LFVA On the Move

News & Updates

From LFVA

February 2023 | Law Firm Vendors Association

Select, committed and service-oriented vendors serving the legal community.

In This Issue

President's Message

LFVA Holiday Event at Ciel Social Club

LFVA Member Spotlight

Philanthropy

I’m going to begin my last President’s message to you with some great news. On behalf of the entire LFVA membership, I’m happy to announce that Jessica Maxson has been unanimously elected as new President of the LFVA. Many of you know Jessica from her almost five years at Gensler or her 18 years at SKB Architecture & Design before that. During her time in the LFVA group, Jessica has developed a great reputation for hard work, professionalism, and her ability to build consensus. She is well respected within the group and the membership is excited to have her as our new leader. Please join me in congratulating Jessica on her new role within the LFVA!

I also want to thank Kevin Ward, Annie Malhotra and entire Events Committee for a great event at Ciel Social Club this past November. This was just our second event since the start of the pandemic. The venue was perfect, and the food and drinks were awesome, but the best part of the evening was reconnecting with friends we haven’t seen in a long time. The group was also treated to an uplifting message from the parents of Nikki Ferraro, Founder of Bite Me Cancer and this year’s recipient of the LFVA charity donation. Another special thanks to Lori DiCesare for her role in introducing us to such a worthy cause. Great job everyone and we look forward to our next event in the Spring.

Many of the conversations at our November event focused on how you as individuals, and your firms, are adapting to the new business environment. When asking what firms are experiencing in terms of having staff back in the office, the feedback varies greatly across the spectrum. It seems no one has a complete understanding of what is the best mix for remote and hybrid work schedules. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and passions can run high when asked to make a choice. What runs true in both situations is the best outcome is achieved when we support each other, understanding we all have unique challenges. Our membership thanks you for the support you and your firms have given us as we’ve worked through the pandemic. I look forward to supporting Jessica as she assumes this new role and I am sincerely grateful for the support you have given me during my term as LFVA President.

2022 LFVA Holiday Party

This year the LFVA kicked off the holiday season by hosting their first holiday party since 2019 at Ciel Social Club. As always, it was great seeing old friends and new getting together, enjoying good food and a jubilant atmosphere.

The evening’s festivities commenced in the luxurious penthouse lounge of the modernist AC Hotel near the Washington Convention Center. From the moment of arrival, the elevator doors open to the whimsical, almost celestial Ciel Social Club draped in opulent furnishings. The penthouse boasts nearly 360-degree views of the US Capitol dome, Washington Monument, and downtown DC from the lounge as well as surrounding terrace. 

Executive chef Paul Yellin, a nationally recognized culinary talent profiled in Forbes and the New York Times, wowed with an assortment of small plates. 

The unique craft cocktail menu includes magnificent creations such as French Art Film, which is comprised of House Infused Vanilla, Kettle One, Whey Chinola, Passion Fruit, and Moet. Other, more traditional options feature an Old Fashioned finished with an orange peel and smoked. 

The cocktails were complimented by an assortment of passed hors d’oeuvres, a mezze display and sushi bar.  Channeling flavors from around the world, appetizers included lemon chicken satay, mini crab cakes, garlic beef kabobs, and pita pizza to name a few. The mezze display featured shrimp skewers, chicken teriyaki and pesto vegetables. All were mouthwatering, but the clear star of the evening was the centerpiece sushi bar which included smoked eel and cucumber, tuna and avocado, salmon and asparagus and various vegetarian options. The perfect finish to the incredible menu were the cake pops, key lime pie and whipped mousse chocolate cups.



To all who joined us, those who could not, and those that toasted goodbye, thank you for a wonderful year. May the new year bring you all peace, joy, and happiness. 

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LFVA Member Spotlight

Remembering Paul Maginnis

As one of the original members of LFVA, Paul's energy touched the lives of many within our legal community. His contributions to our group were immeasurable. He brought light and joy to all our events. At our annual holiday party, we took a moment to toast and celebrate his beautiful life.

We asked Paul's daughter Lindsey Maginnis, project manager at CBRE, to share in our newsletter tribute.

"Dad was known for many things. His expertise and un-matched experience in the Commercial Moving Business is what most think of. To his daughters, it was how he was one of the only dads who would wake up early on the weekends to drive the horse trailer to competitions. It was his love for skiing and his ability to beat just about anyone down the mountain. From going to concerts, to golf trips, to family vacations – he was always the life of the party and people gravitated towards him. I can confirm, there was never a dull moment growing up.

I was fortunate enough to have a different type of relationship with my father once I began working in the same industry. After my first project with him, we had a two-hour de-brief on how things went, things I could improve on, and he even made me write a report on lessons learned. Throughout my career, we worked together countless times. Even if it wasn’t his project, I was always calling him to talk through my game plan to make sure I was on the right path.

While life looks like different now and has been a little quieter lately, his legacy is very much alive."

Lindsey Maginnis

Philanthropy

Bite Me Cancer

In 2022 the LFVA was proud and honored to adopt Bite Me Cancer as their charity for the year. Bite Me Cancer Foundation raises money and hosts events to help provide support to teens with cancer and to fund research grants. I invite you to read Nikki Ferraro, Founder of Bite Me Cancer story.

Nikki's Story

Nikki was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer in April 2010 when she was a junior at Chantilly High School in Virginia. From the very beginning, Nikki was determined to leverage her diagnosis for good. Within two weeks of her diagnosis, she formed a Relay for Life team, which she named “Bite Me Cancer” and experienced an outpouring of support and fundraising success. When Nikki decided to create a foundation a few months later, she wanted to continue the legacy of her team’s name; and thus her foundation became Bite Me Cancer.

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Nikki continues to lead Bite Me Cancer. She is not only a survivor, she is an overcomer.

She graduated from high school, graduated from college, and has continued to hold a full-time job. She has taken daily oral chemo since 2014 and lives her life with passion, intention, and fun! For information to donate:  bitemecancer.org

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