GREENVILLE, SC (July 1, 2015) – The National Bar Association has chosen Wyche attorney Meliah Bowers Jefferson as one of the recipients of its 40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates Award. The award recognizes the nation’s top lawyers under age 40 who exemplify a broad range of high achievement, including innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community involvement.
“We’re thrilled to recognize these active and highly motivated leaders in their excellence and commitment to their chosen fields. Ultimately, their continued success benefits greatly the communities in which they reside and the entire legal field,” said Pamela Meanes, president of the National Bar Association. We look forward to honoring these 40 awardees during the NBA’s convention this year, and to working alongside them as they continue to make a tangible difference in the lives of those they serve.”
An independent panel combed through a large group of nominees to select the 40 individuals to receive the prestigious awards, which will be presented at the National Bar Association’s 40 Under 40 Awards luncheon on Thursday, July 23, 2015 during the NBA’s 90th Annual Convention in Los Angeles, CA. The award recipients represent a cross-section of legal professionals, including big firm, solo and industry practitioners, government lawyers, judges, academicians, corporate counsel, young elected officials, and various other lawyers, all of whom are using their degree in innovative and community impacting ways.
Jefferson focuses her practice at Wyche on complex commercial litigation and intellectual property law. She is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association’s Board of Governors, a Director on the Board of the South Carolina Women Lawyer’s Association, and a member of the Law School Professionalism Committee for the South Carolina Chief Justice’s Commission on the Profession. Jefferson is actively involved in the community, advocating for access to justice issues within our legal system and championing diversity and inclusion efforts. She is also active with the American Heart Association, serving as a spokeswoman for the 2015 Upstate South Carolina Go Red for Women initiative.
Prior to joining Wyche, Jefferson served as law clerk to The Honorable J. Michelle Childs, United States District Judge. She began her career serving as law clerk to The Honorable Jean H. Toal, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Jefferson is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business and earned her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she served on the editorial board of the ABA Real Property, Probate, and Trust Journal.
About Wyche
Wyche is a full-service law firm that has practiced law and served the Greenville community for more than 90 years. In that time, Wyche has participated in landmark litigation, served as counsel on cutting-edge transactions, and provided community leadership that has helped shape and drive our region’s growth and success. With offices in Greenville and Columbia, Wyche is the South Carolina member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms.
