Law Day Awards Dinner 2024

May 2, 2024
Seaport Hotel

1 Seaport Lane
Boston

 

6:00 p.m. Reception
7:00 p.m. Dinner


 

Ticket Pricing 

 

General Individual Tickets

$250.00 

 

Legal Services/Government

$125.00 

Classes 2020-2024

$125.00 

 

Class 1968 or earlier

$125.00

 

 

Established by proclamation in 1958, Law Day is a long-standing national tradition. At BC Law, we mark Law Day with a signature event held near to the national Law Day on May 1. This gathering celebrates the most important goals of the legal profession: to advance equality and justice, encourage observation and enforcement of the law, and to foster respect for law and an understanding of its essential place in the life of every citizen.  

 

Platinum Sponsor ($20,000)

● Recognition as lead Platinum sponsor with prominent logo display in all event materials, including on-screen during event, signage, and printed/digital program
● Logo on BC Law’s website and in BC Law Magazine
● Table with preferred seating for 10 guests (option to include up to 6 BC Law students as your table guests, guests will be invited by firm or Law School directly.)

($18,000 is tax deductible)

Gold Sponsor ($15,000)

● Recognition as Gold sponsor with prominent donor logo display in all event materials, including on-screen during event, on signage, and printed/digital program
● Logo on BC Law’s website and in BC Law Magazine
● Table with preferred seating for 8 guests (option to include up to 6 BC Law students as your table guests, guests will be invited by firm or Law School directly.)

($13,400 is tax deductible)

Silver Sponsor ($10,000)

● Recognition as Silver sponsor with prominent donor logo display in all event materials, including on-screen during event, on signage, and printed/digital program
● Logo on BC Law’s website and in BC Law Magazine
● Table with preferred seating for 8 guests (option to include up to 6 BC Law students as your table guests, guests will be invited by firm or Law School directly.)

($8,400 is tax deductible)

Bronze Sponsor ($5,000)

● Recognition as Bronze sponsor during event and in printed/digital program
● Logo on BC Law’s website and in BC Law Magazine
● Table with preferred seating for 8 guests

($3,400 is tax deductible)

Maroon Sponsor ($2,500)

● Recognition as Maroon sponsor during event and in printed/digital program
● Logo on BC Law’s website and in BC Law Magazine
● Table with preferred seating for 4 guests

($1,700 is tax deductible)

Patron ($1,000)

For those who wish to support our efforts and are unable to attend. This support is fully deductible.
● Recognition as Patron with listing during and in printed/digital program

Platinum Sponsors

Use for online/web sponsorships, presentations and user interfaces. Do not use for giveaways -- instead, use the PMS version.

Also: Legal logo for Hong Kong
Ropes & Grey

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Mintz
Holland & Knight

Bronze Sponsors

Liberty Mutual Insurance
Seyfarth
Martin, Magnuson, McCarthy & Kenney
GoulstonStorrs_stacked_cmyk

Maroon Sponsors

 Beck Reed Riden
Warner, Federico & Ryan LLP
Locke Lord
Nutter
Bernkope Goodman

Patron

Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.

2024 Law Day Honorees


 

St. Thomas More Award

Senator Edward J. Markey '68, JD'72
United States Senator for Massachusetts

My Approved Portraits

Senator Edward J. Markey is a prominent figure in American politics, known for his extensive legislative record and commitment to various policy issues. A native of Malden, Massachusetts, Senator Markey has been a dedicated advocate for the people of Massachusetts throughout his political career.

With a remarkable 37-year tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives and subsequent service in the Senate since 2013, Senator Markey has demonstrated leadership in areas such as energy, environmental protection, and telecommunications policy. 

Senator Markey's legislative achievements include authoring the 2007 fuel economy law, increasing standards to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. In 2009, Congressman Markey was the co-author of the landmark Waxman-Markey bill, the only comprehensive climate legislation to pass a chamber of Congress at the time. He played a crucial role in the investigation of the BP oil spill, advocating for transparency and environmental safeguards.

A member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Senator Markey has been a national leader in telecommunications policy, technology and privacy. He chaired or was a ranking member on the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet for 20 years, where he fostered the growth of new information technologies and was the principal author of many of the laws now governing our nation’s telephone, broadcasting, cable television, wireless, and broadband communications systems.

Senator Markey also served as a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee during his time in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009. He focused on closing gaps in the United States homeland defenses, particularly in the areas of nuclear, aviation, maritime, liquefied natural gas, and chemical security. 

He also played a role in Wall Street reform, strengthening penalties against insider trading, improved federal oversight over the stock and futures markets, and reformed regulation of the government securities market. 

Senator Markey received his BA from Boston College in 1968. After graduating, he returned to Boston College Law School, where he received his JD in 1972.


William J. Kenealy, S.J.,  Alumna of the Year Award

Tanisha Sullivan, JD'02, MBA'02
Head, External Engagement & Health Equity Strategy, Sanofi US

Tanisha Sullivan, JD'02, MBA'02

Ms. Sullivan is an award-winning civic, legal, and business leader with over 25 years of experience in the life sciences and biotech industries. Currently, Ms. Sullivan is Head of External Engagement and Health Equity Strategy for Sanofi. Committed to public service, from 2013 to 2015, Ms. Sullivan served in a cabinet level position with the Boston Public Schools as its inaugural Chief Equity Officer.  

She is serving her fourth term as president for the NAACP Boston Branch, a member driven, volunteer led organization advancing the mission of the national NAACP, and also serves as president of the NAACP New England Area Conference of units. Her steadfast commitment to advancing public policy that helps improve quality of life for all people has earned Ms. Sullivan a reputation as an innovative, courageous, and outcomes-driven leader.  

Ms. Sullivan earned a BA in Government from the University of Virginia, a JD from Boston College Law School, and an MBA from the Boston College Carroll School of Management. Living out the principles of service held by both institutions, Ms. Sullivan serves in a volunteer capacity on several non-profit boards and advisory committees of consequence. In 2023 she was appointed by Governor Maura Healey to Chair the MA Council on Black Empowerment. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Boston College Law School Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy, and during the COVID-19 public health pandemic Ms. Sullivan was appointed to serve on several state and city task forces, including the Massachusetts Health Equity Task Force, City of Boston Health Equity Task Force, and the City of Boston Policing Reform Task Force. She co-chaired the BPS Exam School Admissions Policy taskforce and helped design several transformative policies and campaigns leading to the creation of the Boston Reparations Task Force and advancement of the elected school committee debate in Boston.  

Ms. Sullivan is a host of Basic Black on GBH and frequently comments for major media outlets including NPR Boston, WCVB, NECN, CBS Boston, and NBC10. Taking a step into deeper public service, in 2022 Ms. Sullivan ran for Massachusetts Secretary of State, and in June 2022 she became the first woman of color to be endorsed by the Massachusetts Democratic Party in a statewide race.

A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc., Ms. Sullivan lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston.


Hon. David S. Nelson Public Interest Law Award

Ellyn H. Hurd, JD’01
Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy

Ellyn H. Hurd, JD'01

Attorney Ellyn Hurd is a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy. She joined the firm in 2012 and has focused her practice on fighting the opioid epidemic and helping victims of sexual abuse and social media addiction. Before joining the firm, Ellyn worked as an associate at a law firm in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where she focused her practice on real property litigation and municipal matters.

Ellyn's firm is co-lead of the National Prescription Opiate Multi-District Litigation pending in Cleveland, Ohio. Ellyn represents hundreds of cities and counties across the United States in this massive and ground-breaking litigation to secure monetary and injunctive relief for the pharmaceutical industry’s decades-long improper promotion, distribution, and dispensing of prescription opioid medications. Ellyn has been involved in all aspects of the case since its inception and was a critical part of the team that secured billions of dollars in nationwide settlements—which funds are dedicated solely for the abatement of the crisis. In addition to working up the legal theory, conducting discovery, and managing multiple experts, Ellyn spearheaded the admission of defendants' documents and deposition testimony in multiple trials across the United States. 

In 2022, Ellyn served on the trial team that helped secure a $230 million settlement with Walgreens for the city of San Francisco over the company’s role in the opioid epidemic. After the 11-week liability trial, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer found Walgreens liable for contributing to the opioid epidemic and creating a public nuisance in the city. That ruling was the catalyst for the global settlement by CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens of over $12 billion. 

In 2021, Ellyn and her team successfully litigated the nation’s first opioid case to be heard before a state jury. Over a dozen defendants were present at the start of the trial, which became a catalyst for the Big 3 distributor settlement of over $20 billion nationwide just weeks into the trial. The trial, considered the longest jury trial in NY history, resulted in a jury verdict against the remaining defendants, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, and its subsidiaries.

Prior to her work on the opioid litigation, Ellyn was part of the team that secured over $70 million on behalf of over 150 Haitian nationals who suffered sexual abuse.  

Ellyn was recently appointed by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the multidistrict litigation against Uber on behalf of passengers who have experienced sexual assault and misconduct by drivers while using the platform. Ellyn is also part of the team currently litigating against Meta, TikTok, and several other social media companies on behalf of adolescents suffering from addiction and personal injury. Both the Uber and the Social Media litigation are pending in federal court in California.


Daniel G. Holland Lifetime Achievement Award

Steven H. Wright, JD’81
Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Steve Wright, JD'81

Steven Wright is Senior VP General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB), one of 12 regional Federal Reserve banks. He leads the Enterprise Resources Division, which includes the Legal, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Real Estate Services Group, and the Law Enforcement departments of the bank. He is also a member of the bank’s Executive Committee. He provides strategic counsel and governance guidance to the FRBB and its Board of Directors.

He has successfully led the legal department in the development and execution of several historic Federal Reserve projects, including FedNow, the Main Street Lending Program, the Hamilton Central Bank Digital Currency Project, the Money Market Liquidity Fund, and the Bank Term Funding Program. His legal team provides strategic counsel to the Supervision Credit and Regulation Department, which supervises 35 member banks in the First District throughout New England. He is a member of the Banks Risk Committee, the Credit Management Committee, and Supervision and Markets Committee. He is also Co-Chair of the Main Street Lending Program Credit Committee. His legal team collaborates with the Federal Reserve Board on various regulatory, governance, legal, policy, and Federal Reserve Bank of Boston operational matters.

Steve had several roles before joining the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He was the Executive Partner managing Holland & Knight’s Boston office. He served as lead counsel and strategic advisor there for several Fortune 200 companies, addressing complex commercial, corporate, intellectual property, litigation, and regulatory matters. He was co-founder of the firm of Chin, Wright & Branson. Steve served as Deputy Counsel to the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York, as General Counsel to New York City’s Public Advocate, and as Deputy Chief of the Civil Litigation Bureau of the Massachusetts Department of Attorney General and Chief of its Trial Division.  

He is a director of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and a member of its executive committee and was former co-chair of the Economic Inclusion Committee. He is a former director of Atrius Health, member of the Audit and Compensation Committee, and Chair of the Governance Committee. He is also a former director of SBLI Mutual Insurance Company, member of the Investment and Compensation Committees, and former trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. Steve is also a member of the American College of Corporate Directors and NACD.

He holds a law degree from Boston College Law School and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from East Carolina University. He is admitted to the bar in Massachusetts and New York.


Recent Graduate Award

Teresita "Tere" Ramos, JD'14
Executive Director, Partners for Youth with Disabilities

Teresita "Tere" Ramos, JD'14

Tere currently serves as the Executive Director at Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD), a national non-profit working with youth to reach their personal, educational, and career goals and guiding organizations in becoming more inclusive.

Tere has focused her career on the intersection of disability rights, special education rights, and civil rights. Her life’s mission is to seek access to equal opportunities for families in underrepresented communities and those with limited English—people who are often underserved by established systems.  

From 2017 to 2022, Tere ran a “tiered pricing/low bono” law practice focused on serving the large number of families in Massachusetts who did not qualify for public legal services but could not afford private special education representation. At her firm, she focused her work on representing children with disabilities in education and civil rights, especially regarding limited English proficient students with disabilities.

Prior to launching her own independent law practice, Tere had a highly impactful role as a Language Access Attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI). While at MLRI, Tere worked on litigation seeking that the Massachusetts Department of Education and the Holyoke Public Schools restructure how language access services are provided to all non-English-speaking families. The impact of this advocacy is transforming how language access in the education process is provided across the state. In 2020, the Federation for Children with Special Needs awarded Tere the Patricia Blake Advocacy Award for her efforts in ensuring access to education to all children, especially those who speak a language other than English at home.

Prior to her work at the MLRI, Tere was awarded the nationally competitive Equal Justice Works Fellowship at the Disability Law Center in Boston, where she designed her own legal service project and subsequently provided representation on disability and special education focused on low income, immigrant Hispanic children with disabilities. 

Tere earned her JD from Boston College Law School, where she received the Dean’s Award for Diversity and the Excellence in Pro Bono Service Award. She earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a BA cum laude in Romance Languages from Wellesley College. 


Special Service Award

Diane Ring, P'22, '23, '26
Professor of Law and Dr. Thomas F. Carney Distinguished Scholar, Boston College Law School

Senator Edward Markey '68, JD'72

Diane M. Ring is Professor of Law and the Dr. Thomas F. Carney Distinguished Scholar at Boston College Law School. Her work addresses issues including international taxation, the sharing economy, labor and taxation, information exchange, corruption and taxation, and tax leaks. Diane was a consultant for the United Nation’s 2014 project on tax base protection for developing countries and the UN's 2013 project on treaty administration for developing countries. Diane is also co-author of three case books in taxation—covering corporate taxation, international taxation, and ethical problems in federal tax practice. She has twice served as the Associate Dean at Boston College Law School and as the Interim Dean. Prior to joining BC Law, she was an associate professor of law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and an assistant professor at Harvard Law School. Before entering academia, Diane practiced at the firm of Caplin & Drysdale in Washington, D.C., specializing in the area of international tax and the taxation of financial instruments. She also clerked for Judge Jon O. Newman of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.