Friday, January 17, 2003
Page 3
Attorney Donna Melby to Become First Woman President of ABOTA
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Los Angeles attorney Donna D. Melby will be the first woman to serve as national president of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the prestigious litigators’ group reported yesterday.
Melby, a partner in the local office of Chicago-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, will be sworn in as national vice president Saturday, putting her in line to become president-elect in 2004 and president in 2005.
ABOTA’s stated purpose is to preserve and promote the right to a civil jury trial. Members generally are considered the nation’s elite litigation practitioners, and must meet standards for number of years of practice and number of cases tried to conclusion.
The organization was formed in 1958.
Melby became a member of the State Bar in 1979 after earning her law degree at California Western School of Law in San Diego. She earned her undergraduate degree from University of California at Santa Barbara.
She spent much of her career at Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold. She made the move to Sonnenschein last year.
“I am honored by the fellowship of so many outstanding professionals,” Melby said in a written statement. “I pledge to use my best efforts to work with the wonderfully diverse talent of our membership to continue our progress into the next season of opportunity.”
The induction ceremony is to take place at the ABOTA board meeting in San Francisco.
San Francisco attorney Edward J. Nevin of Nevin & Absalom is to be sworn in as this year’s president. Richard O’Keeffe of White Plains, N.Y. is to be sworn in as president-elect.
Copyright 2003, Metropolitan News Company