The Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers (WAAL) is honored to host attorney Christopher P. Reynolds, General Counsel at Toyota Motor Group Inc. USA, at its annual “VelanDale” Scholarship Award Dinner May 1o at 6 p.m. at the Italian Community Center .
The “VelanDale” Scholarship Award Dinner recognizes the life and legacy of the Honorable Vel Phillips and attorney W. Dale Phillips. The scholarship is awarded to African American law students at Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin . This year’s theme is “A Celebration of Competent, Confident, and Secure Legal Talent,” where WAAL will highlight the exceptional contributions of minority attorneys in Wisconsin ’s corporate legal departments and law firms.
Vel Phillips, a Milwaukee native, was the first African American woman to earn a law degree from the University of Wisconsin. She and her late husband, Dale, partnered in law practice and were active in the civil rights movement. Vel Phillips was the first woman elected to the Milwaukee Common Council, and was the first African-American woman appointed as a Juvenile Court Judge in Branch 13, Milwaukee.
The keynote address will be delivered by Reynolds, who spearheads Toyota Motor Group’s corporate governance. He oversees Toyota ’s legal services and litigation, including product liability, advertising compliance, antitrust, business transactions, dealer relations, environmental issues, intellectual property and strategic initiatives.
Founded in 1988, the Wisconsin Association of African- American Lawyers seeks to ensure diversity in the legal community via educational outreach, interactions with other bar associations and providing law school scholarships. This year’s “VelanDale” event is presented in partnership with WAAL 2012 Diversity Partners: Toyota, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, SC, Gonzalez Saggio Harlan, LLP, and Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP.
Advance tickets can be ordered online for $65 each after April 20 at http://velandale2012.eventbrite.com. For more information about WAAL , please visit http://www.waalweb.com
