The National Bar Association (NBA) named Nana Wilberforce a recipient of the 2022 “40 Under 40—Nation’s Best Advocate” award. The annual award recognizes the top lawyers under the age of 40 whose legal acumen, ingenuity and community service distinguish them from their peers. According to the NBA, the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges, this year’s honorees exemplify a broad range of high achievement in the legal field, including in advocacy, innovation, vision, leadership and overall legal and community involvement.
Wilberforce, a Los Angeles-based partner, was recognized for her legal prowess and commitment to public service and pro bono contributions. She focuses her regulatory and government affairs practice on matters involving antitrust and competition. Specializing in cartel investigations and merger clearance, she has helped clients navigate the US Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division’s Leniency Program, counseled clients through shifts in competition policy brought on by presidential administration changes and worked to secure merger clearance for transactions across a range of industries.
In addition, Wilberforce maintains a robust pro bono practice. She is a member of the WilmerHale team working alongside the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the ACLU Georgia to challenge voter suppression legislation targeted at minority communities. She is also currently partnering with The Legal Aid Society to reverse a wrongful conviction in New York—one of three jurisdictions in which she has been admitted to the bar.
Wilberforce and the other 40 Under 40—Nation’s Best Advocate honorees were celebrated at the National Bar Association’s Awards Gala on July 27, 2022, during the association’s 97th Annual Convention.