The Beverly Hills Bar Association (BHBA), expanding on its tradition of championing access to justice, an independent judiciary and the Rule of Law, has announced a major new annual event honoring titans of the legal community, the “Beverly Hills Bar Association Litigation Section Dinner.†The inaugural dinner, to be held on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, at Montage Beverly Hills, salutes two legendary legal figures – recently retired California Supreme Court Justice Ronald M. George, considered one of the most effective judicial administrator’s in the state’s history, and renowned trial lawyer Roman M. Silberfeld, widely respected for his groundbreaking work on a range of complex litigation cases, including the recent entertainment case Celador International Ltd. v. The Walt Disney Company, for which he obtained a verdict for a record amount of $319 million.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will present Chief Justice George, a long-time Beverly Hills resident, with the BHBA’s inaugural “Award for Judicial Excellence,†henceforth to be named after the retiring “hometown†justice and presented annually to a standout member of the judiciary. Silberfeld will receive the BHBA’s first “Excellence in Advocacy Award.â€
“We are proud to pay tribute to these two esteemed leaders who exemplify the best of the legal profession,†says BHBA President Stephen Raucher.
Adds Jonathan Stein, chair of the BHBA Litigation Section and the Inaugural Litigation Awards Dinner, “It is also a great honor to have U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy join us on this special occasion to personally recognize Chief Justice George for his dedicated and selfless public service to the State of California.â€
Retired as of January 3, 2011, Chief Justice George agreed to accept this special honor and to permit the BHBA to name the Award for Judicial Excellence for him, an honor he has bestowed on only a handful of other organizations. Considered the most effective judicial administrator in California history, he lead the court system into “one day, one trial†; unified municipal and superior courts; garnered all courthouses as state property and secured a $5 billion bond issuance for their renovation; reformed the California Rules of Court; and issued new jury instructions in simple and modern language, among other historic milestones.
“As a longtime resident of Beverly Hills and a graduate of its public schools, I am deeply grateful to the Beverly Hills Bar Association, one of the most outstanding professional organizations in the state, for choosing to honor me by conferring this award upon me and naming it in my honor,†said Chief Justice George.
Roman M. Silberfeld, managing partner in the Century City office of Robins, Kaplan Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., has tried a variety of complex litigation cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, including his recent precedent-setting entertainment case, Celador International Ltd. v. The Walt Disney Company. He is also a Past Chair and current Board Member of Public Counsel, which was founded by the BHBA 40 years ago and is today the largest pro bono public interest law firm in the United States.
“I’m deeply honored to be recognized by the Beverly Hills Bar Association, and am pleased to join in celebrating Chief Justice Ronald George for his service to California,†stated Silberfeld.
The Beverly Hills Bar Association, serving the Los Angeles region since 1931, is the sixth largest bar association in California with more than 4,000 members. Its mission is to serve its members, to lead the legal profession and to advocate for justice in the community.
Tickets for the Inaugural Litigation Dinner are $195 per person ($225 after January 24th). Table sponsorships are also available. Montage Beverly Hills is located at 225 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
For tickets or information call (310) 601-2422 or visit www.bhba.org.
