MEDIA CONTACT
Priscilla Lauture
Founder & Principal, Align Public Relations & Communications
Communications Lead, NBA Commercial Law Section
Email: priscilla@aligncomms.com
Phone: 321-356-4077
National Bar Association Commercial Law Section Honors Distinguished Leaders at 39th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference
Washington, D.C. — The National Bar Association Commercial Law Section (NBA-CLS) hosted its annual awards gala during its 39th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference celebrating excellence, service, and an enduring commitment to fostering an inclusive legal profession. Presented before an audience of in-house counsel, law firm attorneys and business leaders from across the country, this year’s awards program recognized individuals and corporations whose impact extends well beyond the conference stage. “This year’s honorees represent the very best of who we are as a Section and as a profession,” said Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah, Chair of the NBA-CLS. “They exemplify excellence in practice, integrity in leadership and a deep commitment to legal advocacy. Their profound impact strengthens not only NBA-CLS, but the broader legal and corporate communities.”
The Jean-Marie Sylla Jr. Legacy Award was presented to Qiara Butler. This $2,500 financial award is provided to an attorney in their first three years of practice to cover the registration and related travel expenses incurred to attend the NBA-CLS Corporate Counsel Conference. This award celebrates the legacy of Jean-Marie Sylla, the founding partner of the Washington, D.C. based firm Taylor, Sylla & Agin, LLP, and a devoted leader within NBA-CLS. “This award represents more than financial support – it represents belief, access, and opportunity. I am thankful to Lisa M. Hathaway and NBA-CLS for continuing Jean-Marie’s legacy in such a meaningful way. I am truly humbled and honored by this recognition,” said Qiara Butler, Associate at Saul Ewing, LLP.
The John Lewis Jr. Corporation of the Year Award was presented to GE Aerospace and accepted by Cynthia McCaskill, Deputy General Counsel of Engineering. This award honors a corporation with a longstanding history of supporting NBA-CLS and its mission of diversifying the legal profession through retention of its outside counsel. This award is named in honor of John Lewis, Jr., a past NBA-CLS Chair and formerly served as managing counsel for The Coca-Cola Company for 13 years and as its Global Chief Diversity Officer, where he consistently championed diversity and inclusion efforts for corporate counsel prior to returning to private practice. GE Aerospace was recognized for its demonstrated commitment to inclusive leadership, cultivating diverse legal talent, and supporting initiatives that strengthen access and opportunity within the profession. “It was a privilege to accept the Corporation of the Year award on behalf of GE Aerospace from NBA-CLS. We are grateful for the important work of the NBA-CLS and look forward to continuing our collaboration in support of impact, opportunity, and excellence within the legal profession,” said McCaskill.
The Cora T. Walker Award was presented to Kwamina Thomas Williford, Practice Group Leader for Litigation in the Washington, D.C. office of Holland & Knight and Co-Chair of the firm’s Consumer Protection Defense and Compliance Team. The award honors an NBA member with a longstanding history of supporting the Commercial Law Section through extraordinary service and commitment. It is named after Cora T. Walker, one of the founders of the Section and a trailblazing attorney who was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1947 at a time when very few women, and even fewer Black attorneys were practicing law. “Receiving the Cora T. Walker Award is deeply meaningful to me. This recognition reflects the power of intentionality, impact, and community. NBA-CLS has shaped my career in countless ways, and I remain committed to helping it grow and thrive for the next generation of leaders,” said Williford. Mrs. Williford was recognized for her decades of distinguished service to the Commercial Law Section, her leadership on the Executive Committee – including service as Chair for three years, and her continued dedication to mentoring attorneys and expanding the Section’s reach and impact nationwide. The NBA-CLS wishes a heartfelt congratulations to the deserving recipients of these prestigious awards and thanks them for their passionate support of connecting ideas, people, and opportunities in the legal profession. The future holds exciting opportunities thanks to the great work of these recipients.
About NBA-CLS
The NBA-CLS Annual Corporate Counsel Conference remains one of the premier national gatherings of in-house counsel, law firm leaders, and corporate executives committed to connection, professional excellence, and advancing diversity across the legal landscape.
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