The Daily Journal named San Francisco partners Susan Mac Cormac and Stefani Shanberg and San Diego partner Julie Park to its list of 2019 Top Women Lawyers in California. This marks the seventh year for Stefani, the sixth year for Susan, and the first year for Julie.
The annual award series recognizes the successes and victories of women lawyers in the court room and at the negotiating table, as well as their advancements in the legal industry.
Susan spoke to the Daily Journal about her passion for linking her urgent concern for the environment to her deep knowledge of corporate transaction work. She works with clients who are interested in solving the world's biggest problems through innovative businesses and mission-focused investments, and she is an active speaker on climate-related subjects, having most recently participated in the California Public Utility Commission's April 2019 public forum on Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s corporate governance and safety culture following last year's wildfires.
Susan has also advised on a number of news-making late stage investments this year, including SoftBank's tender offers for Uber Technologies Inc. and WeWork Co.
Julie spoke to the Daily Journal about how her technical background has helped her problem solve as a lawyer. She told the publication that it's important to make sure all the pieces fit together as a case progresses so that her clients' goals are reached in alignment with the big picture of their businesses.
Julie also discussed her recent victory for client McKesson, for whom she won a preemption motion in their defense, the first of its kind in California. Julie noted that it was rewarding "to get that outcome for a client that I really value and I have a great relationship with."
Stefani discussed her experience leading teams of talented lawyers on matters for some of the world's largest tech companies, including Amazon.com Inc., Spotify USA Inc. and Symantec Corp. Recently she won a dismissal of patent infringement cases for Spotify during the innovative "Section 101 Day" at a federal courthouse in Delaware and for Symantec based upon improper venue under TC Heartland.
Stefani also discussed her role as a mentor at the firm. "It makes me feel like I've been able to have an impact and make a difference."
Full profiles of Susan, Julie, and Stefani were published in a special edition series that ran on May 8.