Declaration of Candidacy

Transcription

1 Declaration of Candidacy Candidates for election as Second Vice President or Director Elected Nationally must complete this form and submit it to the Executive Director at the principal headquarters of DRI by 5:00 PM (CDT) on July 1 st of the year in which the election is held. Additional sheets should be attached as needed. National Director Requirements Directors Elected Nationally or by Region must be Individual Members of the Corporation admitted to the practice of law. Each such director must meet the following qualifications at the time of election: (a) The candidate shall have been a DRI member for a total of at least five (5) years, and (b) The candidate shall have been a member of at least one DRI substantive law committee for at least three (3) years, and (c) The candidate must have registered for and attended at least one (1) DRI Annual Meeting within the previous three (3) years, and, within the three (3) years prior to the final day of the Annual Meeting, the candidate must have 1) registered for and attended at least two (2) DRI seminars, or 2) registered for and attended one (1) DRI seminar and one (1) DRI Regional Meeting. Position sought Second Vice President* Secretary Treasurer National Director *If you have declared your candidacy for Second Vice President and are not the successful candidate, will you consider the Secretary Treasurer Officer position? Yes No Name Toyja E. Kelley Firm/Company Tydings & Rosenberg LLP Address 100 E. Pratt Street, 26 th Floor Telephone (410) Cell Phone (301) [email protected] Born (location) Houston, TX Education B.A., Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; J.D., William and Mary Law School, Williamsburg, VA Awards and achievements 2015 Most Influential Marylander Award; 2010 "VIP" Professional Under 40; Super Lawyers Rising Star; 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award Saint Mary s Hall School 4

2 Areas of practice Commercial, Construction, Insurance Coverage, Products Liability, and Professional Liability Litigation Years as a defense attorney 14 years Employment history Law Clerk, The Honorable Andrew Sonner of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals Litigation Associate, Lord & Whip P.A. Litigation Associate and Partner, Tydings & Rosenberg LLP Management Committee, Tydings & Rosenberg LLP Adjunct Professor of Law, Washington and Lee School of Law Noteworthy defense work Defended a sports equipment manufacturer in concussion/personal injury litigation involving athletes at a Maryland football camp Defended industrial and heavy haul logistics company in federal litigation involving the Port of Baltimore Defended Maryland ATM manufacturer, servicer, and processer in federal ATM fee notice litigation Defended a broadcasting company in commercial litigation and business tort related cases Defended water, hygiene, and energy technologies company in tort litigation Defended federal savings bank in commercial litigation involving former loan officer in Maryland Defended a crafts and fabrics retailer in tort litigation Defended publicly traded real estate investment trust in a series of construction related lawsuits Defended national home improvement franchising company in a class action brought by customers of its local franchise Defended petroleum manufacturer in a products liability case alleging injuries from lead pigment Defended an international luxury automobile manufacturer in warranty and products liability cases Defended a national office products manufacturer in commercial litigation brought by a multinational customer and a material supplier 5

3 Defended a commercial food service manufacturer from allegations that a product defect caused a fire that destroyed a national fast food chain s restaurant Defended a manufacturer of custom built industrial generator systems from allegations that it violated Maryland Equipment Dealer Contract Act when it terminated a local sales representative Defended former vice president of advertising and marketing company against claims that he violated non compete agreement with former employer Defended toxic mold claims against subcontractor involving the construction of luxury condominiums in Washington, D.C. Defended African American church in claims brought by a surety involving the multimillion dollar construction of new church Professional Affiliations International Association of Defense Counsel; The Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel; Maryland State Bar Association; D.C. Bar Association; Bar Association of Baltimore City; American Bar Association (Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, ICLC Diversity Sub Committee Co Chair); Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc.; Serjeant s Inn Law Society DRI Member since January 2003 Please describe your previous involvement in DRI, including but not limited to, leadership positions held. Projects contributed to, Committee memberships, presentations given, and written materials authored. Special accomplishments should also be noted. 06/13/2015 Speaker at N.C. Assoc. Defense Attorneys Annual Meeting 06/10/2015 Speaker at Diversity Committee Leadership Meeting 05/27/2015 Audit Presentation to DRI Board of Directors 05/06/2015 State of DRI Presentation to DRI Employment Law Committee 05/01/2015 Speaker at Mississippi Defense Lawyers Assoc. 50 th Anniversary Celebration 02/26/2015 Speaker at WITL Committee Leadership Breakfast 02/20/2015 State of DRI Presentation at Northwest/Pacific Regional Meeting 02/11/2015 Budget Presentation to DRI Board of Directors 01/15/2015 DRI Leadership Conference Presentation 12/12/2014 Alternative Revenue Task Force 10/25/2015 Elected DRI Secretary Treasurer 06/18/2014 Maryland Defense Counsel Immediate Past President 01/09/ st Century Task Force Presentation at CLC 11/01/2013 Appointed Issues and Advocacy Committee Vice Chair (SLDO and SLC Liaison Project) 06/30/2013 Intellectual Property Litigation Committee Member 06/11/2013 Speaker Diversity Committee Fly In Meeting 11/16/2012 Appointed Public Policy Committee Vice Chair 10/24/2012 Speaker Construction Law Business Meeting 6

4 10/16/ st Century Lawyer Task Force Member (DRI Leadership Academy Project) 09/20/2012 Speaker Construction Law Seminar 06/07/2012 Speaker Diversity Committee Fly In Meeting 05/18/2012 Speaker Northeast Regional Meeting 04/27/2012 Attended Central/Mid Atlantic Regional Meeting 06/15/2011 Wrote Article: Winning the Race Achieving Success in the Corporate Expo Marathon 06/01/2011 SLDO Relationship Committee Presentation Diversity Through DRI: How the DRI Diversity Committee Can Help With Your SLDO Diversity Initiatives 10/29/2011 Elected DRI National Director 02/15/2011 Attended DRI Board of Director s Meeting as special guest 11/16/2010 SLDO Relationship Committee Member (SLDO and SLC Resource Manual Projects) 05/12/2010 Wrote Article: From the Chair: Establishing DRI as Diversity Thought Leader 04/21/2010 Presented at Mid Atlantic Regional Meeting 10/19/2009 Diversity Committee Chair 02/10/2009 Wrote Article: From the Committee: Diversity Where Does DRI Go from Here? 10/28/2008 Business Tort SLG Committee Member 04/18/2008 Presented at Mid Atlantic Regional Meeting 03/13/2008 Presented at State Representative s Meeting 02/27/2008 Commercial Law Committee Member 02/27/2008 Insurance Law Committee Member 02/27/2008 Construction Law Committee Member 10/15/2007 Diversity Committee Vice Chair 06/01/2006 Diversity Seminar Presentation Successful Minority Attorneys Share Their Tips Winter 2005/2006 Worked on proposal along with Pam Carter and Demarcus Gordon for the creation of DRI Diversity Pioneer Award (which was later renamed the Sheryl J. Willert Pioneer Diversity Award) 10/31/2005 Diversity Committee Member 02/04/2003 Young Lawyer s Committee Member List any leadership roles in other defense organizations. Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc. Past President Describe your goals if you are elected to the above position. My primary goal has not changed very much since I first declared my candidacy for the position of National Director. If elected Second Vice President, I will work diligently to continue to assist DRI, in every way possible, in its efforts to be the leader on all issues affecting the interests of 7

5 businesses and individuals in civil litigation. I will work to achieve that goal in the following areas: 1. Developing the next generation of DRI leaders in an environment with fewer available resources, and professional development and trial experience opportunities; 2. Increasing membership and participation in DRI from a broader range of attorneys, firms, businesses, and corporations; 3. Strengthening DRI s relationship with the SLDO s; and 4. Sustaining DRI s reputation as a leader on issues of diversity in the legal profession. Over the past year, I have learned through my experience as DRI Secretary Treasurer that DRI s challenge of achieving these goals is compounded by the fact that it is operating in an increasingly difficult economic climate. The good old days where membership organizations made money hand over fist are gone, and probably forever. Efforts in the areas listed above will require DRI to do much more with less. In my observation over the past eight months, however, the extent to which DRI staff, the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, and the newly constituted Law Institute are working together to implement the strategic plan and to respond to the various challenges that seem to arise almost daily has been nothing less than remarkable. I am certain that DRI is well situated to meet all of the coming challenges. What do you believe is the most important issue confronting the defense bar? DRI is the Voice of the Defense so it should surprise no one that the defense bar s biggest challenge is the same as that facing DRI how to do much more with much less. The economic pressure facing law firms, our clients, and the courts will continue to be the most significant challenges. There can be no doubt that the country s economic issues have had a negative impact on our clients, which in turn has led to fewer opportunities as clients desperately search for ways to save money. The traditional defense practice on which DRI was built is perhaps feeling these pressures in a much more impactful way as insurance clients are squeezing those lawyers to cut their rates or taking the work away from them altogether. As more clients go out of business or cut their legal spending budgets, law firms have hired fewer new lawyers and those that leave are not replaced. It has also caused the older generation of lawyers to hang on to their practices longer, which has meant fewer professional development opportunities for the next generation of lawyers. The courts are also facing similar economic threats. Reports of budget issues, delays, and court closings across the country are widespread and pose grave risks to the administration of justice and the prospects for the country s economic improvement. For a very long time, DRI has been out in front of these challenges confronting the defense bar and its success and experience will no doubt enable it to overcome the current challenges facing its members. Define the appropriate role for DRI as the national defense bar organization. The appropriate role for DRI is three fold. DRI s primary responsibilities lie with the training and education of its members. It must continue to deliver the highest quality and the most cutting edge educational programs for its members and others in the defense bar. Second, DRI must 8

6 capitalize on this reputation to provide its current and prospective members with the best opportunities to form lasting friendships, to enhance networks, and to develop careers. Finally, DRI must lead on the defense bar s efforts to attract, train, and develop the next generation of defense bar leaders. Hobbies and/or interests My primary hobbies involve sports, in particular, golf and college football and any sport that my son is currently playing. Family Son Toyja Kelley, Jr. 9