Marwa Elzankaly, a partner with McManis Faulkner, a leading Northern California trial firm representing both individuals and corporations, was honored by the YWCA of Silicon Valley with a Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Award. In its 25th year, the YWCA of Silicon Valley's TWIN Awards Program was established by Santa Clara Valley YWCA to pay tribute to women in business. Honorees represent a cross-section of Silicon Valley companies, including those in technology, legal, publishing, construction and healthcare, among others.
“We are proud that Marwa was recognized for her outstanding achievements – and particularly proud of this YWCA recognition, as it celebrates women in business and Marwa’s ties to the local community, as well as the legal community,” said James McManis, head of the firm.
Selection criteria for the TWIN Awards include senior-level, functional management responsibility, outstanding leadership qualities, and service as a successful role model for other women transitioning into executive positions.
A partner at McManis Faulkner, Elzankaly focuses on business litigation, including antitrust, trademark, copyright, trade secrets, breach of contract, unfair competition, malicious prosecution and employment issues. She also plays an active role in firm management and oversees the associate training program.
In the legal and business communities, Elzankaly works with Muslim Advocates, a national organization of Muslim lawyers, as an attorney advisor on various projects. She has participated on the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Networks Group and has served as President of the Bay Area Association of Muslim Lawyers, receiving the California State Bar President's Pro Bono Services Award for her efforts. A member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, she previously taught a business law class at U.C. Berkeley and has given lectures on diversity to the San Mateo County and California State Bars.
In addition to the TWIN Award, Elzankaly was recently honored with the 2009 California Lawyer of the Year Award from California Lawyer magazine and selected as one of the top 20 attorneys in California under the age of 40 by the Daily Journal. She received her J.D. from the Santa Clara University School of Law (1999) and her B.S. in business administration from the University of California, Riverside (1996).