Every year, the AL DÍA Top Lawyers event recognizes Latino lawyers from across the legal field from law firms small and large, nonprofit, and those serving as in-house counsels and in government.  

The goal is to highlight and honor not only Latino achievements in the industry, which grow in impact every year, but also show the next generation what’s possible in the field.

This year’s top lawyer from a Mid-Large Firm was Julia A. López, a partner at Reed Smith in its Life Sciences Health Industry Group, who practices in the areas of products liability litigation and commercial litigation.

During her career, she has engaged in single plaintiff matters, multi-district litigation in state and federal courts, and coordinated cases.

Additionally, she has counseled clients in all aspects of litigation from initial filings and early case assessments through to their resolution, including trials.

“I am proud to be a partner at Reed Smith, an international law firm with offices in the U.S. and around the world,” López said. 

As she accepted the award virtually with great honor, López couldn’t help but reflect on her journey to this point.

“I have to pinch myself every day, because a little immigrant girl from Guatemala is now a partner at Reed Smith and I get to live the American dream thanks to my parents and my abuelita,” López highlighted.

She began her speech with recognition of AL DÍA’s work in uplifting Latino voices, thanking each member of the advisory committee — a panel of seasoned lawyers who selected the honorees — by name.

Using her speech as a platform, López also advocated for more diversity and further acceptance of Latinos within law, citing her own experiences as being one of the few Latinas within the field, especially at a big firm like Reed Smith.

“Latinos still represent approximately 5% of the total number of lawyers in big law. That number drops to less than two percent for Latinas in big law, and that number drops even further to less than 1% for Latinas who make partner,” López explained.

“For this reason, I have used my seat at the table at Reed Smith and through my leadership roles at the [Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)] and the [Hispanic Bar Association (HBA), New Jersey] to give back and diversify the legal profession,” López continued.

As a member of the legal team that sustains the HNBA and president of the HBA NJ, López urges others to take action as well in pushing for diversity in the legal field to ensure that Latinos have a seat at the table, as well.

Then maybe they can be an AL DÍA Top Lawyer too at some point in the future.