Attorney at Law Magazine Dallas sat down with Kit Addleman, one of the Dallas chapter leaders of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA). Addleman was one of the co-founders that brought the organization to Dallas more than 10 years ago.
AALM: You helped co-found the Dallas chapter of the WWCDA in 2013. Tell us about the launch and why it was important to bring WWCDA to Dallas.
KA: A friend and former colleague from the Securities and Exchange Commission reached out to tell three of us in Dallas, ultimately the co-founders, about the great work being done in the WWCDA chapters on the East Coast. We saw the impact WWCDA was having to build women’s business and work referrals in white collar cases and government investigations in other cities. In Dallas, I wanted women to be a bigger part of collaboration discussions and referral networks, both for building my own practice and for helping other women grow theirs.
AALM: What do you believe are some of the main priorities of WWCDA? What are some practical ways you help to promote those goals?
KA: A priority for the Dallas chapter is professional and business development. In government defense matters, both investigations and litigation, an attorney often needs to get separate representation for officers, directors or employees. Making sure that women are a part of the network for referrals is critical. One way our chapter does that is by including men in networking and in discussions at events. With my two other chapter leaders, Paige Montgomery and Sarah Wirskye, we make consistent efforts to highlight our women members in attorney rankings, programs and conference panels. One effort involves speaking with the Global attorney ranking program Chambers about exceptional women. We advocate for equitable and updated rankings based on experience and talent, rather than just listing the same men because they have “always been ranked.”
AALM: This year marks the 25th anniversary of the WWCDA. How has the organization evolved over the last quarter century? How has the Dallas Chapter grown in the last decade?
KA: In 25 years, WWCDA grew from a small group of women enjoying time together to now 50 chapters globally with structure around the missions of supporting women in various kinds of white collar, civil and criminal, investigation and litigation defense practices. The international reach aids all of us as we look for support and for counsel in other countries to support our client needs. Over the 10 years since we founded the Dallas chapter, we grew from a dozen women to now 165 members with defense practices in healthcare, antitrust, securities, AML, cybersecurity, cryptocurrency and many others.
AALM: Of the upcoming events scheduled, what are you most looking forward to?
KA: One of the annual highlights for the Dallas WWCDA, and my favorite, is the Holiday Party for the white-collar defense bar, both men and women. A few years ago, we went from just inviting men to celebrate with us to asking the DFW ABA Criminal Justice Section to co-host the party. We also invite government attorneys and prosecutors to join. The benefit of this holiday party and other networking, social and educational events is to make connections and get to know each other’s practices which facilitates working together collaboratively and building a strong network of defense lawyers and referral connections.
AALM: You’ve been a leader for WWCDA for a number of years, what advice do you have to young women lawyers who want to become more involved in their legal community?
KA: Just start and show up! First, it’s a little like growing an account for retirement – the earlier you start, the more things compound and the larger the end result. A young woman lawyer shouldn’t try to make dozens of connections at the first event and then become disappointed when no referrals come in immediately. Also, some lawyers find reasons not to show up for the next event, particularly when things are busy. As my wonderful partner and founder of HaynesBoone, Mike Boone, says, simply start planting seeds in your garden. His analogy is that we should make new contacts, then “water” and care for them by staying engaged. Eventually some “seeds” will grow into something you can be proud of – in this case, a robust practice, a bigger referral network, and subject matter expertise.
AALM: Over the course of your career in the SEC and then in white-collar defense, how has the practice changed most? What future changes do you foresee and how would you advise young women practitioners?
KA: It is hard for me to believe that it has been 38 years since I graduated law school and joined the SEC. The white collar and government investigations defense practice has grown exponentially including technology development, market and product changes, and rules and sanctions. For example, electronic discovery has been a huge benefit when I compare it to reviewing warehouses full of dusty boxes. Business changes in my practice area include stock market developments and how securities are traded as well as the development of so many new types of both products and means by which fraud and violations can occur. My guidance to our young lawyers is to stay nimble and curious. Knowing developing areas and becoming the expert on those statutory areas or new products will serve well for building business. Not to mention, it keeps your practice fresh and interesting.
