Principal of Ward Black Law, Janet Ward Black has practiced personal injury law, including mass torts and complex products liability litigation, for twenty years. Black is a past president of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (2002-2003) and a past president of the North Carolina Bar Association (2007-2008). She is only the second attorney to have served as the president of both organizations during their histories. She serves on the seven member Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for MDL 875, the MDL for all federally-filed asbestos litigation for the country, having been appointed by US District Judge James Giles. She has served as co-liaison counsel for North Carolina in MDL 926, the MDL for all federally-filed breast implant litigation in the country, having been appointed by US District Judge Samuel Pointer. She has served on the North Carolina Legislative Study Commission on the Compensation of the Governor’s Cabinet and State Elected Officials, the North Carolina Legislative Study Commission on Civil Practice and Procedure, the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice and the Board of Trustees of the Roscoe Pound Foundation.  In addition to her professional accolades, she has been active in humanitarian efforts locally and internationally, most recently for ICM (International Cooperating Ministries), helping to build churches in third world countries. Black received in 2009 a “Distinguished Service Award” by the North Carolina State Bar for her work supporting the provision of legal services to the poor.