User:Ingensol/sandbox/Laurie Robinson-Haden

Laurie Robinson Haden (born December 14, 1972) is the Founder and CEO of Corporate Counsel Women of Color and a Senior Vice President in the Legal department at ViacomCBS.

Founded in 2004, Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC) is the leading professional community for women lawyers of color. A global organization of more than 4,500 members, Corporate Counsel Women of Color’s annual summit ranks as one of the legal profession’s premier diversity conferences and networking platforms.

The signature event attracts Fortune 500 companies and major law firms and high-profile guest speakers such as Suze Orman; Daymond John; Stedman Graham; Judge Glenda Hatchett; former Securities and Exchange Commissioner Mary Jo White; Judge Marilyn Milian; Susan Taylor; Baroness Rosalind Patricia-Anne Howells of St Davids, and Debra L. Lee, just to name a few. As the chief executive of Corporate Counsel Women of Color, Robinson Haden is widely regarded as a dynamic, visionary diversity champion and leader who has helped to create an influential talent pipeline and network anchored in equity and excellence. CCWC serves as a valuable resource to companies and firms seeking to identify diverse legal talent and expertise in management practices advancing diversity.

A native of Washington, D.C., Robinson Haden grew up in nearby Prince Georges County, Maryland. Academically gifted and community-minded, she excelled in school and was an engaged student leader. Upon finishing high school, she attended North Carolina Central University, part of the esteemed University of North Carolina system. There she earned her B.A. in Political Science in 1994 with the distinction of magna cum laude. She also represented the institution as a student ambassador in the coveted role of Miss North Carolina Central University.

Following college graduation, Robinson Haden attended Mauer School of Law at Indiana University Bloomington where she was the Notes and Comments Editor of the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies. After receiving her J.D., Robinson Haden pursued her career goal of being an employment lawyer, a decision influenced by a pivotal internship with the National Football League and by the career path of her father who passed away during her first year of law school.

Career
Legal

Robinson Haden credits her legal internship in the Labor Management department of the National Football League with sparking her interest in corporate employment law and its intersection with client advocacy and reputational issues. As a law student and intern at the NFL, she authored a groundbreaking article for the Indiana Law Journal titled- Professional Athletes- Held to a Higher Standard and Above the Law: A Comment on High-Profile Criminal Defendants and the Need for States to Establish High-Profile Courts.

Robinson Haden’s article proposed that a specialized judicial forum be created, similar in spirit to Delaware’s Chancery Court or federal Bankruptcy Court, for the litigation of matters involving high-profile defendants from the areas of sports, entertainment and business. Under this new adjudication model, cases would only be heard by judges with specific expertise and training focused on high-profile matters.

The article put Robinson Haden on the map within the legal profession as an innovative thought leader. Firms were drawn to the sophisticated logic and analytical skill that made her a unique and highly desirable legal talent.

She joined the firm of Epstein, Becker & Green, a leading corporate labor and employment firm in New York City and was mentored by the name partner Ronald M. Green, while there. After two years there, she joined the prestigious firm of Seyfarth Shaw where her reputation as an outstanding employment law grew.

This led to her recruitment by legendary media conglomerate CBS Broadcasting Inc., which she joined in 2002. Over the last 17 years at CBS, her professional excellence and success has positioned her to rise through the ranks. She currently holds the title of Senior Vice-President.

Robinson-Haden has also acquired additional professional education during her tenure at ViacomCBS.

In 2012, she completed her certificate in entertainment media management from New York University and certificates in mediation from JAMS and Cornell School Industrial Labor Relations.

Corporate Counsel Women of Color
Recognizing a talent and networking gap within the legal profession, Robinson Haden founded Corporate Counsel Women of Color in 2004. From its inception, women attorneys were drawn to its core mission of fostering diversity in the legal profession. The organization has grown from 10 members to over 4,500 members worldwide with a global impact of 10,000 attorneys.

Robinson Haden is regarded as an inspirational leader and influential in the legal diversity space. CCWC’s summit has become the premier conference of choice for women attorneys. In addition, CCWC connects diverse legal talent to corporate employers through its extensive network and content programming.

As a mentor, connector, and highly-respected change agent, Robinson Haden partners with companies and firms on diversity issues related to recruitment, crisis management, retention and workplace culture.

Awards and Board Appointments
Robinson Haden’s leadership is well-regarded in other arenas as well. She is on the board of directors of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and on the Board of Visitors for Indiana University Mauer School of Law at Bloomington. In addition, the incalculable influence and impact of her contributions has led to her receiving several awards for her tireless diversity work.

In 2014, Robinson Haden was selected as a History Maker in the field of law and awarded the Network Journal’s 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business Award. In 2015, she was named to Savoy magazine’s list of the 2015 Top Influential African-American Lawyers in America. In 2018, she was listed at Savoy magazine’s Influential Black Lawyers List.

She has been honored by the Chambers and Partners In-House Counsel Up & Coming Lawyer of the Year, the National Association of Women Lawyers, the New York State Bar Association as a Diversity Trailblazer, the National Bar Association’s Pinnacle Award, Year. She also been recognized in Ebony Magazine.

Personal Life
Robinson Haden is married and lives in Washington, D.C.with her husband David Haden, Sr. and their son