Overview
(November 16, 2017, Washington, DC) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP partner Brigida Benitez received the Diversity Champion Award at the fourth annual National Diversity Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair. The conference was held on October 14 at the Florida International University College of Law in Miami.
The National Diversity Pre-Law Conference & Law Fair is a signature event of National Pre-Law Diversity Initiatives, Inc., a (c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit educational and charitable organization.
According to organizers, Ms. Benitez was selected because of her distinguished legal career as an accomplished attorney, law professor, “trailblazing” bar association leader, contributor and community servant.
Evangeline Mitchell, founder and executive director of the National Pre-Law Diversity Initiatives, commented: “We wanted to recognize you because you are a lawyer who has demonstrated a sincere commitment to excellence, service and social justice, and who through your example will serve as a superlative role model to future diverse lawyers. We want to shine a light on you as a lawyer whose good work and good works have had an impact and will leave a lasting legacy in our communities and nation. We believe that you are most deserving of this special honor.”
At Steptoe, Ms. Benitez focuses on complex litigation, global anti-corruption matters, and internal investigations. Recognized for her accomplishments in civil litigation defense, she draws on more than 25 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes, complex litigation and arbitration matters, along with a deep understanding of the multijurisdictional investigative process, to help companies and individuals assess and mitigate reputational and litigation risk.
Ms. Benitez is a past president of the DC Bar, the second largest unified bar in the country with more than 100,000 members worldwide. Ms. Benitez serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where she teaches a course on international business litigation and federal practice. She has been recognized by Hispanic Business magazine as a “Woman of the Year” and one of the “100 most influential US Hispanics,” and by Latino Leaders magazine as one of the “25 Most Influential Hispanic Lawyers.”
To listen to Ms. Benitez’s acceptance speech, please click here.
About Steptoe
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, successful representation of clients before governmental agencies, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has more than 500 lawyers and other professionals in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
