown
Pepperdine University School of Law
University of California, Davis, School of Law
REGIONAL CHAIR & REGIONAL MOCK TRIAL DIRECTOR
REGIONAL PARLIAMENTARIAN
Erin Lovelace
Southwestern Law School REGIONAL SECRETARY
Ashley Ray
University of Idaho College of Law NW SUB-REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Cowanis Duckett
University of Oregon School of Law REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
Christopher Beckom
Western State University College of Law REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE RELATIONS
Kia Hayes
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law SOUTHERN SUB-REGIONAL CHAIR
Celia Smalls
University of Washington School of Law REGIONAL CONVENTION COORDINATOR
Alana Penn
University of California, Davis, School of Law REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF PRE-LAW DIVISION
CONFERENCE AGENDA Wednesday, January 11, 2012 5:00pm–7:00pm
Registration
Compass Foyer, 3rd Floor
7:00pm–8:00pm
Moot Court information session Mock Trial information session
North Room, 3rd Floor East Room, 3rd Floor
Thursday, January 12, 2012 Executive Conference Room, 4th Floor Executive Conference Room, 4th Floor
8:00am-5:00pm
Registration
8:00am–9:00am
Breakfast
8:00am–until
FDMC Competition - Preliminary Rounds
(Schedule Provided to Competitors)
9:00am–until
TMMTC Competition - Preliminary Rounds
Seattle University School of Law
12:00pm–1:30pm
Lunch on own
Suggested: Pike Place Market
2:00pm–3:30pm
Plenary Session #1 (Officer and Chapter Reports)
Municipal Room, B Level
3:45pm
Attendees will meet in lobby of hotel at 3:45 pm to walk over to Stoel Rives
4:00pm–5:00pm
Health Care Law & the Black Community
Tony Miles, Stoel Rives & Chris Alston, Foster Pepper will provide insight into building a practice in health care law. 5:00pm–7:00pm
Networking Reception
8:00pm
Space Needle – Optional Outing
Stoel Rives, PLLC 600 University St, Suite 3600
Stoel Rives, PLLC 600 University St, Suite 3600
Friday, January 13, 2012 8:00am–5:00pm
Registration
8:00am–8:30am
Breakfast on own
8:30am
Transportation to Seattle University
9:00am 9:30am–11:00am
TMMTC Competition - Preliminary Rounds A Conversation with Andrew Young
Compass Foyer, 3rd Floor
Seattle University School of Law Seattle University School of Law
Meet a Civil Rights Pioneer & Former Mayor of Atlanta 11:00am
Transportation to Madison Renaissance Hotel
11:30am–1:00pm
Community Service Event featuring Loyal to Life Students
1:00pm–2:00pm
Lunch on own
2:15pm–3:30pm
Legal Education & the Black Community
Spring Room, 4th Floor
East Room, 3rd Floor
CONFERENCE AGENDA
A Panel Featuring Professor William Covington of University of Washington School of Law, Connie Proctor of Vandeberg Johnson Gandara and Jamila Johnson of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt 3:45pm–4:45pm
Plenary Session #2 (Announcement of Candidates, Floor Nominations)
South Room, 3rd Floor
5:00pm–7:00pm
WRBLSA Reception
Salon A, 2nd Floor
Informal Networking Reception Saturday, January 14, 2012 8:00am–9:00am
Breakfast
Compass Foyer, 3rd Floor
8:00am–until
TMMTC Competition - Final Round
(Schedule Provided to Competitors)
9:00am–until
Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition - Final Round
9:00am–10:15am
African Americans in the Judicial System
East Room, 3rd Floor
Featuring Amena Jefferson, Deputy Prosecutor. King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and Robert Flennaugh, Criminal Defense Attorney 10:30am–11:45am
Careers in Sports & Entertainment Law
East Room, 3rd Floor
12:00pm–1:30pm
Luncheon: The Guide to Becoming a Minority Partner
Visions Room, 28th Floor
Featuring Felix Gavi Luna, Peterson Young Putra 2:00pm–5:30pm
Plenary Session #3 (Speeches and Elections)
South Room, 3rd Floor
6:00–7:00pm
Cocktail Hour
Salon AB, 2nd Floor
7:00pm–9:30pm
Gala Dinner & Competition Awards
Salon AB, 2nd Floor
Honoring the accomplishments of WRBLSA chapters, competitors and our community. Keynote Speaker: Paula Boggs 10pm
Chair’s Welcome
Sunday, January 15, 2012 9:00am–1:00pm
Breakfast Board Meeting for Appointed & Elected Regional Officials
East
Keynote Speaker Paula Boggs Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary Starbucks Corporation
Paula Boggs leads the Law & Corporate Affairs department, advising a wide range of Starbucks partners (employees) on legal and business issues. Since joining Starbucks in September 2002, she has been passionate about hiring and nurturing partners to grow, develop and reach their potential. Inquisitive by nature, she believes that by being curious she will learn about those she leads, understand differences and successfully work through issues that begin as challenges but ultimately result in creating a better solution. Paula’s legal career began in 1984 as a United States Army officer assigned to the Pentagon. She also worked as a staff attorney for the White House before leaving the service in 1988. From 1988 to 1994, Paula served as assistant United States attorney in the western district of Washington State and was responsible for prosecuting fraud and regulatory crimes before trial and appellate courts. Paula was a partner at Preston Gates & Ellis in Seattle, one of the premier, full-service law firms in the country, recognized for its expertise in technology, intellectual property and complex business transaction issues, as well as governmental and public policy work. During her tenure with the firm from 1995 to 1997, Paula was a trial lawyer specializing in corporate civil litigation. Prior to joining Starbucks, Paula served as Dell Computer Corporation’s Vice President, Legal for Products, Operations and Information Technology Systems from 1997 to 2002. She also supported the Audit Committee of Dell's board of directors. Paula is an active volunteer in both legal and civic organizations. She serves as a Washington State Delegate to the ABA’s House of Delegates, as Chair of the Audits, Compliance and Insurance Committee of the Johns Hopkins University Board of Trustees, as Immediate Past President of the Board of LAW Fund, as a member of the KEXP advisory board, on the board of directors of Premera Blue Cross (Chair, Compensation Committee) and Starbucks Foundation (Secretary). Her past activities include serving as Chair, ABA Standing Committee on Constitution & Bylaws, and adjunct professor at University of Washington School of Law. Paula has served on the criminal justice act panel of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (Seattle) and as ViceChair of the Washington State Equal Justice Coalition (Legal Services). She is the recipient of the Corporate Legal Times and Lexis Nexis 2003 Distinguished Legal Service Award. Paula and Starbucks were awarded the Washington State Bar Association’s 2005 “Excellence in Diversity”Award at its annual meeting. She is also the recipient of the ABA 2006 Spirit of Excellence Award and the 2006 Sargent Shriver Award for Equal Justice. Recently, she received the Urban League Spirit Award, a Council on Legal Education Opportunity award and the 2008 Wiley A. Branton Award for her demonstrated service in the area of civil rights. Paula received her bachelor of arts degree in international studies from The Johns Hopkins University in 1981 and her juris doctor from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, where she was named the “1998 Recent Alumna of the Year” in recognition of her professional and civic contributions. In her spare time, Paula enjoys running and is a singer and songwriter.
Featured Speakers Anthony Miles Partner Stoel Rives
Tony Miles focuses his practice on health care law with an emphasis on health care regulation and technology. He provides corporate, transactional and regulatory advice to a broad range of clients and entities whose products and services include multi-specialty physician practices, specialty and retail pharmacies, diagnostic radiology, disease management, electronic patient communication, e-prescribing and database support for clinical trials. Tony helps health industry clients conceive, negotiate and implement strategic affiliations to expand their service offerings through collaboration, alternative care delivery structures and innovative benefits program structures in compliance with federal health program rules such as Medicare Part D, anti-kickback and self-referral ("Stark") prohibitions and other fraud and abuse provisions. Tony also helps clients protect and manage sensitive individual health information in compliance with HIPAA, FDA electronic recordkeeping requirements, security breach notification requirements and other federal and state privacy and security requirements. He also advises clients with legal and regulatory requirements concerning the distribution and marketing of FDA-regulated drugs, biologics and devices. Prior to joining Stoel Rives, Tony was a partner at K&L Gates LLP (2007-2009), was an associate with Preston Gates & Ellis LLP (1999-2006) and worked as a non-lawyer with the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. in New York City, New York (1993-1994).
Jamila Johnson Associate Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt
Jamila Johnson focuses her practice on what she likes to call "government accountability." She represents private property owners when a governmental entity seeks to condemn private property under the Washington and/or Federal constitutions. Through this representation she ensures that just compensation is paid pursuant to the law. Ms. Johnson also represents members of the public and businesses when they have difficulties obtaining public records, or have concerns about the openness of government. She represents businesses and individuals when due process before a governmental body has not occurred or in other challenges to the propriety of government or political action. In addition to her government accountability practice, Ms. Johnson has taken to trial environmental and community association cases, and has assisted clients in many other practice areas. Prior to working joining Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Ms. Johnson served as an extern with the elections division of the Washington Office of the Secretary of State. She also worked at the Port of Seattle and held positions at various news organizations and publications. Jamila Johnson is the chair of the Seattle Women's Commission, a citizen commission that advises the mayor, city council, and city departments on issues important to the women of Seattle. She was appointed by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn in 2010, and advises on issues of violence prevention, economic opportunities, and health disparities. Ms. Johnson has also been the recipient of a number of fellowships, including, but not limited to the Washington State Bar Association Leadership Institute, Institute for a Democratic Future, and the University of Washington Olympia Fellowship. She is active in the Washington State Bar Association where she serves on the Editorial Advisory Committee for Bar News and is a member of the Board of Bar Examiners. In June 2011, Ms. Johnson was honored with the King County Bar Association 2011 Outstanding Young Attorney Award.
Featured Speakers William Covington Lecturer University of Washington School of Law
Professor Covington joined the UW law school faculty in 2003 as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Technology Law and Public Policy Clinic. Prior to his selection as clinic director, Professor Covington was a principal at the North Star Group consulting firm where he worked with municipalities on land use legislation, infrastructure development, and taxation policies applicable to high tech businesses. Ten years of service with McCaw Cellular Communications (now Cingular) and previous work as regulatory counsel for Group W Cable (now Comcast) provided him with a wealth of in-depth experience in the field of telecommunications law and policy. While at AT&T Wireless, Professor Covington led that company's efforts in areas ranging from developing and complying with E-911 requirements to establishing state taxation policies. He has articulated policy positions on behalf of the cable television and cellular telephony industries to state public service commissions and the Federal Communications Commission on broadband policy, land use matters and incentive subsidies. During the past four years, Professor Covington has served as an instructor at the community college level, developed legal courses for college students, and taught seminars for foreign M.B.A. candidates interested in U.S. policies on the creation of high tech industries and the delivery of services.
Paul Loving The Consul Group
Paul was Of Counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP where he was the Portland office Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Practice Group and his practice focused on the areas of intellectual property, trademark & technology licensing, sports law and Internet and ecommerce. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Global Sports Marketing and General Counsel for Athena International, Inc., a global marketing, management and investment company founded by former NIKE executives. Before he Joined Athena International, Paul was Vice President of Business Development and General Counsel at the Torson Group, Inc., where he was a member of the management team recruited by a VC funded digital media sports and health content provider headquartered in Australia. Prior to this position, Paul was Assistant General Counsel at NIKE, Inc. where he handled sports marketing, advertising, entertainment, television and digital matters. Before Nike, Paul was in private practice at Stoel Rives, LLP in Portland where he was a member of the corporate securities and emerging business practice groups. Before starting private practice at Stoel Rives, Paul was a Judicial Clerk for the Oregon Supreme Court and was the first African American to clerk for the Court. He received his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law, where he was Associate Editor of the Oregon Law Review and his B.S. from the University of California at Los Angeles, where he was a member of the 1987 NCAA Championship Track and Field team. His teaching experience includes being an Adjunct Professor of Sports Law at the University of Oregon School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Sports Marketing at Portland State University School of Business, Adjunct Professor of Ethics and Business Law at Portland State University School of Business, and Adjunct Professor of Sports Law at Willamette University School of Law. He is also a frequent guest lecturer nationally on sports law and intellectual property issues.
Featured Speakers Robert Flennaugh II Flennaugh Law
Robert Flennaugh II has represented clients in Washington State and Federal courts for over fourteen years. He began his career as a public defender with the Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons (S.C.R.A.P), where he represented both adult and juvenile clients on a wide variety of charges. He then joined a private Seattle firm specializing in criminal defense and later opened his own criminal defense practice, Law Office of Robert Flennaugh II, PLLC. Robert’s breadth of experience in the Washington courts and extensive background in trial and negotiation are effective assets to his clients. His abilities and expertise are wellregarded by peer attorneys and judges; he was voted a “Super Lawyer” by his peers in 2010 (Washington Law & Politics Magazine); asked to become a member of The National Trial Lawyers, an exclusive legal organization composed of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in each state ; and, he has been voted by his legal peers as a "Rising Star" six times since 2000 (Washington Law & Politics Magazine).
WESTERN REGION CHAPTERS Arizona State University School of Law California Western School of Law JFK School of Law Lewis & Clark Law School Loyola Law School Pepperdine University School of Law Phoenix School of Law San Francisco Law School Santa Clara University School of Law Seattle University School of Law Southwestern School of Law Stanford Law School Thomas Jefferson School of Law Trinity Law School UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law UC Davis School of Law UC Hastings College of Law UCLA School of Law
University of Arizona School of Law University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law University of Idaho College of Law University of LaVerne College of Law University of Nevada, Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law University of Oregon School of Law University of Pacific--McGeorge School of Law University of San Diego School of Law University of San Francisco School of Law University of Southern California Gould School of Law University of Washington School of Law Western State University College of Law Whittier Law School
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