On October 16–17, Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci partners Stephanie E. Grana and M. Scott Bucci joined the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) National Fall Conference and Board Meeting in Philadelphia. Scott serves as a national board representative for ABOTA’s Virginia chapter; Stephanie is also a chapter member. Their trip continues our firm’s longstanding involvement with ABOTA.
Why ABOTA’s work matters
ABOTA is a national organization of experienced civil trial lawyers and judges. Founded in 1958, it brings together lawyers from both the plaintiff and defense sides around a shared commitment to the civil jury trial. Its work also promotes professionalism, civility, and an independent judiciary. The ABOTA Foundation supports civics education for students and teachers and professional education for trial lawyers.
Those principles matter in our work with injured people and families. A fair civil justice system gives people a way to be heard, and a jury brings members of the community into that process. ABOTA’s national meetings give members from different chapters and different sides of the courtroom a chance to work together on that shared purpose.
Our firm’s connection to ABOTA
Our involvement reaches back years before this Philadelphia meeting. Founding partner Irv Cantor led the Virginia chapter in 2015, when Stephanie joined ABOTA and Scott served as chapter secretary. Stephanie later served as chapter president. For more than three decades, she has represented Virginians in catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. Scott led the Virginia chapter in 2019 and the Southeastern American Board of Trial Advocates in 2024. He has represented Virginia on ABOTA’s national board since 2020 and serves as a co-chair of the ABOTA Foundation’s Civics Education Committee.
That service extends beyond meetings. Earlier this year, Scott co-chaired the Foundation’s National Civics Summit, where teachers from across the country explored ways to teach the Constitution, the courts, and civil discussion. It is one example of how ABOTA members carry their commitment to the justice system into classrooms and communities.
The three have contributed to ABOTA in different roles, but the thread is the same: trial lawyers have a responsibility to strengthen the system in which their clients seek justice. Outside the meeting, Stephanie and Scott visited Philadelphia landmarks, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. We appreciate the colleagues across the country who share ABOTA’s commitment, and we were glad Stephanie and Scott could join them in Philadelphia.
From Philadelphia
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Learn more about ABOTA’s history and mission and the Virginia chapter.
