16.09.2021 | Online Panel

A lot has been achieved in the field of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) in recent years. Old structures have been broken up and outdated ways of thinking have been dusted off. Leaders in politics, culture and business have adopted new mission statements to reflect diverse collaboration.

But how does this new way of thinking affect our everyday lives? With German and U.S. experts from law firms and corporate legal departments, we want to highlight transatlantic differences and similarities in D&I and determine what is already working well and where we need to do better.

This webinar was held in English.

Speakers:

Anna L. Brown is the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Baker McKenzie, a global law firm with 77 offices in 46 countries.  Anna brings more than 20 years of experience and is responsible for designing and implementing all aspects of the Firm’s internal and external diversity and inclusion initiatives, including education, retention, advancement and inclusion strategies. Anna is the recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Trailblazer Champion Award from the New York City Bar Association, recognizing her critical role in initiating and sustaining change within her organization and the overall New York legal community.  She is the co-author of “Diversity in Action: A Manual for Diversity Professionals in Law,” published by the American Bar Association for individuals holding diversity roles in law firms and corporate legal departments, and is a frequent lecturer and panelist on topics related to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.  Anna is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, member of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association and New York City Bar Association, and a past President of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals.  Anna earned her J.D. cum laude from Howard University Law School and began her legal career as a corporate associate at Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York.

Matthew J. Everitt, Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary MBUSA, MBUSI & MBV. Matt Everitt joined MBUSA in 2016 after serving as General Counsel for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI) and Mercedes-Benz Vans Manufacturing, LLC (MBV). Matt began his career with Daimler AG in 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany, as Senior Counsel responsible for legal and regulatory compliance matters with emphasis on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In 2013, Matt began work as General Counsel for MBUSI and MBV responsible for all legal and compliance matters for these respective Daimler passenger vehicle manufacturing facilities in the United States. Prior to joining Daimler, Matt served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Tennessee from 2008-2011 and was an associate in the White Collar Defense Group at White & Case, LLP, in Washington D.C. from 2003-2008. Matt received his law degree from Columbia University in New York City and his undergraduate degree from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA.

Dr. Thomas Meiers has been Chief Governance and Legal Officer of SEAT S.A. and CUPRA since October 2020. Previously, he headed the area coordinating the global coordination of Volkswagen Group with US Monitor Larry D. Thompson since 2017. Before joining Volkswagen, he held various leadership positions at Italdesign, MAN Truck & Bus, GE Healthcare. Thomas started his career at international law firm Freshfields.

Dr. Constanze Ulmer-Eilfort is a member of the Global Executive Committee at Baker & McKenzie and leads the global Inclusion & Diversity Committee. Previously, from 2012-2017, she was the managing partner of the German and Austrian offices. Constanze has more than 20 years experience in advising high technology, pharmaceutical and media companies on the protection and commercialization of intellectual property rights. She advises on a broad range of agreements such as collaboration and license agreements, R&D agreements and agreements with academic institutions. Furthermore, she is also seasoned in the field of copyright. Constanze is ranked by JUVE, Legal 500 and Chambers as a leading lawyer in life sciences transactions and in copyright and has been awarded with the “Overall Outstanding Female Practitioner Award” at the 2016 Euromoney European Women in Business Law Awards and the PMN Awards as Managing Partner of the year 2015.

Introduction:

André Philip Pantel is Managing Director of the Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristen-Vereinigung (German-American Lawyers Association, DAJV) since 2018. After an apprenticeship at Deutsche Bank and a law degree, he worked, among other things, as editorial director of a law magazine. Before joining DAJV, he held a senior position responsible for events at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrepantel

Moderation:

Stacie Fletcher is a litigation partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Co-Chair of  the Environmental Litigation and Mass Tort Practice Group. Ms. Fletcher has handled a wide variety of cases under federal and state environmental statutes, including serving as lead counsel on numerous enforcement defense matters with the U.S. EPA.  In 2021, Ms. Fletcher was recognized by Chambers USA as a leading environmental lawyer in the District of Columbia.

Full Bio: https://www.gibsondunn.com/lawyer/fletcher-stacie-b/