Michelle West
Director of the Transition into Law Practice Program
State Bar of Georgia
Michelle West became Director of the Transition into Law Practice Program for the State Bar of Georgia in November of 2013. Previously, West was founder and owner of M West Legal, LLC, a general practice law firm, that focused primarily on family, juvenile, real estate and immigration law. She has practiced law in Georgia since 2002. Throughout her career, she has worked in various legal settings ranging from large law firm, small firm, nonprofit, public interest, in-house corporate, government sector and solo practice assisting clients with varied and diverse backgrounds. West is a certified mediator in civil, domestic, juvenile delinquency and deprivation/dependency, and domestic violence matters.
West is a staff liaison to the Chief Justice Commission on Professionalism, the State Bar of Georgia Professionalism Committee, the Continuing Lawyer Competency Committee and the Law School Outreach Committee. West has been a member of the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL) since 2008 and has served as: the Gwinnett Chapter vice president and president; chair of the programs committee; and vice president and co-chair of the leadership committee. She has also served on the city of Lilburn Alcohol Review Board, the Partnership Gwinnett Diversity Leadership Council, the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Board, the People’s Center Board, the Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute (GNLI) Growth and Infrastructure Day Planning Committee and the American Immigration Lawyers Association Donation’s Committee. West currently serves on the Board of Foreverfamily, Inc., Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, the city of Lilburn Planning Commission and GAWL.
West received her J.D. from Emory University School of Law and her B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, where she studied International Law, Relations and Organization; receiving a certificate in Latin American studies; and proficiency status in the Spanish language. She attended academic programs in Ecuador, Canada, Italy, Spain and Costa Rica, and taught English at La Escuela Polit?cnica Nacional in Quito, Ecuador, through the World Teach Program. West is a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett, the Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute, the Lilburn Citizen’s Police Academy, the Gwinnett Citizens Academy, the GAWL Leadership Academy, the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA) Judicial and Public Office Academy, and the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy.
West’s past speaking engagements include the GAWL Life in the Law Seminar Series, GAWL Leadership Academy, GABWA Professional Development Academy, Solo and Small Firm Seminar, GAWL New Lawyers Affinity Roundtable and the Family and Immigration Law Seminar. She currently speaks on mentoring and leadership. In her free time, West enjoys time with family and friends, hiking and exploring nature’s magnificent wonders, and traveling the world.
Mark A. Fogg
General Counsel
COPIC Insurance Co.
Mr. Fogg has practiced law in Colorado for 32 years and is currently COPIC’s General Counsel. Prior to joining COPIC, he was a shareholder and former President of Kennedy Childs & Fogg P.C., where he focused on the defense of health care related claims. Mr. Fogg also served as a Chief Deputy District Attorney in the Denver District Attorney’s Office. He is the Past President of the Colorado Bar Association and is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.
He received a bachelor’s degree in Political Philosophy from James Madison College, Michigan State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and earned his law degree from the University of Colorado.
Jayne R. Reardon
Executive Director
Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism
Jayne Reardon is the Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. A tireless advocate for professionalism, Jayne oversees programs and initiatives to increase the civility and professionalism of attorneys and judges, create inclusiveness in the profession, and promote increased service to the public.
Jayne developed the Commission’s successful statewide Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program which focuses on activities designed to explore ethics, professionalism, civility, diversity, and wellness in practice settings. She spearheaded development of an interactive digital and social media platform that connects constituencies through blogs, social networking sites and discussion groups.
A frequent writer and speaker on topics involving the changing practice of law, Jayne asserts that embracing inclusiveness and innovation will ensure that the profession remains relevant and impactful in the future.
Jayne’s prior experience includes many successful years of practice as a trial lawyer, committee work on diversity and recruiting issues, and handling attorney discipline cases as counsel to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Review Board.
Jayne is a member of the Association for Professional Responsibility Lawyers Future of Lawyering Committee and the steering committee of the National Lawyer Mentoring Consortium. She’s active in the ABA Consortium of Professionalism Initiatives, Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, Illinois State Bar Association, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and the Chicago Bar Association. Jayne was past-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Professionalism.
Jayne holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a bachelor’s from the University of Notre Dame. She lives in Park Ridge, Illinois, with her husband and those of her four children who are not otherwise living in college towns and beyond.
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