Join the National Board of the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law for the final part of the series on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

In our Dobbs I-III programs, we delved into the Constitutional underpinnings and state law considerations and challenges related to Dobbs.  Plan to join us for Dobbs IV, an incredible, action-oriented final installment of our series, featuring Mini, who will be joined by Melissa from IWH and Karyn from the Illinois AG, to discuss the state of the state post Dobbs, and the ongoing efforts of organizations and state governments to help individuals in need – and how interested attorneys can help support these efforts. Sonya Rosenberg, Partner, Neal Gerber Eisenberg, will moderate the program.   

Illinois CLE credit is pending.
 
We hope that our member organizations will use the Dobbs Series as an opportunity to gather and discuss the topics presented in an open and inclusive manner.

Speakers
Mini Timmaraju, President of NARAL

Mini Timmaraju (she/her) is a seasoned campaigner, skilled coalition-builder, high-impact organizer, and talented organizational leader with over 20 years of experience leading federal, state and local campaigns, as well as advocacy efforts around reproductive rights, gender justice, and racial justice.Mini has a wealth of governmental and political experience at the state and federal level. Most recently, Mini served as Senior Advisor to the Director at the Office of Personnel Management in the Biden-Harris Administration, where she advised the OPM Director and agency leadership on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policy, strategy, and best practices.

Previously, she served as Hillary for America’s National Women’s Vote Director, leading the campaign’s strategic work to maximize women’s participation in the election. She has a longstanding commitment to the fight for access to the full range of reproductive healthcare, including abortion care. She worked at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast and Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas Action Fund and played a key role at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America as Director of the Office of the President.

Learn more about Mini

Melissa Torres-Montoya, J.D., M.P.H., Senior Manager of Lawyer Engagement at If/When/How

Melissa is a reproductive justice and sexual health advocate who has worked at nonprofit organizations shaping policies at every level of government. She has dedicated her professional career to addressing the lack of affordable quality healthcare in the United States and advancing sexual and reproductive autonomy.

Ms. Torres-Montoya earned a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and received a Masters in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University. Melissa spent the year following her graduate education as an If/When/How public policy and legal fellow at the National Women’s Health Network. She also attended the University of California, Davis where she earned her A.B. in History and Political Science. Melissa is admitted to practice law in the state of Maryland.

Karyn L. Bass Ehler, Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General at the Illinois Attorney General's Office

Karyn L. Bass Ehler currently serves as an Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General for the Illinois Attorney General, where she works on high-impact cases, litigation, and legislation.  Prior to this role, Karyn served as the General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), where she managed all legal functions for IDPH, including helping the agency and the State of Illinois navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.  Prior to joining IDPH, Karyn served as a civil rights attorney in both private practice and in the public sector, including as the Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau for the Illinois Attorney General.  In that role, Karyn oversaw investigations, litigation, and legislation to address patterns and practices of discrimination in Illinois. While working in that position, Karyn served as one of the lead counsel in the groundbreaking police reform case State of Illinois v. City of Chicago, which resulted in a historic consent decree addressing comprehensive and systemic reform of the Chicago Police Department

Moderator
Sonya Rosenberg, Partner, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP
Sonya counsels companies and organizations on various employee-related legal issues and needs that arise at all the stages of the employment relationship, including the negotiation of employment agreements, restrictive covenants, policies and training, performance management, internal investigations and individual and group separations. Sonya also represents employers in litigation, her experience including the successful defense of numerous administrative charges, lawsuits and appellate proceedings at the state and federal levels. Clients value that her ability to understand their needs and thoroughly assess their legal situations often results in invaluable savings in time and resources.

Sonya is a frequent presenter and author of numerous articles on current employment law topics, including effective employment audit and risk management practices, harassment and discrimination in the workplace, technology issues relating to biometric privacy, social media and use of recruiting technologies, restrictive covenants, medical leave and disability-related issues, workplace violence, smart performance management, conducting workplace investigations and reductions in force and other notable developments in labor and employment law.

Learn more about Sonya