March is Women’s History Month, and we wanted to take this opportunity to commemorate the incredible accomplishments of women in the legal profession.
In honor of the many achievements and contributions of women throughout history and those fighting for justice today, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs wish to recognize and honor our female lawyers and legal assistants who make our success possible.
Commemorating Female Lawyers in this Women’s History Month
Inspiring women in history and today’s society have fought hard for equal rights in the legal field. Some of the most notable female pioneers in law include:
- Charlotte E. Ray – Considered the first female attorney to officially practice law in the United States, Charlotte was also the first African-American woman to graduate from law school.
- Belva Lockwood—The first female attorney to argue before the Supreme Court, her advocacy inspired the 1879 “Lockwood Bill,” which granted women the right to practice before the Supreme Court.
- Sandra Day O’Connor – The first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra paved the way for women to serve on the Supreme Court.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg – A “notorious” Supreme Court Justice, Ruth won the first case in which the Supreme Court ruled that a woman had been denied equal protection under the 14th Amendment.
- Gloria Allred – The current president of the Women’s Equal Rights Legal Defense and Education Fund, Gloria is a strong advocate for women’s rights and an attorney for high-profile cases involving gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
- Sonia Sotomayor – The first woman of color to serve on the Supreme Court, Sonia uses her position to advocate for civil protection for all.
- Alex Wagner – A prominent journalist in the United States, Alex has covered mass atrocities and advocated for more robust human rights. She currently hosts Alex Wagner Tonight, a news show on MSNBC.
We’re Thankful For The Women Working at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs
We owe much of our success to the powerful, competent, and tireless women working at our firm, including:
- Erin Copeland, Partner
Erin has focused her practice on representing women harmed by dangerous products. In 2020, she helped negotiate a $1.6 billion settlement on behalf of women who suffered severe injuries after using birth control devices. She currently serves as the court-appointed Co-Lead of the Paragard multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Georgia, representing women who suffered harm when the birth control device broke upon removal. She also serves on the leadership committee of Hair Relaxer lawsuits on behalf of women diagnosed with cancer after using chemical hair relaxers.
- Sara J. Fendia, Of Counsel
Sara has over 35 years of legal experience taking on major corporations like Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Avis Rent A Car System, and Halliburton. Uncompromising in her principled pursuit of justice, she has handled multi-million dollar litigation involving products like FenPhen, Vioxx, and Zyprexa. Trained as both a family and civil law mediator, Sara assists with various practice areas, including human trafficking, wrongful death, and medical malpractice.
- Kelley Bogusevic, Attorney
Kelley is an experienced attorney who focuses her practice on helping victims of sexual assault and catastrophic injury. She has taken on the pharmaceutical industry when representing victims harmed in the Texas opioid crisis. Her clients know first-hand about her drive to get great results, her passion for advocacy, and her impeccable attention to detail. She has spent her entire career as a tireless advocate for victims of injury caused by the negligence of others.
We’d also like to recognize our incredible female legal assistants who strengthen our cases:
- Liz Paez
- Tami Bellville
- Bilha Banda
- Shari Harp
- Diana Ziebak
- Teresa Kapelle
- Lorena Dibello
- Shona Clark
And of course, the women who act as our case managers who keep everything on track:
- Cynthia Lewis
- Crystal Adams
Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs Is Committed to Advocating For Women
At our firm, we are proud to support female lawyers and advocate for causes that affect women. For multiple decades, we have fought for the rights and recovery of women when they have been harmed by:
- Human trafficking
- Sexual assault
- Dangerous and defective products, including birth control devices like Paragard IUDs, pharmaceutical products, and beauty products marketed toward women
We advocate for those who need a voice and are proud to empower women as attorneys and clients. To learn more about our firm and how we can help if you’ve sustained a serious injury or lost a loved one due to negligence, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.