Sheila Boston Receives American Bar Association’s 2026 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award

The American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Women in the Profession has named Arnold & Porter partner Sheila S. Boston as one of five recipients of its 2026 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. The award recognizes women lawyers “who have achieved professional excellence in their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for others.”

ABA commended Sheila as “a seasoned trial lawyer and litigation strategist who defends clients from the initiation of a case through trial and resolution.” The organization also noted she is active in bar associations and currently serves as vice president of the Federal Bar Council. She previously served as president of the New York City Bar Association, for which she was the first woman of color to hold the role.

Established in 1991, the award is named for Margaret Brent, the first woman lawyer in America. Past honorees include U.S. Supreme Court justices, legislators, scholars, civil rights activists, and corporate lawyers. Winners are selected based on “their professional accomplishments and their role in opening doors of opportunity for other women lawyers.”

The 2026 award recipients will be honored at a ceremony on August 2 during the ABA Annual Conference in Chicago.