The Philadelphia Bar Association is celebrating “Member Appreciation Week” this week, honoring the contributions of all members and giving special recognition to this year’s Bar Stars, an award created in 2019 to honor members who have gone above and beyond at carrying out the Association’s mission of leadership, education and advocacy.
“So many of our members dedicate their time, insight and expertise to advance the mission of our Association. Whether drafting resolutions, planning programs and networking opportunities, mentoring peers, advancing access to justice, or advocating for reforms in our justice system, they make our profession and our community stronger. Those efforts often are unsung,” said Chancellor Marc J. Zucker. “During Member Appreciation Week, we celebrate their hard work and passion. Our Bar Stars truly inspire us all.”
Dilworth Paxson LLP is the 2023 recipient of the Association’s Bar Champion Award, which was presented at a November 14 Member Appreciation Reception and Awards Ceremony at City Winery. Created in 2020, the Bar Champion Award is given annually to a law firm, law department, legal services organization or law school in Philadelphia that has fully supported the Association through 100% membership, leadership roles, member engagement and contribution to the community through public service.
“We appreciate the longstanding support and commitment from Dilworth Paxson, which has had 100% membership for decades,” said Harvey Hurdle, executive director of the Philadelphia Bar Association. “Individual members from Dilworth have made valuable contributions to our Association as Section and Committee leaders, CLE speakers, and as individuals who seek always to uplift and help their fellow legal professionals.”
“We take our role in the Philadelphia legal community very seriously, and a big part of what we do is to remain active and engaged in the Philadelphia Bar Association at various levels and in various ways,” Dilworth Chairman Larry McMichael said. “The firm is very gratified that we have been chosen for this award this year and we look forward to continuing our service to the community and the Philadelphia Bar.”
The event at City Winery also recognized 20 “Bar Stars,” representing each of the Association’s nine sections and the Young Lawyers Division. Additional Bar Star awards were presented to sections and committees with the highest growth, best attended events and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs, and the most CLEs, and to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Association diversity efforts, publications, social media, and to the Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention.
“Philadelphia's legal community thrives due to the dedication of volunteers like our Bar Stars and firms like Dilworth Paxson,” Hurdle said. “They tirelessly advance our mission of equal access to justice for all, embodying the true spirit of service and solidarity in the legal profession.”
Winners of the Bar Stars awards were:
Business Law Section: Harris Chernow, partner, Reger Rizzo & Darnall LLP, and Justin Moriconi, co-founder, Moriconi Flowers Ltd.
Criminal Justice Section: Marissa Bluestine, assistant director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, and Jules Epstein, professor and director of advocacy programs at Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law
Family Law Section: Eileen G. Murphy, partner, Momjian Anderer LLC, and Todd Nothstein, staff attorney, Legal Clinic for the Disabled
Probate and Trust Law Section: Melissa Siravo Hensinger, associate attorney, Heckscher, Teillon, Terrill & Sager P.C., and Ryan Ahrens, associate attorney, Dechert LLP
Public Interest Section: Heather Hulit, associate attorney, O’Brien & Ryan LLP, and Yolanda French Lollis, managing attorney, AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania
Real Property Section: Caroline Curley, deputy city solicitor, City of Philadelphia Law Department, and Devon Beverly, real estate associate, Ballard Spahr
State Civil Litigation Section: Jordan Strokovsky, founder, Law Office of Jordan Strokovsky, and Kelly Fox, partner, Gerolamo, McNulty, Divis & Lewbart P.C.
Tax Section: Matthew Meltzer, counsel, Flaster Greenberg, and Kayci Petenko, partner, Archer & Greiner P.C.
Workers’ Compensation Section: Frederic Augonnet, attorney, Lundy Law, and Mitchell I Golding (retired), trial attorney, Campbell, Lipski and Dochney
Young Lawyers’ Division: Sydney Groll, staff attorney, Support Center for Child Advocates, and Nikia Clark, attorney, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights
Office of Diversity: Chloe Mullen-Wilson, associate, Timoney Knox LLP
Judicial Commission: Mary Vidas, partner Blank Rome LLP
Publications: Lee Schwartz, attorney, Schwartz, Fox & Saltzman LLC, and James Zwolak, divisional deputy city solicitor, City of Philadelphia Law Department
Social Media: Scott S. Small, trust counsel, Fiduciary Trust International
Highest Attendance at a Non-CLE Event: Large Firm Management Committee, co-chaired by Vince McGuinness, president and managing partner, Cozen O’Connor, and Butler Buchanan III, managing attorney, Philadelphia Office, Marshall Dennehey
Highest Attendance at a CLE: Federal Courts Committee, co-chaired by David V. Dzara, partner, Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLP, and Stephen R. Kovatis, deputy general counsel, Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of the General Counsel
Most CLEs and Largest Growth by a Section: Criminal Justice Section, chaired by Kathryn Cacciamani, Law Offices of Kathryn C. Cacciamani, and Meredith Zeitzer, unit chief, special litigation division, Defender Association of Philadelphia
Most Growth by a Committee: Municipal Courts Committee, co-chaired by Ashley M. Sullivan, associate, Willig, Williams & Davidson, and Jenna Collins, director of supervision and professional development, Community Legal Services
