LSC is supported and governed by a volunteer board of directors. The board meets quarterly to review LSC’s programs and services, and ensures its fiscal health.
Ann Alpers is the president and CEO of the S.H. Cowell Foundation. Prior to joining the Cowell Foundation in 2005, she was a faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco where she taught health law and medial ethics. She has been a visiting professor at Stanford Law School, St. Louis University Law School and the University of California, Berkeley. In 1999, Ann took a sabbatical to hold public office during which she served in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office as Deputy City Attorney for Health and Human Services.
James Bell currently serves as the Executive Director of the W. Haywood Burns Institute for Juvenile Justice Fairness and Equity. James was a staff attorney at the Youth Law Center for over 20 years. He is a national expert on juvenile justice issues, and joined the Board in January 2002. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Death Penalty Focus, and works closely with Critical Resistance, Asian Pacific Island Law Offices, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Lawyers Committee for Urban Affairs, the National Indian Justice Center and the National Conference of Black Lawyers.
Jeffrey M. Bleich is a partner at Munger, Tolles and Olson, LLP. In addition to his professional practice, Jeff served as the President of the Bar Association of San Francisco in 2003 and was appointed in 1999 by President Clinton to direct the White House Commission on Youth Violence. Mr. Bleich is the Co-Chair of the Lawyer Representatives to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. He is presently a member of the ABA’s Amicus Curiae Committee. Jeff joined the Board in March 2004.
Karen Block is an attorney with over 15 years experience supporting various non-profit organizations as a volunteer, board member and director of development. She joined the Board in January 2002 and has served as the Vice Chair. She is currently working as the Director of Public Relations at Kangaroom Storage. She is involved with the San Francisco MOMA, as a member of the Modern Art Council and Artists Circle Committee. Karen has served on the event committees for events for the San Francisco Parks Conservancy, the New Langton Art Gallery, and the California Academy of Sciences. She also does fundraising work for The Hamlin School in San Francisco.
Ria Burghardt brings to LSC 30 years’ experience in the legal, advocacy, fundraising and program areas of nonprofits globally. Currently, she is the US Director of the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) as their international Development Director. IWPR builds democracy at the frontlines of conflict around the world through the power of free and fair media. Before joining IWPR, she worked for NetAid, an organization that fights global poverty, where she established their fundraising operations and developed the noted Global Action Awards. Prior, Ria spent 8 years at the International Human Rights Law Group fundraising, designing programs and setting up operations for human rights programs in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Earlier, she was a consultant for the New Hampshire Governor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities and a social worker advocating for children in Maine. She also sits on the Boards of Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy in Pakistan, and Rural Women United. She joined the Board in August 1994.
Jahmal T. Davis is a partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP. He represents public and private employers in state and federal employment litigation, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and wage and hour claims. Jahmal also provides preventative advice and training to clients in employment matters. Prior to joining Hanson Bridgett, Jahmal developed substantial trial experience as a staff trial attorney for the Alameda County Public Defender’s office. He also developed a breadth of civil litigation experience, representing public and private sector clients in matters involving health care litigation, commercial disputes and insurance defense.
Donna Furth came to Legal Services for Children some 30 years ago, after a stint working for Chief Justice Rose Bird at the Supreme Court of California. She is now semi-retired, but still represents children in appeals and writ proceedings. She also serves as a director and officer of the Northern California Association of Counsel for Children (NCACC) and Chairperson of the NCACC Amicus Committee. Formerly, she taught juvenile law at the University of San Francisco School of Law and served as a director of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), the National Juvenile Attorney Certification Advisory Board, the San Francisco Education Fund, Enterprise for High School Students, the Chinese-American Bilingual School, and the Furth Family Foundation.
Geoff Howard is the managing partner of Bingham McCutchen’s San Francisco office. He has represented a diverse assortment of communications, technology and distribution companies in intellectual property, antitrust and commercial disputes, and has authored several pieces of state legislation. In 2006, Geoff was chosen as one of the “Top 20 Lawyers under 40” by the Daily Journal, and recognized on Lawdragon.com’s “Lawdragon 500, New Stars New World” list as one of the 500 up-and-coming attorneys in the nation. Geoff has previously volunteered with Legal Services for Children as member of the Law Firm Committee, and has also taken on pro bono guardianship cases. Geoff joined the board in July 2006.
Karen J. Nardi is a partner in Arnold & Porter’s San Francisco office. She counsels clients on a wide range of environmental, health and safety laws and works with companies to manage these liabilities in business transactions. She also represents clients in environmental and OSHA enforcement actions. Starting in 2004, Karen has each year been named a “Super Lawyer” in her field. In 2008, she was named top environmental compliance lawyer in California in a client poll published in GC Magazine. She has a master’s degree in Public Policy and a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. She has volunteered at Legal Services for Children as a pro bono lawyer assisting children and youth in obtaining guardianships for the past twelve years. Karen joined the board in April 2005.
John F. O’Toole is the Director of the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL), a position he has held for the past 27 years. Under his leadership, the Center has built a national reputation for successful advocacy on behalf of poor children nationwide. In 2007, John was appointed to the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Foster Care by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George. John joined the Board in April 1997 and chairs its Development Committee.
Arturo Sanchez is Assistant to the City of Oakland Manager in the Nuisance Enforcement Unit. He previously worked on the staff of Oakland City Council member Jean Quan. Prior to his work with Jean Quan, he was a Staff Attorney at La Raza Centro Legal in San Francisco. He joined the Board in July 2002.
R. James Slaughter is a partner at Keker & Van Nest. His practice focuses on complex civil and white collar criminal litigation. He has tried, arbitrated, and mediated disputes involving commercial contracts, product defects, partnership matters, legal malpractice, accounting malpractice and others. Prior to practicing law Jamie was a political consultant, working on local and statewide campaigns. In addition to Legal Services for Children, Jamie is a member of the Boards of Directors of the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation and the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation.
Elizabeth Butler Steyer worked with Legal Services for Children for twelve years as a Staff Attorney, Managing Attorney, Acting Executive Director and then as the Associate Director. She has an extensive background in youth advocacy and non-profit management. Liz joined the LSC Board in March 2004 and serves as Chair. In addition, she serves on the Board of the Giants Community Fund as the Chair of their Violence Prevention Committee and as the Co-Chair of the John Gardner Fellowship Alumni Board.
Carol Lynn Thompson is an attorney and shareholder at Heller, Ehrman LLP where she leads a complex commercial litigation practice. She has been with Heller since 1994, where she co-chairs the San Francisco Litigation department. Carol Lynn joined the board in April 2005.
Kim Thompson is a principal in PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s Office of the General Counsel. She provides legal advice on a wide range of issues to the firm’s audit and business advisory professionals. Prior to joining PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1999, Kim was a litigator with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Kim joined the board in 2007.
Michael Wald is Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor at Law Emeritus at Stanford University. He rejoined the Board in September 2003. He is recognized nationwide for his expertise in all aspects of children’s advocacy. He has served as the Director of the San Francisco Department of Human Services and as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services for the Clinton Administration.
Christopher N. Wu was formerly the Executive Director of Legal Services for Children. He is a Supervising Attorney at the California Administrative Office of the Courts, Center for Families, Children & the Courts and serves as the Executive Director of the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care. He is the Board Secretary and joined the LSC Board in September 1996. He is Past Chair of the Board of the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), is on the board of the National Center for Youth Law, and is President of the Northern California Association of Counsel for Children.
