3 lawyers to receive service awards from ABA

The American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section will honor attorneys Dianne M. Nast of Philadelphia, Joshua D. Lee of Chicago and Larry P. Schiffer of New York City with section awards during its inaugural TIPS Spring Conference, April 29 to May 1 at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia.

The honorees:

- Dianne M. Nast: Founder of NastLaw LLC in Philadelphia, she is the recipient of the Pursuit of Justice Award, which recognizes lawyers and judges who have shown outstanding merit and who excel in providing access to justice for all. The award will be presented on Thursday, April 30, during the networking reception. Nast has extensive and diverse experience in pharmaceutical and antitrust litigation. She has held court-appointed leadership roles and helped achieve multimillion dollar settlements in major lawsuits. The National Law Journal selected Nast as one of the nation's top fifty women litigators.

- Joshua D. Lee: A partner at Schiff Hardin LLP in Chicago, he will receive the Edmund S. Muskie Pro Bono Service Award, which recognizes TIPS members who have the attributes embodied by the late Sen. Edmund Muskie: his dedication to justice for all citizens, his public service and his role as a lawyer and distinguished leader of the section. The award will be presented on Friday, May 1, during the Leadership in Action Luncheon. Lee has broad experience in product liability, mass torts, appellate practice, class actions, civil conspiracy, consumer fraud and misappropriation of trade secrets.

- Larry P. Schiffer: A partner with Squire Patton Boggs in New York City, he will be honored with the Andrew C. Hecker Memorial Award, which recognizes the late Andrew C. Hecker of Philadelphia. The award is presented annually to those lawyers who have consistently demonstrated, and continue to demonstrate, the qualities of leadership, outreach, enthusiasm, professionalism and pride in TIPS and its accomplishments. The award will be presented on Friday, May 1, during the Section Conference Gala Dinner at the National Constitution Center. Schiffer practices in the areas of commercial, insurance and reinsurance litigation, arbitration and mediation. He also provides advice on coverage, insurance insolvency and contract wording issues for a wide variety of insurance and reinsurance relationships.

The ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section unites plaintiff, defense, insurance and corporate counsel to advance the civil justice system. TIPS is a national source of expertise in tort, trial and insurance practice and brings lawyers together to share information and speak out on issues of importance. The section has about 25,000 members and more than 30 general committees that focus on substantive and procedural matters in areas across the broad spectrum of civil law and practice.

Published: Wed, Apr 22, 2015