The Jabot

Kathryn and Marlon Lutfiyya, Director of Talent and Diversity at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, discuss the advancements in legal research and the importance of DEI integration in law firms. Marlon highlights the benefits of joining a mid-sized firm like his, providing associates opportunities to work closely with senior partners and advance at their own pace using a competency-based system. He also st...

In this episode, Kathryn, Alanna Kaufman, and Margot Hoppin discuss the Lexis Plus platform and share their experiences in the legal industry. They emphasize the importance of doing meaningful work, creating inclusive law firm environments, and networking. Alanna and Margot highlight the values of their public interest private law firms and their focus on positively impacting clients' lives. They...

In this episode, Kathryn speaks with Emily Poler about her experience founding Poler Legal and navigating the legal profession. They discuss negotiation strategies and managing gender dynamics. Emily shares the challenges and rewards of creating her own law firm such as gaining autonomy, selecting compatible clients, and handling the impact of the pandemic. She emphasizes on embracing her identity...

In this episode, Kathryn interviews Jenny Hamilton, Chief Legal Officer at Exterro. They discuss the launch of the Lexis Plus Platform and its AI-powered Judicial Brief Analysis tool, Hamilton's journey into the legal profession, her experiences with e-discovery, and her perspective on being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Hamilton shares her insights on evolving the legal industry, with a f...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Michelle Kallen, a Partner at Jenner & Block, to her journey to becoming an appellate lawyer. She explains that the more she learned about law, the more she was drawn to the field. She then goes on to talk about the appeal process and how it can be a difficult one to enter. Finally, Michelle shares her advice on how to get into the field of appellate law, includin...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Jennifer Henderson, a Partner with the legal recruiting firm, Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), to discuss why she decided to go to law school and how she ended up becoming a legal recruiter. She also talks about the current lateral market and provides advice for those looking to make a move. Additionally, she shares some tips on how to effectively negotiate with the...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Laura Bianchi, Co-Founder of Bianchi & Brandt and a leading entrepreneur, attorney, and strategic advisor for the cannabis industry. Laura emphasizes the importance of finding areas of law that you enjoy, as it is a huge part of your life and will determine how much you get out of your career. As a lawyer who specializes in transactions and corporate work, she des...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Karine Sokpoh, CEO of the Midlands African Chamber, to talk about the highs and the lows of focusing on immigration law. Karine reveals that she did not consider other career paths because she wanted to help people and had a goal to work for an international organization in war zones and help with peacekeeping and refugee resettlement efforts. She also recalls how...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Jayne Conroy, a plaintiff's attorney at Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, to talk about the risks and rewards of being a plaintiff's attorney, and how MDLs work, and offers advice to younger lawyers interested in similar cases. She stresses the importance of being curious and open to learning new things, recognizing the workload, and having patience. Who's The Guest? Jayn...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Lisa Sarnoff Gochman, an appellate lawyer and author of the book At the Altar of the Appellate Gods: Arguing before the US Supreme Court, to talk about how her career shifted from being in law school to being an appellate lawyer who has spent the last 40 years writing. Lisa also discusses how an appellate attorney is different from a lawyer doing trial work. She r...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Ishan Bhabha, co-chair of Jenner and Block's Education Practice and a member of its Appellate and Supreme Court Practice, to talk about the well-publicized affirmative action cases at the oral arguments at the Supreme Court. He discusses his experiences representing the Ivy League and other schools, as well as the importance of diversity in education and the stake...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Aliza Shatzman, an attorney, advocate, and former DC Superior Court law clerk, to talk about her experience as a clerk in the DC Superior Court where she faced gender discrimination, harassment, and ultimately retaliation by the now former judge for whom she clerked. She also discusses how she reached out to her law school for support and assistance, only to find...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Laurette Mulry, an Attorney-in-Charge at the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society, to talk about working with different clients as legal aid attorneys. Laurette breaks down the principles that guided her when working with clients, as well as her advice to those who are in a legal job that requires a lot of attention and time. She also explains how it really is working...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Richard Zitrin, a trial lawyer and lecturer at the University of California, Hastings College of Law, to talk about how he became a criminal justice advocate and shares some advice for aspiring lawyers. He explains his involvement in the San Quentin Six Case, which became the impetus for his career in criminal justice. Richard has dedicated his career to fighting...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Grant Sovern, a Partner of Quarles & Brady LLP, to talk about his area of concentration: Employment immigration. Grant recalls how he shifted to immigration law and describes the challenges of working as an immigration lawyer. Additionally, Grant shares his work with Afghan refugees and where the immigration law stands on this. Who's The Guest? Grant Sovern is the...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Linda Benfield, an environmental lawyer, and Partner from Foley & Lardner LLP, to talk about how she became wanting to be a problem solver in law school to be on top of the profession. Linda also recalls the different programs created in partnership between Foley and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as how other organizations can help. Additionally, she...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Shirley Jefferson, the newly appointed Vice President for Community Engagement and Government Affairs at Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS), and together, they talk about how the law is an effective tool to affect change in the world. Shirley, being the first person of color to be appointed as the VLGS's VP, also shares the twists and turns of her career and h...

Who Are The Guests? Rena Paul and Margaret Gandy are the founders of Alcalaw, a women-founded legal consultancy comprised of former federal and state prosecutors who believe that the most effective advocates are those whose legal acumen and depth of experience are matched by their emotional intelligence. Alcalaw provides legal guidance to individuals, organizations, institutions, and corporations...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Shana Simmons, a General Counsel at Everlaw, to talk about how her career in the world of law started. Shana leads the legal department and is responsible for all legal, regulatory, privacy, risk and compliance, and governance issues around the company. She describes the transition from working as the Head of Google's Cloud Go-To-Market Legal team, to being a Gene...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Jessica Martin, a lawyer, and a published novelist, to talk about balancing life as a lawyer, a writer, and having a family. Jessica recalls how she got into the world of law, and how she slowly transitioned from big law to working as an in-house lawyer. She also describes the process she underwent to be a published author and shares her advice with those who want...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Imani Maatuka, a Commercial Litigation Associate at Sidley Austin LLP, to talk about Bridging the Gap Scholarship. Imani recalls how what made her decide to follow in the footsteps of her other family members and what the big difference is between what she expected and the reality now that she's working as a litigation associate. She describes how she picked litig...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes back Laura Leopard of Leopard Solutions to talk about their white paper, Women Leaving Law. Laura narrates their experiences writing and running the survey: How depressing it is knowing the reasons why women are leaving the law space and how unfair some firms are to them. She shares how culture affects the work environment. Additionally, Laura describes why a late...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Alexandra Brodsky, a staff attorney at Public Justice and author of Sexual Justice Supporting Victims, Ensuring Due Process, and Resisting the Conservative Backlash, to talk about the differences between a dog whistle and real concerns with the due process and what the Title IX is. She shares her thoughts on what's next in the MeToo movement too. Alexandra also na...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Danielle Caminiti, a Per Diem Attorney and local counsel for New York Law Firms. With 7 years in a malpractice defense firm, 5 years as a prosecutor, and 2 years in commercial litigation experiences under her belt, Danielle narrates how she went from law school to where she is right now. She shares how she balances all the different things in her life to make the...

In this episode, Kathryn welcomes Joann Selleck, a mediator from Selleck Mediation, to talk about the ins and outs of being a mediation professional. Joann narrates how she came into the practice area. She cites the qualities a person should have to be a facilitator, as well as why people are handling litigations differently. Joann also describes what challenges specific to the mediation practice...