The National Black Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40

“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” - Malcolm X #TheNBL #TheNBLTop100 #TheNBLTop40Under40 #Quote #MotivationalQuote #MondayMotivation #Monday

Employers must ensure that their operations are proactive and responsive to developments in the labor and employment law landscape. Darien works with his clients through their legal challenges, providing counsel tailored to their individual needs. Having served as a federal judicial law clerk, Darien pairs his litigation experience with an understanding of his client’s businesses to help them successfully navigate allegations of labor and employment law violations. Darien enjoys working with his colleagues to take full advantage of Seyfarth’s collective experience and resources when advising his clients on their legal matters. We are pleased to welcome Darien Harris as a new member of The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40! #TheNationalBlackLawyers #NBLTheNBLTop40Under40 #BlackLawyers #BlackExcellence #DarienHarris #SeyfarthShaw #Texas

“You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.” - Shirley Chisholm #TheNBL #TheNBLTop100 #TheNBLTop40Under40 #Quote #MotivationalQuote #MondayMotivation #Monday

Brenda J. Oliver provides advice and counsel to U.S.-based and foreign employers to facilitate transfers of high-level and specially skilled employees to the United States. She has been assisting clients in obtaining nonimmigrant visas, as well as immigrant visas and permanent residency based on employment and/or family sponsorship. She assists clients with the preparation of and guidance in the process of nonimmigrant visa petitions, employment-based permanent residency petitions, and labor certification applications. She provides advice on I-9 compliance and assists with company audits to ensure compliance with U.S. employment authorization practices. Additional representations have included assisting clients with outbound visa matters, citizenship and naturalization issues, obtaining OCS exemptions, preparation for consular processing, and general advice and counsel regarding immigration law. Brenda works pro bono with the Polaris Project to assist trafficking victims in obtaining T visas and adjustment of status. She also speaks English and Spanish. We are delighted to welcome Brenda Oliver as a new member of The National Black Lawyers Top 100! #TheNationalBlackLawyers #NBLTop100 #BlackLawyers #BlackExcellence #BrendaOliver #DC

Raven assists companies and personnel with navigating through the maze of state and federal workplace regulations including the ADA, FMLA, and FLSA. Raven doesn't just focus on compliance, she helps with building inclusive and thriving workplaces and advises employers through the complexities of day-to-day employment challenges. She also delivers tailored trainings, seminars, and legal updates to workplaces regardless of size. Raven joined Woods Rogers in 2022 after completing the firm’s summer associate program in 2021. She earned her J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law, where she was a recipient of the A. H. McLeod-Ross Malone Oral Advocacy Award. This prestigious accolade is bestowed upon a single graduating student who has shown exceptional skill in oral advocacy throughout their law school journey. Raven's commitment to advocacy was demonstrated in and outside of the classroom through various competitions and clinic work. She served as a student caseworker in the Advanced Administrative Litigation Clinic. Formerly known as the Black Lung Clinic, this service advocates for disabled miners affected by pneumoconiosis in their litigation to receive Federal Black Lung benefits for themselves and their survivors. We are pleased to welcome Raven Burks as a new member of The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40! #TheNationalBlackLawyers #NBLTheNBLTop40Under40 #BlackLawyers #BlackExcellence #RavenBurks #Woods Rogers #Virginia

David Hagan is an associate at Friedman, Grimes, Meinken & Leischner PLLC, practicing both family law and criminal defense. Mr. Hagan handles litigation, including all aspects of domestic relations cases, such as adoptions, divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, equitable distribution, settlement agreements, property rights, prenuptial agreements, and post-divorce disputes. He handles protective orders and misdemeanor criminal defense, including traffic and assault/battery cases. Mr. Hagan also assists with estate litigation and other civil matters. Mr. Hagan received his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. During his time there, he served as a student advisor in the George Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic, where he provided pro bono legal assistance to veterans and their families on issues such as civil contract disputes, veterans discharge upgrades, adoptions, consumer warranty concerns, and other matters. We are pleased to welcome David Hagan as a new member of The National Black Lawyers Top 100! #TheNationalBlackLawyers #NBLTop100 #BlackLawyers #BlackExcellence #DavidHagan #FriedmanGrimesMeinkenLeischner #Virginia

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” - Frederick Douglass #TheNBL #TheNBLTop100 #TheNBLTop40Under40 #Quote #MotivationalQuote #MondayMotivation #Monday

Eric Cunningham is an associate in Fisher Phillips’ Charlotte office who represents employers in a range of employment disputes in state and federal courts. Before joining Fisher Phillips, Eric was an associate in the Greensboro office of a litigation and commercial real estate firm, where he focused on complex commercial litigation and tort matters. His experience also includes an externship with the Honorable Tobias Hampson of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and work as a law clerk and summer associate with employment litigation firms. While in law school, Eric held leadership roles with the Black Law Students Association, was a Leadership Fellow, and served on the Moot Court Board and as the Business Editor for the Elon Law Review. We are delighted to welcome Eric Cunningham as a new member of The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40! #TheNationalBlackLawyers #NBLTheNBLTop40Under40 #BlackLawyers #BlackExcellence #EricCunnigham #FisherPhillips #NorthCarolina

On October 7th, 1993, Toni Morrison was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy’s Nobel Committee made the announcement in Stockholm, recognizing her profound impact on literature and storytelling. “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” - Toni Morrison #TheNBL #TheNBLTop100 #TheNBLTop40Under40 #Quote #MotivationalQuote #MondayMotivation #Monday

We are pleased to welcome Dawn Williams as a new member of The National Black Lawyers Top 100! Dawn’s practice focuses on financial services litigation and bank regulatory compliance, in which she represents some of the nation’s largest financial institutions. Dawn also has experience in insurance litigation, employment litigation, and product liability defense. She practices in state and federal courts, at both the trial and appellate levels. Dawn began her career with Dykema in 2008, during which time she worked in the Bloomfield Hills, Los Angeles, and Chicago offices. In 2014, she accepted a Senior Counsel and Vice President position at a national bank in Chicago to further develop her experience in the banking industry. Dawn rejoined Dykema in September 2015. #TheNationalBlackLawyers #NBLTop100 #BlackLawyers #BlackExcellence #DawnWilliams #Dykema #Michigan