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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah – NBA-CLS Chair
info@nba-cls.com

Traci V. Bransford Joins Parker Poe as Leader of Sports & Entertainment Industry Team in Atlanta

December 19, 2023, Atlanta, GA — Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce Traci V. Bransford has joined the firm as a partner in Atlanta. She has over 30 years of experience and will lead Parker Poe’s Sports & Entertainment Industry Team.

Entertainment, media, and sports clients turn to Traci for strategic counsel on the full range of their legal needs. She focuses her practice on transactional law with an emphasis on clients in music, television, film, literary publishing, and sports. She serves as outside general counsel in those industries and others, including retail, education, and health care.

She guides her clients through many aspects of their businesses, including intellectual property management, contract negotiation, and brand strategy. She also represents leading media companies and negotiates with sports facilities and entertainment venues on behalf of her clients. Her clients benefit from her multi-jurisdictional experience from California to New York, and most recently Minnesota, as well as her commitment to the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This background allows her to offer comprehensive solutions to key legal challenges.

Traci regularly speaks before national audiences about entertainment, media, sports, and celebrity philanthropy. She is a member of leading sports and entertainment law associations and serves on several nonprofit boards. She joins Parker Poe from Stinson LLP, where she worked in Minneapolis and, since July 2022, in Atlanta.

Traci earned her Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College in Atlanta and her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.

“I have loved Atlanta since my time at Spelman College and seen the rise of the city’s sports and entertainment industry over the course of my career,” Traci said. “For many reasons, Atlanta is the right city — and Parker Poe has the platform and culture — for this next pivot in my legal career. I am excited to collaborate with colleagues to provide efficient legal solutions across the entertainment, media, and sports landscape and expand upon my existing client base in other industries.”

“We are delighted for Traci to join us, continuing our strategic growth in Atlanta and our ability to serve clients in the sports and entertainment world,” said Tom Griffin, Parker Poe’s managing partner. “Traci will be a dynamic leader in both our Atlanta office and the firm in general. She will also be a natural fit in our culture given her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as her history of community and pro bono service.”

“Speaking on behalf of our entire Sports & Entertainment Industry Team, we are thrilled to work with Traci,” said Andrew Dana, the leader of the team for the past three years. “Traci brings the same pragmatic approach to solving challenges and seizing opportunities that has been the hallmark of how we serve clients. Her extensive experience and relationships across the sports and entertainment world will bolster the value we provide to current clients and broaden our ability to serve others in Atlanta and across the country.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Torrence Phillips – NBA-CLS Chair
trp@lgplaw.com

NBA-CLS Vice Chair Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah Selected for Savoy Magazine’s 2023 Most Influential Executives in Diversity & Inclusion

March 30th, 2023 — Savoy Magazine recently announced its 2023 Most Influential Executives in Diversity & Inclusion, both online and in its Spring 2023 issue. Named among these inspiring change leaders was none other than the NBA-CLS Vice Chair Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah.

As Savoy Magazine explains:

“This collection of executives showcases the remarkable leaders who are spearheading diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for some of the world’s most prominent organizations. From their powerful influence to their inspiring dedication to creating positive change, this list is a testament to the impact that these executives are making in their industries and beyond.”

MacMurray-Abdullah was chosen to be on this exclusive list thanks to her unwavering dedication and proven results in DEI initiatives. As the first Chief Diversity Officer at Wiley, MacMurray-Abdullah collaboratively increases the organization’s diversity and inclusion through talent acquisition, business development, data analytics, and reporting. She leads the new DEI department, serves as the firm’s external DEI ambassador, leads corporate social responsibility initiatives, and serves as NBA-CLS Vice Chair. 

The NBA-CLS congratulates MacMurray-Abdullah on this high honor and thanks her for her passionate support of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. To learn more, visit https://savoynetwork.com/miedi2023/ or read MacMurray-Abdullah’s bio at https://savoynetwork.com/features/rashida-macmurray-abdullah/. 

About NBA-CLS
The NBA-CLS is to bring outside counsel members together with in-house counsel who seek to increase diversity and provide networking and education forums for NBA-CLS members. The NBA-CLS is also committed to serving the community and expanding the pipeline of African Americans entering the legal profession. For more information visit www.nbacls.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Torrence Phillips, NBA-CLS Chair​
trp@lgplaw.com

Announcing: Cora T. Walker, John Lewis, Jr.

Corporation of the Year, and Jean-Marie Sylla, Jr. Award Winners

March 3rd, 2023 — The National Bar Association Commercial Law Section (NBA-CLS) announced the winners of their three prestigious annual awards during the Awards Gala at last month’s 36th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference.

The Cora T. Walker Award is given to an NBA member who has a longstanding history of supporting the Commercial Law Section and promoting diversity. Walker was a legal pioneer admitted to the New York State Bar in 1947 in a time when very few women and very few Blacks were practicing attorneys. This year’s recipient of the Cora T. Walker Award is Dr. Walter L. Sutton, Jr., Chair of the National Bar Institute, Past President of the National Bar Association, and long-standing champion of diversity and equity in the legal profession. On top of an inspiring legal career spanning over 50+ years, Dr. Sutton mentors black law students and lawyers across the country, serves as Chairman of the Wiley College Board of Trustees, and has received dozens of awards.

The John Lewis, Jr. Corporation of the Year Award is given to an organization who’s demonstrated ongoing support of the NBA-CLS community and mission, including a commitment to DEI within their workplace. This award is named after John Lewis, Jr., a former Chair of the CLS and a committed diversity leader that instituted critical foundational changes to form the NBA-CLS we have today. This year’s Corporation of the Year is Bank of America, for its continued dedication to actionable DEI initiatives and far-reaching opportunities for black students and attorneys. The Bank of America workforce currently includes 50% women and 49% people of color. Associate General Counsel & SVPs Kisha Jones and Alexander B. White accepted the award on behalf of Bank of America.

The Jean-Marie Sylla, Jr. Legacy Award is a $1,500 fellowship provided to a recent law school graduate with a promising legal future ahead of them. The award’s namesake was a dedicated servant leader in the NBA-CLS community, former Executive Committee member, and former member of the NBA’s General Counsel and Board of Directors. This year’s recipient of the Legacy Award is Emmanuella A. Saforo, a third year law student at George Washington University. This student attorney is also an executive board member for GW Law’s Moot Court Board and a 1L mentor for the Black Law Students Association. Saforo also completed an internship with NBCUniversal through the NBA-CLS’s Black Lawyers Matter (BLM) Internship Program.  

The NBA-CLS wishes a heartfelt congratulations to the deserving recipients of these prestigious awards and thanks them for their passionate support of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. The future holds exciting opportunities thanks to the great work of these recipients. 

About NBA-CLS
The NBA-CLS is to bring outside counsel members together with in-house counsel who seek to increase diversity and provide networking and education forums for NBA-CLS members. The NBA-CLS is also committed to serving the community and expanding the pipeline of African Americans entering the legal profession. For more information visit www.nbacls.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Torrence Phillips, NBA-CLS Chair
trp@lgplaw.com

The NBA-CLS Black Lawyers Matter Internship Program: Summer 2023

Applications are now being accepted for the NBA-CLS BLM Internship Program creating quality job opportunities and a more inclusive legal profession.

Application date extended until January 31, 2023

November 29, 2022 —The National Bar Association Commercial Law Section (NBA-CLS) announces the fourth installment of its Black Lawyers Matter (BLM) Internship Program, designed to positively impact diversity in the legal profession. The program provides guidance and creates new opportunities for Black law students facing the challenge of securing quality employment. 

According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) 2021 Diversity Report, racial minorities remain underrepresented in the leadership of legal services organizations. People of color made up about 28% of associates but accounted for less than 9% of equity partners. Black attorneys surpassed 2.2% of partners for the first time since NALP began collecting data, but the representation of Black lawyers in law firms still trails that of Asian and Latinx lawyers, and those gaps have widened over time. In addition, women made up just 25.92% of all partners in 2021, and Black women and Latinx women each continued to represent less than 1% of all partners in U.S. law firms.

The BLM Internship Program aims to change those statistics by creating opportunities for underrepresented and aspiring attorneys.  During the internship, interns will gain practical experience in a legal environment, legal training, mentoring, and enhanced employment opportunities.  

The NBA CLS will partner with the National Bar Institute in the administration of the BLM Program. The BLM Program will provide opportunities for law students to interview with corporate legal departments or law firms in a range of practice areas, including, but not limited to Commercial, Corporate, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Employment, Regulatory, Compliance, and Governance.  

If you are a law student interested in the BLM Program, please submit your resume and cover letter to info@nbacls.com or apply here no later than Friday, December 23, 2022 at 11:59PM EST. Submitting your resume is not a guarantee of an interview or future employment. Applicants are also encouraged to join the “Resume, Interviewing, and Interning Best Practices” session scheduled for December 14, 2022. Additional details will follow.

About NBA-CLS
The NBA-CLS is to bring outside counsel members together with in-house counsel who seek to increase diversity and provide networking and education forums for NBA-CLS members. The NBA-CLS is also committed to serving the community and expanding the pipeline of African Americans entering the legal profession. For more information visit www.nbacls.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section
info@nbacls.com

NBA-CLS Establishes Scholarship Fund in Memory of

RHONDA SMITH FERGUSON

May 2, 2022 – We would like to update our announcement about the passing of Rhonda Smith Ferguson with details to donate to the scholarship. Please see below:

“In celebration of the life of Rhonda Smith Ferguson and her impact on the legal profession, the National Bar Association Commercial Law Section has created the Rhonda Smith Ferguson Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship will provide financial assistance and mentoring to a law student with a STEM background entering the practice of law. We will, in collaboration with Rhonda’s family, announce our first recipient at our 36^th Annual Corporate Counsel Conference in February 2023.

Rhonda was a champion and advocate of Black excellence. She always had time to share her special talents and gifts with our membership. We appreciated the love she had for our mission and the way she personally and professionally ensured that the NBA-CLS was positioned for success. This is our way of honoring our dynamic friend and her amazing life.

To contribute to the Rhonda Smith Ferguson Memorial Scholarship, send a check to the National Bar Institute located at 1816 12th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009.

You may also donate via Paypal to nbi@nationalbar.org or via credit card by contacting Frank Seales, Jr. Chair and Treasurer of NBI directly at (202) 497-3187. Donations to this scholarship will be tax-deductible.

– The National Bar Association, Commercial Law Section

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Torrence Phillips – NBA-CLS Chair
trp@lgplaw.com

The NBA-CLS Black Lawyers Matter Internship Program Returns for Third Year

The NBA-CLS is now accepting applications for the inclusive internship program.

April 22, 2022 —The National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section (NBA-CLS) announces the third installment of its Black Lawyers Matter (BLM) Internship Program, designed to positively impact diversity in the legal profession. The program provides guidance and creates new opportunities for Black law students facing the challenge of securing quality employment.

This year, the BLM Internship Program will partner with diversity champion NBCUniversal, who is taking meaningful steps towards promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. NBCUniversal will be placing students interested in entertainment, media and/or news but the NBA-CLS will also accept resumes of other students that may be interested in private practice or working for a non-profit organization.

According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) 2021 Diversity Report, racial minorities remain underrepresented in the leadership of legal services organizations. People of color made up about 28% of associates but accounted for less than 9% of equity partners. Black attorneys surpassed 2.2% of partners for the first time since NALP began collecting data, but the representation of Black lawyers in law firms still trails that of Asian and Latinx lawyers, and those gaps have widened over time. In addition, women made up just 25.92% of all partners in 2021, and Black women and Latinx women each continued to represent less than 1% of all partners in U.S. law firms.

The BLM Internship Program aims to change those statistics by creating opportunities for underrepresented and aspiring attorneys. During the internship, interns will gain practical experience in an in-house counsel or law firm environment, legal training, mentoring, and enhanced employment opportunities.

In addition, the NBA-CLS and NBCUniversal together will provide a $10,000 scholarship to each intern placed at NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal invites 1L and 2L students with a demonstrable interest, or prior experience, in entertainment, news and/or media to apply for the 10-week summer internship. NBCUniversal will make all final applicant selections and arrange the internships directly with the selected students. Matching by any other organizations will be limited and employment opportunities and any scholarship or stipends will be managed by the participating organizations.

If you are a law student interested in the BLM Program, please submit your resume and cover letter to info@nbacls.com or apply here no later than Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 11:59PM EST. Submitting your resume is not a guarantee of an interview or future employment.

About NBA-CLS
The mission of the NBA-CLS is to bring outside counsel members together with in-house counsel who seek to increase diversity and provide networking and education forums for NBA-CLS members. The NBA-CLS is also committed to serving the community and expanding the pipeline of African Americans entering the legal profession. For more information visit www.nbacls.com.

About NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a premium ad-supported streaming service. Learn more at nbcuniversal.com.

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Media Contact:
National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section
info@nbacls.com

Honoring the Life of NBA-CLS Member

RHONDA SMITH FERGUSON

April 19, 2022 – It is with deep sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Rhonda Smith Ferguson, the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Secretary of The Allstate Corporation and Allstate Insurance Company.

Rhonda was a long-standing, devoted, and cherished NBA-CLS member.

Rhonda graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.  Rhonda began her career as a Litigation Associate with Thompson Hine LLP and quickly moved up to become partner at Am Law 100 Baker Hostetler LLP. As her legal savvy expanded, she took on the role of Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary with Ferro Corp.

In 2006, she joined FirstEnergy, an electric utility in her native state of Ohio, where she served as the Vice President, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Ethics Officer. At FirstEnergy, she expertly led teams responsible for corporate, real estate, and compliance initiatives. A decade later in 2016, Rhonda once again increased her responsibilities as the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary role at Union Pacific Railroad.

In September 2020, Rhonda joined Allstate where she led Allstate’s 1,900-person legal team and guided the company’s business strategy, ensured compliance, and fostered an innovative and inclusive legal environment.  Rhonda was extremely valued by her team for her savvy, positive spirit, and commitment.  Throughout her life, Rhonda made it a priority to regularly give back to the community, sitting on several boards that served Chicago’s residents. Rhonda was a member of the RAND Institute for Civil Justice Board of Advisors, was on the board of Girls Inc., and was recently named as an Independent Director for Constellation Energy’s Board of Directors.

Rhonda was a member of The Economic Club of Chicago, The Chicago Network, The Chicago Club, and the Executive Leadership Council (ELC). She recently spoke at a Warrensville Heights City School District alumni event, helping guide future generations. She was a trailblazer and force in her field.

The NBA CLS will create a legacy scholarship to honor the incredible achievements Rhonda made and the legacy she leaves behind.

And while her legal expertise and business savvy will be missed, it is Rhonda’s personal connection and care for others that will be missed the most. We offer our sincerest condolences to her husband, family, and loved ones.

– The National Bar Association Commercial Law Section

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THE NBA-CLS CONCLUDES ITS SECOND ANNUAL BLACK LAWYERS MATTER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Andrew Nunes, Immediate Past Chair
(416) 865–4510
anunes@fasken.com

Connecting African-American Law Students with Career Opportunities

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National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section Launches Inaugural ‘Black Lawyers Matter’ Virtual Internship Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Andrew Nunes, NBA-CLS Chair
(416) 865–4510
anunes@fasken.com

Applications now being accepted for the NBA-CLS’ BLM Internship Program that seeks to promote quality job opportunities to build a more inclusive legal profession

March 24, 2021—The National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section (NBA-CLS) is excited to announce the launch of the second installment of our NBA-CLS Black Lawyers Matter (BLM) Internship Program, designed to positively impact diversity in the legal profession. The BLM Program will be a virtual program that provides training, exposure, and opportunities to diverse students facing the challenge of securing quality employment, by partnering with corporate legal departments and law firms that are dedicated to taking more meaningful steps towards promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Last year, we launched this program in response to the unprecedented challenges to the Black community including, but not limited to, quality job opportunities being delayed, revoked, or eliminated due to the global pandemic. While certain pockets of industry have rebounded, the economic hardship has persisted. 2020 was a year of racial reckoning and NBA-CLS continues to prioritize strengthening the pipeline of law students further our mission of increasing the diversity of outside counsel ranks and expanding the pipeline of African Americans entering the legal profession. In 2020, we received 160 student resumes and had over 24 placements. Participating law students represented 20 law schools across the country and 15 entities partnered with us in our inaugural BLM Internship Program.

“The success experienced in 2020 demonstrated the strong desire and need for the BLM Internship Program.  While we are happy to see the positive impact that the program has had in the careers and lives of the many African American law students who participated, more needs to be done to address the continuing presence of barriers to entry into the profession,” said Andrew Nunes, current NBA-CLS Chair. “Although the egregious racial events of 2020 may no longer dominate current news cycles, we cannot back down in our efforts to impact positive change in our industry and society.  As a result, we are eager to re-launch our BLM Internship Program to increase opportunities for racialized law students and to help cultivate an industry that is more demographically representative of the population.”

This year, NBA CLS will partner with the National Bar Institute in the administration of the BLM Program. The BLM Program will provide opportunities for law students to interview with corporate legal departments or law firms in a range of practice areas, including, but not limited to Commercial, Corporate, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Employment, Regulatory, Compliance, and Governance. NBA-CLS will provide $10,000 scholarships (up to the amount of $40,000) to a limited number of interns determined by the BLM Internship Selection Committee. Students will not be required to submit additional information for consideration. The BLM Program will begin in late May 2021 with rolling start dates and will end in August 2021 (or as otherwise agreed with the host corporation or firm). Hiring decisions are made strictly by the participating entity. Internships may range from 6-10 weeks at sole discretion of the participating entity.

According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), racial minorities remain underrepresented in the leadership ranks of legal services organizations. People of color made up about 26.48% of associates but accounted for less than 8.1% of equity partners among all firms who participated in a 2020 NALP survey. Black attorneys surpassed 2% of Partners for the first time since NALP began collecting data, while black women continue to account for less than 1%. In 2020, NALP announced that for the first time, the number of Black associates in Big Law exceeded 5%.

If your firm or corporation is interested in partnering with NBA-CLS by providing or sponsoring an opportunity for a student in the BLM Program, please contact LaTanya Langley or Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah at info@nbacls.com for more information.

If you are a law student and you are interested in the BLM Program, please submit your resume and cover letter no later than Friday, April 16, 2021 to info@nbacls.com.

About National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section
The mission of the NBA Commercial Law Section is to bring its outside counsel members together with in-house counsel who seek to increase the diversity of their outside counsel ranks and to provide networking and education forums to address the interests of NBA members practicing in the area of commercial law. The NBA Commercial Law Section is also committed to serving the community and expanding the pipeline of African Americans entering the legal profession. For more information visit www.nbacls.com.

Apply Now

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