Women on the Move 2025: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

12:30 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. Welcome and Introduction

Speaker:

Kaelyn E. Gustafson, Esq. Section Chair, Women in Law Section Associate Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP New York, NY

12:40 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. NYSBA Opening Remarks

Speaker:

Kathleen M. Sweet, Esq. President, New York State Bar Association Partner Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP Buffalo, NY

12:50 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. Keynote – Turning Obstacles into Opportunities – Tips for Women Lawyers

Join us for an engaging keynote presentation offering insights into the professional journey of a distinguished New York attorney. Our speaker will share strategies for addressing common challenges in legal practice, including adapting to evolving client needs, leveraging advancements in technology, and navigating the competitive legal landscape. Drawing on real-world experiences, she will provide practical guidance on building resilience, strengthening professional skills, and developing long-term career strategies. Attendees will leave with actionable recommendations for overcoming professional hurdles and positioning themselves for continued success in the practice of law.

Speakers:

Janice Mac Avoy, Esq. Real Estate and Litigation Partner Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP New York, NY

Kaelyn E. Gustafson, Esq. Section Chair, Women in Law Section Associate Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP New York, NY

0.5 MCLE Credit in Areas of Professional Practice

1:20 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Break

1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: Rainmaking in 2025

Our panel of attorneys, coaches, and business development experts will share practical proven strategies for business development, including how to identify opportunities, build your network, make introductions, convert leads into business, and develop ongoing client and referral source relationships. Panelists will give guidance and real-world examples of how to leverage artificial intelligence and innovative technology to aid in these endeavors. Panelists will also identify common pitfalls and give advice on how to overcome obstacles and turn prior bad experiences into learning opportunities to advance skills. Attendees will leave this session with actionable recommendations on jumpstarting or expanding upon existing efforts to become a rainmaker.

Moderator:

Erica S. Youngerman, Esq. Program Chair and Section Secretary, Women in Law Section Of Counsel Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP New York, NY

Speakers:

Robin Sosnow, Esq. Founder and Managing Attorney Sosnow & Associates PLLC New York, NY

Annmarie Giblin, Esq. Partner Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP New York, NY

Sheila M. Murphy, Esq. President, CEO, and General Counsel Focus Forward Consulting LLC New York, NY

Jennifer M. Thibodaux, Esq. Senior Specialist Legal Editor, Thomson Reuters Practical Law Founder, JMT Speaks, LLC New York, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Law Practice Management

2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: Integrating AI Into the Practice of Law

This panel will focus on successfully integrating AI into the practice of law, in a user-friendly and ethical manner, to enhance work productivity and cut back on time and expense. Our discussion will include navigating common concerns with the rapid advancement of AI, including a lack of understanding of the technology, hesitance to change the nature of practicing, and expense. Panelists will provide practical recommendations to overcome these obstacles. Recognizing that AI continues to evolve, panelists will also provide critical guidance on best practices to comply with legal standards while practicing law and building a brand. The panel will explore the use of AI from both the employer's and employee's perspectives, with a focus on the development and enforcement of policies around AI use in the workplace. Ethics are integral to the practice of law, and panelists will dedicate substantial time to examining the ethical considerations involved in these areas. This program offers valuable insights and strategies for ethically enhancing your practice with the use of AI and provides ethics credits essential for maintaining the highest standards in our profession.

Moderator:

Allison Wacker, Esq. Programming Committee Co-Chair, Women in Law Section Director of Risk Management American Express New York, NY

Speakers:

Kaylin L. Whittingham, Esq. Referee, Commission on Judicial Conduct Managing Attorney, Whittingham Law New York, NY

Sheryl B. Galler, Esq. Employment Law Partner Book Law LLP New York, NY

Robin D. Kraiterman, Esq. Senior Manager, Knowledge and Innovation Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP New York, NY 

Christina Hultsch, Esq. Partner Benesch Columbus, OH

1.0 MCLE Credit in Ethics and Professionalism

3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. Turning Obstacles into Opportunities: Making Our Voices Heard

This panel will explore strategies for making our voices heard in the workplace. Panelists will offer self-advocacy techniques for use with employers and co-workers, including with respect to allocation of desired projects, advancement, and compensation, with a particular focus on navigating biases. Our panelists will also identify the challenges to self-advocacy that one is likely to face and give tips for navigating both implicit and explicit gender biases, with a special emphasis on the intersectionality of these biases and how factors like race, age, sexuality, disability, caregiving responsibilities, and pregnancy can amplify gender-based challenges. Finally, the panel will discuss strategies for overcoming these obstacles and biases, providing insights for both employers and employees on legal protections, workplace policies, and other employment law considerations essential for fostering an inclusive and equitable legal environment where everyone’s voices are heard.

Moderator:

Frettra M. de Silva, Esq. Past Chair, Women in Law Section Head, Legal, Transaction Banking, Americas Standard Chartered Bank New York, New York

Speakers:

Mirna M. Santiago, Esq. DEI & Employment Law Consultant, President & CEO Girls Rule the Law, Inc. Pawling, NY

Rena Andoh, Esq. Partner Benesch New York, NY

Nihla F. Sikkander, Esq. Assistant Counsel The State University of New York (SUNY) Albany, NY

Michael A. Sabella, Esq. Counsel Baker & Hostetler LLP New York, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias

4:20 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks & Adjournment

Speaker:

Erica S. Youngerman, Esq. Program Chair and Section Secretary, Women in Law Section Of Counsel Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP New York, NY

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Virtual Networking Reception

Moderator: 

Allison Wacker, Esq. Programming Committee Co-Chair, Women in Law Section Director of Risk Management American Express New York, NY

Section Chair, Women in Law Section - Kaelyn E. Gustafson, Esq.

Program Chair - Erica S. Youngerman, Esq.