Thursday, October 24th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Serena Rwejuna, Partner; Co-Head Energy Markets & Regulatory Practice; Co-Head Global Green Policy, Regulation & Incentives Strategic Specialty Area, will Present on:
Overlooked Skills: Effective Communication, Empathetic Leadership and Executive Management for Lawyers
Lawyers are taught to be effective oral advocates, persuasive writers and strong negotiators, but what is often missing from lawyer training is the skill and art of effective communication and leadership. This presentation will challenge the current training paradigm and explore ways the profession can better equip lawyers to excel in effective communication, empathetic leadership and executive management.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the Capital Area Food Bank, Inc.
Our presenter:
Serena Agaba Rwejuna is strategic and innovative leader with over 15 years of experience in finance, energy, regulation, leadership and law. Serena was honored in 2024 by Oil & Gas Investor/Hart Energy as one of the Most Influential Women in Energy and recognized as a “multifaceted leader with a career described as a masterclass in leadership, dedication and impact.” Serena is a Chambers-ranked entrepreneurial Partner who is formally trained in psychology, business management, public policy and law. Serena has developed a dynamic, multidisciplinary legal practice focused on innovation, value creation, regulatory strategy, risk management, project development and problem solving in highly-regulated, customer-facing, quickly-evolving, and fast-paced industries, with a focus on renewables, energy transition, ESG and sustainability. At the international law firm White & Case LLP where Serena is a practice group leader, her practice focuses on advising clients on commercial, regulatory, compliance, litigation, and enforcement issues. She has experience with a variety of clean energy technologies, including solar, onshore and offshore wind, hydroelectricity, waste-to-energy, and other advanced and evolving energy technologies. Serena counsels developers, sponsors, utilities, independent power producers, pipelines, natural gas distribution companies and other energy industry participants on compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations, cross-border and multijurisdictional regulatory matters, and advises them on project development, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, and state regulatory compliance.
Serena advises clients on proposed energy market transactions and trading strategies to avoid or mitigate enforcement risk from FERC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), state public utility commissions (PUCs), and regional transmission organization (RTO/ISO) market monitors. Serena represents clients before various federal and state agencies while counseling them in high-stakes non-public and public audits, investigations, and enforcement proceedings. Serena serves as Co-Chair for the American Bar Association (ABA) Environmental & Energy Litigation Committee.
Serena also advises clients on a broad range of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), Sustainability, and cutting-edge Energy Transition matters that span the broad universe of pipes and wires, energy security, and net-zero targets.
Prior to Serena's promotion to partner, Chambers USA twice ranked her has an Associate to Watch in Nationwide Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation). Likewise, prior to her promotion to partner, Serena was twice recognized by the Legal 500 as a "Rising Star" in USA Energy Regulation: Conventional Power. Twice, prior to Serena's promotion to partner, she was named by the Best Lawyers In America to the Ones to Watch list. Serena's other legal honors and recognitions include: The National Bar Association Nation's Best Advocates Top 40 Under 40 Award (2023); Chambers USA: Up & Coming (2022, 2023); Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021-2024); Thomson Reuters, Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2017-2024); and the National Black Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 (2020-2024).
Serena was named Energy, Natural Resources and Mining Lawyer of the Year by the Women in Business Law Awards (2023), Rising Star Partner by IFLR1000 North America for Energy: Project Development (2023), and is a Lawdragon Leading U.S. Energy Lawyer (2023-2024).
In addition to her renewables, energy transition and ESG practice, Serena also maintains a robust pro bono practice where she advises non-profit organizations and minority-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs; represents veterans in appeals before the Board of Veteran's Appeals; and leads other advocacy and public policy-focused projects in connection with women's, civil and human rights issues. Serena is an active member of the White & Case Racial Justice Task Force and holds several non-profit Board leadership roles throughout the Washington, DC community. In 2024, Serena was appointed to the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability Board of Advisors and the Duke Fuqua Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE) Advisory Board. Serena is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.