OUR AWARDS
Each year, MDFAWL presents awards to deserving women and men who demonstrate a commitment to and passion for the professional advancement of women lawyers and the promotion of women’s rights.
MDFAWL IMPACT AWARDS
Belva Lockwood Female Litigator of the Year Award
Women to Watch Award
Women of Distinction Award
Regina Pisa Managing Partner or General Counsel/Chief Counsel of the Year Award
Government Lawyer of the Year Award
Women Making History Award
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Past Women Making History Award Recipients
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2004: Edith Osman
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2005: Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Pariente
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2008: Patricia Ireland & Sookie Williams
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2009: Hilarie Bass
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2010: Janet Reno
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2011: Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally A. Heyman & Professor M. Minnette Massey
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2012: The Honorable Marcia G. Cooke
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2013: The Honorable Bertila Soto
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2014: Donna E. Shalala
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2015: Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis & Professor Mary Anne Franks
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2016: State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle
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2017: County Attorney Abigail Price Williams
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2018: Melanie Damian
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2019: Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Lagoa
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2020: Kimberly A. Cook
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2021: Miami-Dade Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava
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2022: The Honorable Myriam Lehr
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2023: The Honorable Cecilia M. Altonaga
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2024: The Honorable Corali Lopez-Castro
Past Honorable Theodore Klein Award Recipients
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2008: The Honorable Joseph P. Farina
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2009: John Kozyak
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2010: Benjamine Reid
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2011: Steven W. Davis
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2012: Gerald I. Kornreich
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2013: The Honorable John W. Thornton
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2014: The Honorable Milton Hirsch
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2015: Ira Leesfield
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2016: The Honorable Scott Bernstein
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2017: Patrick Montoya
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2018: Jerry Hamilton
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2019: The Honorable Rodolfo A. Ruiz II
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2021: The Honorable Donald "DJ" Cannava
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2022: Paul S. Singerman
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2023: Stephen N. Zack
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2024: James Robinson
The Honorable Theodore "Ted" Klein Award
​The awardee will be honored at the MDFAWL Judicial Reception and Awards Luncheon on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Judge Theodore Klein is recognized as one of the sharpest legal minds in South Florida during a storied career as a defense lawyer, federal prosecutor, and federal magistrate. The first male member of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (“MDFAWL”), this award was established in 2008 in recognition of his lifelong passion for the law and dedication to the advancement of women in all professions, including the legal profession.
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The 2024 nomination form can be found here. Please submit nominations for this annual award by Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Mattie Belle Davis Award
Mattie Belle Davis was the only woman in Florida to pass the Florida Bar Examination in 1936. In 1959, she was appointed to the Metropolitan Court of Dade County, which later was absorbed into the county court system of Dade County. She retired from the bench in 1980 but continued to serve as a retired judge until 1996. Judge Davis was a founding member of (State) FAWL in 1951 and led the organization as President in 1957‑58. She also served as President of the National Association of Women Lawyers in 1965-66. She was passionate about and committed to FAWL, serving as the organization's Historian until her death in January, 2004.
This award is presented annually to an MDFAWL member and jurist who exemplifies the ideals of professional achievement, perseverance, and dedication that were demonstrated by the late Judge Davis.
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Past Mattie Belle Davis Award Recipients
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1987: Roberta Fulton Fox
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1988: Janet Reno
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1989: Carrie Meek
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1990: Elaine Gordon
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1991: The Honorable Gill S. Freeman
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1992: The Honorable Rosemary Barkett
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1993: The Honorable Cindy S. Lederman
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1994: The Honorable Patricia A. Seitz
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1995: Ellen Freidin
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1996: The Honorable Lenore Nesbitt
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2000: Edith G. Osman
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2002: Sharon L. Langer
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2003: The Honorable Ellen Leesfield
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2004: The Honorable Sandy Karlan
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2005: Elizabeth Baker
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2006: The Honorable Laurel Myerson Isicoff
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2007: The Honorable Leslie B. Rothenberg
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2008: The Honorable Jacqueline Hogan Scola
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2009: Cynthia A. Everett
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2010: Marcia Cypen
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2011: State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle
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2012: Melanie E. Damian
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2013: Lisa Lehner
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2014: Katherine Ezell
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2015: The Honorable Lisa S. Walsh
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2016: Julie Braman Kane
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2017: Deborah Baker-Egozi
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2018: Michelle Suskauer
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2019: The Honorable Carroll J. Kelly
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2022: The Honorable Bronwyn C. Miller
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2023: Katie Phang
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2024: The Honorable Melissa Damian
Law Firm Champion of Women Award
This award is presented annually at MDFAWL’s Installation and Awards Dinner in recognition of a law firm with at least one office in Miami-Dade County that has championed the advancement of women in the legal profession.
The MDFAWL Board of Directors will consider actions taken by the nominated firms’ Miami-Dade County office(s) in the following areas: hiring and retaining women; implementing general employment practices and procedures that increase or enhance the representation of women in leadership positions in the legal profession; promoting women to equity partnership and positions in firm leadership; and implementing firm policies that are intended to retain and promote women.
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2023: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
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2024:
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Firms with 49 or fewer attorneys: Heise Suarez Melville, P.A.
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Firms with 50 or more attorneys: Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP​
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Gem Award
The MDFAWL Gem Award recognizes an individual whose invaluable contributions and tireless efforts have advanced our organization’s mission. Through exceptional fundraising, advocacy, and dedication to promoting MDFAWL’s public presence, this gem illuminates the path for our members and leadership. This award is presented only in special circumstances based on a history of extraordinary service.
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Past Gem Award Recipients:
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2024: Jody Shulman
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MDFAWL IMPACT AWARDS
Application Deadline: January 10, 2025
To be presented at MDFAWL's Annual Awards Event on March 5, 2025
Belva Lockwood
Female Litigator of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to a woman practicing law in Miami-Dade County who has provided at least one outstanding result for one or more of her clients on a litigation case resolved in the last twelve (12) months. This category will honor a litigator based on both success of litigation, quality, and volume of litigations during the last twelve (12) months. The awardee should have demonstrated out-of-the-box thinking, exceptional judgment and strategy, and/or have expertly deployed resources to ensure a litigation’s success against the odds.
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This award will be presented at MDFAWL's Annual Awards Event on March 5, 2025.
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To nominate someone for this award, click here.
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Women to Watch Award
This award is presented annually to no more than twenty (20) outstanding women practicing law in Miami-Dade County who have been in practice for eight (8) years or less or are younger than thirty-five (35) years old and who have already demonstrated leadership and exemplary commitment to the law and the advancement of women in the law. Each nominee will be evaluated on their work, contributions to the legal profession, and status in the community. Self-nominations are accepted.
This award will be presented at MDFAWL's Annual Awards Event on March 5, 2025. ​
To nominate someone for this award, click here.
Dealmaker of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to a woman practicing law in Miami-Dade County who obtained an outstanding result for a client in at least one transaction or deal within the twelve (12) months preceding the nomination deadline. The awardee will be selected based on both (1) the quality and volume of her transactions, and (2) her dealmaking record during the past year. The awardee shall have demonstrated out-of-the-box thinking, exceptional judgment and strategy, and expert deployment of resources to ensure a deal’s success against the odds. She may have overcome unique or unprecedented tactical, commercial, or regulatory challenges, and demonstrated leadership in the course of making the deal.
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This award will be presented at MDFAWL's Annual Awards Event on March 5, 2025.
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To nominate someone for this award, click here.
Women of Distinction Award
This award is presented annually to no more than twenty (20) women practicing law in Miami-Dade County who have helped to make strides in the advancement of women in the legal profession. These women shall demonstrate how they are pioneers who have broken down barriers, created new opportunities for women in the legal profession, and championed issues to better the professional lives of women lawyers in Miami-Dade County. Each nominee will be evaluated on their work, contributions to the legal profession, and status in the community. Self-nominations are accepted. These women will be recognized on an honorary virtual wall on the MDFAWL website and will be entitled to a discount on all MDFAWL signature events.
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This award will be presented at MDFAWL's Annual Awards Event on March 5, 2025.
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To nominate someone for this award, click here.
Regina Pisa Managing Partner or General Counsel/Chief Counsel
of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to a woman practicing law in Miami-Dade County who is either the Managing/Administrative Partner of her firm or General Counsel/Chief Counsel for a company or organization. The awardee will have demonstrated excellence in providing legal services and advice to her client, provided outstanding leadership or direction to her clients and her colleagues, mentored women in the legal profession, and demonstrated excellent judgment and strategy to ensure a successful result for her client.
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This award will be presented at MDFAWL's Annual Awards Event on March 5, 2025. ​
To nominate someone for this award, click here.
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Government Lawyer of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to a woman practicing law in Miami-Dade County and works in a government role. The awardee will have demonstrated excellence in providing legal services and advice to her public agency and whose character and accomplishments exemplify the highest ideals of government service. Recipients are well-rounded lawyers, whose importance and contributions to their agency or employer are substantial.
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This award will be presented at MDFAWL's Annual Awards Event on March 5, 2025. ​
To nominate someone for this award, click here.
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Women Making History Award
The Women Making History Award is awarded annually during the month of March, which is Women’s History Month. The award recipient exemplifies the ideals of professional achievement, perseverance, and dedication to women's issues. Her accomplishments and passion pave the way for the new women leaders of today's generation. She is a trailblazer.
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To apply for the Women Making History Award, please click here.
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Rookie of the Year Award
This award is presented annually to an outstanding first year women practicing law in Miami-Dade County who has been admitted to the bar less than eighteen (18) months and has already demonstrated leadership and exemplary commitment to the law and the advancement of women in the law. The nominee will be evaluated on their work, contributions to the legal profession, and status in the community. Self-nominations are accepted.
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This award will be presented at MDFAWL's Annual Awards Event on March 5, 2025. ​
To nominate someone for this award, click here.
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