
“Public Speaking for Lawyers” talk will be presented by Richard Bannin
Richard Bannin is Founder/CEO of the communications consultancy The Confident Speaker. He has trained executives from McKinsey, Lufthansa, Citigroup and Coca-Cola. In addition to coaching individual attorneys, he has presented public speaking workshops at Squire Patton Boggs, the bar associations of San Francisco and Alameda County, the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association and the San Francisco Legal Network. Richard’s trainings are enriched by his expertise in both theatre and business. A degreed actor/director, his 15 years’ leading high-tech sales presentations generated $100M in revenue. He is an alumnus of William & Mary and Columbia University, and has trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, HB Studios in New York City and American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
The key learning points are:
- Learn public speaking basics
- Project presence & authority with body & voice
- Influence your audience non-verbally
- Communicate with difficult people
- Think on your feet
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

“Rent Control in the Bay Area – the Broad Strokes” talk will be presented by Daniel Wayne and Jason Wolford
Daniel Wayne is a San Francisco-based tenant’s rights attorney and a partner at the firm Wolford Wayne LLP. Daniel and his team represent residential and commercial tenants in resolving a wide variety of legal disputes including wrongful evictions, buyout negotiations, rent board representation and eviction defense. The lawyers at Wolford Wayne only represent tenants, never landlords. Daniel has been recognized as one of the leading tenant lawyers in the Bay Area. He has presented before the SF Apartment Association, SF Property Management Association, and State Bar Real Property Section. He writes a monthly column on tenant’s rights issues for the popular San Francisco-based web site Broke-Ass Stuart, as well as a column on the tenant perspective for San Francisco Apartment Association magazine. Daniel has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising star each of the past three years. Jason Wolford has dedicated the majority of his twenty-year legal career to representing Bay Area tenants. Formerly the managing attorney at Wolford Law Firm, Jason joined forces with Daniel Wayne and the Law Offices of Daniel W. Wayne in 2018. Jason’s practice focuses on representing tenants in wrongful eviction, habitability, harassment and retaliation lawsuits. Jason serves on the Board of Directors for the Eviction Defense Collaborative, volunteers as a tenant counselor with the San Francisco Tenant’s Union, and is actively involved in the San Francisco Bar Association.
The key learning points are:
- The basic elements of the tenant protections and rent control rules in SF, Oakland, and Berkeley
- Common issues that arise in landlord-tenant disputes regarding rent control and tenant protection rules
- Current trends
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

“Avoiding litigation in family disputes: Spotting issues and resolving conflict through counsel and mediation” talk will be presented by Patricia Defonte and Alice Shikina
Patricia De Fonte is an estate planning attorney. In my relationship-based approach, I work together with clients to create a plan based on values and tailored to protect assets and loved ones. Spotting risk, which often presents itself through negative family dynamics, is a big part of her process. Alice Shikina is a mediator. She does landlord/tenant cases, family disputes, and probate cases. She specializes in cases where the emotionally charged component is preventing the parties from settling. She volunteer mediates for the Department of Police Accountability in SF, the Hayward day-of-court program and for California Lawyers for the Arts. She is an alternate member on the Barristers Executive Committee for the Alameda County Bar Association.
The key learning points are:
- How to get clients to talk about family problems.
- Coaching clients on speaking with parents about difficult family members.
- Providing support and referrals to assist clients in dealing with risky or difficult family situations or members.
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

“The Systems and Strategies Behind a Profitable Law Firm” talk will be presented by Al Stoll, Leo Manzione, and Russell Goodrow
Russell Goodrow operates a boutique, personal injury law firm in San Francisco that has helped injured people for over 11 years. We take pride in placing our clients’ health first to ensure an ideal medical and legal recovery. Our office has extensive experience in the trial courts, where we have tried over a dozen actions.
In August of 1994 Al Stoll founded the law firm now known as Albert G. Stoll, Jr. | A Law Corporation. In his 24 years of plaintiffs law practice, Al has handled more than 40 personal injury jury trials where negligent drivers have caused injuries to other drivers, pedestrians, motorcycle and bicycle riders. Al has also handled numerous premise liability, slip and fall, product liability, medical malpractice, police excessive force and employment law cases. He enjoys practicing law with his two partners Walter Haynes who also handles personal injury cases and Jessica Juarez who represents employees in discrimination and wage and hour matters. Al Lives in Marin County with his wife Julie and three children.
Leo Manzione, Business Coach, Coaching Coordinator, and Partner at Run Right Consulting, lives to help people succeed.Whether that is doubling annual income or making a vacation possible while the business continues to grow, he is here to help. He meets with hundreds of international business owners and executives each year to assess whether or not working with Crystal is the right fit on both ends. If it is, he gets them started with one of the best investments they will ever make. If not, he makes sure they are on the path toward success nonetheless.
The key learning points are:
- Success stories, as well as failures, from growing law firms in the SF Bay Area
- Systems mindset: What is a system? How do they work? How do I build them to serve me and my firm?
- Specific systems that have helped make us and our clients a lot of money
- Top 5 systems to:
- Be able to go on vacation (even as a solo practitioner)
- Build infrastructure for the first employee
- Manage teams, deadlines, and calendars
- How to source multimillion dollar cases
- How to increase, manage, and diversify cashflow
- Top 5 systems to:
- Strategies that apply to every stage of a firm from solo practitioner to multimillion dollar law firm
- What to expect: inevitable challenges, opportunities, and milestones during a firm’s lifetime
- What’s possible: how you can build a firm around your life instead of having to build your life around your firm
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

“Business Succession Planning in the Internet Age” talk will be presented by Doug Bend and Megan Yip
Doug Bend is the founder of Bend Law Group, PC, a law firm focused on advising small businesses and startups. He has been featured in numerous publications, including The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Fox Business, MSN, Inc., and Forbes. Megan Yip helps attorneys, tech companies, families, and organizations address how to better plan for difficult situations presented by incapacity and death, in a world with an ever-changing tech landscape. She provides legal assistance, information, tools, and resources to guide you through the maze of what should be done with digital assets in the case of incapacity or death. She has helped families with estate planning, and post death administration while working at Legal Aid of Marin, while working on the Policy Team at Twitter, and now in her own private practice.
The key learning points are:
- The Importance of thinking about worst case scenario planning for your business, including contemplating an injury that affects your ability to work or your death.
- Why should consideration and intentional use of your technology infrastructure be part of your personal estate plan and especially your business succession plan?
- How to include your technology infrastructure as part of your estate and succession plan. – How to build a team of professionals who can help you keep your technology and worst case scenario plans working together.
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

“Management Reports: Beyond Financial Statements” talk will be presented by Diane Camacho
Diane Camacho of DLC Consulting Services, LLC provides on-demand legal management for small and solo law firms. She spent over twenty years in legal management in San Francisco. She spent 15 years on the board of the Golden Gate Chapter of Legal Administrators. Diane teaches Law Firm Management at San Francisco State University, teaches a study course for the Certified Legal Manager exam and speaks on law firm management issues. She has a B.S. degree from the USF in Organizational Behavior and Leadership and is a Certified Legal Manager. Diane is also a certified NetDocuments Partner.
The key learning points are:
- Profitability Statics
- Income Forecasting
- What Financial Reports To Review
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

“Scaling Professional Services” talk will be presented by Jim Bennett
Jim Bennett founded the consulting firm NOW CFO in 2005 and is CEO and Managing Partner working from the Salt Lake City, Utah office. NOW CFO has offices in 24 markets spanning 12 states, with plans for sustained growth. NOW CFO provides outsourced CFO, Controller and Staff Accountant services for a broad range of industries. Jim has three decades of combined experience in both public and private industry finance and accounting. His private industry experience includes serving as a business owner, CFO, Controller and Operations Senior Manager. Prior to founding NOW CFO, Jim served as an audit Manager at Deloitte.
The key learning points are:
- Internally funding growth
- Scaling
- Leadership
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

Back to School on Family Law talk will be presented by Dannielle M. Campbell
Dannielle provides quality advocacy for individuals and families for family law disputes and endeavors in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The key learning points are:
- Basics of Family Law transactions
- Basics of Family Law controversy
- Ethics in Family Law
- Importance of collaborating with other professionals
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

“Civil Litigation in the Cannabis Industry: Same Same, But Different” talk will be presented by Katy Young
Katy Young represents plaintiffs and defendants in business disputes and real estate claims, including matters for cannabis industry litigants. For cannabis businesses, she handles mostly partnership disputes and breach of contract matters, including leases. She graduated from University of the Pacific where she played water polo, then she received her law degree from University of San Francisco where she graduated magna cum laude. She has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2014 through 2018. In 2018, she was named to Benchmark Litigation’s top 40 under 40 hotlist. She is the President of the National Cannabis Bar Association.
The key learning points are:
- How the cannabis industry is different from other industries
- How far cannabis businesses have progressed
- The unique challenges to bringing and defending legal claims for cannabis industry litigants
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.

“How to Avoid Client Collection Problems and What to Do When You Can’t” talk will be presented by Greg Groeneveld and Richard Zuromski, Jr.
Greg Groeneveld is an attorney in San Francisco who specializes in collecting judgments. He has been practiced law in California since 1993. Greg Groeneveld graduated from the Columbia University School of Law (where he was a Stone Scholar). He has a Masters in Public Policy and a BBA in Accounting. Richard Zuromski, Jr. represents businesses needing legal advice related to a business, contract or real estate dispute. He previously worked as an associate in one of the biggest law firms in the country and as a partner in a smaller regional firm. As a business owner, he knows how to leverage his experience to use available, and sometimes limited, resources to get the results needed for the specific situation. Don’t sign a contract without him looking at it first. Call Richard before you respond to a letter from a lawyer threatening litigation. He can help in areas where the bigger firms can’t.
Key learning points:
- Best practices to avoid the need to collect from clients
- Mandatory fee arbitration requirements
- Real world examples of collection mistakes
Session
- 11:30 am to Noon – Networking
- 12:00 to 12:15 Introductions
- 12:15 to 12:45 Speaker Presentation
- 12:45 to 1:15 – Audience Learnings
- 1:15 to 1:30 pm – Networking.