Deborah Ashford is a senior partner at Hogan Lovells, a global legal services firm, where she heads the Tax-Exempt Organizations Group. Deborah provides general tax, corporate, and related representation to domestic and international non-profit organizations, foundations, trade associations, and related for profit entities. In that capacity she has represented numerous international organizations in their activities inside and outside of the United States. She currently serves as general counsel to Meridian International Center and is a founding member of the Women’s Council. In 1996 she was nominated by President Clinton and elected by the United Nations General Assembly to serve as Judge, United Nations Administrative Tribunal. She was re-elected in 1999 for a second term. She received her law degree from Yale Law School in 1981 and has been with Hogan Lovells (formerly Hogan & Hartson) since graduating. She received her B.A. from the University of Alabama in 1972, and a master’s degree in English Literature in 1974. In 1975-76, she was Assistant Director of the Women’s Study Program of the University of Alabama. From 1976-1978 she served as Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.