A TRAILBLAZER'S JOURNEY
Why did you enter the legal profession?
As is typical of my generation, I wanted to “save the world” and thought that I would become a lawyer in the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, but there was another path for me. In hindsight, the path that essentially chose me was equally important. I was part of an early increase in the number of black lawyers joining large law firms that were mostly white and male back in 1986. Ultimately, I became one of the first black woman partners of a large Maryland law firm, and one of the few in the country. I would like to believe that being a “trailblazer,” as I have been called, has been important and served many purposes. My career allowed me the privilege to influence and inspire many others to pursue similar paths and do so successfully. Indeed, watching the accomplishments of my “mentees” is joyful and inspiring to me!
What is the best piece of advice you have received from someone in the legal profession?
Grant yourself grace; sometimes you will be a great lawyer and sometimes a great mother, but seldom both at the same time. It was not easy, but I was blessed and fortunate to raise two amazing children. My oldest, Sydney Booker, is a Princeton graduate who studied in China. I had the honor of hooding her at her graduation from Duke University School of Law. She is now a lawyer at the Brooks Pierce law firm in North Carolina. My youngest graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Economics. At his graduation, I had the honor of accepting one of Stanford’s preeminent scholar-athlete awards on his behalf because he was in mandatory NFL rookie camp as a 5th-round draft pick. This past February, I was in the stands during Super Bowl LIX to watch Eagles player #59, Thomas Booker IV, run onto the field to play!
What are some accomplishments you've achieved during your career?
I was co-lead counsel to a oil and gas corporation and successfully argued to reverse jury verdicts awarding plaintiffs about $1.5 billion in damages before Maryland’s highest
appellate court, establishing state precedents in tort/products liability law. I was lead trial/ appellate counsel to an energy company subsidiary that manufactured solar panels and won an almost $9 million jury verdict for breach of a silicon powder supply agreement. I was lead trial/appellate counsel for banks, financial institutions and companies in cases clarifying banking and contract law. I represented municipalities and educational institutions in cases addressing regulatory issues such as redistricting and discrimination. As a new lawyer, I served as second chair to win a defense verdict in a matter arising from Maryland basketball star Len Bias’ death.
I chaired McGuireWoods’ Diversity & Inclusion Committee, overseeing affinity networks and national programming. I developed the Diverse Associates Leadership Program, a national initiative to mentor and develop high-performing associates. I served on the firm’s Diversity Action Council, holding leadership accountable for D&I progress. Additionally, I was the firm’s Baltimore office managing partner, leading a team of transactional, public finance and commercial litigation lawyers.
Tell us a little bit about your current role. I am an equity partner at McGuireWoods LLP, I serve as an independent director of a publicly traded company based in California, I serve on the board of UMMS, one of the largest providers of health care in the state of Maryland, and I am the mother of a lawyer and NFL player. But the role that brings me considerable joy is that of grandmother or “Gigi” to my soon-to-be one-year-old grandson, Asa Booker Friesen!
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned during your legal career? There is no substitute for hard work.
What are the most significant challenges facing the legal profession? The true challenge for our profession remains diversity, equity, and justice. Despite the progress over the past few decades, the legal profession remains almost 79% white and 60% male. While gains have been made with
women and certain minority groups, the gains among women (39%), Hispanics (6%) and Blacks (5%) remain significantly behind their representation in the US population (women-50.8%, Hispanics 19.1% and Blacks 13.6%), and in certain cases have remained stagnant over the last decade. Likewise, we continue to struggle with expanding the number of LGBTQ lawyers and lawyers with disabilities.
My career is a testament to our collective ability to rise to the challenge of building a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable profession. I would not have had the amazing 39-year career I have had were it not for the many men and women—black, white, and other—who became my teachers, guides, mentors, sponsors, and champions. I am the product of the tireless efforts not just of my parents and family, but also of those special people who presumed my competence, challenged me to be excellent, and ensured that I was positioned for success.
My career is also a reminder that it will take all of us to make real progress on these issues in our profession. Notwithstanding the current climate, it remains true that diversity in the legal profession is a positive because it brings broader perspectives and diversity of thought that leads to better problem solving; it improves our ability to serve a more diverse client base and population; it promotes a view of fairness and helps to overcome real or perceived biases; and studies show that diverse teams are more innovative and outperform nondiverse teams. To build a more diverse profession, we must continue to demand excellence in the coming generation, but we must also question and change the structures and systems that impede or erode our progress.
How has the MSBA helped you in your legal career?
The MSBA has always been a key resource for the training, development, and advancement of lawyers. I have served on various committees, including as a member and chair of the Judicial Administration Section Council years ago. I have participated in and taught MICPEL courses on deposition training and trial advocacy.
