Betty Lugo, a founding member of Pacheco & Lugo, the first Hispanic women-owned law firm in New York, received the 2020 Ruth G. Schapiro Memorial Award on Tuesday during the New York State Bar Association’s Women in Law section meeting.
Speaking about the importance of pro bono work in these uncertain times New York State Attorney General Letitia James delivered the keynote address to members of the New York State Bar Association during the President’s Committee on Access to Justice (PCAJ) event on Thursday at the association’s Annual Meeting.
Valerie Ackerman, the commissioner of the Big East Conference and founding president of the Women’s National Basketball Association, has worked her entire career in both.
She spoke Tuesday to members of the New York State Bar Association’s Women in Law Section at the association’s Annual Meeting. She detailed the successes and failures of top collegiate conferences and international athletic associations in getting more women in leadership roles.
Named in honor of Kay Crawford Murray, this award honors an individual, who in the spirit of Ms. Murray, recognizes the value of diversity in the legal profession and is committed to advancing attorneys who are women. Murray, who passed away in 2018, was the first recipient of the award in 2008.
The award recognizes those who have made a major contribution to international peace, global understanding, and democracy. UNODA will receive the award on Jan. 27 during NYSBA’s Annual Meeting.
Justice Kennedy will receive the 2021 John E. Higgins, Esq. Diversity Trailblazer Award and Justice Chambers will receive the inaugural Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Beacon Award — both awards are being presented by the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.
The award was established in 2012 to honor the legacy of Samuel E. Kaynard, a nationally recognized expert in the field of labor law and labor-management relations. To be considered, students must be enrolled at one of New York’s 15 law schools and be nominated by their dean or a professor or practicing attorney.
Scott Fein of Albany, senior partner of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, is the 2021 recipient of the Jonathan Lippman Pro Bono Award presented by the 50+ Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association.
Fein will receive his award on Jan. 28 during the association’s Annual Meeting. The award recognizes dedicated senior members of the legal profession who have generously provided pro bono service in New York.
Leon T. Sawyko (Harris Beach) will receive the Real Property Law Section’s Attorney Professionalism Award on Jan. 21 and Heather Neu, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, has been named the Young Lawyers Section Outstanding Young Lawyer and will be honored on Jan. 27.
Elissa Rosenthal of Roslyn Heights (Franchina Law Group) will receive the General Practice Section Award on Jan. 19.
Tricia Prettypaul of Valley Stream (Travelers Companies) recently received the Trial Lawyers Section Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vanguard Award.