N. Damali Peterman, Esq.​
Mediator, Special Master, Neutral Evaluator & Hearing Officer

Description of field of expertise

Damali Peterman, Esq., is a distinguished conflict resolution professional, neutral and problem solver. With over 20 years of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) experience working as a mediator, conflict resolution trainer, ADR entrepreneur and corporate transactional lawyer in private and in-house practice, Ms. Peterman is renowned for her innovative and engaging ways to help companies, institutions, nonprofits, government agencies and individuals prevent, manage and resolve conflict.

Prior to joining JAMS, Ms. Peterman founded Breakthrough ADR, a global conflict resolution firm that helps organizations resolve conflict and teaches people how to listen, negotiate and resolve everyday situations in the workplace and beyond. Through Breakthrough ADR, she routinely addresses acute and chronic inter- and intra-company conflict and provides conflict resolution/mediation training and conflict coaching to thousands of individuals and companies.   

Prior to Breakthrough ADR, Ms. Peterman founded a law firm focusing on corporate and other business transactions. Previously, she was an assistant general counsel at Deloitte LLP and an associate at the global law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges. 

Ms. Peterman believes that, in addition to enabling positive business changes, ADR is critical to empowering positive social change. To this end, through Breakthrough ADR and community organizations, she has been privileged to train hundreds of law enforcement officers in New York City and elsewhere in ADR-based techniques for de-escalation and resolving conflict without the use of force. 

Ms. Peterman travels globally to teach workshops in negotiation and mediation and to judge mediation competitions. She also virtually teaches students, educators and other professionals across the world. Ms. Peterman is a highly sought after speaker, and she has been featured on various television networks and in many magazines and newspapers.

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

First, there is no one path to ADR. I focused on conflict resolution while pursuing my master’s degree and became a mediator before becoming a lawyer. Prior to attending Howard Law School, I studied in conflict resolution in The Hague, the Netherlands—the epicenter of peace theory. I was a corporate transactional attorney, not a litigator, and I also studied improv. All of these experiences helped me to stand out as an ADR practitioner.  

Second, you can apply your ADR skills—active listening, effective communication and de-escalation—to most situations, both within and outside of legal practice. You will be a better lawyer if you learn how to listen like a mediator, and you might find that you are also a better friend, spouse and colleague too.  

Third, you should always show up as your authentic self. Don’t wait until you are a third-year associate to feel comfortable showing them who you are.  

Additional Information…

My new book, Negotiating While Black: Be Who You Are to Get What You Want, is now available for preorder wherever you buy books! Published by Penguin Random House’s Putnam imprint, it covers on negotiations and implicit bias. Order yours: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721852/negotiating-while-black-by-damali-peterman/.

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O’Kelly E. McWilliams III​
Partner – Holland & Knight LLP

Description of field of expertise

Mr. McWilliams advises clients on the human capital aspects of corporate transactional matters. He is experienced in providing legal counsel that impacts enterprise strategy/operations, corporate transactions, cost reduction, risk mitigation and corporate culture. Mr. McWilliams’ diverse experience working with CEOs, C-suite, boards and leadership teams across companies in the financial services, technology, food service, healthcare, private equity and startup sectors enables him to leverage a broad perspective and provide counsel that strengthens an organization’s legal structure and promotes enterprise efficiencies and growth potential. Mr. McWilliams has held a number of key leadership roles, including overseeing a $120 million information technology (IT) project as board chair and trustee for a $110 billion public pension plan, starting up and running a new multimillion-dollar law firm office, and investing in high-return on investment (ROI) technology applications to facilitate enterprise efficiencies/growth. Mr. McWilliams advises on high-level executive compensation negotiations, conducts compensation audits related to pay disparity issues, and collaborates with senior executives and boards to develop compensation metrics to align management with organizational environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.

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

Master the substantive and technical details of developing and drafting documents.  Seek out opportunities to listen to client calls that outline the strategy and structure of deals and participate on calls with counsel to listen and learn negotiation approaches. Take a CLE or online class to learn and understand how to analyze financial statements. Invest time in learning how other practice areas fit in the overall deal to enhance your ability to identify red flag issues and mitigate risks and it relates to the same issues.  Maintain and nurture all of your contacts through relevant information sharing.

Any additional information that the attorney would like to share (50-word count) 

Attend, if possible, client Board meetings (executive leadership retreats or meetings) to better understand overall business strategies of your client.  If unable to attend, review any minutes, press releases and other available information that provide non-legal insight to the client’s business goals and strategies.

Kawana T. King
Senior Counsel

Description of field of expertise

Kawana T. King is a Senior Technology Advisor and Counsel at Google LLC, where she supports Google’s advertising business. In her role, Kawana leads a global team and advises on a wide array of complex technology, privacy, advertising, media and consumer protection matters. She also negotiates deals with some of the world’s largest companies utilizing Google’s technology and advertising solutions.  Kawana’s expertise in the areas of technology, privacy, advertising and media stem from her diverse professional experience and background.  

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Kawana started her career as a litigation associate at Proskauer Rose, LLP,  an international law firm, where she represented clients in false advertising, media, technology and intellectual property matters. Kawana also worked with The New Press, a nonprofit publishing house, where she was chiefly responsible for reviewing, negotiating and drafting a wide range of licensing agreements and other contracts touching practically every aspect of the business.  In 2011, Kawana joined the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, and Phillips. While at Manatt, Kawana established herself in the fields of technology, media, and advertising; and she was often the lead advisor to several Fortune 500 companies on technology and privacy matters, key marketing and advertising campaigns, and on compliance with federal and international regulations. 

Kawana is a Brooklyn native, born and raised in the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant (“Bed-Stuy”). Prior to law school, she attended Howard University, graduating summa cum laude with degrees in political science and sociology.  Kawana continues to reside in Bed-Stuy where she is active in various community affairs and initiatives, particularly in the areas of community development and criminal justice reform. 

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field? (150-word count)

My advice would be to engage with practitioners in the industry that are outside of one’s firm or company.  Take advantage of opportunities to attend tech related conferences and events to not only stay on top of the latest trends, but also to expand one’s network. This would include building relationships with non-lawyers in the tech space, such those in business and policy, to develop a holistic understanding of the tech industry, which will make you a more well-rounded and informed tech attorney and advisor.

Jennifer R. Coates
Partner

Description of field of expertise

TRIAL ADVOCATE

Jennifer has extensive litigation and trial experience representing corporations and government entities in complex civil litigation and regulatory matters as well as commercial litigation spanning from business disputes to regulatory enforcement and everything in between. Jennifer also has significant trial and appellate experience in administrative, state, and federal courts.

Jennifer is a stalwart advocate. She works with her clients to develop and execute an overall comprehensive defense strategy. She is quite skilled in complex, trial-driven case management. She has extensive experience with technical, engineering, and economic experts, and she understands the complex interactions between internal technical resources and focused outside vendors.

INCIDENT RESPONSE AND DATA GOVERNANCE

Jennifer has assembled and led numerous incident response teams, and she also appreciates the importance of a proactive approach to cybersecurity and data governance. Her practice includes advising clients on data governance policies and procedures, creating and executing protocols to mitigate cyber events, negotiating data security in vendor contracts, as well as responding swiftly to cyber emergencies and threat actors. Jennifer leverages her regulatory expertise to advise clients on the ever-changing legal landscape as reporting and notification obligations evolve, and she provides practical guidance and solutions.

INVESTIGATIONS

Jennifer conducts internal investigations for companies and represents those under investigation by federal or state regulators. Jennifer understands the human dynamics inherent in interactions in the workplace, especially in times of crises and stress, and she endeavors to be fair and balanced in her approach to all individuals whose interests may be affected.

Elvin J. Sutton, Jr.
Director, Real Estate Legal-New Restaurants

Description of field of expertise

Elvin J. Sutton, Jr. is an accomplished attorney and corporate executive with over 23 years of experience handling complex commercial real estate transactions. Elvin joined Chick-fil-A, Inc. in 2016 after serving as Associate General Counsel at Walmart Stores, Inc. for 8 years.  As Director, Real Estate Legal-New Restaurants, Elvin leads a team of in-house counsel and paralegals that manage all legal facets of commercial real estate leasing and purchase transactions in connection with the construction and development of new restaurants in Chick-fil-A’s Midwest and Southeast regions.  Elvin’s expertise includes facilitating extensive contract negotiations, managing land use and zoning matters, navigating environmental regulatory issues and leading outside counsel management, strategy and deployment for Real Estate Legal. Elvin’s 23 years of practice has spanned the gamut of legal environments from practicing in an Am Law 100 law firm, to serving as  managing attorney for a boutique real estate law firm, and to serving as in-house counsel in the legal departments of both private and publicly traded companies.  In addition to his real estate practice expertise, throughout his career, Elvin has been an advocate and champion of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.  In 2017, Elvin chartered the Chick-fil-A Legal Department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and served as Chair of the Committee for several years.  In 2020, Elvin was appointed to serve on Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s company wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council where he continues to serve today. Elvin is a graduate of Morehouse College and the Emory University School of Law and is currently a member of the Emory University School of Law Alumni Board of Directors.  In his leisure, Elvin enjoys attending sporting events, traveling, and spending time with his wife Kimberly and their two sons Mason and Donovan.

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

It is critical to understand that much like the stock market, the commercial real estate industry is a living and breathing market that ebbs and flows.  Therefore, my advice to new attorneys interested in the field of commercial real estate is for them to gain a working knowledge of the business side of the commercial real estate industry. The more you know about the business of commercial real estate, the more you can speak your client’s language and better represent their interests. Finally, I advise new attorneys to join real estate trade organizations such as ICSC, NAIOP and the Urban Land Institute all of which offer educational opportunities for new attorneys to learn the business of commercial real estate and stay abreast of changing market dynamics.

Da’Morus A. Cohen​
Partner – Holland & Knight LLP

Description of field of expertise

Mr. Cohen assists businesses with advertising and marketing review prior to dissemination to the public, including the development and implementation of social media, advertising, marketing and promotional policies and procedures. Mr. Cohen also advises businesses in connection with the creation and implementation of loyalty and rewards programs, commercial co-venture relationships and other similar promotional marketing and charitable marketing campaigns. Mr. Cohen also handles all transactional matters relating to the dissemination of advertising campaigns, including sponsorship agreements, product branding agreements, licensing agreements, agency-client agreements, talent, influencer and endorser agreements, and a variety of similar advertising and marketing agreements. Given Mr. Cohen’s vast experience in the social media and digital media ecosystem, much of his practice involves advising clients on how to minimize the legal risks associated with social media marketing, mobile marketing, e-retail, online communities, social influencers, native advertising, email and telemarketing, and promotional devices (including sweepstakes, contests and giveaways).

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

New lawyers should not be shy about reaching out to senior lawyers for advice, guidance, and mentorship. Most (if not all) of my growth as a young lawyer can be attributed to my amazing mentors and those friendships I developed over the years with senior lawyers inside and outside my firm.  Mentorship enabled me to develop a practice and form meaningful relationships with exceptional people. Ultimately, mentorship allowed me to grow personally and professionally.