More than 740 alumni and friends gathered at Cipriani 42nd Street on March 2 for the Annual Luncheon to celebrate the achievements of Bradley J. Butwin ’85, who received the Medal of Achievement, the highest honor bestowed by the Fordham Law Alumni Association.
Butwin is the chair of O’Melveny & Myers, an internationally acclaimed law firm of approximately 700 attorneys in 15 offices worldwide. In addition to his leadership roles, which have included chair of the firm’s litigation department, Butwin maintains an active practice as a trial lawyer. He is also the chair of the Law School’s financial aid campaign and a member of the Dean’s Planning Council.
Before presenting the medal to Butwin, FLAA President Sharon McCarthy ’89 spoke about his compassion for others, both in and outside the workplace.
“Brad is naturally eager to engage in these personal interactions because, at his core, Brad believes in the power of human relationships,” McCarthy said. “He believes in friendships. He believes in family. He believes in the dignity of every person.”
In his acceptance remarks, Butwin spoke about the importance of the Fordham Law network to his career. He explained that the judge he clerked for right after graduation, his first and second clients when he entered practice, and one of his hires from his off-campus interviewing days were all Fordham Law alumni.
“Much more importantly though, they became lifelong friends,” Butwin said. “As did so many other Fordham colleagues.”
Also bestowed at the luncheon were the Rising Star Awards, which recognize the achievements of alumni in three distinct fields who have graduated within the past 15 years. Gina N. Scianni ’04 was recognized in the in-house and business field, Aya Fujimura-Fanselow ’04 in government, public interest, and nonprofit field, and Gregory Xethalis ’05 in private practice.
After the awards were distributed, Dean Matthew Diller spoke about the strength of the entire Fordham Law community and praised Butwin for his many contributions to the School.
“His support of Fordham Law is unceasing, his leadership of our financial aid campaign has been transformative, and his guidance to me personally has been enormously helpful,” said Diller. “When I first met Brad, he told me that he was proud to be a Fordham Law alumnus, as they have the reputation of ‘rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. They are the lawyer you want beside you.’”
Photos by Chris Taggart.