Lead By Example Award

Because women are still not equally represented in the legal profession, NAWL celebrates the allies in positions of power who strive to close the gap. The Lead By Example Award is presented to a leader who is demonstrably responsible for increased leadership and career progression opportunities for women lawyers in their organization and beyond.


For example, if in-house, they have a high percentage of direct female reports, with women in key positions, such as head of litigation. In firms, there is a high percentage of women equity partners, women are present in significant numbers on important committees, and there are significant numbers of female relationship managers. Endorsements from women lawyers whom the nominee has mentored or sponsored are encouraged.



2024

Shannon Minter
Legal Director,

National Center for Lesbian Rights

2023

Alan Tse
Global Chief Legal Officer

and Corporate Secretary,

JLL

2022

Rubén Castillo
Partner, Akerman LLP
Former Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

2021

Michael K. Hurst
Partner,

Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann

2020

 Joel Stern
Chief Executive Officer,
NAMWOLF

2019

 James L. Chosy
Executive Vice President and General Counsel,
U.S. Bancorp.

2018

Benjamin Wilson
Chairman,
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.

2017

Mark Roellig
Chief Technology and Administrative Officer,
MassMutual Insurance Company

2016

Alan Bryan
 Senior Associate General Counsel, Legal
Operations & Outside Counsel Management, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

2015

Jonathan Feigelson
Senior Managing Director, General Counsel and Head of Corporate Governance,
TIAA-CREF

(Image courtesy of ALM Media)

2014

Robert J. Grey, Jr.
Partner,

Hunton & Williams LLP;
Executive Director,

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)

(Image Courtesy of Richmond Times-Dispatch)

2013

Daniel J. Goldstein
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Pitney Bowes Inc.

(Image courtesy of Pitney Bowes Inc.)

2012

David Boies
Chairman,

Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP

(Image courtesy of Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP)

2011

Honorable Harold Baer
U.S. District Court
Southern District of New York

(Image courtesy of the New York Times)

2011

Marc Firestone
Executive Vice President, Corporate & Legal Affairs and General Counsel,
Kraft Foods, Inc.

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