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Chapter President Joni Gaudes
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President's Message
Dear ACC Southern California Members & Friends,
I am honored to be your incoming President and I want to acknowledge the leadership provided by my dear friend Del Sabzerou and the 2020/21 board! The past year+ has presented the world with unanticipated circumstances and unique challenges, and I have been thoroughly impressed by this organization’s willingness to listen to feedback, work together and pivot where necessary.
I look forward to serving the Southern California Chapter as President, but I’m humbled, considering the many outstanding leaders who have shown unwavering leadership in the past. I look forward to continuing to evolve the organization to best support you personally and professionally.
Please join me in welcoming this year’s President Elect and Program Chair Victoria Harvey, Vice President Elizabeth Duong, Secretary Robert Kang, Treasurer Ellen Yang, and our Board of Directors, Rebecka Biejo, Danielle Blanchard, Jennifer Bryant, Shedrick Davis, Kush Desai, James Dierking, Lynette Jones, John Kedeshian, Peter Macdonald, Njeri Mutura, Nicole Nakagawa, Albert Nicholson, Wade Pyun, Rhea Ricard, Conchita Valenzuela, Crystal Ventura, Jason Weintraub, Ako Williams, Christina Zabat-Fran, and our truly amazing Executive Director, Betty St. Marie.
I would like to directly thank our Sponsors for continuing to support us through this time. ACC Southern California’s mission would not have been possible without your dedication and loyalty.
I have built relationships with many of you through ACC, but for those I have not met, let me share with you my path towards becoming involved with this great organization.
I was recruited as an 8th year partner at a mid-sized litigation defense firm to step into a solo GC position at a small, privately held dental marketing company. It was a shock of a transition! I went from specializing in a certain area of the law and working with many lawyers who I could kick around issues with, as well as support staff who would make copies and file documents to being an army of one, fielding questions on a multitude of topics while also handling the administrative things. I needed to become efficient quickly!
Enter ACC Southern California. I had heard this association was the place to meet other similar in-house counsel and learn about relevant issues. When I attended my first networking event, everyone was so welcoming and the topic was something that had just come up a few weeks ago at my company. (It also didn’t hurt that it was held at a really cool location on the Westside.) As I attended more events throughout the years, I made life long friendships with several members as well as outside counsel. Through my networking, I also moved companies twice. This made me want to give back and become more involved with the chapter through volunteering on committees and then being elected to the Executive Committee. I hope that as things open up more, you volunteer on that committee that sounds interesting or get coffee or lunch with an in-house colleague you met a few weeks ago at an ACC event.
My priorities this year are to:
- Get Back to Business! We have been through unprecedented times during these past two years. It is my goal to have an amazing gala and more in-person events to meet new members and top rate outside counsel. We have some great speakers and venues in mind, and we are monitoring the current status, CDC guidelines, local requirements and people’s comfort level.
- Encourage meaningful connections all around… from lunch or drinks with that really cool member you met a few weeks ago at a networking event to connecting with outside counsel so that they remain top of mind when needed.
I encourage you to continue to sign up for our CLE in person events and webinars, reach out to each other, continue to network and put your time and energy towards worthy causes. Also, I welcome you to send me your ideas, suggestions, comments, improvements, or criticisms. Please contact me, our leadership team, or Betty to convey your thoughts.
I am looking forward to serving you in the year ahead, and I am grateful for your partnership and dedication to our chapter to make it all possible!
Sincerely,
Joni Gaudes
President, ACC Southern California, 2021-2022
EVP, General Counsel, Hybrid Apparel
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OUTSTANDING CHAPTER ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
DANIELLE VAN LIER
At the Sapporo snow festival in 2019
I’m assistant GC, intellectual property and contracts at SAG-AFTRA.
2. What is the coolest thing about your line of work?
Despite my title, my work is much broader than a traditional IP or transactional role. Being a corporate attorney at a union that represents actors means I split my time between thinking like a traditional in-house lawyer and thinking more like a talent lawyer. I have written at least a dozen amicus briefs (just filed one at SCOTUS), have helped draft legislation, and have created some innovative new contracts to assist SAG-AFTRA members working in new spaces.
3. What is the most surprising thing you’ve found working there?
There aren’t famous actors regularly roaming our halls. I think I kind of had that expectation before I took the job over 20 years ago as a young attorney.
4. In general, what do you love about being an in-house attorney?
No billables? I only worked at a firm for about a year, and I hated billables. Also, the scope of the work I do and the opportunity to work on teams that are much broader than just lawyers.
5. Why did you join ACC and what do you like the most about being an ACC SoCal Member?My then GC (and our now National Executive Director), Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, suggested I join for the resources and programming when he created this role for me over a decade ago. I find the resources and programming to be very useful to my job, but mostly I like the people I’ve met and gotten to know through ACC SoCal and at the global level.
 My LLM graduation in 2019
6. Are you currently working remotely? If so, what tips can you share with fellow ACC SoCal members RE: what has made the transition successful for you?
Yes and, honestly, I am still trying to figure it out. I found myself working longer hours with fewer breaks. So, one thing I do is try take breaks, whether for lunch or just to do something other than work for a few minutes. Also, as pandemic restrictions started lifting, I made a point to start scheduling lunches with colleagues and coworkers to get out of the virtual office and see people face-to-face.
7. What advice would you give to young attorneys?
Don’t forget to find work-life balance. Do things you enjoy outside of work. And travel while you are young — don’t put stuff like that off until you are older because your future isn’t guaranteed. You can even combine it with work. For example, when I attend conferences (like the ACC Annual Meeting) in interesting cities, I usually add at least a couple vacation days (if not more) to be a tourist and/or visit friends or family in the area.
On the work side, don’t be afraid to ask questions and volunteer for projects, especially in smaller legal departments. My whole role came about (and grew to what it now is) because I expressed an interest in doing transactional and IP work and we had a need for it. I get to work on so many interesting projects because I have put myself out there as being interested in the work.
8. When you aren’t practicing law, what are you doing?
Studying, mostly. I am back in school part-time, getting an MBA through Oxford Brookes University in the UK (on the heels of doing an LLM from University of Edinburgh). If I’m not studying, I am often working on creative writing projects or playing Dungeons & Dragons a couple times per week (one of my groups even releases our game sessions as a podcast).
 Me and Miles A Cat, Esq
9. What’s something about you that fellow ACC SoCal members might be surprised to know?
I have side photography business (mostly wildlife and landscapes) and have photographed a number of endangered species, including polar bears most recently. I sell prints, greeting cards, even calendars the last couple years.
10. Anything else?
I am grateful to ACC SoCal for the part it played in my career and personal growth over the years. And much of that thanks goes to Betty St. Marie who is awesome.
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EVENT RECAP: Hollywood Bowl
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EVENT RECAP: Veta Richard’s Book Signing
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On September 21, 2021 Veta T. Richardson, President and CEO, Association of Corporate Counsel, discussed her newly released book Take Six: Essential Habits to Own Your Destiny, Overcome Challenges, and Unlock Opportunities at the Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach. Attendees experienced a book signing and cocktail reception on the Skydeck following the program. Thank you to everyone that attended!
Click the link to view the Daily Journal article: DailyJournal
Moderator: Renee B., Senior Counsel, CalPortland Company
and ACC Global Board Member
Sponsored By: ACC-SoCal Works!! and Ogletree Deakins
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EVENT RECAP: Double Header - IP Topics and Island Tropics
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September 14, 2021 - Great to be in person! It was a beautiful day at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach for a great Intellectual Property presentation by Knobbe Martens. Amazing food and drinks were enjoyed all while the fantastic Upstream Reggae band played.
Three different panels were presented: Q & A with Former Deputy Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office and Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce
Moderator: Susan Natland, Knobbe Martens
Speaker: Laura Peter, USPTO (formerly)
Bayside Chat – IP Issues and Trends in a Pandemic and (Eventually) Post-Pandemic World
Moderator: Jessica Sganga, Knobbe Martens
Panelists: Jen Pascua, Illumina; Christa Cole, Nestlé; Ali Razai, Knobbe Martens
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EVENT RECAP: Golf Tournament
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We had a blast at ACC Southern California's 22nd Charity Golf Classic at Monarch Beach Golf Links! Ken Block, CMB and Joni L. Gaudes were honored to present Public Law Center with a donation on behalf of our organization. Thank you to everyone that came out for this wonderful event! Click here to view a gallery of photos sent in by our awesome members.
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Pro Bono Committee Initiative
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Dedicated to encouraging public service and a commitment to pro bono service, ACC SoCal’s Pro Bono Committee organizes a wide variety of events providing legal support and critical resources to various communities in need and the organizations that support them.
Earlier this month the committee partnered with Bet Tzedek for an afternoon of pro bono service to assist individuals with their Legal Name and/or Gender Marker Change (LNGMC) petition. Through their participation, member volunteers provided support to transgender and gender nonconforming clinic attendees who regularly face accessibility barriers because their identify documents incorrectly describe them as someone else. Following a training session with Bet Tzedek staff attorneys, volunteers compiled information from attendees in order to complete petitions for filing at local courthouses. With an issued court order, pro se litigants will be empowered to update their personal records to reflect their true identity.
We are grateful for the countless ACC member volunteers who support our efforts and join us in making a difference throughout the year. We look forward to providing additional volunteer opportunities for our members and chapter sponsors in the year ahead.
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Diversity & Internship Committee Initiative
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ACC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S 2021 DIVERSITY SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM was a success!
Click here to learn more about and get involved with the 2022 program!
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FEATURED SPONSOR INSIGHTS AND BLOG PAGES
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President
Joni Gaudes
EVP, General Counsel
Hybrid Apparel
Vice President
Victoria Harvey
SVP & Chief Legal Officer, Smile Brands Inc.
Vice President
Elizabeth Duong
Vice President and General Counsel, Business and Staffing Solutions, ActOne Group
Secretary
Robert Kang
Chief Counsel – Cyber Risk and National Security
Southern California Editon
Treasurer
Ellen Yang
Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel, Cruise, LLC
Immediate Past President
Del Sabzerou
General Counsel
Evolve Treatment Centers
Director Emeritus
Ken Block
General Counsel, New American Funding
Advocacy Liaison and Membership Chair
Jason Weintraub
General Counsel, Jacuzzi
Chapter Administrator
Betty St. Marie
socal@accglobal.com
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Board of Directors
Rebecka Biejo
Chief Legal Officer
Pilgrim Media Group, LLC
Danielle Blanchard
Corporate Counsel
Varian
Jennifer Bryant
SVP, General Counsel
ConcertoCare
Shedrick Davis
Regional Director and Counsel, Western Region
Lambda Legal
Kush Desai
Executive Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Beachbody, LLC
James Dierking
Assistant General Counsel, Fluor Corporation
Lynette Jones
Assistant Vice President - Senior Legal Counsel, Warner Media
Njeri Mutura
Senior Corporate Counsel
Microsoft Corporation
Peter Macdonald
General Counsel, loanDepot, LLC
Nicole Nakagawa
Deputy General Counsel, SAG-AFTRA
Albert Nicholson
Assistant General Counsel, Lineage Logistics, LLC
Wade Pyun
Chief Legal Officer
Altura Credit Union
Crystal Ventura
Vice President, General Counsel
Neudesic, LLC
Rhea Ricard
Managing Counsel
BNY Mellon
Concepcion Valenzuela
Associate General Counsel
Confie Seguros
Jason T. Weintraub
Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel
Jacuzzi Group Worldwide
Ako Williams
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Ushio America, Inc
Christina Zabat-Fran
Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, St. John Knits
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