The New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law honored three remarkable attorneys and dozens more at its annual awards on July 19 that recognize excellence in the law.
Recently retired state Supreme Court Justice Barry T. Albin served as the master of ceremonies at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township for what he called the profession’s “academy awards,” given to those who have enriched the practice of law and inspired public confidence in the bar.
The commission’s most prestigious awards paid tribute to three individuals who uphold the profession’s highest ideals and who have significant career achievements. Dozens of attorneys in bar associations across the state also earned accolades with Professional Lawyer of the Year Awards, given to those who are respected by colleagues for their character, competence and exemplary professional behavior.
Top honors at the ceremony went to: Raymond M. Brown, who received the Daniel J. O’Hern Award, given to an attorney who exhibits integrity, competence, high ethical standards, career achievement and service to the bar; Felipe Chavana, recognized with the Charles J. Hollenbeck Award, which honors an attorney in a governmental agency or nonprofit organization; and Gerald H. Baker with the Lighthouse Award, for his community-based efforts that served as an inspiration to colleagues.
“All of the attorneys we honor today—the three main award recipients, and all of the attorneys nominated by county bar associations and affinity bar associations—have been chosen by their colleagues, because of their exemplary character, abilities and professional conduct,” Justice Albin said. “There is no higher honor than recognition by your peers.”
Brown kicked off a series of speeches from the three top winners, thanking his father—a renowned civil rights attorney—his wife and colleagues at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden for helping shape his career.
The litigator of more than 50 years focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, international human rights compliance, internal investigations and complex commercial litigation. He has significant international experience, and has represented victims in the Darfur genocide before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
“There are Americans who do not prize freedom, equality and justice,” Brown said in his speech, adding that he was grateful to receive an award named for Justice O’Hern because he, Justice Albin and many others in the room believe that freedom, equality and justice are “values worth fighting for, especially on behalf of the downtrodden and the oppressed.”
Chavana dedicates his legal services to protecting the interests of the underserved and most vulnerable members of our society. Since 1989, he has served as executive director for Essex-Newark Legal Services, ensuring the quality and availability of legal representation to Essex County’s low-income residents. During Chavana’s 33 years of stewardship, he has created and led several special projects to address domestic violence, elder law, health care, homelessness and veteran assistance.
He grew up poor in the South Bronx, but said he managed to enroll in college through a program for disadvantaged students recommended by his high school teacher.
“That changed my life,” Chavana said. “I could start thinking of someday being able to help people, and pay back those who made it possible for me to go to college.”
Baker, a personal injury attorney and former NJSBA trustee, has handled numerous groundbreaking cases and high-profile claims, including representing the families of TWA Flight 800, Korean Airlines Flight 007 and EgyptAir Flight 990. In 2002, he obtained a verdict of $53 million against Conrail in a wrongful death case, the largest death verdict in New Jersey and one of the largest in the country. He is one of New Jersey’s foremost experts on automobile insurance and has argued numerous NJSBA amicus curiae cases. Aside from his amicus work, Baker has served as a leading speaker and organizer for several Continuing Legal Education seminars and conferences.
Tort law, Baker said, is an engine for change, and has allowed for safer products, medicine and transportation. In his speech, he urged trial attorneys, and more broadly, those interested in changing the law and society, to “identify the important social issues of our time, work to bring those issues before the court.”
“You all have the opportunity and the ability to be able to identify important issues, bring them before the court and make your mark,” Baker told the attendees.
A full list of the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award recipients:
Atlantic County Bar Association Eileen Oakes Muskett
Bergen County Bar Association Joseph A. Maurice
Burlington County Bar Association James T. Rosenberg
Camden County Bar Association Jenifer G. Fowler
Cape May County Bar Association David S. DeWeese
Cumberland County Bar Association Susan M. Romeo
Essex County Bar Association Jack Wurgaft (posthumously)
Gloucester County Bar Association Peter J. Bonfiglio III
Hudson County Bar Association Norberto A. Garcia
Hunterdon County Bar Association Anthony E. Koester
Mercer County Bar Association Gregory J. Giordano
Middlesex County Bar Association Kimberly A. Yonta
Monmouth Bar Association Hon. Anthony J. Mellaci Jr., J.S.C.
Morris County Bar Association William A. Krais
Ocean County Bar Association Peter J. Van Dyke
Passaic County Bar Association Jessica Ragno Sprague
Salem County Bar Association Karin M. Wood
Somerset County Bar Association Heidi Ann Lepp
Sussex County Bar Association Daniel M. Perez
Union County Bar Association Gary E. Roth
Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association Jenny Chung
Assoc. of Black Women Lawyers of NJ Linda McDonald Carter
Assoc. of Criminal Defense Lawyers of NJ Linda D. Foster
Assoc. of the Federal Bar of New Jersey William T. Reilly
Garden State Bar Association Cheyne R. Scott
Hispanic Bar Association Melinda Colón Cox
New Jersey Association for Justice Kenneth G. Andres Jr. (posthumously)
New Jersey Defense Association John V. Mallon
New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association Dalya F. Youssef
New Jersey State Bar Association Kimberly A. Yonta
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association Diana C. Manning
South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey Bhaveen R. Jani
Trial Attorneys of New Jersey John E. Hogan