(Newswire.net — June 27, 2017) Beverly Hills, California — The National Bar Association (“NBA”) has announced the 2017 recipients of its “40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates” awards. The awards recognize the nation’s top lawyers under the age 40 who exemplify a broad range of high achievement in the legal field, including in advocacy, innovation, vision, leadership and overall legal and community involvement.

“As one of the preeminent bar associations in the world, the NBA has an obligation to ensure that our communities are informed of their rights, and placed in the best position to receive justice when challenged. Each of our 40 Under 40 award recipients possesses remarkable intellect and a professional drive that enhances the future of our profession. On behalf of an organization with a magnificent history of great leaders, I am proud to give the 2017 inductees the recognition they deserve as they will no doubt continue to make the legal field and our communities a better place for all,” said Kevin Judd, president of the National Bar Association.

According to Aubrey “Nick” Pittman, Chair of the 40 Under 40 Awards, “the selection panel, which included former NBA presidents and other NBA leaders, undertook the demanding task of reviewing a substantial list of outstanding nominees from across the globe and narrowing the list to the 40 individuals who will receive the prestigious award. It wasn’t an easy job considering the breadth of talent in the pool.” The recipients will be honored at the National Bar Association’s renowned 40 Under 40 Awards Gala on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, during the NBA’s 92nd Annual Convention in Toronto, Canada.

The final selections represent a cross-section of legal professionals, including lawyers from big, medium and small firms, solo and industry practitioners, government lawyers, judges, academicians, corporate counsels, young elected officials, and various other lawyers, all of whom are using their juris doctor degree in innovative and community impacting ways. During the Black- tie Awards Gala, recipients of the Nation’s Best Advocate of the Year and the Excellence in Leadership, Service, Activism, and Innovation awards will also be announced.

2017 NBA Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40

Tamara Benefield, Partner, Law Offices of Tamara Benefield
Jovan Blacknell, Principal Attorney, Law Office of J. Blacknell
Jacqueline Brooks, Partner, Saul Ewing LLP
Cinnamon Butler, Division Chief, U.S. Dept of Agriculture – Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
Lesley Horton Campbell, Associate General Counsel, Tiffany & Co.
Brandon Cox, Associate, Tucker Ellis LLP
Miesha Darrough, Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney – Southern District of Florida
Rodney Diggs, Partner, Ivie, McNeill & Wyatt
Leander Dolphin, Partner, Shipman & Goodman, LLP
Miguel Dominguez, Attorney, Morgan & Morgan
Patricia Donkor, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, Civil Litigation Division
Nailah Gordon-Decicieo, Associate, Joanna Gordon Law Firm P.C.
Ashlei Gradney, Attorney, Kastl Law, P.C.
Meredith Graves, Senior Analyst, U.S. Government Accountability Office
Chasity Sharp Grice, Partner, Peppel, Gomes & MacIntosh, P.C.
Stephen Hall, Senior Litigation Associate, Holland & Knight
Nathaniel Hargress, Senior Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs, Viacom Media Networks
Robert Harmon, Deputy General Counsel and Director, Tesla Motors, Inc.
Keabii Henderson, Chief Judge, Cayce Municipal Court, City of Cayce, South Carolina
Shammara Henderson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office

– District of New Mexico

Lawanda Hodges, Managing Attorney, The Law Firm of Lawanda Hodges, LLC
Carla Laroche, Law Fellow, Criminal Justice Reform, Southern Poverty Law Center
Latrice Lee, Associate, Polsinelli
Rachel Lindsay, Associate, Cooper Scully
Tyesha Miley, Attorney, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Shawnte Mitchell, V.P., General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Aptevo Therapeutics Inc.
Mariam Moktar, Associate, Lenczner Slaght
Lillie Nkenchor, Corporate VP, Advanced Planning Group, New York Life Insurance Co.
Bambo Obaro, Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Aaron Ogletree, Attorney, Arbitrator and Mediator, Law Office of Aaron Ogletree
Mandisa “Mandy” Price, Senior Associate, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Ebony Rivon, Managing Partner, Rivon Law Firm, PLLC
Jason Roberts, Shareholder, Rubin, Fortunato & Harbison, P.C.
Nexus Sea, Associate, Baker Hostetler
Stacey Sublett, Associate, Beveridge & Diamond, PC
Natalie Walker, Partner, Webster & Fredrickson, PLLC
Lovely Warren, Mayor, City of Rochester, NY
Julie Wenah, Counsel, Airbnb
Lacreasha Wilkerson, Assistant Attorney General, Louisiana Dept. of Justice
Lance Woods, Associate, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION

The National Bar Association was founded in 1925 and is the nation’s oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges. It represents the interests of more than 65,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students. The NBA is organized around 23 substantive law sections, 9 divisions, 12 regions and 84 affiliate chapters throughout the United States and around the world. For more information, visit: www.nationalbar.org

About Law Offices Of Tamara Benefield

The Law Offices of Tamara Benefield is a Professional Law Corporation based in Beverly Hills, California. We are dedicated to the performance of outstanding legal advocacy, representation and litigation on your behalf.