Our Board

DARIN SNYDER (CHAIR)

Darin is a partner in O'Melveny's San Francisco Office and Chair of the Intellectual Property and Technology Practice within the Litigation Department. The trial victory for client NDS Group, in which he served as lead counsel, was named by the Daily Journal as one of the top 10 defense verdicts of 2008. The Daily Journal named Darin amongst the top 75 Intellectual Property litigators in California in both 2010 and 2011. The Legal 500 has acknowledged Darin for his work in patent, copyright and trade secrets litigation, repeatedly recognizing Darin, for his excellence in trade secret litigation, quoting clients who call him "one of the West Coast's biggest names in the area." Darin has also been recognized repeatedly by Law & Politics Media Inc. as a Northern California "Super Lawyer."

LEAH CASTELLA (VICE CHAIR)

Ms. Castella specializes in public law litigation at both the trial court and appellate court levels, and has extensive experience litigating cases on behalf of public and private entities. Her areas of specialization include Proposition 218, 1021.5 attorney’s fees disputes, inverse condemnation and takings, environmental law, and eminent domain. When litigation looms, Ms. Castella counsels her clients to consider creative, cost effective solutions to potential disputes. In the event that litigation ensues, Ms. Castella is an aggressive advocate with an exemplary track record of success at the demurrer, summary judgment, and appeal stages.

JILL FOX (FINANCE & ACCOUNTING COMMITTEE)

Jill’s practice focuses on commercial real estate and business litigation. Her experience includes handling commercial and mixed use development, leasing, and finance disputes, receivership issues, title disputes, anti-SLAPP proceedings, and attorney fee claims involving developers, lenders, real estate syndicators, brokers, closely held businesses, non-profit corporations and public entities. She has represented clients in all phases of litigation, at the trial and appellate levels.

BEN CROSSON (TREASURER)

Benjamin is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he is a member of the commercial and securities litigation practice. Ben specializes in several areas, including defense of companies and their officers and directors in shareholder class actions and derivative suits, complex civil litigation, and internal investigations and representations before the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice in connection with potential financial reporting and accounting fraud allegations, disclosure issues, and potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

KINA MANDELBROT (FINANCE & ACCOUNTING COMMITTEE)

Kina is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the BAUDC and has assisted the organization with legal, governance and finance matters. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and has a law degree from The University of Chicago. She practiced law at the law firm of Brobeck, Phleger and Harrison before joining VISX, Inc. (maker of the laser for correcting vision) as Assistant General Counsel and later becoming the company’s General Counsel.

BRENT STOLLE (FINANCE & ACCOUNTING COMMITTEE)

Brent is a partner in the Silicon Valley office of PwC, where he advises technology sector clients on deals and other transformative events. Brent’s expertise includes financial reporting and accounting for strategic investments, acquisitions, complex revenue arrangements and technology development. The passion for competitive debate he developed in high school intensified while he competed for Rice University, and motivated him to join our Board in 2021.

JEFF D. POLSKY

Jeff focuses his practice on business and employment litigation and counseling. He represents clients in disputes relating to; claims of discrimination and harassment, trade secret violations, wage and hour compliance, wrongful discharge, and breach of contract. Recognizing the risk and expense inherent in litigation, Jeff has extensive experience in alternative methods of resolving disputes, including mediation.

LEXY GREEN

Lexy Green is the Director of Debate at The College Preparatory School in Oakland. In addition to serving on the BAUDL board, she is the co-chair of the Debate Committee for the California High School Speech Association and Director of Debate for the Golden Gate Speech Association. She began her debate career as a high school debater in 1978 and has coached high school speech and debate for over three decades. She is a seven diamond coach in the National Speech and Debate Association, a member of the Halls of Fame for both the California State Speech Association and the Tournament of Champions, and recipient of the Chuck Ballingal Educator of the Year Award from the National Debate Coaches Association.

MAIAH PARKS (SECRETARY)

Maiah is a corporate transactional lawyer with experience in commercial transactions, corporate restructurings, venture capital and private-equity financings and in particular, debt financing transactions of all varieties, including secured and unsecured working capital facilities, venture facilities and DIP financing for debtors in bankruptcy. Her experience spans a variety of industries including technology, life science, energy, and telecommunications sectors.

KAHLIL YEARWOOD

JYLEESA HAMPTON

Jyleesa is a nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience in creating positive outcomes for thousands of students. She is an engaged project manager, story teller and donor engagement specialist in Bay Area non profits. Her extensive communication background and program administration experience shows a continued commitment to empowering communities and leveraging equity through community engagement, education and justice oriented initiatives.

MICHAEL BURSHTEYN

Michael is a litigator for complex commercial disputes and class actions involving privacy, crypto, data security, AI, consumer protection, and other novel technology issues as well as startup controversies at Greenberg Traurig. Michael is affiliated with Cal Berkeley debate, Berkeley Law AI Law course teacher, and Daily Journal 40u40 & American Lawyer California lawyers on the fast track.

Our Board of Directors