New 2010 Cabinet Members Elected at Nov. 23 Executive Committee Meeting

At yesterday's Executive Committee Meeting, five YLD members were elected to join 2010 YLD Chair Abbie DuFrayne on the Cabinet: Carolyn Chopko of Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock & Dodig will become Chair-Elect; Kelly Jo Gastley of Philadelphia VIP will become Vice Chair; Melanie Taylor of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office will become Secretary; John Encarnacion of White and Williams LLP will become Treasurer; and Rachel Kopp of Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis, P.C. will become Financial Secretary.

The only contested race was that for Chair-Elect, which Chopko, currently serving as YLD Treasurer, won over current YLD Vice Chair Jennifer Coatsworth of Margolis Edelstein. Chopko will take over as YLD Chair in 2011.

Gastley ascends to Vice Chair from her current position as YLD Financial Secretary. In addition to currently being on the Executive Committee, Encarnacion serves as the YLD Minority Bar Representative to the Asian Pacific Bar Association of Pennsylvania. Taylor also currently occupies a position on the Executive Committee, as does Kopp.

YLD election season closes on Dec. 8 with balloting for 7 Executive Committee seats among ten candidates at the Bar Association's Annual Meeting & Luncheon.

Stay tuned for these results as well as a more comprehensive look at your new YLD Cabinet in the beginning of January.

10 Candidates Vying for 7 YLD Executive Committee Seats; Balloting on Dec. 8 at Bar Association Annual Meeting

On Dec. 8 at the Bar Association Annual Meeting & Luncheon, balloting will be held for new seats on the YLD Executive Committee from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the ballroom level. Ten candidates are vying for seven open seats.

Running for the seven open YLD Executive Committee seats are: Alexandra Antoniou, Roxane Crowley, Justin Serianni, Ryan Gatto, Paul Kaufman, Joshua Gayl, Jeffery Wyble, Joseph Guzzardo, Rachel Branson and Matthew Laver.

(LEARN MORE about the candidates)

Also at the Annual Meeting & Luncheon, former YLD Treasurer and Financial Secretary Scott F. Cooper of Blank Rome LLP will be formally greeted as the next chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association and will outline his plans for 2010. At age 44, Scott will become one of the youngest chancellors in the history of the Philadelphia Bar Association when he officially takes over in January.

The Annual Meeting & Luncheon also features the presentation of the Wachovia Fidelity Award, this year to be given to Joseph A. Sullivan, co-chair of the Delivery of Legal Services Committee, and the presentation of the Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Distinguished Jurist Award to Hon. Annette M. Rizzo of the Court of Common Pleas.

The Association's Annual Election of Bar officers and members of the Board of Governors will also take place at the Luncheon. There being no opposition for the following offices, a unanimous ballot will be cast for these individuals who will be elected to the offices as noted: Vice Chancellor, John Savoth; Secretary, Kathleen D. Wilkinson; Assistant Secretary, Sophia Lee; Treasurer, Joseph A. Prim Jr.; and Assistant Treasurer, Wesley R. Payne. There being no opposition, a unanimous ballot will also be cast for the following candidates for Board of Governors: Stacy A. Tees, Brandi Brice, Scott P. Sigman, H. Marc Tepper and Kimberly Ruch-Alegant.

Tickets to the event are $55. CLICK HERE

Two Major Public Interest Section Events NEXT WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2

The Public Interest Law Day CLE Program, "Lawyering for Social Change in An Era of Challenge," will be held next Wednesday, Dec. 2, at PBI's CLE Conference Center, Wanamaker Building, 10th Floor, St., 1010 Juniper Street. Also on Dec. 2 will be the Public Interest Section Annual Awards Ceremony & Reception from 5:30-8 p.m., during which Marsha Levick, co-founder of the Juvenile Law Center, will receive the Public Interest Section's prestigious Andrew Hamilton Award.

The Lawyering for Social Change in An Era of Challenge CLE program features a distinguished faculty of judges and public interest law experts, and provides six hours of CLE credits, including one ethics credit. Lunch is included in the registration fee. The program offers the following sessions:

-Advocating for Vulnerable Groups in the Obama Era

-Lawyering for Social Change

-Counseling Clients on Financial Strategies as they Face Unemployment

-Update and Outlook for Civil Rights under the Obama Administration

-Hot Ethics Topics for Public Interest Lawyers

-Hot Topics in Housing Law, Health Law and Public Benefits

-Negotiating Skills

-Collaborating with the Judiciary in Promoting Access to Justice

Register online HERE or by calling PBI at 1-800-247-4724.

Also, don't forget to register for the Public Interest Section Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception, which will be held at the conclusion of the 2009 Public Interest Law Day CLE Program, on Wednesday, Dec. 2., at Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St., from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $40 for public interest and government attorneys and $55 all other members. Admission includes beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres. Click HERE to register.

Chancellor's Forum Featuring Lynn Doyle to Look Back on Big Cases of 2009, NEXT TUESDAY, Dec. 1

Emmy-winning journalist Lynn Doyle will host next Tuesday's Chancellor's Forum "A Year in Review: Big Cases - What Was Hot, What Was Not - It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle."

Panelists scheduled for the program include Chancellor Sayde Ladov, A. Charles Peruto Jr., Tariq El-Shabazz and Rhonda Hill Wilson. Doyle is the host of "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" on the Comcast Network. The program is sponsored by the Bar-News Media Committee.

The program begins Dec. 1 at 12 p.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $6 for those members who register in advance. CLICK HERE to RSVP.

Volunteers Needed for YLD Mentoring Program

The YLD needs volunteers for its Mentoring Program, an endeavor that seeks to foster the professional development of of Philadelphia's future attorneys and simulate the growth, diversity and participation of Philadelphia lawyers in Bar Association activities and the community at large.

Each mentor is assigned to serve as a role model and counselor to one mentee. Mentorship is an obligation and responsibility. Mentors must:

1) Reach out and make initial contact with their mentee;

2) Have one in-person or telephonic meeting with their mentee in advance of the Mentorship Program Event;

3) Have one or more in person meetings with their mentee after the Mentorship Program Event;

4) Remain as a resource to the mentee for the course of the year.

Download the sign-up form and questionnaire HERE. Completed forms can be forward to Daniel McKenna at mckennad@ballardspahr.com.

Business Law Section Seeking Nominations for 2009 Dennis H. Replansky Memorial Award, Due NEXT WEDNESDAY, Dec. 2

The Business Law Section is seeking nominations from the Philadelphia legal community for the Section’s 2009 Dennis H. Replansky Memorial Award. The award will be presented at the Section’s Annual Reception to be held in January. Nominations are due next Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Award criteria are:

-Superior legal talent in the area of business law;

-Unique contributions to and significant achievements within the business law community in the Philadelphia area;

-A reputation for mentoring young attorneys;

-Significant participation in and contributions to civic and charitable causes in the community; and

-Uniform recognition in the legal community of the candidate's honesty, integrity and professionalism.

Each candidate must be a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Business Law Section.

The award was established in recognition of Dennis Replansky's career as a lawyer and his contributions to legal, civic, religious and other charitable causes. Mr. Replansky was a 51-year old senior partner at the law firm of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley when he died in March 1994. He was a former chair of the Business Law Section.

Deadline fornominations is noon on Wednesday, December 2. Written nominations detailing the nominee's qualifications for the award should be sent to: Dennis H. Replansky Memorial Award, c/o Sandra A. Jeskie, Esquire, Duane Morris LLP, 30 S. 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7396; or e-mailed to jeskie@duanemorris.com.

More information about the award or the nomination process may be obtained by calling Sandra Jeskie at 215-979-1395.

Getting What You Want in a Career: How to Identify and Achieve Your Goals, Dec. 15

On Tuesday, Dec. 15, the Attorney Career Development Committee will present "Getting What You Want in a Career: How to Identify and Achieve Your Goals", a lunchtime seminar at Bar Association headquarters.

Successful lawyers often get that way by understanding what they want and then design goals to get them there. You will learn how lawyers with different career experiences - large firm partner, Fortune 500 corporate executive and consultant to the legal profession - took control of their careers by setting and prioritizing goals. Special exercises help you identify your goals and strategies to achieve them.

Event leaders are: Jane L. Dalton, partner, Duane Morris; Charisse R. Lillie, senior vice president, Comcast; and Arthur Bousel, leader of Lawyer 2 Lawyer Career Management.

The event is free unless you which to purchase lunch for $8. CLICK HERE