Lavender Link is our corporate counsel practice webinar series. It’s designed by in-house counsel for in-house counsel but are for available for all who are interested in the issues facing in-house attorneys.
If We Want To Go Far, Go Together: Partnering with Law Firm Diversity Professionals to Advance Change
July 1st at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET
Bendita seeks to transform the legal profession into an inclusive industry where women, minorities, LGBT+, differently-abled and other professionals the world views differently are able to thrive. She works to create and implement the firm’s diversity and inclusion strategy for the for the benefit of our clients, our diverse professionals and our culture. Bendita is honored to be able to engage in two of her passions at Hogan Lovells – serving as a catalyst for diverse professionals to be able to thrive and for others to invest in them, and working across difference to create community – by building systems, inspiring investment, and cultivating connections.
Bendita practiced law for nearly a decade and draws on her experiences as a large law firm lawyer financing projects in emerging markets, in-house counsel at International Finance Corporation and Goldman Sachs, a diversity consultant for large and mid-size organizations, and a certified professional coach to catalyze change in institutions and individuals. Bendita was honored as a 2015 Rising Star by Super Lawyers, to Who’s Who Legal – Project Finance in Washington, DC for 2015, and to Who’s Who in Black Dallas in 2016 and 2017.
Bendita also increases inclusivity in legal profession through service as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the National LGBT Bar, as a member of the Institute for Inclusion in Legal Profession’s Social Impact Incubator, as part of the national Mansfield Rule Taskforce implementing the transforming diversity rule in the legal industry in the US and UK, and on a committee to launch a version of the American Bar Association 113 diversity initiative in the UK market. She previously spent nearly a decade as a member of the Board of Directors of the Harvard Real Estate Academic Initiative. Bendita is a proud graduate of Barnard College and Harvard Law School. You can connect with Bendita at www.linkedin.com/in/bendita
The clarion call to advance diversity and inclusion in the legal profession – and specifically, at law firms – has never been louder. That push has come through the many initiatives (including the Mansfield Rule Initiative and ABA 113 requests) and open letters where general counsel are requiring their outside counsel to demonstrate progress on diversity or risk losing their work. You have seen these calls and you too are interested in using your position as in-house counsel to advance change both internally and externally. Whether you are new to requesting D&I information from your law firms or you want to revamp your existing initiatives, your law firms’ diversity and inclusion professionals can help.
During this session you will learn:
- What D&I professionals at law firms do.
- Mutually beneficial ways that law firm D&I professionals partner with in-house counsel to advance diversity.
- Approaches that aren’t as successful in partnering with law firm D&I professionals.
CBD + FDA: Demystifying Evolving Rules Around Foods, Supplements & Cosmetics
September 15th at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET
Brian P. Sylvester is Special Counsel at global law firm Foley & Lardner LLP where he focuses his practice on Food & Drug Law. Brian guides companies through every stage of the production and distribution lifecycle – from premarket clearance through manufacturing, advertising, labeling, recalls and unanticipated regulatory scrutiny. He has authored and co-authored a number of timely articles on trending legal issues and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Food Navigator-USA, and Inside Health Policy, among other leading publications. Brian obtained his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his law degree from Cornell.
Two years ago, the United States legalized hemp. America’s legalization of hemp thrust CBD, a key hemp derivative, into the regulatory spotlight. Currently, U.S. law at the federal level prohibits the addition of CBD to foods and dietary supplements. At the same time, there is a patchwork of differing state laws on the subject and periodic warnings by FDA on the safety of CBD. This has all led to substantial confusion among stakeholders, fomenting calls for clarity at the federal level.
Brian’s presentation will provide high level insights into the current state of the law at both the federal and state levels. The presentation will focus on FDA’s current enforcement posture and how food, dietary supplement and cosmetic companies can successfully navigate the evolving CBD regulatory terrain.
The session will address:
- Who are the key regulators of CBD-infused products?
- What is the current state of regulation at the federal and state levels?
- How can food, dietary supplement and cosmetic companies successfully navigate the evolving CBD regulatory terrain?
- What can we expect next from the FDA and state regulators?