On Aug. 24, Gordon & Rees partner Dominic Campodonico participated in a panel discussion at the National LGBT Bar Association 2013 Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair. Co-panelists included national leaders in diversity efforts, including in-house counsel from GlaxoSmithKline and representatives from McDermott Will & Emery and Pepper Hamilton.
At the 90-minute workshop, titled “Let’s Talk About It,” Campodonico discussed the importance of heterosexual allies for LGBT attorneys and support staff and innovative ways law firms can provide a safe and productive work environment that enhances the productivity for all employees.
This year marks the 25th anniversary for Lavender Law. The three-day event was held Aug. 22-24 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in San Francisco.
The National LGBT Bar Association was founded by a group that saw a need to have an organization to serve as the legal voice of the lesbian and gay community. Its creation opened a dialogue regarding laws affecting the lesbian and gay population. The idea of creating the bar association was formally introduced at the 1987 Lesbian & Gay March on Washington. In 1992, the LGBT Bar became an official affiliate of the American Bar Association and it now works closely with the ABA’s Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities and its Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
Campodonico has more than 15 years of experience representing health-care clients. He has served as national litigation coordinating counsel, regional counsel, and local counsel in litigation involving pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Campodonico also assists clients with high-stakes matters that frequently occur simultaneously with litigation, such as risk management and compliance, FDA/regulatory issues, government investigations, suits under the federal and California False Claims Act, insurance, and crisis communications. In addition to his legal practice, Campodonico is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco including serving on the board of directors of the Justice & Diversity Center and being involved with the Equality Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues. He is a member of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom where he has participated on its Judiciary, Dinner and Amicus Committees, as well as served twice as a co-chair of the annual fundraising/awards event. He also is a member of the National LGBT Bar Association and the DRI Diversity Steering Committee.
For more information about diversity at Gordon & Rees, please click here.