The Business Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, in order to recognize the importance and value to the Business Law Section of the many hours of volunteer service provided to the Section and its Committees by its members, established the David S. Caplan Award for Meritorious Service. The award is named in honor of Mr. Caplan, former Chair of the Technology and Venture Law Committee, who, despite his personal physical challenges, was always willing to volunteer his time, his effort, and his ideas for the benefit of the Section.
The Caplan Award is presented annually at the Annual Meeting of the Business Law Section held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the New York State Bar Association. The recipient of the award is selected by a committee consisting of the three most immediate past chairs of the Section, with the person who was the Chair three years earlier being the chair the Committee. If any such member of the Committee is unable or unwilling to serve, the Chair of the Section, in consultation with the other executive officers of the Section, will select an alternate member of the Committee for that year, and if required, designate the Committee Chair.
The Committee usually finalizes its selection of the recipient no later than November 15th each year. The recipient is presented with an appropriate plaque at the Annual Meeting Business Law Luncheon. A list of all award recipients is included on the Section’s website and an announcement identifying the award recipient is included in the Business Law Journal.
The Executive Officers of the Section are authorized to take such other action as they deem appropriate to publicize the nomination process and the identity of the recipient of the award.
Contact: businesslaw@nysba.org
2026 Award Recipient
Michael A. de Freitas, Esq.
William C. Moran & Associates, P.C.
Mr. Michael A. de Freitas is a member of the firm of William C. Moran & Associates, P.C. in Williamsville, New York. He primarily represents not-forprofit organizations in corporate, tax exemption, regulatory, and transactional matters. He graduated from College of the Holy Cross and Cornell Law School. He is a member of the Corporation Law and Not-forProfit Corporation Law Committees of the Business Law Section, chairs the Section’s Legislative Affairs Committee, and has regularly co-chaired the Non-Profit Law continuing-education seminars of the Association.
2025 Award Recipient
Taa R. Grays, Esq.
Taa Grays currently serves as President of the New York State Bar Association, marking both the tenth woman and the first Black woman to hold this office in the association’s 150-year history.
During her tenure, Grays will focus on implementing the association’s strategic plan. In addition, Grays will focus on simplifying consumer terms and conditions, improving access to justice in Family Court, providing guidance concerning renewable and sustainable energy use, building more member resources on the use of generative artificial intelligence, and developing an archive showcasing the accomplishment of the association and its members in advancing the rule of law. She also remains committed to mitigating the impact of legal deserts across the state through the Rural Ready initiative.
Grays has dedicated over two decades of service to the New York State Bar Association, contributing to areas including police reform, strategic planning, and corporate governance. Her extensive leadership experience provides a strong foundation for her current role.
She has co-chaired several committees and task forces, including the Strategic Planning Committee, the Task Force on Racism, Social Equity and the Law, and the Task Force on Racial Injustice and Police Reform. Grays is an active member of the Business Law, Corporate Counsel, and Women in Law sections. Additionally, she has served as vice president of the First Judicial District on the Executive Committee and chaired both the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders and the Committee on Women in the Law (now the Women in Law Section).
Previously, Grays was vice president and associate general counsel of information governance at MetLife, leading its global Information Governance Program and overseeing a team tasked with developing and executing strategic plans in this area.
Her career began with MetLife in 2003, initially in the litigation section, followed by a role as chief of staff to the general counsel from 2010 to 2015. Before joining MetLife, she served as assistant district attorney in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office within the rackets bureau for five and a half years.
Grays has received numerous accolades, including the New York State Bar Association’s Diversity Trailblazer Award in 2008. She was named one of Crain’s New York Business’s 100 Leading Women Lawyers in New York in 2017, recognized as a Visionary
Leader in Litigation by Inside Counsel in 2016, included among the Most Influential Black Lawyers in 2015, and listed as Ready to Rise for general counsel roles in 2013 and 2015.
In the broader legal community, the New York City Bar Association honored Grays as a Diversity Champion in 2015, while the Metropolitan Black Bar Association presented her with its inaugural Bar Leaders of the Year Award in 2010 for her dedication and leadership.
Grays holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.
Previous Award Recipients
2024 – Peter W. LaVigne, Esq.
2023 – Andre R. Jaglom, Esq.
2022 – Kathleen A. Scott
2021 – James W. Everett, Jr
2020 – Deborah A. Doxey
2019 – Stuart B. Newman, Esq.
2018 – Bruce J. Baker, Esq.
2017 – Paul H. Silverman, Esq.
2016 – Frederick G. Attea, Esq.
2015 – Samuel F. Abernethy, Esq.
2014 – David L. Glass, Esq.