Bernie Lawrence-Watkins
Attorney, President and CEO
Bernie Lawrence-Watkins was born to hardworking Caribbean immigrants who came to the United States to provide a better life for their children. Observing her parents caring for their eight children, Lawrence-Watkins was motivated to show her appreciation by living a purposeful life. She has no doubt made her parents proud, as she is an exceptional attorney and the president and CEO of B. Lawrence-Watkins & Associates PC.
At Lawrence-Watkins’ transactional firm, she and her team represent clients from the entertainment and business industries. The fi rm prides itself on helping clients “think and grow bigger by setting up the proper foundation that will allow them to succeed as an entertainer and business owner.”
Lawrence-Watkins has represented top record executives, producers and songwriters who have worked with platinum-selling artists such as Beyoncé, Luther Vandross, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber. She obviously has a lot of power and connections in the law and entertainment industry, but she says that power is best used to change lives on a community level.
“A powerful woman is a woman of influence,” Lawrence-Watkins declares. “She selflessly offers guidance to those seeking her assistance. Most importantly, a powerful woman gives back to her community.”
And Lawrence-Watkins does just that. In 2007, she co-founded Gather for Good, an annual fundraiser dedicated to local nonprofits. She also co-founded the Black Women in Entertainment Law Foundation, which assists women of color who work in the legal entertainment industry with net-working. She also does volunteer work for several organizations.