Meet Nicole Oden

Name: Nicole Oden

Title/Company: Attorney/Owner at Nicole Cheri Oden Law, P.C.

Chapter: Westlake Village, California 

Contact: nicole@nicolecheriodenlaw.com or call (626) 344-8537! 

Q: Tell us about yourself. You're a member of the Westlake Village chapter, where do you live? 

I've been a licensed attorney in California for ten years and have my own boutique virtual law firm – Nicole Cheri Oden Law, PC. Although I’m based in Simi Valley.

I practice settlement-minded family law with a focus on helping couples stay out of court - alternatives to the traditional court divorce process are both beneficial to families and less costly.

I also help online service providers (such as Virtual Assistants, Online Business Managers, Social Media Managers, graphic and website designers, and coaches) protect their online businesses and brands legally with custom contracts and policies (or legal templates that they can customize for their unique businesses) and federal trademark registrations. 

Q: What is one thing everyone should do at least once in their lifetime? 

Definitely, travel! I have a 6-year-old daughter and I love seeing the world through her eyes. My husband and I went to Ireland for our honeymoon. We drove around the country and even got stuck on a roundabout - which was quite an adventure! Now, we want to plan a trip back and bring our daughter this time.

Q: Did you choose your profession, or did it choose you? 

I feel like it chose me. My dad, when I was five or six, told me I would be an attorney because I loved to argue or persuade him to do certain things. It wasn't until my undergrad years when I took a social work class at school that I found my niche in family law to help people.

Q: What goals are you working on now? 

Personally, my goal is to complete a marathon by the end of this year. I got very stagnant during covid, and I'm trying to move my body and prioritize self-care going forward.

Professionally, I'm looking to increase my business by 30%, and hire my mom as my paralegal. My mom just retired last year from the Los Angeles County court system and I would love to bring her on as a support member of my team.

Q: What do you like to do when not working? 

I love to read fiction and some personal development books! It lets me shut my brain off from all the analytical reading and drafting I do on a daily basis. I recently read “Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes and loved it. I love Patricia Briggs, she's my go-to fiction author at the moment.

I also enjoy going out for hikes and being outside in the sunshine and fresh air with my family.

Q: How does your work connect you to The W Source network? 

Before joining The W Source, I was in a different networking group with one of the other Westlake group members. I decided to leave that original group because it felt like an 'old boys' network and honestly, it felt like a total waste of time. I was looking for a group of women that I could connect with. I provide a high-touch experience for my clients and I want to have a rapport with the referral partners I send them to. I’ve been able to build some amazing relationships in The W Source!

Q: What else would you like W Source members to know about you? 

I don’t feel like I fit the traditional attorney stereotype. My tagline is: “When you need access to a top-notch attorney without the stuffy office.” Because I believe legal should be affordable and accessible. 

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Our Mini Member Spotlight series was created for you to meet the many amazing women who make up The W Source®. 

If you are a current member and would like to be nominated for a future spotlight or know someone who could benefit from connecting with The W Source®, please contact us for more information!

Meet Samantha Baldwin and Jessica Phillips

Names: Samantha Baldwin and Jessica Phillips

Title/Company: Attorneys at Law at Maho & Prentice, LLP

Specialty: Personal Injury Representation

Chapter: Santa Barbara, California 

Contact: sbaldwin@sbcalaw.com or jphillips@sbcalaw.com or visit their company website! 

Q: Tell us about yourselves. You are both a part of the Santa Barbara chapter, where do you live?  

Samantha: I live a couple of blocks from the beach in the Mesa neighborhood with my new baby and husband. I am a part of the 1st generation in my Guatemalan family to go to college, let alone obtain a professional credential. My grandmother reached 3rd grade before starting to work. Ultimately supporting her 6 children, including my mother.

Jessica: I live near the rose garden at the Mission. I moved here 2 years ago, but I spent 3 years in Manhattan Beach before that (shout out to the Manhattan Beach Chapter!). I came to California from Baltimore. I have two adorable dogs. I come from a family of helpers. My grandmother was a teacher, my grandfather was a pastor, my mom a social worker, and my dad was a physical therapist. Seeing them dedicated to the people they interacted with made me know that I wanted to help people in the biggest way possible, whatever I did for a living. 

Q: What is one thing everyone should do at least once in their lifetime? 

Samantha: I highly recommend doing a chef’s table menu where you sit in the kitchen and get to interact with people and their art. It can be pricey, but one of the best ways to spend money.

Jessica: I have two! At least once in your life, be sure to have a dog. The second is more adventurey, biking down from the Haleakalā National Park at sunrise on Maui—it’s a can’t miss!

Q: Did you choose your profession, or did it choose you? 

Samantha:  It chose me! I have known one of our partners since right out of high school and while interviewing at other law firms, he brought me in as a law clerk, and I've been there ever since. And now I'm a partner!

Jessica: I actually chose my profession because I saw my family's limitations in their respective fields, for example, bound by rules and regulations as a teacher. I wanted to be in a career where I could do more and have more of a say.

Q: What goals are you working on now? 

Samantha: I'm personally trying to make myself more of a priority, like actually getting on my Peloton. Professionally, things are going really well. A goal of our team is to gain more of a California statewide presence. We want to prioritize seeing if we can help more people outside our local market.

Jessica: I want to solidify my networking relationships in the community. Since I'm relatively new in the community, strengthening the relationships via coffee and lunches is what I hope to do. 

Q: What do you like to do when not working? 

Samantha: l love spending time with family, friends, going on surf trips, and camping!

Jessica: I was really lucky to make a group of friends locally with similar interests. Camping, hiking, beach days and anything on the water are my top picks. Actually, I met one of my closest friends by joining the Santa Barbara chapter of The W Source!

Q: How does your work connect you to The W Source network? 

Samantha: We are honestly so lucky with what we do, despite the dark subject matter. We help people on their worst day - an accident. Someone you love has been hurt either intentionally or because of negligence. The reality is that we help people facing death, loss of limb, physical assault, or sexual assaults. To build relationships with clients from months to multiple years later is the rewarding part. Ultimately, when we walk with clients to the point that they get compensated for what they have been through, it makes it worth the late-night calls and difficult conversations. We wouldn't trade it for the world.

Jessica: I would add, one of the things our partners say is that they love the male and female counterbalances to client conversations and litigation. Our partners both are proud to have Sam and me on the team. They both have daughters and are very supportive of us in everything that we do. Bringing a female voice and empathetic element to a difficult situation allows us to help our clients navigate through those difficult days. 

Regarding The W Source, we're both members of Santa Barbara, CA. The W Source has given us a chance not to be that typical personal injury billboard attorney - but allows us to share who we are as people, what drives us, and what we care about. We know our group and have friendships with trusted resources. Once you're an attorney for one area of a client's life, they come to you for everything, so it's important to have that connection at our fingertips.

We're in other networking situations, so what I find most interesting about The W Source is that it's not just business. There are genuine friendships. I walk into a meeting and it's different from talking about cases or financial markers - we're friends first, and business second. 

Q: What else would you like W Source members to know about you? 

Samantha: Call us if you have a question or know someone who has been hurt. Literally, just call us. One of the best things we do is networking and making connection. If you have any questions, we want to help you! We're also really good at dog questions.

Jessica: Right! We have 4 attorneys at our firm and 6 dogs, but regardless we're here for any questions. We are always happy to have a free consultation any time.

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Our Mini Member Spotlight series was created for you to meet the many amazing women who make up The W Source™. 

If you are a current member and would like to be nominated for a future spotlight or know someone who could benefit from connecting with The W Source™, please contact us for more information!

Meet Keren Birnbaum, Esq.

Name: Keren Birnbaum, Esq.

Title/Company: Partner at Schwartz Ettenger, PLLC

Industry: Estate Planning and Elder Law

Chapter: Long Island New York 

Contact: kb@selawny.com or (631) 777-2401 or visit her website!

Q: Tell us something about yourself, Keren. You are part of the Long Island Chapter. Where do you live? 

A: I live in Queens! I grew up on Long Island, spent a year in Israel between high school and college, then went to Brandeis University in Massachusetts. When I got married, my husband and I settled in Queens and have been there since. We live in a part of Queens with a detached house, grass, and trees. Who would've thought Queens has greenery? I like to call our home "Suburban Living with an NYC Zip Code."

Q: What is one thing everyone should do at least once in their lifetime?

A: Oh, tough one. I'd love to take a trip by myself one day.

Q: Did you choose your profession, or did it choose you?

A: A combination of both. I almost went to Julliard to become a Broadway Actress and Singer instead of Brandeis! When I was in Brandeis I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, so I went to law school - even though I don't love conflict. While I didn't choose to become a lawyer, I did choose my specialty. Trusts and estates is a happy medium that allows me to advocate (and sometimes fight) for my clients while focusing on the practice area's required skills of listening, empathy, and education.

Q: It's the 4th Quarter of 2021. What goal are you working on now?

A: It's pretty simple; between the changing laws, the start of the school year, and everything in between, my goal is to keep all the juggled balls in the air.

Q: What do you like to do when not working?

A: Of course, I love Broadway and the Arts, but it's been hard during COVID19. I’m looking forward to the return of Broadway, which has just begun. I love staying active and spending time with my family. I purchased a Peloton Bike 4 months ago and am loving it. Look me up! My name is "SpecialKGB."

Q:How does your work connect you to The W Source network?

A: As a professional, I believe in the power of educating my clients, especially imparting information to my female clients. As a trusts and estates attorney, I have unfortunately seen many situations in which it would’ve been beneficial for my clients, specifically females, to have been proactive rather than reactive. My goal is to help my clients avoid making any mistakes before it’s too late. Finally, I have three daughters, and I want to leave the world a better place for them, so a women's network really is authentic to me.

Q: What else would you like W Source members to know about you?

A: My favorite part about what I do is hearing people's unique stories. I like really understanding a client's history to help them best. Perhaps it's because my father is a psychologist, I like to bring some of his experience into my work.

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Our Mini Member Spotlight series was created for you to meet the many amazing women who make up The W Source™. 

If you are a current member and would like to be nominated for a future spotlight or know someone who could benefit from connecting with The W Source™, please contact us for more information!