CHAMPIONS & VISIONARIES

This is the fourth year that we've recognized attorneys for work that has helped advance the practice of law in Washington. And as with our past efforts, the attorneys profiled here are heavy hitters whose influence often extends far beyond the Beltway.

Selections are made by the editors of The National Law Journal, based upon nominations from the legal community and our reporting and research. We divide our selections into two categories: Champions, those who have upheld the profession's core values through public service, pro bono efforts and advocacy for civil liberties, and Visionaries, attorneys whose business or legal acumen has expanded their firms, improved government or advanced the law. — David L. Brown, editor in chief

CHAMPIONS These lawyers upheld the legal industry’s professional mission of public duty. They took on community causes, fought to protect civil liberties and worked for ethics in government.	VISIONARIES These attorneys saw farther ahead. They navigated firms through a stagnant economy, argued for revised criminal justice policies and guided agencies through legal thickets.
CAROL ELDER BRUCE K&L Gates, and former Senate committee special counsel	LISA BLATT Arnold & Porter
MICHAEL D. JONES Kirkland & Ellis	JAY EPSTIEN DLA Piper
SHELDON KRANTZ DLA Piper	DOUG KENDALL Constitutional Accountability Center
BILL LIVINGSTON Covington & Burling	THOMAS MILCH Arnold & Porter
BRUCE MANHEIM Ropes & Gray	NORMAN OBLON Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt
DEE MARTIN Bracewell & Giuliani	THOMAS PERRELLI Justice Department associate attorney general
LORELIE MASTERS Jenner & Block	J. THOMAS ROSCH Federal Trade Commission
CARMEN McLEAN Jones Day	JOSEPH SELLERS Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll
JIM ROCAP Steptoe & Johnson LLP	REGGIE WALTON U.S. district judge
GEORGE RUTTINGER Crowell & Moring	EDWARD WHELAN III President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center