Dr. Ilonka Aylward

Before establishing Aylward Law in 2004, Dr. Ilonka Aylward honed her legal skills at Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP in New York City. There, she was part of a team that represented Microsoft in significant government antitrust litigation. Her legal journey also includes a tenure at Katten Muchin Rosenman, LLP in Charlotte.

Dr. Aylward holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she contributed to the Virginia Law Review and was a John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics from 1999 to 2001. She earned the Olin Prize for her outstanding paper on antitrust law.

Her academic background is extensive. Prior to law school, she completed a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, supported by a full scholarship. During her time there, she taught various courses. Earlier, she graduated from Novosibirsk University in Russia, focusing on Japanese language and culture, with her thesis exploring Japanese literature and comedy.

Dr. Aylward is admitted to the North Carolina State Bar, New York State Bar, and federal courts in the Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina. She frequently lectures for the Mecklenburg County Bar on topics like "Divorce 101" and "Alienation of Affections." Her co-authored work includes "Tax consequences, Perils and Pitfalls in the Equitable Distribution of Closely Held Businesses."

In academia, Dr. Aylward occasionally lectures at the McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte, covering contract and property law. She co-authored a notable piece on public rights with Queens University professors, presented at the MBAA International Conference in 2010.

Dr. Aylward is also active in philosophical and literary circles, presenting her work at symposiums across the United States and Russia. Her fiction piece, "Diary of a Pink girl," showcases her diverse interests and expertise.