10 attorneys elected to serve on @AZStateBar board

An announcement from the State Bar of Arizona:

Members of the State Bar of Arizona have elected 10 attorneys to serve as their representatives on the Bar’s Board of Governors. The Board is the governing body of the State Bar, a nonprofit association that exists to serve and protect the public with respect to the provision of legal services and access to justice.

Thirty people serve on the Board of Governors, including four public members who are not attorneys. Board members are elected by district on a staggered schedule.

Below is a list of the newly elected Board members and returning incumbents. Their election will be confirmed by the certification of the results at the State Bar’s annual convention, June 14-16, 2017.

Elected Board Members

District 6 (Maricopa County) 

• Benjamin P. Taylor, Taylor & Gomez LLP
• Sam Saks, Smith Paknejad PLC
• Jessica S. Sanchez, Tempe Union High School District
• Jennifer R. Rebholz, Choate & Seletos
• Pouria Paknejad, Smith Paknejad PLC
• David Wm. Engelman, Engelman Berger PC
• Tyler J. Carrell, Gallagher & Kennedy PA
• Sara A. Siesco, Ely, Bettini, Ulman, Rosenblatt & Ozer
• Robert J. McWhirter, The Law Offices of Robert J. McWhirter

District 8 (Pinal County)

• Denis M. Fitzgibbons, Fitzgibbons Law Offices PLC

President, Young Lawyers Division

• Daniel J. Mazza, Mazza Law Center PLC, Scottsdale

The president of the State Bar’s Young Lawyers Division is not elected, but automatically serves as a voting board member during his/her one-year term as YLD President.

Public Member

• Jason E. Cobb of Compass Fiduciary Group LLC in Phoenix was selected by the board to fill one public member opening on the board.

This press release is also posted online here.

You can read more about the candidates, via their own statements, which we ran in the May issue of Arizona Attorney Magazine.

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Networking and oh yeah free @DeschutesBeer sampling at @AZStateBar event tonight

Did someone say free samples?

Short, sweet, and on tap: A bevy of State Bar lawyer groups are hosting a mixer tonight, Thursday, April 30. The April networking event is titled Draft With Drafts Night.

Where: The Vig Uptown, 6015 N. 16th St., Phoenix 85014

Time: 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm (and later if it’s any good)

Your hosts: State Bar Young Lawyers Division, Tax Law Section, In-House Counsel Committee, and the Arizona Jewish Lawyers

Because?: Networking, happy-houring, free beer sampling from Deschutes Brewery and complimentary appetizers and desserts (that’s called “burying your lead”)

Corporate sponsors:

• COX Business
• FindLaw/Super Lawyers
• The La Porte Wealth Strategies Group of Raymond James
• REDW LLC
• MidFirst Private Bank

More information about YLD is here.

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Networking event tonight for Arizona lawyers hosted by @ASBA, sponsored by most legal groups you can think of

Lawyer networking? This way, to The Duce in Phoenix.

Did you ever hesitate to attend a networking event, unsure if there will be even one person there you know?

An event tonight was organized in a way that minimizes that possibility. If the number of sponsoring groups is any preview, you’re likely to run into some familiar faces. (I’m sorry to say I’ll be unable to attend myself. If you go, take a few photos and send them my way: arizona.attorney@azbar.org)

Staged by the Arizona Small Business Administration, the event will be at The Duce in south-central Phoenix, from 5:30 until 8. If you’ve never wandered through the cool complex, it’s worth the drive for that alone.

And here is the list of sponsoring organizations:

• Arizona Asian American Bar Association
• Arizona Jewish Lawyers Association
• Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Arizona Black Bar
• Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Arizona
• Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association
• Phoenix Black Chamber
• Phoenix Children’s Hospital Emerging Business Leaders
• State Bar of Arizona Young Lawyers Division

Organizers say, “Attendees will enjoy complimentary appetizers and quality networking in a fun, fresh environment. A cash bar will be available.”

That phrase “Attendees will” is pretty demanding, but maybe the ASBA is just an optimistic bunch. (And remember: The “quality networking” depends on you!)

And, yes, The Duce has an open-to-all boxing ring, but remember: It’s a collaborative event.

Boxing at The Duce: Two enter, hopefully closer colleagues exit.

• Date: Thursday, April 24
• Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm
• Location: The Duce, 525 S Central Ave, Phoenix

More information, and registration, are here.

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Annual banquet of @AZHispanicBar rocks Tapatio Cliffs

The Los Abogados annual banquet, Oct. 19, 2013.

I keep hearing that “people don’t want to join things anymore.” Or this: “Our organization can’t draw lawyers to events like we used to; law firms and attorneys don’t value networking events as they once did.”

Maybe. Or maybe your events are lackluster, and you’re failing to engage lawyers in ways that have meaning. Los Abogados clearly works from a different playbook.

That was my thought as I attended Saturday evening’s Los Abogados annual banquet. The packed room at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs was a rebuke to those who declare the days of attorney interaction dead and gone.

And if you get out of your office a good amount, you’ll see that kind of robust fellowship replicated at numerous other events throughout the year. For example, I was unable to attend the recent Native American Bar Association Seven Generations Award Ceremony and Dinner, but reports are that it was filled with happy lawyers. I also heard that the State Bar’s own mixer last Thursday at Kitchen 56 Restaurant was gangbusters. Well done to the Bar’s Young Lawyers Division, Solo Practitioner and Small Firm Section, Tax Law Section and the Arizona Jewish Lawyers Association.)

Back at the Los Abogados event, there was all you could expect (silent auction, food, drink, music, conversation, awards) and more—fantastic (professional) dancers and a closing act of three opera singers. Even if you’ve never gotten closer to The Three Tenors than a PBS special, you knew you were in the midst of greatness at the Pointe Hilton.

Professional dancers wow the crowd at the Los Abogados banquet, Oct. 19, 2013.

So the next time someone bemoans declining attendance at (fill in the blank) the Lions Club, or Kiwanis, or whatever, be sure you point out that busy attorneys remain connected, but they’ve reallocated their time. They seek events and organizations that provide a deep connection, and those groups that give back in meaningful ways.

And remember: Connectivity is more than just one night; it continues throughout the year. Therefore, you should follow them on Facebook here.

In that vein, it’s not too early to point out that the Arizona Asian American Bar Association annual banquet will be on Thursday, February 18, 2014. Go on; mark it on your calendar. It’ll be at C-Fu Gourmet in Chandler, where the multi-course evening would suggest you begin skipping lunches now to prepare for the feast.

Let’s get connected.

At the end of the program, opera surprised and delighted attendees.

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YLD Picnic Gathers @AZStateBar Attorneys, Families

The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park was the site of the first annual YLD picnic.

You’ve got to love it when a plan comes together.

That must have been what the State Bar of Arizona Young Lawyers Division thought this past Sunday, when a large group of attorneys—and their families—gathered for a picnic and networking.

The venue was the McCormick–Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, and all reports are that the kids (and those who are kids at heart) had a great time. For those for whom the evocative blast of a railroad horn is not a draw, here’s what else was available: food, games, bouncy houses, cotton candy, chair massages.

Yes, I said chair massages (which probably felt great after time inside the bouncy houses).

The event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a few corporate sponsors:

• Geico
• John Driscoll & Company, Inc.
• Thomson Reuters

There are some more photos of the event (courtesy of my colleague Lisa Bormaster) at the Arizona Attorney Facebook page.

Picnic attendees chat with representatives from sponsor John Driscoll & Company.

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Networking Tonight With @StateBarofAZ Young Lawyers

Tonight is another in a series of successful State Bar of Arizona mixers. These networking events allow members to mingle in a relaxed atmosphere. Here is the information.

Networking Event at The Lodge To Support Eve’s Place

Please join us at The Lodge for an attorney networking event on Thursday, May 24, 2012 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. to support Eve’s Place, a nonprofit domestic violence shelter.  Free appetizers will be served.

Please bring paper goods to donate to Eve’s Place. The shelter needs paper towels, facial tissues, and toilet paper.

This networking event is being brought to you by the State Bar of Arizona’s Young Lawyer Division, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm Section, Tax Law Section, and Antitrust Law Section; Arizona Association of Defense Counsel Young Lawyer Division; and Defense Research Institute Young Lawyer Division.

The Lodge is located in Old Town Scottsdale at:

4422 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Here is a map:

Does The Lodge have a moose? You won’t know if you don’t go!

Thank you to our sponsors:

Perez Law Group

Vocational Diagnostics, Inc.

One Neck IT Services

CBRE, Inc.

LexisNexis Web Marketing Services

www.LawLinks.com

Other Donation items:

Eve’s Place will gladly accept your donation of gently used clothes, house wares and collectibles at their thrift shop, Eve’s Treasures, located at 10765 West Peoria Avenue, in the Sun Bowl Plaza Shopping Center.

For donations of furniture and other large items, call 623-583-1434 to schedule a pickup. Or you can bring them to Eve’s Place offices, at: 8101 N 35th Ave # D10, Phoenix, AZ 85051. 602-995-7450.

Items may also be brought to the Perez Law Group offices:

Glendale Office (Main Office):

5622 West Glendale Avenue

Glendale, AZ 85301

office: 602-252-9937, ext. 13

fax: 623-939-3214

Phoenix Office:

2415 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 700

Phoenix, AZ 85016

Office:  602-553-1004

Fax:  623-939-3214

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March Networking Event by State Bar Puts Some Joy Into the Blues

Another in the State Bar’s successful series of networking events occurs this evening. It will give attendees the chance to visit, nosh and listen to some blues at a downtown Phoenix venue.

The gathering occurs at Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen. Here is more detail about the evening, sponsored by the Bar’s Young Lawyers Division:

March Madness Viewing Party and Networking Event for Attorneys at Copper Blues

Please join the State Bar of Arizona, Maricopa County Bar Association, and other attorney organizations on Thursday, March 22, 2012, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for a March Madness viewing party, networking with other attorneys, and free appetizers.

Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen is located downtown in CityScape:

50 West Jefferson Street #200

Phoenix, AZ 85003

*Free three-hour parking in garage with validation

Co-Sponsoring Organizations: The State Bar of Arizona’s Young Lawyer Division, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm Section, Mentor Committee, Tax Law Section, and Public Lawyers Section; Sports Lawyers Association; Maricopa County Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division; and Arizona Black Bar

Corporate Sponsors: Epps Forensic Consulting PLLC; Cox Business; Sharp Business Systems; GEICO and Fendon Law Firm, P.C.

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