The National Association of Women Lawyers Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon

20 July 2006

On July 18, 2006, the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)(R) held its Annual Awards Luncheon at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. The luncheon, which was attended by approximately 1000 people in the public and private legal sectors, honored Judge Katharine S. Hayden of the United States District Court, District of New Jersey; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., for its legal department's diversity initiative; and Beth L. Kaufman as the NAWL Outstanding Member of the year. The luncheon was opened by Carol Robles-Roman, New York City's Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs, who welcomed attendees to the city and to the event.

Lorraine Koc, the 2005-2006 President of NAWL and General Counsel/Vice President of Deb Shops, Inc., presented Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., with the President's Award in recognition of the legal department's diversity initiatives. Wal-Mart's legal department employs 42 attorneys of color (30.4% of the department) and 56 women (40.4% of the department), and promotes women and minorities to management positions within the company. Wal-Mart also requires that its outside counsel appoint women attorneys and attorneys of color as relationship partners on Wal-Mart matters. Tom Mars, General Counsel and Senior Vice-President of Wal-Mart, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Koc also issued the NAWL Challenge, which addresses gender disproportionality in the upper echelons of the legal profession. In particular, NAWL recognizes that women comprise nearly 50% of incoming law school students but only about 15% of equity partners at law firms and 15% of chief legal officers. Thus, NAWL challenges both law firms and corporations with in-house legal departments to cure this disparity so that, by the year 2015, 30% of all equity partners, 30% of all chief legal officers and 30% of all tenured law faculties are women.

Cathy Fleming, the 2006-2007 President of NAWL and a partner at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, presented the Arabella Babb Mansfield award to Judge Katharine S. Hayden of the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. The Arabella Babb Mansfield award is NAWL's highest award and is given in recognition of professional achievement, positive influence and valuable contribution to women in the law and in society. The award is named after the first women to be appointed to a state bar in the United States and is usually given once a year.

The Annual Luncheon also marked the installation of the 2006-2007 Executive Board. The new officers were sworn in by Judge Hayden and include:

Cathy Fleming President

Jessie K. Liu President-Elect

Holly English Vice President

Lisa B. Horowitz Recording Secretary

Dorian Denburg Corresponding Secretary

Margaret M. Foster Treasurer

Peggy A. Davis Treasurer-Elect

Kristen H. Albertson Member at Large

Deborah S. Froling Member at Large

Lisa Gilford Member at Large

Beth L. Kaufman Member at Large

Zoe Sanders Nettles Member at Large

Anita Wallace Thomas Member at Large

Lorraine K. Koc Immediate Past President

Stephanie A. Scharf Past President

Other Annual Meeting events included a discussion entitled "Up the Down Staircase," with Tim O'Brien, the New York Times reporter who wrote an article by the same name earlier this year concerning the promotion and retention of women lawyers in large law firms; a continuing legal education seminar entitled "Effective Partnering Strategies;" and NAWL's General Assembly.

NAWL is the leading national voluntary organization devoted to the interests of women lawyers and women's rights. Founded over 100 years ago, NAWL has members in all 50 states and engages in a variety of programs and activities to advance its mission. More information can be found at http://www.nawl.org .

Source: prnewswire

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