Robyn Addis is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Legal Internet Solutions Incorporated (LISI), where she leads with a blend of strategic vision and innovative digital marketing expertise. With a proven track record of transforming legal marketing through cutting-edge campaigns and a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, Robyn is a sought-after thought leader and speaker. She is passionate about leveraging technology to drive impactful results and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of legal marketing professionals.

Megan Akatu Coaching & Culture is dedicated to unlocking leaders' highest potential that unlocks greater contribution and innovation from the surrounding teams. Creating brave spaces for transformation is her superpower and she has managed high performing teams by beginning with trust and empathy over the past 20 years.
She has a BBA from the University of Notre Dame and a MBA from Georgetown University. She is also a certified Lightyear Leadership coach and certified in Enneagram for Personality Types. Outside of work, she loves exploring new places with her family and making food from all over the world.

Tara Owens Antonipillai, JD, MAPP, is the founder of Cultivate, a consulting, training, and coaching company that utilizes principles of applied psychology and organizational psychology to address workplace well-being challenges. Tara received her J.D. and undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and was a tax lawyer in Arnold & Porter’s Washington, DC office. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Tara did her leadership and performance coaching training at Brown University. She is the Chair of the DC Bar Lawyer Well-being Committee and the Director of Programming for the Institute for Well-being in Law. Tara is also a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

Jae Bandeh is the Business Development Coordinator of Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, a full service IP specialty firm. As he has been with the firm for nearly five years, he started out as a business analyst and eventually transitioned over to a traditional business development role. His main responsibilities involve event and sponsorship management, pitch and proposal development, client development and relations, and competitive research.

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Katherine (Katie) Hollar Barnard creates legal brands that connect and communications that deliver. A former two-time AmLaw 200 CMO, Katie now leads Firesign, an agency dedicated to law firms and legal service providers. She has been recognized among PR Daily’s Top Women in Marketing and earned awards for identities, websites, newsletters, videos and more, but she may be most proud of her decade-plus ban on gavels, law books, the scales of justice, and other legal cliches. She currently serves as co-chair of the LMA’ s Strategies & Voices editorial committee.

Julia Bennett leads the marketing, business development, practice management, and  client experience teams at DWT. Leveraging a decade in legal marketing and  experience as a practicing lawyer, Julia develops and implements strategies  that promote DWT's record of excellence and ensure that our firm continues to  deliver market-leading innovation in client service.    Julia began her legal career as an associate attorney in New York and  Washington, D.C., where she focused on corporate law and mergers and  acquisitions. She later shifted to the business and marketing side, first as  the director of business development for a D.C.-based law firm, then as the  first chief marketing officer of a major international firm with offices in  the U.S. and Europe.    Throughout her career, Julia has consistently launched creative new  strategies that strengthen client relationships, elevate firm visibility  across key sectors, and promote a commitment to DEI and social impact.  Julia's volunteer activities include advising ActLocal360, an Oakland-based  nonprofit dedicated to achieving systemic change through community action.

Jason Bovis, a corporate strategist and legal industryexecutive, serves as Pillsbury’s Chief Strategy Officer. He collaborateswith Pillsbury’s professionals globally to achieve the firm’s strategic vision,designing programs that create organizational and financial strength and enableinnovation and growth. Jason is Pillsbury’s first Chief Strategy Officer andone of the first senior strategy executives for any AmLaw 100 law firm. He isexperienced in advising law firms as well as law firm adjacent businesses ongrowth and investment strategies and the complex issues driving competition andchange. At Pillsbury, Jason focuses on strategy development and execution;client growth and the development of new offerings; differentiation and valuecreation; practice and change management; and the evaluation of expansion opportunities.As part of these efforts, Jason leads the firm’s global Strategy and Marketingteam, which identifies and pursues opportunities for competitive advantageacross industries, practices, and geographies. Before joining Pillsbury, Jasonserved as Chief Marketing and Client Development Officer for another AmLaw 100law firm, where he focused on marketing strategy, client growth, andinnovation. He also served as Vice President of Corporate Strategy andMarketing for a U.S. division of a global provider of business processmanagement services. He began his career working on political campaigns. Agraduate of New York University, Jason also attended The Juilliard School,studying violin in the pre-college division.

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Sara Essama is a Senior Manager of Business  Development and Marketing at Foley & Lardner LLP. Sara has over 20 years  of experience in professional services marketing and business development. At  Foley, she is responsible for the Innovative Technology Sector, where she  leads efforts in client development, targeting and growth initiatives,  profile raising, lawyer coaching, pitch strategies, content creation, and  events execution. She was previously at an AmLaw 10 firm leading M&BD  efforts for the Aerospace & Defense industry, Space and Satellite  practice, and four Northeast regional offices. Prior to that, Sara worked at  Willis Towers Watson and Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner) in various  roles, including client development, marketing, and business analysis. Sara  holds a B.A. in Psychology from Georgetown University.

Tahisha Fugate is a distinguished legal marketing professional with over two decades of experience in the AmLaw 100, where she has not only advised attorneys on marketing and business development strategies to drive revenue but also shaped and led high-performing teams.
Tahisha has built and implemented strategic marketing initiatives for numerous practices, all while cultivating teams that deliver results. She has a proven track record of creating a work culture that stimulates innovation, fosters collaboration, and encourages professional growth.
Tahisha’s leadership style is one that values both people and results. Her ability to blend strategic thinking with empathetic leadership has made her an instrumental figure in the industry.
Beyond her role as Sr. Marketing & Business Development Manager at Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP, Tahisha has been actively involved regionally and nationally in the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) as a board member, thought leader, and speaker. She currently serves as a Board Member for the International Board and co-facilitator for LMA’s Members of Color Member Resource Group. She was recognized by Insight Magazine among the list of 10 Most Inspiring Women in Business (2021).

As Chief Business Development Officer at Katten, Laura works closely with the firm’s Chairman, CEO, COO, and other firm leaders, to drive growth and raise awareness of the firm and it's capabilities. Prior to her appointment as CBDMO, Laura led the business development and client service efforts at Katten by directing all firmwide client programs, including our client teams, client feedback initiatives, business development skills training, lateral integration and attorney coaching programs. Before joining Katten, she held senior business development roles at two large Am Law 50 law firms. Laura also practiced as a litigation associate and later coached and led a national professional sales team for a legal consultancy firm before transitioning into the legal marketing and business development industry.

Liz Gooch is the Chief Business Development and MarketingOfficer for McDermott, Will and Emery. She is a business development, marketingand client service executive in the legal industry focused on driving growththrough a culture of client engagement. With over 20 years of experience, sheleads teams developing and delivering high-value, innovative, and measurablestrategies based on client voice, marketing and sales best practices to helpher firm and their clients succeed.Robert-Paul (RP) Sagner is a Director ofBusiness Development at Crowell & Moring. He has over 15 years ofexperience as a legal marketing and business development professional.

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As the Director of Communications for Morrison Foerster, Piper Hall  collaborates with the firm's leadership team and extended marketing and  business development team members to develop and executive the firm's global  communications strategies firmwide, including media and public relations,  internal and external communications, content marketing, and social media.  She works closely with business and practice leadership to advance the firm's  vision, promote the strengths and success of the firm, and build the firm's  reputation as an industry thought leader.     Prior to joining MoFo, Piper held communications positions at various AmLaw  100 and 200  law firms. In these roles,  she created impactful and engaging communications campaigns and managed teams  responsible for media relations, digital marketing initiatives, content  creation, branding, internal communications, and event marketing.    Piper began her career at a public relations agency managing accounts for  clients in the hospitality and tourism industries.

Leigh Herzog leads marketing and communications initiatives to advance the Goulston & Storrs’ brand in the marketplace. She elevates visibility for the firm and its lawyers using creative and innovative marketing strategies and corporate communications, including thought leadership, advertising, brand partnerships, event programming, and earned recognitions. Gifted at bringing the firm’s narrative to life, Leigh provides a pathway to attorneys for clients navigating complex legal issues.

Andrew has over two decades of experience in the legal technology community, working with firms worldwide to drive change through technology. He has developed a deep understanding of marketing and business development, recognizing the challenges faced by the industry. Andrew believes strongly in the power of data and is dedicated to helping teams use it to achieve better outcomes. Known for his innovative approach to problem-solving, he is respected in the industry for his thoughtful and creative ideas.

Raquel Konde is a creative leader with over 20 years of experience in design and branding. She has a special talent for making brands stand out and has consistently driven successful branding initiatives across various industries. Raquel deeply understands design principles and how to plan strategically. This lets her create compelling brand identities and execute high-impact campaigns. She's known for her innovative ideas and collaborative leadership style. Raquel excels at mixing creativity with smart planning to achieve outstanding outcomes, improve business success, and elevate brand presence.

I am thrilled this year’s LMA the Mid-Atlantic Conference theme is titled “Elect Your Path.”

One of my favorite elections was when I was elected President of the Student Government Association at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ.  As student leaders, we addressed student concerns and built relationships with the administration, staff and faculty. While at Rowan, I also worked on local, state and national political campaigns.  Decades later, I continue to rely on these early campaign career lessons as a speaker, trainer and coach of business development.

In 2011, I founded Ready, Set, Launch, LLC® after a career in brand management at Unilever, consulting at Accenture and law firm sales at Vault.com.  After 13 years in business, I am thrilled to be celebrating my business Bar Mitzvah.  

In 2022, I wrote Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch, where I speak on managing authentic relationships and business development strategies at partner retreats, conferences and training sessions.  I am a coach with the Association of Corporate Counsel.  I also make TV appearances on WTTG Channel 5 on professional development, write on business development for Above the Law and am a former Board Member for Capital Chapter of the Legal Marketing Association.  

I reside in Washington, DC with my talented red headed attorney wife and two active red headed sons. My MBA is from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.  Hoya Saxa!

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Shannon  Duffy Lombardo serves as director of business development at Saul Ewing. In  this role, she drives strategy related to firmwide business development  initiatives, including prospective client efforts, lateral attorney  integration, targeted and client growth strategy, and attorney coaching and  training.

Jacqueline Madarang is a recognized leader in marketingtechnology and digital marketing, having spearheaded numerous large-scaleprojects. Her innovative work has earned her multiple awards both within andoutside the legal profession, including several LMA Your Honor Awards for CRMimplementations, a website award for her innovative use of technology anddesign, and thought leadership awards for lawyers, driven by the success of theprograms she launched. Currently, as Director of Marketing Technology andOperations at Bracewell, Jacqueline oversees the firm’s centralized marketingoperations and technologies. She collaborates across departments to enhancemarketing efficiency and organizational agility, while playing a crucial rolein systematically measuring how marketing and business development effortsdrive revenue growth. Jacqueline has served as co-chair of LMA’s MarketingTechnology SIG and was a board member of the Mid-Atlantic Region. In 2018, shelaunched the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference. Her leadership extendsacross LMA and ILTA at both regional and national levels.

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Kimberly Bero Rennick is the Director of Client Relations for Covington & Burling. She has worked in every facet of the legal industry — in-house for a large corporation where she retained all outside counsel, outside counsel as a practicing litigator in a large law firm, a consultant and legal technology sales executive to the AmLaw 100 and in various business development and marketing roles in the AmLaw 100. Rennick is a pioneer in the development of predictive analytics and big data to drive client growth. She holds a law degree from Notre Dame Law School and a master’s degree in law firm management from The George Washington University.

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Michelle Cotter Richards is a mental health therapist, coach, and former large law firm lawyer who has helped many hundreds of lawyers heal, grow, and thrive. Michelle relies on her unique expertise to help law firms and the lawyers they love improve well-being, build supportive communities, and cultivate thriving and sustainable careers.

Neil Rosenbaum is the Director of Marketing Operations & Technology at Arnold  & Porter. He was formerly a practicing antitrust lawyer and head of  operations at a procurement consulting firm assisting in house legal  departments in their selection of outside law firms, often accompanied by the  use aggressive alternative fee structures.

Robert-Paul (RP) Sagner is a Director of Business Developmentat Crowell & Moring. He has over 15 years of experience as a legalmarketing and business development professional.

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David Sanders serves as managing partner of Foley & Lardner's Washington, D.C. office. He takes a team-oriented approach to solving complex corporate issues. He combines legal skill with real-world business acumen to help clients achieve their goals. David strives to earn the right to be clients’ first call — the one they trust — when they have big opportunities, challenges, or corporate legal needs. His clients describe him as responsive, sophisticated, and approachable.

David's practice is concentrated on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, employment issues, including non-compete and executive employment and termination agreements, trade secret issues, drafting and negotiating of all types of contracts and corporate documents, including leases and license agreements, and general corporate matters.

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As the Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, Amanda Schneider plays a  pivotal role in orchestrating Epstein Becker Green’s marketing, business  development, and communications functions. Tasked with aligning these efforts  with the firm's overarching strategy, Amanda collaborates closely with firm  leadership to shape both short- and long-term plans. She leads an innovative  team of marketing and business development professionals who work alongside  Epstein Becker Green’s attorneys to differentiate the firm and produce growth  through business development initiatives. Amanda has held a variety of  marketing and business development roles in various industries with over 20  years of leadership experience in law firms.

Rachel Shields Williams is a seasoned legal business professional with nearly two decades of experience spanning Business Development, Marketing, Sales, Knowledge Management, and Legal Technology. Currently serving a Director, Knowledge Management at Sidley Austin, Rachel thrives on assessing and anticipating both internal and external customer needs, while leveraging her cross-industry expertise to bring fresh insights to every project. With a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset cultivated from her family-run business background, Rachel is committed to service excellence and takes ownership of every endeavor she undertakes.
Her strategic acumen shines through as she translates vision into actionable goals and results, adept at designing and implementing innovative yet practical technology and process solutions. Under her leadership, she has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have had a meaningful, measurable impact on a global scale.
Rachel is deeply engaged in the legal community, serving as Treasurer on the 2024 Legal Marketing Association International Board of Directors and contributing to the International Legal Technology Associations Program Planning Council. She is also a Fellow in the College of Legal Practice Management.

Scott Winter is a global executive with over 20 years of experience in product management, consulting, and business development. He has worked with many smaller regional firms, most of the Am Law 100 and Fortune Global 500 companies. He is known for his commitment to excellence and dedication to his clients.
Scott advises clients on marketing, business development, and legal technology. He has extensive experience working with data, data strategy, and data reporting, and he helps clients find highly efficient and cost-effective ways to ensure the best data accuracy for their business systems.
Before joining Index Solutions and Mt. Insights, Scott spent over 15 years with LexisNexis, leading product management, product marketing, user experience, project management, strategic partnership teams, and several years of consulting.

Jesse James Wroblewski he has been at the helm of a NY marketing agency for close  to three decades. His often offbeat work has been featured in Rolling Stone,  The Book "505 Weirdest Websites Ever" and Fangoria as well as a  plethora of other media outlets.     After the realization that the entire marketing industry had gone insane,  he retooled, reimagined and reemerged as something different, something more  powerful than the marketing world has ever seen.     Ready to share his new vision for the world he proudly presents Marketing  For Supervillains: Diabolical Tips On Differentiation, Decommoditization™ and  World Domination.