BALTIMORE — The Black Law Students Association at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law has honored McGuireWoods Baltimore partner Ava Lias-Booker as its 2017 “Graduate of the Year,” recognizing her contributions to the Maryland legal community. She received the award at the BLSA’s 42nd Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet in Baltimore on Feb. 24.
The award is presented annually to a graduate whose career is committed to advancing the goals of the National Black Law Students Association by fostering professional excellence, mentoring black law students and influencing meaningful change within the community.
Lias-Booker, a 1986 UM Carey Law graduate and a member of its board of visitors, has facilitated networking and mentorship opportunities for BLSA members.
Lias-Booker heads the Baltimore litigation practice group and is co-chair of the firm’s Consumer and Retail Banking Industry Team. She serves on the firm’s seven member Associate’s Committee, the firm’s board of partners and is the former managing partner of the Baltimore office. She represents businesses in complex commercial and civil litigation in state and federal courts. Her clients are from a broad range of industries, including financial, retail, telecommunications and petroleum/energy. She has more than 25 years of experience litigating and resolving disputes to support her clients’ strategic goals and objectives.
“It was such an honor to receive this award and be a part of preparing and mentoring the next generation of African-American lawyers,” said Lias-Booker, who heads McGuireWoods’ Baltimore office litigation practice and serves on the firm’s seven-member national Associates Committee. She also serves on the board of visitors of the Duke University School of Law.
Lias-Booker recently was recognized as “Litigator of the Year” by the Maryland State Bar Association’s Litigation Section, and she is a three-time honoree on The Daily Record’s list of Maryland’s Top 100 Women.
McGuireWoods LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 23 offices worldwide. It ranks among the top 10 law firms in the Financial Times’ prestigious North America Innovative Lawyers report. The firm has been recognized 11 times on BTI Consulting’s “Client Service A-Team” — elite firms singled out for client service excellence based on unprompted feedback from clients in major companies. Its full-service public affairs arm, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, offers infrastructure and economic development, strategic communications and grassroots advocacy, and government relations solutions. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com.