New York attorneys recognized for work with bar foundation

A Buffalo attorney was honored recently by the American Bar Foundation at its 56th annual Fellows Awards Banquet in New Orleans.

Sharon Stern Gerstman, counsel to Magavern Magavern Grimm LLP, received the Outstanding State Chair Award for “dedication to the work of the foundation and the mission of The Fellows through exceptional efforts on behalf of The Fellows at the state level.”

The award was also presented Feb. 4 to Michael H. Byowitz, a partner in the New York City firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, who is Gerstman’s state co-chair.

The ceremony at the National World War II Museum was in conjunction with the week-long midyear meeting of the American Bar Association.

The Fellows is an honorary organization of attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars elected by their peers. Gerstman and Byowitz, selected from chairs throughout the country, were recognized for their activities and increasing the number of fellows.

Gerstman said the fellows of the bar foundation are dedicated to doing research on legal policy issues, with the majority of the money raised going to support academics who are doing interesting research.

“Some of the research that was done over the years really has gained tremendous respect and some media coverage,” Gerstman said. As an example, she cited a research project into the genocide in Darfur that showed the death toll estimate was much higher than originally thought, changing the world’s understanding of the tragedy, according to comments ABF Director Robert L. Nelson made in 2009.

“The American Bar Foundation does really wonderful work,” Gerstman said. “The fellows basically support American Bar Foundation work with charitable contributions to the foundation.”

Gerstman said another highlight of the dinner was seeing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia accept the Distinguished Honorary Fellow Award, which recognizes a lifetime of sustained professional achievement and public service.

“It was very heartening to hear him really talk so favorably about the ABA and how he was looking forward to his return,” she said, noting Justice Scalia indicated he will become more active in the organization. She said Justice Scalia also hosted “A Conversation with Justice Scalia” that afternoon, which she was unable to attend, but said everybody that went spoke very highly of the event.

Gerstman received her juris doctor from the University of Pittsburgh and an LL.M. from Yale Law School. She has taught in the law schools of University of Toledo, University of Missouri-Kansas City and  SUNY Buffalo Law School.

She has served on the ABA board of governors and continues to serve in its House of Delegates and on the council of its Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division.

Gerstman is a past director of the Bar Association of Erie County and past president of the Erie County Bar Foundation and the Women Lawyers of Western New York.

She has received numerous awards from various bar associations and is a life fellow of the ABF and the New York State Bar Foundation.