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.
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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