Oct. 19, 2013

California Women Lawyers host annual dinner, awards

Roughly 500 people gathered at the Fairmont in San Jose Oct. 10 during the State Bar's annual meeting for California Women Lawyers' annual dinner and awards presentation. Patricia K. Gillette, a partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in San Francisco, received the 2013 Fay Stender Award, which is presented annually to a feminist attorney committed to the representation of women, disadvantaged groups and unpopular causes and "whose courage, zest for life and demonstrated ability to effect change, as an individual, make her a role model for women attorneys." Gillette has been a leader in national projects focused on the retention of women in the legal industry. M.C. Sungaila, a partner at Snell & Wilmer LLP in Costa Mesa, received the 2013 Judith Soley Lawyer as Citizen Award, given to those who have made a significant contribution to the community beyond the practice of law and "who have devoted time and effort to the public good and values through the tradition of public service and involvement." Sungaila is known for achieving victories for women and girls before the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court and international courts, including one against Mexico for the unsolved killings and disappearances of young women in Ciudad Juarez. The keynote speaker for the four-hour cocktail and dinner event was Theresa M. Stewart, chief deputy city attorney for the city and county of San Francisco, who played a key role in the recent case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging Proposition 8, which sought to limit marriage in California to heterosexual couples. — Jill Patton