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News/ArticlesAll Four Partners Voted 2009 ''Super Lawyers'':We are honored to have all four of our partners voted San Diego Super Lawyers® in 2009. This prestigious award is given to the top 5% of San Diego attorneys in their designated areas of practice. Jonathan Andrews, Jennifer Branch and Margi Bell were recognized in the area of Employment & Labor Law. Traci Lagasse was recognized in the area of Professional Liability Defense. Read more Jennifer Branch Named a San Diego ''Top Attorney'':The San Diego Daily Transcript recognized Jennifer Branch as one of San Diego’s peer-selected best and brightest attorneys in the area of labor and employment law in 2009. This prestigious Top Attorney award is the culmination of a lengthy peer voting process in which the 10 attorneys in each practice who receive the most votes are selected for recognition. Udoka Nwanna Receives Distinguished Services Award:The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association (“EGBA”) honored Udoka Nwanna with a 2009 Distinguished Services Award for all her hard work and commitment to the organization over the years. Each year EGBA honors the academic achievements of local law students, as well as individual attorneys, judges, community leaders, law firms and organizations that have enhanced the quality of life for the greater San Diego community.
Andrews • Lagasse • Branch & Bell LLP Sponsors Big Brothers Big Sisters Dinner:On November 22, 2009, Andrews • Lagasse • Branch & Bell LLP proudly served as a corporate sponsor for the 47th Annual Gourmet Dinner and Fundraiser for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County. The Dinner, which took place at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, honored long time supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters, T. Boone and Madeleine Pickens. The event raised over $400,000 for the organization, including some money that was earmarked for the expansion of the “Operation Bigs” mentoring program. The goal of Operation Bigs is to provide mentors to children of military families who have a parent deployed. Andrews • Lagasse • Branch & Bell LLP Co-Hosts Diversity Reception:On January 15, 2009, Andrews • Lagasse • Branch & Bell LLP co-hosted the "California Public Utilities Commission Reception of Diverse Lawyers and Minority Owned Law Firms" with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP. The Reception took place at the University Club in downtown San Diego and was a huge success. The event was attended by more than 150 diverse lawyers, members of the CPUC and state regulated utilities, and it provided an opportunity for attendees to discuss their shared interest in the promotion of diversity in the legal profession. Jon Andrews Receives Prestigious ''40 under 40'' Award:Jon Andrews was selected as one of San Diego's 40 outstanding young leaders in 2008 by the San Diego Metropolitan Magazine in its 9th annual "40 under 40" honor roll. This prestigious award recognizes the business accomplishments and community contributions of 40 of San Diego's brightest young business professionals, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders, all of whom are under 40 years of age. View Article Udoka Nwanna Interviewed in the June 2009 Issue of ''For the Record'':Udoka Nwanna was recently profiled in the June 2009 issue of "For the Record," a monthly e-newsletter of the San Diego County Bar Association's Young/New Lawyers Division. Margi Bell profiled in July 2008 Issue of ''The Resource'':Partner and co-founder Margi Bell was recently profiled in the July 2008 issue of The Resource, a publication issued by The San Diego Society for Human Resources Management. View Article Grand Opening:On October 22, 2007, four former partners from one of California's largest law firms announced the launch of Andrews • Lagasse • Branch & Bell LLP, a 100% minority and female owned law firm. View Article Community InvolvementMargi Bell has been elected to serve as President of the San Diego chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management ("SHRM") in 2009. Ms. Bell served on the Board of Directors as Vice President, Legislation, in 2006 and 2007 and she served as the President-Elect in 2008. Jonathan Andrews has been elected to the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County, an organization for which he previously volunteered as a "Big Brother" for six years. Ms. Nwanna has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Lawyers Club of San Diego. In addition to her new position on the Board, Ms. Nwanna currently serves on the Diverse Women’s Task Force and Golf Tournament committee. She previously served on the Community Outreach Committee and the Mentor-Mentee Committee, and she continues to volunteer as a mentor. Jennifer Branch volunteers as a Judge for the San Diego Teen Court Program, a diversion program that works in association with the Juveline Court, where first-time juvenile offenders accept responsibility for a crime they have committed and agree to have a binding sentence imposed by a jury of their peers. When juvenile offenders fulfill their sentencing requirements, the record of their offense is permanently expunged. Jennifer Hamilton serves as a Barrister in the Louis M. Welsh American Inns of Court which is an organization that fosters professionalism, civility and ethics in the legal profession through a mentoring program consisting of judges and lawyers at varying stages of their careers. Ms. Nwanna serves on the Board of Trustees of California Western School of Law and is a Director on the Alumni Board. She was also recently appointed as adjunct faculty member to teach a practical lawyering skills course. Ms. Hamiliton provides pro bono legal services to the Eastern Division Civil Rights Pro Bono Panel for Prisoner Rights. As a member of the panel, Ms. Hamilton provides legal services for inmate cases filed under 42 USC 1983 which have survived summary judgement. Mr. Andrews volunteers for the Legal Aid Society of San Diego's Peer Mediation program - a program designed to help young people work out disagreements in a peaceful, constructive way. For the past six years, Mr. Andrews has volunteered for Legal Aid, including handling/supervising litigation and transactional matters on behalf of Legal Aid clients and participating in the organizations' Peer Mediation program. Shauna Durrant and Jacqueline Lopez are members of the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl Red Shirt Committee of the San Diego Bowl Game Association. The Association produces the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl and the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in order to generate tourism, exposure, economic benefit and civic pride for San Diego and its citizens. Ms. Durrant and Ms. Lopez work with San Diego’s civic and corporate leaders throughout the year to ensure a successful production of bowl games and festivals of events. Ms. Branch is an active member of the Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association, a support organization founded to provide mother attorneys with a forum to discuss and address the unique challenges they face in their profession, share knowledge and experiences, and network. Ms. Nwanna spends her free time volunteering at Rady Children’s Hospital. Speaking EngagementsOn October 29, 2009, Jennifer Branch spoke about “Responsible Downsizing” to a conference hosted by the Museum Trustee Association at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. On October 22, 2009, Jennifer Branch presented a webinar on the Prevention of Unlawful Harassment in the Workplace. All members of the Christian Brothers Risk Pooling Trust were invited to attend. Thewebinar will be offered again in spring 2010. Margi Bell spoke on Workplace Investigations at the San Diego Society for Human Resource Management 2009 Law Day Conference on January 21, 2009. Ms. Bell also presented at the San Diego Society for Human Resource Management North Coast Breakfast Meeting Legal Update on January 28, 2009. |
