LaFonda Willis, Esquire
LaFonda Willis is a securities and financial services lawyer, strategist, and founder of Women in Capital Markets (CapX)™ based in Washington, D.C. She is the Founder & CEO of Women in Capital Markets (CapX), where she leads initiatives focused on democratizing access to capital markets knowledge and advancing women’s economic empowerment. Recognized as an American Bar Foundation Fellow—an honor reserved for the top 1% of attorneys in the United States—she is also listed among Marquis Who’s Who in America for her leadership in law, capital markets, and financial education.
Her legal career spans securities regulation, fintech, commodities, broker-dealer compliance, and complex financial markets litigation and arbitration. She has advised stock exchanges, alternative trading platforms, registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and investment banking institutions, as well as public companies navigating regulatory and transactional matters. Early in her career, she served as a federal judicial law clerk for both the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and later practiced in the banking and financial services sector at an AmLaw 100 firm in Washington, D.C.
In addition to her legal practice, she is a prominent advocate for women’s leadership, financial literacy, and inclusive access to capital. Through her work with organizations such as the American Bar Association and her fellowship with the American Bar Foundation, she convenes and moderates national and international conversations on law, markets, AI, and economic sovereignty. Her broader mission integrates legal expertise, education, and entrepreneurship to help individuals—especially women—build wealth, autonomy, and long-term financial independence in the evolving global economy.
• FinTech: Foundations, Payments, and Regulations
• UDC David A. Clarke School of Law - JD
• 2025 Woman You Need to Know
• American 🇺🇸 Bar Foundation Fellow
• 2025 Women to Watch Honoree
• Rising Star Award
• President’s Award
• Best Moot Court Brief and Oral Argument
• Best 1L Brief Award
• “Leaders from Law”
• Winner - Best 1L Brief Competition
• Dr. Paul Philip Cooke Scholarship Awardee
• American Bar Foundation
• National Bar Association
• Greater Washington Area Chapter (GWAC)
• Marquis Who's Who in America (honoree)
• DC Children's Trust
• ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
• American Constitution Society
• American Constitution Society DC Lawyer Chapter
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success first and foremost to God. I also credit the strong foundation, guidance, and support I received from my parents and grandparents, as well as the values and discipline shaped by my background in education and entrepreneurship.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to walk in my purpose. I’ve learned to operate fully in who I am and not shrink myself or play small for anyone.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to be a leader, not a follower. Choose work that aligns with your core self rather than simply following trends. Pursue what you are genuinely passionate about, and do not diminish yourself to meet the expectations of others.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is cultural conditioning and gatekeeping that can discourage women from fully participating in financial markets and from stewarding capital with confidence. These barriers often limit access, visibility, and opportunity in meaningful ways.
At the same time, there is a significant opportunity to drive change by empowering women through education, entrepreneurship, and expanded access to capital markets. With the integration of AI and modern financial tools, there is growing potential to accelerate learning, increase participation, and support women in achieving greater economic freedom and sovereignty.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me in both my work and personal life is integrity. I also prioritize authenticity, consistency, persistence, and ensuring that my actions remain aligned with my true self.
Locations
Women in Capital Markets (CapX)™
2509 Baldwin Crescent NE, Washington, DC 20018