Chicago Government & Global Trade partner Mary Richardson-Lowry has been named one of 50 “Women of Excellence” by the Chicago Defender, the leading daily newspaper serving Chicago’s African-American community. The award acknowledges and celebrates African-American women who personify the exemplary qualities of respect, responsibility, passion, sisterhood and leadership. Mary also was named president of the Chicago Board of Education earlier this year.

Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Mary Richardson-Lowry as a member of the Chicago Board of Education and recommended to the Board that she be named President, which she was.  See http://www.cps.edu/News/Press_releases/Pages/01_28_2010_PR1.aspx

LAW360 described Britt Miller as someone “With a reputation as a creative and thoughtful strategist” in designating her one of LAW360’s Ten Competition Lawyers under 40.  See http://competition.law360.com/articles/157892

Z Scott has been named as one of four new members to the Chicago State University Board of Trustees by Governor Pat Quinn.  The board has eight trustees, seven are appointed by the governor.

Steve Sanders, a Supreme Court & Appellate associate in the Chicago office, argued his first case before the Supreme Court this week. In Pottawattamie County v. McGhee, Sanders went up against former Solicitor General Paul Clement, who has argued in front of the Court 51 times. Sanders represented Pottawattamie County and two of its former prosecutors who were sued for falsifying evidence after two men were deemed wrongly convicted in the murder of a retired Iowa police officer. In his argument, Sanders claimed the Constitution only guarantees the plaintiffs the right to a fair trial, not a fair investigation, and that the prosecutors are immune from any suit claiming they knowingly introduced false testimony in trial. To read news coverage about the case and Sanders’ first argument, click here.

Donna Morgan was named to the Top 10 Women List of Leading Women Consumer Lawyers in Illinois by Leading Lawyers Network. Additional lawyers listed in either the Top 100 Women of Leading Lawyers and/or the Top 100 Business Lawyers in Illinois by the Leading Lawyers Network are Fern Bomchill, Debora de Hoyos, Rebecca Eisner, Sheila Finnegan, Michele Odorizzi and Mary Richardson-Lowry.

Mayer Brown LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that 123 of its attorneys are ranked in the 2009 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, including 32 who achieved top-band ranking or higher in 26 national and/or state categories.

The 2009 edition of the Chamber USA ranks 14 women partners from Mayer Brown.  The partners, their areas and band ranking are:

• Sonia Baldia, National Outsourcing (Band 4) and District of Columbia Technology & IT Outsourcing  (Band 3)
• Rebecca S. Eisner, National Outsourcing (Band 1) and Illinois Technology & IT Outsourcing  (Band 1)
• Sheila M. Finnegan, Illinois Litigation: General Commercial) (Band 4)
• Mary C. Fontaine, National Capital Markets: Securitization (Band 4)
• Marcia E. Goodman, Illinois Labor & Employment (Band 3)
• Carol A. Hitselberger, National Capital Markets: Securitization (Band 4)
• Sharon Israel, Texas Intellectual Property (Band 2)
• Erika Z. Jones, National Transportation: Road (Carriage/Commercial) (Band 1)
• Jennifer L. Keating, Illinois Corporate/M&A (Band 4)
• Marcia G. Madsen, National Government: Government Contracts and National Government: Government Contracts : Bid Protests (Band 1)
• Stephanie Monaco, National Investment Funds: Registered Funds (Band 3)
• Donna Morgan, National Wealth Management: Central Region (Band 3)
• Michele L. Odorizzi, Illinois Litigation: General Commercial (Band 3)
• Ami G. Scott, Illinois Banking & Finance (Band 3)

Washington, DC partners Tony Alexis and Marcia Madsen have been named “Attorneys Who Matter” in the field of corporate compliance by The Ethisphere Institute, an international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. Honorees were chosen for their work in advancing the cause of ethics and corporate compliance.

Chicago partner Mary Richardson-Lowry, chairman of Mayer Brown's Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, will be a speaker on the opening panel at the 2009 conference for The Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys in Law & Business on March 4th in Atlanta. The panel will discuss the value of understanding the intricacies and politics of a law office, navigating diversity issues, the power of networking and the importance of law firm economics. The two-day event helps women of color attorneys develop critical skills necessary to become leaders in their field and provides networking and mentoring opportunities with other successful professionals. For more information, please click here.

Chicago partner Ami Scott has been awarded the Young Professional Achievement Award by the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, in recognition of her professional accomplishments and her involvement in civic and educational activities.

The Delhi High Court of India, an appellate court inferior only to the Supreme Court of India, quoted at length Washington, D.C. partner Sonia Baldia's article, Exhaustion and Parallel Imports in India, while deciding a recent landmark cross-border IP infringement dispute concerning IP owned by Samsung Electronics. The Delhi High Court's decision, which found in Samsung's favor, is the first Indian court decision to address the issue of parallel imports of IP under Indian law. Click here for the Delhi High Court's decision, click here for the above referenced article.

"Hector Gonzalez, a distinguished lawyer and prosecutor, has performed superbly as a member of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and his combination of experience and judgment will ensure that the CCRB investigates every complaint thoroughly."

- New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, announcing Mayer Brown LLP lawyer Hector Gonzalez's appointment as chairman of the independent agency that investigates complaints against police.