Vickie E. Turner
Partner – Wilson Turner Kosmo

Description of field of expertise

Vickie E. Turner is a partner at Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP.  Vickie has 38 years of experience in complex litigation matters filed against corporations, with extensive emphasis in the areas of product liability, class actions, general business litigation and warranty.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

“If you want to make a difference in this world, if you’re going to realize your potential, you must be around people who push you to become the very best that you can be.  Remain your authentic self and always reach back and pull forward as you climb.” Vickie E. Turner

Final thoughts…

Wilson Turner Kosmo is the largest certified women-owned law firm in San Diego, and one of the largest in California. Founded in 1991, our firm represents the litigation and counseling needs of companies on a local, statewide and national level.

We are committed to providing value to our clients as trusted advisers and legal counsel and contributing to our clients’ success through superior legal services that combine the highest levels of excellence, integrity and professionalism with cost-efficiency and a clear understanding of our clients’ business goals.

We are committed to making our workplace an inclusive community that values our diversity, our professional development, as well as leadership in and service to the legal profession and the communities in which we live.

Kendra Perkins Norwood
Partner – Wiley Rein LLP

Description of field of expertise

Kendra’s practice includes a broad range of litigation, regulatory compliance and transactional matters for companies that do business with federal and state governments, either as a prime or subcontractors, or as third-party vendors or suppliers.  Kendra also works with federal grant recipients on a range of legal issues.  Kendra represents clients in bid protests, contract claims and disputes, terminations, mergers and acquisitions, False Claims Act matters, and suspension and debarment proceedings.  She also routinely counsels companies on government ethics requirements and works with clients to develop codes of business conduct and policies tailored to address their legal obligations as government contractors.  Kendra also manages internal investigations and represents clients facing government investigations and audits.

Kendra works with companies of all types and sizes to navigate the complex requirements of the federal government marketplace, from large defense contractors and international companies doing business in the U.S. government market to 8(a) firms and other small and emerging businesses. She also advises for‐profit and non‐profit organizations on matters related to federal grants, cooperative agreements, technology investment agreements (TIAs), and other transaction authority (OTA) agreements.  Her clients span many industries, including aerospace and defense, information technology, telecommunications, professional and technical services, higher education, security, architectural and engineering (A&E), construction and health care. 

Kendra has extensive experience working with General Services Administration (GSA) schedule contractors as well as companies participating in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) small business set-aside, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.  

Prior to entering private practice, Kendra spent more than 10 years at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), working in the areas of budget and procurement, legislative affairs, and grant portfolio management.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

I would encourage them to explore the many opportunities that exist in government contracts law. This is particularly true for Black attorneys, since there aren’t very many of us practicing in this area.  Government contracts law is essentially a specialized form of commercial law, which means a lot of the knowledge and skills are transferrable.  Yet, at the same time, government contracts law is still a great niche practice that involves a range of interesting, often complex, and diverse matters.  There is rarely a dull moment when you’re helping clients navigate the ups and downs of doing business with Uncle Sam. 

Final thoughts…

In 2019, after several years of effort, and with the support of other government contracts practitioners in the NBA, I successfully petitioned the NBA Board of Governors to establish a Government Procurement Law Section.  The impetus for starting the Section was a recognition that the government contracts practice area was not very diverse, and a desire to expose Black lawyers and law students to the many opportunities that exist in the field.    

Jerita L. DeBraux Salley
Partner – Wiley Rein LLP

Description of field of expertise

Jerita is a corporate and transactional attorney who advises clients in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, commercial contracting negotiations, and corporate governance matters in various industries. She often serves as lead counsel in M&A transactions and in a wide range of contract negotiations, including negotiations of technology contracts, purchase and merger agreements, leases, NDAs, and other commercial contracts. Jerita counsels clients through all stages of a sale or acquisition, as well as manages commercial contract portfolios for clients, advising on complex risk allocation matters, such as indemnification, representations and warranties, liability limitations, etc. Her deals have ranged in size from less than $1 million to more than $500 million. Jerita represents a wide range of clients, including government contractors, broadcasters, cable providers, software and other technology providers, financial institutions, and non-profit corporations, among others.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Focus on doing top-notch work for your “clients” from day 1. When I say “clients”, I use that in the broadest sense of the word, as it includes not only external clients that you and firm represent, but also the internal clients that you work with on a daily basis (i.e., your fellow associates, partners, and other attorneys in your firm). You never know from where your next big opportunity will come, so it is critical that you treat everyone as if they are the CEO or GC of a multi-million-dollar client. To that end, make sure the work you turn in is always the best reflection of your abilities.

Final thoughts…

Be as intentional as possible, as early as possible. Whatever it is you do, put a lot of thought into it – from the bar associations you join, to the articles you write, to the conferences you attend. There are only so many hours in the day, so it’s critical that we maximize our time the best we can.

Antonio J. Reynolds
Partner – Wiley Rein LLP

Description of field of expertise

A former federal prosecutor, Antonio represents banks, financial services companies, fintech companies, and other major corporations, as well as their officers and directors, in a variety of civil and criminal enforcement matters before federal and state agencies.

Antonio has advised clients in matters involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board, and state attorneys general.  In addition, he has represented clients in responding to investigations and other inquiries by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the United States Attorneys’ Offices (USAO), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and matters before investigative arms of intergovernmental organizations, including the World Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency and the Asian Development Bank’s Office of Anticorruption and Integrity.   

He also has handled complex civil litigation in federal district court and in federal courts of appeals and has been recognized by Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in Cyber Law (Data Protection and Privacy).

Mr. Reynolds is also a member of Wiley’s Management Committee and serves as the Chair of the firm’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Follow your interests and the work will come. The federal judge for whom I clerked told me, “If you take care of the law for 10 years, it will take care of you for the rest of your life.”  She never warned that those ten years can be long and tedious, but her point is well-taken. New attorneys should know that there is so much room at the table for those who are motivated and work hard.

Final thoughts…

I would encourage young lawyers to take ownership over their careers.  As a young lawyer, I too often lost myself in the deeply hierarchical nature of the legal practice, frequently silencing myself even when I knew that a particular approach was wrong or misguided.  We all have the same legal licenses.  Lean on experience, but don’t lose yourself.

Description of field of expertise

Taisha is a Canadian corporate commercial lawyer with more than 10 years of experience working with businesses of all sizes, from startups to public companies.  As an award-winning legal advisor, Taisha helps businesses in various industries to hit significant milestones whether through sale or acquisition, fundraising, winning an RFP or expanding into the Canadian market from abroad.

She leverages her ability to execute, keen attention to detail, eye for risk and trusted judgment for clients who need help with drafting, negotiating and risk-assessing contracts, buying or selling a business, managing conflicts of interest, expanding into Canada or complying with Canadian corporate and securities law.

Taisha has been featured in Canadian Lawyer Magazine, received a 40 Under 40 Award from the National Bar Association, and has been recognized as an Influential Black Canadian by Deloitte and as One to Watch in Securities Law in Toronto by the 2022 Best Lawyers in Canada guide

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

For those interested in doing corporate commercial or transactional work, I would suggest getting as much hands on experience as you can. Be involved at every step of a transaction, including due diligence.  Each stage of a deal is critical to the success of the transaction, so being well versed in each stage is important. 

I also recommend honing your communication skills. Corporate clients expect clear, timely, and actionable advice.  Develop the ability to distill complex legal issues into concise recommendations that clients can easily understand.

And lastly, be proactive about your professional development. Ask the senior lawyer on the file if you can join client calls and meetings.  Seek feedback on your work.  Attend seminars when you can.  Taking ownership of your learning will position you well for offering excellent legal services to clients.

Andrew C. Alleyne
Partner – Fasken

Description of field of expertise

Serving on the Steering Committee of the Fasken Technology practice group, Andrew is highly experienced in Technology related contracting and in a number of other corporate commercial matters. He advises a broad array of clients (from blue-chip to emerging technologies in technology, cloud, financial institutions, mining, health care, transportation, and all sorts of cloud & XaaS companies) on the challenges and complexities of commercializing, acquiring and implementing technology solutions. Andrew works on complex outsourcings, cloud and SaaS arrangements, software licensing and all Technology aspects of M&A transactions, including transition services arrangements. His experience also extends to private M&A transactions, a wide variety of Internet and e-commerce matters, and to the legal and regulatory aspects of online gambling in Canada.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Technology lawyers are business/legal counselors to a wide array of companies, legal curiosity and a good sense of the business perspective are key, more so than a technical background – though it does help.

Description of field of expertise

Andrew is Co-Leader of the firm’s National Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Group and Vice-Chair of the Business Law Department and Leader of the Technology Law Group for the Ontario region. His practice encompasses numerous aspects of corporate and commercial law, with a particular emphasis on the technology sector and technology related matters.  Andrew represents large and small technology providers and technology users in a wide range of industries, including financial services, healthcare, real estate, manufacturing and electronics, as well as government agencies and broader public sector clients.  

Andrew routinely assists with establishing, growing and exiting technology-driven businesses, while helping organizations navigate corporate/commercial and technology-related operational, transactional, governance and compliance issues.  In addition to buying and selling technology businesses, Andrew’s in-depth knowledge is regularly sought by technology providers and technology users on the development, protection and commercialization of technology products and services, including complex technology outsourcings and system acquisitions, implementations and hosting arrangements.  He also provides key insights into the Canadian legislative and regulatory regimes related to information technology, e-commerce, consumer protection, data protection, cyber security, anti-spam, artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

An active leader in the wider technology law community, Andrew is Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association IT and E-Commerce Section and a current Officer of the International Bar Association (IBA) Technology Law Committee.  He serves as an adjunct faculty member for the McGill/Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) Copyright Course and the Osgoode Professional Development Certificate in Negotiating and Drafting IT Agreements. He is consistently recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers Canada, Lexpert, Legal 500 and Best Lawyers.  In 2023, Andrew was appointed to the IBA Artificial Intelligence (AI) Presidential Task Force, an initiative that forms part of the IBA Presidential Priorities identified for the 2023/2024 term.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Technology moves quickly.  Staying abreast of the latest trends is challenging but will be a critical part of establishing credibility and positioning yourself to help clients effectively navigate the space, often in an environment where the law is struggling to keep pace.  Companies of all types increasingly rely on technology to drive operations, innovation and competitive advantage.  You will play an important role in helping clients to identify, contextualize and manage risk in an area that plays a critical role in their current and future success.  Combining expertise with practical business-oriented advice will be key.  Creativity and adaptability will be par for course.   Understanding and bridging gaps between technical, business and legal considerations will be essential.  Being involved in a rapidly evolving field will be exciting and rewarding.

Tamer Bahgat
Partner – Alston & Bird

Description of field of expertise

Tamer Bahgat focuses his practice on leveraged finance, with an international insight on high yield and term loan Bs, and restructuring. He regularly advises private equity firms, issuers, and underwriters with wide-ranging strategic advice such as 144A/Reg S high-yield notes offerings, liability management, and finance and restructuring.

Tamer earned his J.D. from Howard University School of Law and his master’s degree in finance, with a focus on corporate finance, from the London Business School. He was the first Middle Eastern/African editor-in-chief of the Howard Law Journal. He received his B.A. in economics and international relations, summa cum laude, and a B.S. in biochemistry, magna cum laude, from Calvin College.

Tamer is a board member of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) High Yield Division. He regularly speaks on high yield and leveraged finance topics and has moderated panels at AFME’s annual conferences. He has published several articles on matters related to his practice and he is a regular visiting lecturer at the London Business School. Tamer is also an advisory board member of the Egyptian Stock Exchange.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Finance, especially Leveraged and/or Acquisition Finance, is very technical and numbers-driven. Don’t be afraid of numbers (or run-on sentences for that matter); instead get familiar and comfortable with basic Accounting and Finance. This will help you understand your client better (whether they are investment banks, private equity sponsors, or corporates) – learn to listen to their needs and the strategy they expect to execute, and think of how best to achieve that for them – therefore be there as an advisor, not just their lawyer.  Keep an open mind, be patient with the process, knowing that it gets more interesting (and challenging) as you get comfortable with the process.  Always ask questions when you don’t understand, but otherwise, trust yourself and instinct throughout the process.

Final thoughts…

Read the precedents, read the papers to understand your client and what their competitors are doing.  Build relationships.  People will remember you and want to work with you because you are a solid lawyer and a team player.  Internal and external clients are equally important.

Heather Ripley
Partner – Alston & Bird

Description of field of expertise

Heather Ripley counsels U.S. and foreign business entities and high-net-worth individuals on tax-efficient structuring for their U.S. and cross-border investments and activities, understanding their U.S. tax and compliance obligations and risks, and rectifying non-compliance issues. She has advised clients on income tax treaty application, FATCA, FIRPTA, and other tax issues for inbound investments into the United States, the anti-deferral regimes for outbound investments (CFC, PFIC), and tax aspects of M&A transactions.

Heather also has experience in federal tax controversy work and has navigated numerous clients through the IRS’s voluntary disclosure procedures, letter rulings, and competent authority requests. Heather has also counseled various charitable and nonprofit organizations on incorporation, tax exemption applications and restrictions, and other tax issues, as well as providing volunteer income tax assistance for low-income individuals.

Heather was identified as “One to Watch” by The Best Lawyers in America© in Tax Law. She is a frequent speaker at tax conferences and writes regularly about international tax developments. She is a vice-chair of the Committee on U.S. Activities of Foreigners and Tax Treaties in the Tax Section of the American Bar Association and a board member of Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS). She is active in the alumni networks of Harvard Law School and the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

First, work to provide solutions. Each assignment is a chance to help a client or colleague make a decision, and your job is making that decision-making process easier. Second, stay curious. Tax is a complex area of law. It’s important to have a solid grasp of fundamental principles, but keeping up with new developments can help new attorneys distinguish themselves. Networking with peers and colleagues (in and out of tax law) helps you to stay abreast of emerging issues and trends.