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D I V E R S I T Y , 

I N C L U S I O N & D E V E L O P M E N T 

2 0 1 5 : 

A 

Y E A R 

I N 

R E V I E W

Executive Summary 

We proudly present to you the fifth edition of Diversity, Inclusion & 

Development 2015: A Year in Review, Lathrop & Gage’s annual publication 

highlighting our efforts and accomplishments. 

In this edition we highlight two things: experience and progress. We have 

experienced steady growth and have made an impact in our communities. 

We strive to foster an environment of inclusion and diversity and value the 

unique skill set of each person in our firm. We believe that diverse experience 

and perspective creates exceptional client service. We aim to improve our 

employee engagement and development, service and community involvement. 

Leadership & 

Diversity and Inclusiveness 

Committee 

Our Diversity & Inclusiveness Committee develops ways to recruit, retain and advance the 

individuals who make up our growing firm. We provide support and resources to affinity groups 

as well as community organizations in our respective markets. The D&I Committee works with 

firm leadership to develop strategic policies to reflect our culture. 

COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP 

Contents: 

3. Leadership & Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee 

4. Groups 

5. External Initiatives 

6. Retention / Advancement 

9. 2015 Diversity & Inclusiveness Community Engagement 

10. Women Newsmakers 

12. Pipeline Initiatives 

13. Did You Know? 

Susan Charles 

Managing Partner 

Chicago 

Mark Bluhm 

Chief Executive Officer 

Kansas City 

This year, the D&I Committee and Minority Attorney Association teamed up for a 

special development session with diversity consultant, Karen Hester, Executive Director, 

Center for Legal Inclusiveness, based in Denver. Hester’s “You Can’t Win The 

Game If You Don’t Have the Playbook” session provided a national overview of law firm 

diversity and inclusion and a very candid discussion on how to obtain the playbook for success 

while navigating biases (namely organizational, availability, attribution and confirmation). 

Hissan Anis 

Associate 

Overland Park 

Joel Voran 

Chairman 

Kansas City 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 

Emily Cantwell 

Associate 

St. Louis 

Dionne King 

Diversity Manager 

Kansas City 

Amanda Ebert 

Sisney 

Associate 

Kansas City 

Teofilo Javier, Jr. 

Associate 

Boston 

Jehan Kamil 

Moore 

Of Counsel 

Kansas City 

Development 

session with 

Karen Hester 

Gillian M. Power 

Chief Information 

Officer 

Kansas City 

Cheri Rhodes 

Chief Administrative 

Officer 

Kansas City 

Lisa Simon 

Chief Client 

Development Officer 

Kansas City 

John Storey 

Chief Human 

Resources Officer 

Kansas City 

Cynthia Teel 

Associate 

Denver 

Gregory Zinkl 

Of Counsel 

Chicago 

2 d LATHROP & GAGE | A Year In Review 2015 

LATHROP & GAGE | A Year In Review 2015 d 3

Groups 

MINORITY ATTORNEY ASSOCIATION (MAA) 

Wale Akinmoladun - Chair 

The MAA stimulates the professional 

and personal needs and goals of its 

attorneys and other professionals 

of color within the firm. All MAA 

members are encouraged to 

actively connect, network and 

engage with peers, business leaders, law students 

and other colleagues within the community to build 

and grow impactful business, cultural and 

social relationships. The MAA achieves 

its objectives by building an 

environment where diverse 

cultures, backgrounds 

and life experiences 

are shared and 

appreciated. 

MAA Retreat 

The members 

with Charmaine 

emphasize civility, 

McClarie 

education and interaction 

by holding regular meetings, 

hosting its annual Diversity Reception, 

participating in pipeline and recruiting 

programs for diverse students, and coordinating 

an annual MAA Retreat for its members, inviting 

speakers to discuss business development, innovation 

in the legal field and important trends. We encourage 

members to attend national, regional and local 

conferences, among other meaningful programs and 

events. MAA members seek to participate and enrich 

the firm and the communities in which the members live. 

Among our 2015 activities: 

This year’s highlight was the annual retreat on "Executing Winning 

Strategies in the Workplace.” The MAA participated in a two-part session 

masterfully facilitated by Charmaine McClarie of The McClarie Group. Ms. 

McClarie serves as an executive coach and professional development expert 

to Fortune 500 companies and C-Suite executives. The tailor-made sessions 

gave winning strategies on: 

1. effectively negotiating your way up, down and across the firm; 

2. using situational leadership strategies to cut through barriers; 

3. creating value and being seen as a strategic partner in the firm; and 

4. cultivating important relationships that create advocates and sponsors 

both internally and externally. 

Ms. McClarie also provided on-the-spot branding sessions that motivated 

attorneys to think differently about their careers and the value they add to 

the firm. 

UMKC Law School Pipeline 

Lathrop & Gage supported the 

University of Missouri-Kansas 

City Mock Trial program. At the 

end of February, UMKC graduates 

Lizzy Duff and Wale Akinmoladun 

presented a check to UMKC law 

students. The Mock Trial program 

is a diverse undergraduate student organization focused on teaching and 

developing students in collegiate mock trial competitions. Bert Bates also 

served as a judge. 

** MAA Mission: The Minority Attorney Association is a coalition of attorneys 

engaged in mentoring, recruiting, retaining and developing attorneys of color. 

WOMEN’S ATTORNEY NETWORK (WAN) 

Nancy Schmidt Roush and 

Wendi Alper-Pressman – Chairs 

The WAN, our 

largest group 

of leaders, 

continues 

to provide 

quarterly 

development 

programs for its members. WAN’s Steering Committee 

hosted a full-day Networking Retreat for its members. 

Highlights included: 

d The GRIT Project - an approach introduced by 

the American Bar Association for mastering longterm 

goals through perseverance and passion. This 

session, facilitated by Lisa Hansen and Wendi Alper- 

Pressman, provided unique scenarios and resources 

to best utilize the GRIT mindset. Panelists included 

Kate Gasper and Janice Hetland. 

d Conversational Branding – this session innovatively 

merged the ancient concept of storytelling 

with the new contemporary approach to 

communicating “what you do” as a personal 

brand and elevator pitch. This session included 

a demonstration video with examples by Gretchen 

Gold, Rosie McNamara, Amanda Yoder, Jehan 

Moore and Mara Cohara. 

In our St. Louis office, WAN hosted a networking 

event titled, “Playing Your Cards Right.” Guests 

conversed over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while 

participating in casino-style games. Inspirational 

keynote speaker Virginia McDowell, President and 

CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., shared her insight 

as a woman leader of a major gaming company. 

Approximately 90 women attended the 

event, which concluded with craps, 

blackjack and roulette. 

WAN Guest Speaker 

Virginia McDowell 

WAN 

Retreat 

Women in Law 

Empowerment Forum 

Lathrop & Gage is proud to be listed among the top firms in the nation 

for female equity and power. The Women in Law Empowerment 

Forum (WILEF) honored 44 firms with its 2015 WILEF Gold Standard 

Certification. Firms receive this distinction when a significant 

percentage of women attorneys are promoted to partnership, function 

as managing partners, lead in primary governance committees and 

practice groups, and are represented in the top half of a firm’s most 

highly compensated partners. WILEF is the premier organization for 

women in law, exclusively dedicated to women from the largest law 

firms and corporate law departments in the U.S. Our WAN played 

an instrumental role in advocating advancement for our women 

attorneys. Lathrop & Gage was also recognized in The American Lawyer 

as one of the firms to receive this coveted award. 

** Of special note, Sue Charles was the guest speaker at WILEF’s 

Forum “One Size Does Not Fit All! Alternative Paths 

to Career Success.” 

Playing 

Your Cards 

Right 

** WAN Mission: To encourage a firm culture that acknowledges and affirms 

that successful women attorneys are an integral part of Lathrop & Gage and 

essential for its future success; to engage in a collaborative effort between 

women attorneys, the Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Committee, and 

other committees of Lathrop & Gage to address issues of concern to women 

attorneys; to provide support, firm-wide networking and mentoring for women 

attorneys; and to sponsor business development and community activities on 

behalf of women attorneys. 



External Initiatives 

Bill Ford 

Lathrop & Gage supported the 

Minority Corporate Counsel 

Association (MCCA) CLE Expo 

in San Diego. The CLE Expo is a premier, two-day 

educational conference that provides diverse attorney 

networks with advanced education seminars focused 

on important topics to the corporate legal community 

and networking opportunities with in-house counsel. 

MCCA was founded in 1997 as a national organization 

committed to advancing the hiring, retention and 

promotion of diverse attorneys in legal departments and 

the law firms that serve them. MCCA is an established 

leader in the industry and is noted as one of the first to 

advocate that law firms institutionalize the role of the 

diversity professional and empower the position with 

sufficient resources to effectuate change. Weber Hsaio 

and Nikhil Patel attended on behalf of the firm. 

Our firm continues to demonstrate 

support and visibility in the Latino 

community on a regional and 

national level. As a supporter of The National Council 

of La Raza, the firm was honored to be one of the 

supporting businesses of the national conference since 

its host site was in Kansas City. The NCLR is highly 

recognized for advancing causes and being a strong 

voice for the Hispanic community. Amanda Ebert Sisney, 

Lizzy Duff, Dionne King and summer intern Brandon 

Birch attended this year’s conference. 

Lathrop & Gage is a Supporting 

Member of the Diversity & 

Flexibility Alliance (DFA). 

Our membership provides the firm with an online 

resource center, signature seminars, benchmarking 

surveys, advisor workshops, and access to a Flex 

Success Leadership Institute. Our firm contracted 

with Manar Morales, President and CEO for a major 

D&I initiative. We consider the DFA to be a trusted 

advisor for creating a more high performance culture 

in diversity and flexibility. This year Sue Charles and 

Bridget Romero represented the firm by attending the 

Diversity + Flexibility = Innovative Leadership Conference in 

Washington, D.C. 

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Lathrop & Gage teamed up 

to host “Business and the Law Power Breakfast.” Travis McCallon, Tom 

Greaves, Bridget Romero and Jami Shipman presented an overview of 

current legal trends for businesses, new federal and state employment laws, 

protection of intellectual property assets, best practices with contracts and 

understanding the tax implications of corporate formations. 

The Center for Legal Inclusiveness serves as a 

clearinghouse of resources for creating a culture of 

inclusion in the legal community. Our firm attends 

quarterly meetings to share best practices. We also are represented 

at the annual Summit to learn from industry experts. Cynthia Teel and 

Michele Washington attended on behalf of the firm. 

In February, Susan Gamel, Michele Washington, clients and guests attended 

2015 The Ball for All, “Bourbon Street Meets Colfax,” a Mardi Gras-themed 

gala hosted by the Center for Legal Inclusiveness (CLI). Guests sampled 

New Orleans flavor mixed with Colorado’s joie de vivre, attended a Jambalaya 

competition, and danced to the vibrant music of the Hazel Miller Band. This 

event celebrated inclusiveness and recognized organizations and individuals who 

are advancing diversity and creating cultures of inclusion with the Inclusiveness@ 

Work Awards. 

We remain a proud supporter of the Hispanic Bar Association of Greater 

Kansas City’s Scholarship Reception. This year’s speaker was Ramona 

Romero, general counsel for Princeton University and past president of 

the Hispanic National Bar Association (2008-2009). Of note, 100 percent of 

the proceeds from the reception benefit Hispanic law student retention and 

diversity in the law in Kansas City. 

Lathrop & Gage remains an active supporter of the DRI: Women in Law 

Seminar. The annual event facilitates discussions between in-house and 

outside counsel regarding diversity and accountability in the legal industry. 

This year Mara Cohara represented the firm. 

As a new member of the Mid-America Gay and Lesbian 

Chamber of Commerce (MAGLCC), our firm receives 

access to its B2B Network series, MasterMind sessions 

and a host of annual events and training programs 

designed for area businesses. MAGLCC advocates, 

promotes and facilitates the success of the LGBT 

business community and their allies to foster a more 

inclusive and vibrant economy in Mid-America. Gillian Power represented 

the firm at these events. 

This year our firm was a proud 

sponsor of Meet the Bar and Lawyers 

for Diversity events hosted by the 

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association (LAGBAC) and the 

LAGBAC Foundation in Chicago. LAGBAC provides 

education about legal issues affecting lesbian, gay, 

bisexual, transgendered, intersex and questioning 

persons. The foundation also provides scholarship 

programs for law students in the community. Greg Zinkl 

serves as a board member and was instrumental in 

securing firm support for this event. 

We are a firm member of the Kansas City Lesbian, Gay, and 

Allied Lawyers (KC LEGAL), a membership association of 

the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) and 

allied legal community in the Kansas City metropolitan area. 

We contributed to the success of the 7th Annual 

UMKC Pride Breakfast which functions 

as one of the collaborative initiatives 

between the University of 

Missouri – Kansas City divisions 

of Diversity and Inclusion, Student 

Affairs and Enrollment Management 

and University Advancement. With guest 

speaker Tony Kushner, Emmy Award winner 

and screenwriter, this year’s effort raised more than 

$92,000 and attracted 750 people. 

Lathrop & Gage served as a proud dinner banquet 

sponsor of Higher M-Pact, a community program for 

at-risk youth. Firm representatives were James Moloney, 

Wale Akinmoladun, Patti Garringer-Strickland, Eric 

Hughey, Michael Keenan, Henry Tanner, Sean Foley 

and Dionne King. 

Our firm had the privilege of hosting the Kansas City 

Diversity & Inclusion Consortium, a growing group 

of diversity leaders from top companies and firms in 

Kansas City. This group met to plan a successful firstever 

conference for diversity leaders to discuss how 

to manage resources and mitigate unconscious bias in 

recruiting, hiring and professional development. 

Diversity and inclusion is not only important 

internally, but it is also vital to Lathrop & Gage’s 

external identity and client relationships. 

Bill Ford, Partner and Co-leader of the firm’s 

Environmental Practice group, is experiencing 

this first hand with firm client, Cargill. 

Cargill, an agriculture, food, financial and 

industrial company, requires all outside law 

firms to complete a diversity survey of the outside counsel’s timekeepers, 

which is monitored by Cargill to see how many hours are spent 

working on its billing matters by diverse attorneys. 

“Cargill has appreciated our efforts to keep it apprised of the firm’s 

ongoing diversity initiatives,” said Ford. “We have received specific, 

identifiable Cargill business as a result of introducing Cargill to diverse 

firm attorneys.” 

Ford believes that maintaining diversity initiatives is by no means 

easy nor quick, but recognizes its vital importance to Cargill and many 

other clients. 

“Such initiatives require consistent long-term effort on 

multiple levels,” said Ford. “I believe in recent years our 

firm has recognized that as many of our clients 

become more diverse they are requesting, and 

in some cases demanding, diversity in their 

outside counsel.” 

Ford’s involvement with Lathrop & Gage’s diversity 

efforts plays an important role. He encourages and 

promotes talented diverse attorneys within the firm and enjoys 

working with clients who share similar goals and aspirations. 

KC Diversity 

Consortium 



Retention/ 

Advancement 

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) 

Foundation is near and dear to our firm. CWBA is the 

biggest and most influential women’s bar association 

in the country. We have a number of attorneys and 

staff who support the CWBA’s annual “Raising the 

Bar” dinner, which celebrates the accomplishments 

of notable women in Colorado and around the nation. 

Patrick McRorie and others represent the firm at 

the CWBA. 

Lathrop & Gage remains a firm 

member of Central Exchange 

of Kansas City (CX) which 

provides the venue and voice for women seeking to 

reach their full potential. With an annual Leadership 

Lyceum and a number of noteworthy programs, CX is 

utilized by women from all walks of life as a conduit for 

advancement. This year’s Lyceum attendees were Mara 

Cohara, Bridget Romero, Dionne King, Ally Cunningham, 

Nancy Roush, Sarah Lintecum, Amanda Ebert Sisney 

and Rebecca McMahon. 

Lathrop & Gage, along with Kansas City area 

businesses, committed to increasing gender diversity on 

corporate boards and C-suites through the CX’s win|win 

Campaign. This initiative linked gender diversity at the 

top with greater profitability and more innovation. At the 

conclusion of this year, we celebrated 12 area businesses 

for advancing women in leadership at the win|win Circle 

of Champions Awards Banquet. 

Central Exchange of 

Kansas City’s 

win|win Champions 

Award Banquet 

2015 Diversity 

& Inclusiveness 

Community 

Engagement: 

A representative list of our 

2015 sponsorships and programs: 

ddAssociation of Women Lawyers of 

Greater Kansas City 

ddBoys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis 

ddCenter for Legal Inclusiveness 

ddCentral Exchange 

ddGreater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce 

ddColorado Women’s Bar Association 

ddDiversity & Flexibility Alliance 

ddDRI - Women in Law Seminar 

ddHeartland Legal Diversity Job Fair 

ddHeartland Men’s Chorus 

ddHispanic Scholarship Fund Reception 

ddHispanic Bar Association of Greater Kansas City 

ddJudge Kit Carson Roque, Jr. Scholarship Banquet 

ddKansas Women’s Attorney 

Association Annual Conference 

ddKansas City Metropolitan Bar Association 

Diversity Clerkship 

ddKU Diversity in Law Banquet hosted by the Native 

American Law Students Association 

ddLathrop & Gage Minority Attorney Association 

Development Retreat 

ddLathrop & Gage Summer Diversity Reception 

ddLinks, Inc. Scholarship Reception 

ddMinority Corporate Counsel 

Association (MCCA) CLE Expo 

ddUniversity of Missouri School of Law 

ddNational Asian Pacific American Bar 

Association Convention 

ddStep Up for Diversity 

ddSt. Louis Legal Diversity Program 

ddUMKC Pipeline Scholarship Reception 

ddWomen’s Employment Network 

ddYMCA of Greater Kansas City 

Sue Charles 

Sue Charles believes the people and culture 

at Lathrop & Gage encourage women 

to seek out leadership opportunities. 

The firm’s supportive and collaborative 

atmosphere and her willingness to get 

involved opened doors to her current 

leadership positions, including Executive 

Committee member, Partner in Charge 

of the Chicago office, Chair of the Diversity & Inclusiveness 

Committee, and WILEF Board Member. 

“Diversity and inclusiveness are key components of successful law 

firms,” said Charles. “As the Chair of the Diversity and Inclusiveness 

Committee, I look forward to further developing the work that’s 

already been done. I’m excited for the years ahead and thankful that 

the firm is supportive of our efforts.” 

Charles encourages women attorneys at Lathrop & Gage and 

outside the firm to raise their hand and offer to participate. She 

believes that getting involved can broaden perspectives and build 

new relationships as well as help attorneys learn more about the 

firm and industry. 

Charles serves on the Board of Directors for the Women in Law 

Empowerment Forum (WILEF). Lathrop & Gage obtained WILEF 

Gold Standard Certification in 2015, which acknowledges the firm’s 

commitment to promote women to leadership positions across the 

firm. Achieving this award is a great accomplishment, but Charles 

envisions a day when empowering women in the legal industry does 

not require special effort and becomes a common business practice. 

“I want women to know that their career path is their own to 

define,” said Charles. “I would also like women to know that Lathrop 

& Gage is a place where you can succeed – however you define 

success. We are a firm of people who support each other and 

together we can accomplish great things.” 



Women 

Newsmakers: 

Many women attorneys and 

staff at Lathrop & Gage received 

special recognition this year. We 

congratulate the following: 

In 2015, Connie Reiniger, St. Louis, 

was selected to the partnership. Congratulations! 

Our 2015 women summer associates included: 

d Ariell Bratton, Chicago 

d Taryn Nash, Kansas City 

2015 Best Lawyers in America 

d Angela Ekker 

d Jennifer Tucker 

d Robyn Anderson 

d Gretchen Gold 

2015 Chambers USA Leading Lawyers 

d Janice Hetland 

d Rosalee McNamara 

2015 Super Lawyers 

d Wendi Alper-Pressman 

d Robyn Anderson 

d Mara Cohara 

d Angela Ekker 

d Jennifer Hannah 

d Kathryn Scott, St. Louis 

d Taylor Ray, Kansas City 


d Nancy Schmidt Roush 

d Jennifer Hannah 

d Janice Hetland 

d Carrie Josserand 


d Nancy Schmidt Roush 

2015 Top 50 Women for Missouri & Kansas 

(Super Lawyers) 

d Wendi Alper-Pressman d Rosalee McNamara 

d Mara Cohara 

Other Accolades/Specialty Awards: 

d Mary Birch was named one of the Power 100 of Metro Kansas City by 

The Kansas City Business Journal. Mary was described as 

“The power behind the power. As longtime president of 

the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, she helped 

guide initiatives that attracted tens of thousands of jobs 

to the city and helped coordinate the campaign for the 

Johnson County Education and Research Triangle tax.” 

d Mara Cohara was named one of the 40 Under Forty by Ingram’s 

Magazine in 2015. 

d National Law Journal recognized Jessica Merrigan among the Top 50 

Energy & Environmental Trailblazers in 2015. 

d Robyn Anderson was named one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation 

and was selected as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation in 2015. 

d The Kansas City Business Journal recognized Jennifer 

Hannah as a member of the 2015 Women Who Mean 

Business class. She was selected for excellence and 

leadership in the firm and the community. 

d Sarah Millin, Amy Brozenic and Julie Gabel obtained the 2015 Up & 

Coming Awards from Missouri Lawyers Weekly. With a total of four 

honorees, Lathrop & Gage had more attorneys recognized than any 

other law firm in Missouri. 

d Dionne King was honored as an Unsung Hero by the Ford Motor 

Company for her work in the community. The National Ford Freedom 

Unsung Hero Program salutes and awards those who positively impact 

communities and whose achievements serve to enlighten and inspire 

others through community, education, military and youth programs. 

d Greer Lang was recognized among the top 50 

litigation professionals in the United States by 

National Law Journal. Litigation Trailblazers of 

2015 recognizes individuals who have outstanding 

accomplishments and impacted the practice of 

litigation. 

d Jessica Merrigan was named a Rising Star of Kansas 

City by KC Business Magazine. Her “leadership, 

innovative thinking and great business acumen” 

were among the reasons she was selected as a 2015 

award recipient. 

d Dianne Feltz was selected as one 

of the Top St. Louis Employees for 

Small Business Monthly in her role as 

office administrator. 

d Mara Cohara was one of four Lathrop & Gage 

attorneys to obtain the Kansas City Business 

Journal’s 2015 Best of the Bar award. This award 

recognizes Kansas City’s top attorneys based on 

skill, experience and ethics. 

Gillian Power 

As the CIO of Lathrop & Gage, Gillian Power 

had significant trepidation about coming out 

as transgender in 2014. She was aware of no 

precedent of a law firm administrative leader 

having done so. Looking for inspiration and 

guidance, Power researched examples of 

people who had worked at law firms and had 

also come out as transgender. She found only 

two examples of lawyers nationwide. 

“When the inevitable day of the announcement came, I was quite 

at peace” said Power. “I had first discussed and planned it with firm 

leaders and they did not falter one iota in showing their support for me. 

Their unwavering support anchored me.” 

Having lived out her experience and being a passionate advocate for 

diversity and inclusion, Power became involved with Lathrop & Gage’s 

Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee. The committee commits 

to achieving and maintaining a diverse workforce and cultivating an 

inclusive culture throughout all levels of the firm. Power’s article in 

the spring 2015 issue of ILTA’s Peer to Peer Magazine, “The Inclusion 

Imperative,” stresses the role of leadership in disrupting unconscious 

bias to foster innovation. 

“Being an administrative leader in the firm and being out as transgender 

has a positive influence on the committee and the firm,” said 

Power. “The firm is supportive of me not only internally but publicly, 

which I think is evidence of the firm’s ongoing commitment to diversity 

and inclusion.” 

Power continues to spread awareness of the crucial impact that 

diversity and inclusion has on the workplace. She shares her story 

proudly and hopes to encourage businesses to eliminate their 

organizational biases. 

“We all should embrace a culture where people feel 

comfortable bringing their full person to work.” 

2015 Rising Stars (Super Lawyers) 

d Melissa Hoag Sherman 

d Lauren Katunich 

d Alicia Kerr 

d Jessica E. Merrigan 

d Bridget Romero 

d Rachel Stephens 



Pipeline Initiatives 

Did You Know? 

Amanda Ebert Sisney 

Our firm invests in the lives of youth and makes it a 

priority to create and support pipelines. This year we 

presented college and law school scholarships to deserving 

students in the community. Below are highlights of a few 

of those programs. Congratulations to all the students! 

Lathrop & Gage presented a scholarship to Nosakhare 

Eke of University Academy through The Links, 

Incorporated – The Greater Kansas City Chapter. The 

Links, Incorporated is a premier international women’s 

volunteer service organization made up of 

influential decision makers and opinion 

leaders. With over 12,000 members, 

The Links, Incorporated is 

committed to enriching, 

sustaining and ensuring the 

cultural and economic survival of 

African Americans and other persons of 

African ancestry. 

Our firm remains supportive of the Hispanic Scholarship 

Fund of the Greater Kansas City Community 

Foundation’s Hispanic Development Fund, 

which provides philanthropic support to 

programs that foster expression of 

Hispanic culture and improve 

the quality of Hispanic 

life. This year our firm 

was among several businesses 

to award a combined total of 326 

scholarships to Hispanic students entering 

and continuing college. 

Lathrop & Gage proudly supports the Judge Kit Carson 

Roque, Jr. Law School Scholarship sponsored by the 

Jackson County Bar Association (JCBA) 

and given to three African-American 

law students who exemplify Judge 

Roque’s high academic standards and 

commitment to community. 

Awesome Ambitions 

Lathrop & Gage has been a long time supporter of the 

University of Missouri – Kansas City and its programs. 

This year we supported scholarships to deserving law 

students through the Pipeline Coalition Scholarship Reception & Diversity 

and Inclusion Celebration. 

Lathrop & Gage supports the KU Diversity in Law 

Diversity Scholarship & Banquet which is led annually 

by one of the diversity groups on campus, namely 

Asian Law Students Association, Black Law Students 

Association, Hispanic American Law Students 

Association, Native American Law Students Association, and OUTLaws 

Allies. The banquet celebrates the ways in which diversity enriches KU Law and 

serves as a major fundraiser for the Diversity Scholarship Fund. 

Kevin McKenzie represented the firm for the Prep KC Career Jumping 

program at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas. Career Jumping 

is a fast-paced career exploration experience (set-up like speed dating) where 

professionals talk with students in six-minute sessions to share their career 

stories. Bill Ford, Dionne King and others volunteered for this program as well. 

Awesome Ambitions hosted a jazzy benefit concert featuring Kirk Whalum, 

John Stoddart, and Kansas City Mayor Sly James. Awesome Ambitions is 

Kansas City’s leading mentoring group for high school girls. Lathrop & Gage 

contributed to foster quality education and to help challenged girls achieve 

their dreams and become successful, contributing members of our society. 

Josh Loevy serves on the board of LAKC’s Young Lawyers Section and the 

Court Crawl planning committee where he coordinated the 2015 event. The 

Court Crawl is instrumental in providing an overview of the judicial system. 

Our summer associates participated in this program and gained valuable 

insight as they toured the courts of Missouri. 

d Lathrop & Gage was among the top law firms in the 

country for promoting women to partner in 2015, 

according to a study conducted by the Diversity & 

Flexibility Alliance published by Law360. 

d Gillian Power was featured in the October issue of 

KC Counselor magazine for her position at Lathrop & 

Gage and her involvement with the Kansas City 

Anti-Violence Project and UMKC Chancellor’s 

LGBT Council. 

d Lathrop & Gage was well represented at the Pull- 

A-Plane event on behalf of the Ronald McDonald 

House. Event proceeds benefited children who 

receive medical care in Kansas City area hospitals 

by providing their families with a “home away from 

home” during their time in need. 

d On September 28-29, Stacy Harper presented 

to a national audience in Washington D.C. at a 

Cybersecurity Summit. Joining Harper were the 

likes of former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III 

and David Aaron of the National Security Division 

Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, U.S. 

Department of Justice. Lathrop & Gage and Harper, 

in particular, were invited to participate because of 

the experience we have handling data breach and 

security work. The Summit was attended by 125 inhouse 

attorneys and Privacy Officers for Blue Cross 

and Blue Shield Association and its independent 

member plans. 

d Missouri Governor Jay Nixon appointed Jennifer 

Griffin to the Board of Therapeutic Massage. The 

board is responsible for protecting the public from 

unlicensed negligent, incompetent, and dishonest 

services relating to massage therapy and massage 

therapy business; and enforces licensure standards 

through the implementation of legislation and 

administrative regulations. 

While taking on labor and employment 

matters, Amanda Ebert Sisney stays very 

involved in the Hispanic Bar Association of 

Greater Kansas City (HBAGKC). As a board 

member of this organization, Sisney enjoys 

the opportunity to network with attorneys 

from a wide variety of practice areas who are 

all committed to supporting their peers and 

serving as mentors to Hispanic law students. Sisney also is active in 

the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and is on the planning 

committee for the group’s 2017 national convention. 

In addition to her board position and memberships being personally 

rewarding, she believes both organizations have been successful in 

their endeavors, especially at the local level. 

“The HBAGKC works with local Hispanic law students by granting 

scholarships and mentoring them and encouraging them to stay in the 

area after graduation,” said Sisney. “We raise scholarship funds, 

and members of the board attend networking events with both 

University of Missouri – Kansas City and University of Kansas Hispanic 

law students.” 

Now in her fourth year as an Associate in the firm’s Employment 

practice, Sisney works on a variety of matters and has a demanding 

schedule. But she is thankful for the time she gets to be 

involved in the organizations as well as Lathrop & Gage’s 

support to pursue her passion for serving in these 

groups. The firm sent her to the HNBA 

national convention in Boston last year 

and has hosted the HBAGKC 

annual ethics CLE twice 

since 2013 as a way to 

raise scholarship 

funds. 

Josh Loevy 

d Wendi Alper-Pressman was invited to serve as inaugural 

chair of the newly formed Financial Services 

Committee for the Missouri State Bar. 

Continued on page 14 

Pull-A-Plane 



Continued from page 13 

d In October, Teo Javier collaborated with Megan 

Adams and Bevette Adams to host the Intellectual 

Property & Patent Law Discussion as part of the 

Lathrop Diversity Speaker Series. They masterfully 

merged our firm’s D&I message to the IP practice 

which included informative dialog on chemical, 

biology, electrical and materials science patent 

prosecution. This distinguished host of speakers 

included Andrew Beckerman-Rodau, Professor of 

Law and Co-Director IP Concentration at the Suffolk 

University Law School and our own Giulio DeConti. 

d In October, Robin Stewart presented to an audience 

of approximately 200 people on the best practices 

and trends in navigating electronic discovery. Joining 

Stewart was Magistrate Judge Waxse from the 

District of Kansas and Jason Baron, former Director 

of Litigation for the U.S. National Archives and 

Records Administration and trial lawyer and senior 

counsel to the Department of Justice. Lathrop & 

Gage and Stewart were invited to participate due to 

Stewart’s nationally known reputation as an eDiscovery 

expert and true thought leader in this space. 

d In late October, Weber Hsiao attended the IP 

Strategy Innovation Summit in Boston and 

moderated a panel discussion outlining how IP 

strategy can be incorporated with an innovation 

strategy. The panel included in-house IP counsel for 

Bose, Philips HealthTech and Schneider Electric. 

d Julie Roth graduated from the Northeast Johnson 

County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership 

Northeast Johnson County Program. The program 

is devoted to identifying and strengthening the 

leadership skills of participants and putting 

knowledge into action in Northeast Johnson 

County communities. 

Henry Tanner 

In just his second year with Lathrop & Gage, 

Henry Tanner has quickly made an impact on 

the firm by getting involved in the community 

and educating local youth. In 2015, Tanner 

launched the “Know Your Rights” program, 

which started with an event at Lincoln 

College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, 

Missouri. The program was established to 

give high school students a better understanding of their legal rights 

during a police traffic stop. 

Tanner was not alone in his passion for helping local teens. The 

individuals who also appeared on the speaker panel with him included 

a police officer, a parent, and other lawyers who collectively shared 

personal and professional experiences with students. In addition to 

these panelists from the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, 

the Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office helping on 

the campaign, Lathrop & Gage also showed its support by sponsoring 

many of the event programs and providing lunch to the students. 

“Lathrop & Gage has enthusiastically supported the Know Your 

Rights Program by providing funds to create awareness and execute 

the program,” said Tanner. “In addition to the firm’s financial 

contribution, several attorneys, administrators and staff members 

have provided assistance and insight to make the program possible.” 

Tanner anticipates another strong program in 2016 and is thankful 

for Lathrop & Gage’s continuing support. As an Associate in the firm’s 

Employment practice, he looks forward to building his practice, as well 

as his reach in the community. 

Diversity 

by the 

Numbers 

* Diverse Attorneys 

include women 

and attorneys of color. 

The firm prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, gender, 

religion, age, national origin, military status, genetic information, disability, 

sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by 

applicable law. Our firm offers life, health, dental and vision insurance 

coverage for domestic partners of same-sex relationships. 

For more information about our 

initiatives contact: 

Dionne M. King, 

Manager of Diversity, Kansas City 

816-460-5276 

dking@lathropgage.com 



CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | ILLINOIS | KANSAS | MASSACHUSETTS | MISSOURI 

(800) 476-4224 | LATHROPGAGE.COM

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