Richards and Smallwood Receive Moritz College of Law Alumni Awards

Suzanne K. Richards and Carl D. Smallwood, both litigation partners at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, were recently honored with awards presented by the Moritz College of Law Alumni Society.  Richards received the 2010 Community Service Award and Smallwood received the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus Award.

The Community Service Award is presented annually to a Moritz Law graduate who has volunteered significant and sustained time and expertise to assist a local, state, national or international humanitarian organization.  Dean Alan Michaels noted that Richards was honored for her work with the Law and Leadership Institute, a collaborative program with all nine Ohio law schools that equips students from under-served urban high schools with the skills and encouragement they need to succeed in both college and law school.  The program was designed ultimately to increase the diversity of the legal profession and foster future leaders.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented annually to a Moritz Law graduate for exceptional achievement or outstanding service to the college or community.  Smallwood, a 1980 Moritz Law graduate, has been a prominent leader in promoting diversity in the legal profession.  As the Columbus Bar Association president, Smallwood established the Managing Partners’ Diversity Initiative (MPDI), an action plan leading 22 Columbus law firms to recruit, hire, retain and promote lawyers of color in greater numbers.  Smallwood is also the president of the Board of Directors of the Law and Leadership Institute.  In 2010, Smallwood received the University’s Distinguished Service Award from Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee at the University’s March 2010 commencement.