The American Lawyer Announces 2021 Attorney of the Year Finalists and Lifetime Achievement Awards

Each year, The American Lawyer bestows an esteemed group of seasoned lawyers with our Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing the indelible mark they’ve left on the legal profession, the longevity of their careers, and their contributions to both the profession and broader society through public service. Each of the lawyers listed below has spent decades building a legacy in the law that sets them apart.

We also honor the outstanding work and contributions of a select group of Attorney of the Year Award finalists. These lawyers have all made their mark in varied ways over the past year, and each is representative of the profession at its best.

Each of the honorees for these two awards will be profiled in the December issue of The American Lawyer and recognized at this year’s American Lawyer Industry Awards event, which will be held in New York on Dec. 2. The Attorney of the Year winner will be announced at the event, along with the winners of several Industry Awards categories, whose finalists were announced Thursday.

Lifetime Achievement Honorees

• Jeh Johnson, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
• Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck, The Innocence Project
• Leah Ward Sears, Smith, Gambrell & Russell
• Larry Sonsini, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Distinguished Law Firm Leader)
• Kathleen Sullivan, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
• Seth Waxman, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr
• Ben Wilson, Beveridge & Diamond

Attorney of the Year Finalists

• Shon Hopwood: By completing a long journey from prison to the U.S. Supreme Court bar earlier this year, the Georgetown Law professor demonstrated the capacity of an individual within the legal system, reframed issues of criminal law, and made a forceful statement about the power of second chances.
• Michael Jones: In wrapping up a 12-year quest to deliver justice to Maryland’s historically Black colleges and universities, the Kirkland & Ellis partner secured a $577 million settlement that will help bring equity to higher education in the state and showed that incredible commitment to a cause can lead to incredible results.
• Jelena Madir: The general counsel of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, was instrumental in addressing and resolving the thorny legal issues surrounding the COVAX facility, a global effort that secured agreements from more than 100 countries to deliver doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to countries in need.

Special Recognition

• The working parents of the legal industry, who for the past 18 months have responded to immense change and soaring demand, all while juggling child care and homeschooling, helping the industry to avoid crisis, meet clients’ needs and deliver a record year.