WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACC National Capital Region today announced the finalists for its 2015 Corporate Counsel Awards. The awards honor the work of the region’s leading in-house practitioners over the past year in the following categories -- Outstanding Chief Legal Officer, Outstanding In-House Counsel, Outstanding Paraprofessional, and Outstanding Law Department. ACC National Capital Region will announce the winners during its 2015 Corporate Counsel Awards Reception at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner in McLean, Va. on Thursday, October 8, 2015.
The finalists for the 2015 Corporate Counsel Awards are:
Outstanding Chief Legal Officer:
- Judith A. Branzelle, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
- Evan R. Farber, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, The Advisory Board Company
- Sean M. Gallagher, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Cognosante
- Juliet Protas, Chief Legal Officer, Constellis Group, Inc.
- James M. Winner, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Aegis Defense Services LLC
Outstanding In-House Counsel:
- Heather French, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, American Capital, Ltd.
- Tamara Jack, Associate General Counsel, LMI
- Anne Braucher Kamosso, Counsel, MERSCORP Holdings, Inc.
- Marc Michael, Assistant General Counsel for Dispute Resolution, The AES Corporation
Outstanding Paraprofessional:
- Reine Blackwell-Moore, Senior Manager - Dispute Resolution Group, Marriott International Inc.
- Leith Mann, Assistant Secretary, The AES Corporation
Outstanding Law Department:
- Hilton Worldwide
- Leidos
- The AES Corporation
- Walker & Dunlop, Inc.
"We are again delighted to bring attention to the important work done by so many talented individuals and legal departments in our region," said Samuel A. Flax, co-chair of the Corporate Counsel Awards, and executive vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and secretary, American Capital Ltd.
"The achievements and contributions of the finalists demonstrate the many ways in which the in-house legal team plays an integral role in the success of an organization," said Simone Wu, co-chair of the Corporate Counsel Awards, and senior vice president, general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer, Choice Hotels International, Inc.
The finalists were selected from nominations submitted by the legal community-at-large in response to an open call for nominations. The panel of judges for the Corporate Counsel Awards is comprised of the following leaders in the business and legal communities in this region:
- Mike Daniels, Chairman, LMI and Invincea, Inc.
- Samuel A. Flax, Member of the Board of Directors of ACC National Capital Region, Co-Chair of the Corporate Counsel Awards, and Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary, American Capital Ltd.
- Robert Falk, President of ACC National Capital Region and General Counsel, Human Rights Campaign.
- Danielle Holley-Walker, Dean, Howard University School of Law.
- Patricia A. Lenahan, Commercial Team Leader, TD Bank.
- Steven A. Museles, General Counsel and Head of Client Relations, Alliance Partners.
- Veta T. Richardson, President and CEO, Association of Corporate Counsel.
- Timothy K. Webster, President of the D.C. Bar and Partner, Sidley Austin LLP.
- Simone Wu, Member of the Board of Directors of ACC National Capital Region, Co-Chair of the Corporate Counsel Awards, and Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, Choice Hotels International, Inc.
In addition, the ACC Board of Directors selected these special honorees:
- Drew McKay, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of The Fairfax Group, will receive the Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award. McKay served as president of the association in 1995-96 and was on its Board of Directors, and also held leadership roles with the organization’s parent, the Association of Corporate Counsel. McKay has more than 30 years of private sector and Federal government experience. He has been an executive in private consulting firms since 1986, working for the Fairfax Group or its related companies. Previously, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and held a variety of senior staff positions in the U.S. Congress.
- The legal departments of Hilton Worldwide and Lockheed Martin Corporation will receive In-House Innovator Awards for implementing creative approaches to in-house practice that have made their departments more effective business partners. Hilton Worldwide will be recognized for the professional development programs it put in place for all members of the legal staff, its operational initiative to drive greater value from its engagements with outside counsel, and its business-partner builder initiative that aligns legal resources with the needs of the business. Lockheed Martin will be recognized for its development of an enterprise-wide approach to delivering legal services to the company’s new international organization, ensuring that there is country-specific information on laws, policies and other important business issues, as well as resources and contacts, readily available to the company’s international team members.
Created in 2005, the Corporate Counsel Awards have become a well-recognized and sought-after honor for members of the in-house community in the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Virginia and suburban Maryland. For a list of all previous Award winners, please visit http://www.acc.com/chapters/ncr/awards.cfm. Registration for the Awards Reception is now open at http://www.cvent.com/d/trqtvl.
About ACC National Capital Region
With approximately 2,400 members, ACC National Capital Region serves the professional needs of in-house counsel in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and suburban Maryland. It is the regional chapter of the global Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC). ACC National Capital Region members participate in more than 90 professional development programs each year and keep connected through a variety of networking events and communications vehicles. The organization has been active in regulatory issues that affect the in-house bar, and in providing education to encourage advancements in the standards of corporate legal practice. The organization was first established in 1980 as the Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA). As of January 1, 2015, the chapter adopted the name ACC National Capital Region to better communicate the area it serves and support the ACC global brand. More information about ACC National Capital Region is available on its Web site: http://www.acc.com/chapters/ncr.
