Reflecting on Our Legacy, Advancing Toward Equality
Join the National Association of Women Lawyers ("NAWL") and its national network for community-building, educational sessions, and awards celebrations as we mark our 125th anniversary.
Through professional development sessions, creative networking opportunities, and substantive panels, we'll focus on the pivotal role of the right to vote in achieving equal rights for women.
We want you at this timely, unmissable event for women in the law.
2024 Annual Meeting
Wednesday, July 24 - Thursday, July 25, 2024
Hilton Chicago
720 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Featured Speaker
Our Sponsors
Presenting - Morgan Lewis
Presenting - Willkie Farr
Workshop - Allstate
Workshop - Exterro
Power-Up - Kirkland
Power-Up - Redgrave
Power-Up - Simmons Hanly Conroy
Hosp Suite - Au Pair in America
Hosp Suite - Scarlett Chase
Hosp Suite - Yellowcake Shop
Supporter - Thompson Coe
Supporter + Hosp Suite - US Army JAG Corps
Friend - American Arbitration Association
Friend - AT&T
Friend - Barnes & Thornburg
Friend - Burr & Forman
Friend - HaystackID
Friend - Hill Ward Henderson
Friend - IMS Legal
Friend - Irwin Fritchie
Friend - Legal Concierge
Friend - Pansky Markle Attorneys at Law
Friend - Segal McCambridge
Partner - ABA Environ. Section
Interested in Sponsoring?
This is a once-in-125-year opportunity to connect with the NAWL community and present your brand to a diverse, national audience.
Our largest conference offers sponsors the opportunity to foster lasting relationships, honor our exceptional award recipients, and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of women in the legal profession.
Partnering Organizations
Association for Women Lawyers
Association of Black Women Attorneys
Center for Women in Law
Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law
Diversity & Flexibility Alliance
Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Georgia Association for Women Lawyers
Georgia Hispanic Bar Association
Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Minnesota Women Lawyers
Mother Attorney Mentor Association (MAMAs) Austin
Ms. JD
National Association of Women Judges
South Asian Bar Association of North America
Texas Women Lawyers
Women in eDiscovery (WiE)
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia
Women’s In-House Network (WIN)
Agenda
The agenda will be updated as programming is announced. Check back often!
Presenting Sponsors
Wednesday
July 24
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm CT
Opening Workshops
Sponsor:
AI Practicum with GC AI
Join us for an immersive and empowering session tailored specifically to answer your AI questions. Limited to 45 pre-registered guests, in this hands-on practicum you'll delve into the fascinating world of AI and its practical applications in the legal profession. During this session you'll have the opportunity to work directly with the cutting-edge AI platform GC AI, to empower you and seamless integrate AI technologies into your practice. Through our expert facilitator and GC AI CEO founder and tech executive, Cecilia Ziniti, you'll leave with a comprehensive understanding of AI's transformative power.
This session is full.
Approved for 1.5 CLE credit hours by the Illinois MCLE Board, the State Bar of Texas, and the Washington State Bar Association.
______________________________________________________________________
Law Student Track -
Cultivating a Career You Love: Values, Interests, and Strengths
During the first part of this dynamic workshop, Adriana will walk students through a model of choosing their personal values, as well as their strengths and corresponding not-so-strengths. We will dialogue through how each of these attributes can help shape one's professional identity and navigate career choices. At the end of the conversation, students will walk away with a clear life vision. In the second half of the session, students will participate in "speed networking" with a diverse group of attorneys from the NAWL community.
Wednesday
July 24
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm CT
Welcome Reception
Celebrate 125 years of trailblazing at the Welcome Reception! We encourage you to wear purple, white, and/or gold to honor NAWL's suffragist founders as you mix, mingle, and make connections with our inspirational community. We'll set the stage for a milestone Annual Meeting as we toast to the past, present, and future of women in the legal profession.
Not sure what to wear? If you were one of the first 200 people to register, we've got you covered! You'll get a surprise commemorative gift at check-in.
Wednesday
July 24
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm CT
Dine-Arounds
Elevate your conference experience through a curated networking opportunity to connect with fellow attendees over a delicious pay-on-your-own dinner. Join a host committee member at these intimate gatherings where you'll mix, mingle, and savor the flavors of the city at nearby restaurants.
Sign up for the restaurant of your choice in the conference app ahead of the conference. Bon appétit!
Wednesday
July 24
8:30 pm - 10:30 pm CT
Legacy Reception
A spoonful of nostalgia, a splash of revelry - we will meet back up for the perfect nightcap to your dine-around adventure with dessert and drinks.
Thursday
July 25
6:30 am - 8:00 am CT
Hosted by:
Morning Walk or Run
Rise and shine! Start your day with an invigorating walk or run through the heart of Chicago's stunning architecture. Walkers get the chance to admire the iconic Bean (Cloud Gate) in Millennium Park as you stretch and connect with fellow attendees. This energizing activity will have you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day's events. Don't miss this chance to embrace the city's best season before a day of incredible programming.
Let's paint the town purple by wearing NAWL merch for your walk or run!
Thursday
July 25
8:00 am - 8:30 am CT
Registration and Breakfast Reception
Collect your name badge and fuel up with a delicious breakfast, setting the stage for a productive and engaging day ahead. An efficient check-in process ensures a seamless start to the event, allowing you to maximize your time and focus on the content to come.
Thursday
July 25
8:30 am - 9:30 am CT
Breakfast Plenary
Elevate Your Personal Brand to Shape Your Legacy
Kick off the Annual Meeting with a session led by personal branding expert, Paula T. Edgar, designed to empower attendees in articulating their unique value and vision. Engage in an interactive session filled with actionable insights and strategies aimed at refining your professional identity, ensuring your legacy paves the way for a more inclusive future.
Paula T. Edgar
CEO,
PGE Consulting Group LLC
Thursday
July 25
9:30 am - 11:00 am CT
"Choose Your Own Adventure" Concurrent Workshops
Sponsor:
Moment of Truth: A Discussion of Immigrant Protection for Women in Sanctuary Cities
Since August 2022, Chicago has welcomed over 40,000 asylum seekers and other immigrants from the southern border. Our city has had to respond in unprecedented ways to provide shelter, health care, legal services, and other resettlement resources and opportunities. Several challenges remain as the need to provide these resources, specifically protecting the lives and freedoms of immigrant women from harm, including sexual and domestic violence, expands as the community increases. Join us for a timely and important discussion with Linda Xóchitl Tortolero, President and CEO of Mujeres Latinas en Accion and Lisiann Rodriguez, Senior Attorney with National Immigrant Justice Center’s asylum team moderated by Beatriz Ponce de Leon, Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights as they discuss these topics.
Approved for 1.5 CLE credit hours by the Illinois MCLE Board, the State Bar of Texas, and the Washington State Bar Association.
Beatriz Ponce de León
Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights,
City of Chicago
Lisiann Rodriguez
Senior Attorney,
National Immigrant Justice Center
Linda Xóchitl Tortolero
President and CEO,
Mujeres Latinas en Accion
______________________________________________________________________
Reproductive Rights Return to the Supreme Court: Assessing the Post-Dobbs
Landscape and Charting Next Steps
Hosted by the NAWL Advocacy Committee, this session will assess the legal landscape for reproductive rights two years post-Dobbs. Panelists will examine the impact of the Supreme Court’s two key decisions this term: FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, addressing access to the widely-used abortion medication mifepristone; and Moyle v. U.S., addressing the legality of Idaho’s abortion ban. The session will also offer insights about next steps, strategies, and opportunities to support the ongoing battle to advance equality by protecting reproductive rights.
Approved for 1.5 CLE credit hours by the Illinois MCLE Board and the State Bar of Texas, and 1.5 Law and Legal Procedure CLE credits by the Washington State Bar Association.
Harini Srinivasan
Co-author,
Amicus brief in the consolidated cases
Idaho v. United States and
Moyle v. United States
Associate
Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC
Alison Tanner
Senior Litigation Counsel in Reproductive Rights and Health
National Women’s Law Center
______________________________________________________________________
Law Student Track - Navigating the Legal Profession: From Judicial Clerkships to Career Insights
This interactive session geared toward law students is a unique opportunity to consult directly with a panel of esteemed women judges and lawyers. The judges will delve into the intricacies and benefits of judicial clerkships that allow you to enhance your research, writing, and legal acumen, while positioning yourself as a formidable candidate to future employers. Come prepared with your most pressing inquiries and engage with a diverse group of women attorneys about their careers, what they wished they knew as students, and other insights and advice tailored to benefit your future.
Thursday
July 25
11:00 am - 11:30 am CT
Networking Break
Thursday
July 25
11:45 am - 1:00 pm CT
Lunch and Fireside Chat
Join us for an incredible fireside chat with political leader, business owner, New York Times bestselling author, and recipient of the
2024 Arabella Babb Mansfield Award, Stacey Abrams.
During the conversation she will share her insights on the crucial fight for voting rights as we recognize her for a of lifetime professional achievement, positive influence, and valuable contribution to women in the law and in society.
Meryl Conant Governski
Pro Bono Team Lead, Fulton County Georgia election workers' lawsuit, and Partner,
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Moderator
Thursday
July 25
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm CT
Dessert and Coffee Break
Thursday
July 25
1:30 pm - 2:45 pm CT
Concurrent Workshops
Strong Women Leaders, Mindsets, and Practical Advice
Immerse yourself in an interactive session led by renowned leadership experts, exploring the essential pillars of leadership development in the legal industry. Discover strategies to elevate your impact, navigate challenges, and inspire change.
Approved for 1.25 CLE credit hours by the Illinois MCLE Board and the Washington State Bar Association.
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer,
Ingredion Incorporated
Stephanie A. Scharf
Principal
The Red Bee Group LLC
______________________________________________________________________
Justice in the Age of Disinformation: Leveraging Legal Strategies to Safeguard Elections
Delve into the pivotal intersection of media and the law in this captivating session. Explore how the evolving media landscape shapes public discourse and legal outcomes, especially in the critical context of an election year. Through insightful analysis and cases studies, you will learn from legal experts, media professionals, and scholars about strategies aimed at countering the dissemination of false information, protecting the electoral process, and preserving the public’s trust in democratic institutions. This session offers insights to navigate and analyze the complex interplay between journalism and the judicial system.
Approved for 1.25 CLE credit hours by the Illinois MCLE Board and the State Bar of Texas, and 1.25 Law and Legal Procedure CLE credits by the Washington State Bar Association.
Lee E. Teitelbaum Chair and University Distinguished Professor of Law,
University of Utah S.J. Quinney’s College of Law
Pro Bono Team Member, Fulton County Georgia election workers' lawsuit, and Partner,
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Vice Chair, Litigation Group;
Vice Chair, Trial Practice Group,
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff
______________________________________________________________________
Keeping Negotiation In Mind: Strategies for Mitigating Bias and Maximizing Success In Negotiations
In this session, participants will explore how our natural instincts and acquired behaviors shape our negotiation tactics. Together we will explore powerful strategies to enhance our awareness and problem-solving skills in both informal and formal settings.
Approved for 1.25 CLE credit hours by the Illinois MCLE Board and 1.25 Equity Ethics CLE credit hours by the Washington State Bar Association.
Alyson Carrel
Clinical Professor and Co-Director of the Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice,
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Thursday
July 25
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm CT
Networking Break
Thursday
July 25
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm CT
Closing Panel Discussion
Featuring our 2024 Award Recipients, join us for a powerful closing session as we explore the profound impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and beyond. Hear from trailblazers who have championed DEI, sharing their career journeys and unwavering commitment to advancing justice and equality for women in and under the law. This session will leave you inspired and equipped to drive meaningful change within your own practice and community.
Approved for 1 professional responsibility (Diversity & Inclusion) CLE credit hour by the Illinois MCLE Board, 1 CLE credit hour by the State Bar of Texas, and 1 Equity Ethics CLE credit hour by the Washington State Bar Association.
Former Deputy Assistant to the President for Racial Justice and Equity
M. Ashley Dickerson
Diversity Award Recipient
Laura Stein accepting on behalf of Mondelēz International, Inc.
Executive Vice President, Corporate & Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
President's Award Recipient
Global Leader, Labor and Employment Practice Group,
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Moderator
Thursday
July 25
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm CT
A Toast to Our Future
Cheers to 125 Years! Join us at the closing reception to toast the 2024 award recipients, connect with NAWL Board Members and fellow conference attendees, as we and raise a glass to how far we've come in 125 years and the next chapter of our journey.
The Annual Meeting conference is open to registered attendees only.
Pricing
Registration Types
NAWL Member / Sponsor
New Member*
Non-Profit / Government Attorney
By June 24
$560
$660
$230
After June 24
$660
$760
$330
*NAWL membership through December 2024 is included in your New Member registration fee.
Complimentary law student tickets are sold out.
Complimentary registrations are available for unemployed attorneys. Please apply for a scholarship as indicated in the FAQs section.
Need help making the case to attend? Download our template letter to send to your manager.
2024 Award Recipients
Former Deputy Assistant to the President
for Racial Justice and Equity
M. Ashley Dickerson Diversity Award
Laura Stein accepting on behalf of
Executive Vice President, Corporate & Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
President's Award
Heather Bell
Associate General Counsel,
Intel Corporation
Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Award
Josh Fougere
Partner,
Sidley Austin LLP
Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Award
Joanne Simboli Hodge
Professor of Law,
University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding
Member Award
Venue
HILTON CHICAGO
720 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Book your room before June 28 for our special rate.
Reservations can be made online here or by calling (877) 865-5320 and mentioning "NAWL 2024."
Host Committee
The Host Committee is made up of an incredible group of members who curate and coordinate the Annual Meeting from the networking activities to programming and speakers.
Lisa Hamasaki
Office Managing Shareholder
Ogletree Deakins
San Francisco, CA
Co-Chair
Alli Stevenson
Attorney
Hill Ward Henderson
Tampa, FL
Co-Chair
Gigi Rollini
Managing Partner
Florida Government Law Partners, PLLC
Tallahassee, FL
Board Liaison
Engagement
Lori Chen
Ogletree Deakins
Chicago, IL
Anu Joglekar
Cozen O'Connor
New York, NY
Chrissy Teske
EdwardJones
St. Louis, MO
Program
Joelle Schulze
Prospect Point Recruiting
Austin, TX
Brande Smith
Allstate
Farmington, MI
Lori Winland
Ogletree Deakins
Oklahoma City, OK
Law Student Track
Kristin Hommel
Penn State Law
State College, PA
Mimi MacDonald
AT&T
St. Louis, MO
Sarah-Michelle Stearns
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Dallas, TX
Sponsorship
Bernadette Catalana
MG+M The Law Firm
New York, NY
Barbara Klas
PwC
Minneapolis, MN
Jennifer Arnold
Wilson Turner Kosmo
San Diego, CA
Annie Arya
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Chicago, IL
Bria Beaufort
Gibbons PC
Newark, NJ
Elizabeth Buttitta
Winston & Strawn
Los Angeles, CA
(in memoriam)
Vania Caro
Wood Smith Hennings & Berman
Pasadena, CA
H. Ashley Chi
Korn Ferry
Chicago, IL
Mallory Cooney
K&L Gates
Miami, FL
Maria DiLorenzo
Erikson Institute
Chicago, IL
Maggie Ebert
Kutak Rock
Omaha, NE
Paula Edgar
PGE Consulting Group
Brooklyn, NY
Erin Fowle
Allstate
Royal Oak, MI
Johanna Gauvreau
McCoy Leavitt Lasky
Falmouth, ME
Anaya Gayle
Holland & Hart
Salt Lake City, UT
Angela Grant
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Washington, DC
Jennifer Hamilton
Exterro Inc.
Libertyville, IL
Judy He
Crowell & Moring
Chicago, IL
Janet Hendrick
Phillips Murrah
Dallas, TX
Michele Jochner
Schiller DuCanto & Fleck
Chicago, IL
Michele Jochner
Schiller DuCanto & Fleck
Chicago, IL
Heidi Knight
Beveridge & Diamond
Boston, MA
Kara Lancaster
Ogletree Deakins
Raleigh, NC
Zohar Levy
Orr Taylor
Toronto, ON
Shelby Lomax
Husch Blackwell LLP
Hermitage, TN
Nancy Lottinville
Prime & Tuval
Hackensack, NJ
Elizabeth Manno
Venable
Washington, DC
Mary Card Mina
Federal Government Agency
Fairfax, VA
Jennifer Mohamed
The Bayne Law Group
Flemington, NJ
Aubrey Mys
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Gainsville, FL
Cassandra Neugold
Gibbons P.C.
Newark, NJ
Kelly Noyes
von Briesen & Roper
Milwaukee, WI
Maria O'Sullivan
Carrington Coleman Sloman & Blumenthal
Dallas, TX
Tracey Parker
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Dallas, TX
Natalie Purko
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Chicago, IL
Stephanie Sabino
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Chicago, IL
Mackenzie Schoonmaker
Beveridge & Diamond
New York, NY
Ashley Shan
Shearman & Sterling
New York, NY
Ora Sheinson
Jade Mountain Partners
NJ
Nicole Smithson
Berkley, MI
Kristin Sostowski
Gibbons P.C.
Newark, NJ
Heather Stenmark
Markel
Rosemont, IL
Marlow Svatek
Barrack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
Oak Park, IL
Victoria Williamson
Winston & Strawn
Washington, DC
Kristi Zentner
Cozen O'Connor
Edina, MN
Erica Zolner
Redgrave LLP
Chicago, IL
Frequently Asked Questions
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