Hodgson Russ Partner Pamela Davis Heilman Receives International OWIT Award

Pamela Davis Heilman, a partner at the law firm Hodgson Russ LLP and a long-time advocate for women in business, was recently named Woman of the Year by the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), a major international organization focused on fostering international trade and the advancement of women in business.

Ms. Heilman received the honor at a special awards dinner October 23 during the organization’s 17th annual international conference in Monterrey, Mexico.

OWIT, which operates in 20 countries around the globe, presents this award annually to a woman who has furthered international trade through excellence and innovation and who, in doing so, has enhanced the status of women in international trade and business. Ms. Heilman’s nomination to this international organization was submitted by the Toronto chapter of OWIT; she is active with the Toronto chapter due to the cross-border focus of her practice and the significant amount of work she performs from the firm’s Toronto office.

Ms. Heilman concentrates her practice on international transactions for business and professional corporations as well as nonprofit organizations, and she is one of the lead lawyers in Hodgson Russ’s cross-border Canada/U.S. group. She regularly counsels Canadian organizations and businesses considering expansion into the United States.

OWIT recognized Ms. Heilman for the international focus of her legal practice as well as her leadership and participation in many international business associations and initiatives.

Her involvements include serving as a board member and treasurer for the Canadian American Business Council, based in Washington, D.C., and as a board member of the World Trade Center Buffalo/Niagara. In 1997, she served as an advisor to the Business Women's Team Canada Trade Mission to Washington, D.C., and was panel chair at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Women Leaders Network Conference in Ottawa. Since its inception, she has served on the bi-national panel of judges for the Canadian American Business Achievement Award. Pam represented Hodgson Russ as a sponsor of the Canada-U.S.A. Business Women's Trade Summit in Toronto in 1999.

Ms. Heilman has received numerous awards in recognition of her longtime contributions to advancing the status of women, including being inducted into the Western New York Women's Hall of Fame, being named a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scout Council of Erie County, and receiving the Athena Award from the Buffalo/Niagara Partnership.