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VOLUME 14: KELLY DERMODY Managing Partner of the San Francisco office Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Berns

Kelly Dermody is Managing Partner of the San Francisco office and chair of the employment practice group at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP.  Kelly represents employees and consumers in class, collective, and #metoo actions.

Kelly is a leader in non-profit organizations devoted to serving the public interest, improving access to justice, and ensuring that the rights of historically disenfranchised persons are protected.

In 2012, Kelly served as President of the Bar Association of San Francisco. She has been inducted as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and has served on the governing Council of the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section. 

In 2016, Kelly was named a “Giant Slayer” by The Recorder legal press. Kelly has been named as a 2019 recipient of the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award by the American Bar Association.

Kelly is a graduate of Harvard College and Berkeley Law School.

LISTEN TO VOLUME 14
With Hosts:  Summer C. Selleck and Ariel B. Lee
Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At:  Alameda County District Attorney Office 

Volume 13: Judge Anita Santos

Anita Santos is a Judge of the Superior Court, Contra Costa County. She was appointed by Governor Brown in December 2014 and is currently assigned to felony criminal trials.

 

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Volume 12: Neda Mansoorian of Oleander Law Partners LLC

Neda A. Mansoorian is a co-founder of and the managing partner at Oleander Law Partners LLP. Located in Los Gatos, California, she provides crisis management services for her individual and corporate clients in Santa Clara County, Silicon Valley and other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. Admitted to practice before all California state courts, Ms. Mansoorian is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California.

Ms. Mansoorian uses her extensive background and experience in litigation, business, mediation, and negotiations to provide advice and counsel to clients who are risking the loss of their reputation and standing when they are facing a crisis in their personal or business lives. The types of matters that she has handled in this regard have involved business disputes, embezzlement, wrongful termination, extortion, high-profile divorces and workplace harassment. She has counted among her clients chief executive officers, public companies and public officials. The manner in which she has handled what are often sensitive issues has earned her the respect of her colleagues, as evidenced by her receipt of an AV Preeminent peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell every year since 2014. Ms. Mansoorian has also been named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal's annual 40 Under 40 list.

Prior to founding Oleander Law Partners LLP in October 2016, Ms. Mansoorian was a partner and the chief legal officer at a well-known San Jose law firm. While she was there, she represented many high-profile clients and helped to resolve their disputes both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. A fellow in both the American Bar Foundation and the Litigation Counsel of America, Ms. Mansoorian holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law.

LISTEN TO VOLUME 12:

With Hosts: 
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung

Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan


Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office 

Volume 11: Contra Costa County Superior Judge Danielle Douglas

Judge Douglas was appointed to the Contra Costa Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown in July 2014 and joined the bench that August after concluding her last murder trial as a San Francisco prosecutor. She had previously served as a deputy district attorney in the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office from 2000 to 2013.

Judge Douglas grew up in Redwood City, went to undergraduate school in Missouri. Judge Douglas landed a job at the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office right out of law school. She built a reputation as a diligent prosecutor, popular among her colleagues, opposing lawyers and judges. Serving as a member of her office's domestic violence unit, Judge Douglas tried her first murder charge when the victim of an assault later died. It was the first of many homicide victories for the young DA.

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Volume 10: Judge Victoria Kolakowski, Superior Court Judge of California for Alameda County

Judge Victoria Kolakowski became the first and only openly transgender trial judge in the United States when she was elected to the Alameda County Superior Court in November 2010.  

As a judge, she has served in both civil and criminal trial assignments. She recently completed a year as the Supervising Judge of the Collaborative Courts, with subject matter oversight over all of the treatment courts (drug, behavioral health, veterans’, etc.) in Alameda County.

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Volume 9: Suzette Z. Torres - Vice President/Regional Counsel of North American Title Company, Inc.'s

Suzette Z. Torres is Vice President/Regional Counsel of North American Title Company, Inc.’s (“North American Title”). She provides legal and escrow advisory support to North American Title’s branches throughout the Western Region which includes California,
Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Her duties include handling compliance and employment issues, providing underwriting guidance, and advising on commercial transactions. Prior to joining North American, Ms. Torres worked for another national underwriter,
first as VP/Trial Counsel, and later transitioned to VP/Underwriting Counsel. When she was in private practice, she rose up to partnership at her firm (Bardellini, Straw, Cavin & Bupp LLP) and became the only minority, female, equity partner.
Her practice included resolving title and escrow claims, negotiating business disputes, managing contract negotiations, trials and handling several adversary proceedings in bankruptcy. Suzette served as the District 4 Governor of the California Women's
Lawyer's Association (the largest women's bar association statewide) and was the Chair of the In House Counsel Network. She is an active member and former Co-Chair of the In-House Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay
Area, a member of the Filipino Bar Association-Northern California, and a member of the San Francisco and East Bay Chapters of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women).  She has been rated AV Preeminent® by her peers, the highest rating given by Martindale-Hubble®,
and was selected as an honoree for the 2018 National Women in Law (Collaborative Leadership Category).

LISTEN HERE: VOLUME 9

With Hosts: 
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung

Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan

Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

Volume 7: Judge Tara Flanagan

Judge Tara Flanagan serves as a Judge of the Superior Court of California in the County of Alameda. 

Judge Flanagan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge and earned her law degree from Southwestern Law School in 1998. 
Before going to law school, Judge Flanagan lived in England pursuing her
rugby career. She was selected to the US Women's Rugby National Team. She and her teammates went on to win the Women's Rugby World Cup in 1991. The USA Eagles followed their impressive 1991 victory with a second-place finish in the 1994 World Cup.
Judge Flanagan is a member of the USA Rugby Hall of Fame. 

As her rugby career came to a close, Judge Flanagan enrolled in Law School. Attending law school at night while working full time, she distinguished herself at Southwestern, becoming class president and named to the Moot Court Honors Program,
where she later served on the Honors Board of Directors.

After graduation, Judge Flanagan’s law career started at a large litigation firm in Orange County; from there, she joined the Los Angeles District Attorney's office where she served as Deputy District Attorney. During her first year at the D.A.'s
office, her hard work and skill earned her recognition and honors as an "Outstanding Domestic Violence Prosecutor."

In 2004, Judge Flanagan began practicing family law. As a legal aid attorney, she represented domestic violence survivors and their children. She fought for restraining orders and financial support to ensure that the victims had the security
to move forward with their lives. Later, Judge Flanagan was the managing Attorney of the Self-Help Center of the Superior Court, and Family Law Facilitator. She later opened her own practice and continued to protect victims of domestic violence.

In 2012 Judge Flanagan won election for a seat on the Alameda County Court. Her seat was challenged in 2018 and she won that election as well.  Since joining the bench, she has continued to be an active voice in our community, serving on
various boards and volunteering her time.

LISTEN HERE: VOLUME 7
With Hosts:
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung

Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan

Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office

Volume 4: Featuring Louise Renne, Civil Rights Extraordinaire

Louise Renne is a lawyer, former Supervisor and one-time City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, California. 
She is a graduate of both Michigan State University and Columbia Law School (1961).
Ms. Renne was appointed Supervisor by Mayor Dianne Feinstein in 1978. She acted as member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for 8 years from 1978 to 1986, where she was chair of the Finance Committee.

She was then appointed by Feinstein as City Attorney in 1986 and became the first female City Attorney in San Francisco history. She served in the position until 2001. In this role, she argued on behalf of the state before the California and United States Supreme Courts.

She had her own private practice for 2 years and was a staff attorney in the general counsel’s office at the Federal Communications Commission for 3 years.

Ms. Renne served as General Counsel for the San Francisco Unified School District where she led the effort to combat corruption existing at the time and establish a legal department.

She also served as City Attorney for the City of Richmond.

She currently works at  Renne Sloan Holtzman & Sakai LLP in San Francisco, which is a public law firm.
She was a founder and former California Women Lawyers President from 1977-1978.


LISTEN HERE: VOLUME 4

Volume 3: Featuring Marge Randolph, Senior V.P. of HR for Disney

The Walt Disney Company consists of much more than just “The Happiest Place on Earth,” and Marjorie Randolph’s 15 years there revolved around Walt Disney Studios, where she was senior vice president of human resources and administration. That’s a lot
of happiness to manage: live action and animated movies (including much-loved Pixar and Miramax films), music associated with the movies, the home entertainment division, and live stage shows like Disney on Ice. Prior to her work at Disney, Randolph,
who is now retired, served as senior vice president and general counsel of the department store chain Mervyn’s.
Just like Disneyland on a hot day with long lines and tired children, human resources work isn’t always all smiles. But Randolph knows
the value of one, even when the job gets tough. “During intense legal negotiations, I realized how important it is to read a room, understand how critically important nonverbal communication is, and understand how humor can help bridge an adversarial
situation,” she explains.
https://www.cla.purdue.edu/alumni/OurAlumni/Profiles/Randolph._Marjorie.html

LISTEN HERE: Volume 3 Marge Randolph

With Hosts: 
Summer C. Selleck
Ariel B. Lee


Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office 

Volume 2: Featuring Drucilla Ramey

Dru Ramey is the former executive director of the National Association of Women Judges, former tenured member of the GGU School of Law Faculty, and former executive director and general counsel of the Bar Association of San Francisco. While serving with
the Bar Association, Dru transformed the organization into one of the nation’s leaders in diversifying the profession and in the provision of legal services to the poor. For more than 30 years, Dru has been devoted to diversity, equal opportunity
and access in the justice system. She has chaired the ACLU of Northern California and the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women and served as a co-founder and board leader of California Women Lawyers.

Dru has received numerous honors and awards in recognition of the contributions she has made to the legal profession, including the prestigious Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award – the American Bar Association’s highest honor for
women in the profession, the American Jewish Committee’s Learned Hand Award and the National Bar Association’s Wiley Branton Award. 

Dru currently serves as the Chair of the Equal Rights Advocates and sits on the boards of the International Association of Women’s Judges and the Habeas Corpus Resource Center, which monitors 743 of California’s death row inmates.

Dru is a charismatic public speaker and fierce civil rights advocate who received her Bachelor’s Degree magna cum laude from Harvard University and her Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School.

Seat At The Table-Vol.2-Drucilla Ramey

With Hosts: 
Summer C. Selleck
Mika Domingo

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office 

Volume 1: Featuring District Attorney Nancy O'Malley

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley is a nationally recognized expert in human trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She is known for her many innovative programs, including those to fight real estate fraud, elder and child abuse, prescription drug fraud, chronic absenteeism, sexual assault, domestic violence, ID Theft and environmental violations, as well as creating a project to eliminate the backlog of rape kits in Alameda County and beyond.

DA O’Malley has led the charge for stronger legislative protections and increased rights for victims through her legislative work in Sacramento. Over the last ten years, her Office has obtained restitution orders of over $126 million for victims of crime in Alameda County. DA O’Malley created the Family Justice Center, pioneered an electronic notification system for victims, as well as developed H.E.A.T. Watch – an anti-human-trafficking initiative that has become a national model.

Recently, she was the first District Attorney in the nation to receive the 2016 American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Award for professional excellence and for advancing opportunities for women the legal profession. In 2015, DA O’Malley received the 2015 Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and used the prize to launch the H.E.A.T. Institute, a research-based think-tank committed to ending all forms of human trafficking in California.

A Seat at the Table - Vol 1 - Featuring Nancy O'Malley
With Hosts: 
Summer C. Selleck
Sabrina Ashjian

Sound Editing and Recording: Gilbert Leung
Music: Jonathan M. C. Jordan
Recording At: Alameda County District Attorney Office