The Atlanta Lawyer June/July 2023 Vol 22, No. 1 | Page 48

Judicial Section
Women in the Profession Section

section updates

Judicial Section

On April 26 , 2023 , the Judicial Section awarded the Romae Turner Powell Award to the Hon . Christopher F . McFadden ( Georgia Court of Appeals ) and the Administrative Professional of the Year Award to Cynthia Chapman . Judges from multiple jurisdictions and different classes of courts came together to celebrate the honorees and all the nominees at the Avondale Lake Club .
In May , our Section joined the Criminal Law Section for a lunch and learn at the State Bar of Georgia featuring a valuable question and answer session with the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles . Our Section also started a Facebook page to share news and events . If you would like to submit news / updates to be posted on the Section facebook page , please email Chair Hon . Ashley Drake ( Fulton County Magistrate Court ).
Lastly , we are planning a lunch in August , so be on the lookout for registration details which will become available on atlantabar . org in July .
HON . ASHLEY G . DRAKE Fulton County Magistrate Court Ashley . Drake @ fultoncountyga . gov

Women in the Profession Section

The Women in the Profession Section attended the Atlanta Bar Association ’ s Annual Meeting on May 23 , 2023 at Ansley Golf Club where we celebrated our Section ’ s accomplishments of the year and swore in new section officers : Member-at-Large Katie Gamsey ( Caplan Cobb ), Treasurer Sheena K . Khawaja ( Smith Gambrell & Russell ), Secretary Balean S . Reid ( Barnhart Family Law ), Past Chair Kristy Barnhart ( Barnhart Family Law ), Chair Michelle Urbani Wallace ( Advantage Law Firm ), Vice Chair / Chair Elect Alisha Wyatt-Bullman ( Social Security Administration ), and Past Vice Chair Barclay Vallotton ( Krevolin & Horst ).
On Thursday , June 1 , 2023 the Section hosted our signature 23rd annual Woman of Achievement Award Luncheon at Capital City Club where Michelle Urbani Wallace ( Advantage Law Firm ) was honored with the 2023 Outstanding Women in the Profession Achievement Award . Upon closing remarks , our past Vice Chair presented our Section ’ s gratitude to our Immediate Past Chair for her service and leadership .
The Section wishes everyone a restful and fun summer . We want to thank our members and sponsors for making the past year a memorable one . We look forward to a new year full of events that support our membership ’ s personal and professional goals . Interested in getting involved or sharing your input on how we can best support you this year ? It is not too late ! Please reach out . Our Section is dedicated to furthering the practice and perception of law , with a focus on issues unique to women in the practice . For more information about the Section including events , please visit our page at atlantabar . org and follow our Facebook page @ AtlantaBarWIP .
MICHELLE URBANI WALLACE Advantage Law Firm m . u . wallace @ theadvantagelawfirm . com
48 June / July 2023