Dot Powell-Woodson, Jerita Salley Honored by National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division

July 28, 2021

Washington, DC – Wiley, a preeminent Washington, DC law firm, is pleased to announce that partners Dorthula (Dot) Powell-Woodson and Jerita L. DeBraux Salley were honored by the National Bar Association (NBA) Women Lawyers Division during last week’s Annual Achievement Awards.

Ms. Powell-Woodson, co-chair of Wiley’s Health Care Practice, won the “Outstanding Hidden Figure Award,” which recognizes a woman lawyer whose significant contributions to the legal profession may not be widely known. Ms. Salley, a partner in the Corporate Practice, won the “Minority Partner in Majority Firm Award,” which acknowledges the significant achievements of minority women lawyers who were promoted from associate to partner in a majority firm, or who were hired as a lateral partner. This year’s virtual ceremony, themed “Resilience: Women Still Standing Strong in the Law,” recognized the extraordinary work of African American women lawyers and judges over the past year.

“I am thrilled that Dot and Jerita were selected for these prestigious awards, which celebrate their outstanding achievements for clients and their advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession,” said Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah, Wiley’s Chief Diversity Officer. “During an unprecedented time in our nation’s history, these two exceptional lawyers have been instrumental in advancing our firm’s core values and have made a lasting impact throughout our community.”

Ms. Powell-Woodson’s impressive career spans a variety of leadership roles across the health care legal landscape, including serving as the Governor-appointed Director of Virginia’s health care agency, as a Virginia Assistant Attorney General, and as Vice President for Legal Services for two national health care companies. At Wiley, she has built a successful practice and national reputation by marrying the skills and perspectives acquired through her multifaceted and prestigious career to offer insightful counsel to her clients, which include numerous national and regional health insurers. Ms. Powell-Woodson is also a longtime leader in the management of the firm, having been reelected repeatedly to Wiley’s two governance committees – the Executive Committee and the Management Committee.

Ms. Salley, also named earlier this year to the National Black Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40” list in Washington, DC, focuses on corporate and transactional matters, representing clients in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; commercial contracts, and corporate governance matters in various industries. She represents a wide range of clients, including government contractors, broadcasters, cable providers, software and other technology providers, financial institutions, and nonprofit corporations. Ms. Salley has served as lead counsel by negotiating transaction documents, coordinating due diligence, and preparing financing, leasing, real property, and closing documentation, in multiple acquisitions and divestitures by public and private companies ranging from less than $1 million to more than $265 million.

The Women Lawyers Division of the NBA was founded in 1972 as a vehicle for women in the practice of law to address the issues and problems that particularly affect interest and concerns of African American women.

The NBA, founded in 1925, is the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly Black attorneys and judges. It represents the interests of approximately 65,000 attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students.