ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division
2026 ABA Midyear Meeting
Grand Hyatt San Antonio Riverwalk | Friday, Feb 6, 2026 | San Antonio, Texas
Ticket Fee: $15
Approximate Attendance: 100-150
2026 Present and Powerful Speaker Series Wine and Cheese Reception with Keynote Speaker
The Present and Powerful Speaker Series is coordinated by GPSolo Women’s Initiative Network (WIN). WIN was formed by the women leaders of the Division with the objective of advancing, promoting, and educating members about issues facing women in the legal profession and fostering an environment of support for women by creating networking opportunities, mentoring relationships, and women-focused programming. The Present & Powerful Speakers Series is a collaborative dynamic networking reception with the ABA Women Rainmakers of the Law Practice Division of the American Bar Association.
Sponsors gain excellent brand visibility and the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion while making connections with an influential audience.
2026 Keynote Speaker Jill Wine-Banks: Justice in Action: A Legacy of Accountability
Jill Wine-Banks, famously known as “The Watergate Girl,” helped shape modern legal history through her fearless work on the Watergate prosecution team. As the only woman on the trial team, she played a key role in exposing corruption at the highest levels of government, cross-examining key witnesses and helping bring justice to a nation in crisis.
Her impact didn’t stop there. Wine-Banks shattered glass ceilings across the legal and public sectors—becoming the first female General Counsel of the U.S. Army, the first Solicitor General of Illinois, and later, the first woman to serve as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Bar Association. In each role, she championed ethics, transparency, and inclusion.
Her memoir, The Watergate Girl, offers a candid look at her journey through political scandal, personal challenges, and professional triumphs. Today, she continues to inspire as a legal analyst, speaker, and advocate for democratic values.
Wine-Banks’ story is a powerful testament to the enduring role of law in defending truth—and the trailblazers who ensure justice prevails.
Celebrating 11 Years of WIN (below are a few recent speakers)
2025: “Strength in Adversity: A Leadership Story”
Coach Natasha Adair inspired legal professionals at the ABA Midyear Meeting with her journey of perseverance and transformation in college basketball. As the first Black head coach in multiple programs, she turned struggling teams into record-breaking successes through commitment, adaptability, and teamwork. Her story offers powerful lessons in leadership and resilience for the legal community.
2024: “Resilience: A Comeback Story” spotlighted CEO Stephanie Stuckey’s revival of the iconic roadside brand Stuckey’s, which had declined for decades under outside ownership. After acquiring the company in 2019, she and her partners have led a successful turnaround, restoring its legacy.
2023: “The Future is Now,” was a conversation with Donna Brazile, an ABC News Contributor, a member of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, veteran political strategist and an adjunct professor in the Women and Gender Studies