Regina Wilson broke another barrier in the legal profession Monday when she became the third Black woman to serve as president of the Allegheny County Bar Association.

“A strong network has really supported me,” Ms. Wilson said.

She replaces Maria Presley, who ended her term as president on June 30.

“I’m proud to have Regina succeed me in this role, and I think I speak for everyone at the ACBA when I say that I’m excited about what’s ahead,” Ms. Presley said.

Ms. Wilson, 43, lives Downtown and has worked for K&L Gates law firm as a conflict risk assessments lawyer since 2011. She grew up in Wilkinsburg and Penn Hills, and attended the Ellis School in Shadyside. She earned her law degree in 2007 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

“I had the honor of being sworn in as a lawyer by the late Judge Livingston Johnson,” Ms. Wilson said. “When he swore me in he gave me several pieces of advice, and one of them was to join the Allegheny County Bar Association.”

By achieving the organization’s highest rank, she feels she has realized her mentor’s vision.

She is the 116th president of the 5,500-member legal group. As a Black female, she follows two other Black women who served as ACBA presidents — retired judge Kim Berkley Clark and Elizabeth Hughes. The late Eric Springer was the first Black president of ACBA.

Ms. Wilson also served as the organization’s secretary during her 17 years as a member.

As president, Ms. Wilson said she will support ongoing diversity, equity and inclusions programs already in place as well as emphasize the theme of “Belonging.”

“Through my tenure, I’ve been welcomed, known, included, supported and connected,” she said. “I want all of our members to know that they belong in the organization.”

As a conflicts risk assessment lawyer, Ms. Wilson counsels attorneys in 48 worldwide offices and advises them about potential legal conflicts of interest issues and other strategies at K&L Gates.

“When the firm is bringing on new business, my job is to work with lawyers to ensure there is not a conflict of interest and ensure the firm is not acting adverse to the interests of its clients,” she said.

“I didn’t even know this position existed until my connections who were doing it at the time said I should look into it.”

Immediately after law school, she worked in the School and Municipal Law Practice group at Goehring Rutter & Boehm.

When she was younger, Ms. Wilson said she wanted to be an anesthesiologist. But a high school internship with a small immigration law firm changed her mind.

“I had the ability to interact with lawyers in the community and I became interested in what people could do with a law degree,” Ms. Wilson said.

Ms. Wilson graduated from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and French and a minor in Economics. She also holds a Diploma of French Studies from L’Universite’ Rennes 2 in France.

Tim Grant: tgrant@post-gazette.com or 412-605-2335.

First Published: July 4, 2024, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: July 5, 2024, 9:48 a.m.