Walsworth LLP

Finally catching up after a whirlwind start to the month. Four days with my colleagues, many of whom are now friends, at National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF)'s Driving Diversity & Leadership Conference (DDLC) was a blast. This was my first time at DDLC, but not my first NAMWOLF event, and honestly, every time I go to a NAMWOLF conference, I feel a little more optimistic about the future of the legal profession — which is definitely needed these days. Big shoutout to the Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) for putting on yet another interesting and informative panel. We started with the idea that newer attorneys just want to know what's next and who to ask for advice, and it turned into this awesome panel with women at all different stages of their careers, led by Jill Warning. It was inspiring to hear their diverse journeys and perspectives on career advancement. Huge thanks to Anne Walsh, Robin Wofford, and Lydia Bueschel for your time and continued mentorship — ELI wouldn't be the same without you. And of course, Michelle Thompson and Dafney Dubuisson Stokes, Esq. thanks for leading ELI, putting together the best event of the conference (Amazing Race!), and all the laughs. After my panel, I was thrilled to watch Walsworth's newest partner, Josh Anaya, rock it with the Trials PAC. What many may not know is that Josh is a key part of our internal training, leading some of our most informative and well-attended CLEs. It was awesome to see him share his knowledge (and his new red velour jacket) with everyone. I'm so lucky to have the support to go to events like NAMWOLF. Massive thanks to the whole NAMWOLF team, especially Jane Kalata, for putting on such a great event. Although I needed a few days to recover, I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

Team Walsworth is Running for Justice!? ? We’re excited to lace up once again for?Public Counsel’s?Run for Justice?on?March 15 at Dodger Stadium. The event helps raise critical funds to support Public Counsel’s mission of advancing?civil rights, racial and economic justice, and disaster response efforts?for communities in need. ? For over 20 years, teams from Southern California’s top law firms and corporations have come together for this incredible cause, and we’re proud to be among them. Join us in making an impact and supporting?Public Counsel’s life-changing legal work. ? Support this important cause by donating via the Team Walsworth page:?https://lnkd.in/gURV3tyy ? #RunForJustice #LABig5K #PublicCounsel #AccessToJustice

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Walsworth proudly honors the trailblazing women whose courage and determination have paved the way for women-owned law firms like ours.?Our membership in the?National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF)?and our certification by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council?(WBENC) reflect our own commitment to women in the legal profession. ? Of course, we wouldn’t be the firm we are today if it weren’t for those who came before us – women such as Arabella “Belle” Babb Mansfield, who, in June 1869, became the first woman admitted to a state bar in the United States.?Despite Iowa law restricting the bar exam to males, Mansfield challenged this limitation and passed with high scores, leading to a change in the state's licensing statute to accept women and minorities into its bar. ? Early pioneers like Mansfield set the stage for future advancements, like when in 1981 Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to serve as a Justice of the United States Supreme Court, marking a significant milestone in the representation of women at the highest levels of the judiciary. ? Today, the landscape of the legal profession continues to evolve.?According to the?American Bar Association, women now constitute 56.2% of law school students, outnumbering men in law school attendance, with the gap growing every year.?Additionally, 41% of all U.S. lawyers are women, a number that is steadily increasing.? ? At Walsworth, we are inspired by these remarkable strides and remain dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that supports and advances women in law.?We celebrate the achievements of those who came before us and look forward to contributing to a future where diversity and equality are foundational pillars of the legal profession. ? #WomenInLaw #WomensHistoryMonth #BreakingBarriers

Walsworth Partners?Josh Anaya,?Kendra Bray, and?Katie Stricklin?are looking forward to attending the upcoming NAMWOLF Driving Diversity & Leadership Conference (DDLC) in Phoenix, Arizona, from March 8-11. ? Produced by the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), the DDLC provides attendees the opportunity to network with other NAMWOLF members while exchanging thought leadership on a variety of topics relevant to diversity, career development, and the practice of law. ? Josh and Kendra will also be participating in panel discussions at the conference. ? As part of his involvement with NAMWOLF’s Trials Practice Area Committee, Josh will be part of an interactive CLE discussion on March 10 titled “‘My Cousin Wolfy’: Evidentiary Objections at Trial.” Presenting attorneys will discuss steps they have taken to use the rules of evidence in their favor at trial. ? Meanwhile, Kendra will be participating in the Emerging Leaders Initiative’s session titled “Leveling Up: Demystifying Advancing Your Career.” The panel discussion brings together established professionals who will share their insights on how attorneys can find success in their careers, and how senior attorneys can help junior counterparts navigate the path to it. ? To learn more about Josh, Kendra, Katie, and the rest of our team of talented attorneys, visit:?https://lnkd.in/dvkWpR48 ? #LawFirms #Diversity #Inclusion #CareerDevelopment #LegalCareers #TrialLawyer

We are proud to share that?Partner Jean Daly?has been admitted as a Fellow of the?American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC), the preeminent association for attorneys representing insurers and policyholders in coverage disputes. ? “I’m honored to receive this recognition from such a forward-thinking organization and look forward to collaborating with other Fellows to advance the practice of insurance law,” Jean said. ? The?ACCC, an invitation-only organization, is composed of distinguished insurance law practitioners who have dedicated 15+ years to the field. As a Fellow, Jean joins an elite group committed to advancing the ethical and effective resolution of insurance coverage disputes while contributing to thought leadership in the industry. ? “The ACCC is delighted to welcome Jean Daly as the latest member to become actively involved in its work,” said Debra Varner, president of ACCC. ? Please join us in congratulating Jean on this well-deserved recognition! ? To learn more about what makes Jean such a unique member of our community, visit:?https://lnkd.in/gvQyWyb9

Walsworth Partners?Margaret Mahaffey,?Karen Porter, and?Derek Johnson?are looking forward to attending the upcoming?Perrin Conferences?in March in Miami Beach, Florida. ? Margaret and Karen will be attending the Silica Litigation Summit on March 3, and Derek will be attending the Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference on March 4 and 5. ? Learn more about Margaret, Karen, Derek, and the rest of Walsworth’s team of asbestos and toxic tort attorneys here:?https://lnkd.in/dvkWpR48 ? #Asbestos #Silica #ToxicTort #EnvironmentalLaw #Litigation

Please join us in giving a big congratulations to Walsworth attorney?Josh Anaya?on his promotion to Partner! ? Josh’s practice focuses on general liability, toxic tort, and asbestos cases. Since joining the firm in 2022, Josh has demonstrated a strong record of advocacy on behalf of our clients, serving as trial counsel in a number of matters. Prior to his tenure at Walsworth, he served as lead trial counsel in numerous jury and bench trials and presented arguments before the California Fourth District Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. ? We are proud to recognize Josh’s contributions to Walsworth and look forward to his continued success with the firm. You can learn more about Josh and his many accomplishments here:?https://lnkd.in/dMfHwdTH ? #lawfirms,?#triallawyer,?#trialattorney,?#partnerpromotions

Over the past four years, California has seen a surge in toxic tort litigation involving plaintiffs who allege injury as a result of exposure to silica and other substances while fabricating stone countertops. Recognizing the significance of this emerging litigation, Walsworth quickly mobilized a dedicated team of trial counsel, paralegals, and experts to defend clients in these complex cases. ? Our?stone team?has been at the forefront of this litigation since we represented clients in the very first case of its kind in 2021. Drawing on decades of experience and deep insight into the plaintiffs’ bar driving these claims, we are uniquely situated to defend these cases. ? With a growing docket of stone cases, our team meets regularly to refine case management and defense strategies, assess litigation trends, and discuss the evolving landscape of this niche practice.?In a recent session,?Josh Anaya?and?Karen Porter?shared key insights from our team’s involvement in the first three cases set for trial—including the first case to go to verdict. ? Learn more about our stone team and toxic tort practice:?https://lnkd.in/gMtyFHTT.

Walsworth is excited to welcome Associate?Cathy Chittenden! ? Cathy’s practice focuses on toxic tort matters. She is experienced in all stages of pre-trial litigation, including developing case strategy, propounding and responding to written discovery, taking depositions, law and motion, and trial preparation. Cathy has also represented healthcare providers and public entities in insurance matters, employment actions, and copyright claims in federal and state courts. In her spare time, Cathy enjoys going to concerts, new restaurants, and Disneyland! ? To learn more about why Cathy is such a unique member of our community, visit:?https://lnkd.in/gnS-4grH

This year’s theme for Black History Month, “African Americans and Labor,” highlights the significant ways Black workers — from enslavement to leadership roles in various industries today — have shaped our economy and fought for justice. Whether through agricultural work, union leadership, or advocacy for fair wages and job security, Black labor has been integral to the fight for equality. ? Walsworth is inspired by civil rights activists and trailblazers like Addie L. Wyatt, the first African American woman elected to the position of international vice president of a major labor union, and A. Philip Randolph, who a century ago, created the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids – the first Black union to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor. Their contributions reaffirm our own commitment to advancing fairness in our work every day. ? Let us continue to support and uplift diverse voices, foster inclusivity, and champion progress and equality. ? To learn more about this month’s theme for #BlackHistoryMonth, visit: https://lnkd.in/gQcPbja