The Legal's Diverse Attorneys of the Year

By Jaime Bochet
Of the Legal Staff

Every two years, The Legal Intelligencer recognizes outstanding minority attorneys from across Pennsylvania. We solicited letters of recommendation from bar associations, law firms, public interest groups, corporations and government offices and received dozens of responses. While all of them are certainly worthy of praise, the editorial staff has selected the following 20 individuals in recognition of their outstanding professional achievements in the two years since we last gave out the honor.

Following are the names of the 20 Pennsylvania attorneys who have been selected as 2011's Diverse Attorneys of the Year, in alphabetical order:

Robert L. Archie, Duane Morris
Joseph Centeno, Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel
Daniel J. Clifford, Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby
Kenya Mann Faulkner, Pennsylvania Inspector General
Stephanie Franklin-Suber, Ballard Spahr
Rudolph Garcia, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
Mohammad Ghiasuddin, Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein
Deborah Hong, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young
Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Pearl H. Kim, Delaware County District Attorney's Office
Kassem Lucas, Pepper Hamilton
Glenn Mahone, Reed Smith
Zane Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Richard Negrin, Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia
Will Sylianteng, Bennett Bricklin & Saltzburg
George B. Vashon (dec.)/ Nolan N. Atinkson Jr., Duane Morris
Seth Williams, Philadelphia District Attorney
Rhonda Hill Wilson, The Law Offices of Rhonda Hill Wilson
Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Profiles and details about each attorney will be included in our "Diversity" supplement, scheduled to be published in The Legal on Tuesday, April 5. They will also be honored at a special luncheon in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 7; for more information, contact Diane McCollum at 215-557-2335 or DMcCollum@alm.com. Congratulations to all!

Jaime Bochet is the Magazines & Supplements Editor for The Legal Intelligencer. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/JaimeBochetTLI or e-mail JBochet@alm.com.

Comments

[A Reader]

I can understand how a law firm, a legal community, a judiciary, etc., can be "diverse," but how can an individual attorney be diverse? Is it that the "diverse" attorney has multiple personalities?

[whiplash help]

I am able to understand how a legal professional, the best community, a judiciary, etc., is usually "diverse," just how much can an individual attorney be diverse? Do the "diverse" attorney has multiple personalities?