In this issue
GROW THE COMMUNITY
Know Someone Great?
Make the introduction. We’ll take it from there.
Know an administrator, office manager, operations professional, HR leader or legal-management professional who would benefit from ALA? A simple introduction can open the door to new connections, practical resources and a professional community built around the business of law.
YOUR INTRODUCTION PAYS OFF
Earn $100
when their Golden Gate Chapter membership is approved.
You may know exactly who belongs in the room next.
Questions? [email protected]
MEMBER MILESTONES
October Anniversaries
Celebrating the members whose continued involvement helps make our Golden Gate Chapter community stronger.
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Karin Wiborn, CLM |
35 years |
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Jennifer Murov |
16 years |
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Bonnie Larks |
9 years |
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Valerie Fletcher |
4 years |
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Julie Jaer Li |
3 years |
A SPECIAL MILESTONE
Celebrating 35 Years!
A special congratulations to Karin Wiborn, CLM on 35 years as a member of the Golden Gate Chapter.
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR CHAPTER
We’re grateful for the time, connection and experience each of you brings to our community.
| CELEBRATING YOU |
BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION
There’s a Whole Community Behind You
Ask. Share. Learn from people who get it.
Got a question? Chances are, another legal-management professional has faced it too. Exchange ideas, ask for advice, share what’s working and learn from professionals navigating many of the same challenges you are.
TAP INTO THE COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE
Sometimes the best resource is someone who has already been there.
MEMBER REMINDER
Keep Your Membership Information Current
Changed firms? Moved offices? Have a new phone number or email address? Keeping your member profile up to date ensures you continue receiving important ALA and Golden Gate Chapter news, event announcements and member communications.
UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION
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Log in to alanet.org and select My Account → Update Your Member Information. |
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Need help? Email ALA Membership for assistance. |
A current profile helps you stay connected with everything happening in ALA.
MEET THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Your Chapter Leadership
Dedicated volunteers helping guide, strengthen and support the Golden Gate Chapter.
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2026 LEADERSHIP |
PRESIDENT
Ryan Hill
VICE PRESIDENT
Kate Bristol
TREASURER
May Rafanan
VICE TREASURER
Shannon Oliver
SECRETARY
Emilia “Mika” J. Bekkerman
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Yadira Diaz
Questions, ideas or interested in getting involved? Your chapter leaders would love to hear from you.
Thank you to our Business Partners
BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
October Silver Partners
Meet four organizations bringing specialized expertise, resources and support to our Golden Gate Chapter community.
ABA Retirement Funds Program
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Silver Business Partner Supporting the Golden Gate Chapter and legal-management community. |
ABA Retirement Funds Program has provided employer-sponsored retirement plans tailored to the legal community for more than 60 years.
Its fully bundled approach combines plan administration, investment options and fiduciary oversight designed to simplify retirement-plan management for law firms of all sizes.
Patrick Conlon
Regional Vice President
📞 (617) 230-1496
Insperity
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Silver Business Partner Supporting the Golden Gate Chapter and legal-management community. |
Insperity provides scalable HR solutions that combine professional services with technology to help organizations manage the people side of their business.
Its services are designed to provide administrative relief, help reduce employer liabilities and strengthen access to employee benefits while supporting organizational growth.
Monte Bingley
Business Performance Advisor
📞 (925) 268-3111
Kraft Kennedy
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Silver Business Partner Supporting the Golden Gate Chapter and legal-management community. |
Kraft Kennedy specializes in legal technology, providing managed IT and security services to law firms nationwide.
Its services span 24/7 IT support, cybersecurity, infrastructure and desktop design, document and enterprise content management, technology assessments, and AI policies and governance.
Annette Briffa
Marketing and Business Development
📞 (212) 692-5737
Law Tyme, Inc.
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Silver Business Partner Supporting the Golden Gate Chapter and legal-management community. |
Law Tyme, Inc. specializes in placing legal secretaries, paralegals, attorneys and other essential legal support professionals throughout California and Nevada.
With recruiters who have firsthand law-firm experience, Law Tyme provides temporary, temp-to-perm and direct-hire staffing solutions focused on matching the right talent with the right firm.
Melissa A. Carver
President/CEO
📞 (415) 230-5398
WITH APPRECIATION
Thank you to our Silver Business Partners for supporting the programs, resources and connections that strengthen our Chapter.
| PARTNERS IN OUR SUCCESS |
OCTOBER 2026 | First Edition 
Executive Committee Corner
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| Meet Kate Bristol: Leadership, Systems & a Little Adventure |
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Kate Bristol
Vice President & President-Elect | Golden Gate Chapter
Chief Operating Officer | Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld
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Hello, Golden Gate Members! I am honored to introduce myself as your new Vice President and President-Elect. Although I am stepping into the role midway through the board year, I am excited to learn from our current and past leaders, support the work already underway, and prepare to serve the chapter as President in 2027. This opportunity is especially meaningful because San Francisco is home. I grew up here and recently returned after spending much of my career in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara (dreamy, right?!). I currently serve as Chief Operating Officer of Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld, a California workers' compensation firm. My many hats include people operations, finance, technology, compliance, facilities, marketing, client experience, and organizational development and strategy. Over the past several years, I have helped the firm build its management structure, modernize its systems, expand its footprint, and create greater consistency across offices and decentralized teams. I'm looking forward to not just sharing my experience, but learning from the wealth of professional knowledge GGALA has to offer. My path into legal management was not a traditional one. Before joining the legal industry, I spent more than a decade leading complex hospitality and service organizations, including hotels and restaurants with multi-location operations and hundreds of employees. Before THAT, I ran a zoo (yes really, ask me all about it!). These diverse work environments taught me how to balance competing priorities, lead through constant change, and create structure without losing sight of the human experience in a handful of different industries. In addition to my traditional jobs, I have also owned my own boutique event planning business since 2014 and have been fortunate to travel around the world celebrating life's milestone events with couples and corporations alike. Next time you see me, I'd love to hear about the last place you traveled to, and what your favorite thing to eat was! I love trading itineraries and food recommendations. This year, I have had the opportunity to bring my experience to the national stage and contribute to conversations about the future of legal management. At legal tech conference LitiQuest, I presented on how to assimilate AI into your firm's culture. Rather than treating AI as simply another addition to the technology stack, I explored how trust, transparency, empowerment, and thoughtful change management determine whether new tools are embraced or quietly ignored. More recently, I flew to Texas to expand on a workshop I presented at National Conference earlier this year for the ALA Austin Chapter about the relationship between operational friction, workplace culture, and firm sustainability. The central premise was simple: culture is not separate from operations; culture is created by operations. Unclear roles, inconsistent processes, constant urgency, and overreliance on high performers shape the employee experience just as powerfully as any stated core value. Sustainable firms build systems that are clear, repeatable, visible, adaptable, and human. These ideas reflect how I approach leadership. I believe good systems should reduce friction rather than create more of it, technology should support people rather than overwhelm them, and organizations should not require extraordinary effort from employees simply to function.
Outside of work, I enjoy getting into the gym, hiking, exploring San Francisco's restaurants, watercolor painting, and am an avid reader. I look forward to getting to know more of our members, learning what you value most about the chapter, and helping create opportunities for connection, practical education, and professional growth. |
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“Please introduce yourself at an upcoming event. I would genuinely love to meet you!”
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Featured Business Partner
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PARTNERSHIP THAT POWERS OUR COMMUNITY
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Month Spotlight
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OCTOBER FOCUS
Awareness, Well-Being &
A Little Spooky Season A month for recognizing the people and perspectives that strengthen our workplaces, checking in on our well-being and remembering that sometimes a little seasonal fun is good for us, too.
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October gives us plenty to think about—from inclusion and mental health to the different ways people experience and navigate the workplace. It also happens to bring cooler days, changing leaves and a certain holiday at the end of the month. This month’s spotlight mixes meaningful awareness with practical workplace ideas and a little permission to enjoy the season.
ALL MONTH LONG
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National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2026 THEME: CELEBRATING VALUE AND TALENT NDEAM recognizes the skills and contributions of workers with disabilities and encourages workplaces to consider how opportunity, accessibility and supportive practices help people contribute and succeed. Explore 2026 NDEAM resources |
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ADHD Awareness Month October offers an opportunity to learn more about ADHD and the different ways attention, organization, time management and executive functioning can affect everyday life. Better understanding can help replace assumptions with more supportive and effective approaches. Explore ADHD Awareness Month |
A DATE TO RECOGNIZE
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OCT 10 |
World Mental Health Day Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change This year’s theme emphasizes the value of listening to people with lived experience and including their perspectives in the decisions, services and systems that affect them. In the workplace, that can begin with something simple: listening before assuming what support someone needs. Explore World Mental Health Day |
PUT AWARENESS INTO PRACTICE
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Small Changes Can Remove Big Friction Accessibility and inclusion do not always begin with a major initiative. Clear written instructions, predictable processes, accessible documents, thoughtful meeting practices and flexibility in how employees organize or complete work can remove unnecessary barriers for many people—not only those who have disclosed a disability. A useful question for administrators: Where does our workplace create friction that doesn’t actually need to exist? |
AND NOW... A LITTLE SPOOKY SEASON
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Halloween Self-Care Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated October can be busy. Year-end projects are starting to appear, calendars are filling up and somehow the holidays are already around the corner. Consider this your permission slip to make room for something that is simply enjoyable. |
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🎬 Have a "self-scare" spooky movie night Pick a favorite, grab the snacks and let the emails wait. |
🍂 Take a fall walk Step outside without turning the walk into another task to accomplish. |
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🎨 Make something Paint a pumpkin, cook something seasonal or try something creative just because. |
🎧 Build a Halloween playlist Music counts as a mood reset. Bonus points for unapologetically cheesy choices. |
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📱 Go offline for an hour Put down the phone, close the laptop and give your brain fewer things to process. |
☕ Create a cozy reset A warm drink, a book, a blanket and nowhere you are required to be for a little while. |
Self-care doesn’t always have to look serious to be worthwhile.
ONE MORE IMPORTANT DATE...
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OCT 31 |
Happy Halloween! 🎃 Whether your plans involve costumes, trick-or-treaters, scary movies or simply enjoying a quiet night, we hope you find a little time for fun. |
OCTOBER INTENTION
Make room for what restores you. Check in with your people. And don’t forget to have a little fun.
WELL-BEING CAN HAVE A LITTLE FUN, TOO
Upcoming Events
October is a busy one! From conversations about the evolving workplace and cybersecurity to networking, leadership, sports law and a Halloween celebration, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow members and Business Partners throughout the month.
SAVE THE DATES Learn something. Meet someone. Have a little fun. October has plenty in store. View the Full Chapter CalendarSHOW UP • CONNECT • BE PART OF IT
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Job Bank
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CAREER CONNECTIONS Open Positions Explore current opportunities across legal administration, practice support, law firm leadership and legal services. |
Whether you are considering your next career move, building your professional network or know someone who may be a great fit, explore the latest opportunities shared through the ALA Golden Gate Chapter Job Bank.
NEWEST OPPORTUNITIES
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Office Administrator - San Francisco Ballard Spahr LLP Job Posting • Sep. 18, 2026 |
View Ad |
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Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood Werth, LLP Job Posting • Sep. 16, 2026 |
View Ad |
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Office Administrative Coordinator Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Job Posting • Sep. 16, 2026 |
View Ad |
MORE CURRENT OPENINGS
EXPLORE THE CAREER CENTER
Ready for what’s next? Your next professional opportunity may be one click away.
View All Job PostingsYOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY STARTS HERE
Thank you to our Business Partners for their GGALA Chapter Sponsorship
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BUSINESS PARTNER CORNER October Partner Spotlights More of the organizations bringing expertise, innovation and valuable resources to our Golden Gate Chapter community. |
Our Business Partners bring specialized knowledge and resources to nearly every part of legal management. This month’s additional spotlights include organizations supporting legal staffing, AI-powered operations, commercial real estate and managed legal services.
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DIAMOND BUSINESS PARTNER |
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Robert Half LEGAL TALENT SOLUTIONS & CONSULTING Robert Half is a specialized talent solutions firm providing contract, temporary and permanent placement across multiple professional fields. Its legal talent solutions team works with law firms and corporate legal departments to develop scalable staffing and consulting strategies that respond to changing workloads, cost pressures and practice-management needs. Chapter contacts: |
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GOLD BUSINESS PARTNERS |
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Billables AI AI-POWERED LEGAL OPERATIONS & TIME CAPTURE Billables AI is an AI-powered legal operations platform that automatically captures time from everyday workflows across Microsoft, Google, Zoom and other tools. It creates detailed, compliant time entries without relying on start-and-stop timers, helping streamline pre-bill review and improve realization. Chapter contact: Nancy Jeng, Co-Founder Visit Billables AI → |
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Element Professional Staffing LEGAL STAFFING & RECRUITMENT Element Professional Staffing is a direct-hire and contract legal staffing firm with decades of experience connecting clients with legal talent and helping candidates find new career opportunities. Its personalized approach focuses on the quality of each match and building lasting relationships with clients and candidates. Chapter contacts: |
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Hughes Marino COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & TENANT REPRESENTATION Hughes Marino exclusively represents tenants and buyers, helping businesses and law firms navigate real estate decisions and negotiate strategically. Its nationwide team includes tenant representatives, architects, project managers, lease auditors and real estate attorneys. Chapter contacts: |
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Opensity Solutions FORMERLY EPIC MANAGED SERVICES, AUTOMATION & OPERATIONAL ADVISORY Opensity Solutions is a tech-enabled managed services organization serving law firms, financial institutions, professional services firms and corporations. Its integrated operational platforms, automation and advisory services help organizations modernize operating models, reduce costs and support growth. Chapter contact: Denise Ratti, Marketing Operations | Events Manager |
EXPLORE ALL CHAPTER BUSINESS PARTNERS
Need a trusted resource? Our Business Partner community brings expertise across the many areas that keep law firms moving.
View the Business Partner Directory →EXPERTISE THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY
CLM
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Turn your experience into a credential that strengthens your leadership story.
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Articles
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LEGAL MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE Worth Reading This Month Ideas, leadership insights and practical strategies for today’s legal-management professionals. |
Explore recent highlights from Legal Management Magazine, featuring practical insights on marketing, digital visibility, law firm growth, artificial intelligence and leadership.
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MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
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Are You Maximizing Your Marketing Team’s Time? By Erin Brereton |
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How to Best Market Your Law Firm in 2026 By Alex Heshmaty |
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By John Hellerman |
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The New Digital Visibility Stack By Robyn Addis |
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How Regional Firms Can Outrank National Firms in Local Markets By Jordanna Kalkhof |
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AI & INNOVATION |
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LEADERSHIP & GROWTH |
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Reaching the Summit: A Year of Climbing Higher By Travis Armstrong, CLM, CPA |
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Why Most Law Firm Growth Fails — And How Administrators Can Fix It By John Jakovenko |
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By Terry M. Isner |
KEEP READING
More practical insight is waiting in every issue.
Explore the latest articles, columns and industry updates from Legal Management Magazine.
Visit Legal Management MagazineLEARN & LEAD
ALA Code of Ethics
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PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS ALA Code of Ethics Reminder Integrity, responsibility and respect in every professional interaction. |
The ALA Code of Ethics serves as a practical guide for how legal-management professionals show up—with integrity, competence, respect and accountability.
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ETHICAL PRINCIPLES |
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Commitment to the Profession ALA members are encouraged to support the mission of ALA, pursue continuing education, contribute to the credibility of the profession and engage with honesty, fairness, respect, courtesy and collaboration. |
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Responsibility to Our Organizations Ethical legal management includes sound business practices, respectful communication, accurate financial reporting, good judgment, risk awareness and the protection of confidential information. |
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Respect Beyond the Workplace The Code also reminds members to engage with clients, Business Partners, colleagues and the broader community with respect, cultural awareness, tact, sincerity and good citizenship. |
Professional credibility is built through the choices we make every day.
INTEGRITY IN EVERY INTERACTION
Newsletter Archives
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PAST ISSUES & CHAPTER NEWS The Bridge Vault Revisit past issues, catch up on chapter updates and find resources worth saving. |
Missed an issue or want to revisit a favorite? Browse past newsletters for chapter news, member highlights, events, professional resources and updates from across the Golden Gate community.
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Catch Up Anytime From chapter happenings and career resources to Business Partner features and professional development, past issues are only a click away. |
Missed an issue? It is all waiting for you in the archive.
CATCH UP • REVISIT • RECONNECT
ALA's Vision Statement
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ABOUT ALA Purpose, Connection & Community Explore the mission, programs and resources that help guide ALA and support legal-management professionals. |
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Mission Statement ALA is the premier professional association connecting leaders and managers within the legal industry. We provide extensive professional development, collaborative peer communities, strategic operational solutions, and business partner connections empowering our members to lead the business of law. |
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Membership Ambassador Program The goals of the ALA Membership Ambassador Program are to welcome new members, build meaningful connections, provide an immediate peer resource, and help members access ALA benefits and services. Learn more → |
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DEIA Resource Hub ALA is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and recognizes the power of diversity to strengthen the organization through collaboration that values talent, skills, and lived experience. Read full statement → |
LEAD • CONNECT • BELONG
