2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference
The Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference focuses on global diversity and inclusion, talent optimization, inclusive leadership and management to bolster the recruitment, retention and promotion of diverse attorneys. The program offers practical development tools, best practices and resources for individual lawyers and organizations. For individuals, there are workshops to improve rainmaking and business development skills, including the MCCA Pitch Session Network. The Pitch Session Network allows corporate law departments to directly connect with diverse attorneys, diversify their service client portfolios and assist in holding law firms and legal service providers accountable for their diversity efforts. For organizations, expert panels address areas for improved execution of a diversity and inclusion strategy. All of these programs provide opportunities for networking and advancing the careers of diverse attorneys.
Please click here for instructions to add events@mcca.com to your Safe Sender List, Address Book or Contacts to receive future communications regarding the Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference.
October 26-28, 2020
New York Hilton Midtown
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Online registration will close October 25, 2020 at 11:59PM EST.
The MCCA discounted room block is first come, first served.
The room block will close on October 5, 2020.
New York Hilton Midtown
Phone: 1-212-586-7000
2020 Rainmakers
Kobi Brinson
Partner; Member, Executive Committee; Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee,
Winston & Strawn, LLP
Ronald Machen
Partner; Co-Chair of White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice; Management Committee Member,
WilmerHale
Alexandre Rene
Partner, Co-Chair, Litigation & Enforcement Practice Group,
Ropes & Gray LLP
Event Sponsors
MCCA would like to thank all of our generous sponsors who support MCCA’s 2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Justification Toolkit
You recognize the value of attending the Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference, but how do you convey that message to your manager? With budgetary constraints and increased scrutiny on business travel, gaining approval to attend conferences can sometimes pose a challenge. It is important to demonstrate the benefits of attending in order to justify the expense. Use MCCA’s Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference Justification Toolkit to help you make the ask, prepare for the Pathways Conference, and get the most from our conference and your membership.
Event Agenda
The agenda for the 2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference will be posted shortly. Click here to view the agenda of the 2019 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference.
Monday, October 26, 2020
7:30 am –
7:00 pm
Registration and Information Desk
7:30 am –
8:30 am
Networking Breakfast
8:00 am –
5:00 pm
Pitch Session Network
MCCA’s Pitch Session Network (“PSN”) allows in-house counsel to connect with diverse law firm partners at majority law firms, diversify their preferred provider portfolios and hold law firms accountable for their diversity efforts. Member law firms and sponsors will have the ability to meet privately with in-house counsel to pitch the legal services they offer and develop meaningful connections with potential clients.
MCCA created the Pitch Session Network to address the lack of diversity at the equity partner-level in law firms.
The Pitch Session Network will be held over all three days of the Pathways Conference. Eligible conference registrants interested in participating in the Pitch Session Network must complete the application form that will be made available as part of the 2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference registration process.
To ensure that your application will be reviewed, it is strongly recommended that PSN applications be submitted as early as possible and no later than September 18, 2020.
To learn more about the Pitch Session Network, click here.
8:30 am –
11:30 am
MCCA’s Blueprint for Selling & Buying – A Pitch Workshop for Outside Counsel
Through instruction and experiential learning, participants will work together to learn skills and behaviors for building successful business relationships. Outside counsel will have the opportunity to work in teams to develop a formal pitch from a mock RFP for legal services, which will be presented to senior in-house counsel.
This workshop is open to law firm members only and has max capacity of 20 participants. Preference will be given to law firm partners; associates are welcome to apply if their firm is a two tier partner system. In-house members who would like to serve as workshop coaches, assisting law firm participants with their pitches and sharing best practices, are invited to email Sophia Piliouras at spiliouras@mcca.com.
Non-members will be placed on a waiting list as will any other participants once we reach max capacity. Additional information and workshop materials will be provided to participants prior to the conference. If you would like to be added to the workshop waitlist, please email events@mcca.com.
12:00 pm –
2:00 pm
Luncheon Plenary / CLE 1
Additional details to be provided shortly.
2:15 pm –
3:15 pm
CLE 2
Additional details to be provided shortly.
3:30 pm –
4:30 pm
CLE 3
Additional details to be provided shortly.
4:45 pm –
5:45 pm
CLE 4
Additional details to be provided shortly.
6:00 pm –
7:00 pm
Networking Reception
6:00 pm –
10:00 pm
Pitch Session Network Dinner
The Pitch Session Network Dinner is by Invite-Only. Your attendance must be confirmed in advance of the dinner.
7:00 pm –
10:00 pm
MCCA Dine-A-Round
Looking to connect with colleagues during Pathways? Join your fellow attendees for an informal* Dine-A-Round dinner. Connecting in a smaller setting will allow you to benefit from diverse experiences and foster new relationships.
*Attendees must pre-pay for their meal online during registration in order to attend a Dine-A-Round dinner. Payments are non-refundable. However, wine and other beverage consumption will be paid by dinner attendees, separately. A menu separate from the full menu will be presented to the group. All restaurants will be able to provide separate checks.
The Dine-A-Round event will take place at restaurants within walking distance of the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel. Reservations will be arranged by MCCA and will range in size. Details to follow.
The Dine-A-Round event is open to registered Pathways attendees only.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
7:30 am –
7:00 pm
Registration and Information Desk
8:00 am –
5:00 pm
Diversity Career Expo
We know that in today’s world, career development and career mobility are closely intertwined, which is why we are offering an opportunity for our members to connect with each other in many different forums.
In 2017, MCCA launched the Diversity Career Expo at our annual Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference with great success. Prospective corporate employers connected with diverse talent from all over the country while promoting their legal department as an employer of choice. It was a fantastic opportunity for prospective candidates to learn about the different corporations, conduct informational interviews and learn why our member organizations may be an employer of choice and the key to their career development.
Join us again as we host the Fourth Annual Diversity Career Expo. Please keep in mind that any meeting does not in any way imply or guarantee an interview or a position. It is a forum for both parties to connect and learn more about each other.
We will also be posting current job openings at Pathways on the exhibit floor, on our conference mobile app, and all participating employers will receive digital copies of the submitted resumes before the Diversity Career Expo.
PROSPECTIVE CORPORATE EMPLOYER
If you are an interested prospective corporate employer, who may or may not have a current open requisition but, would like to connect with diverse talent for current open opportunities or long term planning please contact Sophia Piliouras at spiliouras@mcca.com for more details.
RESUME SUBMISSIONS
To register, click here and then click on the “Select” option on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, and you will be directed to the Diversity Career Expo Application.
The deadline for applications is October 16, 2020 at 11:59pm EST.
8:00 am –
5:00 pm
Pitch Session Network
MCCA’s Pitch Session Network (“PSN”) allows in-house counsel to connect with diverse law firm partners at majority law firms, diversify their preferred provider portfolios and hold law firms accountable for their diversity efforts. Member law firms and sponsors will have the ability to meet privately with in-house counsel to pitch the legal services they offer and develop meaningful connections with potential clients.
MCCA created the Pitch Session Network to address the lack of diversity at the equity partner-level in law firms.
The Pitch Session Network will be held over all three days of the Pathways Conference. Eligible conference registrants interested in participating in the Pitch Session Network must complete the application form that will be made available as part of the 2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference registration process.
To ensure that your application will be reviewed, it is strongly recommended that PSN applications be submitted as early as possible and no later than September 18, 2020.
To learn more about the Pitch Session Network, click here.
8:30 am –
10:30 am
Breakfast Plenary / CLE 5
Presentation of the Paula L. Ettelbrick Award and 2020 Rising Stars Award Ceremony
Additional details to be provided shortly.
10:45 am –
11:45 am
CLE 6
Additional details to be provided shortly.
CLE 7
Additional details to be provided shortly.
12:00 pm –
2:30 pm
Luncheon Plenary / CLE 8
Presentation of the George B. Vashon Innovator Award and 2020 Rainmakers Award Ceremony
Additional details to be provided shortly.
2:45 pm –
3:45 pm
CLE 9
Additional details to be provided shortly.
CLE 10
Additional details to be provided shortly.
4:00 pm –
5:00 pm
CLE 11
Additional details to be provided shortly.
CLE 12
Additional details to be provided shortly.
5:15 pm –
6:15 pm
Networking Reception by Region
To advance together and make a collective impact on the profession, building a strong support network for business development and career advancement is key.
So, whether you are having beer, wine or soda/pop/coke, connect with colleagues from your region!
Signs will designate different sections of the room with the five regions of MCCA’s membership: Midwest, West, South, Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic.
6:30 pm –
10:00 pm
MCCA Group Dinner by Region
Continue the conversation over dinner! Sign up for a Group Dinner, where the group reservation will be small to help facilitate deeper conversations.
The Group Dinner option is open to registered Pathways attendees only and will be categorized by region. The meal and drink costs are not included in your conference registration and Group Dinner participants are responsible for paying all dinner costs directly with the restaurant.
*Unlike the Dine-A-Round Dinners, MCCA will ONLY arrange for reservations, which will range in size (likely less than 12). The Group Dinners will take place at restaurants within walking distance of the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel. Details to follow.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
7:30 am –
11:00 am
Registration and Information Desk
7:30 am –
8:30 am
Networking Breakfast
8:00 am –
3:00 pm
Pitch Session Network
MCCA’s Pitch Session Network (“PSN”) allows in-house counsel to connect with diverse law firm partners at majority law firms, diversify their preferred provider portfolios and hold law firms accountable for their diversity efforts. Member law firms and sponsors will have the ability to meet privately with in-house counsel to pitch the legal services they offer and develop meaningful connections with potential clients.
MCCA created the Pitch Session Network to address the lack of diversity at the equity partner-level in law firms.
The Pitch Session Network will be held over all three days of the Pathways Conference. Eligible conference registrants interested in participating in the Pitch Session Network must complete the application form that will be made available as part of the 2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference registration process.
To ensure that your application will be reviewed, it is strongly recommended that PSN applications be submitted as early as possible and no later than September 18, 2020.
To learn more about the Pitch Session Network, click here.
9:00 am –
10:00 am
Workshop / Sources of Success
Additional details to be provided shortly.
CLE 13
Additional details to be provided shortly.
10:15 am –
11:15 am
Workshop / Sources of Success
Additional details to be provided shortly.
CLE 14
Additional details to be provided shortly.
11:30 am –
12:30 pm
Workshop / Sources of Success
Additional details to be provided shortly.
CLE 15
Additional details to be provided shortly.
12:45 pm –
2:15 pm
Luncheon Plenary / CLE 16
Additional details to be provided shortly.
* Please note that additional details in the agenda are currently being finalized.
** Please note that the schedule in the agenda is subject to change.
Registration and Fees
Early bird rates end July 31. Online registration will close October 25, 2020 at 11:59 PM EST.
| Members | Non-members | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registration Date | In-House | Law Firms | Government/ Non-Profit | In-House | Law Firms | Vendors |
| Early-Bird (before July 31) | $700 | $850 | $850 | $900 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Regular (Aug 1 - Sep 30) | $850 | $1,000 | $850 | $1,100 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Late/On-Site Registration (Oct 1 - 28) | $1,000 | $1,300 | $1,000 | $1,200 | $1,750 | $1,750 |
Payment Message
Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted.
MCCA Law Firm Members and Corporate Members: Please note as part of your company’s/firm’s membership benefits you may be entitled to a complimentary registration or a member discount rate for the conference registration.
For member complimentary registrations, members must obtain their complimentary codes from their “Company/Firm” and use them during registration. The complimentary codes should be entered in the discount code field at the Payment Page and members must click “Apply Now” to zero their balance.
For member discount rates to apply, members must select their “Company/Firm” from a drop down labeled “MCCA Law Firm/Corporate Members” during the registration process. The member discount rate will automatically be applied at the Payment page.
For any questions or inquires, please contact events@mcca.com.
Cancellations & Substitutions
- All cancellations MUST be received in writing.
- Cancellations received before the “Early-Bird” deadline (July 31, 2020) will be fully refunded minus a $100.00 administrative fee.
- Cancellations received after the “Early-Bird” deadline but no later than 72 hours prior to the first date of an MCCA conference may, at MCCA’s discretion made on a case-by-case basis, apply a credit in the amount paid for the 2020 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference towards attendance to MCCA’s 2021 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference.
- There will be NO refunds or credits for cancellations received less than 72 hours prior to the first date of the MCCA conference.
- Any approved credits will be processed after the MCCA conference.
- An organization may substitute one paid participant for another participant from the same organization.
- Cancellations and requests for substitutions must be submitted to events@mcca.com.
Financial Hardship Policy
To apply for the financial hardship scholarship, please click here to complete the application.
This financial hardship policy applies to attorneys from MCCA member organizations, non-member organizations, or attorneys in public service. Attorneys who are unable to afford event registration fees due to financial hardship may petition for registration fee waivers or discounted registration fees. Full scholarships and discounts to attend MCCA’s conference are given priority to pro bono attorneys, judges, law professors, lawyers who work for nonprofit organizations, legal services organizations or government agencies, and unemployed attorneys with financial hardships. MCCA may waive or reduce the registration fee for MCCA conference at their discretion.
Additional Information:
- MCCA will review applications on a rolling basis. The deadline for financial hardship applications is August 31, 2020.
- Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
- Full scholarship or reduced registration fees will not be granted retroactively.
- Full scholarship or reduced registration fees are non-transferable from event to event or person to person.
- MCCA will not review applications that are not submitted via the official application form.
Special Requirements
Any special needs for facilities, visual aids or dietary requirements must be sent to events@mcca.com.
Terms and Conditions
Click here to review the MCCA Conference Registration General Terms and Conditions.
Previous Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conferences
Strategic Members 2020
