Promote diversity in the legal profession by fostering successful relationships among preeminent minority and women owned law firms and private/public entities.
Achieve equity in legal opportunity through minority and women owned law firms.
The National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), founded in 2001, is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association comprised of minority and women owned law firms and other interested parties throughout the United States. Many corporations and public entities interested in diversifying their outside law firm ranks focus almost exclusively on the utilization of minority and female attorneys at majority firms. Yet the available data strongly suggests that these efforts have not resulted in greater diversity in the legal profession. It is NAMWOLF’s view that the most effective way for corporations to increase diversity in the legal profession is to increase their retention of minority and women owned law firms. NAMWOLF’s Law Firm Membership is comprised of AV-rated firms across the nation that represent major corporate clients. NAMWOLF assists its Law Firm Members in developing strategic alliances, coalitions, and affiliations with corporations, in-house counsel, and other legal trade associations. Through these efforts, NAMWOLF helps empower minority and women owned law firms.
The Board was established by the founding members of NAMWOLF to make decisions regarding the policies and procedures of the organization. The Directors also assist in the recruitment of Corporate Sponsors and Corporate and Public Entity Partners, as well as Affiliate Members and Advisory Council Members.
Jamie Rudman
Chair
Sanchez & Amador LLP
Leslie D. Davis
CEO
NAMWOLF
Nelson Bellido
Vice Chair
Roig Lawyers
Valerie Matherne
Vice Chair
Courington, Kiefer, Sommers, Marullo & Matherne, L.L.C.
Eileen Letts
Treasurer
Zuber Lawler LLP
Kerrie Heslin
Secretary
Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C.
Amanda Alexander
Alexander Law, P.A.
Sheryl Axelrod
The Axelrod Firm, PC
Seth Bryant
Bryant Rabbino LLP
Lydia Bueschel
Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel P.C.
Gopal M. Burgher
BurgherGray LLP
Paul Garcia
Paul Garcia & Associates
Fred Hasani
Acceleron Law Group LLP
Lisa Jakob
Merck
Ken Johnson
Johnson, Blumberg, & Associates, LLC
Chad Lang
SMGQ Law
Tina Loza
Loza & Loza
Theos McKinney
Constellation
Stacy Fode
General Counsel
Board Emeritus
Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C.
John M. Murdock
Chair Emeritus
Potter & Murdock, P.C.
The NAMWOLF Advisory Council has been established to serve as a consultative and advisory body, providing valuable input to the Board of Directors on matters related to the mission, objectives, and goals of the association. In addition, the Advisory Council provides the means for discussing and evaluating NAMWOLF affairs and provides the opportunity for reporting on, exchanging ideas about, and evaluating the activities and programs.
Lisa Jakob
Managing Counsel, Trademarks
Barry Parsons
Associate General Counsel
Nicole Torrado
Deputy Chief Legal Counsel
I have been working with a number of NAMWOLF firms since before I knew there was a NAMWOLF. When I found out that so many of the firms that had achieved great litigation results for me were members of the same organization, it struck me that the way NAMWOLF vets its potential members must be consistent with what I like to see in a firm. Since that time, I have started working with many more NAMWOLF firms (including, in one year, having NAMWOLF firms serve as lead trial counsel in 2 of the 3 employment cases I tried that year). I have yet to be anything other than extremely pleased.
Led by CEO Leslie D. Davis, the NAMWOLF team manages NAMWOLF’s core operations—connecting law firm members with in-house counsel, planning and executing NAMWOLF’s signature events, coordinating the committees, developing relationships with sponsors and business partners, and so much more.
Vice President – Strategy, Marketing & Events
jane_kalata@namwolf.org
Director of Development
clare_grossman@namwolf.org
Communications & Membership Coordinator
sherisse_rodriguez@namwolf.org
Executive Assistant – Special Project Manager
andrea_torres@namwolf.org
Graphic Designer, Website Designer & Meeting Support Specialist
laci@rothstokes.com
Writer, Contributor, Webmaster & Meeting Support Specialist
matt@rothstokes.com
NAMWOLF’s seven operational committees direct NAMWOLF’s practices and include the Admissions & Law Firm Membership Committee, Nominating Committee, Finance Committee, Membership Engagement & Outreach Committee, Advocacy Committee, National Development Committee, Meetings Committee, and Communications Committee.
NAMWOLF’s Annual Diversity Initiative Achievement Award recognizes the corporation/public entity that has exhibited outstanding achievement in increasing minority and women owned law firm participation.
AbbVie (2024)
State Farm (2023)
Walgreens (2022)
State Farm (2021)
Bank of America (2020)
Honda (2019)
State Farm (2018)
FDIC (2017)
Allstate Insurance Company (2016)
Walmart (2015)
GlaxoSmithKline (2014)
Shell (2013)
KeyCorp (2012)
Nationwide (2011)
Prudential (2010)
American Airlines (2009)
KeyCorp (2008)
Accenture (2007)
DuPont (2006)
Every year, NAMWOLF’s Advisory Council selects a member of the council who has gone above and beyond to help NAMWOLF further its mission and vision.
Lisa Jakob (2024)
Barry Parsons (2023)
Theos D. McKinney III (2022)
Vanessa K. Watson (2021)
David Peim (2020)
Justi Rae Miller (2019)
Melford Walker (2018)
Rick Hammond (2017)
Shanin T. Fuller (2016)
Matthew Morningstar (2015)
Anthony E. Gay (2014)
Barbara Stevens (2013)
Rick Richardson (2012)
Gilda Spencer (2011)
This Award recognizes a law firm member for its outstanding achievement in advancing NAMWOLF’s mission of promoting diversity and inclusion by fostering the relationship between preeminent minority and women owned law firms and corporations and public entities.
Nukk-Freeman & Cerra P.C. (2024)
CM Law (2023)
Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel (2022)
CM Law (2021)
DTO Law (2020)
Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. (2019)
Sapientia Law Group (2018)
Sanchez & Amador, LLP (2017)
Bush, Seyferth & Paige PLLC (2016)
Lim Ruger & Kim (2015)
Berens & Miller (2014)
Griesing Law (2013)
Wilson Turner Kosmo (2012)
Suzie Scanlon Rabinowitz (2023)
Emery Harlan (2022)
This Award is given to an individual who has tirelessly worked toward achieving NAMWOLF’s mission through stellar advocacy.
Sheryl Axelrod (2017)
Martin P. Greene (2016)
Yolanda Coly (2015)
The NAMWOLF Joel Stern Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Pipeline Scholarship is open to second- and third year law school students who are enrolled in an ABA accredited law program in a state selected by NAMWOLF and/or students who attend an ABA accredited law school at an historically black college or university (HBCU). To qualify for this scholarship, a candidate must be enrolled and in good standing at an ABA accredited HBCU school or law program anywhere in the United States or enrolled in an ABA accredited law school in the state selected by NAMWOLF. The goal of this scholarships is to provide financial assistance to worthy law students to promote diversity in the legal profession. For more information about the program, please contact Andrea Torres by email at andrea_torres@namwolf.org or by phone at 312.733.7780.
Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University
Georgia State University
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School
NAMWOLF law firms benefit from the many opportunities for marketing, networking, and referrals through NAMWOLF’s events, corporate initiatives, and strategic opportunities for member firms. NAMWOLF uses a detailed vetting process to determine firm admission, performing independent research on each prospective firm based on a range of criteria. Click below to apply to become a NAMWOLF member.
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