Women of Columbia Law Launches With a Forum at the Forum
The new initiative kicked off with a daylong event spotlighting the progress and promise of Columbia Law alumnae.
Showing pride. Providing opportunity. Empowering one another. Women of Columbia Law brings together alumnae and other members of the community from across generations and professional pathways to learn, network, and engage on topics of common interest. And at the initiative’s inaugural event, Forum at the Forum, Gillian Lester, Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law, emphasized the necessity of providing space for these discussions: “Convenings like the program we have today are important opportunities for women to share their insights, to build networks, and to collaborate to ensure that we have a seat—that we have a place at the table—where decisions are made and our futures are shaped.”
Held at Columbia’s Manhattanville Campus on October 13, Forum at the Forum featured panel discussions focused on timely issues especially relevant to women in law—advancing gender equality, achieving professional goals, and breaking paradigms in the legal profession—along with opportunities for guests to network over lunch and coffee.
In her opening comments, Dean Lester highlighted the remarkable strides that have been made since women were first accepted to Columbia Law School, as well as the work that remains to overcome gender disparities that persist in the legal profession.
“Today’s programming harnesses our talent, experiences, and expertise to strengthen the Law School community and, by extension, our profession and our society,” she said.
Nina Shaw BC ’76, LAW ’79, founding partner of law firm Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang, who welcomed participants to the event, noted in her address that “every generation of Columbia Law women has their own story to tell.” But, she said, “our common story must be how we made our society better as a whole and the legal profession better for the next generation of Columbia lawyers.”
Shaw also spoke of her path to founding her own entertainment law firm despite the rarity of being a Black woman partner in entertainment law. “My work experience reinforced that I had to be a leader in my community, advocating for the rights of women, because I could not let others experience the loneliness, isolation, and fatigue that came with being a singular figure among my peers,” she said. “It is in collective efforts that real and lasting change takes place.”
Read more about each panel below:
“United States v. Women: Advocating for Social Justice, Human Rights, and Gender Equality”
Faculty and alumnae who advocate for reproductive rights, diversity, and equal justice addressed the challenges of the post-Roe landscape. Moderated by Olatunde C.A. Johnson, Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’59 Professor of Law, the panel included Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan ’91, founding partner of Kaplan Hecker & Fink; Nancy Northup ’88, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights; Marcia Sells BC ’81, LAW ’84, chief diversity officer of the Metropolitan Opera; and faculty members Katherine M. Franke, James L. Dohr Professor of Law, and Carol Sanger, Barbara Aronstein Black Professor of Law.
“Advancing Your Career: Ask for More”
Alumnae also offered career advice for advancing in fields where women remain underrepresented in leadership positions: Network, find mentors, build an informal “board of directors” for advice and support, and be sure your boss knows how much you do, were some of the words of wisdom from Adriene Holder ’91, chief attorney of the civil practice at The Legal Aid Society; Esta Stecher ’82, retired Goldman Sachs partner; and Sheena Wright CC ’90, LAW ’94, first deputy mayor of New York City, in a panel moderated by Andrea C. Saavedra ’06, assistant dean, judicial careers.
“Women of Columbia Law: Reshaping Professional Paradigms”
Associate Dean for Professional Affairs Administration Petal Modeste BUS ’13 asked a panel of alumnae and faculty about the philosophies that have guided them through pathbreaking careers in government, immigrant advocacy, social justice, and finance. Lorna Chen ’99 LL.M., ’01 J.D., Asia regional managing partner and head of greater China, Shearman & Sterling; criminal justice expert and founder of Vital City Elizabeth Glazer ’86; and Judge Myrna Pérez ’03 of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit were joined by faculty members Elora Mukherjee, Jerome L. Greene Clinical Professor of Law; and Suzanne Goldberg, Herbert and Doris Wechsler Clinical Professor of Law, who is currently on leave working as the senior adviser and legal expert to the U.S. State Department special envoy to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons.
Support Across Generations
Concluding the day, Dean Lester said she was “thrilled and proud” to have launched the Women of Columbia Law initiative. She remarked that, during the event, “I was moved to feel the way that we Columbia women have pushed the boundaries and have been changemakers.” She called on all those present to “knit our wisdom, our insight, our friendship, and our support for one another across the generations.”
