Racial Justice and Equity: A Year of Purposeful Investment

RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY | 40 Corporate partner Jannelle Seales, spoke with Marsha Simms, now retired, who was Weil’s first Black partner, elevated in 1987. They discussed Marsha’s ability to be her “authentic self” as well as about her crucial role in building Weil’s Banking & Finance practice and in recruiting and mentoring lawyers of color. Restructuring partner Ronit Berkovich interviewed WeilLatinx alum Andrea Cristina Saavedra, Assistant Dean, Office of Judicial Clerkships at Columbia Law School, about her richly varied career in law, business and academia and the inspiration of Weil leaders such as Harvey Miller and Marcia Goldstein. WEIL ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT The Firm’s Alumni Interview Series often features BIPOC alumni and/or current attorneys and staff in conversation about their careers. Technology & IP Transactions practice Co-Head Charan Sandhu in the New York office spoke with N. Damali Peterman, a former Weil Corporate associate who is the Founder and CEO of Breakthrough ADR, a global conflict resolution firm that helps organizations resolve conflict in everyday situations. Damali explained why she is so passionate about conflict resolution, why her unusual career path makes her a “unicorn” in the industry, and how her wide international experience has enabled her to navigate the cultural differences that so often must be bridged to successfully resolve disputes. Chief Talent Office Lisa I. Cuevas talked with Virginia Johnson, a former Weil Litigation associate about her role at the time as General Counsel for North America at global energy company Schneider Electric, her advice for lawyers entering new executive leadership roles and how her strong commitment to sustainability and equity fit well with Schneider’s priorities. Linda D. Domyanic, Manager of Client and Alumni Relations in the Dallas office, spoke with Regina Merson, former Weil Dallas associate and now Founder and CEO of Latinx beauty brand Reina Rebelde, about how she built her brand, the advice she has for lawyers considering entrepreneurship, the critical value of her Weil training, and the tremendous diversity within the Latinx community. Vynessa Nemunaitis, Co-Leader of WeilLatinx and Corporate partner in the Dallas office, spoke with Liani Kotcher, an accomplished author who writes Young Adult novels, about her recently published survival thriller novel, Ski Weekend, and how her Weil experience helped her succeed in a crowded field.

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