Appleseed Board of Directors
Over the past 30 years, Appleseed has had the honor to host an array of incredibly successful individuals on our board of directors. These individuals’ careers have ranged from heads of fortune 500 companies to partners in prestigious law firms.
Board Co-Chair
Rory Leraris is a partner at Davis Polk, where her practice focuses on M&A-related litigation and also spans securities, shareholder derivative, antitrust and general commercial disputes. She represents clients from a variety of industries, including financial institutions, energy, manufacturing, consumer products, technology and telecommunications. Rory is recognized as a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation and a “Next Generation Partner” in M&A litigation by Legal 500 U.S., which calls out her “impressive track record” in the space. She also has been named a “Rising Star” by Law360 and received an “Americas Rising Star” award from Euromoney Legal Media Group.
Board Co-Chair
Eric Koenig retired as a lawyer in Washington, DC with expertise in litigation, intellectual property law, and nonprofit management. Mr. Koenig worked for Microsoft from 1991-2001 as a senior attorney in the company’s European office in Paris, France. His responsibilities included intellectual property, antitrust, litigation, trade, and management of legal and corporate affairs in Central, Northern and Eastern Europe.
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Board Co-Chair Elect
Daniel Dominguez is Local Co-Chair of the Litigation & Trial Department in the Washington, D.C. office of Latham & Watkins and a partner in the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice. Mr. Dominguez’s practice focuses primarily on white collar defense, internal investigations, and enforcement actions by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He previously served as Associate Counsel to President Barack Obama in the Office of the White House Counsel. Mr. Dominguez also serves as the Co-Vice Chair of the Firm’s Diversity Leadership Committee.
Board Treasurer
Nicholas DeLuca, a Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal Disputes and Investigations in Washington, D.C., brings over 20 years of expertise in analytics and modeling to estimate liabilities in mass torts and multidistrict litigations to the Appleseed Network's Board of Directors. His experience spans various personal injury claims, including asbestos, talc, and groundwater contamination, as well as administering settlement funds and developing compensation algorithms for trust claimants. Prior to joining A&M, Mr. DeLuca held key roles at Ankura Consulting Group and ARPC, and was a consultant at Global Insight.
Board Secretary
Joseph Hoang, founder and Senior Managing Director of Ascendant Solution Group, is based in the Washington, DC area. Mr. Hoang works with a diverse set of clients across the legal, healthcare and private equity industry, providing data and analytics-driven consulting services on matters involving operations, performance, compliance, and investigations.
Immediate Past Co-Chair
Tom McCoy specializes in counseling senior executives and boards of directors at the intersection of high-profile business, legal, regulatory and political challenges and opportunities. With 40 years of experience as a trial lawyer, public company executive and board member, he most recently served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of CH2M Hill Companies, Ltd.
Beverly Allen is the General Counsel, Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary at Inovalon, a technology company that provides cloud-based platforms empowering data-driven healthcare. Previously, Ms. Allen was the Chief Integrity Officer at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., a nationally recognized healthcare provider, and has held various other leadership roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, SRA International, Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Education. She is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, Legal Ethics Committee and a Vice-Chair of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Health Law Network.
Keith J. Benes is a seasoned expert in energy and climate policy, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and international law, with over two decades of professional experience. His extensive background includes providing critical legal advice, directing policy, and managing projects across challenging environments. Keith is highly skilled in developing strategic priorities and gaining support for these policies from political figures, key stakeholders, and donors. His interpersonal abilities have been proven in demanding work conditions, where he successfully navigates complex negotiations and litigations.
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Keith's broad expertise encompasses advising on multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects, negotiating numerous international environmental agreements, including the Paris Climate Agreement, and pioneering the development of net-zero energy housing solutions. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University and an LLM from The London School of Economics and Political Science, credentials that highlight his strong research capabilities and deep understanding of both domestic and international environmental law. Keith’s combination of strategic insight and legal acumen makes him a formidable leader in environmental policy and advocacy.
Mary Benton is the Pro Bono Partner at Alston & Bird, where she spearheads the firm's pro bono vision and community service efforts across its 12 national offices. A veteran in legal practice with over 20 years of experience, Mary initially made her mark in the State & Local Tax Group before transitioning to her current role. She is instrumental in aligning attorneys' skills with meaningful pro bono projects by maintaining strong relationships with nonprofit legal service providers. As chair of the firm-wide pro bono committee, Mary not only encourages participation but also influences policies to strengthen the program's impact. Outside of the office, she exemplifies civic responsibility, dedicating hundreds of hours annually to both pro bono representation and board service for various charitable organizations.
Sharie is a trusted advisor, ethics/compliance thought leader, writer, speaker, former international financial fraud/anti-bribery investigator and M & A due diligence reviewer, and a former law firm partner/ practice group leader representing global companies and organizations. She enjoys mentoring students and young lawyers, serving in leadership and board roles for the DC Bar, the University of Pennsylvania, and other organizations; she also enjoys tennis, travel, and the performing arts. Sharie is married to Daniel Taylor and is the proud mother of Paul Taylor.
John Clancy, shareholder and head of the Energy Strategies and Indian Nations Groups at Godfrey & Kahn, is a seasoned advisor in environmental and energy law. His work spans from financing and developing renewable energy projects to advising tribal nations on energy and environmental initiatives. His environmental expertise includes counsel and litigation in key areas like brownfield redevelopment, waste management, and pollution control, where he assists clients in reducing their environmental impact. Recognized for his adept representation in environmental matters, Clancy was honored with the Leader in Law award for his notable legal achievements, particularly his work with tribal communities on reservation protection and opposition to environmentally detrimental projects.
Mark Durrell, retired Senior Vice President and Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Spire Inc., brings over 30 years of legal and executive expertise in the utilities industry to the board. Throughout his career, Mr. Durrell has demonstrated significant skills in energy law and policy, public utility law, corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, and management. He has served as a senior executive at a Fortune 1000 natural gas holding company, advising the board of directors, CEO, and senior management on crucial legal and business matters. Mr. Durrell is a Georgetown University Law Center alumnus, underscoring his strong legal foundation and professional acumen.
Pete Davis is a civic advocate from Falls Church, Virginia. He is the cofounder of the Democracy Policy Network, a state policy organization focused on raising up ideas that deepen democracy, and the author of Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing.
Lisa Dewey became DLA Piper's first full-time Pro Bono Partner over 20 years ago. Until 2021, Lisa was the director of New Perimeter, DLA Piper's nonprofit affiliate that provides long-term pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world to support access to justice, social and economic development and sound legal institutions with an overarching focus on women’s advancement. She has been a regular speaker at the Pro Bono Institute Annual Conference and has presented at the Equal Justice Conference, the International Bar Association annual meeting, Canadian National Pro Bono Conference, Pyxera's International Corporate Volunteerism Conference, DC Bar Pro Bono Center sessions and at various law schools.
Markus Green serves as Vice President & Assistant General Counsel for Pfizer, Inc., the world’s largest Pharmaceutical Company. At Pfizer, Mr. Green helps lead the Government Litigation Group of the Legal Department. As part of Government Litigation, Mr. Green works with local, state and federal prosecutors both nationally and internationally in an effort to defend Pfizer’s interest in government initiated litigation and investigations. Mr. Green is also responsible for several special initiatives at Pfizer including Civil Justice Reform, managing the Attorney General Outreach Program and handling Congressional Inquiries and Investigations.
Martha Hodgesmith is Kansas Appleseed's representative to the National Board. Martha is a retired Professor at the University of Kansas specializing in laws and policies around disabilities and health-related topics. She also served as the Associate Director of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living
Wenchi Hu is a distinguished attorney with over two decades of expertise in financial regulation, corporate governance, and complex transactions. Her career is marked by significant contributions to the fintech industry, providing innovative solutions for regulatory, compliance, and governance challenges. Ms. Hu has served as an independent public director on the Board of OneChicago, a security futures exchange, and was a member of its Regulatory Oversight Committee. She founded her law firm after a tenure as a financial regulatory partner at Latham & Watkins, LLP, focusing on the intersection of finance and technology. Her extensive experience includes a role as Associate Director at the SEC, overseeing national clearance and settlement system supervision, and senior in-house counsel at Rabobank New York, managing legal matters related to capital markets and derivatives. Starting her career at Cleary Gottlieb in New York, she handled cross-border securities transactions. Currently, she leads Wenchi Hu, PLLC, specializing in fintech, financial regulatory, and corporate transactions, and serves as the Vice Chair of the Broker-Dealer Subcommittee within the DC Bar's Corporation, Finance and Securities Law Community. A frequent speaker and publisher on securities regulations and emerging technologies, Ms. Hu holds degrees from National Taiwan University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Harvard Law School, and UC Berkeley School of Law....
Maka T. Hutson, a partner at Akin Gump, leads the firm’s immigration practice and has over 12 years of experience in the field. She is recognized as an Immigration Trailblazer by the National Law Journal and a Super Lawyer Rising Star in both Southern California and Texas. Ms. Hutson’s expertise includes handling DOJ and DHS visa fraud investigations, immigration compliance, and corporate due diligence in immigration matters. Her practice adeptly integrates litigation with deep substantive knowledge in immigration and international trade law. She is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a frequent speaker at their conferences.
Richard Jerome is a civil rights lawyer and expert in police accountability and currently the Deputy Monitor for the NYPD Stop and Frisk case. He has worked with police departments and community groups to audit police departments, review officer-involved shootings and implement best practices. Jerome has also worked at the Pew Charitable Trusts, helping states advance fiscally sound, data-driven sentencing and corrections policies. From 1997 to 2001, he was Deputy Associate Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice, overseeing the work of the Civil Rights Division and the Community Relations Service, as well as coordinating DOJ’s efforts to promote police integrity.
Katie Joseph is Nebraska Appleseed’s representative to the National Board and a partner at Cline Williams. Her practice focuses primarily on employee benefits and tax-exempt organizations. She is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®. Outside of the office, she enjoys making ceramics and textile art.
Curtis Lu serves as FTI Consulting’s General Counsel and is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Lu is responsible for all FTI Consulting legal affairs and has 20 years’ experience in senior in-house positions in the internet, financial services, media, and wireless industries. He began his career at Latham & Watkins as a litigation partner.
Kevin Kraham, a shareholder at Littler, focuses on labor relations and human resources practices, ensuring they align with and support business plans. With a background that includes litigation and mediation of labor and employment disputes across various forums, Mr. Kraham offers strategic guidance on union avoidance, collective bargaining, and contract administration. His sector expertise spans healthcare, transportation, energy, logistics, and education. A former adjunct professor at Georgetown University, Mr. Kraham also brings educational insights into cross-cultural management and global labor laws. His career began at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, enriching his deep understanding of workplace compliance and labor management relations.
Lena Konanova, a partner at Selendy Gay, has earned recognition as one of the best lawyers under 40 by Crain’s New York Business and Bloomberg Law. She has secured substantial recoveries in commercial litigation matters and upheld constitutional rights for public service clients. Ms. Konanova has extensive experience in complex commercial litigations and arbitrations, specializing in securities, contract, antitrust, insurance, and constitutional law. She has also significantly contributed to public interest and pro bono work, authoring numerous amicus briefs and advocating for civil rights in various high-profile cases. She is a Harvard Law School cum laude graduate and a respected member of several legal and community organizations.
Dr. Shireen Meer is an economist and a Director at the Washington DC office of Berkeley Research Group. She applies rigorous economic analysis to litigation and consulting matters. Dr. Meer has more than 19 years of research, teaching and consulting experience. She is a testifying expert and has submitted multiple expert reports in state and federal courts. Her work has earned her recognition by Who’s Who Legal for four years running. She also has served on arbitration panels for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Alexander Reid, as the National Team Leader of BakerHostetler's Tax-Exempt Organizations and Charitable Giving team, brings a comprehensive expertise in tax, governance, and public policy. His client portfolio spans a wide range of tax-exempt entities, including colleges, universities, health systems, private foundations, cultural institutions, and trade associations. In his role, Mr. Reid often acts as outside general counsel, advising boards and management on planning, structuring, governance, investigations, tax compliance, and transactional matters. He currently chairs the American Bar Association Tax-Exempt Organizations Committee. His past experiences include serving as Legislation Counsel to the Joint Committee on Taxation, where he provided nonpartisan tax policy advice to U.S. Congress members, and as a Fellow at the Office of Tax Policy in the U.S. Department of Treasury, further solidifying his reputation as a skilled and knowledgeable professional in the field....
Leopoldo Hernández Romano is Mexico Appleseed’s Board President & representative to the National Board. He is a distinguished professional based in Mexico City, specializing in advising law firms on strategy, organizational transformation, compensation schemes, and governance. His expertise extends to guiding Iberoamerican and Latin American law firm alliances on strategic positioning. Prior to his current role, Leopoldo was the entrepreneurial force behind HernándezRomano Consultores and served as the Chief Operating Officer for a top New York law firm's Mexican office. Place your additional text here....
He holds a law degree from Panamericana University and an MBA from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, where he also shares his knowledge as a lecturer on International Trade, Arbitration, and Law Firm Management. Furthermore, Leopoldo has played a significant role as the coordinator of the Mexican Bar Association’s Law Firm Management Commission and as a board member, alongside active memberships in the International Bar Association and the ALA chapter Mexico, showcasing his commitment to the legal profession and its development.
David Schrodt is Chicago Appleseed's representative to the National Board and a former attorney at Chapman and Cutler LLP. David counseled bank legal departments and debt capital markets departments on regulatory and legal risk matters and in designing creative, solution-based, risk appropriate financing structures for different credit and loan market segments and for a wide-variety of industries. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Council of Lawyers and serves as pro bono counsel for several organizations.
Thea Sebastian, currently serving as Policy Counsel for Civil Rights Corps, is at the forefront of policy efforts to revolutionize the American criminal-legal system and combat structural inequality. Her career began in education, where, as a Teach for America participant, she taught special education in a South Bronx middle school. This experience exposed her to the complex interplay of race, disability, and poverty as barriers to social advancement. Since then, Ms. Sebastian has dedicated herself to addressing these systemic injustices. Her diverse background includes shaping education policy in Detroit, facilitating White House initiatives to enhance social mobility, and initiating a "Conversation on Race" program at Harvard Law School. Today, she orchestrates nationwide strategies to tackle race-based and wealth-based injustices in the criminal-legal system. Beyond her professional role, she actively engages in voter protection and collaborates with Indigenous Peoples to combat voter suppression, demonstrating her deep commitment to social justice and equity....
James Shadd III, a University of South Carolina School of Law graduate, has been a practicing attorney since 2000, with a focus on personal injury, family law, business representation, and criminal defense. His legal acumen is matched by his dedication to community service, as evidenced by his board membership at the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center and his past involvement with the Richland Library Board. Recognized for his professional contributions, James has also shared his expertise as a presenter at conferences and has been honored in the South Carolina Black Pages.
John A. Shutkin is Massachusetts Appleseed's representative to the National Board. Mr. Shutkin retired as General Counsel of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, a national accounting and consulting firm, in December of 2019. Prior to his time at CliftonLarsonAllen, he served as General Counsel of Shearman & Sterling LLP and spent 18 years with KPMG LLP and KPMG International as a Principal in various legal positions, including General Counsel of KPMG International and Deputy General Counsel of KPMG LLP. Mr. Shutkin serves on the board for the Partnership for Afterschool Education (“PASE”) and also as its General Counsel, and is the Board Chair for the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems.
Marc Sherman is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal Disputes and Investigations in Washington, D.C. He specializes in financial fraud, white collar investigations, compliance and governance, M&A and quantum of damages, and has worked across a broad range of industries. Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Sherman was a global practice leader with a publicly held consulting firm and was National Partner-in-Charge of forensic services, Compliance and Ethics, and Regional Partner-in-Charge of Corporate Transactions and Professional Practice Partner for KPMG.
Annamaria Steward is the first Executive Director of The National Black Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40. Before joining The National Black Lawyers, Annamaria served as the inaugural Director of Leadership and Strategic Development for the D.C. Bar; Associate Dean of Students at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, a public, social justice-focused law school; Associate Attorney at Jack H. Olender & Associates, P.C.; and long-term law clerk for the Chief Judge of D.C. Court of Appeals. Annamaria has actively served on the boards of six local and national legal associations. Notably, she is a former president of the D.C. Bar, the largest unified bar in the country with over 107,000 members; and was the first African-American woman elected president of the voluntary Bar Association of the District of Columbia, a now 149-year-old institution....
Jamie D. Underwood, an affiliate board member representing DC Appleseed, co-leads Latham & Watkins' top-ranked International Trade Commission (ITC) Practice, specializing in global IP litigation strategies. With extensive experience as first chair in resolving Section 337 disputes before the ITC, Customs, and the Federal Circuit, Ms. Underwood has become a go-to expert for clients worldwide. Her practice, informed by handling over 65 ITC actions across various industries, has also seen her recognized as an expert in Section 337-related arbitration. Beyond the ITC, she engages in litigation on IP, antitrust, and complex commercial matters, advising on patent and trade policy issues at the legislative and administrative levels. Active within Latham, Ms. Underwood contributes to the AI Task Force, associate trial training, and previously, the DC Women Enriching Business Committee. Her commitment to pro bono work extends to the District Court and the Supreme Court. Her diverse background includes clerking for the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, working with the DC US Attorney’s Office, the War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and researching for a book on constitutional courts. Internationally, she has lived and studied in Austria, Germany, and Hungary, contributing to her deep understanding of international law. A frequent speaker and author on trade and IP issues, Ms. Underwood has taught Section 337 law at several universities and engaged globally as an NGO delegate at World Trade Organization conferences. She currently co-chairs the Legislative Committee for the ITC Trial Lawyers Association and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, reflecting her esteemed position in the legal community....
Jonathan Walcoff is New York Appleseed’s representative to the National Board. Until his retirement, he was Managing Director & Associate General Counsel of JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he practiced securities, banking and finance law and spent nearly a decade in the Hong Kong and Tokyo offices. He is a member of the Board of Visitors of Columbia Law School.
Founding Member
Robert L. Bachner, Founding Member, is Senior Counsel at Phillips Nizer LLP in New York City, concentrating in real estate and trust and estate matters. Mr. Bachner is also a member of the National Council of the Environmental Defense Fund.
Founding Member
Gail Erickson, a founding member of Appleseed, is engaged in civic and philanthropic activities. She is active in ad on the board of Citizens Union, a leading good government organization in New York City. She is retired from her position as senior ice president, general counsel and secretary of W.R. Grace & Co., a multinational chemical company.
Founding Member
Ralph Nader, Founding Member, first made headlines in 1965 with his book, Unsafe at Any Speed, which documented the production of unsafe vehicles by the auto industry. He is responsible for at least eight major federal consumer protection laws, the recall of millions of defective motor vehicles, and a number of other advances in areas of safety, health, pollution control, access to government, and freedom of information. The largest of the organizations which Mr. Nader founded is Public Citizen.
Founding Member
Ralph Petersberger, Founding Member, is retired from McDermott, Will & Emery’s Washington, DC office, where he specialized in corporate federal tax matters. He now performs legal services for a number of charitable organizations on a pro bono basis. He has served on the board of trustees of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda.
Founding Member
Philip F. Zeidman, Founding Member, is a partner with DLA Piper US LLP Washington, DC, where he specializes in franchise law. He was a lawyer at the Federal Trade Commission, general counsel of the Small Business Administration and special assistant to Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
