ALFA International Awards
Nathan Fishbach Attorney of the Year Award
ALFA International is proud to honor Nathan Fishbach, a former member of the ALFA International Board of Directors and the Marketing Committee, through the annual ALFA International Nathan Fishbach Attorney of the Year Award. Nathan Fishbach exemplified the best attributes of an attorney, ALFA International colleague and friend. Each year when the award is presented, the network pauses a moment to remember Nathan’s incredible contributions to ALFA International and the legal profession. We are proud to honor him annually with this award.
Since 2009, the ALFA International Nathan Fishbach Attorney of the Year Award has been presented at the Annual Business Meeting to a member who has made outstanding contributions to the association. In addition, the ALFA International Firm of the Year Award is also presented to the firm that has made an incredible impact on the network over the year. The first recipient of the Attorney of the Year Award and its namesake, Nathan Fishbach, a former member of the ALFA International Board of Directors and the Marketing Committee, through the ALFA International Nathan Fishbach Attorney of the Year Award. Nathan Fishbach exemplified the best attributes of an attorney, ALFA International colleague and friend. Each year when the award is presented, the network pauses a moment to remember Nathan’s incredible contributions to ALFA International and the legal profession. We are proud to honor him annually with this award.
The 2022 recipient, Joel Hlavaty, continues Nathan’s legacy by exemplifying the ideals of active involvement and friendship. Joel focuses his practice on the representation of management in all phases of labor relations and employment litigation. Joel is one of his firm’s ALFAI contact partners and is the chair of ALFAI’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. He also spoke at the 2022 International Client Seminar and the 2022 Labor & Employment Practice Group Seminar. As an organization, ALFAI would not be what it is today without dedicated attorneys like Nathan and Joel.
2022 – Joel Hlavaty
2021 – Sheila Kerwin
2020 – John Tarpley
2019 – Elaine Moss
2018 – Gero Schneider
2017 – Chris Page
2016 – Melanie Cheairs
2015 – Richard Krieg
2014 – Patrick Michael
2013 – Mark Golman
2012 – Lee MacPhee
2011 – George Fagan
2010 – Laurie Watt
2009 – Nathan Fishbach
The Firm of the Year Award
The 2022 law firm recipient is Plunkett Cooney, a founding member of ALFAI when it began in 1980. Since then, the firm has been very active in the network. Plunkett Cooney attorneys serve on nine different ALFAI Practice Group steering committees, including Business Litigation, Construction, Hospitality & Retail, Insurance, Labor & Employment, Product Liability & Complex Torts, Professional Liability, Transportation and the Women’s Initiative Practice Group. Plunkett Cooney attorneys are also actively involved in ALFAI’s interest groups, including the Future Leaders Forum, Marketing Managers Group and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum. Furthermore, many Plunkett Cooney Attorneys hold leadership positions within ALFAI. Matt Stanczyk recently completed his three-year term on ALFAI’s Board of Directors and is chair emeritus of the Product Liability & Complex Torts Practice Group. Jeff Hengeveld is the current chair of the Professional Liability Practice Group. In addition, Courtney Nichols, who accepted the award on the firm’s behalf in Dublin, is the current program chair and vice-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group. Plunkett Cooney was also instrumental in helping ALFAI exceed its fundraising goal this year in support of Ukraine by matching all their attorney’s individual donations.
2022 – Plunkett Cooney
2021 – Morrison Mahoney LLP
2020 – Lewis Wagner, LLP
2019 – McCandlish Holton
2018 – Frantz Ward LLP
2017 – Leake & Andersson, L.L.P.
2016 – Carter Conboy
2015 – Charles Russell Speechlys
2014 – Young Moore and Henderson P.A.
2013 – Hall & Evans, LLC
2012 – Cowell Clarke and Cornwalls
2011 – Johnson & Bell, Ltd.
2010 – Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP
2009 – Nilan Johnson Lewis PA