May 22, 2024
Luis A. Perez-Pietri Receives the 2024 Dunnaville Award
Luis A. Perez-Pietri of the Luis A. Perez P.C. Law Office in Falls Church has been selected to receive the 2024 Clarence M. Dunnaville, Jr. Achievement Award, given by the VSB Diversity Conference to a lawyer who exemplifies the conference’s goal of encouraging diversity and inclusion in the bar, the judiciary, and the legal profession.
Perez-Pietri, a native of Puerto Rico, was nominated by Gilberto Sanchez, president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia and attorney for Legal Services of Northern Virginia. Sanchez noted Perez-Pietri’s numerous contributions to the legal profession and his tireless devotion to pro bono. Sanchez wrote, “As president of the Fairfax Bar Association, Mr. Perez fought for changes and reforms to the judicial selection process that resulted in a notable increase in the selection of, and ultimately the election of minority judges.”
Perez-Pietri is the former chair of the VSB Diversity Conference. In this role, he was instrumental in obtaining VSB funding for the Diversity Conference and initiated the Annual Forum on Diversity in the Law.
Among the many other leadership roles Perez has devoted his time and skills to include serving as president of the Fairfax Bar Association, the Fairfax Bar's Law Foundation, and the Hispanic Bar Association of Virginia; as chair of the VSB Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations; and as a member of VSB Council, VSB Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors of Legal Services of Northern Virginia.
Former VSB President Edward L. Weiner of Weiner Spivey & Miller in Fairfax supported Perez’s nomination, noting his service to the bar at both the state and local level.
Former VSB president Jay B. Myerson of the Myerson Law Group, P.C. in Reston also supported the nomination, writing, “Luis has led not only by example, through his commitment to serve as a leader himself, but also in his dedication to encouraging others to advance and serve in leadership roles in the interest of increasing diversity in Virginia.”
Attorney Raymond J. Obregón of Fairfax supported the nomination as well. “I have known Mr. Perez for more than twenty years and have had many opportunities to observe him, not only as opposing counsel, but also in the course of his many bar-related activities," Obregón wrote. “He has dedicated significant time and energy to promoting diversity within our profession by mentoring younger attorneys from diverse backgrounds.”
The Dunnaville Award, which commemorates the life of civil rights leader Clarence M. Dunnaville Jr. and his unceasing devotion to improving diversity and equality in the Commonwealth, will be presented at the Diversity Conference Lunch on May 31 at the VSB Annual Meeting in Virginia Beach.