Lisa Rickard '82, President of U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, Receives AUWCL's Women and the Law Leadership Award
April 25, 2018
Lisa Rickard ’82, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), was honored Tuesday with American University Washington College of Law’s Women and the Law Leadership Award.
The award was presented during the law school's annual Women and the Law Leadership Award Luncheon and Ceremony, held by AUWCL’s Women and the Law Program and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. The award recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of alumnae who made significant contributions to the field of law and their service to the law school.
Rickard has been president at ILR since 2003. During her time at the helm, ILR has developed from a national legal reform organization into a comprehensive, multifaceted global legal reform campaign by guiding the global expansion of ILR into Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Along with growing IRL’s annual Legal Reform Summit, Rickard has worked to reform federal and state criminal and civil enforcement regimes. Among her many notable accomplishments, Rickard lead the effort to enact the landmark Class Action Fairness Act Law in 2005.
“Lisa has been a global pioneer in advocating and implementing cutting-edge legislative initiatives, legal reforms in the criminal justice system, and education programs,” said AUWCL Dean Camille Neslon. “We are grateful for your leadership, Lisa, and your service.”
Prior to her role as president of ILR, Rickard led government affairs practices for Fortune 5000 companies Dow Chemical and Ryder System, Inc. She was also a partner in the D.C. law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, and previously worked on Capitol Hill for two senators. She has been named by The National Law Journal among the nation’s Most Influential Lawyers, and one of the Washington’s Most Influential Women Lawyers.
Christina Ravelo ’18 was awarded this year’s Lisa Rickard Scholarship. Established in 2015, the scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates a dedication to the leadership roles women play in business law and expresses a desire to pursue a career in business law upon graduation.
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