Dr. Ilona Aylward
Ilona (pronounced E:-lo-na) Aylward is an appellate lawyer and the owner of Aylward Family Law. Dr. Aylward received a Ph.D (University of Chicago 1999), hence — the "Doctor," a title earned by over ten years of rigorous studies and research, and after writing and defending a doctoral dissertation now on file with the Library of Congress.
Prior to founding the firm in 2004, Dr. Aylward practiced law at Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP in New York City, where she worked with a team representing Microsoft in government antitrust litigation. She also practiced at Katten Muchin Rosenmann, LLP in Charlotte.
Ilona received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she served on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review and was a John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics (1999-2001). At graduation, she was awarded the Olin Prize—an award for the best paper written in law and economics by a member of the graduating class; her paper was on the subject of antitrust law.
Prior to law school, Dr. Aylward graduated from the University of Chicago with a master of arts degree (1995) and Ph.D (1999). She was the recipient of a full scholarship throughout her studies at the University of Chicago, where she also taught courses at the U of C college. Prior to graduate studies, Ilona graduated from Novosibirsk University in Academy Town, Russia, where her studies in the Department of Humanities were concentrated on Japanese language and culture. Her thesis work concerned Japanese literature and theory of comedy.
Aylward holds Martindale-Hubbelle's Client Distinction Award and is ranked as "preeminent" (5 out of 5) by clients.
Dr. Aylward is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, New York State Bar, and is admitted to practice in the Federal Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and Federal Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
Dr. Aylward has delivered lectures and published in the United States, Russia, and Japan on subjects of law, philosophy and popular culture. In the legal field, she frequently lectures for the Mecklenburg County Bar, where her presentations have included "Divorce 101" (2004, 2010) (DVD available upon request); "Alienation of Affections -- always an ethical dilemma" (December 2004); "If you Fight the Prince, Kill the Prince. Expert Evidence and Daubert Considerations in Family Law." (Annual Evidentiary Issues in Family Law April 2004). Dr. Aylward also co-authored with Fred Hicks and Vick Wray "Tax consequences, Perils and Pitfalls in the Equitable Distribution of Closely Held Businesses," (Family Law Intensive Seminar, North Carolina Bar Association 2003). Aylward is the author of a light-hearted Charlotte Divorce blog with topics ranging from the tax implications of divorce to tips for hiring the right attorney or the importance of recognizing when to settle. Aylward also manages an appellate news blog.
Dr. Aylward is an occasional guest lecturer at McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte, where she spoke on contract and property law. Together with the Queens University Professors Steven M. Cox and Bradley W. Brooks, she co-wrote a somewhat controversial piece: "Bayer CropScience: The Public's Right to Know," which Professors Cox and Brooks presented at the MBAA International Conference (March 2010).
Dr. Aylward presented her original work as a speaker at philosophy/literature symposiums, including the University of Chicago Slavic Forum (1995); the University of Madison-Wisconsin (1995); the University of Virginia Symposium (1995); and the Moscow Institute for World Literature (1989).
Dr. Aylward's work of fiction "Diary of a Pink girl" was originally written in Russian and translated into Japanese circa 1989.
Dr. Aylward's 1999 doctoral dissertation, "It's a Crime to Punish a Crime" concerns philosophy of capital punishment. The book is in the collection of the Library of Congress and was translated into Chinese and what looks to be arabic. Ilona also authored a column "Divorce American Style" with the now semi-defunct Charlotte Russian Newspaper.
Locally, Ilona was featured as a guest speaker on PBS (formerly CPCC International Success TV show); served as a judge on the Charlotte School of Law Moot Court competition and organized a dinner with the Court of Appeal judges together with the faculty of McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte.
Dr. Aylward's work of fiction "Diary of a Pink girl" was originally written in Russian and translated into Japanese circa 1989.
Dr. Aylward's 1999 doctoral dissertation, "It's a Crime to Punish a Crime" concerns philosophy of capital punishment. The book is in the collection of the Library of Congress and was translated into Chinese and what looks to be arabic. Ilona also authored a column "Divorce American Style" with the now semi-defunct Charlotte Russian Newspaper.
Locally, Ilona was featured as a guest speaker on PBS (formerly CPCC International Success TV show); served as a judge on the Charlotte School of Law Moot Court competition and organized a dinner with the Court of Appeal judges together with the faculty of McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte.