PracticePro

Date: Friday, March 12, 2021

Location: Virtual, log-in information will be sent after registration

Do you want to gain the knowledge and the exact formula for lining up a great summer associate or post-graduate career? Master the substantive and soft skills, and competencies required of you during your summer internships to deliver stellar work product, build a fantastic brand, and receive a permanent employment offer? Would you like to be part of an exclusive group of students to participate in recruiting opportunities with PracticePro’s law firm partners?

CONFERENCE STRUCTURE

The Conference is a half-day virtual conference on March 12, 2021 taught by speakers and instructors from top law firms and corporate legal departments. Conference attendees will also be invited to participate in:

• Summer webinar series and virtual workshops focused on business frameworks, professional branding, strategic career planning, advanced networking and interviewing techniques, and other topics this summer. The webinars will be conducted on Saturdays and will also be available for on-demand viewing. 
• Exclusive (virtual) recruiting and networking receptions with our law firm partners this spring and summer.
• (Virtual) job fair. 

SUMMER WEBINAR SERIES TOPICS (June-July 2021)

• Strategic Job Search and Career Planning 
• Professional Branding and Advanced Networking Workshop 
• Advanced Interview Workshop 
• Beyond the Case Law: Business Frameworks and Project Management 

The webinars will be conducted on Saturdays this summer and will also be available for on-demand viewing to conference registrants.

LAW FIRM NETWORKING RECEPTIONS AND JOB FAIR

We plan on holding a series of exclusive virtual networking events with our law firm partners, exclusive to conference registrants, this summer.

We will also host our second annual virtual job fair this summer. (PracticePro’s law firm partners will consider your law school’s pre-OCI rules and regulations, if any, in considering the time for interviews and callbacks.)

TUITION & PRICING

Tuition includes the Career Conference, the summer webinar series, networking receptions, and the virtual job fair. 

Early Registration (ends March 5, 2021) = $299

Regular Registration = $399

You can register on our website here or on the Eventbrite page here. Early registrants also receive a complimentary customized career/OCI coaching session. (Once you register, you will receive the log-in information for the virtual conference. We will also send you information on the summer webinar series and how to sign up for your free coaching session.) 

INSTRUCTORS & SPEAKERS

Niki Khoshzamir, PracticePro 

Niki Khoshzamir is the Founder and CEO of PracticePro and leads all business and legal aspects of the organization including product development and strategic partnerships. Niki speaks at law schools and law firms nationwide on a variety of skills topics, including professional branding, habits of highly effective associates, networking, advanced interviewing techniques, and diversity as a business asset. She also consults with law firms and corporate legal departments to strengthen talent development and diversity programs, including helping diverse and first-generation associates to succeed as attorneys. She is a regular contributor to Above the Law, American Bar Association, and PracticePro Journal.

Niki is also a lecturer at University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Berkeley Law), where she teaches The Junior Litigation Associate, a course she designed for Berkeley Law in 2011. She also regularly guest lectures Advanced Legal Writing and Advanced Legal Research courses.

Prior to founding PracticePro, Niki practiced law at the international law firms of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP and Kirkland & Ellis, LLP. She focused her practice on intellectual property litigation, high stakes commercial disputes, and trade sanctions compliance. She successfully represented clients throughout the United States during all phases of litigation, including trial. She also practiced before the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on U.S. trade sanctions compliance and licensing matters.

Niki has been recognized as one of the top “40 under 40” professionals by Silicon Valley Business Journal. She is also the recipient of Minority Bar Coalition’s Unity Award and Iranian American Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award. Niki currently serves on the national advisory board of the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA), and is the former president of the Northern California Chapter, which she founded in 2006 and grew to one of the largest and most active chapters of the organization. She also serves on the Leadership Council of Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus and judges the Excellence in Writing Competition of the Continuing Bar Education. 

Niki obtained her B.S. in Biology, summa cum laude, from Texas Southern University, and her J.D. and certificate in Law and Technology from Berkeley Law. 

Aden Allen, Wilson Sonsini

Aden Allen is a senior associate in the Austin office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where his practice focuses on intellectual property and technology litigation. Aden has worked on matters encompassing a wide range of technologies, including generic pharmaceuticals, cellular telephones, collaborative online video sharing systems, and content delivery networks.
 
Prior to attending law school, Aden gained industry experience as an engineer and program manager at Applied Materials. In this role, he managed programs related to spare parts for chemical mechanical polishing and electrochemical plating machines. Aden is highly active in local and national IP organizations. He currently serves as President of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association (Austin IPLA) and President of the Austin Black Lawyers Association (ABLA). He is also chair of the Patent Litigation Committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). In addition, Aden currently serves as a voting member on the IEEE Organizational Governance of Artificial Intelligence Working Group and served as a member of the law committee for IEEE’s Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems.
 
Aden received his B.S., Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his J.D. from Columbia Law School. He was named to the 2018 edition of the “Rising Stars” list under the Intellectual Property category published by Texas Super Lawyers. He is also a Sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Aparna Dave, Wells Fargo

Aparna M. Dave is Managing Counsel in the Houston office of Wells Fargo Bank, which she joined in 2006. She currently leads a team of legal
professionals who are responsible for helping to build, grow and protect a $35 billion global brand. Prior to this role, she was not only the primary brand marketing lawyer, but she also informally mentored and trained junior attorneys, paralegals and administrative assistants to help accomplish this work for the company. Outside of this work, but within the legal department, Aparna has assumed numerous leadership roles to help the company move forward its goals. She served as Chair of the Legal Department Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Council, participated in the Wells Fargo Diverse Leaders Program and is currently serving as D&I Chair for the Pro Bono Committee.

For over 10 years, Aparna has provided service and leadership on the State Bar of Texas Minority Counsel Program, whose mission is to increase racial, gender and LGBTQ+ diversity in the legal profession. For four of those years, she served as co-chair and worked tirelessly to fundraise, educate and provide awareness on the lack of diversity in the legal profession, open doors and provide opportunities for diverse attorneys. Aparna has also been active as a mentor to young attorneys and women in the legal field. Since graduating from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2002, Aparna has continued to participate in activities over the years including serving on the Alumni Scholarship Committee, serving as an advocacy judge, and participating in mock interviews and other career development programs for law students. Aparna has also a member of PracticePro’s Advisory Board since 2017.

Mollie Duckworth, Baker Botts

Mollie Duckworth serves as partner in charge of Baker Botts’ Austin office and as the Deputy Department Chair – Corporate (Firmwide). Ms. Duckworth also represents public and private businesses in a wide variety of corporate and securities matters. She represents both public and private companies in connection with M&A transactions, and represents issuers and investment banking firms in public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities. In addition, she advises corporations and MLPs with respect to complex corporate and transactional matters, including compliance with federal securities law issues, mergers and acquisitions, and day-to-day corporate counseling.

Ms. Duckworth received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law where she was Order of the Coif, and served as Articles and Notes Editor of the Texas International Law Journal. Prior to obtaining her J.D., Ms. Duckworth earned a B.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders, summa cum laude, from the University of Texas.

Sakina R. Foster, Haynes and Boone

Sakina Rasheed Foster is a partner in the Finance Practice Group, and is located in the Dallas office of Haynes and Boone. Her practice is focused on the representation of financial institutions and borrowers in complex commercial loan transactions as well as airlines and aviation matters. Sakina has experience in advising banks, private equity firms, corporations and individuals in connection with senior and subordinated financing, including drafting documentation and negotiating deal points for syndicated and single bank loan facilities, asset-based lending, acquisition financings, real estate construction loans, mortgage warehouse lending and loans secured by unique collateral, such as mortgage servicing rights.

Sakina is a trusted advisor to her clients and works diligently to understand their businesses and crafts practical solutions to suit their needs. She earned her J.D. from The University of Texas in 2003 and her B.B.A. from Southern Methodist University in 2000.

 Yendelela Neely Holston, Kilpatrick Townsend

Yendelela Neely Holston is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Kilpatrick Townsend and also serves as the firm’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. In her role as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Yendelela is responsible for overseeing, implementing and providing strategic leadership to Kilpatrick Townsend’s diversity initiatives. As a practicing attorney, Yendelela concentrates her practice on employment counseling, litigation and defense strategy, with particular emphasis on wage and hour, employment discrimination, and background check issues. Yendelela also serves on the firm’s Hiring Committee.

Yendelela received her J.D., cum laude, from Duke University School of Law. Prior to obtaining her J.D., Yendelela earned a B.A. in Political Science & History, magna cum laude, from Furman University.

Yasser Madriz, McGuireWoods

Yasser Madriz is a litigation partner in the Houston office of McGuireWoods. He has extensive experience handling complex, high-stakes litigation in federal and state court, and plays key roles in various multi-billion dollar cases filed throughout the United States. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants from a wide array of industries in a broad range of business, commercial, and energy litigation matters. Over the past several years, Yasser has focused his practice on cases involving technology and intellectual property disputes, trade secret theft, and unfair competition claims, but he has substantial experience handling other litigation matters. As a former transactional attorney, Yasser frequently leverages his transactional background to help clients solve complex transaction based disputes, business organization controversies, and derivative actions.

As a native Nicaraguan, Yasser’s Latin American roots and fluency in Spanish have additionally enabled him to develop experience in representing Latin American clients in international and cross-border disputes.

Mr. Madriz is very active in the Houston legal community, including membership in the Houston Bar Association, Texas Young Lawyers Association, and the Houston Young Lawyers Association. His involvement with United Way earned him the designation of United Way Young Leader, and he was selected as a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow in 2012. Mr. Madriz was also selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers – Rising Stars Edition, Thomson Reuters, from 2009-2012.

Mr. Madriz graduated with honors from McMaster University and received his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

 Jennifer Reddien, Haynes and Boone

 Jessica Rivera-Rudak, Universal Weather & Aviation

 Bruce Ruzinsky, Jackson Walker

Bruce J. Ruzinsky is a partner at Jackson Walker LLP where he chairs the firm’s bankruptcy section. He previously chaired the Houston office litigation section and the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee. He focuses his practice primarily on representing financial institutions, corporations, and other business entities in workout/restructure efforts, chapter bankruptcy proceedings, and litigation. Mr. Ruzinsky has approximately 35 years of experience in representing high profile creditors, creditors’ committees, trustees, debtors, landlords, and/or asset purchasers in various industries and business environments, including energy, real estate, shipping, manufacturing, transportation, retail, entertainment, wholesale produce, heath care, and personal services.

While chair of Jackson Walker’s diversity and inclusion committee, Mr. Ruzinsky played an instrumental role in the firm’s strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, exemplified by the prestigious 2014 Thomas L. Sager Award for the South Region from the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. The award is presented each year to law firms that have demonstrated sustained commitment to improve the hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys. Mr. Ruzinsky is a member of PracticePro’s Board of Advisors and has been an invaluable advocate of the Diversity Scholar Program since its inception in 2014 . 

Mr. Ruzinsky graduated with honors from Duke University, and received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

 Albert C. Tan, Haynes and Boone

Albert Tan joined the firm in 1994 after receiving his JD from Southern Methodist University in 1993, and L.L.M from Georgetown University in 1994. He became a partner in the Finance section in 2004. In addition to serving as co-chair of the Fund Finance Practice Group, he currently serves as a member of the firm’s (i) 6-person Appointments Committee, which appoints and oversees all of the firm’s strategic leadership and management roles, (ii) Board of Directors, (iii) Partners’ Compensation Committee and (iv) Strategic Growth Committee. He formerly served as a co-chair of the firm’s attorney development and diversity committee and a member of its Racial Equality Advancement in Law Task Force.

Among the clients that Albert represents are: Bank of America, Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Bridge Bank, Cathay Bank, China Merchant Bank, Citibank, EBRD, Goldman Sachs Bank, Itaú Unibanco S.A., Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, Morgan Stanley Bank, MUFG Union, Regions Bank, Signature Bank, SMBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, United Overseas Bank, US Trust, and Wells Fargo Bank.

Outside of law, Albert serves on the National Leadership Council and DFW Regional Leadership Council of San Diego State University and has served as board director and advisory board member to the Crow Museum of Asian Art and the Asia Society of Texas, respectively.

 Jocelyn Tau, Akin Gump

Jocelyn Tau is a Partner in Akin Gump’s Houston office. Jocelyn provides federal income tax advice to corporations, partnerships (including publicly traded partnerships or MLPs) and limited liability companies, primarily in the energy sector. Her practice emphasizes business transaction planning for capital formation, acquisition (including “dropdown” transactions) and recapitalization activities.

Jocelyn has particular experience in developing effective taxation strategies related to MLPs, private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and capital market transactions. Jocelyn has represented both issuers and investment banks in initial public offerings as well as public/private equity and debt offerings. Additionally, she has experience in representing private equity clients and U.S. and foreign companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions.

Jocelyn obtained her J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law and her A.B. from Harvard University.

 Michael Turton, Kilpatrick Townsend

Michael Turton is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Kilpatrick Townsend and also serves as the Chair of the firm’s Hiring Committee. Michael concentrates his practice in intellectual property law, with a primary focus on patent litigation and intellectual property strategy and licensing. Michael has represented companies in patent litigation actions in numerous states and the International Trade Commission. Additionally, he regularly assists companies with a variety of intellectual property matters, including pre-suit matters, such as analyzing patents held by competitors, conducting freedom to practice analysis, and providing written opinions.

Michael received his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law. Prior to obtaining his J.D., Michael earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University.

 L. Renee Williams, Cummins Inc.

L. Renée Williams is Corporate Counsel for Information Technology and Cybersecurity for Cummins, Inc., a global power technology company and manufacturer of diesel and alternative fuel engines, diesel and alternative-fueled electrical generator sets and related components and technology. Renée has over 19 years of experience as an attorney and has focused her practice on contracts, data protection and privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property, and she has vast experience in technology transactions, licensing, and software matters. Renée has lectured extensively and conducted numerous presentations on data privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property rights and infringement. Before joining Cummins, Renée served as senior counsel for Harris Health System, a fully integrated health care system for Harris County, Texas and as a litigation attorney for the City of Houston.