Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association
Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Association & Foundation
    • Past Presidents
  • History
    • Genesis of EBGBA
    • Hon. Earl B. Gilliam
    • Trailblazers
  • Events
    • Current Events
    • Past Events
    • Neighborhood Law School
    • Photos
  • Membership
    • Join EBGBA
    • Renew Membership
    • Sustaining Life Members
    • Life Members
    • Judicial Officers
    • Directory
  • News & Updates
    • Media & Press Releases
    • News
  • Endorsements
  • Contact

Board of Directors 2025-2026

President

André Ríos Bollinger



President

André Ríos Bollinger

André Ríos Bollinger was born and raised in Venice, California to Afro-Peruvian parents.  He attended the University of California, San Diego where he majored in Ethnic Studies and worked on various student movements.  Mr. Bollinger's work in social justice led him to become an elementary and middle school teacher. While teaching Mr. Bollinger completed his Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Loyola Marymount University. After seeing the education system fail his students repeatedly, Mr. Bollinger left teaching and attended Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.  While in law school Mr. Bollinger helped sue school districts, such as the Los Angeles Unified School District, through the ACLU, and defend juveniles charged with crimes through the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy.  After graduating law school, Mr. Bollinger joined the San Diego County Office of the Public Defender where he handled all manner of cases, from misdemeanors and homicides, in both the adult and juvenile systems, and led the rollout of the Racial Justice Act.  Mr. Bollinger was appointed by the California State Bar Board of Directors as a Commissioner on the prestigious Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE) where he served for three years. He elected to the California Public Defender Association (CPDA), chairing both the Diversity and Racial Justice Committees, and is a past chair of the San Diego County Bar Associations (SDCBA) Criminal Law Section. Mr. Bollinger is a faculty member of the CPDA Basic Trial Skills Institute, and trains attorneys across the state through CPDA, SDCBA, and the California Lawyers Association. In 2022 Mr. Bollinger opened the boutique law firm Rios Bollinger Law, APC where he practices civil litigation and criminal defense across the state. His extensive trial experience is sought after by law firms who bring him to handle their high value trials. Mr. Bollinger is dedicated to ensuring that all of his clients receive personalized, authentic, and zealous representation so that they can achieve exceptional results.

Board of Directors 2025-2026

Vice President

Elika S. Morris



Vice President

Elika S. Morris

Elika S. Morris, Esq. is an associate attorney in the San Diego office ot Koeller Nebeker Carlson & Haluck LLP (KNCH), where she focuses her practice on construction-defect and civil litigation. Before joining KNCH, she specialized in complex business litigation and retail defense, representing major corporations in premises liability, product liability, and personal injury matters. She previously served as in-house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in the Primary Litigation Unit. A graduate of California Western School of Law, Elika's commitment to justice began as a clinical intern with the California Innocence Project, where her advocacy contributed to the release of a wrongfully convicted client. As Vice President of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, Elika is dedicated to advancing justice, innovation, and professional growth within San Diego's legal community.

Board of Directors 2025-2026

Immediate Past President

Löan T. Shillinger



Immediate Past President

Löan T. Shillinger

Löan T. Shillinger is an experienced estate planning, trust administration, and probate attorney in California. After 15 years in the field, she recently relaunched Shillinger Law to focus on helping clients plan for the future. She is passionate about changing the traditional view of estate planning from 'planning for end-of-life' to planning for today. She has spoken at various events to educate people about the importance of planning for the future. Before launching her own private practice, Attorney Shillinger clerked for the Honorable John A. Houston in the Southern District of California Federal Court. She also was the court attorney for the Honorable Patrick Border in the Hawaii Circuit Court and she served internationally as the court lawyer for the Chuuk State Supreme Court Justices in Micronesia.

Board of Directors 2025-2026

Treasurer

Michael Flemming



Treasurer

Michael Flemming

Before forming Flemming Law, Michael served as the Deputy Director of Government Affairs for ACLU California Action in Sacramento. Prior to joining ACLU, Michael was Deputy Public Defender at the San Diego County Public Defender's Office. Michael was a Special Assistant at the Western Area Counsel Office aboard Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. In law school, Michael also served as Legal Fellow, in former Senator Barbra Boxer's San Diego District Office and the Office of Democratic Policy in Washington, D.C. Michael obtained his Bachelorette of Arts in International Studies, with a minor in Chinese, from the Croft institute of International Studies at Ole Miss and later obtained Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Board of Directors 2025-2026

Secretary

Susan Henderson



Secretary

Susan Henderson

Susan Henderson practices employment defense law with Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP (WTK) and serves as EBGBA Secretary. Before joining WTK, Susan served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable John A. Houston of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. During her time at California Western School of Law, she was impressed by EBGBA's strong ties among members and dedicated service to the African-American community in San Diego. Susan's desire to give back and mirror the commitment and professionalism she observed as a law student inspires her to proudly serve on EBGBA's Board of Directors. 

Member-at-Large

Doug A. Oden

Douglas A. Oden has been licensed to practice law in California since 1978. He has been a member of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association since 1979. He has served in a number of capacities, including Vice President and President. He is currently a member of the board of EBGBA. He is a Past President of the California Association of Black Lawyers and a Past President of the San Diego Branch NAACP. He is the senior litigation attorney at Oden & Greene, San Diego County's oldest Black law firm. He currently is President of Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance, MoGo.

Member-at-Large

Adrienne L. Conrad

Adrienne L. Conrad is an Equity Principal in the San Diego, California office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Adrienne has practiced labor and employment law for more than 25 years. An experienced trial lawyer, Adrienne is a member of the Firm's Trial Group, and she defends employers in litigation involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour issues. In addition, Adrienne represents companies in matters related to complex non-competition and trade secrets litigation. She is a graduate of Cornell University Law School and received her bachelor's degree magna cum laude from UCLA.

Member-at-Large

RoDeece Dean

Commander RoDeece Dean, U.S. Navy (retired), is a Deputy District Attorney with the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. He joined the office in July 2021, as a Graduate Law Clerk with the Special Operations Division, and worked on sentencing and conviction review, as well as assisting in a high-profile police officer prosecution case. During his 24 years in the United States Navy, he served in a variety of leadership roles. A native of San Diego, California, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. He later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, San Diego in 2013. He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with a Juris Doctor degree in 2021 and is licensed to practice law in California and the District of Columbia.

Member-at-Large

Stephanie A. Acheampong

Stephanie A. Acheampong is a Product Liability attorney for Wilson, Turner, and Kosmo. She represents manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in breach of warranty, product liability, and fraud matters. Stephanie was a San Diego County Public Defender. Stephanie earned her J.D. from California Western School of Law, where she received the Academic Excellence Award in Trial Practice. Furthermore, Stephanie served as a board member for the Black Law Student Association and the Student Bar Association.

Member-at-Large

Dante T. Pride

Dante T. Pride is the founding partner of The Pride Law Firm in San Diego, California. Dante attended the University of San Diego School of Law. Upon graduating, Dante accepted a position at a prestigious San Diego law firm, where he practiced Employment and Labor litigation. As a Morehouse alumnus, Dante decided to start The Pride Law Firm based on the idea that "Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere." Focusing on Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Employment Law, Dante strives to eradicate injustice in both state and federal courts.

Member-at-Large

Tariq Blake

Tariq is an Attorney of Berger & Williams, LLP, a civil litigation firm focusing on complex class action, labor standards enforcement,

trade secrets, USERRA, and retaliation, discrimination and harassment matters. Tariq has a strong passion for justice and equity for workers and small businesses.

Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association

Copyright © 2026 Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by