Summer 2010

Featured Story

From WNG to The Chicago Network: Meet Kate Bensen

Kate Bensen knows a thing or two about making connections. As the newly appointed Executive Director of The Chicago Network, she helps women at the top of their professions connect with and support one another.

The Chicago Network, an organization for Chicago's most distinguished women, has roughly 400 members drawn from the higher echelons of business, the arts, government, the professions and academia. The Chicago Network's mission is to create empowering relationships for women leaders that enable members to increase their impact on their organizations and the community at large through peer networking, mutual support and issue awareness. As Executive Director, Ms. Bensen is responsible for the strategic leadership of the organization under the Board of Directors, as well as all operations. The Chicago Network publishes an annual census detailing the progress of women in the area's largest publicly traded companies and leading non-profits, and hosts an annual "Women in the Forefront" luncheon featuring talks by major civic and corporate leaders.

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Our Good Nature | Community-Focused Items

Supporting Women Everywhere

Schiff Hardin associate Jeannice Williams (pictured at left) and nine other women attorneys and summer associates at the firm weren't afraid to get their hands dirty when they participated in a day of community service on June 12 in conjunction with Women Everywhere: Partners in Service Project. The attorneys spent the day at Deborah's Place, a Chicago women's shelter, where they scoured the kitchen and served a delicious Italian meal to residents. In addition to the firm's longstanding financial support of Women Everywhere, its attorneys volunteer each year to paint, build, garden and clean in communities citywide.

Longstanding Commitment to Pro Bono Matters Draws National Recognition

Schiff Hardin received national recognition for its longstanding commitment to providing pro bono legal services to low-income and disadvantaged individuals and families and nonprofit groups. American Lawyer magazine, in its July 2010 edition containing its annual report on law firm pro bono programs, ranked Schiff Hardin number 50 among the 200 highest revenue grossing United States law firms for the calendar year 2009. Schiff Hardin also gained recognition in the Public Interest Law Initiative's 2010 Pro Bono Recognition Roster.

Click here to read about just one of Schiff Hardin's victories on behalf of a pro bono client.

Gala for a Cause

Schiff Hardin is proud to co-sponsor the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys' "Vieux Carré" Gala and Auction. The auction raises funds for the GABWA Foundation, the group's charitable arm, which supports community outreach and scholarship programs. Schiff Hardin partner and former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court Leah Ward Sears is a founding member of GABWA, and associate Tamera Woodard serves on the group's Judicial Oversight Committee.

Soaring to New Heights | Appointments, Awards and Honors

WINGs Turns One

Felice Rose — Chair of the Gender Sub-Committee of Schiff Hardin's Diversity Committee, a member of the WNG Steering Committee and a partner in the Real Estate Group — has served as the Editor of WINGs since its inception, one year ago. As WINGs celebrates its first anniversary, Felice will pass the editorial torch to Regina Speed-Bost. In addition to being a partner in the Energy and Public Utilities Group, Regina serves on the Diversity Committee and is also a member of the WNG Steering Committee.

2010 Chambers USA List Honors Five Schiff Hardin Women

This year, five Schiff Hardin women partners were ranked in the Chambers USA list: Patricia Dondanville (Energy & Natural Resources: Transactional); Renee Cipriano (Environment: Mainly Transactional); Paula Morency (Franchising); Laura Pruitt (Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance)); and Patricia Costello Slovak (Labor and Employment). In total, 23 partners and 11 practice areas at Schiff Hardin made the Chambers USA list this year.

Chambers and Partners, based in London, prepares renowned directories that rank leading lawyers based entirely on peer and client reviews.

Northern California Super Lawyers Names Jean Bertrand to its "Top 50 Women Lawyers" List

Jean Bertrand, a product liability partner in Schiff Hardin's San Francisco office, was chosen for this distinction, as published in the August edition of San Francisco magazine. Super Lawyers selects honorees by peer nominations, a blue-ribbon panel review, and independent research of candidates.

Tamera Woodard Named To The Georgia Bar Young Lawyers Division Board Of Directors

Schiff Hardin LLP's Tamera Woodard an associate in the firm's Labor and Employment Group, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, part of her continuing service to the Georgia Bar.

Beth Jacob Appointed International Bar Association Committee Secretary

Beth Jacob, a partner in Schiff Hardin's New York office focusing on litigation and intellectual property, was appointed Secretary of the Medicine and Law Committee of the International Bar Association. She and Judith Roth will be attending the Annual Meeting of the IBA in Vancouver the first week in October 2010 where Ms. Roth will speak as part of the Art and the Law program.

Seeds of Interest | Articles and Publications

A High-Powered Deal

When GreyStone Power Corp. in Georgia needed additional power supply it relied upon Sherry Quirk, leader of Schiff Hardin's Energy and Public Utilities Group, Noy Davis, a staff attorney in the group, and partner Tom Ingoldsby, to negotiate the deal. The result was a $600 million, five-year power purchase agreement for GreyStone with Morgan Stanley Capital Group.

In the News(letter)

Christine McGuinness, a real estate partner in Schiff Hardin's New York office, is quoted in the July 2010 issue of Distressed Assets Investor, a real estate newsletter. The article, "The Rise of the Unstructured Transaction," details the purchase of loan portfolios by private investors; Ms. McGuinness points out possible advantages of investors teaming with banks to bid on failed financial institutions.

Financial Reform Gaffe?

Schiff Hardin partner Patty Dondanville has written an article titled "The Intended Consequences of Derivatives Legislation," published by Law360. In it she points out how a flawed provision in the recently passed financial reform legislation, acknowledged by its authors, could adversely affect certain participants in the derivatives markets.

Bird's Eye View | Events and Speeches Past and Present

Future Event: August 3, 2010 | The Proposed Transport Rule on Power Plant Emissions

Kathleen Bassi, of counsel in Schiff Hardin's Environmental Group, will moderate a panel discussing "The Proposed Transport Rule: Issues and Observations" on August 3, 2010. This telebriefing, presented by Law Seminars International, will address the U.S. EPA's proposal to regulate power plant emissions in states that contribute to air pollution in other states.

Future Event: September 16, 2010 - Atlanta, Georgia | POWER: Opening Doors for Women Atlanta

Retired Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears, leader of Schiff Hardin's Appellate Team, will host the "Women in Power" dinner session at the POWER: Opening Doors for Women Atlanta event on Thursday, September 16, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Atlanta, Georgia. The POWER program brings together women with outstanding leadership qualities and provides them an opportunity to share their knowledge with high-potential women who are working to reach the next level in their careers.

Register today to attend this Schiff Hardin-sponsored event!

Future Event: September 28–29, 2010 - Houston, Texas | American Conference Institutes' Fourth National Forum on Energy Trading Compliance

Regina Speed-Bost, a partner in Schiff Hardin's Energy and Public Utilities Group, will be part of the speaker faculty at the American Conference Institutes' Fourth National Forum on Energy Trading Compliance, which will be held in Houston, Texas, September 28-29, 2010. She will be speaking on a panel that will address "Responding to Audits, Investigations, and Enforcement Actions: Proactively Preparing for Worst-Case Scenarios."

Future Event: October 1, 2010 - Bellevue, Washington | American Gas Association Energy Market Regulation Conference

Regina Speed-Bost, a partner in Schiff Hardin's Energy and Public Utilities Group, will moderate a panel at the American Gas Association's Energy Market Regulation Conference on Friday, October 1, at the offices of Puget Sound Energy. The panel will discuss changes to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) enforcement policies and strategies for dealing with FERC enforcement staff.

Future Event: October 13, 2010 - San Diego, California | The Fundamentals of Franchising

Linda Stevens, a partner in Schiff Hardin's Intellectual Property Group, will discuss how lawyers can protect their clients' brands, trade dress and other IP in her presentation at the "Fundamentals of Franchising" seminar, part of the ABA's Annual Forum On Franchising in San Diego, California on October 13, 2010.

Past Event: June 26, 2010 | Schiff Hardin's Family Networking Event

Have you ever networked with your family in tow? On June 26th, Schiff Hardin's Parenting Group held its annual networking event that combines the opportunity of networking with the chance to spend time with family and friends. With strong support from the Firm's Diversity Committee, Schiff Hardin's Parenting Group held its networking event at Ravinia Festival, an outdoor music arena just outside of Chicago. More than 225 attorneys, clients, referral sources and their families had an opportunity to connect over a picnic lunch, arts and crafts and entertainment by Ralph's World — a nationally recognized children's band. The event provided grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and friends an opportunity to network with other professionals who also share these important life roles outside of the office. Year after year attendees comment that the event showcases for their children, grandchildren and other relatives how easily work-life balance can be attained and just how much fun networking can be. The Parenting Group is co-chaired by Kelly Warner (pictured above) and David McHugh.

Past Event: June 18, 2010 | Own Your Own Success — Chicago Bar Association's Alliance for Women

Tracy Campbell, a partner in Schiff Hardin's Litigation and Reinsurance and Insurance Groups, was a featured panelist on the Chicago Bar Association's Alliance for Women discussion series — "Own Your Own Success." The panel discussion featured strategies, insight and advice from successful women attorneys in law firms and corporate legal departments.

Past Event: May 24, 2010 | Poised for Leadership: Women's Leadership Training Seminar in San Francisco

On May 24, 2010, a high-energy group of 35 professional women came together to network, learn strategies to advance their careers, and support each other to take action in a leadership training seminar sponsored by Schiff Hardin LLP and Women's Leadership Coaching, Inc.