Aviva Abramovsky, dean of the University at
Buffalo School of Law, will be honored by the New York State Bar Association
(NYSBA) Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law (TICL) Section with the Professor
David D. Siegel Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the
study of New York law.
“I am
thrilled and honored to be recognized by the New York State Bar Association,
and particularly by the TICL Section,” said Abramovsky. “I have dedicated
most of my academic career to the nuances of insurance law, and it is the
ultimate compliment to have my work acknowledged by the leading insurance law
practitioners and experts in our state.”
Abramovsky, the current chair of NYSBA’s Task Force
on Autonomous Vehicles and the Law, is the law school's 19th permanent dean and
the first woman to hold the position. Previously, she was the Kaufman Professor
of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and an associate dean at Syracuse University
College of Law, where she led the school’s internationalization efforts.
Abramovsky is an expert in insurance law,
commercial law, regulation of financial entities and legal ethics. She has
written numerous articles and legal treatises, including authoring McKinney’s
Uniform Commercial Code forms for New York. She has twice served as an academic
evaluator for the American Bar Association’s federal judiciary committees, once
for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito and again for U.S. Supreme Court
nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
Timothy J. Fennell, of Amdursky,
Pelky, Fennell & Wallen in Oswego, will receive the John E. Leach Memorial
Award for his outstanding contributions to the TICL Section. Fennell, whose primary
practice areas are civil litigation, residential and commercial real estate,
wills and estates, small business and matrimonial/family law, has served on
NYSBA’s House of Delegates and its Executive Committee, is the past chair of
the Committee on Lawyer Referral Services, chair of the Veterans Committee and immediate
past chair of the TICL Section.
Other award recipients are:
James T. Rellis, of Maroney O’Connor in New
York City, will receive the Sheldon Hurwitz Young Lawyer Award. James is a
graduate of the NYSBA Young Lawyers Section Trial Academy. With less than 10
years admitted to practice law, James has achieved many successful trial
results on behalf of his clients.
Molly C. Casey, of Maguire Cardona in
Albany, and Kathleen A. Barclay, of O’Connor First in Albany, will
receive Outstanding District Representative awards for their efforts to promote
new diverse members in the 3rd and 4th Judicial Districts.
Honoring attorneys who render extraordinary service
to the public and the profession is part of NYSBA’s Annual Meeting, which each
January attracts thousands of lawyers from around the state, the nation and the
world. They come to meet and connect with colleagues and to learn from experts
in many areas of law.
A wide range of programs at NYSBA’s 143rd Annual
Meeting Jan. 27-31 explores current issues for lawyers and legal practice.
The Presidential Summit on Wednesday, Jan. 29, will
look at White Nationalism and Domestic Terrorism in America. At Thursday
evening’s sold-out Gala Dinner, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena
Kagan will receive the Gold Medal, NYSBA’s highest honor, and participate in a
fireside-style chat with Professor John Barrett of St. John’s University School
of Law.
Other featured speakers at the Annual Meeting
include New York State Attorney General Letitia James, the first
African-American and the first woman elected to that office; Janet DiFiore,
chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals; and Craig Boise, dean of
Syracuse University College of Law.
For more information on NYSBA’s Annual Meeting,
visit nysba.org/am2020.
About the New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar
Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Since
1876, NYSBA has helped shape the development of law, educated and informed the
legal profession and the public, and championed the rights of New Yorkers
through advocacy and guidance in our communities.
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Contact: Christian Nolan
[email protected]
518-487-5536
