HARRISBURG (April 15, 2019) — The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Commission on Women in the Profession (WIP) will present its annual Anne X. Alpern Award to Lehigh County attorney Nancy Conrad of White and Williams LLP in Center Valley at an awards luncheon held during the commission’s 26th annual conference, “The Credibility Gap: Why Women Are Still Striving to Be Heard,” May 15 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square.
The Alpern Award is presented annually to a female lawyer or judge who demonstrates excellence in the legal profession and who makes a significant professional impact on women in the law. Established in 1994, the award was named for Anne X. Alpern, Pennsylvania’s attorney general in 1959 and the first woman state attorney general in the nation.
Over the past 20 years, Conrad has successfully balanced an employment law practice with the demands of parenting, mentoring, providing leadership in the legal community, sharing legal scholarship through presentations and articles and giving back to her community. The chair of White and Williams’ Labor and Employment and Education groups, she represents businesses, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations in workplace disputes including wrongful discharge, whistleblower and federal and state discrimination claims, and provides counsel on workplace issues. Most notably, she led the defense in several high-profile cases involving claims of discrimination, defamation and under the Whistleblower Law.
Complementing her legal prowess, Conrad has made a professional impact in other areas, including rainmaking and mentoring. A partner at a large law firm, she shares her knowledge and experiences of successfully developing new business by taking part in interviews and workshops. Through her involvement with the PBA WIP and the Women’s Initiative at White and Williams, Conrad helps women lawyers identify ways to achieve their goals and find work/life balance. She also serves as a resource through her involvement in several other women-focused organizations and often writes and presents on topics to assist women lawyers to succeed.
For many years, Conrad has been actively involved in the PBA WIP, serving on its Executive Council and as commission co-chair in 2014 and 2015. Of the many projects that she has managed, one of the most visible is the development of themes for the educational programs offered at WIP events that explore the cross-section of history and its impact on women lawyers. Some topics include Women of the U.S. Supreme Court, Lessons Learned from the Women’s Movement and The Law and Cases that Changed American Women’s Lives at Work, “because of sex.”
Outside of the WIP, Conrad has held various leadership positions at the PBA. She currently serves as at-large governor representing the interests of women lawyers in Pennsylvania, a voting member of the House of Delegates, co-vice chair of the Federal Practice Committee and past chair and Executive Council member of the Labor and Employment Law Section and Executive Council of the Civil Litigation Section.
In addition to her commitment to the statewide organized bar, Conrad is a member of the Lehigh County Bar Association, its Board of Directors and is currently serving as treasurer. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. She also serves as a Hearing Committee Member for the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in Disciplinary District II.
Also active in the community, Conrad has served as a member of the Women’s Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, vice president of the board for the Lehigh Valley Women’s 5K Classic, and a member of the Community Advisory Board of the CancerCare Community of Greater Lehigh Valley. She is an advocate and fundraiser for breast cancer research and awareness programs.
The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce presented Conrad with its 2006 Athena Award, which honors women striving for the highest levels of professional accomplishment, excelling in their chosen field and devoting time and energy to their community. Lehigh Valley Magazine honored Conrad in 2008 as a “mover and shaper” in recognition of her contributions to the region. The Girl Scouts presented Conrad with its 2009 Take the Lead Award, which honors women whose professional and personal accomplishments exemplify the organization’s mission to build girls who lead with courage, confidence and character. Lehigh Valley Business named Conrad a Woman of Influence in 2013 in recognition of her leadership and positive impact in the Lehigh Valley.
Conrad holds a bachelor’s degree from Lycoming College, a master’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law.
The Alpern Award and WIP Annual Conference are held during the PBA Annual Meeting Conference, May 15-17, in Lancaster. For details and registration information, visit www.pabar.org/pdf/2019/2019AnnualMeetingBrochure.pdf.
Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access of legal services; and serve the lawyer members of the state’s largest organized bar association.