Hahn & Hahn Partners Christianne Kerns and Laura Farber Nominated for 2020 Women’s Leadership Awards

Christianne Kerns, managing partner and a member of Hahn & Hahn’s business practice, and Laura Farber, a partner in the firm’s litigation and employment practices, were both selected as nominees for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2020 Women’s Leadership Awards.

This year’s leadership series and awards is a three-part virtual symposium and awards event. With the goal of continuing to engage, inform, educate, and inspire, this year’s panelists will cover topics of ongoing importance.

The Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2020 Women’s Leadership Award winners will be announced on Oct. 21 at the Virtual Keynote and Awards Program.

Kerns is the first female managing partner of the prestigious 121-year-old Pasadena-based law firm, which has transitioned from a historic “old-line firm” into a majority women- and minority-owned firm. She is leading efforts to expand the firm and continue to build upon its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, all while maintaining the firm’s commitment to excellence. 

Kerns has extensive expertise in a wide variety of real estate and commercial transactions, real estate finance and finance workouts, and general business matters. Kerns serves as outside general counsel for many clients and provides advice and guidance for C-Suite executives, boards of directors, and shareholders.  Kerns is uniquely skilled at calmly assessing a wide range of complex data, goals, points of view, and ideas from a wide range of stakeholders to help executive teams create solutions to business challenges.

Kerns sits on the board of directors and is the immediate past board chair of Five Acres, a nonprofit organization that cares for more than 10,000 children at risk and their families, striving for permanent, loving homes for children in Southern California for over 130 years. She also sits on the board of directors for the Hastings Foundation, which established the USC Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research at the USC Keck School of Medicine, and funds pioneering research on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of advanced lung disease.  Kerns was recognized in the Los Angeles Business Journal list of ‘Most Influential Women Attorneys’ in 2018, 2019, and 2020.  

Farber made history as president for the 2019-2020 Tournament of Roses as the first Latina and third woman to serve in that position. Born in Buenos Aires and a native Spanish speaker, Farber brought an important perspective and approach to the role. Farber currently serves as chair of the Rose Bowl Management Committee and will hold that position for the next five years. As a member of Hahn & Hahn’s litigation and employment practice groups, Farber brings and defends claims before all state and federal courts and administrative agencies, at both the trial and appellate levels for general and complex civil matters in a wide range of areas.

Her expertise includes labor and employment claims, business and commercial disputes, and tort and real property matters. Farber also advises clients on labor and employment issues including wage and hour laws, misclassification issues, discrimination and retaliation claims, and employee handbooks.

Farber has been a tremendous leader in a variety of organizations throughout her career. She has been very involved in the American Bar Association (ABA) since 1994, including serving as the delegate for the state of California in the House of Delegates since 2012, and for the last five years, she served as chair of the ABA Latin American and Caribbean Law Council performing rule of law advisory work for the Latin American and Caribbean region. 

The council supports the work of lawyers and others in Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador, Mexico, and Columbia by providing specialized training in a variety of areas, including forensic science to prosecutors, experts, and judges to facilitate the resolution of all types of crimes. In addition, Farber seeks ways to collaborate on anti-corruption efforts, improvement of and transparency in their justice system, human rights support, and access to justice for the underserved and indigenous populations.

Click to register for LABJ’s 2020 Women’s Leadership Awards.