Awards - Past Winners

23rd ANNIVERSARY SALES & SERVICE AWARDS

LSSO’s awards celebrate sales and service excellence in the law and are intended to be inclusive of the entire ecosystem. Law firms and offices, legal departments, and product and service providers chosen are peer chosen as ‘best of the best.'

Our heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to this year's honorees!

2026 sales executive  of the year for Mark Howe
2026 sales team of the year banner for Benesch Law
2026 firm of the year banner for Benesch Law
2026 rising star award banner for Carlotta Gmachl
2026 Intelligence in action award banner for Mike Beswick
2026 Intelligence in action award banner Philip C. So
2026 law practice innovation award banner for the Fasken team

Huge thank you to ALL nominees, and a major congrats to our 2026 winners!

Winners were announced June 3rd at the Palmer House in Chicago.

Mark Howe on stage receiving the 2026 Sales Executive of the Year Award
Benesch Law receiving the 2026 Sales Team of the Year Award
Benesch Law's Marketing & Business Development Team receiving the Firm of the Year Award
Carlotta Gmachl receiving the Rising Star Award
Philip C. So receiving the Intelligence in Action Award
Fasken Team receiving the Law Practice Improvement and Innovation Award
2025
William J. Flannery Sales Award
Sales Team of the Year

Eversheds SutherlandD

Team Members:

  • Erin Meszaros, Global Business Development and Marketing Officer
  • Dominic Ayres, Key Clients Lead, International Operations
  • Christina Buensuceso, US Director of Clients
  • Ian Cohn, Director of Clients, International Operations
  • Yvonne Bena, Business Development Manager
  • David Brankley, Project Manager, International Operations
  • James Britton, Senior Manager, International Operations
  • Sara de Cerf, Business Development Manager
  • Patrick Dubus, Associate Director of Practice Group Management
  • Joanne Elgart, Client Relationship Director
  • Franziska Gruenberger, Client Development Manager, International Operations
  • Megan Gutman, Business Development Manager
  • Morgan Horvitz, Associate Director of Business Development
  • Christina Kobeski, Business Development Manager
  • Suzie Matthews, Client Development Manager, International Operations
  • Rhys Morgan, Senior Client Development Manager, International Operations
  • Alexa Simitzi, Business Development Coordinator
  • Genna Stainforth, Senior Client Development Manager, International Operations
  • Jasmine Welch Moore, Business Development Manager
  • Francesca Wright, Senior Client Development Manager, International Operations

Leonardo Inghilleri Service Excellence Award
Firm of the Year

AXINN

  • Julie Chodos, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer
  • Jenny Hills, Marketing Operations Manager
  • Michael Sosa, Sr. Manager Marketing & Digital
  • Jade Tarca, Marketing Specialist
  • Lily Head, Marketing Coordinator
Legal Sales and Service
Rising Star Award

Jessica Crenshaw

Senior Client Development Manager - Corporate Practice Group

Akerman

 

2024
Sales Team of the Year

Lathrop GPM LLP

Team Members:

  • Jasmine C. Trillos-Decarie
  • Sisan Seilnacht
  • Aubrey Hecker
  • Abby Thomann
  • Tasneem Khoka
  • Alycia Sutor
Sales Executive of the Year

Michael Zukewich 

Director of Business Development and Marketing

Howard & Howard PLLC

Sales Executive of the Year

Teri Robshaw

Director of Commercial Excellence

McDermott, Will & Emery
Transformation of the Year Troutman Pepper
Rising Star Award

Jill Zwetchkenbaum

Associate Director, Business Growth & Client Solutions

Goulston & Storrs

 

2023
Firm of the Year McDermott Will & Emery
Sales Executive of the Year

Darryl Cross

U.S. Executive Sales Coach

Norton Rose Fulbright

Transformation of the Year

Rivkin Radler

Team Members:

  • Frederick J. Esposito, Jr.
  • Laurie Bloom
  • Ronna West Cross
  • Laura Einig
  • Neil Friedman
  • Amanda Griner
  • Patricia Kipnes
  • Matthew Lampert
  • Wendy Sheinberg
  • Ryan Williams
Rising Star Award

Raya Blakeley-Glover

Global Head of BD - Markets & Business Relationships

Bird & Bird

Consultant of the Year

Laura Meherg

Founder & Partner

Wicker Park Group

 

2022

Lifetime Career Achievement Award

Leonard Inghilleri

President & CEO

Inghilleri Consulting Group

2021
Sales Team of the Year Award Kean Miller LLP


Team Members:

  • Brian Klaslo, Director of Business Development
  • Nathan Smith, Texas Marketing and BD Manager
  • Shannon Barilleau, Marketing Manager
  • Kodi Wilson, Marketing Manager
  • Zoe Venezia, Marketing Coordinator
Sales & Service Executive of the Year

Brook P. Radford

Director of Marketing

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

 

2020
Sales Team of the Year Award

Eversheds Sutherland

Team Members:

Energy Team
  • Christina Buensuceso, Sr. Business Development Manager (US)
  • Ian Cohn, Head of Clients and Sectors (International)
  • Jacob Dweck, Partner (US)
  • Catherine Krupka, Partner (US)
  • Mark Davenport, Partner (International)
BDC Team
  • Steve Boehm, Partner
  • Cynthia Krus, Executive Partner
  • Samira Willis, Business Development Manager
  • Emily Johnson, Sr. Business Development Coordinator
  • Ebony Hunter, Events Manager
  • Kathleen Waddell, Events Coordinator
  • John Beck, Senior Digital Marketing and Technology Specialist
Sales & Service Executive of the Year

Carolyn Rumpf Sandano

Business Development Manager
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan

 

2019
Sales Team of the Year Award

Barnes & Thornburg

Team Members:

  • Gretchen Helms, Business Development Manager
  • Karen Smith, Director of Communications
  • Susan Haag, Director of Marketing Services
  • Gwen Ragno, Digital Marketing Manager
Sales & Service Executive of the Year (small firm)

Brandi M. Hobbs

Director of Client Service & Strategy
Poyner Spruill

Sales & Service Executive of the Year (large firm)

Christian Berger

Senior Advisor of Strategic Business Development
McGuireWoods

 

2018
Sales & Marketing Collaboration Team of the Year Award

Orrick's  Team

GDPR Global Marketing Team Members:

  • Kolvin Stone, Global Co-Chair Cyber, Privacy & Data Innovation
  • Helena Lawrence, Senior Marketing & Business Development Manager: Cyber, Privacy & Data Innovation
  • Colin Hinds, Managing Associate
  • Alex Sobolev, Associate
  • Tanya Khachiyan, Senior Knowledge Analyst
  • Max Polinski, Knowledge Analyst
Sales & Service Executive of the Year

Kristen Leis

Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer

Parker Poe

 

2017
Sales & Service Team of the Year Award

Benesch Team

Team Members:

  • Jeanne Hammerstrom, Chief Marketing Officer
  • Julie Gurney, Director of Marketing & Communications
  • Liz Boehm, Director of Business Development
  • Megan Pajakowski, Senior Client Services Manager
  • Michael Montagna, Marketing Communications Coordinator
  • Janet Speno, Marketing & Business Development Executive Assistant
Sales & Service Executive of the Year

Iris Jones

Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer
McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

 

2016
Sales & Service Team of the Year Award

Allen Matkins Team

Sales and Client Services Team Members:

  • Kirsten Beecher, Senior Client Services Manager
  • Catherine Cabot, Marketing Coordinator
  • Chip Clark, Online Marketing Specialist
  • Kevin Dixon, Marketing and Business Development Manager
  • Michael Guzzo, Marketing and Communications Manager
  • Marie Hsing, Senior Client Services Manager
  • Stefanie Knapp, Online Marketing Manager
  • Clare Ota, Senior Marketing and Business Development Manager
  • Helen Rizzo, Marketing Technology Administrator
  • Adam L. Stock, Chief Marketing and Client Services Officer
  • Ramona Whitley, Director of Client Services 
International Sales & Service Executive of the Year 

Alexandra Monterio

Business Development Senior Manager
Brazil’s Barbosa Müssnich Aragão (BMA) Law Office

U.S. Sales & Service Executive of the Year

Krystal LeVeque

Client Service Director
Cairncross & Hempelmann