About the Awards is a series of Q&As and columns with our editors across ALM publications and our volunteer external judging staff. We're aiming to give readers and potential nominees insight into our judging process for awards related to ALM Recognition Events. If you missed it, check out Regional Managing Editor Michael Marciano's Q&A last week.

Today we'll be getting insights from a couple of judges on our external panel for the Rising Stars category. Each of these judges are former honorees of the Southeastern Legal Awards, and volunteered their time to review entries this year. Please note: in instances where there may be a conflict of interest (such as a judge personally knowing a nominee), judges are required to abstain from reviewing that entry.

Just a reminder that we've extended the Southeastern Legal Awards deadline to March 8, visit the awards site to submit nominations. 

Michael Mayo, founding partner of Mayo Hill Law Firm in Macon, Georgia, specializes in medical malpractice and complex business litigation. Mayo was named to the On the Rise list back in 2021 when it was the Georgia Legal Awards, and is looking for well-rounded attorneys in the nominations.

"I am looking for people who have sought legal challenges, who others deemed worthy of the challenge, and who tackled the challenge with excellence," Mayo said. "While it is difficult to stand out on merit alone these days, it's part of our responsibility to cut through some of the noise and attempt to highlight those who are operating at an objectively higher level."

Jonathan Porter, a partner at Husch Blackwell, is a former federal prosecutor now helping corporations with federal investigations and internal investigations. He was named to the Southeastern Legal Awards Rising Stars list last year. 

"We're in an age in which lawyers and law departments are finding amazing new ways to innovate," Porter said. "I'm hoping this year's awards honor lawyers in all phases of their careers who are creatively solving problems and making their clients' lives better through outside-the-box thinking."

In addition to Mayo and Porter, our external panel this year also includes: Daniel Huynh, partner at Morris Manning & Martin and 2023 Best Mentors honoree; Madison Kitchens, partner at King & Spalding and 2021 Georgia Legal Awards Rising Star; and Mary Myers, partner at Jones Day and 2023 Rising Star.

We hope this will guide you as you draft your submissions, and we welcome any additional questions you may have. If you know any attorneys or legal departments that deserve recognition, please visit the Southeastern Legal Awards site to submit a nomination. If you have any questions, please reach out to Recognition Desk Manager Pearl Wu at [email protected].