The Philadelphia Bar Association is celebrating Member Appreciation Week this week, honoring the contributions of all members and giving special recognition to this year’s Bar Stars, an award created in 2019 to honor members who have gone above and beyond at carrying out the Association’s mission of leadership, education and advocacy.
“Our Association is only as strong as its volunteers,” said Chancellor Jen Coatsworth. “We are honored to recognize how they selflessly give their time and talent to plan CLEs, organize philanthropy efforts, further our advocacy efforts and much, much more.”
The Association’s November 12 Member Appreciation Reception at City Winery also included honoring Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock Dodig LLP as the 2024 recipient of the Association’s Bar Champion Award. Created in 2020, the Champion of the Bar Award is given annually to a law firm, law department, legal services organization or law school in Philadelphia that has fully supported the Association through 100% membership, leadership roles, member engagement and contribution to the community through public service.
“Feldman Shepherd truly embodies the term ‘Bar Champion’,” said Harvey Hurdle, executive director of the Philadelphia Bar Association. “For decades, the firm has given our Association steadfast support at all levels. Numerous Feldman attorneys have served in top leadership positions, including former Chancellor Alan Feldman and current Vice Chancellor Ezra Wohlgelernter. The firm has also been an active participant in our Lawyer Referral and Information Service, which serves an essential role in improving access to justice for all Philadelphians.”
Andrea Morris-Tracey, director of member services and outreach, added: “Feldman Shepherd’s 100% membership, long track record of engagement, and exemplary leadership history made them an easy choice for this year’s Bar Champion.”
“All of us at Feldman Shepherd are grateful to have our firm recognized as a Bar Champion,” said Alan Feldman, co-managing shareholder and co-founder of Feldman Shepherd and a former chancellor of the Association. “Since the firm's founding in 1987, we have supported and promoted service to the Bar Association as an essential component of being a Philadelphia lawyer. The rewards for being an active member are substantial, which is why I commend membership to all my friends and colleagues in the Philadelphia legal community.”
The Member Appreciation event also recognized 20 “Bar Stars,” representing each of the Association’s nine Sections and the Young Lawyers Division. Additional Bar Star awards were presented to Sections and Committees and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Association.
Winners of the Bar Stars award are:
Business Law Section: Nicole Aiken-Shaban, attorney, Reed Smith, and Jourdan Garvey, associate, Blank Rome
Criminal Justice Section: Aaron Marcus, chief of appeals, Defender Association of Philadelphia, and Meredith Zeitzer, chief, Special Litigation Division, Defender Association of Philadelphia
Family Law Section: Anne Armistead, senior civil legal representation, Congreso De Latinos Unidos, and Sydney Groll, staff attorney, Support Center for Child Advocates
Probate and Trust Law Section: Devin Fox, attorney, Stevens & Lee, and Jenna Millman, of counsel, Ballard Spahr
Public Interest Section: Krystal Kane, pro bono attorney, Blank Rome, and Brian Kisielewski, pro bono counsel , Faegre Drinker
Real Property Section: Judy Berkman, senior counsel, Regional Housing Legal Services, and Natalie Klyashtorny, attorney, Nochumson
State Civil Litigation Section: Hon. Richard Klein (ret.), of counsel, McElroy Deutsch, and Hon. Stella Tsai,
Tax Section: Thu Lam, senior counsel, Chamberlain Hrdlicka, and Ilya Lipin, managing director and Philadelphia state and local tax practice leader, BDO USA
Workers’ Compensation Section: Eric Pearson, partner, Pearson Koutcher Law, and Christina Zern, attorney, Carpenter McCadden & Lane
Young Lawyers’ Division: Alexandria Bondy, associate attorney, Hofstein Weiner & Meyer, and Leah George, associate, Caesar Rivise
Highest Attendance at a CLE: Federal Courts Committee
Most CLEs: Criminal Justice Section
Board Engagement: J.P. Faunes, attorney, Ross Feller Casey
Communications Champion: Workers’ Compensation Section
Institutional Membership Champion: Keisha Hudson, chief defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia
