DWT LLP | Practice Areas: Corporate Diversity Counseling Group


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Direct Dial: (202) 973-4292 Email: weldonlatham@dwt.com Office: Washington, D.C.	Weldon H. Latham, Senior Partner, is the Chair of the Corporate Diversity Counseling Group. He advises CEOs and General Counsel of several Fortune 200 companies, as well as major minority businesses, municipalities, and government entities in a variety of practice areas, including corporate diversity counseling, employment law, corporate law, and government relations. DiversityInc magazine described Mr. Latham as “The Brains Behind Diversity Crisis Management.” Additionally, he organizes and directs confidential legal vulnerability assessments, develops comprehensive diversity action plans, and devises targeted strategies for minimizing legal liability, enhancing corporate diversity programs, performance, and profile, and accessing the economic benefits and potential associated with a diverse workforce and supplier base. Mr. Latham holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Howard University, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and a Certificate from the Executive Education Program of the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Direct Dial: (202) 973-4293 Email: johnbryson@dwt.com Office: Washington, D.C.	John M. Bryson, II, Partner, represents major companies confronted with high-profile allegations of discrimination and harassment. He counsels clients on workforce and supplier diversity issues, directs internal investigations, and assists in the development and implementation of diversity enhancement programs. Mr. Bryson practices in the areas of corporate diversity counseling, employment law and litigation. Mr. Bryson earned a B.S. with High Distinction in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia and received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Direct Dial: (202) 973-4294 Email: michaelhatcher@dwt.com Office: Washington, D.C.	Michael R. Hatcher, Partner, provides diversity counseling and crisis management services to Fortune 500 companies seeking to enhance their diversity performance and public profile. He counsels clients regarding workforce diversity issues including compliance with Federal mandates and responding to investigations and audits by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Mr. Hatcher assists companies in developing and implementing comprehensive diversity actions plans, compliance with federal, state, and local non-discrimination requirements, supplier diversity, minority outreach efforts, and diversity-related government relations. Mr. Hatcher practices in the areas of employment law, government contracts, and government relations. Mr. Hatcher is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center. He earned an A.B. in Government, cum laude, from Dartmouth College and a J.D., cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Direct Dial: (503) 778-5339 Email: annedenecke@dwt.com Office: Portland	Anne E. Denecke, Of Counsel, specializes in corporate diversity counseling and management-side labor and employment law, including advice, counsel, and defense of Federal and state employment discrimination claims, agency charges, and grievance arbitrations. Ms. Denecke conducts trainings on a variety of employment law and workplace issues, including discipline and discharge, wage and hour, sexual harassment, policies and procedures, corporate diversity, and union organizing, and she has authored numerous articles on these subjects.

Direct Dial: (202) 973-4295 Email: angelahartedwards@dwt.com Office: Washington, D.C	Angela Hart-Edwards, Of Counsel, advises Fortune 500 companies on government relations and diversity related crisis prevention, management, and resolution. She develops and implements legal vulnerability assessments, crisis management response plans and comprehensive diversity plans which address key areas of supplier diversity, strategic business partnering with minority- and woman-owned businesses, and workforce diversity. Ms. Hart-Edwards conducts workplace investigations and litigation threat assessments, and assists clients to develop and maintain relationships with community leaders and public officials.

Direct Dial: (206) 628-7689 Email: karenrussell@dwt.com Office: Seattle	Karen K. Russell, Of Counsel, is a member of the Firm's Employment Counseling, Litigation, and Corporate Diversity Counseling Groups. Ms. Russell regularly defends employers against claims of discrimination, failure to pay wages, and other violations of employment laws at both the agency and court level. She conducts training seminars for managers and employees on subjects of diversity, wage and hour, leave laws, unlawful discrimination and harassment, leadership, performance management, and working with injured or disabled employees. Ms. Russell advises corporate clients on strategic public relations and crafts crisis management strategies to enhance brand reputation during significant business challenges, as well as assisting in developing and maintaining strong community relationships with prominent civil rights leaders, public officials, and female opinion leaders. Ms. Russell earned her B.A. in Government and Philosophy from Georgetown University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Direct Dial: (206) 757-8004 Email: nigelavilez@dwt.com Office: Seattle	Nigel Avilez, Associate, is a member of the Firm's Media, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Corporate Diversity Counseling Groups. He conducts internal investigations of employment issues and concerns. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Loren Miller Bar Association. He received his J.D., cum laude, from the Seattle University School of Law and his B.S. in Journalism from John Brown University.

Direct Dial: (425) 646-6179 Email: borisgaviria@dwt.com Office: Bellevue	Boris Gaviria, Associate, focuses his practice on labor and employment law, employment litigation and general civil litigation and has worked with Davis Wright Tremaine's Corporate Diversity Counseling Group. Mr. Gaviria defends employers against claims of race, gender, and other forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment. He has also litigated wrongful discharge and breach of contract cases and multiple general commercial litigations. Mr. Gaviria is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. He is a board member of Latina/o Bar Association of Washington. Mr. Gaviria is the secretary of the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra and Vice President of the Eastside Latino Leadership Forum. Mr. Gaviria received his J.D., Georgetown University Law Center and earned a B.A. in History, Oberlin College, Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Gaviria is fluent in Spanish.

Direct Dial: (213) 633-6829 Email: emiliogonzalez@dwt.com Office: Los Angeles	Emilio G. Gonzalez, Associate, provides advice and counsel regarding personnel policies and procedures, discipline and discharge, leave laws, and wage and hour laws for publicly held and private companies. He conducts internal investigations of employment issues and concerns. He represents companies in employment, commercial and intellectual property litigation in State and Federal court. A graduate of University of California, Hastings College of Law, Mr. Gonzalez, who is a fluent Spanish speaker, joined Teach for America in its first year of existence and served as a bilingual teacher in South Central Los Angeles for five years prior to going to law school.

Direct Dial: (202) 973-4297 Email: lizlopez@dwt.com Office: Washington, D.C.	Liz Lopez, Associate, advises Fortune 500 companies on a variety of corporate diversity matters including, assessment of legal vulnerabilities to prevent threats of discrimination lawsuits; assists companies to establish a crisis management response due to pending litigation and effectively develop and implement diversity enhancement plans. Ms. Lopez received her A.B. in Political Science from The University of Chicago and a J.D. from Boston College Law School. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Lopez appeared in numerous Massachusetts state courts and handled over 80 handled numerous motions, jury and bench trials as a Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney and as an Attorney for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Ms. Lopez is also fluent in Spanish.

Direct Dial: (503) 778-5266 Email: kenmitchell-phillips@dwt.com Office: Portland	Ken Mitchell-Phillips, Associate, is a member of the Firm's Business Transactions, Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, and Corporate Diversity Counseling Groups. He focuses on general corporate law, including corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities, corporate governance, and compliance. He is a member of the Oregon State Bar Association, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Oregon Ballet Theatre. He received his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School, his M.S. in Business Management from Troy State University, and his B.A. in English from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.

Direct Dial: (202) 973-4296 Email: jenniferscheessele@dwt.com Office: Washington, D.C.	Jennifer K. Scheessele, Associate, assists Fortune 500 companies in responding to diversity crises and threats of discrimination lawsuits, and in developing comprehensive diversity action plans concerning supplier diversity, “strategic business partnering” with minority and women-owned businesses, and workforce diversity. Ms. Scheessele received her B.A. in political science from Stanford University, an M.A. in elementary education from Loyola Marymount University, and a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Law Review.

Direct Dial: (415) 276-6564 Email: salleyoo@dwt.com Office: San Francisco	Salle E. Yoo, Associate, is a general commercial litigator who has worked with Davis Wright Tremaine's Corporate Diversity Counseling Group. Ms. Yoo has represented numerous clients in healthcare, employment and intellectual property matters in State and Federal courts and in mediation, arbitration and settlement negotiations. She has extensive experience in investigating claims, interviewing and deposing witnesses, pleadings and motion practice, negotiating and drafting various agreements resolving disputes and presenting witnesses and arguments at trial. Ms. Yoo is a member of the State Bar of California. She is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Central Districts of California; the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Yoo is the current president of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of the North Pacific Coast, past-president and current board member of the Korean American Bar Association of Northern California and has served as a member of the Citizen's Advisory Committee for the SF Redevelopment Authority. Ms. Yoo received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law. She earned a B.A in Government, with honors, from Scripps College.

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