The Women' s Bar Association of
Massachusetts (WBA) recently recognized Bingham McCutchen partner Beth Boland
with the Lelia J. Robinson Award in honor of her contributions to the legal
profession and the greater community. Named for the first woman admitted to the
Massachusetts bar, the award has been presented by the WBA since 1994 to
recognize women who, like Robinson, have captured the spirit of pioneering in
the legal profession and have made a difference in their community.
"Beth embodies the spirit of Lelia J. Robinson with her commitment to
advocacy and professionalism in her client work, her dedication to paving the
way for women in the profession, and her pursuit of social justice and
equality," said Deborah DosStantos, president of the WBA.
Beth I. Z. Boland is an accomplished practitioner, pioneer in advancing women
in the profession and in government, and vigorous advocate for survivors of
domestic violence. Beth represents clients in complex business and
financial matters such as SEC and attorney general investigations, shareholder
disputes and derivative actions, and fraudulent sales practice class actions.
Recently named one of Massachusetts' "most influential attorneys," she has
litigated cases that have set new precedents for corporate governance standards
and have had industry-wide ramifications. Boland is a strong supporter of women
in government, having served as co-chair of Martha Coakley's finance committee
for her Senate race, as a member of the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus,
and as a founder of the Massachusetts Government Appointments Project. She has
also served as a commissioner for the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of
Women.
Boland's commitment to the profession runs deep as well and she has held a
number of high profile leadership positions in the legal community. She has
co-chaired the Boston Bar Association Task Force on Corporate Governance and was
appointed by the Chief Justice of the Trial Court to co-chair the Massachusetts
Superior Court Business Litigation Session Resource Committee from 2001-2007.
She served as president of the Women's Bar Association from 1998-1999, proving
instrumental in the organization's work on the successful passage of the Child
Custody Bill. Boland was also a coauthor of the WBA's groundbreaking More Than
Part-Time Report. She served on the BBA Committee on Work/Life Issues in the
Profession from 2000 to 2003 and the MBA Joint Bar Committee of Judicial
Appointments from 1995 to 1998. Boland has also devoted a significant portion of
her career to providing a voice for survivors of domestic violence. She has
participated in the Mintz Levin Domestic Violence Project, has served as a
Director and counsel to the R.O.S.E. Fund and has been legislative chair of the
Domestic Violence Council.
Boland is a graduate of the University of Chicago and the University of
Chicago Law School.