Wayne Budd, '67
Wayne Budd graduated from Wayne Law 40 years ago. At that time, he attended night school and was one of few African American students. Since earning his J.D., he has enjoyed a successful legal career spanning decades in high profile positions, and has remained connected to Wayne Law as a result of his gratitude and shared mission of the importance of providing students with a superior legal education.
"I am very grateful to Wayne State University Law School," Budd said. "It provided me with a wealth of knowledge and resources which prepared me to take advantage of many opportunities. I've had a really great career and owe much of my success to Wayne State University Law School."
Budd, a Massachusetts native, attended Boston College where he earned his undergraduate degree in economics. Upon graduation, an opportunity to work at Ford Motor Company led him to Southeastern Michigan. It was then that Budd enrolled in the evening program at Wayne Law.
"Wayne Law was recommended to me as the best law school in the area," Budd said. "I enrolled soon after, attending class five nights a week and working full-time during the day. It was a very busy, and very trying, four years. What I remember most, though, is the camaraderie among the night school students. We were all in it together. I have great memories of people being supportive, studying together and generally just sharing information and knowledge.
"Also, going to night school proved to be incredibly helpful professionally as it really equipped me to juggle the ball and learn to multi-task."
Since those grueling law school days, Budd has successfully served as Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel at John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., as New England Group President of Bell Atlantic (Verizon), as Senior Partner at Goodwin Procter LLP, as Associate Attorney General of the United States, and as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
He has also taught courses as an adjunct professor at Boston College Law School, practiced privately for many years and held various other prestigious legal positions. He is currently Senior Counsel at Goodwin Procter LLP in Boston where he is responsible for providing high-level legal business counsel as a member of the litigation department. He has served in this position since 2004 when he returned to the firm.
Although he doesn't make frequents trips to Detroit to visit his alma mater, Budd tries to stay current on the latest developments and initiatives at Wayne Law.
"I admire and salute the bold and innovative steps Wayne Law is taking in raising funds
to build the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights and Community Development," he said. "Judge Keith is a legendary icon in the legal community. To have a Center of that importance in the Detroit area gives luster to his accomplishments and lends importance to the nature of the work to be undertaken."
He added, "I'm very proud to be associated with a law school that is heading in that direction and focusing on civil rights law. Future Wayne Law students will benefit greatly from the Center."
Budd has served on the Wayne Law Board of Visitors and currently serves on a number of Boards in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. He resides in Boston with his wife, Jacqui, and is a member and past president of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Black Lawyers' Association. Budd has three daughters and seven grandchildren.