NAWL Podcast

NAWL
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Welcome to the NAWL Podcast, Conversations to Help You Thrive in the Legal Profession!

  1. 4d ago

    Know Before You Go: A Guide to NAWL's 2026 Annual Meeting

    In this week's "Know Before You Go" episode, NAWL's 2026 Annual Meeting Host Committee Co-Chairs, Bernadette Catalana and Meg Vernal, share their excitement for this year's conference and offer valuable insights to help attendees make the most of their experience. From practical tips and insider advice to important information for first-time attendees, they cover everything you need to know before arriving. Tune in to learn what makes the NAWL Annual Meeting such a special event and how you can maximize your time and connections throughout the conference.   Registration closes on July 15th! If you haven't registered for the NAWL Annual Meeting yet, secure your spot today: https://nawl.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F27898 Show your NAWL pride with a selection of NAWL-branded apparel and accessories. Browse the collection here: NAWL Merch Store | Official Merchandise | Bonfire   If you have any questions leading up to the Annual Meeting, the NAWL team is here to help. Contact us at nawl@nawl.org   Bios: Bernadette Catalana is an experienced litigator, negotiator, and team leader. She lives in New York City and is the partner-in-charge of the Thompson Coe Cousins and Irons New York City office. Bernadette is an active mentor and is especially committed to supporting other women in the practice of law. An accomplished speaker, both live and on podcast, Bernadette has also authored a book, Daughter Lessons, which is a compilation of essays about what she has learned as one of six daughters and as the mother of two. She is a frequent poster on LinkedIn, sharing the human side of practicing law and practicing life.   Meg Vernal serves as Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Secretary of Voyager Technologies, a defense technology and space company delivering mission-critical systems that protect the nation and extend humanity's reach from low-Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. Since joining Voyager in 2021, she has led the company's legal and compliance function through a series of transformative milestones, including its 2025 IPO and numerous strategic acquisitions.

    17 min

  2. Jun 26

    Changing the Game: Deb Willig on the WNBPA's Historic Labor Agreement

    In this week’s episode of the NAWL Podcast, returning host Lisa Kohn sits down with Deb Willig, partner at Willig, Williams & Davidson, and outside counsel for the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) in its historic new collective bargaining agreement with the WNBA. Deb shares insights from the groundbreaking negotiations that secured the largest salary increase from one collective bargaining agreement to the next in professional sports history. She discusses the fight against the longstanding undervaluation of women athletes, the growing visibility and success of the WNBA, and what this landmark agreement could mean for the future of women’s sports and beyond. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on the power of negotiating meaningful change.   Bio: A trailblazer and sought-after workers’ advocate, Deborah Willig has handled labor relations and employment law for more than four decades. She advises and negotiates on behalf of labor unions whose members represent a broad cross section of the labor market. As part of the core negotiating team for some of the region’s most significant labor contracts, she has helped to secure fair outcomes—raising wages, improving living standards, protecting pension and health care benefits and ensuring that rules are equitable and properly enforced.  Among Deborah’s union clients are teachers and public-school employees; public health, social services, library and recreation workers; firefighters, teamsters, musicians, cafeteria, and hotel and restaurant employees. For decades Deborah has been involved in every collective bargaining negotiations between City of Philadelphia and the School District of Philadelphia and their respective Union employees.  Deborah’s work for public and private sector unions includes interest and grievance arbitrations as well as providing guidance regarding internal governance and staff matters. She also represents Trustees in jointly administered public and private sector health and welfare funds and is highly skilled at analyzing health benefit plan designs and costs and advising clients on their impact. Among her multiple successes in negotiating health care and other benefits, Deborah secured a major arbitration victory requiring a large Philadelphia employer to provide domestic partner benefits years before they were commonplace.  As the Managing Partner of Willig, Williams & Davidson, Deborah carefully oversees the hiring of equally dedicated lawyers to foster a culture of inclusion, advocacy, community and service. As a result of these efforts, the firm is home to strategic and proactive lawyers who believe in what they do and work to protect the rights of workers.  The first female Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 1992, Deborah shattered the glass ceiling and set the stage for women as leaders in the legal profession. She continues to serve workers and lawyers by presenting at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Temple University Beasley School of Law and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Deborah has been recognized for her work and advocacy in numerous ways, including with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Legal Intelligencer Lifetime Achievement Award, the Sandra Day O’Connor Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Philadelphia Business Journal Women of Distinction Award, the Labor Human Rights Award from the Jewish Labor Committee, The Agent of Change Award from Women’s Way, the Israel Labor Medal from the State of Israel Bonds, the Vocational Service Award from the Rotary Club of Philadelphia, and the Outstanding Service Award from Pennsylvania Citizen’s Action. She was also selected by a nationwide group of peers as a Member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

    39 min

  3. May 15

    Immigration, Advocacy, and Action in LA: Insights from Hydee Feldstein Soto

    In this week’s episode of the NAWL Podcast, Sari Long—Co-Chair of NAWL’s Advocacy, Education & Programming Committee and Partner at Faegre Drinker—sits down with Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto for a compelling conversation. Hydee shares insights into her career journey and the motivations that led her to serve as LA’s City Attorney, along with her perspective on the city’s most pressing challenges today. The discussion also highlights a significant development in her work: the formation of a coalition to join Perdomo v. Noem, a case addressing critical immigration enforcement practices impacting the Los Angeles community. Tune in for this timely and thought-provoking episode, and learn how you can play a role in supporting and protecting your own community.   Learn more about Hydee and explore her work as Los Angeles City Attorney Get details on the case Perdomo v. Noem and its broader implications.   Bios Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. She is the City's general counsel and serves as legal advisor to the Mayor, City Council, and to the hundreds of boards, departments, officers and entities that make up the City of Los Angeles. The Office of the City Attorney is responsible for providing advice and legal opinions to every officer, department head, board, commission or other unit of the City and preparing and signing off on all contracts and other legal relationships of the City of Los Angeles. The City Attorney interprets federal, state, county and municipal laws for Los Angeles, drafts City ordinances and is responsible for the application, implementation, and enforcement of all laws within the jurisdiction, defending the City and its charter. In addition, the City Attorney approves and documents all transactions to which the City is a party, oversees all litigation and other proceedings in which Los Angeles is involved and is responsible for civil and criminal misdemeanor enforcement actions. As the City's chief prosecutor, Feldstein Soto oversees the prosecution of misdemeanors and the administration of criminal justice, including alternatives to incarceration. Her team of more than 1,000 legal professionals, including 550 attorneys, carries out the City's legal work at her direction and under her supervision. Feldstein Soto was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved to the mainland United States to attend Swarthmore College and then Columbia University School of Law. After law school, she moved to Los Angeles and has called Los Angeles home for more than 40 years. Feldstein Soto raised her family and built her career as a partner in private practice at large international law firms, earning wide recognition and acclaim for her leadership, problem solving acumen and legal ability. Feldstein Soto is fully committed to serving Los Angeles and its people in this position   Sari Long is a Colorado-based attorney who helps companies create strategies around immigration, Form I-9 compliance and worksite enforcement. She advises on U.S. employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant visas and labor certifications, family-based immigration, and refugee and asylum issues. Sari works with employers across the U.S. in a range of industries to apply for and secure work authorization and permanent residence for employees, and she provides a full range of training for HR and legal teams on immigration and I-9 compliance issues, including compliance with the anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Sari is invited to speak nationally on immigration matters, and she is a strong advocate for employers seeking to solve workforce challenges through creative immigration solutions.

    36 min

  4. May 1

    Reproductive Rights, Real Impact: Flory Wilson on Leading Change Post‑Dobbs

    In this week's episode of the NAWL Podcast, USF Research Professor and co-chair of NAWL's Advocacy Education & Programming Committee, Michelle Travis, sits down with Flory Wilson, Founder and CEO of the Reproductive & Maternal Health Compass. They discuss how organizations can support reproductive and maternal healthcare in the post-Dobbs era. Drawing on RMH Compass research, the conversation explores the strong business case for policies and benefits that truly meet employees' needs, and how these benefits help recruit, retain, and advance women in the workplace. Tune in to learn how to advocate effectively for reproductive rights and advance meaningful change within your workplace and professional life.   Learn more about Flory and her work with RMH Compass.   Bios   Flory Wilson believes that companies who invest in and show up for their employees will always outperform the market. A seasoned "activator" of the business community, as the founder of Reproductive & Maternal Health Compass (RMH Compass), Flory is a driving force in closing the gap in essential health benefits for the U.S. workforce—advocating for comprehensive support that covers the full reproductive lifecycle -- everything from menopause care and doula services to family formation and medical travel reimbursements. Flory’s insights are backed by twenty years of experience building the B Corp movement and international economic policy, bringing a unique economic lens to corporate stewardship.  Known for her ability to turn complex frameworks into actionable corporate strategy, she is a frequent contributor to major business publications on the future of work.   Michelle Travis is a Research Professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she led USF’s Work Law and Justice Program. She is also a contributing writer for Forbes.com on leadership strategy issues. As a founding member of the Work and Family Researchers Network, Michelle’s research focuses on employment discrimination law, gender stereotypes, and work/family integration. Before joining academia, Michelle practiced management-side employment law in the Bay Area. She has served on the NAWL Advocacy Committee since 2023. Her book, Dads for Daughters, is a guide for engaging male allies to advance gender equity. She has also authored an award-winning children’s picture book, My Mom Has Two Jobs, which celebrates working moms.

    38 min

  5. Apr 24

    Resolving with Purpose: ADR, Negotiations, and Modern Legal Leadership

    In this week’s episode of the NAWL Podcast, Kara McCarthy Perry, Founder and Consultant of Just Brilliant LLC, sits down with Ingeuneal Gray, Vice President of Inclusion and Engagement at the American Arbitration Association. Their conversation explores Alternative Dispute Resolution alongside leadership development, inclusive engagement, negotiation strategy, and taking a holistic approach to legal practice. The discussion highlights how collaboration, relationship‑building, and strong communication influence effective legal and professional outcomes. Insightful and practical, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.    Learn more about AAA as they celebrate 100 years of service! Create agreements that reflect shared values, clarify expectations, and support healthy relationships with Conscious Contracts® Explore how Integrative Law can transform your approach to conflict resolution and drive more sustainable outcomes Learn more about Kara’s work with Just Brilliant LLC   Bios: Ingeuneal C. Gray, Esq. is Vice President of Inclusion and Engagement at the American Arbitration Association (AAA), a not-for-profit organization and the largest private global provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services. Ms. Gray leads the development and implementation of strategies and initiatives that align with the AAA’s commitment to expanding the pool of qualified arbitrators and mediators to better reflect the varied backgrounds and experiences across society. Before becoming Vice President of Inclusion and Engagement, Ms. Gray served as Commercial Vice President at the AAA, where she managed the administration of large, complex cases; oversaw regional panels of arbitrators and mediators; and provided leadership for the AAA’s national energy panel. Recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Houston, Ms. Gray is an attorney, arbitrator, and mediator with more than 20 years of legal experience. She is the recipient of the 2024 CPR International Institute Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity in ADR and was named the Houston Business Journal’s 2025 Outstanding Leader in Diversity. She is also a 2025 finalist for Ally of the Year for the ALM Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards.  Prior to joining the AAA, Ms. Gray was the principal of ICG Law Firm, where her practice focused on business transactions, compliance, conflict prevention, and ADR in the areas of government contracts and commercial and construction-related matters.  Ms. Gray is a member of the distinguished Texas Bar College of Legal Scholars. She currently serves as Chair of the ABA Business Law Section’s Dispute Resolution Committee and is the Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas ADR Section. Ms. Gray regularly presents at legal and industry conferences nationwide, where she speaks on the critical role of inclusion in strengthening dispute resolution. Her work reflects a deep commitment to expanding access, fostering excellence, and shaping a more representative future for the field.    Kara McCarthy Perry, JD is an integrative lawyer, legal educator, speaker, and consultant working at the intersection of law and well-being. After more than two decades at large firms and in-house as a healthcare transactional lawyer, Kara now dedicates her work to examining the relational and human dimensions of legal practice.  Drawing on her legal background alongside training in yoga and meditation, she brings an intentional and reflective lens to negotiation, contracting, and professional identity in support of sustainable legal practice. Kara teaches at Quinnipiac University School of Law and Seton Hall University School of Law. As a Senior Fellow with Quinnipiac’s Center on Dispute Resolution, the Project for Integrative Law in Legal Education, and a Conscious Contracts® practitioner, she works with students and clients to design relational agreements that foster trust and adaptability. She holds leadership roles with the Mindfulness in Law Society and the Institute for Well-Being in Law and serves as a faculty advisor to TEDLaw. Kara is also the founder of Just Brilliant LLC, a consulting and education company supporting individuals and organizations in finding purpose in their practice through values-aligned collaboration and relationship-centered leadership. She believes that when lawyers are supported in their well-being, the profession is better positioned to build a just, resilient, and enduring legal system.

    33 min

  6. Mar 27

    Reclaiming History: Inside Randol Schoenberg’s Battle for Holocaust‑Stolen Art

    This week on the NAWL Podcast, host and NAWL member Lisa Kohn welcomes attorney Randol Schoenberg—renowned for his role in the landmark caseRepublic of Austria v. Altmann, which fought to reclaim artwork stolen during the Holocaust, including the famous Portrait of Adele Block-Bauer I (“Woman in Gold”) by Gustav Klimt.  In this powerful episode, Lisa and Randol delve into the gripping story behind this historic legal battle, unpack the legal and moral complexities of art restitution, and discuss why these issues remain profoundly relevant today. Tune in for an engaging and deeply moving conversation that brings one of the most extraordinary restitution cases to life.

    51 min

  7. 12/05/2025

    The Attorney’s Playbook for Success: A Conversation with Sheila Murphy

    In this week’s episode of the NAWL Podcast, Michele Ballard Miller, Chair of Cozen O’Connor’s West Coast Labor and Employment team, hosts an engaging conversation with Sheila Murphy, CEO of Focus Forward Consulting LLC and former NAWL Board Member, about her new book Rainmaker Power Moves: The Attorney’s Playbook for Building a Book of Business. They explore the mindset shifts, practical strategies, and resilience needed to unlock career momentum, from overcoming the fear of business development to creating a compelling professional brand that attracts clients. This episode is perfect for anyone looking to elevate their influence and achieve long-term professional growth.   Learn more about Sheila’s book and find additional details here!   Bios:    Michele Ballard Miller, Chair of West Coast Labor & Employment at Cozen O'Connor, is a widely recognized management-side labor and employment attorney. For more than 35 years, she’s represented businesses in single and multiple plaintiff cases and collective actions. Her clients — who run the gamut from Fortune 50 powerhouses to burgeoning startups — trust her practical business-centered advice and counsel on a wide range of workplace matters. Michele is a frequent speaker on employment law issues for clients and outside groups, and has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for her work in advancing women in the profession. Prior to joining the firm, Michele was the founding and managing partner of Miller Law Group, a certified women-owned California labor and employment law firm. Cozen O'Connor is a full-service firm with nationally recognized practices in litigation, business law, and government relations, and our attorneys have experience operating in all sectors of the economy.   Sheila Murphy is a certified executive coach, award-winning legal leader, and the CEO of Focus Forward Consulting. With over two decades of experience in corporate America and a top-tier law firm, Sheila empowers legal professionals—from General Counsels and legal executives to law firm partners and rising attorneys—to achieve transformational success in their careers, compensation, and confidence.  Her mission is clear: to help lawyers become impactful leaders, trusted advisors, and rainmakers who drive results. Before founding Focus Forward Consulting, Sheila served as Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel at MetLife, a Fortune 50 company, where she earned recognition for her leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to advancing others.  During her tenure, she served as an executive sponsor of the U.S. Women’s Business Network, co-chaired the Legal Affairs Academy, and led diversity and professional development initiatives with global impact. Sheila is the author of Rainmaker Power Moves: An Attorney’s Guide to Building a Book of Business, a practical and inspiring guide designed to help attorneys take charge of their professional destinies.  Through actionable strategies, candid insights, and proven techniques, Sheila teaches lawyers how to grow thriving practices and sustainable client relationships in today’s competitive market. Known for her engaging and transformative approach, Sheila brings a unique blend of corporate experience, coaching expertise, and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in the legal industry.  She works with attorneys and legal teams at all stages of their careers—whether they’re in-house counsel striving for leadership roles or law firm professionals building influence and profitability.  Her clients consistently credit her with helping them unlock opportunities, elevate their confidence, and accelerate their success. A sought-after speaker and trainer, Sheila delivers high-impact keynotes and workshops on leadership development, business growth, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Passionate about advancing women and underrepresented groups, she is dedicated to reshaping the legal profession by equipping all professionals with the tools to thrive. Sheila holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and coaching certifications from the International Coaching Federation and the Co-Active Leadership Institute.  Her leadership and coaching excellence have earned her numerous honors, including the Women, Influence & Power in Law Lifetime Achievement Award and the Benchmark Litigation In-House Award. With her signature mix of authenticity, insight, and strategic vision, Sheila Murphy helps legal professionals and organizations move beyond potential—toward lasting, measurable success.

    35 min

  8. 11/07/2025

    Professional Development 360: Insights from Partner, Coach, and Client

    In this week’s episode of the NAWL Podcast, host Lisa Sheeler—Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel at RhumbLine Advisers—welcomes Lisa Cukier, Partner at Rubin Rudman, LLP, and Ellen Keiley, President of EMK Consulting Group, LLC, for a dynamic conversation on business development through three distinct lenses: the practicing attorney, the business development coach, and the client. Together, they dive into the power of authentic networking, the value of leaning into your strengths, and the strategies behind building lasting client relationships. From personal branding to professional growth, this episode offers actionable insights for legal professionals at every stage of their career. Tune in to discover how to elevate your business development approach and expand your professional network with purpose.    Discover more about Ellen and explore how you can benefit from her expert coaching through NAWL's Coaching Roster!   Bios: Lisa Cukier has a law practice that bridges the intersection of service as trustee and conservator, trust and estate litigation, trust and estate planning, high asset matrimonial law, and private client strategic planning. Her practice focuses on complex trust and estate controversies, high-asset matrimonial disputes, fiduciary appointments, and legal interventions in cases involving diminished capacity and undue influence. Lisa counsels individuals, families, and family offices, as well as family trustees and family businesses, as they navigate emotionally charged transitions — such as high asset divorce, high stakes incapacity, death, interfamilial conflict and controversy, and external vulnerabilities — crafting legal solutions that protect both financial stability, legacies, safety and personal dignity. Trusted by judges, colleagues, and clients alike, Lisa is known for top-flight resolution of high-conflict, high-net-worth matters where family, wealth, and capacity collide. In addition to her family law and fiduciary litigation practice, Lisa serves as a trustee, guardian, and conservator, often at the direct request of clients, lawyers representing family members or the family business, or by judges seeking an experienced problem solver and peacekeeper. She is also a trusted special master and guardian ad litem in contentious cases involving children and older individuals who are experiencing signs of diminishing capacity, and she is frequently retained to render expert witness opinion and testify as an expert witness in contested trust and estate litigation matters.    Ellen M. Keiley is the President of EMK Consulting Group, LLC, a firm specializing in marketing, business development coaching, and public relations for law, accounting, finance, and other professional services firms. A recognized authority with over 20 years of experience, Ellen is known for her expertise in networking, brand building, and strategic visibility. She has written for numerous publications and was a regular contributor to RadioBDC’s Global Business Hub segment. She has also been extensively quoted and featured in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Boston Magazine, and Boston Common Magazine, and speaks frequently at conferences and industry events. She previously authored the “Ask Ellen” and “Legal Tender” columns in Lawyers Weekly and currently writes a column for Business of Law INSIDER focused on public relations. Ellen is actively involved in the community. She is the Past President of the National Association of Women MBAs, serves on the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Advisory Board, and on the Women Owned Law Boston Steering Committee. She has also served on the United Way Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) and Lawyers Have Heart Executive Committees. She is the former Vice Chair of City Year’s Legal Community Breakfast and Past Vice Chair of its Women’s Leadership Breakfast. Additionally, she is the past Co-Chair of The Boston Club’s Member Engagement Committee and its MetroWest Affinity Group, and was Co-Chair of the 2020 Women on Boards National Conversation on Board Diversity event. Ellen graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University and is a Certified Professional Coach, trained by the International Coaching Federation–accredited Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). She has been recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a Top Public Relations Firm and Top Business Development Coach for law firms for the past eight years. Ellen is also a recipient of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s “Excellence in Marketing” award and the Idealism in Action Award from City Year.

    37 min
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About

Welcome to the NAWL Podcast, Conversations to Help You Thrive in the Legal Profession!

Information

  • Creator
    NAWL
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    NAWL Podcast