The WBAI celebrated the installation of new leadership on June 13, 2018. Hundreds of lawyers, judges and dignitaries attended the 104th Annual Installation Dinner at The Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave.
Historically one of the most well-attended events in the Chicago legal community, this year’s event was no different. WBAI President for the 2018-2019 bar year, Karie Valentino, was ceremoniously installed and the Board’s officers and directors were also sworn in before a sold-out crowd.
Ms. Valentino is a partner with national law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, where she practices in areas of long-term care/elder law and medical malpractice litigation. A long-time, dedicated member of the WBAI, Ms. Valentino was first nominated to serve on the Board of Directors in 2009. During her installation speech, Ms. Valentino spoke about her passion for the practice of law and her theme for the year – the ability to promote and the opportunity to advance. A highlight of the evening was when Ms. Valentino’s two young children took to the stage to congratulate her.
This year’s Myra Bradwell Award Recipient and key note speaker was Tina Tchen, a partner with Buckley Sandler, and former assistant to President Obama, Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls, and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama. The crowd listed intently to Ms. Tchen speak about her experience in private practice and government service over her notable 30-year career. Much of her work has focused on issues relating to gender inequality, lack of diversity in the workplace and sexual harassment.
Margaret Battersby Black, Lauren Tuckey Murray, Lauren Waninski, and Melanie Sims VanOverloop were the Annual Dinner co-chairs, overseeing numerous committee members that work for months to make the dinner a success.
Hayley Graham Slefo is an associate attorney at Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak & Kohen, Ltd., where she represents injured workers in workers’ compensation and Social Security disability claims. She is an editor of the WBAI newsletter.