Womble Bond Dickinson Partner Paul Afonso has been appointed to the Board of Directors to the Portuguese American Leadership Council of the U.S. ( PALCUS). PALCUS is a national organization representing Portuguese-American interests and issues within the U.S.

Afonso is nationally recognized regulatory and energy attorney, with over three decades of experience advising boards, executives, and government leaders on complex legal, legislative, and policy matters. He has served as Chief Legal Officer at the American Petroleum Institute, and Chairman of the Massachusetts Public Utilities Commission. He practices in Womble Bond Dickinson’s Boston office.

“I am honored to join my colleagues on the PALCUS Board. I have known of this group since my graduation of law school and the inception of PALCUS. I’m proud of the work this national organization does in representation of our community and now look forward to doing my small part to continue this proud tradition,” he said.

"I am proud to welcome Paul Afonso of Massachusetts and Nancy Souza-Mallory of California to our Board. Both Paul and Nancy have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the Portuguese-American community through their leadership, advocacy, and years of meaningful service. Their deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of our community members will be a tremendous asset to our work. With their presence, PALCUS is now even more strongly represented in two key states with vibrant Portuguese-American populations. We are honored to have them on board and excited for the valuable contributions they will bring to our mission,” said Katherine Soares, Chair of the PALCUS Board of Directors.