Crain’s New York Business Names Sheila Boston, Mélida Hodgson, and Jami Vibbert to 2026 ‘Notable Women in Law’ List

Arnold & Porter partners Sheila Boston, Mélida Hodgson, and Jami Vibbert have been named to Crain’s New York Business’s 2026 edition of “Notable Women in Law.” The annual list recognizes women attorneys in the New York legal community who are both “trailblazers and torchbearers, redefining success in the legal profession.”

Sheila Boston was recognized by Crain’s as a seasoned trial lawyer and litigation strategist who has built a distinguished career in product liability and complex commercial litigation with “significant multidistrict litigation experience in mass tort actions.” The publication noted that she was the first woman of color to serve as president of the New York City Bar Association, holding the role from May 2020 to May 2022.

Mélida Hodgson, an investor-state and commercial arbitration practitioner and arbitrator, was included for her three decades of experience practicing at the intersection of international arbitration and sovereign obligations. Crain’s recognized Mélida for securing a favorable award for the Republic of Panama in an arbitration initiated by Spain-based Sacyr SA related to the expansion of the Panama Canal.

Jami Vibbert, chair of the firm’s Privacy, Cybersecurity & Data Strategy group, was commended by Crain’s for helping clients navigate global data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity concerns across industries, including life sciences, healthcare, financial services, media, and technology. With deep knowledge of a range of global data protection issues, Jami defends clients in privacy and cyber enforcement, litigation (including wiretapping litigation), incident response, and compliance.