Sidley associate appointed to chair NYC bar committee for women

by | Sep 15, 2016

Melissa Colon-Bosolet

Advocacy has always been a part of Sidley Austin litigation associate Melissa Colon-Bosolet’s life. She recently told The WILEF Tribune that “being raised as an only child in the Bronx and the first in my family to attend college, the natural advocacy I experienced through my upbringing really fostered [her] love for litigation.”

Colon-Bosolet graduated from Cornell Law School and began her legal career as associate at an international law firm based in New York. There she narrowed in on litigation after a series of reaffirming experiences, including a memorable conversation with an inspirational female transactional attorney who knew instantly that Colon-Bosolet was built for litigation.

Just 35 years old, Colon-Bosolet is the youngest person to be appointed chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Women in the Legal Profession Committee, where she will continue her advocacy on behalf of women lawyers. Colon-Bosolet begins her three-year term this month, after serving as secretary for the committee for the last three years.

As the new chair of the New York City Bar Association’s largest committee, Colon-Bosolet will liaise with the Bar Association directly on diversity and inclusion initiatives, and will sit on the Bar Association’s Enhance Diversity in the Profession Committee. Additionally, she will help subcommittees execute programming, such as an annual event for female general counsel and business and professional development events throughout the year.

“Women in the legal profession can be found in academia, public interest, the judiciary, in-house and at law firms, so we are inherently an incredibly diverse group,” said Colon-Bosolet. “But the common thread is our desire to equip our women lawyers with the tools and support that they need to be successful. Our programming is designed with this in mind.”

Colon-Bosolet said she will work to ensure that the committee continues to be at the helm of offering programs that support women in their professional growth and to advocate for the full participation of women in the legal profession. One of her current initiatives with the Bar Association, nicknamed the “Women on the Walls” project, aims to have photographs of female luminaries in the legal profession in New York displayed on the walls of the New York City Bar Association.

“We need to keep pushing the envelope and encouraging corporations, law firms and the judiciary to foster women attorneys and include and promote women in leadership for the next three years and beyond,” she said.

APPOINTMENTS

Cheryl Aaron, an associate at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, has been selected to join the Young Lawyers Network Leadership Council of the DC Bar Foundation.

 AWARDS / RECOGNITIONS

Sharon Flanagan, managing partner of Sidley Austin’s San Francisco office, was selected to The Recorder’s 2016 “Women Leaders in Tech Law” list, as well as named “Best in Mergers and Acquisitions” by EuroMoney’s Americas Women in Business Law Awards.

Vanessa Scott, a partner and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, was named a recipient of the 2016 “Women Worth Watching” award by Profiles in Diversity Journal.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips intellectual property partners Michelle Cooke and Yuri Mikulka were selected to the Daily Journal’s 2016 “Top Intellectual Property Attorneys in California” list.

Sidley Austin partners Sara Brody and Patricia Thayer were named to Benchmark Litigation’s 2016 “Top 250 Women in Litigation” list.

DEALS / SUITS

Jamie Leigh, a partner in Cooley’s mergers & acquisitions practice, is leading a team of lawyers advising pharmaceutical company Medivation on its proposed $14 billion sale to pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc.

PRESENTATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Christina Rissler, a partner at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, participated in a roundtable discussion published by the Atlanta Business Chronicle on women in finance.