Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Lynnette D. Espy-Williams, a litigation associate in Atlanta, has been selected to be a part of Outstanding Atlanta’s Class of 2012. Ms. Espy-Williams will officially become a member of this prestigious group at the induction ceremony on October 12, 2012.
Every year, Outstanding Atlanta (OA) selects ten young individuals who have been recognized for their business and civic accomplishments, as well as their contributions to the city of Atlanta. The organization aims to recognize, unite and develop young leaders in Atlanta through various programs and leadership training seminars; to give back to the Atlanta community through volunteer service including but not limited to youth development; and to help both young and more established leaders network in an attempt to build synergy among such individuals and find innovative ways to continue to improve the city of Atlanta.
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and Ms. Espy-Williams’ long-time mentor Leah Ward Sears will introduce Ms. Espy-Williams at the OA induction ceremony.
“I am honored to be recognized along with my fellow peers in Outstanding Atlanta’s Class of 2012,” said Lynnette Espy-Williams. “Giving back to the community has always been a priority for me and it means so much to have my mentor and friend Leah Ward Sears introduce me to OA’s members and share in this recognition."
As a litigation attorney with Cozen O’Connor, Ms. Espy-Williams focuses her practice on product liability and health, life and disability defense work. In addition to her case work, she gives a significant amount of her time to volunteer bar associations as well as community programs. Ms. Espy-Williams is President-Elect of the Gate City Bar Association and as Chair of the Association’s Annual Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony she was responsible for leading the Hall of Fame Committee which raised $100,000 to provide scholarships for deserving law students and to support local programs that have a positive impact in the Atlanta community. Last year, the Gala awarded $20,000 in law scholarships, the largest amount since the Hall of Fame Gala’s inception. Ms. Espy-Williams has also served as a committee member for the Community Law Clinic, an outreach program which offers free legal services to residents of Atlanta who are in need.
In addition to her legal activities, Ms. Espy-Williams volunteers for the Perkerson Elementary School reading program, developed to alleviate the problems associated with illiteracy in Atlanta public schools, and routinely volunteers for the Justice Benham Law Camp, a program that provides minority high school students with exposure to the legal profession through classroom instruction.
Ms. Espy-Williams is a member of the American Bar Association, the Atlanta Bar Association, the Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers, and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. She was also treasurer for the Young Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association.
Ms. Espy-Williams earned her law degree from the University of Maryland and her undergraduate degree, cum laude, with honors in economics, from Spelman College. During law school, she was a staff member of The Business Lawyer as well as an associate articles editor of the Journal of Business and Technology Law. Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, she served as a judicial intern for Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears of the Supreme Court of Georgia.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970 and ranked among the 100 largest law firms in the United States, Cozen O’Connor has 575 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and ambitious middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 21 offices across two continents.