The Legal Intelligencer Honors Steve Park, Emilia McKee Vassallo, and Dara Smith

Ballard Spahr attorneys Steve T. Park, Emilia McKee Vassallo, and Dara N. Smith have received 2022 Professional Excellence Awards from The Legal Intelligencer in recognition of their exceptional achievements and “significant, positive impact on the legal profession.”

Award recipients are profiled in a special section of The Legal Intelligencer and will be honored at an event on June 29.

Mr. Park is recognized among the Most Effective Dealmakers of 2022. A partner in the firm’s Finance Department and Public Finance Group, he serves as co-leader of Ballard Spahr’s P3/Infrastructure practice. As noted in The Legal’s profile, Mr. Park leads Ballard Spahr legal teams on major public-private infrastructure projects, including large-scale renovation of 30th Street Station in Philadelphia and extension of high-occupancy toll lanes on the Capital Beltway in northern Virginia.

Ms. McKee Vassallo and Ms. Smith are recognized as Lawyers on the Fast Track—outstanding Philadelphia-area attorneys under age 40 who are the “next generation of legal leaders.”

Ms. McKee Vassallo, a Litigation Department partner-elect who becomes a partner on July 1, focuses on conducting internal investigations and representing businesses, organizations, and individuals in white collar defense and complex commercial litigation. The Legal notes that she is known for mentoring many younger lawyers and serves as a member of Ballard Spahr’s Hiring Committee and its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

Ms. Smith is an associate in the firm’s Finance Department, focusing her practice on public finance matters. She has served as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, and borrower’s counsel on a variety of public infrastructure financing, including charter school, university, and multifamily housing matters. The Legal notes that, in addition to her public finance practice, she maintains a robust pro bono practice focused on educational equity, landlord-tenant disputes, and child advocacy.

For media inquiries, please contact Bill Shralow at 215.864.8195.