From Shakespeare to Breaking Bad, lawyers frequently get a bad rap, but in the pages that follow we highlight attorneys whose unparalleled excellence shatters that misconception—out with Saul Goodman, in with our 2017 Professional Excellence honorees.

The inspiring work of our honorees this year came in all shapes and sizes. From landmark Supreme Court decisions and settling global class actions, to leading diversity efforts at their firms or volunteering with local associations, to identifying social injustices and working to correct them, their accomplishments could fill volumes, and the New York Law Journal is honored to feature them in these pages.