Midyear Meeting

5 champions of diversity and inclusion will receive Spirit of Excellence Award at 2020 midyear meeting

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A Texas judge and four attorneys who have worked to promote a more racially and ethnically diverse legal profession will receive the 2020 Spirit of Excellence Award at the ABA Midyear Meeting in February.

The ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession presents the annual awards to lawyers who excel professionally; personify excellence at the national, state or local level; and demonstrate a commitment to diversity in the law.

“These five honorees have distinguished themselves in various spheres of the profession—academia, corporate America, private practice, public service and the judiciary,” Helen Kim, chair of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, said in a news release. “Each one of them has fully embraced and championed diversity and inclusion and each of them has helped provide opportunities for others while distinguishing themselves in their own legal careers.”

The Spirit of Excellence Awards Luncheon will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15 in Austin, Texas.

Here is the list of recipients:

Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, director of the Indian Legal Clinic and faculty director of the Indian Legal Program at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in Phoenix

Donise E. Brown, director-corporate counsel for Starbucks Corp. in Hollywood, Florida

Judge Lora Livingston of the Travis County Civil District Court in Austin, Texas

Richard Pena, president and CEO of the Law Offices of Richard Pena in Austin, Texas

Donald K. Tamaki, managing partner of Minami Tamaki in San Francisco

The Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession has more information about the Spirit of Excellence Award and its recipients.

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