Ohio Women's Bar Association Latest News

Top Corporate Counsel finalists named

Elizabeth Krile — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:54:02 GMT

Columbus Business First announced its Top Corporate Counsel award finalists Friday:

Michael Currie, Kokosing Construction Co.
Tod Friedman, Schottenstein Property Group
David Garman, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
Daniel Hackett, Mount Carmel Health System
Patricia Hatler, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
Eric Henricks, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
Darrell Hughes, Sequent Inc.
Kristina Kepner, Cardinal Health Inc.
Gregory Kirstein, Columbus Blue Jackets
Stephanie Kristal, 2Checkout.com Inc.
James Muckle, Vrable Healthcare Inc.
R. L. Kelly Phillips, Safe Auto Insurance Co.
Michelle Proia, Mettler-Toledo LLC
Bridgette Roman, Community Choice Financial Inc.
Evelyn Smith, Mettler-Toledo LLC
Gilda Spencer, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
David Stein, Residential Finance Corp.

Incoming President Michelle Proia Addresses Meeting Attendees

Elizabeth Krile — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:54:31 GMT

Excerpts from Michelle Proia’s speech at the 2012 OWBA Women’s Forum and Annual Meeting Luncheon

A question I am often asked as a lawyer is would I go to law school if I could make the choice again?

Earlier this Spring, I traveled on a business trip to Pittsburgh. I am a University of Pittsburgh School of Law graduate and made it back to the city after almost ten years.

Being there reminded me that around the same time I began law school in the early Nineties, three women in Ohio were uniting a statewide group to form the OWBA. They were Justice Alice Resnick, Attorney Pam Hultin and retired Magistrate Judge Patricia Hemann. They along with other leaders became the founding members of our bar.

What made the efforts of these women so notable was that they organized a statewide effort – they did not focus solely on their local bars– for they had more ambitious plans. In order to fulfill this vision of our Founders, we will remain steadfast in the inclusion of our entire State membership. Cleveland and Columbus have been historically strong for us, with Cincinnati growing significantly. Toledo, Dayton, Akron, Youngstown and surrounding counties are also very critical regions.

The geographic diversity represented by our new Executive Committee emphasizes this priority; Jennifer Jacquemain of Akron and Laura Sanom of Dayton join our executive committee of the association this year. Also, our President-Elect Judge Stephanie Bowman of Cincinnati will most certainly inspire the entire membership base with her commitment to our mission. In order to reach out to the entire state, Executive Director Elizabeth Krile, who is so vital to our bar, and OWBA leaders engaged in a seven-city statewide tour to conduct an in-person dialogue with our members. We are listening, and we will deliver sound value for your membership.

People often ask me why an in-house lawyer of a large public company needs to be part of a woman’s bar. I work for a $2 billion global manufacturer based in Switzerland as a General Counsel – Americas (Producing Organizations) and Assistant Secretary for 9 production facilities, in addition to providing lead counsel to our Global Supply Chain, E-Commerce, Information Technology and Group Finance functions in the Americas. Most of my career has been in-house in heavy manufacturing such as steel and paint and coatings, including 5 years in Cleveland.

You may be surprised to hear that I have never had a female mentor at any of my jobs. This has not been because of my lack of interest in such, but rather due to scarcity of supply. Of the Fortune 500, 488 are led by male CEOs, and men hold 84% of the Board seats. Four-hundred of the Fortune 500 General Counsel are men. While companies with 3 or more women on their Boards enjoy a higher Return on Investment, 100 companies in the Fortune 500 have decided not to place a single woman on their Boards.

I am not here to say that one gender is better than the other. Simply, women are different than men. This is not unlike saying that Baby Boomers are different than Gen X-ers when companies look at marketing strategies. Different groups of people provide a clear value-add, as they present new life experiences. The same is true for people of color. At law firms only 1.8% of partners are women of color. The corporate statistics are not much more favorable. We are a better profession than this, and we must do better.

In addition to reaching out to the entire state, we are also actively meeting with in-house counsel from both the private and public sectors. With direction from OWBA Past President, Maria Kortan Sampson of Goodrich, we have formed the first-ever in-house counsel subcommittee. The interest from the in-house segment has been substantial, and we will work together to help law firm women succeed in their practices. Claudia Herrington and Jennifer Fuller of Scott's have been instrumental in moving this in-house counsel effort forward.

The Leadership Institute and the Statewide Mentoring Program will further provide lasting value to our members. The Leadership Institute will transform future leaders due to the exemplary service of Valoria Hoover. She has given her all in everything she has done for us, and we truly thank her. With the extensive experience of Denise Platfoot-Lacey, Angie Courtwright and the entire Leadership Institute Advisory Committee, the Foundation will change the lives of many.

In the U.S. today, we find ourselves in a presidential election year. The economy is on everyone’s mind. In a few years, average law school debt will exceed $200,000 per student. Almost 125 of our 550 members are law students. They are critically worried about finding a job when they graduate.

So in this environment, would I go to law school again? My answer is yes. My purpose has not changed, it has only become a more firm conviction.

I went to law school to correct the inequities that the world so heartlessly delivers to the less advantaged, the less favored. I heard one of our members so eloquently say that the law provides her with the ability to help others while also, in turn, making her strong. And the stronger she becomes the more she can help others. The law allows her a means to this end.

After all, even our founding members worked to make people like you and me stronger whom they did not even know. In doing so, they made themselves stronger, they made us stronger, and they made the profession stronger.

On behalf of our entire association and foundation leadership teams, thank you for allowing us to serve you this year.

Platfoot Lacey Becomes the 3rd Ohio Women's Bar Foundation President

Elizabeth Krile — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:18:23 GMT

On May 10th, Denise Platfoot Lacey was sworn in as the 3rd President of the Ohio Women's Bar Foundation (OWBF). Platfoot Lacey has been active in both the OWBF and the Ohio Women's Bar Association for many years.

Platfoot Lacey is currently a professor at the University of Dayton School of Law.

Professor Lacey joined the Dayton Law faculty in 2007, after having served for two years as the secretary to the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism for the Supreme Court of Ohio. There she directed all aspects of the Commission's responsibilities and developed policies and activities on its behalf, designed to promote professionalism among Ohio's attorneys and judges. In her capacity as secretary, she served as the spokesperson and representative for the Commission, fostering relationships with Ohio courts, bar associations, law schools and similar Commissions in other jurisdictions to collaborate with, make recommendations to, and assist them in professionalism efforts in the legal profession. She updated the Supreme Court of Ohio regularly on the activities and recommendations of the Commission as well. She regularly developed and taught ethics and professionalism continuing legal education courses in Ohio and designed the curriculum for the Supreme Court of Ohio’s statewide mentoring program pilot (Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program), which launched in 2006 and is currently offered as a permanent program for newly admitted lawyers. She was involved in drafting recommended amendments to Ohio’s New Lawyers Training regulations (Gov. Bar R. X), which were adopted in 2008. She was also one of the initial drafters of A Consumer’s Practical Guide to Managing a Relationship with a Lawyer, which was ultimately published by the Ohio Supreme Court in October 2009.

Prior to that, Professor Lacey was assistant counsel of the Cleveland Bar Association, now the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, where she investigated allegations of professional misconduct by local attorneys and judges and prosecuted disciplinary cases on behalf of the bar association. She has remained active in the professional responsibility field by serving on the Dayton Bar Association Certified Grievance Committee (2008-2010) and the Bar Examination & Qualifications Committee (2009-Present). Professor Lacey also served as a board trustee of the Ohio Women’s Bar Association from 2008 to 2010. In May 2010, Professor Lacey was honored by the Ohio Women’s Bar Association with the President’s Choice Award, which awards an association member for contribution of support, energy, talent, time and vision.

While at Dayton Law, Professor Lacey has initiated the Women in the Law Program Series, which provides a forum for discussion on topics of interest to women in the legal profession and provides meaningful opportunities for women law students to network with women in the legal profession. The Women in the Law Program Series includes two facets: the mentoring network series, which creates small groups of women law students and practitioners who engage in on-going meetings for guided discussion on issues relevant to women in the legal profession; and a speakers series, which focuses on discussing women’s perspectives in the legal profession, issues in the profession that uniquely affect women, and practical knowledge and skills that students can use to become successful women practitioners.

Ohio Women’s Bar Association Swears in 21st President

Elizabeth Krile — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:25:56 GMT

On May 10, 2012, the Ohio Women’s Bar Association (OWBA) swore in its 21st President, Michelle Proia, of Marysville, Ohio.

Michelle M. Proia is a cum laude graduate of the University of Rochester, and a native of Rochester NY. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she served as an Executive Editor on the Law School’s Journal of Law and Commerce. Ms. Proia started off her legal career in private law firm practice for three years in Pittsburgh, PA and has since worked as an in-house corporate attorney for the last thirteen years of her practice at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation (Wheeling, WV), RPM International Inc. (Medina, OH) and most currently, Mettler-Toledo, LLC (Columbus, OH). Her current role is General Counsel – Americas (Producing Organizations) and Assistant Secretary.

Ms. Proia is President-Elect of the Ohio Women’s Bar Association (OWBA). She also recently served as Vice Chairperson of the OWBA’s Supreme Court Judicial Ratings Committee, which aids the public in making informed decisions about judicial candidates running for Justice positions on the Ohio Supreme Court. Ms. Proia also has recently served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Union County, and also sits on that organization’s Community Investment Committee. Further, Ms. Proia also currently holds a Board seat with U-CO Industries, Inc., an organization which provides employment for developmentally disabled adults in Union County. She is a resident of Marysville, OH. Ms. Proia enjoys spending time with her fiancé Robbie Roe and his two teen-aged sons.

The Positive Impact of a Social Media Presence

Elizabeth Krile — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:49:15 GMT

Social media is a phrase that can bring up nightmares of ethical risks and time-consuming efforts on one hand, or happy thoughts of inexpensive and easy marketing on the other. The truth is somewhere in between. Proper and timely use of social media can help expand a network and a career. Improper use can be a time-waster and cause serious embarrassment. But with a little bit of education and a lot of appreciation for its value, social media, combined with more traditional efforts, can help take a legal career from zero to 60 in a surprisingly short period of time. This is especially true for women attorneys. Read more

Bravo to Sheryl Sandberg for leaving work at 5:30

Elizabeth Krile — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:38:45 GMT

NEWS FLASH: Working mom leaves office at 5:30 to spend time with kids.

Sadly, this is newsworthy, especially when the mom in question is Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook. By outing herself and urging others to follow her lead, Sandberg did us all a great service. Her announcement is an important step in normalizing and destigmatizing flexible work practices that should be prevailing practices, not exceptions. Read more

Woman Of Achievement: Susan Rector

Elizabeth Krile — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:20:23 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Susan Rector grew up across the Ohio River in Parkersburg, W. Va. but central Ohio caught her eye once she finished her education.

"I was really looking for a job and looking for a place we'd have a good future. My husband and I are both lawyers, trained as lawyers, and moved here to follow a career path," said Rector. Read more

Want the Job? Be a Narcissist

Elizabeth Krile — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:31:51 GMT

You know that guy who sucks all the air out of the room at family gatherings? Or the woman who’s often wrong but never in doubt about just how right she is. Read more

Twenty years on, ‘Year of the Woman’ fades

Elizabeth Krile — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:05:13 GMT

They included two women of color: New Mexico’s Susana Martinez, a Latina; and Indian American Nikki Haley in South Carolina. Both are being mentioned as possible running mates for the GOP presidential nominee.

Political scientists and feminist activists are in wide agreement as to what is, and what isn’t, behind the relatively small number of women in elected office. Read more

Judge George honored as judicial pioneer

Elizabeth Krile — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:35:13 GMT

Judicial pioneer Joyce Jackson George was honored Jan. 26 at the Akron Bar Association where attorneys and friends gathered during a monthly Sidebar social reception. Read more

Members in the News: McBride Appointed Magistrate

Elizabeth Krile — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:07 GMT

Congratulations to OWBA Member and OWBF Treasurer Maria McBride on her recent appointment as Magistrate of the Butler County Domestic Relations Court. Prior to her appointment, McBride had her own solo practice.

Female Judges of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals: The Role of a HotPlate in Sixth Circuit History

Elizabeth Krile — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:16:55 GMT

In honor of International Women's Day 2012, marking the economic, political and social achievements of women around the world, we would like to recognize a few of the many historical achievements of the past and present female judges of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Read more

Judicial Primary Election Winners Move on to November

Elizabeth Krile — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:14:21 GMT

A former northeast Ohio appeals court judge will be on the general election ballot in November as a candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court, according to complete but unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office and Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections. Read more.

OWBA Community Service Project at Cleveland Foodbank a Success

Elizabeth Krile — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:05:56 GMT

On February 21, 2012, fifteen volunteers on behalf of the Ohio Women's Bar Association arrived at the Cleveland Foodbank. The volunteers bonded over sorting food donations for distribution to various hunger programs. Many of the volunteers were impressed to see how much food passes through the Foodbank on a daily basis. Last year alone the Cleveland Foodbank distributed over 29 million meals (34.5 million pounds of food) and other essential products to 618 member hunger programs. OWBA proudly supports such an important organization within the Cleveland community.

Military Spouses Update

Elizabeth Krile — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:17:41 GMT

The ABA House of Delegates passed a resolution supporting reductions in licensing barriers for lawyer military spouses who must make frequent moves because of their spouses' work assignments. Click here to view the video update.

The Ohio Women's Bar Association is proud of its involvement in this issue. Click here to read the OWBA's military spouse resolution and recommendations.

Members in the News: OWBF Leadership Institute Class Member Sheely Elected Partner

Elizabeth Krile — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:31:52 GMT

The law firm of Bricker & Eckler LLP is pleased to announce that Sommer L. Sheely has been elected as a Partner of the firm. Based in the firm's Columbus office, Sommer is a member of the firm’s Litigation group. She serves clients as lead and trial counsel before federal and state courts and administrative panels.

Sommer’s practice includes defending and pursuing claims on behalf of insurance companies in disputes with agents and insureds; vendors, suppliers, manufacturers and designers in various contract litigation, including with respect to UCC issues; trustees, individuals and beneficiaries in fiduciary disputes, including charitable giving, will and trust contests and other fiduciary challenges; and individuals and entities in partnership disputes, including dissolution issues. Sommer’s practice also regularly involves defense of class actions.

A good steward of her community and profession, Sommer is actively involved in a number of organizations. She is a regular presenter at the Ohio State Bar Association and National Business Institute on a variety of litigation topics. Additionally, Sommer is a member of the inaugural class of the Ohio Women’s Bar Foundation Leadership Institute. She also serves as chair of the Charitable Events Committee for Bricker & Eckler’s Women In Networking group. She is a member of the Columbus Bar Association’s Bar Admissions Committee. Also of note, Ohio Super Lawyers has recognized her as a “Rising Star” since 2009.

Sommer earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her law degree, with honors, from The Ohio State University, where she was managing editor of The Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, and a finalist and regional Best Oral Advocate on the National Moot Court team.

OWBA Ratings for Judicial Candidates in Cuyahoga County

Elizabeth Krile — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:08:05 GMT

The Ohio Women’s Bar Association announced today its ratings for the 2012 contested March primary judicial candidates running for election in Cuyahoga County.

The purpose of the OWBA Judicial Selection Committee (JSC) is to objectively evaluate and rate judicial candidates and publish the ratings to the community at large. To see the most recent ratings, go to www.Judge4Yourself.com.

The OWBA’s JSC is part of an organization known as the Judicial Candidates Ratings Coalition or “JCRC.” The JCRC consists of committees from the OWBA, the Norman Minor Bar Association, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Cuyahoga County Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association. Before each primary and general election, JCRC conducts interviews of candidates running for judicial office in Cuyahoga County.

The evaluation process is confidential, non-partisan and independent. The candidates are evaluated based on the criteria of integrity, judicial temperament, diligence, professional competence and community involvement and understanding. Overall, the question is whether the candidate will be a competent, fair and trustworthy judge. The evaluations include a questionnaire which provides information regarding the candidates’ background, legal experience and motivation for becoming a judge. Interviews of each candidate are also conducted by representative members of the organizations involved in JCRC. The candidates also provide writing samples and references. After the interview process is completed, each organization gives the candidates one of the following ratings:

Excellent: This rating means that the candidate is outstanding based on the criteria and is a superior choice for the office.

Good: This rating means the candidate substantially meets the criteria and is well-qualified for the office.

Adequate: This rating means the candidate meets the criteria passably, or, alternatively, fails to satisfy one or more of them. A candidate rated adequate possesses at least the minimum qualifications for the office.

Not Recommended: This rating means the candidate does not meet the criteria, lacking the minimum qualifications for judicial office.

Refused to Participate: If a candidate fails or refuses to appear for an interview or fails to complete the questionnaire, the candidate’s rating will be “refused to participate.” However, if the candidate fails or refuses to appear and there is enough information relative to the candidate’s qualifications, a “not recommended” rating may be given.

Female Bosses Are Getting (a bit) More Respect

Elizabeth Krile — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:02:39 GMT

Well, I guess this is progressundefinedA majority of Americans don't give a hoot whether their boss is male or female. Harvard Business Review reports: "A recent online survey of more than 60,000 people by Kim M. Elsesser of UCLA and Janet Lever of California State University shows that the proportion having no preference now stands at 54 percent." Read more.

Members in the News: Sheehan Certified as a Specialist in Appellate Law

Elizabeth Krile — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:23:23 GMT

Reminger partner Michelle J. Sheehan has been certified by the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) as a specialist in Appellate Law. This distinction makes Michelle one of only 29 Certified Appellate Law specialists in the State of Ohio. Attorneys who pursue certification as specialists must pass an extensive written examination in their specialty field, demonstrate a high level of involvement and expertise in the specialty area, fulfill ongoing education requirements and be favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work.

Michelle concentrates her legal practice on appellate advocacy and post trial matters as well as general litigation including insurance coverage matters, premises liability, and government liability issues. Michelle has argued cases before the Ohio Supreme Court, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and most appellate courts in Ohio.

Administratively, Michelle is a chairperson of the firm's judicial liaison and marketing/public relations groups. She is also a frequent lecturer for professional associations and continuing legal education seminars dealing with appellate, insurance coverage and risk management issues.

In support of the firm's community and charitable commitments, Michelle has served as President of the Ohio Women's Bar Association, and the Visiting Committee to the Dean of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She is currently a Board of Trustee for EcoWatch, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Alumni Association and serves on the Rocky River Civil Service Commission. She was also a 2011 ATHENA Award Finalists. She is married to Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Brendan Sheehan.

"We have one of the best appellate practices group in Ohio. Our partners, Michelle Sheehan and Holly Wilson are two of only twenty nine attorneys in the state that share this distinct honor. Their expertise further enables us to provide results for clients at the trial court and appellate court level.” remarked Reminger Managing Partner Stephen E. Walters.

OWBF Leadership class member DiSilvio featured in Ohio Super Lawyer

Elizabeth Krile — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:30:13 GMT

Marilena DiSilvio gets up to close her office door during an interview, but her assistant asks her to leave it open. Everyone, it seems, wants to hear DiSilvio’s stories. That’s a good thing for any lawyer, but particularly for a medical malpractice litigator whose every case pits her against a patient with a heart-tugging tale. Read more