Charlotte, NC – Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce that North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and The Mecklenburg Times have named Melanie Black Dubis and Kristen Bateman Leis to its list of "50 Most Influential Women." Melanie and Kristen were recognized for their commitment to North Carolina’s legal and business communities.
North Carolina Lawyers Weekly created the 50 Most Influential awards to spotlight the important role women leaders play in the state’s legal and business communities. The winners are selected based on their leadership, business acumen, mentoring, and community involvement.
Melanie leads Parker Poe’s Business Litigation Group, which is the largest practice group in the law firm. A partner in the firm, Melanie has been a guiding force in the legal, business, and nonprofit community and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of women leaders and litigators. Earlier this year, she was named the recipient of Parker Poe’s Catharine Biggs Arrowood Women’s Achievement Award, which was created to recognize the achievements of women in the legal profession. In addition, Melanie has served on the board of directors for the Raleigh Chamber, the Carolina Ballet, the Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina, and the Girl Scouts of America's NC Coastal Pines Council.
A member of the firm’s executive committee, Kristen leads the firm’s marketing, business development, and practice management functions. She is a Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management, an honorary association dedicated to the improvement of law practice management and the enhancement of the professional quality of the public respect for the law. Membership in the College is held by less than 300 professionals from around the world and is by invitation to honor individuals who have proven to their peers, employers, the Bar, the bench, and the public through performance their contributions to law practice management. She is also a member of Women Executives (WE), which consists of a diverse group of business, educational, and nonprofit leaders in the Charlotte community. She was inducted into the group in 2021 for her accomplishments as a leader and her commitment to nurturing other women’s professional and personal growth. WE helps its members further develop their leadership potential and serve the community. Through the Women Executives for Community Service (WECS), Kristen mentors students 25 years or older who are pursuing higher education as a way to improve their lives.
North Carolina Lawyers Weekly will honor Melanie, Kristen, and the other winners on October 24 in Charlotte.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has more than 275 lawyers in eight offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, DC. The firm provides legal counsel to many of the largest companies and local governments in the Southeast.
Parker Poe is a member of two leading international legal networks: TerraLex and the Employment Law Alliance. TerraLex and the ELA have chosen Parker Poe to help guide clients through the challenges of global business.