December 11, 2018—Sharon Brown and Sheila Gaddis, partners, and Bridget Steele and Hoda Rifai-Bashjawish, associates, all received awards for their industry and community leadership over the past two weeks.
Brown was recognized by Northeast Women in Public Finance and Bond Buyer as a 2018 Trailblazing Woman in Public Finance. Recipients were selected for their "outstanding commitment to the industry as a whole and the role of women within it" as well as serving as a "trailblazer, leader, innovator, and mentor." Brown accepted her award at the Bond Buyer Deal of the Year gala in New York City on December 6.
Gaddis was a recipient of the Rochester Business Journal 2018 Icon Honors award, which celebrates individuals over the age of 60 who "have achieved significant professional accomplishments through innovation and leadership." Recipients are also honored as "champions of their industries who demonstrate a sustained commitment to community service." Gaddis accepted her award yesterday at the RBJ reception in Rochester.
Steele was selected by the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project to receive its Say Yes Legal Clinic Award, which honors "volunteer attorneys and community advocates who have demonstrated their dedication to social justice for people in the Western New York community." Steele accepted her award during the organization's annual Champions for Justice Bash in Buffalo on November 29.
Rifai-Bashjawish was honored by the US District Court for the Northern District of New York with its Pro Bono Service Award for her dedication to pro bono service in 2017. She accepted the award from Chief Judge Glenn Suddaby at the Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association Annual Dinner on December 6.
"Our Women's Forum initiative is designed to encourage our women attorneys in actively pursuing opportunities that further cultivate their leadership skills in and out of the office, so it is wonderful to see Sharon, Sheila, Bridget, and Hoda being recognized for their notable contributions to both the legal industry and their communities," Connie Cahill, the firm's deputy managing partner, said. Cahill is slated to take over as managing partner within two years.
"These four have set the bar high for all firm members as both excellent attorneys and engaged citizens who have been deservedly honored for their professional accomplishments and community service," John Langan, the firm's managing partner, said. "We are proud to support them and all our talented women attorneys through our longstanding commitment to fostering an environment where every individual has equitable access to resources and opportunities to attain their greatest potential."
Barclay Damon attorneys team across offices and practices to provide customized, targeted solutions grounded in industry knowledge and a deep understanding of our clients' businesses. With nearly 300 attorneys, Barclay Damon is a leading regional law firm that operates from a strategic platform of offices located in the Northeastern United States and Toronto.