CWLC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- General Counsel and Director of Real Estate for New Economics for Women
Alicia Matricardi works as General Counsel and Director of Real Estate for New Economics for Women, a national nonprofit economic development organization based in Los Angeles. The nonprofit performs real estate development and programs to advance economic mobility for low-income families, particularly female-led households. Alicia works as a community economic development leader for the organization through her work to build affordable housing, primary health clinic, charter school and other commercial spaces through new construction and acquisition/rehabilitation real estate development. As a California-licensed attorney, she also performs as General Counsel for the organization, advising on all nonprofit governance, fund development, contract, and real estate matters. Alicia splits her time between work for the nonprofit and leading her own law firm, Matricardi Law, A Professional Law Corporation, specializing in transactional real estate matters and business start-ups. Alicia owns and leads Carthay Group, a commercial brokerage and development company, as a California Real Estate Broker. Alicia is a Board Member of the Southwestern University School of Law Alumni Board and chairs their Diversity and Alumni Magazine Committees. In 2015, she was named Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year by the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Alicia received her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley.
Bethany Kristovich's practice at Munger Tolles & Olson (MTO) is focused on complex civil litigation with an emphasis in trial work, particularly representing television content creators and law firms. Named one of California's "Top 20 Under 40" lawyers by the Daily Journal in 2015, she is an active member of her community and maintains a busy pro bono practice. Bethany was among the Munger Tolles lawyers who assisted the Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC) in their class action Lauderdale v. City of Long Beach which sought and obtained injunctive relief for a class comprised of deaf and hard of hearing individuals; in 2010, MTO received DRLC's Counsel of the Year Award for their extensive pro bono work on disability matters. In 2008, Bethany took a leave of absence from her firm to serve as a volunteer deputy city attorney and, immediately following the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, she returned to her home state of Louisiana where she volunteered for the Orleans Indigent Defender Program, assisting clients in court every day for two months. Bethany clerked for the Honorable Edward Rafeedie in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She completed her undergraduate studies at Pomona College and received her law degree from University of Southern California Law School, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif.
Betsy Butler has been fighting for equality and justice throughout her career. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the California Women's Law Center (CWLC) where she works to create a more just and equitable society by breaking down barriers and advancing the potential of women and girls through transformative litigation, policy advocacy and education.
Prior to joining CWLC, Betsy served in the California State Assembly representing the 53rd District covering coastal Los Angeles. During her tenure in the legislature, Betsy prioritized bills addressing the needs of veterans, older Americans, working families, the environment and consumer rights. Committed to those who have served our country, Betsy was honored to be named the Legislator of the Year by both the Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Veterans (AMVETS).
A committed advocate for fairness and equal rights, Betsy has worked for the California League of Conservation Voters, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Consumer Attorneys of California. She began her career in public service with Lt. Governor Leo McCarthy and was an appointee of President Bill Clinton in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.
Betsy served on the California Commission on Aging from 2015-2021, and was Chair from 2018-2020. Betsy is also a former appointed member of the Los Angeles County Probation Commission (2016-2021) and the California Film Commission (2008-2010). She presently serves on the Board of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project of Los Angeles, Equality California, the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Creative Acts and the Advisory Board of Peace Over Violence, a domestic violence education and support organization.
Betsy graduated from San Diego State University and from the Executive Program in Management at UCLA.
Christa Demeke is a litigation attorney at Roll Law Group P.C. Christa represents Roll Global LLC's affiliated companies in litigation and also works on regulatory, marketing, and advertising matters. Prior to Roll, Christa was counsel at O'Melveny & Myers, LLP and she clerked for Judge Michael A. Ponsor of the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts. Her pro bono work has focused on assisting asylum seekers, juveniles charged as adults in criminal cases, Violence Against Women Act petitioners, and adoptive parents. She is an active volunteer with the I Have a Dream Foundation-Los Angeles and is a member of the John M. Langston Bar Association In-House Attorney Committee. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her law degree from Stanford Law School.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past President
- Partner at Winston & Strawn
Diana Hughes Leiden is a partner at Winston & Strawn, focusing on trademark, copyright, and antitrust litigation. Diana began her career with a year-long fellowship working as a staff attorney at the AIDS Legal Referral Panel in San Francisco, and continues to be dedicated to pro bono work. She has represented several asylum applicants in both San Francisco and Los Angeles Immigration Court, as well as parents seeking to adopt children from the foster care system. Diana earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she graduated cum laude and was the Executive Notes Editor of the Hastings Women's Law Journal, and her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Co - President
F. Edie Mermelstein is the founding attorney of FEM Law Group with offices in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Ms. Mermelstein is a civil litigator with a special interest in financial elder abuse, trust litigation, intellectual property, consumer protection, and employment class issues. She also handles appeals, Anti-SLAPP motions, and estate planning matters. In 2016, Ms. Mermelstein represented California consumers in a class action case regarding forced arbitration provisions before the U.S. Supreme Court. She was named as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2016 and 2017 and a Super Lawyer for 2018. Edie is a graduate of the University of Southern California and received her law degree from Abraham Lincoln University. Through adversity, Ms. Mermelstein found her calling and has demonstrated her commitment to women, children and the elderly by dedicating a percentage of her practice to pro bono work to further her advocacy for the underserved.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Partner at Manatt
Esra Hudson is a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP and focuses on employment law and related litigation. She represents companies in state and federal court in claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, trade secrets, and unfair competition. She also defends companies against employment based class action suits and provides management training on a variety of employment related subjects, including sexual harassment and discrimination prevention. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned her law degree from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.
As Staff Attorney, Harriet works to promote civil rights, social justice, and gender equality for women and girls across all of CWLC's interest areas. A lifelong athlete, Harriet has an abiding interest to ensure Title IX protections are enforced.
Prior to joining CWLC, Harriet was a volunteer at the California Attorney General's office in the Civil Rights Enforcement Section where she focused on civil rights violations in law enforcement, employment, and healthcare access. As a Fellow at Bet Tzedek Legal Services in the Elder Justice Program, she helped low-income seniors in need of assistance with elder abuse and housing matters. Prior to becoming an attorney, Harriet co-owned a small creative consultation firm that developed and designed marketing and fundraising materials for national and local non-profit organizations.
Harriet attended Southwestern Law School, graduating with a concentration in public interest law. She participated in both the Youth Offender Parole Hearing Clinic and the Street Law Clinic where she taught disadvantaged, transition-aged youth about their rights. Harriet earned her undergraduate degree cum laude from Barnard College-Columbia University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- General Counsel to the United Nurses Associations of California / Union
Jessica Ludd serves as General Counsel to the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) in San Dimas. UNAC/UHCP is a labor organization representing more than 32,000 health care professionals throughout Southern California. Prior to UNAC/UHCP, Jessica was in-house counsel at the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Jessica is a graduate of Columbia Law and the University of California Los Angeles, holding degrees in Political Science and English.
Julianna Gesiotto is a Staff Attorney working across CWLC's multiple avenues of advocacy to fight inequality and protect the rights of women and girls. Before joining CWLC, Julianna worked in employment litigation at both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and at a private firm. She helped workers who were denied proper wages, discriminated against, or harassed on the basis of a protected class.
Prior to law school, Julianna worked at the National Organization for Women (NOW), to better the lives of women and girls across the country by advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion rights, and in support of sexual assault survivors. Julianna graduated cum laude from Loyola Law School as a public interest scholar where she was a board member of both the ACLU Loyola and Reproductive Justice LA, and she completed a practicum in civil rights litigation. She earned her undergraduate degree in Women's Studies from the University of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Co - President
- Legal Counsel for Nelson Mullins
Karen Rigberg works as legal counsel for Nelson Mullins in Los Angeles, specializing in consumer protection and anti-trust law. Prior to Nelson Mullins, Karen worked as Counsel for Arnold & Porter, and as Managing Counsel for Toyota Motor Sales handling training, claims, litigation, and more. Ms. Rigberg earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and received her JD from the University of Arizona College of Law where she was Senior Articles Editor of the Arizona Law Review.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Kathy is a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in their Private Client Services group where she advises high net-worth people in the entertainment industry, closely held business owners, business managers, nonprofits and financial advisors on a wide range of tax matters including estate planning, probate and trust administration, marital agreements and philanthropy. Prior to Willkie Farr, Kathy was a partner at Venable LLP and also practiced at Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer. Kathy volunteers as a boys baseballl coach and manager, having led numerous teams to victory in the lower and higher divisions of youth baseball, and created the Women's Coaching Initiative in an effort to get more mothers interested in coaching boys sports. Kathy did her undergraduate work at Brigham Young University and received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Treasurer of the Board
- CEO of Feldman Capital LLC
Kevin Feldman is CEO of Feldman Capital LLC in San Francisco, a strategy and advisory firm, providing services to global asset management clients. Prior to September 2014, Kevin was the CEO of World Gold Trust Services where he had responsibility for overseeing global investment operations. Previously, Kevin has held senior leadership positions at BlackRock, Vanguard and Charles Schwab. Kevin received his M.P.A. from Harvard and B.A. from UCLA. He is a Certified Financial Planner and serves as a non-public arbitrator for financial industry matters at FINRA.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- General Counsel at Relativity Space
Kim Nakamaru is the General Counsel at Relativity Space, a Long Beach-based rocket company leveraging 3D-printing manufacturing technologies, where she oversees the Legal, Environmental, Health & Safety, and Corporate Security functions. Prior to Relativity Space, she was General Counsel at EagleView Technologies, a leading geospatial technology provider of software, aerial imagery and analytics, where she oversaw the company's legal and compliance function. Prior to that, she was General Counsel at Global Eagle Entertainment (now Anuvu), a leading international provider of satellite connectivity, media and content for mobility markets and mission-critical government applications. Kim has served as a corporate/sports associate at McGuireWoods LLP representing public and private companies, sports entities, and private equity and venture capital funds in mergers/acquisitions and commercial transactions. At McGuireWoods, Kim was very involved in pro bono work, including representation of a transgender refugee and a victim of domestic violence in immigration matters. She also successfully petitioned the California Supreme Court to grant a posthumous law license to a Japanese social justice pioneer denied admission to the State Bar based on race. In recognition of this work, the Japanese American Bar Association honored Kim and her McGuireWoods colleagues in 2017 with their Community Service Award. Kim served as a law clerk to the Hon. J. Spencer Letts of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Kim did her undergraduate work at Princeton University and received her law degree from Loyola Law School. While at Loyola, Kim served as an extern to the Hon. Consuelo B. Marshall of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and as a sports law clerk for Fox Cable Networks. After experiencing discrimination while training in Japan, Kim became the captain of the varsity lightweight crew team at Princton where she developed a passion for using sports to empower women and girls.
Laura is an Associate with Morrison & Foerster LLP. Prior to joining the firm, Laura was an associate at King & Spalding LLP. Laura also clerked for Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas of the Ninth Circuit. While in law school, Laura successfully briefed and argued a case in the Ninth Circuit on behalf of a client who was denied necessary medical care while in prison. She worked as Research Assistant to Dean & Distinguished Professor of Law, Erwin Chemerinsky, for two years and she was President of the Student Bar Association, a Style Editor for the UC Irvine Law Review, and Co-Chair of the Women's Law Society. During this time, Laura and two colleagues also successfully advocated for equal access to reproductive health services at UC Health Centers and published an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times as part of their effort. At graduation, Laura received Pro Bono Honors in recognition of her advocacy work for veterans, victims of domestic violence, and children with disabilities. Laura did her undergraduate work at California State University, Fullerton, she received her law degree from the University of California, Irvine, and she holds a Master's of Arts in Humanities from Duke University.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past President
- Partner at Proskauer Rose LLP
Lois D. Thompson is a partner at Proskauer Rose LLP and has represented clients in complex litigation for over 30 years. Initially based in New York, Lois has broad litigation experience, most prominently in the areas of real estate and securities law. She is on the boards of the Western Center on Law and Poverty and the Western Justice Center. She graduated from Smith College, on whose board she also serves, and earned her law degree from the Columbia University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past President
- Senior Vice President and Co - Chief Privacy Officer at Fox Corporation
Mira El Sonbaty is Senior Vice President and Co-Chief Privacy Officer at Fox Corporation. Mira advises FOX media businesses on privacy and data security practices, including risk mitigation strategies. Her practice focuses on compliance, commercial agreements, policy and regulatory work. Mira was formerly with Arnold & Porter, where she handled consumer protection, intellectual property, and complex commercial litigation. Mira also represented clients in pro bono asylum and Violence Against Women Act matters. Mira is committed to public service and served for many years on the Advisory Board for the Western Center on Law and Poverty, and has volunteered for or worked with Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Public Counsel Law Center, Children's Rights Project, NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Foothill AIDS Project. Mira received her law degree from University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and her undergraduate degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California.
Job Titles:
- Development Associate
- Office Manager
Miranda Farman joins CWLC as the Development Associate and Office Manager after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Previously, Miranda interned with the National Basketball Association's Social Responsibility and Player Programs department where she advocated for equity, fairness, and inclusion in athletics for girls and young athletes from impoverished backgrounds. At the NBA, Miranda helped establish ideas for league-driven social impact events and community relations programs to promote race and gender equity in youth sports. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Miranda was the captain of the University of Pennsylvania Women's Soccer Team, a member of the Ivy league Justice Coalition, a volunteer at Girls Inc. and the Merrian Anderson Foundation, and a math tutor at Andrew Hamilton School. Miranda is enthusiastic about CWLC's mission and values and is excited to advance her passion for women's justice, reproductive health, Title IX, and nonprofit work.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary of the Board
- Litigation Partner at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
Pamela Palmer is a litigation partner at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP specializing in complex business litigation, with extensive experience defending clients in securities class actions, derivative suits, merger and acquisition litigation, and fiduciary and business judgment cases in courts across the country. Prior to private practice, Pamela served as a law clerk on the Ninth Circuit of Appeal. Pamela is a co-chair of the American Bar Association's Derivative Suits Sub-Committee and serves on the board of the Inner City Law Center and the Advisory Board of Peace Over Violence. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine and received her law degree from the Gould School of law at the University of Southern California.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Partner at Jones Day
Sarah Conway is a partner at Jones Day in the business and torts litigation practice. As a commercial litigator, her practice involves product liability, contracts, fraud, consumer class actions, deceptive trade practices, health care, false claims, and business torts. She has appeared and argued motions in multiple state courts and defended clients in multiple bench and jury trials as well as in arbitrations. She has led teams on all aspects of litigation and is particularly well-versed in all facets of discovery, including e-discovery, negotiations with opposing counsel and joint defense groups, and fact and expert witness depositions. Sarah is a member of the Board of Governors for the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and serves as the Jones Day Affinity Group Lead for the Los Angeles office. Sarah did her undergraduate work at New York University and received her law degree from Georgetown University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Director at INCEPTIV
Stacey Armato is a director at INCEPTIV and a dedicated community advocate and volunteer. In addition to being a Board member for CWLC, Stacey is the Board Treasurer for BreastfeedLA, Co-Chair of California Winemasters benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a member of the Parent Advisory Council for Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, and formerly served as mayor and councilmember for the City of Hermosa Beach. A women's rights champion, in 2011 Stacey brought a lawsuit against TSA for harassment related to breast milk screening. As part of the settlement, TSA re-wrote their breast milk policy and re-trained all TSA employees on the proper handling of breast milk at airports. Stacey received her BS from the University of Southern California and her JD from the Pepperdine University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Partner at Jones Day
Tara Kowalski is a partner at Jones Day, where she represents policyholders in disputes against their insurers. In her more than twenty years of practice, she has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for policyholder clients in a wide range of insurance coverage claims. Tara also maintains an active commercial litigation practice in other areas, including contract and indemnity, and has represented clients in all stages of litigation in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Tara earned her law degree from the University of California Davis School of Law, where she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the U.C. Davis Law Review, and did her undergraduate work at the University of California, San Diego. She has also served as co-chair of the Business Interruption Subcommittee of the American Bar Association's Insurance Litigation Committee and on the Turning Point School Board of Trustees.
Taylor Brewer has joined CWLC as a staff attorney with a focus in housing and homelessness prevention. She is a former staff attorney at Legal Services of Northern California, where she worked in a small rural town providing free legal assistance and gained experience in a broad range of legal issues.
Prior to her legal aid work, Taylor helped develop sustainable food policy in San Diego and worked with small Los Angeles based organizations that focus on economic stability and inclusive action. Committed to grass root community organizing within the sphere of economic security, she worked with a group of women leaders to advance policy change in San Diego County allowing for the legalization of Micro-enterprise Home Kitchens.
Taylor graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she completed over 500 hours of pro bono work assisting in fair housing cases at San Diego Legal Aid and graduated with honors from Loyola Marymount University. As a Los Angeles County native, Taylor is excited to be back working in and with the communities that helped shape her.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Associate at Morgan Lewis
Thea Alli is an Associate at Morgan Lewis where she represents employers in employment litigation including wage and hour class actions and single-plaintiff lawsuits involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims. Prior to joining the firm, Thea was a commissioned officer in the US Air Force for 12 years and did tours in Afghanistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. In 2018, she clerked for Judge Harris L. Hartz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. She received her law degree from UC Irvine and did her undergraduate work at the United States Air Force Academy.
Theane Evangelis is an appellate and general commercial litigation partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She plays a substantial role in a wide range of appellate, constitutional, media, and entertainment cases, as well as crisis management matters, employment, consumer, wage-and-hour, and securities class actions. She also represented plaintiffs in the federal constitutional challenge to Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage. She graduated from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and earned her law degree from the New York University School of Law.
Tony Blain is an entertainment attorney who has represented a wide range of content-based clients in transactions and litigation. Named one of the "Top 100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know" by Fade In Magazine for two consecutive years, Tony has been a featured speaker at seminars, events, and panels held by the American Film Institute, Writer's Guild of America, and the UCLA Extension Program's Independent Producer series. He graduated from Brown University and earned his law degree from Pepperdine School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Associate in the Real Estate Division of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Vanessa Gomez is an Associate in the real estate division of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where her practice focuses on acquisitions, dispositions, financings and joint ventures for institutional investors, owners and developers. Prior to Willkie, she was an associate at Goodwin Procter LLP. Vanessa was a student legal honors extern for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2017 and employed at various financial institutions in New York and California before receiving her law degree from UC Irvine. Vanessa is dedicated to pro bono work and her representation has included asylum seekers, state benefit recipients, DACA recipients, and adoptive parents. While in law school, Vanessa advocated on behalf of domestic violence survivors in California by testifying before the California State Assembly on a bill to amend notice requirements for domestic violence ex parte orders; the bill was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2018. In recognition of her commitment to public service, Vanessa received Pro Bono High Honors in law school and was awarded the State Bar of California Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services, the UCI Law Legacy Award, and the UCI Community Bridge Builder Award. Vanessa completed her undergraduate work at Princeton University.