June 20, 2016: New York City Attorney Richard J. Davis Receives State Bar’s Root/Stimson Award
6.20.2016
ALBANY—Richard J. Davis of New York City was honored with the New York State Bar Association’s Root/Stimson Award, presented by State Bar President Claire P. Gutekunst on June 18 at the Association’s House of Delegates meeting in Cooperstown.
The award, given by the Committee on Annual Award, honors an attorney for exemplary community service.
“Richard Davis is a wonderful example of a lawyer using his skills and expertise to make a difference in his community,” Gutekunst said. “Through his innovative leadership on multiple boards and commissions, Richard Davis has helped shape and advance their missions while also making the community a better place for everyone.”
An accomplished attorney in both the government and private sectors, Davis has consistently made time throughout his 47-year career to serve in capacities that benefit the public, giving hundreds of hours of his time to the community every year.
“I have always sought ways to participate in activities that I believed would be important to making the city a better place for everyone to live—policing, parks, the provision of legal services to the needy and making government work better,” Davis said.
Davis, who was a partner at Weil Gotshal & Manges for 30 years, began his private practice (Richard J. Davis, Attorney at Law) in 2012. He is involved with difficult, complex situations, serving as a court-appointed examiner or trustee, mediator, arbitrator and internal investigations or special counsel.
Davis has served as chair of the Legal Aid Society in New York City since 2010 and was previously a member of its board of directors for 21 years. He has served on numerous boards and commissions in New York City in a variety of capacities, including the New York City Campaign Finance Board, Commission to Combat Police Corruption, Criminal Justice Council of the City Bar Association, Task Force on Police-Community Relations, Citizen Task Force on Use and Security of Central Park, Citizens Advisory Process and the Citizens Union. He is the former chair of the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation.
The award is named for distinguished lawyers Elihu Root and Henry Stimson to honor their commitment to public service. Root served in President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration as secretary of state, received the Nobel Peace Prize and was a president of the New York State Bar Association. Stimson served as secretary of war under President William Howard Taft, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and President Harry S. Truman. He also served as secretary of state under President Herbert Hoover.
The 74,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in 1876.
Contact: Christina Couto
State Bar News Editor
518-487-5535
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