Nearly 200 NAWJ members, interested judges, lawyers, law students and others from Atlanta and beyond joined our Board of Directors at the 2009 MidYear Meeting and Southeastern Leadership Conference. The Conference was hosted by NAWJ President La Tia W. Martin and was held at the Intercontinental Hotel Buckhead in Atlanta. Conference attendees gathered to enjoy a plethora of events, including: an informative luncheon address by the Hon. Glenda Hatchett; a recognition ceremony for the pioneering efforts of former Eleventh Circuit U.S. Appeals Court Judge Hon. Phyllis A. Kravitch which was held at the fabulous law offices of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP; and a general spread of good cheer at the reception held at the lovely home of Conference Co-Chair Georgia Supreme Court Presiding Justice Carol W. Hunstein.

The Keynote Luncheon Speaker, Hon. Glenda Hatchett, host of the syndicated show ‘Judge Hatchett’ and former Chief Presiding Judge of the Fulton County’s Juvenile Court, delivered a riveting speech on children which reminded judges in attendance to “keep their promise to care for our children while upholding the law.” This event was graciously sponsored by one of Atlanta’s leading law firms: Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer, LLP.

We applaud the outstanding efforts of the Conference Co-Chairs from the Georgia Supreme Court Presiding Justice Carol Hunstein and Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears as well as local conference planning committee members; Hon. Nina Radakovich, Hon. Cynthia Becker, Leah Givan, Terry Cobb and Sylvia Gaines. Programming included a substantive and cutting edge Family Law program which discussed emerging issues of parenthood and the courts response to family and community stability. The outstanding Panel speakers were Washington and Lee University Law School Professor Robin Fretwell Wilson and former Georgia Judge Tom Rawlings, Director of the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate. Those in attendance posed many questions to the panelists which resulted in quite interesting discussions.

Boasting an awe-inspiring view of the city, few offices in Atlanta rival those of the Law Offices of Nelson Mullins in the new Atlantic Center Tower, which hosted the Friday evening reception through the enthusiastic charm of one of its attorneys, Taylor Daly.

Hon. Carol W. Hunstein welcomed attendees and friends to her wonderful home for a delightful evening reception at which Equal Access to Justice Scholarships were awarded to Lisamarie Nellyn Bristol, a Juris Doctor candidate at Georgia State University College of Law in Atlanta, Georgia, and Amber C. Saunders, candidate for Juris Doctor at John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia. Attorneys Kevin Rubin and John Harbin, representatives from reception sponsor law firms Greenberg Traurig and King & Spalding respectively, were on hand to recognize and support efforts to advance emerging leaders in the law.

NAWJ recognizes the persistent and selfless efforts of Friends Committee Chairs Linda A. Klein, Esq., Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; Stephanie E. Parker, Esq., Jones Day; Elizabeth A. Price, Esq., Alston & Bird LLP; Lynn M. Roberson, Esq., Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers LLP; Lovita T. Tandy Esq., King & Spalding LLP; and Lee Wallace, Esq., Bird Law Group, P.C. and the supportive Conference Sponsors;

Platinum Sponsors: Daily Report and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP;

Gold Sponsors: Alston & Bird LLP, Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer, LLP, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, King & Spalding and West, a Thomson Reuters Business;

Silver Sponors: Cook & Connelly, Jones Day, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, and Schiff Hardin LLP;

Bronze Sponsors: Atlanta Bar Association, Darryl Wiseman Flowers, Doffermyre Shields Canfield Knowles & Devine LLP, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover, PC, Peter A. Law, P.C., Malone Law, and Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, LLC; and

Supporters: Atlanta Bar Litigation Section, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, Belk Department Store at Phipps Plaza, Bodker, Ramsey, Andrews, Winograd & Wildstein, P.C., Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP, The Law Office of Michael P. Carestia, Coca Cola, Court Call, The Finley Firm, P.C., Laurie Webb Daniels, Esq., Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, Georgia State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Insley and Race, LLC, The Junior League of Atlanta, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, Jim McDonald, Esq., McKenna Long Aldridge, C. Brad Marsh & Elizabeth Obenshain, Michael & Heather Papirio, Lynn Roberson, Esq., Slappey & Sadd, LLC, Stonewall Bar Association and Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP.

Thank you all so very much!

HOST HOTEL
This year’s Midyear and Southeastern Leadership Conference will take place at the Intercontinental Buckhead in the near suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Hotel rates are $179.00 per night, and you may reserve accommodations by calling (877) 422-8254. Identify our group name, "NAWJ", to receive the conference rate. You must make reservations by March 13, 2009. Subject to availability.

Click here to register online and pay by MasterCard, VISA or AMEX. Or download the registration form to fax or mail to NAWJ. Send to:

Friday LuncheonNoon – 1:30PM

Friday Afternoon Panels - Family Law1:30PM - 3:30PM

Friday Evening Reception6:00PM - 8:00PM

Saturday Breakfast7:00AM - 9:00PM

Saturday Board Meeting9:00AM - 3:00PM

Saturday Afternoon

Saturday Evening Judicial Reception6:00PM - 8:00PM

Sunday Farewell Breakfast7:00AM - 9:00PM

Sponsorship Levels and Benefits: Platinum Level Gold Level Silver Level Bronze Level

Platinum ($10,000)
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Gold ($5,000)
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Silver ($2,500)
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Bronze ($1,000)
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