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.

Criteria, Nominations & FAQs

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

2020 Press Release

 2020 Dinner Journal 


 

2019 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners


Juan Arteaga
Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP

Lisa Linksy
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

2019 Press Release

 2019 Dinner Journal 


 

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 Award Winners' Bios

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

2017 Award Winners' Bios

 

 

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

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Asim Rehman
President, Muslim Bar Association of New York & Corporate Counsel, MetLife, Inc.

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Alita T. Wingfield
Executive Director, Morgan Stanley

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2012 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners

Steven Banks
Attorney-in-Chief, The Legal Aid Society

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Eric J. Friedman
Executive Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

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Don H. Liu
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Xerox Corporation

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Lorraine S. McGowen
Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

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2011 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners

Sheila S. Boston 
Partner, Kaye Scholer LLP

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Vincent T. Chang
Partner, Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch LLP

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S. Jeanine Conley 
Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP

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Andrew T. Hahn, Sr.  
Partner, Duane Morris LLP

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2010 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners

George Cheeks & Andra Shapiro
Executive Vice-Presidents, Co-General Counsels, MTV Networks

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Duane L. Hughes
Executive Director, Morgan Stanley

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Marissa C. Wesely
Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

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2009 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners

LaShann DeArcy
Associate, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP

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Hon. Charles J. Hynes
Kings County District Attorney

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James R. Silkenat
Partner, Arent Fox LLP

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2008 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners

Michael A. Cardozo
Corporation Counsel, New York City Law Department

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Hon. Juanita Bing Newton
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives; Administrative Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York

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James B. O’Neal
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Legal Outreach, Inc.

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2007 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners

Sharon Y. Bowen
Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP

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Laurie N. Robinson
Assistant General Counsel, CBS Broadcasting Inc.

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Zakiyyah T. Salim
Associate, Heller Ehrman LLP

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Hon. John E.H. Stackhouse
Judge, New York Supreme Court

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2006 Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award Winners

Hon. Daniel M. Donovan, Jr
District Attorney, Richmond County

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William Malpica
Associate, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP

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Elizabeth D. Moore
Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP

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