August 28, 2023
Partners Barbara Grayson and Kim A. Walker have been named among the honorees at Corporate Counsel’s 2023 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards for their professional achievements and leadership in advancing diversity.
They are among the attorneys across the industry recognized at the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards as driving forces for diversity and leaders in their respective fields. “These women leaders are business strategists, complex problem-solvers and, of course, great lawyers,” Corporate Counsel said. “But what particularly makes these women stand out is their personal dedication to the promotion of diversity in the legal industry.”
Barbara Grayson, partner and Midwest Chair of Willkie’s Private Clients Group, has received Corporate Counsel’s “Thought Leadership Award.” Barbara represents high-net worth individuals and families on tax and estate planning and advises family-owned businesses, family offices and charitable organizations on a wide range of legal issues, including the transfer of wealth, governance and succession issues, and fiduciary responsibilities.
For over 20 years, Barbara has been a mentor to and role model for women in the law, and helped generations of attorneys excel in their careers. As one of the founding partners of Willkie Chicago, she has helped grow the office to 80 lawyers since its launch in 2020 and continues to contribute significantly to its success. A frequent speaker and thought leader regarding wealth transfer and estate planning issues, Barbara is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of Wealth Management’s “Trust & Estates” Fiduciary Professions Committee. She has also served on the Global Advisory Board for the Women In Law Empowerment Forum for 15+ years.
Kim A. Walker serves as Willkie’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, a member of the Executive Committee and a partner in the Intellectual Property Department. Corporate Counsel named her a “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion” in recognition of her lifelong commitment to furthering diversity and inclusion in the law and to serving the underrepresented.
Kim has been integral to Willkie’s success in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion and its growth as an industry leader. The firm was awarded Mansfield Certification Plus for building a diverse leadership – Willkie’s Executive Committee is 46% women or diverse – and continued to be recognized in 2023 by The American Lawyer and Law360 as a top firm for diversity.
Barbara and Kim will be profiled in a special Corporate Counsel supplement and recognized at an awards dinner on Oct. 18 as part of the Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference in New Orleans.
View the Women, Influence & Power in Law honorees here.
They are among the attorneys across the industry recognized at the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards as driving forces for diversity and leaders in their respective fields. “These women leaders are business strategists, complex problem-solvers and, of course, great lawyers,” Corporate Counsel said. “But what particularly makes these women stand out is their personal dedication to the promotion of diversity in the legal industry.”
Barbara Grayson, partner and Midwest Chair of Willkie’s Private Clients Group, has received Corporate Counsel’s “Thought Leadership Award.” Barbara represents high-net worth individuals and families on tax and estate planning and advises family-owned businesses, family offices and charitable organizations on a wide range of legal issues, including the transfer of wealth, governance and succession issues, and fiduciary responsibilities.
For over 20 years, Barbara has been a mentor to and role model for women in the law, and helped generations of attorneys excel in their careers. As one of the founding partners of Willkie Chicago, she has helped grow the office to 80 lawyers since its launch in 2020 and continues to contribute significantly to its success. A frequent speaker and thought leader regarding wealth transfer and estate planning issues, Barbara is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of Wealth Management’s “Trust & Estates” Fiduciary Professions Committee. She has also served on the Global Advisory Board for the Women In Law Empowerment Forum for 15+ years.
Kim A. Walker serves as Willkie’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, a member of the Executive Committee and a partner in the Intellectual Property Department. Corporate Counsel named her a “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion” in recognition of her lifelong commitment to furthering diversity and inclusion in the law and to serving the underrepresented.
Kim has been integral to Willkie’s success in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion and its growth as an industry leader. The firm was awarded Mansfield Certification Plus for building a diverse leadership – Willkie’s Executive Committee is 46% women or diverse – and continued to be recognized in 2023 by The American Lawyer and Law360 as a top firm for diversity.
Barbara and Kim will be profiled in a special Corporate Counsel supplement and recognized at an awards dinner on Oct. 18 as part of the Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference in New Orleans.
View the Women, Influence & Power in Law honorees here.
