Professional Women's Forum Committee

The Professional Women's Forum is devoted to creating and advancing roles for outstanding female attorneys in the Federation and the legal community at large.  We provide opportunities to develop and strengthen relationships, professional development and business growth.  Everyone is welcome.  You can Join the Professional Women’s Forum for immediate notifications and to engage with other PWF Members. Just click the blue “Join Section Now” button below.


If you would like to see a roster please scroll to the bottom of the page.

The Chair and Vice Chair(s) for this year are:
Chair:  Alycen A. Moss
amoss@cozen.com
Vice Chair:   Michele L. Fenice
michele.fenice@chubb.com
 Vice Chair
  Linda Knight
 lknight@spencerfane.com
Vice Chair:   Michele Ballard Miller
mbmiller@cozen.com  
Vice Chair:   Meredith Murphy
 meredith.murphy@fmglobal.com
Vice Chair:   Vicki M. Smith  smith@csw-law.com
Vice Chair:   Margaret Fonshell Ward
 mward@downs-ward.com  
 Ex-Officio  Gena L. Sluga
gsluga@cdslawfirm.com

Resources

 

Community Roster

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ADAMS, JENNIFERDeutsch Kerrigan LLPLAjadams@deutschkerrigan.com
ALEXANDER, TIFFANYNelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLPPAtiffany.alexander@nelsonmullins.com
BAUER, BETHHeplerBroom LLCILbab@heplerbroom.com
BENJAMIN, NICOLEAdler Pollock & Sheehan PCRInbenjamin@apslaw.com
BERDZIK, CAROLINEGoldberg SegallaNJcberdzik@goldbergsegalla.com
BERMAN, APRILAsurionTNapril.berman@asurion.com
BLACKBURN, JOANNERopers MajeskiWAjoanne.blackburn@ropers.com
BOHN, THAYLAAmerican Fidelity CorporationOKthayla.bohn@americanfidelity.com
BRANDT, ANGELALarson King, LLPMNabrandt@larsonking.com
BRIANDI, JODYHurwitz Fine P.C.NYjeb@hurwitzfine.com
BRILL, MELISSACozen O'ConnorNYMbrill@cozen.com
BRILLEAUX, KELLYIrwin Fritchie Urquhart Moore & Daniels LLCLAkbrilleaux@irwinllc.com
BROMAN, STACYMeagher & Geer PLLPMNsbroman@meagher.com
BROWN, ASHLEYWard, Hocker & Thornton, PLLCKYabrown@whtlaw.com
CHAFE, MARIEConn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLPMAMChafe@connkavanaugh.com
CHRISTIAN, ALISONMeritage Homes CorporationAZalison.r.christian@gmail.com
CIALKOWSKI, AMANDANilan Johnson Lewis PAMNacialkowski@nilanjohnson.com
COLUCCIO, MEGANBaker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC-Seattle, WAWAmegan.coluccio@bakersterchi.com
COLWIN, MERCEDESGordon & Rees LLPNYmcolwin@grsm.com
COOPER, RACHELMcMillan LLPONrachel.cooper@mcmillan.ca

Discussions

Blogs

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  • Alycen Moss
    FDCC ladies,

    Do you believe that you have to do everything perfectly? Are you “every woman” handling anything and everything that needs to be done? Do you give 100% 100% of the time? What would happen if you just stopped?

    On Monday, January 23, 2023, in advance of DRI’s Women in the Law Seminar, the ADTA is hosting a women-led conversation regarding recognizing and combatting the Superwoman Syndrome. Finding balance in the imbalance. The panel will discuss what "superwoman syndrome" means and provide practical strategies to overcome the pitfalls associated with perfectionism, boundaries without borders, comparison shopping, and imperfect but acceptable expectations.

    Evelyn Davis, President of ADTA (and FDCC member), and Amanda Cialkowski, ADTA Board Member (and FDCC member), have graciously invited the sister organizations to attend this fantastic event. Details are as follows:

    When: Monday, January 23, 9-11:15 a.m.
    Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas

    Deborah St. Lawrence Thompson will lead the discussion and offer tools for identifying and recommendations for protecting and realigning your Power in the disconnect.

    Speakers:
    Deborah St. Lawrence Thompson, Nelson Mullins, Baltimore, MD
    Jessica Taylor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Miami, FL
    Mary Biscoe Hall, Nelson Mullins, Baltimore, MD
    Evelyn Davis, Hawkins Parnell, Atlanta, GA

    In advance of this amazing panel, there will be a joint sister reception with ADTA, DRI, FDCC and IADC on Sunday, February 22 at 6:00 pm, which will be followed by dinner at 7:00.

    So schedule at a glance is as follows:

    Sunday, Jan. 22
    · 6 PM | Joint Sister Reception with ADTA, DRI, FDCC and IADC - Cosmopolitan Chandelier Bar
    · 7 PM | Dinner
    · TBD | Dancing, show, gambling

    Monday, Jan. 23
    · 9 AM | “Redefining Superwoman” Presentation
    · 12 PM | Lunch and Titanic Exhibit
    · 2 PM | DRI Women in the Law (and Civil Rights and Construction) Seminar Begins. We really hope and encourage you to stay for the Women in the Law Seminar which is always exceptional and rewarding.

    Travel: If interested in staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel (note the DRI conference is at Caesars) contact Byron Rounds (Evelyn’s travel agent) to reserve your room within the room block no later than December 21, 2022.
    Byron Rounds
    LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR
    byron@ultimatejetvacations.com
    Phone: 305-830-0200 x4600
    24/7 Emergency: 305-830-0200 x3

    Jan 21 – 24
    Cosmopolitan
    Studio Terrace King $265/nt, total $1055
    Terrace One Bedroom Suite $275/nt, total $1087
    Terrace Studio Fountain View $426/nt, total $1672 (include $150 credit)
    *72 hr cancelation
    Please contact us with any questions and interest in attendance.

    Please register here: Redefining Superwoman Registration so we can plan accordingly.

    You can also reach out to Evelyn or Amanda with any questions.

    Happy Holidays, and we hope to see you in Vegas!!
  • SHOUT-OUT #1 – Amanda Cialkowski and Rachel Reynolds
    So many lawyers today are wondering –and worrying—about how trials are going to be conducted during the COVID-19 era. Two of our members aren’t just wondering about it—they are leading the way by successfully defending clients in some of their respective communities’ first trials.

    Congratulations to Amanda Cialkowski, who received a defense verdict in a recent jury trial. The case involved a young woman who fell out of a ski chairlift. She claimed that she was in jeopardy from the moment she was at the load line. Defense argued she fell out further up the hill, at a point where there was nothing the lift attendant could do. They started with 14 jurors (the venire was over 90 but 40 were excused before reporting because they were concerned about getting COVID). During the course of their trial, they lost both alternates, but managed to finish with 12 jurors. Everyone wore masks, with the exception of the witnesses who sat behind a plexiglass shield and then wore a clear face shield so the jury could see their faces. The jury was only out of couple of hours before delivering a defense verdict after a week-long trial.

    Also, congratulations to Rachel Tallon Reynolds, who recently obtained a defense verdict in one of her state’s first jury trials since the pandemic. Rachel was in the difficult position of defending a large out-of-state corporation against claims from a small, local business. Despite these tough odds, the jury deliberated for only two and a half hours before returning their verdict for the defendant! Rachel tried this case in an event center/theatre in Bellevue, Washington that the King County Superior Court had rented to serve as a temporary courthouse, since the space was large enough to allow sufficient space for social distancing. Pre-trial motions were argued remotely, and jury selection took place via Zoom, but the trial was conducted in person. Once the trial began, several health and safety precautions were taken each day. The doors to the courtroom were kept open to allow more airflow. Jurors, parties and counsel all were asked COVID-19-related questions every morning. The court also required everyone present at the trial to wear a mask at all times, even if they were testifying.

    Thank you, Amanda and Rachel, for your leadership in trial practice during these unprecedented times!
  • SHOUT-OUT #2 -- LAUREN CURTIS and VALERIE KELLNER
    SHOUT-OUT #2 -- LAUREN CURTIS and VALERIE KELLNER

    Thank you and congratulations to Lauren Curtis, FDCC Board Member. Lauren chaired the committee that planned and presented the FDCC’s first “Coverage Bootcamp” in March 2020, in conjunction with the winter meeting in Scottsdale. The program there was so well received that Lauren and her team modified the program for a remote format and presented it again in October to 100 participants over three half-day sessions. It takes a special skill and talent to somehow find a way for people to enjoy a webinar about reading insurance policies, but Lauren absolutely nailed it! The virtual program, like the first, was a huge success –the FDCC already has a waiting list for the next time around. Thank you, Lauren, for your time and leadership.


    Our thanks and admiration also go to Valerie Kellner for her role as a co-chair of this year’s virtual Corporate Counsel Symposium, and I know that Valerie benefitted from the experience and assistance of last year’s chair, Tiffany Alexander. Over 400 people participated in the virtual CSS event in October, and the programming was outstanding. Tis was particularly impressive because this was the FDCC’s first massive webinar undertaking of the pandemic. It’s always hard to be the first at anything, but this year’s CSS team made it look easy. Thank you, Valerie.

    Thank you and congratulations to Lauren Curtis, FDCC Board Member. Lauren chaired the committee that planned and presented the FDCC’s first “Coverage Bootcamp” in March 2020, in conjunction with the winter meeting in Scottsdale. The program there was so well received that Lauren and her team modified the program for a remote format, and presented it again in October to 100 participants over three half-day sessions. It takes a special skill and talent to make people enjoy a webinar about reading insurance policies, but Lauren absolutely nailed it! The virtual program, like the first, was a huge success –the FDCC already has a waiting list for the next time around. Thank you, Lauren, for your time and leadership.

    Our thanks and admiration also go to Valerie Kellner for her role as a co-chair of this year’s virtual Corporate Counsel Symposium, and I know that Valerie benefitted from the experience and assistance of last year’s chair, Tiffany Alexander! Over 400 people participated in the virtual CSS event in October, and the programming was outstanding. This was particularly impressive because this was the FDCC’s first massive webinar undertaking of the pandemic. It’s always hard to be the first at anything, but this year’s CSS team made it look easy. Thank you, Valerie!

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