Welcome to the Maryland Bar Foundation’s 60th Anniversary Gala.
Tonight we gather in celebration and gratitude: gratitude for the visionaries who established the Maryland Bar Foundation in 1965, for every Fellow and supporter who has carried our mission forward, and for the vibrant legal community whose dedication and service give life to our work.
For six decades, the Maryland Bar Foundation has stood as a beacon of integrity, justice, and service. Together we have strengthened the honor of the legal profession, expanded access to justice, and deepened public understanding of the law. This evening we pause to honor that remarkable legacy and to recognize the leaders who continue to embody and advance our mission.
I am honored to serve as the President of the Maryland Bar Foundation during this momentous occasion. Thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of leading this organization and for giving me the opportunity to serve our legal community in such a meaningful way. Your commitment inspires me every day to help build on the extraordinary achievements of those who came before me.
While tonight celebrates 60 years of impact, it demands our action for the future. The legal and societal challenges ahead will evolve, yet our purpose remains steadfast: to uphold the honor and integrity of the law, to improve the administration of justice, and to share legal knowledge for the betterment of our communities. The conversations, connections, and inspiration we share this evening will help guide the Foundation into its next chapter.
Thank you for being part of this legacy and this moment. Your dedication makes it possible for the Maryland Bar Foundation to continue building a legacy of philanthropy, excellence and a future of impact. May the next 60 years shine even brighter because of what we accomplish together tonight and beyond.
E. Regine Francois Williams, Esq. President, Maryland Bar Foundation
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
2025-2026 MBF Board
E. Regine Francois Williams, Esq.
MBF President
Diane Feuerherd, Esq.
MBF Vice-President
Irnande Altema, Esq.
MBF Treasurer
Jessica Quincosa, Esq.
MBF Secretary
Wm. Carl Isler, II, Esq.
MBF Immediate Past President
Marisa Trasatti, Esq.
MSBA President
Natasha Dartigue, Esq.
MSBA President-elect
Raphael J. Santini, Esq.
MSBA Immediate Past President
Liset Collazo-Dingle, Esq
Chair of the Fellows
Sophia Barilone, Esq.
Vice-Chair of the Fellows
Alexander Geraldo, Esq.
Amanda Odorimah, Esq.
Hon. Bryon Seth Bereano
Irvin DeAndrei Drummond, Esq.
Jamaal Stafford, Esq.
Jesse Hammock, Esq.
Keisha Garner, Esq.
Kerri Smith, Esq.
Manuel Geraldo, Esq.
2025 MBF Gala Planning Committee
E. Regine Francois Williams, Esq.
Brian Marsh, Esq.
Diane Feuerherd, Esq.
Hon. Sidney Butcher
Irnande Altema, Esq.
Jamaal Stafford, Esq.
Jessica Quincosa, Esq.
Letam Duson, Esq.
Manuel Geraldo, Esq.
Marla Zide, Esq.
Michelle Siri, Esq.
Thomas Weschler, Esq.
Sophia Barilone, Esq.
Wm. Carl Isler, II, Esq.
Anna S. Sholl, Esq.
Angela Munro
Jesse Miller
Mabel Carter
Katie Flynn
Jamal Adjamah
Schuyler Zinser
Colleen Aracri, Esq.
Andrea Solan, Esq.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Cocktail Reception
Dinner and Gala Presentation
Welcome
6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
E. Regine Francois Williams, President, Maryland Bar Foundation
Maryland State Bar Association President’s Remarks
Marisa Trasatti, President, Maryland State Bar Association
Presentation of Comptroller’s Certificate and Governor’s Citation
Wm. Carl Isler, II, Immediate Past President, Maryland Bar Foundation
Gregory Yancey, Chief of Staff, Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives
Maryland Bar Foundation: A Legacy of Giving. A Future of Impact.
Diane Feuerherd, Vice-President, Maryland Bar Foundation
Alexander Geraldo, Maryland Bar Foundation Board of Directors
Grant Recipient Feature: The Tahirih Justice Center and Reading in Robes
Hon. Lisa Hall Johnson, District Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County
Cadence McGhie, student at Lake Arbor Elementary School
Awards Presentation
Marla Zide, Past MBF President
Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Irnande Altema, Maryland Bar Foundation Board of Directors
Brian E. Frosh, Former Attorney General of Maryland
Keynote Speaker Address
Erek L. Barron, Mintz
Closing Remarks
E. Regine Francois Williams, President, Maryland Bar Foundation
A LEGACY OF GIVING. A FUTURE OF IMPACT.
Mission
MBF’s enduring mission is to foster the honor and integrity of the legal profession, improve justice administration, and promote legal study and continuing education for lawyers. This mission guides every grant, Fellow induction, and award, forming the foundation of MBF’s commitment to equal access to justice and inspiring future legal professionals.
Purpose and Impact
Each year, MBF awards tens of thousands of dollars in grants to nonprofits serving Maryland’s vulnerable populations. These grants fund critical legal aid, pro bono training, community education, and innovative projects like courthouse self-help centers and the “Purple Book Project.” They also support initiatives protecting victims of crime and domestic violence, providing immigration and refugee assistance, expanding disability rights, promoting restorative justice, and inspiring future leaders through youth law education.
The Fellows program is central to MBF’s impact, recognizing distinguished judges and attorneys for exceptional achievement and commitment to the Rule of Law. Their generous financial support funds MBF grants and awards, and they mentor the next generation of legal professionals.
MBF also highlights excellence through signature honors like the Legal Excellence Awards, the Edward F. Shea Jr. Professionalism Award, the J. Joseph Curran Public Service Award, and the H. Vernon Eney Endowment Fund Award, setting standards for integrity, service, and leadership in Maryland’s legal community.
A PARTNERSHIP FOR JUSTICE AND SERVICE
Origin and Purpose
The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) established the Maryland Bar Foundation (MBF) in 1965 as its philanthropic arm. MBF strengthens the legal profession’s honor and integrity, expands access to justice, and promotes legal education. As a nonprofit, MBF funds public service programs and advances the Rule of Law.
How They Work Together
MSBA represents over 20,000 lawyers and judges, providing advocacy, continuing legal education, and community outreach. MBF complements this by supporting projects like pro bono training, youth law education, and community legal aid through grants and awards. The Foundation also recognizes legal professionals for their service.
Funding comes from Fellows (distinguished attorneys and judges), MSBA members, and public contributors. Fellows contribute financially and serve as mentors. These resources enable MBF to provide substantial grants annually, sustaining programs that expand justice access, educate the public, and cultivate future legal leaders.
Together, MSBA and MBF form a powerful partnership, combining advocacy with philanthropy to advance a shared vision of integrity, education, and justice for all.
COMPTROLLER’S CERTIFICATE
GOVERNOR’S CITATION
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MARYLAND BAR FOUNDATION’S GRANT PROGRAMS
Maryland Bar Foundation Grant Recipient Reminds Aging Seniors to Plan for Their Pets
The Maryland Bar Foundation, the Maryland SPCA (MD SPCA), and the Baltimore County Department of Aging partnered to encourage mature adults to think about and include a plan for their pets in their estate plans to help reduce the number of pets who become homeless when their caregivers pass away. With a grant from the Maryland Bar Foundation, the MD SPCA created a valuable resource guide that walks pet parents through planning for their pets’ future care.
Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center
The Maryland Bar Foundation proudly supported Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. (MCVRC) in their inaugural Make a Difference for Victims’ Rights 5k Walk and Resource Fair. This event was held to honor, remember, and pay respects to survivors and victims of all crimes. Because of the efforts of MCVRC, attendees of this event could help countless others by sharing what they learned and, in that regard, ensure that the funding provided by the Maryland Bar Foundation reached even further.
Mobile Library Law Center Uses Bar Foundation Funds to Take Lawyers Where They’re Needed
On August 9, 2021, Baltimore County Public Library launched the Mobile Library Law Center with the mission to provide complimentary legal services to underserved communities, becoming the first public library system in the country to run such a program. With this project, legal services available through the Lawyers in the Library program were taken into the community, addressing barriers to access and increasing knowledge of available services that can markedly improve lives.
SPONSORS
Champion for Change
Diamond Trailblazers
Ally for Community Impact
Friends of MBF
Anna S. Sholl, Esq., MSBA Executive Director ⋅ Assured Partners ⋅ Baird
Maryland Association for Justice ⋅ Maryland Legal Aid ⋅ McDonough Law
McLeod, Weschler & Yeager, P.C. ⋅ MHC HealthCare
Minnesota Lawyers Mutual ⋅ Monumental City Bar Association
Ogbuehi Omena Onwezi, LLC ⋅ Parker Counts ⋅ Raphael J. Santini PA
Robinson & Geraldo ⋅ Rosenberg Martin Greenberg ⋅ The Hill Law Group
Truist Bank ⋅ Vallit Advisors ⋅ Wallace Kleid Law, LLC
Wm. Carl Isler, II, Past MBF President (2024-2025) ⋅ Wright Esquire
LEGAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
embody the spirit of the Foundation’s mission: honor, integrity, justice, and knowledge.
DOROTHY J. LENNIG, ESQ.
The Advancement of the Rights of the Disadvantaged
Dorothy J. Lennig is the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP), an agency coordinating and funding Maryland’s public safety strategy. She advocates for public safety and disburses over $300M in federal and state grants for public safety initiatives.
Before leading GOCPP, Lennig served as Executive Director of the House of Ruth Legal Clinic for more than three decades, dedicating her career to supporting victims of violence and advocating for violence-reduction laws. At House of Ruth she directed domestic violence litigation, was a lead legislative advocate, and served as vice-chair of the Governor’s Family Violence Council.
Lennig is a past Chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Family and Juvenile Law Section Council, chaired the Baltimore City Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, and co-chaired the Bar Association of Baltimore City’s Family Law Committee and its Task Force on the Effect of Domestic Violence on Children.
Recognized as a public safety policy thought leader, Lennig advised Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Gov. Moore’s transition teams on public safety. She holds a BS in Community Development from Penn State University and a JD from the University of Maryland School of Law, and resides in Howard County.
HON. JUDITH C. ENSOR
The Advancement of Professional Competence
Judge Judith C. Ensor has served as an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County since 2005. She was appointed to the Judicial Ethics Committee in 2019, serving as chair from 2024-2025, and was her court’s lead civil judge from 2016 to 2024. Currently, she chairs the medical malpractice work group of the Conference of Circuit Judges Committee on Complex Litigation. Since 2017, Judge Ensor has mentored with the Maryland Mentor Program for New Trial Judges and has spoken at the New Trial Judges’ Orientation and Judicial College.
Elected a fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation in 2005, she was named an ASTAR Science and Technology Fellow in 2009. Judge Ensor is a member of The Daily Record’s Circle of Excellence, recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2007, 2009, and 2011. She served on the St. Paul’s School for Girls’ Board of Trustees from 2004-2013, including as President from 2011-2013. She also served on the Board of Trustees of Samuel Ready Scholarships, Inc. from 2015-2022, ultimately as President.
Judge Ensor is a member of the Maryland State Bar, Baltimore County
Bar, and Women’s Bar Associations. Before her judicial appointment, she was a partner at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP, where she handled diverse litigation in state and federal courts, representing individuals, small businesses, healthcare providers, shopping malls, funeral homes, and cemeteries.
She graduated magna cum laude from St. Lawrence University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and earned her law degree with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law.
VALDA RICKS, ESQ.
Steven P. Lemmey Legal Excellence Award for the Advancement of Public Service Responsibility
Valda Ricks graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with dual degrees in Political Science and Sociology, and later earned her Juris Doctor rom the same institution. She began her legal career as an intern at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, progressing to Law Clerk, Assistant Public Defender, and ultimately Chief Attorney. In this role, she trained and supervised attorneys, served as lead counsel in trials, and developed strategic plans. She also served as a faculty member for the Gideon Promise Training Program.
After 22 years with the Public Defender’s office, Ricks joined the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office as Deputy of Operations, overseeing various divisions including District Courts, Juvenile, Central Booking, Misdemeanor Jury Trial, and Specialty Courts.
Currently, as a staff attorney at the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland since January 2023, she represents tenants in Baltimore City and Baltimore County district courts. Ricks is an active member of several bar associations, dedicated to community outreach, mentoring, and leadership.
She has tutored students at Coppin State University and mentored law students and attorneys.
Ricks has received numerous awards, including the Margaret Brent/Juanita Jackson Mitchell Award, the Bar Association of Baltimore City Government & Public Interest Award, and multiple Maryland Daily Record awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been a committed member of the Bar Association of Baltimore City for over 20 years, serving on various committees and the Executive Council.
J. JOSEPH CURRAN, JR. PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
J. Joseph Curran Jr. is a former Maryland Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor, known for his distinguished career in public service and his commitment to upholding consumer protection and criminal justice. As the longest-serving elected Attorney General in our state’s history, his career exemplifies the selfless dedication to public good and better societal standards that the award seeks to recognize in other government and public interest lawyers.
RICHARD H. GIBSON, JR., ESQ.
J. Joseph Curran, Jr. Public Service Award
Richard H. Gibson, Jr. made history in 2019 as the first Black State’s Attorney for Howard County, Maryland, and was sworn in for his second term in early 2023. A native of New York, Gibson earned his bachelor’s degree in law and justice from The College of New Jersey and his law degree from Howard University School of Law.
Licensed in both Maryland and New Jersey, he began his prosecutorial career in Prince George’s County, MD, before joining the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. There, he advanced from the General Trial Division to the Homicide Division and ultimately became a team captain in the Major Investigations Unit (MIU), supervising cases against violent repeat offenders. As State’s Attorney, Gibson has championed community safety, transparency, and accountability while implementing diversionary programs like L.E.A.D. and launching Maryland’s first statewide prosecutor academy.
He has received the Criminal Justice Reform Award (2018), served as President of the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association (2021-2025), and is Vice-Chair of the Police Training & Standards Commission (2023-Present). He is also the Maryland Chapter President of the National Black Prosecutors Association (2024-Present) and a Board Member-at-Large of the National District Attorneys Association (2023-Present).
EREK L. BARRON, ESQ.
Erek L. Barron’s career spans over two decades in government. He currently serves as Chair of the Crisis Management and Strategic Response Practice at Mintz Levin. There, he advises Fortune 500 companies, public institutions, and nonprofits on high-stakes litigation, investigations, and regulatory challenges.
Before private practice, Barron was the first African American United States Attorney for the District of Maryland (2021-2025). He led one of the nation’s most active federal offices, overseeing landmark prosecutions in violent crime, public corruption, national security, and civil rights. Under his leadership, the office established its first Civil Rights and Special Victims Section, prosecuted a major cryptocurrency fraud, and worked to reduce violent crime in Maryland.
His public service also includes time as a State Delegate in the Maryland General Assembly, where he championed bipartisan reforms in criminal justice and healthcare.
Earlier, he served as a state and federal prosecutor and as Counsel and Policy Advisor to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
Committed to justice, Barron successfully argued a pro bono appeal before the Delaware Supreme Court, overturning a death row conviction. He has held leadership roles in various bar associations and received prestigious awards, including the ABA’s Curtin-Maleng Minister of Justice Award. A proud Marylander and lifelong public servant, Barron brings deep purpose to his roles.
