Tax Quarry

On Thursday, February 5, 2015, the New York City Bar Association's Women Lawyers Book Club hosted a session named after the book written by Gindi Eckel Vincent and Mary Bailey Cranston entitled, "Learning to Lead: What Really Works for Women in Law".  

The event moderator Valerie Fitch, Senior Director of Talent Development at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, discussed some of the principles, career strategies and tips for success gleaned from the women legal leaders who were interviewed for the book.   

Valerie's brief, yet enlightening, synopsis of the book was followed by an interactive small groups discussion.  Each of the five small group facilitators, including Jodi Balsam, Associate Professor of Clinical Law and Director of Civil Externship Programs at Brooklyn Law School and chair of the day's program, was asked to help attendees to map out strategies that could be used to develop leadership skills and scope out opportunities to demonstrate leadership within and outside their organizations.

Some of the leadership challenges that were identified included obstacles associated with being an effective leader with limited resources; overcoming perceptions about ability and desire to lead that are based on marital status and parental responsibilities; leading during or after a personal or professional crisis.

The session was very informative.  Not only did attendees get to identify and discuss their personal challenges, but they also benefited from receiving feedback from their peers about potential action steps and solutions for improving their effectiveness as leaders. For example, one participant suggested that a frustrated leader working with limited resources may need to develop a reliable list of external service providers to help with alleviating time and work load pressures at key periods.  Another attendee encouraged a working mother to continue to express her interest in assuming more leadership roles in her office despite the  perception that she would be unable to perform well as a result of her familial commitments.   

In closing out the session, the moderator Valerie Fitch left participants with a few items to ponder in developing their leadership styles and values:

1.  Are leadership styles different for men and women

2.  Do women lead men differently than they lead other women? 

3.  Think about a time that you led well.  What was particularly notable about this experience?

4.  What is the worst thing that you could do as a leader? How can you recover from this?

Learning to Lead: What Really Works for Women in Law is available for purchase on amazon.com.   

NEW YORK, October 21, 2014 – The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) has notified Marsha Henry, International Tax at Deloitte Tax LLP, that she will receive the organization’s 2014 Community Service Award.  CABL will be presenting the award on November 1, 2014 at its Annual Conference & Gala in Toronto, Ontario. 

CABL, formed in March 1996, is a national network of law professionals and individuals committed to reinvesting in the community.  CABL's continuing goal is to bring together law professionals and other interested community members from across Canada to cultivate and build a strong network of African-Canadian legal professionals.  Its upcoming convention in Toronto is expected to draw lawyers from all over Canada and the U.S.  CABL annually honors a lawyer who has made an outstanding contribution to the local or global community.

Ms. Henry received the award for her active involvement and contributions to the National Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.   She is also involved in numerous other activities and community organizations focused on improving opportunities for women and youth from disadvantaged communities.  Ms. Henry also serves as a mentor to high school, college and law students interested in pursuing careers in tax.

Ms. Henry works in the International Tax Group of Deloitte Tax LLP’s New York office.  She works with a team of professionals providing tax advice to multinational corporations involved in complex business transactions both globally and in the U.S., with a particular emphasis on hedge funds, private equity, pharmaceutical, and media and entertainment companies focusing on partnership and corporate tax planning and compliance. 

Ms. Henry earned her Bachelor's degree from York University and Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, both in Toronto, Ontario.  She completed a Master’s degree in Taxation (M. Tax) from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario.  Marsha is also a recent graduate from the Master of Science in Taxation (MST) program at Fordham Graduate School of Business in New York, NY.  She is a licensed attorney in Ontario and New York.

Notable past honoree: The Honourable Mr. Justice Selwyn R. Romilly.

More information about CABL can be found at:  http://www.cabl.ca/

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