Ava Lias-Booker, managing partner of the firm’s Baltimore office, has been honored as one of Maryland’s “Super Lawyers” for 2016 in the practice area of business litigation. She is ranked among the state’s top 50 women lawyers and among Maryland’s top 100 lawyers overall by Super Lawyers Magazine based on the number of points she received in the survey’s nomination, research and review process.
Ava is also featured in a four-page profile in the new Maryland edition of Super Lawyers. In a wide-ranging interview, she discusses how she developed from budding criminal defense lawyer into one of Baltimore’s leading corporate lawyers. One of the first African Americans from her university to go into private practice with a major law firm, Ava talks about how bringing greater diversity into law firms, corporations and tech firms, particularly at the top levels, will expand opportunity for women and minorities, “so that we can create institutions that are hospitable to all folks and diverse thinking.”
In addition to Ava, Maryland Super Lawyers recognized Baltimore partners Alan Cason for government finance, Elena Marcuss for employment and labor and Patrick Shelley for real estate.
The magazine also recognized Baltimore associates Craig Haughton and Melissa Martinez as Maryland “Rising Stars” for business litigation. Rising Stars honors top up-and-coming lawyers who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing 10 or fewer years.
A Thomson Reuters publication, Super Lawyers identifies candidates through independent research and by inviting lawyers in each state to nominate the best attorneys they have observed in action. A lawyer-led research staff evaluates candidates on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Candidates also undergo a peer review by practice area.