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SUMMARY:Power Players: General Counsels Shaping the DMV’s Sports Landscape
DESCRIPTION:Power Players: General Counsels Shaping the DMV’s Sports Landscape \nMarch 4\, 2025 | Paul Hastings LLP2050 M St NW Washington\, D.C.\n			\n									Click Here to Register\n					 \nJoin us on March 4\, 2025\, for an engaging panel discussion spotlighting women at the forefront of legal leadership in the DMV’s dynamic sports industry. Hosted by Women Business Collaborative (WBC) and Paul Hastings LLP in Washington\, D.C.\, this event celebrates International Women’s Day 2025 and the impactful contributions of leaders shaping the region’s sports landscape. \nFeaturing insights from top legal executives representing the Washington Capitals\, Wizards\, Mystics and Spirit\, the UFL DC Defenders\, and D.C. United\, the event will explore pivotal legal trends\, career journeys\, and the ongoing rise of women’s business leadership in sports. \nEnjoy networking opportunities\, thought-provoking discussion\, and a chance to connect with trailblazing leaders in sports law. Registration is open to WBC members and the public—space is limited. \nThe Agenda \nAll times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) Additional details will be provided as they become available.\n\n\n\n                                                            March 4\, 2025\n                                                    \n\n1:00 pm: Arrival and Registration \n\n1:20 pm: Welcome & Introduction \n\nGwen K. Young\, CEO\, Women Business Collaborative\n\n\n1:30 pm: Panel Discussion \n\nAbby Blomstrom\, Executive Vice President & General Counsel\, Monumental Sports & Entertainment\nShameeka Quallo\, Chief Legal Officer\, Washington Spirit\nJessica Wright\, General Counsel\, D.C. United and DC Power FC\nTara Giunta\, WBC Board Advisor (Moderator)\n\n\n2:05 pm: Audience Q&A \n\n2:15 pm: Closing Remarks \n			\n									Click Here to Register\n					 \nSpeakers\nAbby Blomstrom\nExecutive Vice President & General Counsel\, Monumental Sports & EntertainmentAs Executive Vice President & General Counsel for Monumental Sports & Entertainment\, Abby Blomstrom is responsible for advising senior management on key legal and strategic matters as well as managing all legal matters for the organization’s sports and business operations. \nPrior to joining Monumental Sports & Entertainment\, Blomstrom served as assistant general counsel at AOL Inc.\, where she was the lead attorney for mergers and acquisitions and venture investments and was responsible for corporate legal matters. She earned her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. \nShameeka Quallo\nVice President and Chief Legal Officer\, Washington SpiritShameeka Quallo\, Esq. is the Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Washington Spirit\, where she leads Legal\, Human Resources\, and IT functions\, driving strategic vision and fostering a culture grounded in diversity\, equity\, and inclusion. As a business-savvy legal executive\, Shameeka provides strategic counsel to ownership and leadership on corporate decisions\, contracts\, and policy implications. \nShe is instrumental in negotiating major business contracts and developing policies that ensure compliance and mitigate organizational risk. Her leadership inspires high-performing teams and delivers measurable results. \nBefore joining the Spirit\, Shameeka held key legal and DEI roles across several sports organizations\, including Associate General Counsel and Senior Director of DEI for the Chicago Cubs\, Associate General Counsel and Director of DEI at International Speedway Corporation (motorsports)\, and Associate Counsel for the Ladies Professional Golf Association. In these roles\, she supported critical business initiatives across contract negotiation\, labor and employment\, compliance\, and litigation management. \nPreviously\, Shameeka spent a decade as an auditor with the National Futures Association\, conducting risk-based financial and compliance examinations to maintain market integrity in commodities\, options\, and forex trading. \nBeyond her professional roles\, Shameeka is committed to community service. She is Vice-Chair of the board of USA Weightlifting\, a board member of DC Scores\, and serves on the council of the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club. She formerly served as Board Chair of Junior Achievement of Volusia County and Vice-Chair of Delta House North. \nShameeka is a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority\, Inc.\, and she serves as an arbitrator with FINRA. \nJessica Wright\nGeneral Counsel\, D.C. United\, DC Power FC\, Audi Field and Segra Field \nJessica Wright is General Counsel for multiple entities including D.C. United\, a Major League Soccer team; DC Power FC\, a USL Super League team; Audi Field\, a 20\,000-seat stadium in Washington DC; Segra Field\, a 5\,000-seat stadium in Loudoun County\, VA; the Inova Performance Complex\, a state-of-the-art training facility in Loudoun County that is home to D.C. United\, DC Power FC\, Loudoun United FC\, and the Washington Spirit. \nJessica’s responsibilities include matters related to the teams\, venues\, employees\, new investors\, mergers and acquisitions\, real estate\, and corporate governance across the entire organization. In her current role\, she has worked to bring the XFL back to Audi Field; open the FanDuel Sportsbook at Audi Field; secure four separate front of jersey deals including the first cryptocurrency related front of jersey sponsorship deal in MLS; open and handle the naming rights for the Inova Performance Complex; bring in some of the biggest names in the sport as players and coaches; and secure and execute the 2023 MLS All-Star Game as well as the Broccoli City Festival\, both at Audi Field. \nShe is also currently engaged in building a high-rise residential building with an entertainment venue on the ground floor adjacent to Audi Field\, investigating building another stadium in the DMV\, and creating/obtaining additional franchises. Prior to accepting her current role\, Jessica was an associate attorney at a small firm in Manhattan Beach\, CA where she practiced in the fields of business\, contracts\, intellectual property\, and real estate law. Jessica has been a mediator since 1997 and a trained arbitrator since 2015. \nIn addition to associates degrees in English\, Psychology\, and Transfer Studies\, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Diego State University\, J.D. from Southwestern Law School\, LL.M. in Entertainment and Media Law from Southwestern Law School\, and M.B.A. from California State University\, Monterey Bay. \nTara K. Giunta\nStrategic Risk Advisor\, Governance Expert \nTara K. Giunta recently retired as a partner in the global law firm\, Paul Hastings\, where she was Global Co-Chair\, ESG & Sustainable Finance practice and a member of the firm’s Investigations and White Collar Defense practice\, which is routinely recognized by the Global Investigations Review (GIR) as a leading investigations practice and one of a handful of global “elite” practice groups. Ms. Giunta is a recognized risk\, strategy and compliance expert and advisor to global companies on corporate governance and enterprise risk management. She advises C-suites and boards in identifying and mitigating risks\, developing and enhancing compliance programs\, investigating and remediating wrongdoing and/or internal control weaknesses\, conducting compliance-related due diligence in M&A and other commercial transactions\, and developing reporting and disclosure frameworks. \n																										 \nAbout WBC’s In the Arena Initiative \nWomen Business Collaborative (WBC) is an unprecedented alliance of 85+ partner organizations\, 65+ corporate sponsors and hundreds of business leaders building a movement to achieve equal position\, pay\, and power for all women in business. \nIn the Arena builds a bridge between sports industries and the wider corporate arena\, empowers more women to step into leadership positions and creates a stronger\, more diverse workforce. \nBy being part of WBC’s Women’s Leadership in the Sports Industry Initiative\, your company will be making a strategic investment in the future of business and sports\, building an ecosystem for women to advance into leadership positions in not only the sports industry\, but in all business. \nThrough partnering with WBC\, your organization will be positioned to: \n\nEnhance brand reputation & corporate responsibility\nStrengthen your brand’s association with diversity and athletic excellence\nAttract & retain top women talent with athletic leadership skills\nNetwork with key stakeholders and influence policy & industry change\nBoost financial & cultural performance by supporting women leaders\nBe part of the movement shaping the future of sports & business
URL:https://wbcollaborative.org/wbc-events/power-players-general-counsels-shaping-the-dmvs-sports-landscape/
LOCATION:Paul Hastings LLP\, 2050 M St NW\, Washington\, DC\, United States
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