A distinguished national honor recognizing exceptional Latina leadership within the in-house legal profession.
Award Overview
The HNBA Latina Commission proudly introduces the inaugural Maria Dantes‑Sanchez Latina Corporate Counsel Trailblazer Award, established to honor exceptional leadership, excellence in corporate law, and a sustained commitment to sponsorship and advancing Latino attorneys.
The award is named in honor of Maria Dantes‑Sanchez, whose decades‑long career exemplifies visionary leadership and a deep dedication to lifting others as she climbed. Throughout her career, Maria has intentionally created pathways for Latino attorneys to lead, thrive, and be seen. Her influence extends beyond titles and roles, shaping the legal profession through mentorship, advocacy, and example.
Why the Award is Named for Maria Dantes-Sanchez
Maria Dantes‑Sanchez has built a distinguished career leading complex corporate matters while strengthening legal organizations through high‑performing teams and operational excellence. She is widely respected for her intentional mentorship and sponsorship of Latina attorneys across both in‑house and outside counsel roles, consistently opening doors to advancement and leadership.
Her work is defined by impact and innovation, carried out with unwavering professionalism and integrity. Maria’s long‑standing engagement with HNBA programs and the Latina Commission reflects a deep commitment to service and to the cultivation of a stronger legal community. Her legacy embodies the values this award is intended to celebrate.
Maria's Legacy of Service to HNBA
Maria Dantes-Sanchez’s relationship with the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) spans more than 30 years and reflects a sustained commitment to expanding opportunity for Hispanic lawyers. She first joined HNBA in 1991 while representing Liberty Mutual at the Corporate Counsel Conference, an experience that inspired her lifelong involvement after witnessing the organization’s sense of familia and national impact. Recognizing the need for structured support for first-generation law students and young lawyers, Maria founded the HNBA Mentoring Program at Florida International University College of Law, later scaling it state and nationwide. Through senior leadership roles—including regional leadership, General Counsel, and Independent Director of VIA—Maria strengthened governance, fundraising, and leadership pipelines that continue to shape HNBA’s future.
Timeline
Inaugural Presentation
The inaugural Maria Dantes‑Sanchez Latina Corporate Counsel Trailblazer Award will be presented to Maria Dantes‑Sanchez during the Thursday afternoon plenary on March 12 at the 2026 HNBA/VIA Corporate Counsel Conference (CCC2026) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Conference registration is required to attend this presentation. For those not attending the full conference, a Thursday day pass is available and may be selected during registration. To register or learn more, please visit CCC2026.
As we honor Maria’s extraordinary career and impact, the presentation will transition to a visual reflection on Maria Dantes‑Sanchez’s 7 Leadership Principles—a framework that captures the values, vision, and courage that have defined her legacy and continue to inspire the next generation of Latino leaders.
Voices of Leadership
Inaugural Presentation
The inaugural Maria Dantes‑Sanchez Latina Corporate Counsel Trailblazer Award will be presented to Maria Dantes‑Sanchez during the Thursday afternoon plenary on March 12 at the 2026 HNBA/VIA Corporate Counsel Conference (CCC2026) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About the HNBA Latina Commission
The Latina Commission serves the community and the legal profession by addressing barriers to the professional development and advancement of Latina lawyers. The Commission develops programs and strategies for Latina lawyers and students to overcome barriers to entry and advancement into the profession.
Looking Ahead
The inaugural Maria Dantes‑Sanchez Latina Corporate Counsel Trailblazer Award will be presented to Maria Dantes‑Sanchez during CCC2026. To learn more about future award nominations and other programming, we invite you to join our mailing list.
Eligibility Criteria
Maria Dantes-Sanchez embodies the spirit of the Trailblazer Award—visionary leadership, measurable excellence, and a sustained commitment to opening doors for Latina attorneys across in‑house and outside counsel. Her record of team‑building, mentorship, integrity, and innovative results reflects the standards this honor was created to recognize.
Nominees must meet the following criteria to be considered for this honor:
- Current in-house counsel working in a corporate, nonprofit, governmental, or institutional legal department.
- At least (10) years of legal experience.
- Demonstrates exceptional leadership in their legal department, including:
- Building or strengthening legal teams.
- Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within corporate legal environments.
- Enhancing ethical, strategic, or operational excellence within their organization.
- Actively mentors, sponsors, supports or champions Latina attorneys, both in-house and in outside counsel roles.
- Drives initiatives that support Latina advancement, retention, or leadership opportunities in the legal field.
- Recognized for high-impact legal work, innovation in practice, or notable achievements that set new standards in the in-house counsel profession.
- Exemplary professionalism, integrity, and adherence to the highest ethical standards of the legal profession.
- Actively participated in the HNBA for a minimum of five (5) years, demonstrated by one or more of the following:
- Serving in national or regional leadership roles (e.g., Board, Latina Commission, committees, sections, or divisions).
- Consistent attendance and engagement at HNBA and/or Latina Commission programs, conferences, or initiatives.
- Contributing to HNBA publications, mentorship programs, CLEs, advocacy initiatives, or pipeline programs.
- Current dues-paying member of the HNBA in good standing at the time of nomination and selection.
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Voices of Leadership
“Maria Dantes-Sanchez is more than a trailblazer—she is a mentor, a door‑opener, and a powerful example of what courage and excellence look like in corporate law. As the inaugural recipient of the HNBA Latina Commission Corporate Counsel Trailblazer Award, Maria’s journey honors the generations before her and inspires every Latina who dares to lead. Her impact is lasting, her leadership transformative, and her legacy just beginning.”
~Rosevelie Márquez Morales, HNBA National President
“As Liberty Mutual’s Chief Legal Officer, I have witnessed firsthand Maria Dantes-Sanchez’s unwavering commitment to excellence and her transformative leadership within the legal community. Through her tireless advocacy and mentorship, she has opened doors for countless legal professionals, championed the growth of young lawyers, and advanced the mission of the HNBA in profound ways. Simply put, she’s a role model for all of us and I count it an honor and privilege to work with her. The dedication of this award in her name is a fitting tribute to her legacy as a trailblazer—her vision and generosity continue to inspire all of us to strive for greater impact and inclusion. We are proud to celebrate Maria Dantes-Sanchez, whose example lights the way for future generations.”
~ Damon Hart, Chief Legal Officer, Liberty Mutual
“Maria Dantes-Sanchez is nothing short of exceptional in her dedication and support of the HNBA community. A fervent advocate of the next generation, she empowers emerging legal professionals and students to dream big and become leaders in their own right. Her impact is immeasurable and our entire community benefits from the powerful ripple effect of her servant leadership. While her professional accolades are plentiful, it’s her devotion to her family as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother that I have always admired. With her nurturing, authentic, and graceful presence Maria inspires us to lead with heart, to believe in our ourselves and to pursue our highest potential.”
~Silvia Tergas, Financial Planner, Prudential Advisors
“Maria Dantes-Sanchez is a rare leader who leads with strength, grace, and an open heart. Her unwavering dedication to mentoring and passion for lifting others has changed lives, elevated our profession, and left an indelible mark on HNBA and the Hispanic legal community. ”
~ Aida C. Rodriguez, CEO, Chief Opportunity & Impact Officer, Ascension Global Staffing & Executive Search
“Maria Dantes Sanchez stands apart as a leader of exceptional character, whose integrity, generosity, and warmth leave a lasting impression on all who know her. She is among the most intelligent, compassionate, and selfless individuals I have ever encountered. Through her visionary leadership, steadfast commitment to mentorship and sponsorship, and tireless service, she has profoundly strengthened HNBA and shaped generations within the legal community, inspiring countless individuals. Her legacy of excellence, empathy, and service will endure for years to come, and her vision and generosity continue to inspire and uplift everyone fortunate enough to cross her path. Truly, she is a beautiful and transformative force!”
~ Mariana D. Bravo, HNBA Past President, Partner, Carr Maloney
"I commend the HNBA Latina Commission for creating this award to celebrate Maria Dantes-Sanchez, a Latina lawyer whose rise through the corporate legal ranks over decades stands as a powerful example of trailblazing leadership in the in-house counsel arena. Over the course of her career, Maria has earned the trust of her senior leadership through her strategic judgment, business acumen, and unwavering integrity, while successfully leading legal teams in an ever-changing legal landscape. I have had the privilege of serving alongside Maria on HNBA Board leadership and of calling her a close friend, and in those roles, I have seen the same qualities that define her professional success- thoughtfulness, discipline, and a deep commitment to lifting others as she leads. Through her mentorship of law students and young lawyers, often offered quietly and always generously, Maria has helped shape the next generation of leaders. Naming this award in her honor is a fitting tribute to a true corporate counsel trailblazer whose leadership and example have left an enduring mark on the HNBA and the legal profession.”
~ Raquel M. Matas, HNBA National President-Elect
“I was thrilled to hear that Maria Dantes-Sanchez is being recognized with the Trailblazer Award by the HNBA. She is incredibly deserving of this honor. I have had the pleasure of working with Maria for over three decades and have witnessed her unwavering focus and passion for her colleagues and the community. Maria has mentored legions of attorneys, always leading by example through her words and deeds. Her dedication to serving the community and her commitment to mentoring others is truly inspiring. This award is a fitting recognition of her exceptional contributions and leadership.”
~ Sean McSweeney, Executive Vice President, Staff Legal, Liberty Mutual
“Maria Dantes-Sanchez is truly deserving of the great honor bestowed upon her by the HNBA Latina Commission. Throughout her excellent and brilliant career as an attorney, Maria has generously volunteered her time to advance the important mission of the HNBA. Her visionary leadership and heartfelt mentorship have made her a powerful advocate for Latinos in the profession, inspiring and empowering the next generation of Latino lawyers.”
~ René Hernández, Executive Counsel, Travelers Insurance
“This award fittingly honors Maria Dantes-Sanchez, a corporate counsel trailblazer whose remarkable legacy will inspire future generations of Hispanic legal professionals. Maria’s visionary leadership, principled judgment, unwavering mentorship, and deep commitment to inclusion, equity, and ethical leadership, have expanded opportunity and excellence within the Hispanic corporate counsel community and driven meaningful, positive change across corporate America. For more than 30 years—long before founding the HNBA South Florida Mentoring Program, which I know is one of the contributions she is most proud of—Maria has generously shared her knowledge and guidance with Hispanic law students, young lawyers, and corporate counsel both in her corporate role and through her purpose-driven community service. We are fortunate that Maria has long been—and continues to be—passionately devoted to HNBA service, leadership and sponsorship, where her enduring impact is reflected in the resounding success of countless HNBA members she has mentored and programs she has championed and supported. Her vision, dedication, and example will continue to light the path for future leaders in the Hispanic legal community and beyond.”
~ Irene Oria, HNBA Past President, Partner, Pierson Ferdinand