The Judge Alvin T. Wong Pioneer Award

Byung J. "BJay" Pak

Former U.S. Attorney | Partner

Alston & Bird

Byung J. “BJay” Pak is currently a Partner in the Litigation and Trial Practice group at Alston & Bird, where he concentrates his practice on white collar and government enforcement matters.  From 2017 to 2021, BJay served as the 25^th Senate-confirmed United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

From 2011 to 2017, BJay served in the Georgia General Assembly as a State Representative from the 108^th District, where he was a Deputy Majority Whip, the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, and the Chairman of the Gwinnett County (the 2^nd most populous Georgia county) Legislative Delegation. 

BJay has been consistently recognized by Chambers USA; as a "Super Lawyer" by Atlanta Magazine; and as one of 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine.  In 2018, the Korean Prosecutors Association named him “Prosecutor of the Year” and in 2019, he was awarded the “Trailblazer Award” by NAPABA.

BJay earned his law degree, summa cum laude, and Order of the Coif, from the University of Illinois College of Law.  Upon graduating from law school, he clerked for Honorable Richard Mills, United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois.  A graduate of Stetson University in DeLand, FL, he was a Florida Academic Scholar, a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa, and was on the Interfraternity Council.  He is a registered Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois.

General Counsel Diversity Champion

Peter Carter

Exec. Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Corp. Secretary

Delta Air Lines

Peter Carter has served as Delta’s Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary since July 2015. As Chief Legal Officer, Peter oversees Delta’s legal, compliance and government affairs groups worldwide and serves on the Delta Leadership Committee.

Peter has worked to protect Delta’s freedom to operate by advocating against market distortive subsidies in the industry to ensure fair and open skies. He regularly engages with government stakeholders in the U.S., Mexico, Korea, U.K., China, and the E.U. on matters relating to competition policy, alliances, privacy and compliance.

Before joining Delta, Peter was a partner at the international law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP. He chaired the firm’s Policy Committee and the Securities Litigation and Enforcement practice group. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been recognized by numerous organizations and publications including being honored with a Burton Award for public interest, and being named one of the Best Lawyers in America for Bet-the-Company and Commercial Litigation, one of "America's Leading Business Lawyers" by Chambers USA, and Antitrust Lawyer of the year in 2013 by Best Lawyers in America.

Before joining Dorsey, Peter clerked for Judge James B. Loken at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Peter serves as a member of the Boards of the Delta Air Lines Foundation, the Alliance Theater, the Chick Fil-A Foundation, The United Way of Greater Atlanta, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He was also appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve on the State of Georgia Judicial Selection Commission.

Women's Leadership Award

Monica Howard Douglas

Sr. Vice President and General Counsel

The Coca-Cola Company

Monica Howard Douglas is senior vice president and general counsel of The Coca-Cola Company. In this role, she oversees the company’s global legal function, reporting to Chairman and CEO James Quincey.

Douglas was appointed to her role in April 2021. She previously served as chief compliance officer and associate general counsel for the North America operating unit.

Douglas joined Coca-Cola in 2004 as senior managing counsel. She went on to hold roles of increasing responsibility, including as legal director for Coca-Cola Southern and East Africa, before being named general counsel for Coca-Cola North America in 2018.

Prior to Coca-Cola, Douglas was an attorney with Equifax and an associate at Troutman Sanders LLP, now known as Troutman Pepper LLP, both in Atlanta. 

She is member of the board of directors for VICI Properties Inc., Junior Achievement USA and Cool Girls Inc.

Douglas earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Stanford University.

Emcee

Richard Lui

Author and News Anchor

MSNBC | NBC News

Author Richard Lui is a veteran and award-winning journalist with more than 30 years in television, film, technology, and business. Currently at MSNBC and previously with CNN Worldwide, he is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program, and a team Emmy and Peabody winner. He has just completed an Oscars Qualifying documentary on student caregivers in military families that will hit national broadcast and mainstream streaming in late spring 2021.

In addition, Richard’s 15-year business career involves a fintech patent and launching six tech brands over three business cycles. Richard has lived, worked, and volunteered on every continent. Learn more at www.richardlui.com.

In March 2021, he released his novel Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness, chronicling his decision to become a caregiver for his father who was diagnosed in 2014 with Alzheimer’s.