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 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
The Young Lawyers Section each year
honors a young lawyer who has rendered outstanding service to both the
community and legal profession. The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
recognizes an attorney who has actively practiced less than 10
years, and has a distinguished record of commitment to the finest
traditions of the Bar through public service and professional
activities.
To obtain a copy of the 2014 Outstanding Young
Lawyer Award application, please click here.
Recipients
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2013 James Michael Paulino II,
Esq. Rochester
An associate at Faraci Lange
LLP, Paulino concentrates his practice in both commercial and personal
injury litigation. He began his career as an associate at Ward Greenberg
Heller & Reidy LLP. As he maintains a busy caseload, Paulino
gives back to his community through the law. He is a past chair of the
MCBA’s Young Lawyers Section and was the Section’s delegate
to the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. He
received the Monroe County Bar Association’s Emerging Bar Leader
Award in June 2012. |
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2012 Karen I. Wu,
Esq., New York
Wu is an attorney at the New York City law firm of Perlman &
Perlman. She was named the recipient of the 2012 State Bar
Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. In her professional
capacity, Wu advises non-profit clients and companies engaged in
philanthropy and social good on corporate governance, tax, fundraising,
contracts, intellectual property, and regulatory matters. She is a
regular author and speaker on issues affecting the nonprofit
sector. In the community, she puts her skills and knowledge to use
providing legal services and counseling to underserved residents in New
York City. She also helps promote and develop pro bono
opportunities through the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee of
the Asian American Bar Association of New York. |
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2011 Anting J. Wang, Esq., New York
Wang is an associate in the New York firm of Hahn & Hessen
LLP. She concentrates her practice in the areas of bankruptcy
litigation and arbitration as well as insurance defense and lender
liability law. Yet it is her outstanding devotion to fellow young
lawyers that has set her apart from her peers. When the economy
took its downturn in 2008, Wang noticed that a number of young attorneys
were being derailed from their future career plans. Using her
business savvy, Wang founded the Society of Young Lawyer Entrepreneurs
to provide a forum for young lawyer entrepreneurs to network, socialize
and exchange ideas. The program has been a resounding success with
"a creative and dynamic membership." Several young solo
practitioners credit Wang for lifting their spirits and providing them
with such vital resources during a difficult time. |
2010 Joseph M. Hanna,
Buffalo
A
graduate of the University at Buffalo and University at Buffalo Law
School, Hanna has devoted considerable time to increasing diversity
efforts in Buffalo, which has been ranked among the 10 most segregated
cities in the U.S. He chairs Goldberg Segalla’s diversity
taskforce and organizes and chairs “Success in the City,” a
diversity networking event that brings together business leaders,
politicians, and members of minority bar associations to celebrate the
successes and importance of diversity in Buffalo’s developing
community. Hanna also
founded and serves as the president of Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc., a
Buffalo-based non-profit that collects and ships new and used golf
balls, clubs and other equipment to U.S. soldiers serving in combat
zones. Bunkers also distributes equipment to injured veterans to aid in
their rehabilitation. Hanna is also a
frequent speaker on diversity issues and has written more than 50
articles and chapters in national and state publications ranging from
diversity in the law to sports and entertainment
law.
2009 Andrew P.
Sparkler, New York City
Since graduating
from Fordham University School of Law in 2005, Andrew P. Sparkler
of New
York(American Society of
Composers, Authors and Publishers) has founded
a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing suicide and
eliminating the stigma associated with depression by raising awareness
and encouraging treatment of depression among adolescents and young
adults. Sparkler is
the Assistant Director of Legal Corporate for the American Society of
Composers, Authors and Publishers “ASCAP” providing legal
advice and support to an organization dedicated to protecting its
members' rights. Specifically,
Sparkler’s practice involves providing legal advice to ASCAP
business units including Marketing, Membership and certain ASCAP
subsidiaries and corresponding with foreign performing rights
organizations.
2008 David A. Kochman,
New York City
David A. Kochman is an associate in the
New
Yorkoffice of Reed Smith LLP. He
concentrates his practice on complex commercial, corporate and insurance
recovery litigation matters. Devoting substantial time and effort
to pro bono matters, Mr. Kochman serves as post-conviction counsel to a
prisoner on death row in Alabama, for whom he recently won an
appeal before the 11th Circuit reinstating the client’s
habeas petition. Other pro bono projects include co-founding the
Hurricane Insurance Claim Help Library, an online resource for
individual hurricane victims; serving as attorney-coach for a Harlem high school in the NYSBA’s Mock Trial
Tournament; and defending a Tibetan asylum applicant in removal
proceedings. While attending law school, Mr. Kochman co-founded the
Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal and worked for the Legal Aid
Society of New York City representing criminal defendants through
Cardozo’s Criminal Defense Clinic. At graduation, Mr. Kochman was
presented with the school’s Jacob Burns Medal for Scholastic
Achievement. Prior to law school, he worked for the Deputy Speaker
of the Israeli Knesset.
2007 Laurie A.
Giordano, Rochester
Ms. Giordano has made many valuable contributions to the Rochester and the New
York Statelegal
communities. She has been active within the New York State Bar
Association in several capacities including the Women and the Law
Project. She has been a member of the Executive Committee and served as
CLE Chair of
the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section. She has been a
consistent CLE presenter
since 2000, as well as the co-Editor of Insurance Law Practice, Chapter
22, Subrogation (Revised 2006), published by the New York State Bar
Association. She has been involved with the Insurance Coverage Committee
and the Diversity Committee of the Association. Ms. Giordano’s
civic and community involvement is widespread and varied. Her mentoring
of both area students and young attorneys has included her lecturing,
her bar participation, her activities with the local Girl Scouts, her
participation in the Association’s Mock Trial Competition, and in
the Big Brother/Big Sister Program. Ms. Giordano’s accomplishments
are illustrated by the accolades she has received in recent years. In
2006, she was chosen as one of the “Up and Coming” Attorneys
in the Rochester area by the
Daily Record, the local legal publication. She is truly committed to her
New York State Bar Association participation, and her professional
contributions were recognized by the Association when she was awarded
the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section’s Outstanding
Young Lawyer of the Year, and Chair of the Year for 2005. Her service to
the local Girl Scouts was also recognized by her receipt of a Girl
Scouts of Genesee Valley Green Angel Award in 2006. In addition, as a
practicing attorney, Ms. Giordano has been involved in, and instrumental
in handling a number of legally significant cases.
2006 Michael C. Rakower, New York City
Solo practitioner focusing on federal
litigation and commercial disputes and of counsel to the Law Offices of
Gordon Mehler and Constantine Cannon, P.C. University of Virginia School
of Law, 1999. Began career handling securities offerings and advising
investment banks. Pro bono counseling to businesses devastated by the
September 11th attacks and helped to obtain political asylum for
refugees. Won six-figure settlement for a prison inmate in a federal
lawsuit against the City of New York. Senior law clerk to Hon. Richard
C. Wesley, U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Pro bono member of the
Prosecutors Office, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda,
assisting in bringing to trial the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan
genocide. Contributing author to “To Oppose Any Foe: The Legacy of
U.S. Intervention in Vietnam.”
2005 Elissa D. Hecker, Irvington
Solo practitioner focusing on copyright,
trademark and business law. Brooklyn Law School, 1998. Began career as
associate counsel for The Harry Fox Agency, Inc., New York City, until
opening her own law practice in 2004. Immediate Past Chair of the New
York State Bar Association Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section,
and has been the SectionVice Chair, editor of the EASL Journal, and
founder and co-chair of the EASL Pro Bono Committee. Member Copyright
Society of the USA, the Board of Directors, Journal of the Copyright
Society of the U.S.A. Frequent author, lecturer and
panelist.
2004 John G. Horn, Buffalo
Senior Associate, Harter, Secrest & Emery
LLP, Buffalo handles a range of complex litigation matters in state and
federal courts including commercial litigation, unfair competition and
business torts, product liability, employment discrimination defense,
and shareholder derivative and direct actions. Loyola University School
of Law, 1998. Began career as confidential law clerk to Senior U.S.
District Court Judge John T. Elfvin in the Western District of New York.
Frequent presenter at CLE seminars and is admitted to the Seneca Nation
of Indians Peacemakers Court. Board of Trustees of the Buffalo
Philharmonic Orchestra, vice presieent of Lawyers for Learning, Inc.,
lay reader at Westminster Presbyterian Church, trombonist in
Buffalo’s 12-8 Path Band. Also recipient of Buffalo Business First
Pathfinders Award, Daily Record’s Ten Up & Coming Attorneys in
Western New York, Pro Bono Special Service Award from the U.S. District
Court, Western District of New York, Apha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society,
and Leadership and Service Award , Loyola University School of
Law.
2003 Elizabeth A. Wolford, Rochester
Partner, Wolford & LeClair, LLP,
Rochester focusing on commercial, healthcare, personal injury and
employment litigation. University of Notre Dame Law School, 1992. At
Notre Dame, Research Editor of Notre Dame Law Review. Past President of
the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys and has coached
high school team in NYSBA Mock Trial Tournament. Pro bono representation
of indigent and low-income clients through the Volunteer Legal Services
Project in Rochester, mentored new attorneys through the Rochester Inns
of Court and GRAWA’s mentoring committee. Also recipient of
Special Service Award from the U.S. District Court for the Western
District of New York.
2002 Bradley P. Kammholz, Rochester
Managing Partner, The Kammholz Law Firm,
concentrating on personal injury law. Boston University School of Law,
1990. Co-founder and Past Secretary of the Rochester Inns of Court,
Rochester City Elementary School 29 mentor, longtime involvement in
Lawyers for Learning, Tools for Schools, American Heart Association.
Extensive NYSBA board, section and committee activities. Winner 2001
Rochester Business Journal “40 Under 40” Award, 1998 Monroe
County Bar Association President’s Award.
2001 Caterine Cerulli, Rochester
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, School of
Medicine and Dentistry and Family Violence Clinic, SUNY/Buffalo School
of Law, and director, Laboratory of Interpersonal Violence and
Victimization. State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law,
1992. Co-founder, SUNY School of Law Domestic Violence Clinic. Honored
for pioneering “Legal Links”, which assists Russians with
the advancement of the rule of law by partnering with Russian legal
professionals. Formerly Monroe County Assistant District Attorney and
founder and director of Stop Abuse in the Family Environment, a
misdemeanor domestic violence program.
2000 Clyde Jay Eisman, New York City
Law Offices of Clyde Jay Eismann
concentrating on solo and small law firm practitioners, litigation and
consumer law. Tulane Law School, 1994. Law clerk in the Office of the
General Counsel, U.S. Department of Defense at Fort Meade, Maryland and
in the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Air Force at
the Pentagon. Publisher of “The Solo Practitioner”, a
quarterly newsletter, and writes a monthly column on solo practice for
the New York Law Journal. In 1997, served as senior adjudicatror for the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, supervising
municipal elestions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Organized the donation of
$10,000 in sporting goods to schoolchildren in
Bosnia-Herzogovina.
1999 David A. Dorfman, New York City
1998 Theresa Bryant Whelan, Wading
River
1997 Lesley Szanto
Friedman, New York City
1996 Dawn Florio,
Queens
1995 Jon P. Getz,
Rochester
1994 Kevin Luibrand,
Albany
1993 Douglas J.
Lerose, Syosset
1992 Ree Adler,
Rochester
1991 Miriam Pismeny,
Hempstead
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