diversity in the corporate sector: co-director, beyond the

CO-DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

The Business and Transactional Law Center at Washburn University School of Law prepares students to be effective transactional lawyers able to operate in today's dynamic business law environment.

2 0 1 6 - 17 A N N U A L R E P O R T

Washburn Law's Business and Trans-actional Law Center (BTLC) enjoyed another exciting and interesting year in 2016-17, during which we engaged in numerous efforts to build bridges from law school to transactional prac-tice. We hosted a series of interesting speakers and visitors who were able to help us bring the real world of trans-actional law into the law school. We sponsored symposia focusing on issues in corporate and employment law. We held a variety of transactional work-shops with industry experts. And, we broadened our curricular offerings to further enrich our students' experience and exposure to business and transac-tional law.

The Center is dedicated to enriching our students' law school experience through coursework with a transac-tional focus, real-world transactional experiences, and multiple programs connecting students to practicing lawyers. Students can earn a certificate in Business and Transactional Law by focusing their study in these areas, completing a lawyering experience through our clinic and/or externship

- Co-Director continued on page 2 -

Andrea J. BoyackCo-Director, Business and Transactional Law Center, and Professor of Law

Diversity in the Corporate Sector: Beyond the Symposium

Patrick Woods

Michelle De La Isla

Marcos Mendoza, '89

India Webb Boulton, '99

SYMPOSIUM

In March 2016, Washburn Law sponsored a symposium on corporate and law firm diversity that began a conversation at the law school about what is meant by diversity in the business and legal worlds and how and why it could be encouraged. To continue this conversation, the Business and Transactional Law Center sponsored a follow-up panel discussion on October 13, 2016 entitled "Diversity in the Corporate Sector: Beyond the Symposium."

The Diversity in the Corporate Sector panel had four members: India Webb Boulton, '99, Vice President for Law and Marketing Practices at Sprint Corporation, Michelle De La Isla, Diversity and Inclusion Representative at Westar Energy, Marcos Antonio Mendoza, '89, Assistant Director, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the Texas Association of School Boards, and Patrick Woods, Assistant Direc-tor of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the Texas Association of School Boards. The program was moderated by Amanda Kiefer, '03, First Vice President and Director of Human Resources and Minority and Women Inclusion at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka. The panel began the session by dis-cussing why diversity is important and then explored the challenges of attracting and retaining talented and diverse employees and management. Finally, the panelists shared thoughts and advice on improving the value and effectiveness of mentorships.

As the panelists explained, increas-ing diversity in corporate leadership is important not only for its perceived social value, but also because compa-nies need to recognize and be respon-

- Diversity continued on page 3 -

2 WASHBURN LAW - BUSINESS AND TRANSACTIONAL LAW CENTER

CO-DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE continued from page 1 -

opportunities, writing on a topic re-lated to business and transactional law, and participating in some of the many extra-curricular opportunities that the Center provides.

There were numerous and varied Center-sponsored events this past year, discussed in this newsletter. For example, in October 2016, we held a panel presentation and discussion that followed up on issues raised at our Corporate and Law Firm Diversity Symposium held in March. Our pro-gram, "Diversity in the Corporate Sec-tor: Beyond the Symposium," featured company counsel and firm manage-ment specialists who shared their in-sights and experiences with respect to the value of and challenges related to creating a diverse business community. In February 2017, the Washburn Law Journal hosted a symposium entitled "Future of Labor and Employment Law: Power, Policies, and Politics."

The Center's fall 2016 Practitioner in Residence was Donald Rupert, '76. Rupert visited the law school for two days in October and presented two Lunch and Learns related to intel-lectual property transactions. He also guest taught several classes and visited with students in small group settings while at the school.

This year, we also were able to offer select small groups of students two different opportunities to engage in a hands-on transactional workshop over lunch. In February, we hosted Joseph Peiffer, who led a group of students in exploring planning considerations for a Chapter 12 bankruptcy. In April, Ed Nichols, '72, led a Transactional Lunch focused on issues and contracts related to mergers, acquisitions, and reorgani-zations of small companies. At these lunches, selected students engaged with actual documents from practice under the tutelage of these industry experts.

2017-18 Center Fellow Announced

Meanwhile, the school's transactional curricular offerings continue to grow. We now offer classes in corporate compliance and commercial leasing. The addition of Roger McEowen to Washburn Law has allowed us to significantly expand the courses we offer related to farming and ranching businesses, including agricultural tax and farm bankruptcy.

As we begin a new academic year, we look forward to continuing our efforts to help prepare new attorneys for business and transactional practice in the current and future legal environment. We are very grateful for our alumni and other members of the community who generously contribute their time and expertise by meeting with our students and sharing their experience and insight. Please feel free to contact the Center at any time with suggestions or comments to help us fulfil our mission.

Kacey Scott, J.D. Candidate '19, was selected as the 2017-18 BTLC Fellow. She attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, and studied political science, pre-law, and psychology.

At Washburn Law, Scott participates with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and the Pro Bono Society, and serves as a staff writer for the Washburn Law Journal.

This past summer, Scott was chosen to participate in the Washburn Law Dane G. Hansen Foundation Rural Externship Program, which provided students with an immersive extern-ship experience in Northwest Kansas.

Placed with Her-man Law Office, P.A., in Hays, Scott observed a variety of court-room proceed-ings, researched

and wrote about many legal issues,

and experienced the lifestyle and work done by legal professionals practicing in rural Kansas.

Scott plans to use her communication skills, legal knowledge, and the transactional/criminal law experience from her externship to better help her clients achieve their goals.

Last year's Fellow, Matthew Wiebe, JD Candidate, '18, shared that his time as a Fellow was "a remarkable experience that was well worth the time spent." As a Fellow, he attended Lunch and Learns, presentations, and other events sponsored by the Center. "One of the most beneficial aspects of being a Fellow was attending several small-group events with visiting scholars and practitioners," said Wiebe. "I was also fortunate to participate in research and writing connected with the Kansas Bar Association's Annual Survey Chapter on Banking, Commercial, and Contract Law. All of these experiences helped me develop my knowledge of business and transactional law practice, as well as my relationships with professors."

Kacey Scott 2017-18 Fellow

WASHBURNLAW.EDU/TRANSACTIONAL 3

sive to the changing demographic of their customers and workforces. The panelists suggested that because the nation is experiencing a popula-tion shift, corporations can be more successful and more credible if their leadership reflects their communities. The panelists also stressed the value of cultural diversity in company leader-ship, explaining that managers make more effective, well-informed decisions after interacting with people holding disparate perspectives.

The panelists admitted that it can be challenging for companies to attract and retain talented, diverse individu-als, and suggested that one way to address these challenges could be through hiring according to "choice architectures" rather than depending on the personal assessments of indi-vidual hiring managers. The choice architecture described by the panelists consisted of (i) defining corporate re-quirements objectively, without regard to pre-conceptions of interviewers, (ii) taking steps to improve the applicant pool, perhaps by educating the work-force to grow the pipeline or through engaging with the community, and (iii) in making hiring and promotion decisions, focusing on qualifications more than the amorphous and sub-jective concept of cultural "fit." The panelists suggested that following this three-step approach to hiring can help minimize unconscious bias and avoid the perception that increasing cor-porate diversity requires a sacrifice of hiring quality.

The panelists engaged in an interest-ing group brainstorm session regard-ing the possibilities and pitfalls of mentoring from both the mentor's and mentee's perspectives. Effective mentoring is difficult and somewhat

DIVERSITY continued from page 1 -

time-consuming, admitted the panel-ists, and some panelists suggested that the best mentorships are shorter-term and more intense. The panelists agreed that mentees should identify potential mentors based on ability and position and not feel limited to being mentored by people of a like race or gender.

In parting, each panelist offered a final piece of advice. De La Isla reminded attendees that corporate vision and leadership starts at the top. Mendoza advised students to pursue the job op-

portunities they most desire, whether or not the people currently doing that job "look like" them. Woods recom-mended that job applicants exhibit their willingness to commit themselves to something greater. Keifer counseled students that the path on which one sets out is not necessarily the path on which one ends up. Finally, Boulton encouraged the audience to strive to break through self-imposed barriers to achieve what they can and want to do.

Diversity Symposium moderator Amanda Kiefer, '03 (center).

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Bringing valuable perspectives to legal education.

80% of core business law curriculum is taught by women.

TM

washburnlaw.edu/news/2017/07/WomenInBusiness.html


Create a spotlight on Mark Masters and on Ed Nichols (with photos/descriptions from webpages) re: their activities at Washburn. See: http://www.washburnlaw.edu/news/2017/04/businesscombinations.html (spotlight re: transactional lunch) and http://washburnlaw.edu/news/2016/11/writingawill.html -- but Mark Masters did some other things while there (Amy is going to forward you his agenda).

On February 1, 2017, Joseph Peiffer shared his expertise in bankruptcy and finance at three activities at Washburn Law. During the Transactional Lunch workshop, Peiffer instructed a small group of select students on the process of crafting a case for a client in financial distress. This provided students with the opportunity to see how legal concepts regarding debt and finance apply in the real world of practice, and learn how to develop valuable transactional lawyering skills.

Peiffer also presented the CLE lecture "Common Problems Faced

Spotlight on Guest Speakers

Mark Masters, '82, visited Washburn Law on November 7-8, 2016. He met with several small groups of students to discuss various aspects of trusts and estates law and delivered a guest lecture in Professor Emily Grant's De-cedents' Estates and Trusts and Future Interests course. In addition, Masters presented the Lunch and Learn "12 Things to Have Before Writing a Will." He explained that trusts and estates practice requires educating clients about their situation, and then carefully putting their intent down on paper. The goal is to keep clients out of litigation. Masters told students that trusts and estates prac-tice is an especially rewarding career for many practitioners because attor-neys are able to represent individuals and sell peace of mind. Masters said he rarely has to worry about his clients failing to pay for his services. In fact, they often give him "thank you" gifts! Masters also explained that one challenge in estate planning is that clients typically do not know what they want.

Masters concluded by encouraging students to have confidence in know-ing they can be successful in this area of practice.

Ed Nichols, '72, presented a Transactional Lunch to a small group of students on April 7, 2017. Nichols does significant international work conducting business acquisitions and transactions and has several business interests in the oil and gas industry. He shared many aspects of his practice with the students, introducing them to mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations of small companies. To start, Nichols presented a variety of reasons buyers and sellers choose to merge companies and some of the considerations that affect how they structure the merger. He then walked the students through a letter of intent, which is a combination of binding and non-binding provisions that outline how the companies will accomplish the merger.

NICHOLS DISCUSSES STRUCTURING SECRETS OF BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Nichols also shared a Subscription Agreement, which is used to guarantee that investors understand their investment during private

placement capital formation. Although the lunch only scratched the surface of mergers and acquisitions, it provided students practical exposure to an intriguing legal field. Earlier in the day Nichols visited with law school faculty and staff during a meet and greet breakfast. The students, faculty, and staff all benefitted from Nichols' visit.

Joseph Peiffer

PEIFFER PRESENTS ON DEBT, FINANCES, AND BANKRUPTCY

Ed Nichols, '72

MASTERS SPEAKS ON WILLS

Mark Masters, '82

by Farmers and Ranchers in Difficult Financial Times" on chapter 12 farm bankruptcy issues.

Faculty, students, and administration had the opportunity to meet with Peiffer during a drop-in meet and greet.

WASHBURNLAW.EDU/TRANSACTIONAL 5Rupert: Distinguished Practitioner in Residence

On October 18-20, 2016, Don Rupert, '76, visited Washburn Law as the Cen-ter's Distinguished Practitioner in Resi-dence. With 39-plus years' experience, Rupert has handled more than 100 intellectual property litigation matters in the chemical, consumer products, heavy equipment, pharmaceutical, and computer industries. He has been lead trial counsel in jury and bench trials and lead appellate counsel in intellec-tual property appeals; he also has acted as lead intellectual property attorney in commercial transactions having a cumulative value of over $15 billion. Rupert has handled the prosecution and defense of patent and trademark infringement cases for major manufac-turers of heavy machinery, consumer goods, and sporting equipment; has developed a successful licensing strat-egy for a U.S. company relating to the world-wide distribution and use of dietary supplements; and has acted as an arbitrator in intellectual property and attorney fee disputes.

Don Rupert, '76

On his first day, Rupert presented a Lunch and Learn entitled "Transac-tional Practice Dos and Don'ts." His presentation had a strong intellectual property focus. Earlier that day, Rupert gave a guest lecture in Professor Patricia Judd's class which included a general over-view of intellectual property prac-tice and issues and spent individual time with students outside of the classroom. Rupert was also a guest lecturer for Professor James Devaney in the Patent Prosecution course and

presented "Patent Prosecution and Litigation; Tips, Traps and Tribula-tions or What Happens When Your Patent Gets Litigated." On his second day at Washburn Law, Rupert presented "Writing for Law Practice — A Thoughtful Approach to Writing; Tips and Suggestions" at another Lunch and Learn. His talk covered a broad theme of writing in practice generally rather than a narrow look at transactional drafting. Rupert also attended a small group lunch with Professor Judd and select students. During his third day, Rupert was a guest lecturer in Professor Freddy Sourgens' Arbitration Course, where he discussed, "Using ADR to Resolve Disputes." He also led a small group student meeting in a session entitled "What It Is Like to Practice." The session addressed students' questions, thoughts, or issues related to starting a legal career.

"It's abundantly clear that law enforcement on Wall Street is woefully broken. In the wake of the financial crisis, not one senior bank executive has been held accountable for the pervasive wrongdoing that brought our economy to its knees, undermining confidence in the fairness of our legal system as well as deterrence against future misconduct. The authors confront this troubling reality head on and in stark detail, leading readers into a fulsome debate about what is to be done to restore the rule of law to our financial markets." — Phil Angelides, Chairman, Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (2009-2011)

This is a thought-provoking call for the prosecution of criminal bankers—and investigation into why such prosecution has not yet occurred—from two who should know: Mary Kreiner Ramirez, a former prosecutor for the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and her husband, Steven A. Ramirez, a former SEC enforcement attorney. — Publishers Weekly

Published: The Case for the Corporate Death Penalty

Loyola University Chicago School of Law Professor Steven Ramirez and Washburn Law

Professor Mary Kreiner Ramirez discussed their book, The Case for the Corporate

Death Penalty, on April 10, 2017.LISTEN TO THEIR PODCAST: https://soundcloud.com/21st-show/new-book-the-case-for-the-corporate-death-penalty


2016-17 Center Events

September 9, 2016 - Angel Zimmerman, '06, presented "The Law and Business of Collecting Money in Kansas."

October 24, 2016 - Professor Freddy Sourgens presented "Commercial Mediation Basics: What Lawyers Need to Know."

November 8, 2016 - Mark Masters, '82, presented "Trust and Estates Law." Masters also spent time in small groups with students during a dinner and a breakfast.

November 10, 2016 - Alumni Fellow Natalie Haag, '85, presented "A Legal Career From Criminals and Politicians to CEOs: Selling Your Skills for New Careers."

January 30, 2017 - Dan and Helen Crow presented "Glimpses from Real Estate Practice: Lawyers and Realtors."

February 15, 2017 - Government Legal Careers Forum.

February 16, 2017 - Chris Ott and Mary Munson-Ott discussed their careers in Intellectual Property Law.

March 6, 2017 - Dr. Crenguta Leaua presented "The Inner Workings of the International Court of Arbitration."

March 9, 2017 - Jay Hall, '07, presented a discussion on International Contract Negotiation and Compliance.

March 13, 2017 - Southern Illinois University Professor Ryan Holte presented "Patent Trolls: Why They Are Good, A look Into Entrepreneurship, Large Business, and IP Rights."

April 10, 2017 - Professors Mary and Steven Ramirez presented "The Case for the Corporate Death Penalty." April 19, 2017 - Professor Roger McEowen presented "Top Developments in Ag Law and Taxation in 2016 and a Look at the Future." April 20, 2017 - Judge Elizabeth Paris presented "Practicing before the United States Tax Court."

Angel Zimmerman, '06

Professor Freddy Sourgens

Natalie Haag, '85

Helen and Dan Crow

Dr. Crenguta Leaua

Jay Hall, '07


Future of Labor and Employment LawSYMPOSIUM

Keynote speaker Richard F. Griffin, Jr. Panel 1 Participants

Panel 2 Participants Panel 3 Participants

On February 23, 2017, the Washburn Law Journal, with the Center for Law and Government, hosted "Future of Labor and Employment Law: Power, Policies, and Politics." The symposium brought in experts from across the United States, including keynote speaker Rich-ard R. Griffin, Jr., General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, to explore the many issues surrounding Title VII in relation to sex discrimination and religion and unpaid labor issues. With Congress gridlocked, federal agen-cies are increasingly at the forefront of regulatory change in labor and employ-ment law. Supporters of these adminis-trative initiatives defend them as both necessary and commendable. Meanwhile, critics challenge the form, scope, and substance of these agency actions. This symposium bridged these competing viewpoints across a variety of cutting-

edge labor and employment law issues. The symposium included three panel discussions with nationally recognized experts in the field. The first covered the EEOC's expansion of Title VII to include sexual orientation. Second, experts

The Washburn Intellectual Property Law Society (WIPLS) supports Wash-burn Law students interested in the practice of intellectual property (IP) law, which includes patent, copyright, trade secret, and trademark law. During the last school year, WIPLS hosted sessions on patent law careers, patent trolls, and trademark hot top-ics. Washburn Law also expanded

its intellectual property course offer-ings to include a transactional course focused on trademarks. The new officers for the 2017-18 academic year are brimming with enthusiasm and hope to build on previous years' successes by facilitat-ing networking opportunities with the local intellectual property bar, featur-ing alumni doing interesting work in copyright law, and hosting program-ming on recent Supreme Court cases. The group is also keen to increase the number of IP-focused externships, building relationships with local IP-focused businesses and firms. With

several recent graduates working in the field — from large Kansas City firms to in-house counsel to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office — the time is ripe for growth in IP opportu-nities for Washburn Law students.

Intellectual Property Law Society Activities

Patricia Judd WIPLS Faculty Advisor and Professor of Law

Mary Munson-Ott, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

discussed regulatory expansion and is-sues related to employment discrimina-tion, religious freedom in the workplace, and accommodation. The final panel addressed the "stubborn problem" of unpaid, unregulated, and illegal labor.


Prior to working in the Small Business and Nonprofit Transac-tional Law Clinic, I was confident with my personal business knowl-edge from my previous career, but I was unsure how to apply this knowledge within the legal field to help business clients. The Transactional Clinic provided a fantastic opportunity to apply my past work experience with actual entrepreneurs in need. Over the course of my work for the Clinic, the links between my prior business experiences and my newly acquired legal knowledge became crystal clear. Without this invaluable experience and the superb guidance of Professor Janet Jackson and all the Clinic staff, I would still doubt my abilities to couple the law with real-life busi-ness application. I cannot be more thankful for this fantastic oppor-tunity for professional growth. Scott Bucy, '17

Small Business & Nonprofit Transactional Law ClinicJanet Thompson Jackson Co-Director of the Law Clinic and Professor of Law

washburnlaw.edu/practicalexperience/transactional/clinic

Transactional Clinic Interns

Fall 2016Brett Kvasnicka, Kristina Branstetter, Glen Reynolds,

Carla Schuster, and Erica Bowden

Spring 2017 Cole Bailey, Valerie Desroches, Martin deBoer,

Stephen Young, and Scott Bucy.

The Small Business & Nonprofit Transactional Law Clinic teaches transactional skills to upper-level law students through the representation of small businesses and nonprofit organi-zations in Topeka and the surround-ing area.

Clinic interns engage in challeng-ing client work which may include: drafting and filing business entity formation documents; drafting and negotiating contracts; drafting and reviewing lease agreements; assisting nonprofit corporations with applying for and maintaining federal tax-exempt status; nonprofit governance counseling; and counseling related to intellectual property issues.

Interns also participate in a rigorous classroom component that focuses on substantive law related to business and

nonprofit organizations, as well as eth-ics, general business counseling, and the dynamics of collaborative legal work. As clinic interns develop skills in transactional practice and business counseling, they also serve the legal needs of Kansas businesses and non-profit organizations that cannot afford to hire legal counsel.

In addition to their client and class-room work, Transactional Clinic in-terns prepare and deliver two presenta-tions each semester. The "Legal Issues and Your Small Business" presentation is held in partnership with the Washburn Small Business Develop-ment Center. "How to Form and Maintain 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status" has been certified as a Kansas CLE in partnership with the Kansas Bar Association.

During the 2016-2017 school year, 12 Washburn Law students benefitted from the Transactional Law Clinic ex-perience. All work in the Transaction-al Clinic is done under the supervision of Professor Janet Thompson Jackson.

WASHBURNLAW.EDU/TRANSACTIONAL 9Spring 2017 VITA Clinic

Lori A. McMillan TEPA Faculty Advisor and Professor of Law

More than 25 Washburn Law and Washburn management school stu-dents volunteered 11 of their Saturdays this past spring to assist low-income taxpayers with their tax returns. The Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinic offered by Washburn Law is organized and managed by the Tax and Estate Planning Association (TEPA) under the supervision of Pro-fessor Lori McMillan.

The students were trained and certi-fied to assist in the clinic, providing invaluable assistance in achieving VITA's mission. This year, the students in the VITA clinic put in nine-hour days each Sat-urday and assisted approximately 400 Topeka residents, more than twice as many as last year. The VITA clinic helps low-income taxpayers with federal tax returns as well as state tax returns in numerous

Agriculture and Business LawRoger McEowenKansas Farm Bureau Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation

states (Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Indiana, Utah, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, and Arizona). The students working through the VITA Clinic give back to our commu-nity in a very real sense and provide low-income taxpayers significant, quantifiable benefits. In addition to having the opportunity to serve our community, Washburn Law's student volunteers have the chance to practice client interview and management skills, engage in problem solving, and apply their knowledge of tax law. The VITA clinic is unique in that the students run and organize the clinic themselves, making it the only student-run clinic at Washburn Law.

In 2016, Washburn Law welcomed Roger A. McEowen as the Kansas Farm Bureau Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation. Professor McEowen brings a wealth of experience in agri-cultural law and business to our school and has substantially expanded our curricular offerings in those areas. In his first year, McEowen taught Farm Income Tax; Commercial Trans-actions in Agriculture; Water and the Environment; and Estate and Business Planning for Farm and Ranch Clients. He is also developing an online course in Farm Income Tax. McEowen is a prolific writer and recognized industry expert. He is the author of Principles of Agricultural Law, an 850-page textbook/casebook.

He also authors the monthly publica-tion, "Kansas Farm and Estate Law." He co-authors Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) Tax Management Port-folios on the federal estate tax family-owned business deduction and the re-porting of farm income, and is the lead author of a BNA portfolio concerning the income taxation of cooperatives. McEowen has expanded the school's media presence into heretofore under-explored platforms. For example, he conducts two radio programs (four pro-grams a month) that are heard across the Midwest and on the internet. He is also a frequent guest on Ag Day TV and other Farm Journal media outlets, and he conducts a weekly interview on RFD TV. His blog, the Washburn Ag-ricultural Law and Tax Report, focuses on legal and tax issues that agricultural producers, agricultural businesses, and rural landowners face.

McEowen very frequently teaches con-tinuing education seminars to farmers, agricultural business professionals, lawyers, and other tax professionals — an estimated 80-100 such seminars each year. Adding Professor McEowen and his expertise to the Washburn Law faculty has substantially expanded our abil-ity to train students in some of the unique ways that the U.S. legal and tax systems treat agriculture and expose students to the singular relationship between the farm family and the farm firm. It is particularly apt that Wash-burn Law, located in the heart of the country's agricultural economic zone, be able to offer this level of expertise and specialized legal insight. In ad-dition, commercial agriculture law involves fungible legal principles that are relevant to many other segments of the country's economy.

10WASHBURN LAW - BUSINESS AND TRANSACTIONAL LAW CENTER

WHAT PRACTICAL TRAINING/SKILLS THAT YOU LEARNED IN LAW SCHOOL DO YOU APPLY THE MOST IN YOUR JOB?

DESCRIBE THE TYPE OF LAW THAT YOU PRACTICE.

PROFILE:RECENT

GRADUATES

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU LEARNED IN LAW SCHOOL?

Terence Oben, '11

CEO & Chief Compliance Officer

Oben LegalNew York

My practice is focused on corporate ethics and compliance. As a corporate compliance counsel, I help multinational organizations design, develop, and implement programs and strategies that ensure that decision-making, resource allocation, and business activities are aligned with appropriate ethics and compliance considerations for the organization's circumstances. I design a variety of management mechanisms and tools that organizations use to operationalize legal requirements and integrate ethics into practices that yield superior operating performance.

Learning how to learn in the form of various research and writing exercises is the most practical skill I apply in my career. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in many areas of law, starting with international tax, then to securities litigation, then banking secrecy. My ability to learn entirely new types of regulatory frameworks has allowed me to have a rich diversity of experiences.

Beyond excellent research and communication skills, law school taught me to believe in myself. As a law student, classes were tough, cases didn't always make sense. However, I believe it was designed this way to instil confidence in our abilities to solve tough problems. This has had a tremendous impact in my life and career.

I am part of the in-house legal team at Textron Aviation Inc., in the aerospace and defense industry. I currently hold the title of staff counsel - compliance. I am responsible for the oversight of the legal and regulatory compliance program for Textron Aviation Inc. As a compliance attorney, I dabble in various areas of the law to ensure compliance. I handle matters dealing with anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, anti-trust, employment law, and government contracts.

While practicing law as a legal intern at Washburn Clinic's Small Business and Nonprofit Transactional Law Clinic, I learned a very valuable lesson on understanding exactly why the client sought out legal assistance. As a young attorney, it is very easy to fall into the trap of believing you fully understand the crux of the matter. However, unless you take the time to ask the right questions, you may never fully assist your client in the manner they require.

The most important lesson I learned in law school is being able to think outside the box — the ability to see the grey in every situation and not simply viewing situations as merely black or white. Before law school, I was predisposed to thinking that there was either a right or wrong answer to every question; law school equipped me with the skills that enable me to confidently answer a question with the response "it depends." When a question is answered in this manner, it allows the parties involved to discuss a myriad of solutions which hinge upon varying the substance of the question asked.

Isabella Gichiri, '14

Staff Counsel – Compliance Textron Aviation Wichita, Kansas


EXTERNSHIP BUSINESS PARTNERS

Most State Agencies, Entities, and BoardsBanking Entities and CorporationsChevron U.S.A.Disability Rights CenterEnvironmental Protection AgencyImmigration and Customs EnforcementInternal Revenue ServiceKansas Association of CountiesKansas Association of School Boards Kansas Attorney General's OfficeKansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic ViolenceKansas Corporation Commission Oil and Gas Conservation DivisionKansas Court of Tax Appeals Kansas Department for Children and Families Kansas Department of AgricultureKansas Department of Commerce Kansas Department of Health and Environment Kansas Department of Revenue Kansas Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage ControlKansas Insurance Department Kansas League of Municipalities Kansas Legal ServicesKansas Soybean AssociationKansas State Bankers AssociationLocal Corporations Midwest Innocence ProjectNon-profit Organizations Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner Payless ShoeSourcePrairie Band Potawatomi Court System Regional Federal Agencies Shawnee County Sheriff's OfficeState and Federal Courts Statewide and Nationwide Courts and Prosecutors/Defenders Offices Statewide Board of Indigents' Defense Services Topeka Metropolitan Transit AuthorityYWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment

Placement opportunities vary annually.Non-exhaustive list.

Business and Transactional Law Certificate CERTIFICATE OF CONCENTRATIONStudents who desire to concentrate their elective and extracurricular courses of study in business and transactional law can seek a Certificate in Business and Transactional Law. The Certificate is an acknowledgment by the faculty that the student has successfully completed a focused course of study to expand his or her knowledge in business law while developing essential skills of the transactional lawyer.

With the approval of the certificate advisor, the Certificate can include, when appropriate, a designation stating a particular area of concentration, such as: "Corporate Law," "Real Estate Law," or other descriptive designation.

COURSE OF STUDY A student seeking the Certificate must complete 19 hours of approved coursework in business and transactional subjects, earning a grade point average of at least 3.0 in these classes.

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING To earn the certificate, students must participate in 1,000 minutes of extracurricular programming related to business and transactional law. The programming may be sponsored by the Business and Transactional Law Center or any student organization presenting a program supported by the Center. Organizations include

Washburn's Business Law Society, Intellectual Property Law Society, and Tax and Estate Planning Association. A majority of the minutes must be earned at Center-sponsored programs.

Students may also attend American Bar Association, Kansas Bar Association, or Continuing Legal Education programs in business and transactional law to satisfy the extracurricular requirement.

WRITING REQUIREMENT To earn the Certificate, students must complete the upper-level writing requirement (or equivalent writing project) on a pre-approved business and transactional law topic. They may satisfy the Certificate writing requirement through Directed Research or other writing opportunity approved in advance by the student's Certificate advisor.

LAWYERING EXPERIENCE REQUIREDStudents earning a Business and Transactional Law Certificate must complete a lawyering experience such as the Transactional Law Clinic or an externship that involves a lawyering experience related to business and transactional law.

Business and Transactional Law Certificate administrators, working together with the externship coordinator, will determine whether an externship meets the necessary criteria.


Andrea J. Boyack BTLC Co-Director and Professor of Law ARTICLES IN LAW REVIEWS "Equitably Housing (Almost) Half a

Nation of Renters," 65 Buffalo Law Review 109 (2017).

"A New American Dream for Detroit," 93 University of Detroit Mercy Law Review 573 (2016).

"Cooking Up a Crisis: The Capital-Valuation Connection in U.S. Real Estate Markets," 3 Comparative Law Portuguese-American Perspectives 147 (2016). CHAPTERS IN BOOKS "Banking, Commercial & Contract Law" (chapter 2), Kansas Annual Survey (Kansas Bar Association, 2017) (co-authored with Lori A. McMillan and Amy Deen Westbrook). BLOGS "What the What? Ben Carson to Head HUD!," PrawfsBlawg.com, November 25, 2016.

"Housing Bubble (Toil & Trouble)," PrawfsBlawg.com, November 24, 2016.

"The Divided States of America," PrawfsBlawg.com, November 9, 2016.

"Whitman on Transferring Negotiable Notes," PrawfsBlawg.com, November 3, 2016.

PRESENTATIONS "Prevention or Cure: Comparing European and American Ap-proaches to Consumer Financial Distress," National Business Law Scholars Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 8, 2017.

"Prevention or Cure: Comparing European and American Approaches to Consumer Financial Distress," Midwest Interna-tional Law Annual Conference, Topeka, Kansas, May 1, 2017.

"Prevention or Cure: Comparing European and American Approaches to Consumer Financial Distress," American Society of Comparative Law, Younger Comparativists Committee, Third Annual Workshop on Comparative Business & Financial Law, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, Kansas, February 10-11, 2017.

2016-17 Center Faculty Scholarship and Activities"Limiting the Collective Right to Exclude," Association for Law, Property and Society (ALPS) 8th Annual Meeting, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 20, 2017.

"Sustainable Affordability," Sustainable Housing panel program, Association for Law, Property and Society (ALPS) 8th Annual Meeting, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 19, 2017.

"Sustainable Affordable Housing," Third Annual Sustainability Conference of American Legal Educators, Program on Law and Sustainability, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, May 12, 2017.

"Residential Segregation, Housing Unaffordability, and Neighborhood Decline: The Three-Headed Housing Hellhound," Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska, April 6, 2017.

"Residential Segregation, Housing Unaffordability, and Neighborhood Decline: The Three-Headed Housing Hellhound," Association of American Law Schools, 111th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, January 5, 2017.

"Fee-Only Chapter 13s - Problem or Solution?," American Bankruptcy Institute, 36th Annual Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, September 30, 2016.

Panelist/Discussant, "Has Fair Housing Law Gotten Its Groove Back?," 2016 Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS) Annual Conference, Amelia Island, Florida, August 3, 2016.

Amy Deen Westbrook BTLC Co-Director and Kurt M. Sager Memorial Distinguished Professor of International and Commercial Law

ARTICLES IN LAW REVIEWSUnicorns, Guardians, and the Concentration of the U.S. Equity Markets," (forthcoming 2018, University of Nebraska Law Re-view) (with David Westbrook). Discussed in:

"Westbrook(s) on Concentration in Equity Markets," Legal History Blog, March 14, 2017 (with David A. Westbrook).

"More on the U.S. Private and Public Equity Markets," Business Law Prof Blog, March 13, 2017 (with David A. Westbrook).

"Performance Reviews and Bank Historians," Bloomberg View, March 10, 2017.

WASHBURNLAW.EDU/TRANSACTIONAL 13Emily GrantAssociate Professor of Law ARTICLES IN LAW REVIEWS "Beyond Best Practices: Lessons from Tina Stark About the First Day of Class,"

95 Oregon Law Review 397 (2017). BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS Editor, Kansas Basic Will & Trust Drafting 2nd ed. (Kansas Bar Association, 2017).

PRESENTATIONS "Helicopter Professors," Conference on Positive Lawyering, Mindfulness, and Humane Games, University of Colorado Law School, Boulder, Colorado, June 2, 2017.

"Helicopter Professors," University of Oklahoma College of Law, April 19, 2017.

"Helicopter Professors," Association of American Law Schools Balance Section Topic Call, April 12, 2017.

"Legal Education in 2037," Honourable Wesley E. Brown Inn of Court, Wichita, Kansas, April 18, 2017.

"Legal Writing Concepts and Issues," Kansas Women Attorneys Association conference, CLE session, Lindsborg, Kansas, July 16, 2016.

"Beyond Best Practices: Lessons from Tina Stark about the First Day of School," 17th Biennial Legal Writing Institute Conference, Portland, Oregon, July 11, 2016.

Janet Thompson JacksonProfessor of Law Washburn Law Clinic Co-Director

PRESENTATIONSPanelist, "Voting Rights, Voter Registration,

and Voter Participation," Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, September 20, 2016.

MEDIA Host, "I've Got Issues," KTWU, 2016-2017.

Patricia JuddProfessor of Law

ARTICLES IN LAW REVIEWS "Response: International Intellectual Property Shelters," 91 Tulane Law Review

Online 9 (2017).

"Does the Buck Stop Here? Board Responsibility for FCPA Compliance," 48 University of Toledo Law Review 485 (Spring 2017). "

"The Effects of the 2006 SEC Executive Compensation Disclosure Rules on Managerial Incentives," 12 Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics 241 (2016) (with Reza Espahbodi and Nan Liu).

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS "Banking, Commercial & Contract Law" (chapter 2), Kansas Annual Survey (Kansas Bar Association, 2017) (co-authored with Andrea Boyack and Lori A. McMillan). OTHER PUBLICATIONS "Unicorns, Guardians, and the Concentration of U.S. Equity Markets," The Columbia Law School Blue Sky Blog, March 21, 2017 (with David A. Westbrook).

"Eighth Circuit Affirms Strict Pleading Standard for Shareholder Derivative Lawsuits," 31:26 Washington Legal Foundation Legal Backgrounder, October 14, 2016. PRESENTATIONS "The Corporations Law Part of Corporate Compliance," University of Toledo Law Review Symposium, University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio, October 7, 2016.

MEDIA Quoted, "Legitimacy of Investment Opportunity Presented to Topeka-Area Residents Doubted," The Topeka Capital Journal, May 19, 2017.

Aïda M. Alaka Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (July 2011-June 2017) Professor of Law CHAPTERS IN BOOKS

"Discrimination on the Basis of Disability" Kansas Employment Law Handbook 3rd ed. (Kansas Bar Association, 2016) (edited by Joseph Mastrosimone).

PRESENTATIONS Moderator, "The Stubborn Problem of Unpaid, Unregulated, and Illegal Labor," Future of Labor and Employment Law: Power, Policies, and Politics Symposium, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, February 23, 2017.

"Synthesizing Case Law," Workshop on Law Teaching Techniques and Legal Writing, Georgian Bar Association Training Center, Batumi, Georgia, July 5-6, 2016.

- Scholarship continued on page 14 -


L. Ali Khan Professor of Law

MEDIA Interview, "Escalating Tensions Between

India and Pakistan," Press TV, October 1, 2016.

Interview, "17 Soldiers Killed in Indian Army Base Attack," Press TV, September 18, 2016.

Contributor of legal commentaries, foreign affairs commentar-ies, law, and literature, The Huffington Post, 2016-2017. PRESENTATIONS "How Muslims View the Travel Ban," Washburn University Brown Bag International Lecture, Topeka, Kansas, February 22, 2017.

"Treatment of Shariah and American Muslims under the U.S. Constitution and Laws CLE," Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, September 16, 2016.

Joseph P. MastrosimoneAssociate Dean for Academic Affairs (July 2017-) Professor of Law

ARTICLES IN LAW REVIEWS "Benchslaps," 2017 Utah Law Review 331 (2017).

BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS Editor, Kansas Employment Law Handbook 3rd ed. (Kansas Bar Association, 2016).

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS "Kansas Statutory Fair Employment Laws" Kansas Employ-ment Law Handbook 3rd ed., (Kansas Bar Association, 2016) (edited by Joseph Mastrosimone).

BLOGS "Beyond Bargaining: Consequences Of NLRB's Graduate Stu-dents Decision," The Huffington Post, August 29, 2016.

MEDIA INTERVIEWS Quoted, "Internal Email: Staffing Problem Caused Child Abuse Report Backlog," The Topeka Capital Journal, December 2, 2016.

Quoted, "Advocates Say Jackson County Judge's 'Fifty Shades' Comment Trivializes Rape," The Topeka Capital Journal, Sep-tember 17, 2016.

PRESENTATIONS Keynote Address, "The Policy, Power, and Politics of Labor and Employment Law," Future of Labor and Employment Law: Power, Policies, and Politics Symposium, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, February 23, 2017.

Panelist, "Detangling Labor Law: the NLRB and Religious Edu-cational Institutions," panel on Religious Freedom and Accom-modation Issues Arising from Regulatory Expansions, Future of Labor and Employment Law: Power, Policies, and Politics Sym-posium, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, February 23, 2017.

"Get 'em Writing: The Many Benefits (and Few Detriments) of a First Day Writing Assignment," 17th Biennial Legal Writing Institute Conference, Portland, Oregon, July 11, 2016.

Roger McEowenKansas Farm Bureau Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation

ARTICLES"IRS Issues Guidance on Discharging Estate Tax Liens," Washburn Agricultural Law & Tax Report, (April 27, 2017). "The Small Partnership Exception," Washburn Agricultural Law & Tax Report, (April 17, 2017).

"Employing Children in the Family Farming Business," Washburn Agricultural Law & Tax Report, (March 27, 2017).

"Common Estate Planning Mistakes of Farmers and Ranchers (and others)," Washburn Agricultural Law & Tax Report, (October 3, 2016).

"Agricultural Financing Issues - Distinguishing Between a Capital Lease and an Operating Lease," Washburn Agricultural Law & Tax Report, (June 20, 2016).

BLOGAgricultural Law and Taxation Blog, 2016-2017. PRESENTATIONS "Agricultural Law Update," 2017 Selected Topics and Miscellany CLE, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, June 30, 2017.

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP AND ACTIVITIES BEYOND THE CENTER - continued from page 13 -

WASHBURNLAW.EDU/TRANSACTIONAL 15MEDIA Interview, "The Case for the Corporate Death Penalty," The 21st Show, Illinois Public Radio, February 7, 2017 (with Steven Ramirez).

Interview, "President Obama's Economic Legacy," Your Call, San Francisco Public Radio, January 16, 2017.

Quoted, "A Bank Too Big to Jail," The New York Times, July 15, 2016.

PRESENTATIONS "The Case for the Corporate Death Penalty: Restoring Law and Order to Wall Street," 14th Annual Norman C. Amaker Retreat, Law, Resistance, and Social Justice, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, March 31, 2017.

Panelist, "Women in Academia," Women's Legal Forum and the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, March 14, 2017.

"Criminal Injustice," National ClassCrits 9 Conference, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, October 21-22, 2016.

"Financial Crimes on Wall Street: The Extent of Immunity and the Possibility of Restoring the Rule of Law," Annual Institute for Investor Protection Conference, The New Normal of Financial Fraud: The Role of Lawyers, Regulation and Litigation," Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, October 7, 2016.

"Agricultural Law and Related Tax Issues Update," Washburn Law Out West CLE, Rebein Brothers Trial Lawyers, Dodge City, Kansas, May 11, 2017.

"Top Developments in Ag Law and Taxation in 2016 and a Look to the Future," Washburn Agricultural Law Society, Wash-burn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, April 19, 2017.

"Recent Issues of Interest to Lawyers Representing Clients in Rural Areas," 2017 Spring Oil, Gas & Mineral Law CLE, Kan-sas Bar Association, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas, March 3, 2017.

"Basic Financial Distress Tax Issues" and "The 11 U.S.C. 1222(a)(2)(A) Issue," Common Problems Faced by Farmers and Ranchers in Difficult Financial Times CLE, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, February 1, 2017.

"Ethical Issues of Tax, Estate and Business Planning Practice," Tax Law Practice Ethics CLE, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, December 16, 2016.

"Tax Considerations: Selected Current Tax Topics of Importance to Agricultural Operations," Kansas State University / Washburn University School of Law Inaugural Agribusiness Symposium, Exploring the Business of Agriculture, Kansas Farm Bureau, Manhattan, Kansas, September 20, 2016.

Lori A. McMillanProfessor of Law

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS "Banking, Commercial & Contract Law" (chapter 2), Kansas Annual Survey (Kansas Bar Association, 2017) (co-authored with Andrea Boyack and Amy Deen Westbrook).

PRESENTATIONS "Ethical Practice Before the IRS - IRS Circular 230 Rules Ap-plication," Tax Law Practice Ethics CLE, Washburn University School of Law, Topeka, Kansas, December 16, 2016.

Mary Kreiner RamirezProfessor of Law

BOOKS AND MONOGRAPHS The Case for the Corporate Death

Penalty: Restoring Law and Order on Wall Street (NYU Press, 2017) (co-authored with Steven A. Ramirez).

FOR A COMPLETE FACULTY LISTING VISIT:washburnlaw.edu/facultyscholarship


Amy Deen WestbrookCo-Director, Business and Transactional Law Center, and Kurt M. Sager Memorial Distinguished Professor of International and Commercial Law

[email protected] 785.670.1541

Andrea J. BoyackCo-Director, Business and Transactional Law Center, and Professor of Law

[email protected]

ABOUT US

Washburn Law's Business and Transactional Law Center brings together faculty, alumni, business leaders, and govern-ment officials to provide Washburn Law's students with the opportunity to develop their professional skills. Led by talented and innovative faculty and a distinguished, visionary Board of Advisors, the Center offers programs that enhance students' traditional legal education. Center-sponsored programs include many types of specialized educational and training opportunities designed to teach students the professional skills they must develop to be effective lawyers. Center faculty advise students wishing to obtain one of the four Certificates related to the Center.

Washburn University School of LawBusiness and Transactional Law Center

1700 SW College • Topeka, KS 66221785.670.1541 or 785.670.1664

[email protected]

Student Organization Leadership2016-17 TAX AND ESTATE

PLANNING ASSOCIATION

Vy Nguyen, PresidentKasey Skidmore, Vice President

Mikey Mullen, SecretaryMatthew Adams, Treasurer

Valerie Desroches, VITA Co-ChairDanielle Whitmore, VITA Co-Chair

Professor Lori McMillan, Faculty Advisor

2016 WASHBURN BUSINESS LAW SOCIETY

Devon Glasgow, PresidentBailey Samuel, Vice President

Caleb Hanes, SecretaryAlosha Moore, Treasurer

Joseph Falls, Business LiaisonJoseph Ramirez, Business Liaison

Professors Amy Deen Westbrook and Andrea Boyack, Faculty Advisors

2016-17 WASHBURN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW SOCIETY

Maureen Hannen, PresidentMorgan Simpson, Vice President

Nicole Pottroff, Secretary William Dauster, Treasurer

Professor Patricia Judd, Faculty Advisor

diversity in the corporate sector: co-director, beyond the

Documents