2017 MCCA Diversity Gala
Coinciding with the Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference, is the annual Diversity Gala, MCCA’s signature fundraising event. The Diversity Gala helps fund MCCA’s key research and programming throughout the year. The Gala features an elegant networking reception, an awards program recognizing achievement and leadership in diversity and inclusion efforts by an individual, law firm, and corporation.
October 4, 2017
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West & 79th St
New York, NY 10024
2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree
David L. Cohen is Senior Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation and is the Company’s Chief Diversity Officer. David has a broad portfolio of responsibilities, including corporate communications, government and regulatory affairs, public affairs, legal affairs, corporate administration, and community investment. He also serves as senior counselor to the CEO. Before joining Comcast in July of 2002, David served as a partner in and Chairman of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, one of the 100 largest law firms in the country.
2017 EOC Award Finalists
Click on the logos below to view the finalists’ videos presented at the 2017 Diversity Gala awards ceremony.
2017 Thomas L. Sager Award Finalists
Click on the logos below to view the finalists’ videos presented at the 2017 Diversity Gala awards ceremony.
Event Sponsors
MCCA would like to thank all our generous sponsors who supported MCCA’s 2017 Diversity Gala.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Diversity Gala Host Committee

Michelle Banks
(Co-chair)
Senior Adviser,
BarkerGilmore, LLC
Former EVP & Global General
Counsel, Gap Inc.

Damien Atkins
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,
Panasonic

Don Liu
(Co-chair)
Executive Vice President,
Chief Legal Officer &
Corporate Secretary,
Target Corporation

Cornell Boggs III
Executive Vice President
& General Counsel,
Toys “R” Us, Inc.

Craig L. Silliman
(Co-chair)
Executive Vice President –
Public Policy & General Counsel,
Verizon

Robert Bostrom
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,
Abercombie & Fitch

Stuart Alderoty
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,
CIT Group, Inc.

Janice Brown
Founder,
The Brown Law Group

Clarissa Cerda
General Counsel,
Pindrop

Linda Lu
Senior Vice President,
Personal Lines Insurance Legal Department,
Nationwide Insurance Company

Samantha Grant
Partner,
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Gwen Marcus
Executive Vice President & General Counsel,
Showtime Networks Inc.

Duane D. Holloway
Executive Vice President & General Counsel,
Ascena Retail Group, Inc.
Natalie A. Pierce
Shareholder, Co-Chair,
Robotics, AI & Automation
Industry Group
Littler Mendelson P.C.

Austin K. So
General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary,
StoneMor Partners L.P.

Michael Wu
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary,
Carter’s Oshkosh B’gosh

Alan K. Tse
Senior Vice President
& General Counsel,
Petco, Inc.
Andy Yoo
Vice President, Associate General Counsel,
Pearson Education

Rich Wallis
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Office Product Group
Microsoft Corporation
Dwight Yoo
Partner,
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Benjamin F. Wilson
Chairman,
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Michelle Banks
(Co-Chair)
Senior Adviser,
BarkerGilmore, LLC
Former EVP & Global General Counsel,
Gap Inc.
Don Liu
(Co-chair)
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer &
Corporate Secretary,
Target Corporation
Craig L. Silliman
(Co-chair)
Executive Vice President – Public Policy
& General Counsel,
Verizon
Stuart Alderoty
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,
CIT Group, Inc.
Damien Atkins
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,
Panasonic
Cornell Boggs III
Executive Vice President
& General Counsel
Toys “R” Us, Inc.
Robert Bostrom
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,
Abercombie & Fitch
Janice Brown
Founder,
The Brown Law Group
Clarissa Cerda
General Counsel,
Pindrop
Samantha Grant
Partner,
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Duane D. Holloway
Executive Vice President & General Counsel,
Ascena Retail Group, Inc.
John W. Kuo
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,
Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
Linda Lu
Senior Vice President,
Personal Lines Insurance Legal Department,
Nationwide Insurance Company
Gwen Marcus
Executive Vice President
& General Counsel,
Showtime Networks Inc.
Natalie A. Pierce
Shareholder, Co-Chair, Robotics, AI & Automation Industry Group,
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Thomas L. Sager
Partner,
Ballard Spahr LLP
Austin K. So
General Counsel, Chief Legal
Officer & Secretary,
StoneMor Partners L.P.
Alan K. Tse
Senior Vice President
& General Counsel,
Petco, Inc.
Rich Wallis
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Office Product Group
Microsoft Corporation
Benjamin F. Wilson
Chairman,
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Michael Wu
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary,
Carter’s Oshkosh B’gosh
Andy Yoo
Vice President, Associate General Counsel,
Pearson Education
Dwight Yoo
Partner,
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Event Agenda
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
6:00 pm –
7:30 pm
Pre-Show Reception for All Guests
VIP Pre-Show Reception
8:00 pm –
9:30 pm
Gala Awards Program & Post-Awards Dinner Reception
9:30 pm –
11:00 pm
Post-Show Reception for all guests
Registration and Fees
Registration Type | Law Firm/Vendor | In-House Counsel | Government/ Non-Profit |
---|---|---|---|
Early Bird Non-member Rate | $750 | $550 | $500 |
Early Bird Member Rate | $650 | $450 | N/A |
Non-Member Rate after 9/12/17 | $1000 | $750 | $700 |
Member Rate after 9/12/17 | $900 | $650 | N/A |
Payment Message
All Major Credit Cards accepted.
MCCA Law Firm and Corporate Members: Please note as part of your membership benefits you may be entitled to complimentary registrations and the Member rate for conference registration. Members must enter their Member Validation Code and select Apply on the payment page to receive the Member registration rate. To learn more contact membership@mcca.com.
Refund Policy:
Tickets are non-refundable. If you have paid tickets and are unable to attend the event we will provide a tax letter for your donation upon request. Please email sponsorship@mcca.com for tax letter request and/or questions.
Special Requirements
Please advise the Diversity Gala team if you have any special needs for facilities, visual aids or dietary requirements at events@mcca.com.
Previous MCCA Diversity Galas
Strategic Members 2017



