The Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts (WBA) held its Annual Meeting and Reception on March 11, 2025 at Suffolk University Law School. 

The WBA is pleased to welcome Julie Dick Palmer as the organization’s incoming President. Julie practices family law in Western Massachusetts, counseling individuals, couples and families on all matters relating to domestic relationships. Prior to entering private practice, Julie worked as a Staff Attorney at Community Legal Aid, where she represented clients in Probate and Family Courts and District Courts as a part of the Family Law Unit.
 
Julie previously served on the WBA Board of Directors as a Regional Director representing Central Massachusetts from 2019 to 2021, on the Executive Board as Secretary for the 2021-2022 term, as Vice President, Operations from 2022-2024, and President-Elect from 2024-2025. In addition to her WBA activities, Julie is a member of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association, the Hampden County Bar Association, the Hampshire County Bar Association and the Franklin County Bar Association.  In 2023, Julie was selected to receive the WBA’s Emerging Women Leaders in the Law award.

The Honorable Bernadette Stark, an Associate Justice of the Probate and Family Court in Worcester County, was the keynote speaker at the well-attended reception that followed. She shared her story of growing up in a multigenerational home in Brooklyn, New York, where she often served as a translator for her grandmother, who did not speak English. Judge Stark spoke also of her mother, who came to New York from Puerto Rico, and her mother’s unwavering commitment to her children’s education. Judge Stark spoke of her own career both in private practice and as a public interest attorney and emphasized the importance of finding mentors at every stage of one’s career, and how much one can learn from having a mentor, and from being a mentor. Her remarks were infused with energy and commitment, encouraging everyone to get involved and give back within the greater community.

At the annual meeting, the WBA also voted on a slate of officers and elected members of the Board of Directors.  The organization welcomes the following new and returning officers and directors for 2025-26.

WBA Officers
President: Julie Dick Palmer
President-Elect: Margaret Caulfield
Vice President of Membership & Statewide Outreach: Jessica Caamano, Goulston & Storrs PC
Vice President of Operations: Jenna Ventorino, WilmerHale
Treasurer: Emily Rothkin, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Secretary: Ellen Sullivan, Cambridge Immigration Law, PC

WBA Immediate Past President
Alexandra Mitropoulos, Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP 

WBA At-Large Directors
Jessica Babine, Cornetta Babine, LLC
Diana Li Chikwamba, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Elizabeth Dillon, Simmons University 
Kim Donlon, Major, Lindsey & Africa
Nicole Forbes, G-P
Alexandra Hassell, Seyfarth Shaw, LLP
Kate Isley, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Elizabeth Keeley, Butters Brazilian, LLP
Gwen Nolan King, Nolan & King, LLC
Kristy Lavigne, Office of Bar Counsel
Stephanie Lin, WilmerHale
Emily Robey-Phillips, Holland and Knight, LLP 
Jamie Sabino, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Angie von Pageler, Computershare, Inc.
Sarah Walsh, Crawford & Archarya pllc
Kisha Montoya Wilson, Holland & Knight, LLP

WBA Regional Directors
Lesley A. Leonessa, Dell EMC (Greater Boston)
Sara Khan, Sigman, Khan & Chubb, PLLC (Middlesex)

The exciting new board brings both commitment and dedication to advocating on behalf of women in the legal community and on issues impacting women, as well as experience across a wide variety of practice areas in law firms, government, in-house legal departments and nonprofit organizations.

Incoming WBA President Julie Dick Palmer remarked, “I am honored and humbled to serve as the President of the Women’s Bar Association for the 2025-2026 year. This organization is a space women have built and maintained together year after year – a space where we find and offer encouragement, solidarity, and meaningful support, a space where we organize and act, and a space where we work in collaboration with allies and friends towards a more equitable and just society. The WBA’s inclusive, progressive, and powerful voice is needed now more than ever, and I am eager to continue to work with the WBA membership in the coming year towards the full and equal participation of women in every aspect of society.”

Outgoing WBA President Alexandra Mitropoulos reflected, “Serving as president of the Women's Bar Association has been an honor and a privilege. Over the past year, we have fought for policies that support and uplift women, expanded opportunities for our members, and strengthened our collective voice in the legal community. In particular, we have worked tirelessly to defend reproductive rights, ensuring that the legal profession remains at the forefront of protecting access to care and advocating for policies that safeguard bodily autonomy. I am deeply grateful to our board, members, and corporate partners who have and continue to stand with us. As I pass the torch to the amazing Julie Dick Palmer, I do so with confidence that the WBA will continue to lead the charge for equality, justice, and progress.”