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2023 Top Women Lawyers & Legislators in Leadership Awards

Advocating for Advancement

The Top Women Lawyers in Leadership and Top Women Legislators in Leadership awards emphasize the accomplishments and diverse backgrounds of women who are making major professional contributions through their service in a leadership role. Candidates include elite women who have created growth in a given field and shown future potential or gone beyond traditional mentoring to create new pathways. Nominees for Top Women Lawyers in Leadership should be leading women lawyers in academia, business, entrepreneurship, general counsels, trade, labor, journalism or the community. Nominees for Top Women Legislators in Leadership should be leading women in public office.

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Event Details

Wednesday, October 18, 2023
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

5:00 - 5:45 PM Boarding
5:45 - 9:00 PM Cruise

Spirit of Chicago Cruise, Navy Pier

Members, $150 | Non-Members, $175

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Questions? Please contact wbai@wbaillinois.org.

Event Details

Thursday, October 27, 2022
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Chicago Athletic Association
12 S Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

Members $150 // Non-Members $175 

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Questions? Please contact wbai@wbaillinois.org.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Get in touch to discuss a partnership option that works for you and your business objectives and get in front of the WBAI member companies today. Sponsorship obtained for the Top Women Legislators in Leadership will go toward funding the WBAI PAC. Contact WBAI at wbai@wbaillinois.org for sponsorship information. 

View Sponsorship Kit
View PAC Sponsorship Kit

2023 Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Honorees

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Alfreda Bradley-Coar

2023 WBAI Top Woman Lawyer in Leadership, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & People Officer, Obama Foundation
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Margaret Duval

2023 WBAI Top Woman Lawyer in Leadership, Executive Director, Ascend Justice
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Patricia Brown Holmes

2023 WBAI Top Woman Lawyer in Leadership, Managing Partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP
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Diana Joseph

2023 WBAI Top Woman Lawyer in Leadership, (awarded posthumously), Senior Financial Life Advisor, Telemus
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Karen Sheley

2023 WBAI Top Woman Lawyer in Leadership,
Deputy General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Office of the Illinois Governor

2023 Top Women Legislators in Leadership Honorees

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Representative Camille Y. Lilly

2023 WBAI Top Woman Legislator in Leadership,
Illinois State Representative
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Commissioner Josina Morita

2023 WBAI Top Woman Legislator in Leadership,
Cook County Commissioner
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Representative Ann Williams

2023 WBAI Top Woman Legislator in Leadership,
Illinois State Representative

2023 Top DEI Employers

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Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

2023 WBAI Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award
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Honigman LLP

2023 WBAI Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award
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Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

2023 WBAI Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award
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Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, LLP

2023 WBAI Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award

2023 Top Flexible Employers

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Dentons

2023 WBAI Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Flexible Workplace Award
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Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services

2023 WBAI Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Flexible Workplace Award
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The Law Office of Erin M. Wilson LLC

2023 WBAI Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Flexible Workplace Award
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Zurich North America

2023 WBAI Top Legal Employers in Leadership - Flexible Workplace Award

Thanks To Our Sponsors


Partnership

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Bronze

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Award Details

The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) is calling for nominations for its 2023 Top Women Lawyers and Legislators in Leadership Awards (TWLIL).  WBAI is thrilled to announce two categories of Top Legal Employers in Leadership Awards new this year. The awards will be presented at the WBAI’s Top Women Lawyers and Legislators in Leadership Reception this fall.

The WBAI offers four categories for awards.

(1) Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award

WBAI’s Top Women Lawyers in Leadership Award recognizes the accomplishments and diverse backgrounds of women who are making major professional contributions through their service in a leadership role. Candidates include elite women who have created growth in a given field and shown future potential or gone beyond traditional mentoring to create new pathways for women. Nominees for Top Women Lawyers in Leadership should be leading women lawyers in academia, business, entrepreneurship, general counsels, trade, labor, journalism, or the community. 

(2) Top Women Legislators in Leadership Award

WBAI’s Top Women Legislators in Leadership honors leading women in public office who are also making major professional contributions to the advancement of women through their service.

(3) Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) Award (new in 2023!)

The WBAI DE&I Award recognizes a law firm, company, or legal organization that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession. Candidates include organizations with a commitment to establishing an inclusive work environment, dedication to retaining, developing, and promoting diverse individuals in the legal profession, actively increasing opportunities for diverse individuals, and leadership on diversity issues in the legal community, with a particular focus on advancing and empowering women including women of color.

(4) Flexible Workplace Award (new in 2023!)

WBAI's Flexible Workplace Award recognizes legal employers in Illinois who exhibit commitment to work-life balance, ensuring that lawyers can take care of their families and selves while pursuing a successful career. Candidates include organizations with a commitment to attorney work-life balance including part-time employment, part-time partnership, paid leave, flexible work schedules, telecommuting, and anything additional that is relevant to supporting work-life balance.

Submission Criteria
WBAI members and our supporters are encouraged to nominate lawyer and legislator candidates for the 2023 Top Women Lawyers and Legislators in Leadership Awards. Firms, companies, and legal organizations may be nominated for WBAI’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Award and WBAI’s Flexible Workplace Award. All nominations must be accompanied by a complete written submission, 750 words or less, which can be found in the Nomination Link below. The nomination deadline is Friday, September 15, 2023.

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Submit a Nomination

Questions?

If you have any questions about these awards, please reach out to wbai@wbaillinois.org or (321) 341-8530.

Event Co-Chairs

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Sarah King

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Kristine Schanbacher

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Tracey    Schroeder

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Jane Sitorius

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Molly Condon Wells