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NEW YORK—Womble Bond Dickinson attorneys Tara Cho, Vivian Coates, Matar Diouf, Kevin Hall and Kevin Lyn represented the firm at the 2019 Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference and Gala.
In addition, Kevin Lyn moderated a panel discussion on “Chief Diversity Officers: It’s Harder Than It Looks”. In this this discussion, veteran CDOs shared their experiences as CDOs, providing insight into the impact that CDOs can make to the bottom line and with people management, as well as challenges in serving as the catalyst to shift an entire firm or corporation towards a culture that is focused on diversity, inclusion and equity.
Lyn was joined in the panel discussion by Mercedes-Benz, USA Head of Diversity & Inclusion Erica Bolden; Reed Smith Partner & Global Chief Diversity Officer John Iino; and Skadden Arps Director of Talent Pipeline & Diversity & Inclusion Melique Jones; and Proskauer Rose LLP Diversion & Inclusion Officer Peter Wilson, Jr.
Womble Bond Dickinson also sponsored the MCCA Pitch Session Network dinner for the corporate legal department members of MCCA who held pitch sessions for outside law firms in attendance at the Pathways Conference. Vivian Coates provided opening remarks at the dinner on behalf of the firm.
The 2019 MCCA Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference and Gala took place Oct. 16-19 in New York.
Womble Bond Dickinson is a Strategic Sponsor of MCCA. MCCA is committed to advancing the hiring, retention and promotion of diverse lawyers in law departments and law firms by providing research, best practices, professional development and training; and through pipeline initiatives.
Tara Cho chairs Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Team. Her practice is dedicated to counseling clients on privacy and data security issues across industries such as technology, retail, e-commerce, and life sciences, with an emphasis on compliance risks and regulatory requirements affecting the healthcare and healthtech sector.
Vivian Coates advises businesses on securities and mergers and acquisitions transactions, with an emphasis on designing and implementing equity incentive plans and employment, severance, change-in-control and other compensation-related arrangements. She counsels public companies, private equity firms and emerging and late-stage private companies on securities and tax laws that impact executive compensation.
Matar Diouf ’s core practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital finance, and general business and corporate law. He also provides operating companies and business owners with a wide range of outside general counsel services, including commercial contracting, and guidance on corporate governance, and regulatory and technology licensing matters.
Kevin Hall is a skilled commercial litigator and political law attorney whose practice intersects at the four corners of law, business, politics and public policy. He has represented Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation and elected officials facing ethics charges, criminal prosecution, and/or impeachment and removal from political office. On the business side, Hall has tried commercial cases to verdict in state and federal courts including claims such as breach of contract, business torts, unfair trade practices, unfair competition, commercial disparagement, and federal and state class actions.
Kevin Lyn is an experienced Intellectual Property attorney who helps clients prepare, prosecute and commercialize patents. He has counseled clients on matters related to mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, business method, software and Internet-related technologies. He serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee.
