Leadership is a privilege and I am extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity to have served as Chair of the Litigation Section this past year. As I prepare to pass the baton, I cannot help but reflect on how much I have learned from the attorneys and judges with whom I have had the honor of working with. These are individuals who are not only at the top of their profession, but committed to upleveling the practice of law in California and empowering others.

The Litigation Section continues to provides outstanding programs and educational materials for litigators and appellate practitioners, including premier programming focused on alternative dispute resolution. The Section also hosts the acclaimed Week in Legal London event where participants are afforded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with UK colleagues at exceptional legal and historic destinations including the Supreme Court, the Old Bailey, Oxford Crown Court, the House of Lords and so much more. This is all done solely through volunteer efforts of some of the finest lawyers and judges in the state. It would take far more than the space allotted here to list them all and so I sincerely thank each of you for all you do.

I have witnessed the evolution of CLA as it becomes a more cohesive and united organization under the guidance of Oyango Snell and Jeremy Evans and, looking back, I stand in awe of what they have accomplished. Terrance Evans, who was recently elected Vice Chair of the Board of Representatives of CLA, continues to move the organization forward in the areas of diversity and inclusion and so much more with his unique combination of humility and passion and I know he will continue to do great things. Last, but certainly not least, I have been incredibly blessed to work with Kristina Robledo, our Section’s Senior Section Manager, this past year and she has truly been the wind beneath my wings and the wings of this Section.

Put simply, I am inspired to be a better human, a better lawyer and a better leader by those who paved the way by their leadership in the Litigation Section (notably Kathleen Brewer, Tom Green and George Wailes) and those with whom I have had the opportunity to serve this past year. I will let my gratitude show though my attempts to live up to the examples of inspired leadership each of you has shown me. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving the Litigation Section.

Respectfully Yours,

Mary McKelvey