Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP is proud to announce that partner Natalie Roisman will be named as a 2018 “Star of the Bar” by the Women’s Bar Association of DC for her work on immigration policy advocacy.  Natalie is an experienced strategist, coalition builder, and community activist.  She has been recognized consistently for the highest levels of client service and is the founding chair of the WBK Women’s Initiative, co-chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and a member and former chair of the firm’s Associate Development Committee.  Natalie also serves on the executive committee of the Federal Communications Bar Association, co-chairs the WBA’s membership committee, and sits on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.

Natalie is the first WBK attorney and the first communications bar leader to receive Star of the Bar recognition from the WBA.  She will be honored along with leaders from the respected nonprofit immigration organizations Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Ayuda, and CAIR Coalition.

Consistent with this year’s WBA theme “Dare to Make an Impact,” Natalie joined with a small group of like-minded attorneys, all of whom are mothers, in standing up against the forced separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border.  The nonpartisan, grassroots Lawyer Moms of America grew from a handful of women to nearly 18,000 members in just a few months through its Facebook group, harnessing the outrage and energy of lawyers, non-lawyers, parents, and non-parents.  Since June, Lawyer Moms of America has organized a nationwide campaign to deliver an open letter to Members of Congress in more than 325 district offices, partnered with and provided legal support to the Grannies Respond caravan to the border, supplied airline miles and facilitated pro bono legal assistance for separated migrant families, held family lemonade stand fundraisers in nearly 40 states through their “Kids Take a Stand” campaign, and raised more than $50,000 to support the provision of legal services to migrant families.  More information is available at lawyermomsofamerica.com.

WBK Managing Partner Bryan Tramont said, “Natalie is a Firm, Bar and community leader of the highest order.    She deploys her passion and integrity with an impressively wide range of legal and advocacy skills and brings the best of all of them to her client and volunteer work.  We are proud of her bountiful contributions within and outside the firm and thrilled to see others recognize the qualities we have enjoyed up close for over a decade.  We also congratulate KIND, Ayuda, and CAIR Coalition on being recognized for their important work in this area.”

The Stars of the Bar event will be held at Hogan Lovells, 555 13^th Street, NW from 6:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, September 20.  Registration is free.  See www.wbadc.org for more information.

Congratulations to Natalie!