Description of field of expertise

Amanda Matchett is an accomplished in-house attorney specializing in technology transactions, with a focus on software licensing, SaaS agreements, and related technology contracts. With over a decade of in-house legal experience, Amanda has developed deep expertise in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex agreements across various industries, including Healthcare, Public Sector, and Financial Services. At Workday, Amanda plays a pivotal role in managing technology transactions nationwide, ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR and CPRA, and leading critical updates to data protection agreements. 

Beyond her corporate role, Amanda is an adjunct faculty member at several law schools, including the University of St. Thomas, Mitchell Hamline, and the University of Minnesota, where she teaches courses on contracts, legal drafting, and mentoring and networking. Her contributions to the legal community are complemented by her active involvement in professional organizations such as the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, where she serves as Vice President and is a founding member and an integral part of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL) Pathways program. This initiative was developed in the wake of George Floyd’s murder to provide mentorship, resources, and opportunities for aspiring Black attorneys including fully funded LSAT prep and application support for black college students. Through her leadership and dedication, Amanda has helped shape the program into a vital resource for the next generation of legal professionals, reinforcing her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal community.

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

For those considering a career in tech, it’s important to know that a STEM background is not a requirement to succeed as a transactional attorney. What truly matters is your ability to understand and navigate complex legal frameworks, negotiate agreements, and provide sound legal advice on technology-related issues. Focus on honing your legal skills, such as contract drafting and negotiation, while staying curious about emerging technologies. 

Building your network is equally crucial—connect with professionals in the tech and legal industries through CLEs, conferences, and professional organizations. These relationships can open doors to opportunities and provide invaluable insights into the tech landscape.

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Description of field of expertise

Shardé is an employment lawyer with wide-ranging experience in labor and employment law providing advice and counsel to, and litigating on behalf of, public and private sector clients. Her litigation experience informs the counseling side of her practice, which also includes workplace trainings and conducting or advising on workplace investigations spanning a variety of issues, including harassment, discrimination, and ethics violations. Shardé partners with employers to identify practical business solutions when navigating the ever-changing employment law landscape. She has successfully represented employers in state and federal courts, arbitration, and before California administrative agencies, including, but not limited to, claims of disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Shardé regularly advises clients on the ever-evolving pay transparency statutory framework and compliance across the country, as well as California pay data reporting and advice regarding pay equity audits in order to help employers evaluate their pay practices and work towards, or maintain, pay parity. In addition to counseling on pay equity issues, Shardé also litigates pay equity cases. She also provides employment counseling to employers on other complex workplace issues, including internal investigations, diversity and inclusion, employee discipline and terminations, interactive process, and other common employment matters. Shardé partners with employers to develop compliance strategies and practices for a myriad of employment law issues that may arise.

When the need for litigation arises, Shardé represents employers in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies. Shardé has won summary judgment in California state and federal court cases on issues such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and pay equity. She evaluates cases to determine whether informal resolution or mediation is advisable. No two cases are exactly the same, and Shardé works with employers to develop case strategy and recommendations. Shardé’s experience has provided her with a unique understanding of the various types of issues that can arise in the employment context and strategies for addressing them. Shardé is attentive to employer needs and teams up with employers to deliver responsive representation in the format that works best for clients.

Shardé enjoys counseling clients on employment law compliance and helping develop strategies to keep employees happy and business thriving. She also enjoys the challenges and creativity required in litigating employment disputes. Shardé regularly presents on various employment-related topics.

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

 Don’t be afraid to learn something new. There are new developments in the law all the time and they present an opportunity to develop an expertise in that particular area, which can lead to important career development. With employment law in particular, there are many case developments that will impact the everyday lives of real people. Therefore, get interested in what is happening “at work” with particularly important cases. You’ll provide a lot of value to your clients when you begin thinking about how these developments might come into play in a real-world business setting and considering things such as how employees might respond to changes. Seek out opportunities to gain experience in employment law and take advantage of the many educational opportunities available to employment lawyers, such as employment law conferences and blogs.

Final thoughts…

I truly enjoy the practice of employment law. It is relevant to everyone’s lives and gives me an opportunity to engage in impactful work. Whether it is counseling clients on pay transparency and equal pay issues, DEI, or “cultural flashpoint” issues at work; conducting investigations; or defending a lawsuit, I have the opportunity to see a broad spectrum of issues employers and their employees care about, especially in a busy state like California. I enjoy having the opportunity to address interesting and important issues and support employers in complying with the ever-evolving employment law landscape.

Description of field of expertise

Ivan is a labor and employment litigator with a head for business. He understands the high stakes of his clients’ employment law matters.

Today’s employers need seasoned guidance as they navigate complex employment laws and regulations—and a finely honed edge in the courtroom should matters move to litigation. Ivan has extensive experience representing clients in employment discrimination cases, mainly in class and multiplaintiff cases of regional and national scope. He has managed numerous class-action cases in matters of wage and hour compliance, disability and web access, as well as cases involving race, age, national origin, and gender discrimination.

Ivan practices traditional labor law, representing clients across a variety of industries, including education, health care, sports, entertainment, food service, hotel construction, maintenance, shipping, airline, trucking, engineering, and nonprofit. He has assisted clients with collective bargaining, contract and grievance arbitrations, litigation pertaining to unfair labor practices, and legal matters before the National Labor Relations Board.

In his entertainment law practice, Ivan represents producers, writers, directors, and artists in the music, television, and film industries—many of whom are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy Award winners. He represents institutional investors who invest in film and music projects, as well as entertainment and tech companies seeking to protect their intellectual property and licensing rights. Ivan has litigated numerous copyright and trademark infringement cases on behalf of distributors, producers, and writers.

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

Employment cases tend be very emotional from the plaintiff and defendant side. No one wants to be discriminated against and no one wants to be viewed as a discriminator. The key in these cases is to try and take the emotions out and focus on the actual facts. If this can be accomplished—which is not easy—the chance of a favorable outcome goes up tremendously. Remember, justice is the process not the outcome.

Final thoughts…

Never forget that this is profession not just a job. Take ownership of your profession. 

Description of field of expertise

Brandon partners with clients to learn their organization in order to develop strategic plans and provide tailored advice in service of their needs and goals. Every organization faces a wide array of people challenges. Labor and employment laws and regulations are as complex and ever-evolving as the people who make up the organizations. Brandon assists clients by understanding their unique needs and goals, and tailors his advice and litigation strategies to meet those needs and goals.

Brandon represents and counsels employers on a diverse range of human resources and labor relations topics. His practice focuses on individual and complex employment litigation under various statutes including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. He has successfully tried multiple cases before juries in federal court, including matters involving allegations of sexual harassment and race discrimination under Title VII.

Brandon also provides practical, timely advice to his clients on an array of day-to-day workplace legal issues. He has a particular emphasis on assisting clients with identifying legal risks and overcoming those obstacles in support of their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and goals. Brandon has also become a go-to resource for pay equity issues, particularly by helping clients understand and navigate a growing number of complex state and local equal pay and pay transparency laws. He also has extensive experience litigating and counseling companies on joint employer issues under the NLRA and FLSA.

Brandon’s educational background in human resources has given him insight into a human resources professional’s perspective and helps him bridge the gap between attorneys and their HR counterparts.

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

Talk to attorneys in the field who work in various settings—big firms, small firms, government, in house—and ask them thoughtful questions about their practices and what they do each day. Continue those conversations early in your career because the labor and employment practice is so vast, and it is important to begin shaping what you want your practice to look like in five, 10, and 20 years from now.

Also, find people who will champion you and enthusiastically advocate on your behalf, even when you are not in the room. That is much easier to do and will happen naturally if you work hard for the attorneys who assign you work, and otherwise show them you are dedicated and interested in advancing your career.

Description of field of expertise

Cindy employs an intuitive relationship-based approach to meeting her clients’ objectives. She is skilled at advising clients, so they are well-informed in making decisions that not only balance business opportunities against the risks involved, but also align with the client’s mission.

Cindy’s practice includes extensive involvement in all aspects of commercial transactions, including acquisition, development, leasing, and dispositions. Clients look to Cindy for practical solutions in connection with their development and construction of commercial projects, and in the preparation and negotiation of contracts and agreements pertaining to such representation.

Cindy offers a broad range of experience in complex commercial real estate transactions. She has assisted developers, builders, investors, lenders, and private and public entities on a wide range of asset classes, such as developments of regional impact, mixed-use developments, shopping centers, automotive dealerships, agricultural uses, vacant land, condominium properties, theme park development, fitness centers, and retail. Cindy has represented governmental entities, underwriters, and trustees in issuance of tax-exempt bonds and low-income housing tax credits in connection with multifamily and other commercial development. She has also represented developers and property owners in zoning and permitting issues before governmental bodies. Cindy’s experience also includes complex title issues and various related real estate matters.

Cindy is passionate about creating innovative solutions and structuring real estate transactions for her clients in a manner that aligns with their objectives.

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

The real estate industry is built on trust and relationships. With that in mind, one of the most important qualities to grow and cultivate is that of being a trusted advisor and partner – not just a great attorney – in bringing your client’s vision to life. In a transactional practice like mine, learning to approach discussions and negotiations with a mindset of collaboration (versus competition) will go a long way in assisting clients to achieve their business objectives. Further, understanding your client’s organization, its mission, and what drives its decision-making and allowing that knowledge to inform your representation demonstrates to your client that you care about their business.

Final thoughts…

Cindy is passionate about serving her community and advancing women’s success. As part of that commitment, Cindy serves as president of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Orlando and is on the Board of the Joe R Lee Branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida. Cindy also teaches real estate law at the University of Central Florida.

Description of field of expertise

Utibe is a commercial litigation attorney that is focused on partnering with clients to understand their unique business goals and litigation needs. Utibe provides invaluable strategic guidance to business clients based on over ten years of wide-ranging experience resolving complicated disputes for large and small businesses through negotiated settlements, mediation, trial, and arbitration. Utibe’s litigation practice includes, among other items, shareholder disputes, fraudulent and preferential transfer litigation, and general contract disputes. Recently, Utibe obtained a favorable arbitration ruling on behalf of a self-directed IRA company in an arbitration against a cryptocurrency exchange, which stemmed from a multi-million-dollar cryptocurrency hacking incident.

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

The idea of speaking in court can be very intimidating for new attorneys. I strongly suggest that aspiring litigators attend court proceedings to watch other attorneys, and they should consider joining their law school’s mock trial or moot court board. Also, young attorneys should seek organic mentorship relationships, whether inside or outside of their place of employment. Every mentorship relationship has a unique value, and good mentors can provide the guidance, direction, and support that can be instrumental in creating a successful career.

Description of field of expertise

Kwende is an experienced in-house counsel with over two decades of expertise in handling and/or managing a broad spectrum of complex commercial litigation. This includes extensive involvement in general liability claims, real estate disputes, environmental matters, and contract disputes. With a proven track record of efficiently handling complex litigation matters, Kwende is adept at managing multifaceted legal challenges in fast-paced business environments. In addition, Kwende’s also provides preventative legal strategies to his business partners which helps the business make informed decisions that mitigate potential disputes.

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

To succeed as in-house counsel, focus on developing a strong foundation in various areas of law, especially those relevant to business operations like contracts, compliance, and litigation. Cultivate a deep understanding of the business you’re supporting, as in-house counsel often provide strategic advice beyond legal matters. Having strong communication skills is a must.  In addition, building strong relationships across departments within the business will assist with collaboration efforts – which is key to success. Lastly, be proactive in problem-solving and think of legal issues with a risk management perspective in an effort to align legal solutions with business goals