Christian Abasto 
Legal Advocacy Unit Director, Disability Rights California
What made you interested in becoming a member of the OneJustice Board of Directors?
I participated in your Executive Fellowship Program many years ago. I helped shape me a leader and a manager and is part of my foundation that lead to me being the legal director at DRC. I love the program and try to send staff to the program every year.
What is your professional role and how do you hope to use your perspective in your work with OneJustice?
Legal Director at a Disability Rights Organization and longtime legal services lawyer. I have developed substantial expertise on disability justice, race equity, DEI issues, etc. I am hoping that my extensive background will help one justice as it adapts and grows in a post pandemic world.
What would you like to accomplish as a Board member?
Help the organization develop a clear mission and vision and support Phil in any way that I can.
Tell us about yourself – any interesting facts or what do you like to do for fun?
I like to stay active and fit. I do a lot of weight lifting. I am a foodie and a gin drinker. I also like getting tattoos.
Ben Adams
Vice President, Chief Commercial and IP Counsel, PayPal
What made you interested in becoming a Board member for OneJustice?
I have had the chance to work with OneJustice as a volunteer, as well as sponsoring an Equal justice Works fellow who spent the last 2 years working with OneJustice. I am committed to service and am excited to support the work and mission of OneJustice.
What is your professional role and how do you hope to use your perspective?
I’m a senior leader in PayPal and within the PayPal legal department I serve as our Chief Commercial and IP Counsel and lead our global legal pro bono efforts and have recently begun working on a mission to expand skills based volunteering more broadly across PayPal. I also bring a unique global perspective having spent much of my professional career outside of the US, having lived and worked in places as varied as India, Finland, England and Cameroon.
What would you like to accomplish a member of the Board of Directors?
I’m keen to help challenge the status quo and understand not only how we can best manage thru the current challenges facing the OneJustice community, but also understand how we can take the lessons learned and leverage new practices to make OneJustice stronger and even more impactful for the longer term.
Tell us about yourself -any interesting facts or what do you like to do for fun?
I served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon, Central Africa from 1994-1997 and that experience is foundational to my service mindset. I had the great fortune to marry an amazing person (Elizabeth) that has been up for a life of adventure and we have 3 wonderful daughters (14, 16 and 18) that do their best to keep us on our toes. For relaxation, I love to get outside and you can regularly find me exploring the wilds of California, whether it’s biking, hiking, skiing or surfing…I love it all.
Cindy Pánuco
Vice President and Chief Program Officer, Public Counsel
What made you interested in becoming a member of the OneJustice Board of Directors?
As someone who is new to legal services, but not to systems change work, I was interested in the cutting edge initiatives to increase the capacity of legal services providers across the state. At a time when those already living at the margins are surviving through the worst economic and health crisis of our generation, the work of One Justice to support the legal aid attorneys who are on the front lines is more critical than ever.
What is your professional role and how do you hope to use your perspective in your work with OneJustice?
I am the Vice President and Chief Program Officer of Public Counsel – the nation’s largest pro bono law firm. I am also the daughter of low-income immigrants from Mexico. Because of my own background, and the socio-economic status of my family, all of the wok of Public Counsel is personal to me. I hope to bring my perspective coming from the client community, and as a leader with knowledge of on the ground issues to guide the work of One Justice to meet those needs.
What would you like to accomplish as a Board member?
I hope to work with the staff of One Justice to provide the resources and guidance they need to meet the challenges and crises of the day.
Tell us about yourself – interesting facts or what do you like to do for fun?
When not working or carrying out service on the boards of non-profits and professional associations, I enjoy trying to develop a green thumb, and growing and caring for over 50 house plants I acquired during the quarantine. I’m taking any and all tips for keeping a zebra plant alive.
Rachel Williams 
Pro Bono Counsel, Morrison & Foerster
What made you interested in becoming a member of the OneJustice Board of Directors?
I have been a fan of OneJustice for many years—since Julia Wilson, who had the locker next to me in law school, took the helm. In the early days, Julia asked me to be part of an advisory committee to help think through the ambitious idea she had that later became the Executive Fellows Program. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of talking with dozens of current and past Fellows who have spoken rhapsodically about how much they benefitted from the program. I have also worked closely with wonderful OneJustice staff members in countless ways in the 12 years I have been helping to manage Morrison & Foerster’s pro bono program. I know what a critical role OneJustice plays in supporting the legal aid and pro bono community in California and am looking forward to contributing to the organization through board service.
What is your professional role and how do you hope to use your perspective in your work with OneJustice?
I am one of three Pro Bono Counsel at Morrison & Foerster. I manage the pro bono program in our Bay Area and European offices. I hope to share my perspectives on law firm and in-house legal department pro bono programs and how OneJustice can collaborative most effectively with those parts of the pro bono community in California.
What would you like to accomplish as a Board member?
I would like to help get the word out about OneJustice’s great work in hopes of increasing broad support for its mission. It can sometimes be a challenge to explain OneJustice’s critical role in the legal services and pro bono realms in California since much of its work is done behind the scenes. I hope to help more people understand the importance of its work.
Tell us about yourself – any interesting facts or what do you like to do for fun?
I love hiking, swimming, cross-country skiing, cooking, and spending time with my husband and our daughters, ages 11 and 13. We have been lucky enough to have taken our daughters to see two Women’s World Cups; our hope is that the world will open up again before the next one in 2023!