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January 31, 2008

SCHENECTADY ATTORNEY RECEIVES STATE BAR ASSOCIATION'S PROFESSIONALISM AWARD

Attorney Praised by Colleagues, Adversaries and Clients for Compassion, Ethics, and Civility

Attorney Peter V. Coffey (Englert, Coffey, McHugh and Fantauzzi, LLP) has been selected to receive the 2008 Attorney Professionalism Award from the New York State Bar Association.

The award, sponsored by the Association's Committee on Attorney Professionalism, will be presented on Thursday, January 31 during the Annual Meeting in Manhattan.

The Attorney Professionalism Award recognizes an Association member who displays the highest standards of professionalism, including dedication to the service of clients, commitment to promoting respect for the legal system in the pursuit of justice and the public good, outstanding ethical conduct, competence, good judgment, integrity and civility.

The Schenectady County Bar Association, which nominated Coffey for the award, received dozens of letters of endorsement from colleagues, former clients, and adversaries in legal matters.

Schenectady County Bar Association President Robert W. Hoffman of Schenectadywrote in his nomination letter, "Peter is the consummate professional, and his character and integrity go beyond the legal profession into the community. His judgment, character and leadership are greatly admired by the judiciary, his peers, his clients, his friends and his community."

Real Property Law Section Chair Karl B. Holtzschue of New York Citynoted, "Peter constantly reminds us of our ethical and professional obligations, in the most civil and thoughtful manner. I believe that his service to his colleagues, his clients and the community exemplify the highest level of attorney professionalism. His commitment to promoting respect for the legal system and pursuit of justice in the public good is always foremost in his mind and actions. He is an exemplar of ethical conduct, competence, good judgment, integrity and civility."

Coffey is a partner with Englert, Coffey, McHugh and Fantauzzi, LLP. He is a member of the Association's House of Delegates, serves as First Vice-Chair of the Real Property Law Section Executive Committee, and is a member of the Business Law Section. He served on the Committee on Unlawful Practice of Law, Committee on Professional Discipline, Committee to Review Judicial Nominations, and Committee on Standards of Attorney Conduct. Throughout the Association, he is noted for his popular, lively lectures on professional ethics.

James M. Altman of New York (Bryan Cave LLP) chairs the Committee on Attorney Professionalism, and Lucille A. Fontana of White Plains(Clark, Gagliardi & Miller) chairs the award selection subcommittee.

State Bar President Kathryn Grant Madigan of Binghamton(Levene, Gouldin & Thompson LLP) will present the award to Coffey at the Annual Meeting.

Previous award winners are: Frank E. Yannelli of Rockville Centre (Yannelli & Zevin); Barry Kamins of Brooklyn (President, New York City Bar Assocation); Fontana; Carlton F. Thompson of Binghamton (Levene, Gouldin & Thompson LLP); Anne Reynolds Copps of Albany (Law Office of Anne Reynolds Copps); James M. Conboy of Albany (Carter Conboy Case Blackmore Maloney and Laird, PC); George J. Nashak, Jr. (Ramo Nashak & Brown) of Queens; and Terrence M. Connors of Buffalo (Connors & Vilardo, LLP).

The 74,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation.

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