Staff

Betsy Butler, Executive Director

Betsy Butler has been fighting for equality and justice throughout her career. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) where she works to create a more just and equitable society by breaking down barriers and advancing the potential of women and girls through transformative litigation, policy advocacy and education.

Prior to joining CWLC, Betsy served in the California State Assembly representing the 53rd District covering coastal Los Angeles. During her tenure in the legislature, Betsy prioritized bills addressing the needs of veterans, older Americans, working families, the environment and consumer rights. Committed to those who have served our country, Betsy was honored to be named the Legislator of the Year by both the Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Veterans (AMVETS).

A committed advocate for fairness and equal rights, Betsy has worked for the California League of Conservation Voters, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Consumer Attorneys of California. She began her career in public service with Lt. Governor Leo McCarthy and was an appointee of President Bill Clinton in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

Betsy served on the California Commission on Aging from 2015-2021, and was Chair from 2018-2020. Betsy is also a former appointed member of the Los Angeles County Probation Commission (2016-2021) and the California Film Commission (2008-2010). She presently serves on the Board of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project of Los Angeles, Equality California, the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial Task Force, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, Creative Acts and the Advisory Board of Peace Over Violence, a domestic violence education and support organization.

Betsy graduated from San Diego State University and from the Executive Program in Management at UCLA.

Harriet Fischer, Staff Attorney

As Staff Attorney, Harriet works to promote civil rights, social justice, and gender equality for women and girls across all of CWLC’s interest areas. A lifelong athlete, Harriet has an abiding interest to ensure Title IX protections are enforced.

Prior to joining CWLC, Harriet was a volunteer at the California Attorney General’s office in the Civil Rights Enforcement Section where she focused on civil rights violations in law enforcement, employment, and healthcare access. As a Fellow at Bet Tzedek Legal Services in the Elder Justice Program, she helped low-income seniors in need of assistance with elder abuse and housing matters. Prior to becoming an attorney, Harriet co-owned a small creative consultation firm that developed and designed marketing and fundraising materials for national and local non-profit organizations.

Harriet attended Southwestern Law School, graduating with a concentration in public interest law. She participated in both the Youth Offender Parole Hearing Clinic and the Street Law Clinic where she taught disadvantaged, transition-aged youth about their rights. Harriet earned her undergraduate degree cum laude from Barnard College-Columbia University.

Taylor C. Brewer, Housing Staff Attorney

Taylor Brewer has joined CWLC as a staff attorney with a focus in housing and homelessness prevention. She is a former staff attorney at Legal Services of Northern California, where she worked in a small rural town providing free legal assistance and gained experience in a broad range of legal issues. 

Prior to her legal aid work, Taylor helped develop sustainable food policy in San Diego and worked with small Los Angeles based organizations that focus on economic stability and inclusive action. Committed to grass root community organizing within the sphere of economic security, she worked with a group of women leaders to advance policy change in San Diego County allowing for the legalization of Micro-enterprise Home Kitchens.  

Taylor graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she completed over 500 hours of pro bono work assisting in fair housing cases at San Diego Legal Aid and graduated with honors from Loyola Marymount University. As a Los Angeles County native, Taylor is excited to be back working in and with the communities that helped shape her.   

Julianna Gesiotto, Staff Attorney

Julianna Gesiotto is a Staff Attorney working across CWLC’s multiple avenues of advocacy to fight inequality and protect the rights of women and girls. Before joining CWLC, Julianna worked in employment litigation at both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and at a private firm. She helped workers who were denied proper wages, discriminated against, or harassed on the basis of a protected class.

Prior to law school, Julianna worked at the National Organization for Women (NOW), to better the lives of women and girls across the country by advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion rights, and in support of sexual assault survivors. Julianna graduated cum laude from Loyola Law School as a public interest scholar where she was a board member of both the ACLU Loyola and Reproductive Justice LA, and she completed a practicum in civil rights litigation. She earned her undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies from the University of Maryland.

Miranda Farman, Development Associate and Office Manager

Miranda Farman joins CWLC as the Development Associate and Office Manager after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Previously, Miranda interned with the National Basketball Association’s Social Responsibility and Player Programs department where she advocated for equity, fairness, and inclusion in athletics for girls and young athletes from impoverished backgrounds. At the NBA, Miranda helped establish ideas for league-driven social impact events and community relations programs to promote race and gender equity in youth sports. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Miranda was the captain of the University of Pennsylvania Women’s Soccer Team, a member of the Ivy league Justice Coalition, a volunteer at Girls Inc. and the Merrian Anderson Foundation, and a math tutor at Andrew Hamilton School. Miranda is enthusiastic about CWLC’s mission and values and is excited to advance her passion for women’s justice, reproductive health, Title IX, and nonprofit work.