Break into Practice:1L Career Summit

As the first lawyer in her family, the first person from her high school to

attend Princeton University, and a Harvard Law School graduate, Sydney Montgomery (Forbes 30 Under 30) has used her platform since 2012 to help students break down generational barriers and step confidently into their future. 

As the daughter of military and immigrant parents and as a lower-income college student, Sydney battled insecurities, financial challenges, and debilitating chronic illnesses to defy societal labels and expectations. Now, as a TEDx Speaker and Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur Sydney inspires others to believe in themselves, find their voice, and confidently pursue their goals no matter their background or obstacles. Sydney holds a B.A. in English from Princeton University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, a Masters of Theological Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary, a Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from UC Irvine, and a Certificate in Anti-Racism in Urban Education from UNC Charlotte. Sydney is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council and has been featured in Inc., Forbes, US News, Medium, CNBC and others.

Her TEDx talk, “First-Generation Graduates Drive Business Success,” has over 155,000 views.

Liscah Isaboke is the Founder and Managing Partner of Isaboke Law Firm, a Charlotte-based business and intellectual property law practice serving clients locally, nationally, and internationally. A cum laude graduate of both East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University School of Law, Liscah is recognized for her strategic approach to legal problem-solving, blending sharp legal acumen with a deep understanding of business growth.

She has guided entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies through complex transactions, trademark and copyright protection, contract negotiations, and litigation. Her firm’s mission is rooted in empowering business owners to build on a solid legal foundation, protect their intellectual assets, and create generational wealth on their own terms.

Beyond her legal work, Liscah is a speaker and educator, known for translating complex legal concepts into practical, actionable insights for business owners. She has spoken at business expos, youth entrepreneurship programs, and industry events, sharing her expertise on how to structure, protect, and scale a business.

When she’s not advocating for her clients, Liscah invests her time in fellowship, community engagement, and developing resources that make legal protections more accessible to entrepreneurs at every stage of growth.

Larry Gibson is an attorney in Jackson Walker’s Houston office whose practice focuses on corporate and securities matters.

While in law school, Larry served as a student attorney for the Racial Equity in Education Law and Policy Clinic, assisting in drafting legislation focused on reducing police presence in grade schools in the Washington, D.C. area. Larry also worked with Jackson Walker’s Corporate & Securities group as a summer associate in 2021 and 2022, assisting with various business matters including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, venture capital, and name, image, and likeness deals.

Before attending law school, Larry was a ninth-grade math teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, via Teach For America.

Edward A. Vergara is the Co-Head of Seward & Kissel’s Trusts & Estates Practice.

Ed advises individuals, fiduciaries, and closely held businesses on a broad range of issues related to tax optimization and succession planning. His client base consists primarily of founders, executives, fund principals, and other investors and business leaders.

Ed ensures that individual clients have appropriate core estate planning in place as a fundamental starting point for any engagement. Beyond those basics, the primary focus of Ed’s practice is helping client’s maximize efficiency in business transactions, ownership structures, and succession events.

Many of Ed’s clients have cross-border interests and families. He often works with taxpayers acquiring or managing foreign assets or changing residency, including both pre-immigration and expatriation planning for the United States, as well as changes of residency and domicile between U.S. jurisdictions. Ed often coordinates with advisors in multiple jurisdictions to help clients manage tax, reporting and succession issues both in the United States and in the jurisdictions where assets or other stakeholders are located. He also works with fiduciaries and beneficiaries of foreign trusts and foundations managing U.S. tax and reporting considerations.

Khalil Bryant, an associate at Haynes Boone's Houston office, works primarily in the Corporate Practice Group. Specializing in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets, securities, and the cutting-edge areas of digital assets, blockchain, and cryptocurrency, Khalil brings a dynamic approach to legal counsel. His background includes a juris doctorate degree with a Law and Business certificate from Vanderbilt, leadership roles in various school and community organizations, and recognition as the 6th Circuit's Distinguished Law Student by the American College of Bankruptcy in 2022. Khalil's experience and leadership make him a pivotal asset to clients navigating complex corporate landscapes.

Jordan Rosenfeld is a Baltimore-based litigator who serves as the Hiring Partner at Saul Ewing LLP.

Jordan focuses his practice on bet-the-company disputes, as well as litigation of varying sizes in the real estate development space. Through dispositive motions practice, Jordan has eliminated more than a billion dollars of exposure for clients.  

Jordan regularly tries high-stakes cases. He has defeated claims at trial that would have rendered clients insolvent, and he has won multimillion dollar verdicts on the plaintiff’s side.

With over 30 years of investment management experience, Steve Nadel seeks to deliver a practical, solutions-based approach to his clients tailored to their particular needs. His ultimate goal for each engagement is to help drive business success, and not just provide strong legal advice. Through his large network, he is able to source industry trends and intelligence, which he seeks to impart on a real-time basis as part of his process to a wide variety of clients ranging from start-ups to very large, prominent institutions. His personable, highly responsive, pragmatic manner has earned him the reputation of being a “go to” lawyer in the alternative investment management arena.

He advises his clients through all aspects of their business life cycle from inception to growth to maturity on issues including: structure and formation, personnel and compensation situations, marketing and capital raising, strategic initiatives, and regulatory matters.

Steve joined Seward & Kissel in 1997 and became a partner in 2001. He is the lead author of numerous thought leadership pieces produced by the Firm, and is a highly sought after media source and speaker. He is recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and other publications as a leading lawyer in investment management and, in 2022, Steve became just the seventh attorney inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame for hedge funds and alternative investments. The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence.

Lauren R. Jackson is a legacy-focused attorney committed to developing the next generation of social engineers. She currently serves as the Dean of Career Services at Howard University School of Law, her alma mater.

A proud graduate of Howard Law, Lauren also holds a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.P.A. from Seton Hall University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at the Howard University School of Divinity.

Her career spans impactful roles with the Human Services Council of NYC, the NY State Department of Human and Civil Rights, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C., and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She has gained judicial insight through externships and clerkships with the Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson and the Hon. Magali M. Francois.

Lauren is a recognized voice in career development, DEI, and HBCU law school pipeline work. She is active in WALRAA’s Diversity Committee and holds national leadership roles in NALP, including Co-Chair of the Law School Career Chiefs Group, Chair of the HBCU Pipeline Project, and a member of the DEI Steering Committee.

She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Sigma Iota Legal Sorority, Inc., the National Coalition of 100 Black Women - D.C. Chapter, and serves on the board of the Howard Law International Alumni Association.

Jani Tillery is a Chief Attorney at Maryland Legal Aid.  Jani holds a J.D. from Thomas Cooley Law School and a B.A. with Honors in Spanish from North Carolina Central University.  Prior to becoming a Chief Attorney, Jani was the Supervising Attorney at Maryland Center for Legal Assistance in the Montgomery County District Court Help Center.  Before joining Legal Aid,  Jani worked in private practice where she focused on special education law.  Jani also spent ten years at the Children's Law Center in Washington D.C., as a staff attorney and supervising attorney in the medical-legal partnership program.  She specialized in housing, special education, guardianship, SSI, and Medicaid denial cases.  Jani also mentored and trained pro bono attorneys in special education cases.  Earlier in her career, Jani was a victims' rights attorney at Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center representing victims of violent crime at the federal and state level.  As a victims' rights attorney, Jani represented victims in court, participated in appeals and conducted numerous trainings for judges, police officers, and members of the community.  She was awarded the Maryland Governor's Citation and Victim Assistance Award for providing outstanding service to victims of crime.