The City Bar will close at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 26, and will be closed on Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day.
Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
The annual New York City Bar Association Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award seeks to recognize individuals whose actions and activities within New York City's legal community embody and advance the New York City Bar’s Statement of Diversity Principles. Diversity champions are critical for creating lasting change in organizations and establishing an inclusive work environment.
The New York City Bar Association presents the Diversity & Inclusion Champion Awards at its Annual Diversity and Inclusion Celebration Dinner.
2022 Diversity & Inclusion Champion and Inaugural Firestarter Award*
Michelle Phillips, Diversity Champion
Principal, Jackson Lewis PC
Leah Goodridge, Firestarter
Managing Attorney, Mobilization for Justice
*Champion awarded by independent selection committee; Firestarter selected by ODEIB
Join us October 27 for a dinner celebrating this year's honorees
2021 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Sapna W. Palla
Partner, Allen & Overy LLP
2020 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Mylan L. Denerstein
Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Sandra Leung
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Bristol Meyers Squibb
Cecilia B. Loving
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer,
Fire Department of New York City
2019 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Juan Arteaga
Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP
Lisa Linksy
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP
2018 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Sheila Kearney Davidson
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and General Counsel, New York Life Insurance Company
John Mbiti
Director & Counsel, Credit Suisse Asset Management LLC
Susan L. Shin
Partner, Arnold & Porter
2018 Press Release
2018 Celebration Dinner Photos
2017 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Ricardo A. Anzaldua
Executive Vice President & General Counsel, MetLife, Inc.
Zachary W. Carter
Corporation Counsel, New York City Law Department
Carmelyn P. Malalis
Chair & Commissioner, New York City Commission on Human Rights
Richard E. Meade
VP, Chief Legal Officer - International, Prudential
2016 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Dennis C. Hopkins
Partner, Perkins Coie LLP
Hon. Rosalyn Richter
Associate Justice, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department
Conway S. Ekpo & Joseph A. Tillman
Founding members of 1844
2015 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Kathy Hirata Chin
Partner, Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP
Hon. Fern Fisher
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, New York City Courts and Director, New York State Courts Access to Justice Program
Darryl Gibbs
Lead Director and Associate General Counsel, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
Taa Grays
Assistant General Counsel and Chief of Staff to the General Counsel, MetLife
2014 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Michelle J. Anderson
Dean, CUNY School of Law
Joseph M. Drayton
Partner, Cooley LLP
Natalia Martín & Karla G. Sanchez
Co-founders, "Cafecitos Network"
2013 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Larry Chanen
Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase
Asim Rehman
President, Muslim Bar Association of New York & Corporate Counsel, MetLife, Inc.
Alita T. Wingfield
Executive Director, Morgan Stanley
2012 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Steven Banks
Attorney-in-Chief, The Legal Aid Society
Eric J. Friedman
Executive Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Don H. Liu
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Xerox Corporation
Lorraine S. McGowen
Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
2011 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Sheila S. Boston
Partner, Kaye Scholer LLP
Vincent T. Chang
Partner, Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch LLP
S. Jeanine Conley
Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP
Andrew T. Hahn, Sr.
Partner, Duane Morris LLP
2010 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
George Cheeks & Andra Shapiro
Executive Vice-Presidents, Co-General Counsels, MTV Networks
Duane L. Hughes
Executive Director, Morgan Stanley
Marissa C. Wesely
Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
2009 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
LaShann DeArcy
Associate, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Hon. Charles J. Hynes
Kings County District Attorney
James R. Silkenat
Partner, Arent Fox LLP
2008 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Michael A. Cardozo
Corporation Counsel, New York City Law Department
Hon. Juanita Bing Newton
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives; Administrative Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York
James B. O’Neal
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Legal Outreach, Inc.
2007 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Sharon Y. Bowen
Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
Laurie N. Robinson
Assistant General Counsel, CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Zakiyyah T. Salim
Associate, Heller Ehrman LLP
Hon. John E.H. Stackhouse
Judge, New York Supreme Court
2006 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners
Hon. Daniel M. Donovan, Jr
District Attorney, Richmond County
William Malpica
Associate, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
Elizabeth D. Moore
Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP
