Corporate Counsel Awards

ANNOUNCING THE 2023 CORPORATE COUNSEL AWARD

WINNERS & SPECIAL AWARD RECIPIENTS

The ACC NCR Board of Directors and the Corporate Counsel Awards Co-Chairs and
Judges are excited to announce the winners for the 2023 Corporate Counsel Awards. 
This is the 188th year of these prestigious awards.

WINNERS

Outstanding Law Department
WTW

Outstanding Paraprofessional
Aletha Pharr-Thomas, Paralegal, CAES

Outstanding In-House Counsel 
Te-Mika Warner, Senior Director and Deputy General Counsel, Fannie Mae

Outstanding Chief Legal Officer
A Tie!  Teri Champ, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, Cambrian BioPharma Inc., and Karen Gally, Vice President and General Counsel, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc. 

In addition, ACC NCR presented the following special awards:

Chapter Service Award
Frost Telegadas, ACC NCR Director of Greater Virginia

Career Achievement Award
Peter Johnsen, (retired) Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Amentum

Curtis L. Schehr, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and

ANNOUNCING THE 2022 CORPORATE COUNSEL AWARD

WINNERS & SPECIAL AWARD RECIPIENTS

The ACC NCR Board of Directors and the Corporate Counsel Awards Co-Chairs and
Judges are excited to announce the winners for the 2022 Corporate Counsel Awards. 
This is the 187th year of these prestigious awards.

WINNERS

Outstanding Law Department
Walker & Dunlop 

Outstanding Paraprofessional
Victoria Steward, Corporate Paralegal, Transurban

Outstanding In-House Counsel 
Henrique Canarim, Assistant General Counsel-Securities, Governance & Transactions, Leidos 

Outstanding Chief Legal Officer
Betsy Philpott, Washington Nationals, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Washington Nationals 

In addition, ACC NCR presented the following special award:

Chapter Service Award
Diane M. Ennist, SVP General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Carey International, Inc. and ACC NCR’s first VP of Engagement, Leadership & Community and former Co-Chair, Corporate Scholar Program

ANNOUNCING THE 2021 CORPORATE COUNSEL AWARD

WINNERS & SPECIAL AWARD RECIPIENTS

The ACC NCR Board of Directors and the Corporate Counsel Awards Co-Chairs and
Judges are excited to announce the finalists for the 2021 Corporate Counsel Awards. 
This is the 17th year of these prestigious awards and ACC NCR’s 41st anniversary!  

WINNERS

Outstanding Law Department
American Red Cross 

Outstanding Paraprofessional
Kimberley Wiecke, Senior Manager, Multifamily Legal Business Administration, Fannie Mae

Outstanding In-House Counsel 
Teirra Everette, Senior Counsel – State Regulatory, Dominion Energy 

Outstanding Chief Legal Officer
Sonia Galindo, most recently Sr. Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, FLIR Systems Inc. 

In addition, ACC NCR presented the following special awards:

Chapter Service Award
Robert Falk, General Counsel, The Truth Initiative
 

Outstanding Pro Bono Service
Sarah Maguire, Senior Counsel, BAE Systems Intelligence & Security
 

In-House Innovators
Juniper Networks Inc. and Otsuka American Pharmaceutical Inc.

2020 CORPORATE COUNSEL AWARDS WINNERS AND

SPECIAL AWARD RECEIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

The ACC NCR Board of Directors and the Corporate Counsel Awards Co-Chairs and Judges are excited to announce the  recipients of the 2019 Corporate Counsel Awards:  

Outstanding Chief Legal Officer 
Steven Mahon, SAIC

 
Outstanding In-House Counsel 
Leslie Nettleford, AARP

 
Outstanding Paralegal 
Taynisha Williams, Carey International, Inc.
 

Outstanding Pro Bono Service 
Laurence Grayer, Creative Associates International
Robert Lawrence, Freddie Mac
         
                                                                                    
Outstanding Commitment to the Community 
Fannie Mae 
                                                                                  
                                                                                                     
Outstanding Law Department                                                                                                      
The Knot Worldwide Inc.
 

In addition to announcing the winners in the categories listed above, ACC NCR will present the following awards at the Corporate Counsel Awards Reception:

Career Achievement Award
Patrick McGlone, Ullico Inc. and former President of the D.C. Bar                                
        
                                                                                          
Chapter Service Award                                                                                                  
Brandon Fitzgerald, UNCF

 
In-House Innovator 
Melwood                                                                                       
E*TRADE Financial Corp.

The winners of the 2018 Corporate Counsel Awards

Outstanding Chief Legal Officer:

• Brian Geoghegan, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, SOS International LLC (small law department)

• Thomas McCabe, former Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Orbital ATK, Inc. (large law department)

Outstanding In-House Counsel:

• Aaron F. Herman, Deputy General Counsel, JBG SMITH Properties (small law department)

• David Lawson, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AT&T Services, Inc. (large law department)

Outstanding Law Department:

• comScore, Inc. (for-profit organization)

• The Nature Conservancy (non-profit organization)

Community Service Award:

• The Legal Department of Leidos

In-House Innovator Awards

• The Legal Department at Fannie Mae

• The Legal Department at the National Association of Manufacturers

Career Achievement Award

• Cynthia (Cindy) M. Lewin

ACC NCR Service Award

• Stephen Epstein 

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Ilene G. Reid

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer:Bill Deckelman, Jr., Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, DXC Technology Company (large dept.); and Tamara Jack, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Blumont, Inc., and IR&D Inc. (small dept

• Outstanding In-House Counsel:  Charles Neff, Director of Compliance, Huntington Ingalls Industries,

• Outstanding Paraprofessional:  Karen Schultz, Legal Assistant, WeddingWire, Inc.

• Outstanding Law Department:  Appian Corporation (small dept.); and Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (large dept.)

• Community Service Award:  Stephen Otero, Senior Vice President, Chief Counsel - Litigation, Capital One; and the legal department of Freddie Mac.

• In-House Innovator Awards: HMSHost and Rosetta Stone

• ACC NCR Service Award: Robin Hayutin, Former Senior Director of Legal Education, ACC National Capital Region 

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award: Samuel A. Flax, Former Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary, American Capital, Ltd., former Board member and Forum co-chair.

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer: Eric Reicin, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, MorganFranklin, Inc. and MorganFranklin Consulting, LLC (small dept.); and Jim Winner, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Secretary, GardaWorld Federal Services (large dept.).

• Outstanding In-House Counsel: Sharis Pozen, Vice President, Global Competition and Antitrust, General Electric.

• Outstanding Paraprofessional: Sharon Williams, Director – Public Sector Contracts Administration, CA Technologies 

• Outstanding Law Department: Hewlett Packard Enterprise – U.S. Public Sector (small dept.); and Marriott International, Inc. (large dept.)

• Community Service Award: WGL Holdings, Inc. and Washington Gas (legal department); and Hilton Worldwide (legal department).

• In-House Innovator Awards: Fannie Mae and Sprint Corporation

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award: Drew McKay, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of the Fairfax Group, who was a former chapter Board member and President

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer: Judith Branzelle of Goodwill Industries International, Inc. (small department) and Evan Farber of The Advisory Board Company (large department)

• Outstanding In-House Counsel: Heather French of American Capital, Ltd.

• Outstanding Paraprofessional: Reine Blackwell-Moore of Marriott International, Inc.

• Outstanding Law Department: Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (small department) and Leidos Inc. (large department)

• Community Service Award: Amy Sue Leavens of Capital Impact Partners (individual) and The Advisory Board Company (department)

• In-House Innovator Awards: Hilton Worldwide and Lockheed Martin Corporation

• ACC NCR Service Award: Evan S. Stolove, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Genworth Mortgage Insurance – U.S.

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer: Brett Coffee of CSCI (small department) and Brian Miller of The AES Corporation (large department)

• Outstanding In-House Counsel: Mike Kallens of Booz Allen Hamilton

• Outstanding Paraprofessional: Joyce Ramirez of The Advisory Board Company

• Outstanding Law Department: Fannie Mae

• In-House Innovator Awards: AARP, ATK, CoStar Group and General Dynamics AIS

• Service Award: Michael Wu of Carter's Inc.

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award: Janine Greenwood of National Student Clearinghouse, who was a member of ACC NCR and an active committee member of the ACC Nonprofit Organizations Committee

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer: Michael Bisignano, senior vice president and general counsel, Blackboard Inc., and Ho Shin, general counsel, chief privacy officer and corporate secretary, Millennial Media, Inc. 

• Outstanding In-House Counsel:  Buddy Omohundro, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Apex Systems, Inc.

• Outstanding Paraprofessional:  Philip Fletcher, legal assistant and contracts administrator, HMSHost Corporation.  

• Outstanding Law Department:  ACADEMI LLC.

• Community Service Award:  Evan Farber, general counsel and corporate secretary, The Advisory Board Company.

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award: Jonathan L. Spear, vice president and deputy general counsel, Verizon Business, who was a former chapter Board member and President

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer:  Dean A. Manson, Executive VP, General Counsel & Secretary, Hughes Communications Inc.

• Outstanding In-House Counsel:  Jeffrey Lobb, Assistant General Counsel, Choice Hotels International Inc.

• Outstanding Paraprofessional:  Barbara Lee, Corporate Paralegal, Blackboard Inc.

• Outstanding Large Law Department:  AOL Inc.

• Outstanding Small Law Department:  CoStar Group, Inc.

• Community Service Award:  Amy Hutchens, General Counsel & VP, Compliance and Ethics Services, Watermark Risk Management International LLC, and Christopher M. Kerns, VP & General Counsel, Fort Myer Construction Corporation.

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award: Mary E. Kennard, VP, General Counsel, & Secretary, American University, who was a former chapter Board member and President

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer — Stephanie Tsacoumis, Georgetown University

• Outstanding In-House Counsel — Joseph C. Figini, CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc.

• Outstanding Law Department — The AES Corporation (large); Carey International, Inc. (small).

• Community Service Award — Patrick McGlone, Ullico Inc. (individual); Verizon Communications Inc. (legal department). 

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award: Frederick J. Krebs, former president, Association of Corporate Counsel

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer — Scott D. Chaplin, Stanley, Inc.

• Outstanding In-House Counsel — Joshua J. Izenberg, Alion Science and Technology Corporation

• Outstanding Law Department — The George Washington University Office of the General Counsel

• Community Service Award — Robert E. Gans, CSC

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award - Robert Stern, senior vice president and general counsel of Sodexo Inc., who is also a former Board member and president of the chapter

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer — Michael J. Huppe, SoundExchange, Inc.

• Outstanding In-House Counsel — John Thorne, Verizon Communications

• Outstanding Law Department — Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America ("PhRMA")

• Community Service Award — Paul Mamalian, Apptis, Inc.

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award - CG Appleby, senior vice president and chief legal offices of Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., who is also a former Board member and president of the chapter

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer — Simone Wu, XO Holdings Inc.

• Outstanding In-House Counsel — Christopher R. Ryan, K12 Inc.

• Outstanding Large Law Department — Capital One

• Outstanding Small Law Department – XM Satellite Radio Inc.

• Community Service Award — Brett Coffee, Computer Systems Center Inc.

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award - Sol Glasner, then vice president, general counsel and secretary of The MITRE Corporation, who is also a former director and treasurer of the chapter

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer — Deborah Fox, QinetiQ North America Operations LLC

• Outstanding In-House Counsel — Andrew E. Shipley, Northrop Grumman Corporation

• Outstanding Law Department — American Capital Strategies, Ltd.

• Community Service Award — Kristin P. Walinski, Circuit City Stores, Inc.

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award - Robert S. Lavet, then Senior Vice President and General Counsel of SLM Corporation (Sallie Mae), who was also a former chapter Board member and president, and ACC Board member

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer: James C. Fontana, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Alion Science & Technology Corporation

• Outstanding In-House Counsel: Sherrese Smith, Deputy General Counsel, Washingtonpost.Newsweek InteractiveOutstanding

• Law Department: Marriott International Inc.

• Community Service Award: Adam Palmer, Director of the Office of Legal Counsel, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

• Corporate Counsel Career Achievement Award:  Stephen A. Bokat, then Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who was also a former chapter and ACC Board member

• Outstanding Chief Legal Officer — Curtis L. Schehr, Anteon International Corporation

• Outstanding In-House Counsel — Jonathan L. Spear, MCI (now Verizon Business)

• Outstanding Law Department — Nextel Communications, Inc. (now Sprint Nextel Corporation)

• Outstanding Community Service Award — Choice Hotels International and Sodexho, Inc.

• Chapter Service Award: Frank H. Menaker, then Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Lockheed Martin Corporation and former chapter Board member and President