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Rachel Granfield (Moderator) (Senior Staff Attorney, Public Benefits & LGBTQ+ Advocacy Unit at Legal Services NYC)

Rachel Granfield (Moderator)

Senior Staff Attorney, Public Benefits & LGBTQ+ Advocacy Unit at Legal Services NYC

Rachel W. W. Granfield has worked at Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) since December 2014 and is currently a senior staff attorney with the Public Benefits & LGBTQ+ Advocacy Unit in LSNYC’s Bronx office. Rachel is also active in LSNYC’s union, the Legal Services Staff Association (LSSA), UAW Local 2320. Rachel also worked at Neighborhood Legal Services in Massachusetts and, before law school, in book publishing. Rachel holds a BA from Smith College, an MFA in fiction from Sarah Lawrence College, and a JD from the University of Maryland. Rachel lives in Staten Island, where queer people do in fact exist.

Bendita Cynthia Malakia (Director of Diversity & Engagement, O’Melveny & Myers and Founder, Malakia Group)

Bendita Cynthia Malakia

Director of Diversity & Engagement, O’Melveny & Myers and Founder, Malakia Group

Bendita Cynthia Malakia is a global justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) executive and talent cultivation expert whose aim is to ensure that individuals that are underrepresented, underserved and underestimated can thrive in the workplace. She currently leads diversity & engagement at the global law firm of O’Melveny & Myers.

Bendita is a catalyst for underrepresented colleagues to be their authentic selves in the workplace and helps organizations structure for their success, including working across difference to create community – by building systems, inspiring investment, and fostering connections. With a people-centric, metrics-driven approach, Bendita also leverages her JEDI, leadership development, and executive coaching capabilities to help clients achieve their DEI ambitions.

Bendita draws on her prior experiences as a chief diversity & inclusion officer, a large law firm lawyer financing projects in emerging markets, in-house counsel at two global financial institutions, and as a diversity consultant for large and mid-size organizations, and a certified professional coach to co-create change individually and institutionally.

Bendita's thought leadership and advocacy extend to being a prolific writer and speaker on JEDI in the workplace, with specialized capabilities in intersectionality, women of color and LGBTQ+ issues. She is President of the National LGBTQ+ Bar, and contributes to the development of JEDI more broadly through initiatives bringing metrics and accountability globally. Bendita serves as on the advisory board of Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP) and IILP’s Social Impact Incubator. She also serves as an advisor to a caregiving coaching startup, the Keep Company. Bendita graduated from Harvard Law School, Barnard College and Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Jonathan Sellers (Associate Attorney at Nicoletti, Hornig & Sweeney)

Jonathan Sellers

Associate Attorney at Nicoletti, Hornig & Sweeney

Jonathan Sellers is an associate attorney with the law firm of Nicoletti, Hornig & Sweeney. He practiced extensively in commercial litigation, handling various civil matters involving construction defect, employment practices liability, construction and labor law, professional liability and legal malpractice, property damage, insurance coverage, contractual disputes, entertainment law, and LGBTQ civil rights and employee protections. Jonathan also has trial and appellate experience.

Jonathan is a native of Texas. He is a graduate of Baylor University in Waco, TX. Jonathan graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, TX. Earlier in his practice in Texas, Jonathan worked for a boutique plaintiff’s firm in Texas helping a variety of underserved clients. In 2016, Jonathan moved to Manhattan with his partner and dog. They currently reside in Williamsburg.

Genna Teitelbaum (Court Attorney Referee at NY County Family Court)

Genna Teitelbaum

Court Attorney Referee at NY County Family Court

Genna D. Teitelbaum is a Court Attorney Referee in NY County Family Court, hearing predominantly custody, visitation, and family offense cases for NY families. Prior to becoming a referee in August 2022, Genna was the Director of the Family and Domestic Violence Unit of Staten Island Legal Services. Genna earned her J.D. from NYU School of Law where she was an Editor at the Review of Law and Social Change.