SAN DIEGO and WILMINGTON, Del., November 7, 2022—The Duane Morris Women’s Impact Network for Success (WINS) has honored two attorneys for their efforts to advance women in the legal profession. San Diego partner Sandra A. Jeskie received the Cheryl Bryson Leadership Award. Wilmington partner Sommer L. Ross received the Margery Reed Professional Excellence Award. Jeskie and Ross received the awards at Duane Morris’ annual firmwide meeting.
The Cheryl Bryson Leadership Award recognizes significant contributions to women in the legal world, 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 repeatedly honored throughout her career as a major pioneer, both as a woman lawyer and as a lawyer of color.
Sandra A. Jeskie is now chair emeritus of WINS. She served as chair of the group for nine years, championing efforts for enhanced benefits, flexible work policies and more valuable programming for women attorneys and the firm. Jeskie is an experienced litigator, arbitrator, mediator and special master to the courts in commercial business disputes and matters involving complex contractual issues, technology, software, intellectual property or information/data. Her practice of more than 25 years includes litigation, privacy, information security and information technology. Jeskie serves as a team lead for the Duane Morris Technology, Media & Telecom Industry Group. She received a Professional Business Women of California (PBWC) 2021 Industry Leader Award, recognizing those who have demonstrated excellence connecting, mentoring and advancing women; who have led groundbreaking and industry-changing innovation; or who have provided unique and unparalleled inspiration to their companies or their communities at large. In 2017, Jeskie received a Diversity Award from the Diversity Law Institute, an accolade given to a select number of individuals, law firms and companies who have at an elite level advanced, promoted or supported diversity and inclusion in the profession of law. In 2015, Jeskie was named one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction.
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. Margery 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.
Sommer L. Ross practices in the area of business reorganization and financial restructuring, representing Chapter 11 debtors-in-possession, creditors’ committees and large institutional creditors, secured and unsecured, in all facets of bankruptcies, restructurings and workouts. She has represented Fortune 100 companies as well as startups in a wide variety of industries. Ross also has extensive experience dealing with commercial mortgage foreclosures throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She is regarded by her colleagues and clients as a professional who commits herself tirelessly to sorting the most complex legal problems in a methodical and efficient way. Ross is well-regarded in the Delaware legal community and is known throughout the firm as a helpful strategist for all matters that require Delaware knowledge. She is also an active pro bono layer and regularly seeks out opportunities to represent those who are most in need. Ross started her career at Duane Morris as a summer associate, attaining partner status in 2015. She has three daughters.
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 range 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.
