*DISCLAIMER* Due to technical difficulties portions of the audio for this episode are not of the standard and quality for which Conversate with Akeem D. Earle usually provides. However, this conversation was far too beneficial to not provide to the audience. It is the hope of the Conversate with Akeem D. Earle podcast team that you will still enjoy this episode as the clarity of the content is pure and timely. 

Jerome Crawford, a Detroit native, is the Chief Legal Officer for Pleasantrees, Michigan’s premier cultivator and seller of high-quality Midwest cannabis. This position made him the first Black in-house counsel of a major cannabis manufacturer in the state of Michigan. As a native Detroiter and “Super Spartan,” Crawford graduated Magna Cum Laude as a pre-law student at Michigan State University before earning his Juris Doctor at the MSU College of Law. On a national level, he most recently served as Co-Chair of the “Men of Color Project,” an initiative of the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division that aims to address the lack of diversity and advancement of men of color in the legal profession. In this episode we discuss the nuances of lawyering in the cannabis industry, having locs in the legal field, legal hot takes and more! Let's Conversate!

Kyndall Rodriguez, Esq. was born and raised in Orange County, California. She graduated from UDC-David A. Clarke School of Law and is currently barred to practice in The District of Columbia and the state of Maryland. Presently, Kyndall is a third year associate attorney for an in-house litigation firm that represents a Fortune 50 company. Kyndall’s practice areas include: civil defense litigation, personal injury, and civil negotiation. Kyndall enjoys coaching the mock trial team at her alma mater UDC Law, mentioning, bartending, and making others laugh.

Jovena is an experienced civil litigator. After graduating from Spelman College and UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Jovena worked with a non profit organization in DC advocating for low income tenants in Washington DC in highly contested housing cases. Subsequently, Jovena served as an attorney advisor for the DC government advising high level management on relevant legal issues. Currently, Jovena serves as in house litigation counsel for a Fortune 50 company. Jovena enjoys coaching mock trial, cooking and planning events in her free time. 

In this episode, we discuss how their friendship started in law school, why they decided to become lawyers, whether they prefer Biggie or 2Pac and more! Let’s Conversate!

Krystal Durham is a partner at Williams & Connolly and focuses her practice on commercial and complex civil litigation, white collar defense and investigations, criminal defense, and employment matters.  Krystal has represented corporations, professional firms, and individuals in a variety of business disputes.  Krystal has experience in a range of substantive areas, including professional malpractice, antitrust matters, and securities litigation and has been a member of several trial teams.

Born and raised in northern Virginia, Krystal earned a B.A. in History, with high distinction, from the University of Virginia in 2009.  In 2012, Krystal received her J.D. from Columbia Law School where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar all three years.  While in law school, Krystal served as a Staff Editor on the Columbia Journal of Race and Law and as a judicial extern for Judge Robert P. Patterson Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  Krystal worked at a major New York law firm before joining Williams & Connolly in 2015. Krystal serves as a member of the firm’s Hiring Committee and the Women’s Initiative.

In this episode, we discussed how to move in the legal space as a black woman, her love for family and culture, work ethic and more! Let's Conversate! 

Safie is a multilingual attorney from Benin, West Africa. After obtaining her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, Safie began her career at the Office of the Attorney General in DC and completed a clerkship at the DC Superior Court before moving to Miami in the quest for everlasting summers. She currently practices at a boutique law firm focusing on commercial litigation and real estate matters. Safie is also an entrepreneur and the founder of Gentleman AF, a beard care brand using all natural ingredients @gentlemanafofficial. Out of all the hats she wears, her favorite is being a mom. On this episode we discussed, motherhood, what it means to advocate for yourself, the importance of being in the moment and more! Let's Conversate!

James King is a licensed attorney with years of litigation and trial experience.  His inspirational story is one that will continue to change the world and uplift those who are fortunate enough to hear it! Before he practiced law, Mr. King briefly played professional football. After being falsely accused and convicted of a crime, his passion transferred from athletics to the law. Today he serves as an attorney for indigent individuals, a consultant for practicing attorneys, works on the board of directors for a non profit and travels the country speaking at public events. On this episode, we discussed his story of being falsely accused, his "welcome to law school" moment, his legal hot takes and more! Let's Conversate!

Sellano Simmons is originally from North Dakota but graduated from Howard University School of Law. He started in Big Law doing mergers and acquisitions and now runs his own firm doing criminal defense work in the District of Columbia. Listen in to hear his journey in the legal field, his life outside of the law, networking gems and more! Let's Conversate!