Laurie N. Robinson receives 2009 Diversity Trailblazer AwardFast-rising attorney committed to diversity and advancement of women attorneys of color

Laurie N. Robinson

By Brandon J. VogelAll it took was a single idea, but

Laurie Robinson of New York (CBSCorporation) has made a difference inthe lives of thousands of women ofcolor.

Robinson is the founder and CEO ofCorporate Counsel Women of Color®,an organization for "in-house" womenattorneys of color to promote theiradvancement and all aspects of globaldiversity in the legal profession andworkplace. Within four years, theorganization's membership has sky-rocketed from 10members to 2,300members.

The Committee on Minorities in theProfession honored Robinson lastnight with the prestigious DiversityTrailblazer Award. The award honorsindividuals who demonstrate a strongcommitment to helping enhance diver-sity in the legal profession. PresidentBernice K. Leber and Lillian M. Moy ofAlbany (Executive Director, Legal AidSociety of Northeastern New York,Inc.), chair of the Committee onMinorities in the Profession, presentedRobinson with the award at theCelebrating Diversity in the Bar recep-tion.

Continued on page 14

14 Annual Meeting 2009 State Bar News

2009 Diversity Trailblazer expanded personalContinued from page 1

Outstanding contributions"At a time when fewer minorities

are entering the legal profession, I con-gratulate Laurie Robinson for provid-ing female attorneys of color with theresources and mentoring to stay in theprofession and make their mark. Heringenuity and efforts have made a pro-found difference in the lives of thou-sands of women attorneys of color,"said Moy. "It is a privilege to honorLaurie for her outstanding contribu-tions to the advancement of minoritiesin the legal profession."

"Receiving this award means somuch to me, especially at the time inour history where this country haselected the first African-American tothe highest office in the land. It signalsthat America is open to giving talentedpeople with diverse backgrounds achance and opportunity. I am optimis-tic that corporate America and thelegal profession will eventually mirrorthe outcome of the historical 2008 elec-tion," said Robinson.

Up-and-comingRobinson recently was promoted to

vice president and assistant general

counsel of CBSCorporation, where shereports directly to the Executive VicePresident and General Counsel, LouisJ. Briskman, and represents more than150radio and television stations inlabor and employment matters.

She graduated from North CarolinaCentral University, magna cum laude,and earned her law degree fromIndiana University School of Law-Bloomington. She initially planned onpracticing environmental law, but dis-covered that labor and employmentlaw was her passion. Upon graduation,she practiced at Epstein Becker &Green, Pc. and Seyfarth Shaw LLP inNew Yorkbefore joining CBSCorporation.

Widely recognized for her legalexpertise and commitment to diversity,Robinson was chosen as one of the "10Up-And-Coming African-AmericanLawyers to Watch" by Diversity & theBar Magazine and as a "Power Broker"by Inside Counsel in its list of the mostinfluential in-house counsel in NorthAmerica. She is a past recipient of the

ew YorkCity Bar's DiversityChampion Award, and was selected asone of "40 Under Forty" by the

! observations into a global organization

Network Journal- BlackProfessionalsand Small Business Magazine.

Corporate Counsel begins"Corporate Counsel Women of

Color® came about as a result of myobservation that diverse lawyers werescattered throughout New YorkCityand, hence, hard to find in aggregate.To remedy the situation, I compiledand self-published a directory that hadpeople's contact names in it so thatdiverse people could reach out toother people with similar back-grounds. It started out with about 10people or so in 2004.It grew in leapsand bounds," said Robinson. "Now in2008, the organization has over 2,300women attorneys of color around theglobe who primarily work for Fortune1000and Forbes 2000legal depart-ments."

In keeping with its global diversi-ty, Corporate Counsel Women ofColor® will travel across the water toAfrica, where it will host its ThirdInternational Career StrategiesSymposium in May. The organizationwill visit schools in Johannesburg,South Africa to encourage young stu-

dents to become lawyers. It also willdonate needed supplies to theschools such as dictionaries, books,rulers, pencils and other neededitems.

Advice to attorneysBy taking what she has learned in

her years as an attorney and CEO,Robinson is invested in shaping thenext generation of attorneys. "Thebest career advice that I received is'add value.' Understand that you donot add value by doing the job thatthe company pays you to do. You addvalue by doing what is not in yourjob description. Sometimes it is thevery small things that are not alreadybeing done that fill a void," saidRobinson.

"Keep developing your skills andkeep developing you. Being able tooffer multifunctional skill sets will pro-vide significant benefits to your com-pany and to your community." •

Vogel is NYSBA's Media Writer.

14 Annual Meeti.ng 2009 State Bar News

2009 Diversity Trailblazer expanded personal observations into a global organizationContinued from page 1

Outstanding contributions"At a time when fewer minorities

are entering the legal profession, I con-gratulate Laurie Robinson for provid-ing female attorneys of color with theresources and mentoring to stay in theprofession and make their mark. Heringenuity and efforts have made a pro-found difference in the lives of thou-sands of women attorneys of color,"said Moy. "It is a privilege to honorLaurie for her outstanding contribu-tions to the advancement of minoritiesin the legal profession."

"Receiving this award means somuch to me, especially at the time inour history where this country haselected the first African-American tothe highest office in the land. It signalsthat America is open to giving talentedpeople with diverse backgrounds achance and opportunity. I am optimis-tic that corporate America and thelegal profession will eventually mirrorthe outcome of the historical 2008 elec-tion," said Robinson.

Up-and-comingRobinson recently was promoted to

vice president and assistant general

counsel of CBS Corporation, where shereports directly to the Executive VicePresident and General Counsel, LouisJ. Briskman, and represents more than150 radio and television stations inlabor and employment matters.

She graduated from North CarolinaCentral University, magna cum laude,and earned her law degree fromIndiana University School of Law-Bloomington. She initially planned onpracticing environmental law, but dis-covered that labor and employmentlaw was her passion. Upon graduation,she practiced at Epstein Becker &Green, P.c. and Seyfarth Shaw LLP inNew York before joining CBSCorporation.

Widely recognized for her legalexpertise and commitment to diversity,Robinson was chosen as one of the "10Up-And -Coming African-AmericanLawyers to Watch" by Diversity & theBar Magazine and as a "Power Broker"by Inside Counsel in its list of the mostinfluential in-house counsel in NorthAmerica. She is a past recipient of theNew York City Bar's DiversityChampion Award, and was selected asone of "40 Under Forty" by the

Network Journal- Black Professionalsand Small Business Magazine.

Corporate Counsel begins"Corporate Counsel Women of

Color® came about as a result of myobservation that diverse lawyers werescattered throughout New York Cityand, hence, hard to find in aggregate.To remedy the situation, I compiledand self-published a directory that hadpeople's contact names in it so thatdiverse people could reach out toother people with similar back-grounds. It started out with about 10people or so in 2004. It grew in leapsand bounds," said Robinson. "Now in2008, the organization has over 2,300women attorneys of color around theglobe who primarily work for Fortune1000 and Forbes 2000 legal depart-ments."

In keeping with its global diversi-ty, Corporate Counsel Women ofColor® will travel across the water toAfrica, where it will host its ThirdInternational Career StrategiesSymposium in May. The organizationwill visit schools in Johannesburg,South Africa to encourage young stu-

dents to become lawyers. It also willdonate needed supplies to theschools such as dictionaries, books,rulers, pencils and other neededitems.

Advice to attorneysBy taking what she has learned in

her years as an attorney and CEO,Robinson is invested in shaping thenext generation of attorneys. "Thebest career advice that I received is'add valu .' Understand that you donot add value by doing th job thatthe company pays you to do. You addvalue by doing what is not in yourjob description. Sometimes it is thevery small things that are not alreadybeing done that fill a void," saidRobinson.

"Keep developing your skills andkeep developing you. Being able tooffer multifunctional skill sets will pro-vide significant benefits to your com-pany and to your community." •

Vogel is NYSBA's Media Writer.