PHILADELPHIA, October 30, 2024—The Duane Morris Women's Impact Network for Success (WINS) has honored two attorneys for their efforts to advance women in the legal profession. Philadelphia partner Erin M. Duffy received the Cheryl Bryson Leadership Award. Washington, D.C., partner Michelle C. Pardo received the Margery Reed Professional Excellence Award. Duffy and Pardo received the awards at Duane Morris’ annual firmwide meeting.
The Cheryl Bryson Leadership Award recognizes significant contributions to women in the profession, including professional development of women lawyers and the advancement of women lawyers in the profession. The award is named in honor of the late Cheryl Blackwell Bryson, a Duane Morris partner in Chicago who was a leader in many significant civic and community causes, and was repeatedly honored throughout her career as a major pioneer, both as a woman lawyer and as a lawyer of color.
The Margery Reed Professional Excellence Award recognizes significant contributions toward creating, modeling and/or mentoring others regarding issues of work-life management. The award is named in honor of the late Margery Reed, a Duane Morris partner in Philadelphia. Reed was the recipient of numerous awards, including her admission as a fellow in the prestigious American College of Bankruptcy. She was repeatedly recognized as one of the best commercial bankruptcy lawyers in the country. A consummate partner, Reed was incomparably selfless in giving of her time and talents to assist her colleagues and mentor junior lawyers. She was a true professional in every sense, and her unwavering commitment to her clients and colleagues, the firm and the profession of law is the reason this award for professional excellence is given in her name.
Erin M. Duffy is chair of the Duane Morris Health Law Practice Group and a member of the firm’s governing Partners Board. While serving in these leadership positions, she also avails herself as a role model and mentor to young lawyers. Duffy concentrates her practice on corporate healthcare regulatory matters. She advises clients, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, medical practices, pharmacies, long-term care facilities and developmental disabilities facilities on a wide range of issues, including fraud and abuse, privacy, medical staff relations, EMTALA, self-referral, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, corporate practice of medicine and fee-splitting prohibitions, and certificate of need and licensure issues. Duffy has worked extensively with healthcare providers on corporate transactions and administrative agency matters.
Embodying the focused, professional excellence of Margery Reed, Michelle C. Pardo performs exceptional legal work, while maintaining an excellent work-life balance. She focuses her practice on civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. Pardo serves as a team lead for the Duane Morris Fashion/Retail/Consumer Branded Products Industry Group. She has worked in a number of diverse areas, including animal law, government investigations, consumer fraud, employment discrimination, products liability, and business and tort litigation. Pardo has handled proceedings in various state and federal courts and alternative dispute resolution. She has represented clients in regulatory matters before various federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau of Consumer Protection under the Federal Trade Commission.
About the Duane Morris Women’s Impact Network for Success
WINS is devoted to the success of the firm’s women attorneys. Through various programs, it exchanges ideas, fosters and expands business contacts and opportunities, and enhances attorney development to fully realize the talent, knowledge and potential of Duane Morris’ women attorneys.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.