Ten CBA Young Lawyers Receive Service Awards

Ten Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Executive Committee members of the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) received awards at the section’s Leadership Retreat on August 6-7 for their service during the 2020-2021 bar year.

“It was very difficult to select this year’s award recipients because I truly believe that all of the Executive Committee members put in 110 percent,” said 2020-2021 YLS Chair Cindy M. Cieslak. “I want to thank and recognize everyone who served during what was a rather difficult year.”

Rookie of the Year Award

Scott Garosshen, Horton Dowd Bartschi & Levesque PC, received a Rookie of the Year award for his work as the Civics Education Committee co-director and for reinvigorating the Lawyers in the Classroom project, which had previously been dormant for several years.

Jermaine A. Brookshire, Jr., Wiggin and Dana LLP, was recognized with a Rookie of the Year award for his work as the Business Law Committee co-chair, his participation in an online voter registration drive, and his assistance with organizing various other YLS events.

Scott Garosshen receives a Rookie of the Year award from 2021-2022 YLS Chair Joshua Devine		Jermaine A. Brookshire Jr. receives a Rookie of the Year award from 2021-2022 YLS Chair Joshua Devine

Leadership Award

Vianca T. Malick, Diana Conti & Tunila LLP, garnered a Leadership Award for her exceptional work as a CLE director during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic as well as coordinating the CLEs that comprised the Bridge the Gap Series.

Leland J. Moore, Office of the Attorney General, received a Leadership Award for coordinating the Lawyers in the Classroom Project and for his involvement in several other programs through his roles as membership director and Civics Education Committee co-director.

Vianca T. Malick receives a Leadership award from 2021-2022 YLS Chair Joshua Devine		Leland J. Moore Received a Leadership Award during the YLS Leadership Retreat.

Star of the Year Award

Aigne S. Goldsby, Goldsby Law PLLC, and Ronald J. Houde, Jr., Ouellette Deganis Gallagher & Grippe LLC, received a Star of the Year award for their work as the YLS diversity directors, raising awareness for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession. They organized CLE programs that discussed issues regarding hate speech and organized a night of networking that encouraged difficult conversations about current social issues and racial injustice.

Megan Wade, Sexton & Company LLC, was recognized with a Star of the Year award for her service as the Appellate Practice Committee co-chair and for advocating for an amendment to the YLS Rules of Professional Responsibility to expressly prohibit discrimination and harassment in the practice of law.

Sara Bonaiuto, Cohen and Wolf PC, received a Star of the Year award for her work in her role as Business Law Committee co-chair and as a liaison with the CBA Lawyer Well-Being Committee. She assisted in the planning of several well-being programs for the YLS, including events for Lawyer Well-Being Week.

Benjamin I. Schimelman, United Healthcare, was recognized with a Star of the Year award for his service as the Insurance Law Committee co-chair and his work in planning the YLS year-end membership event at Lyman Orchards.

Christopher DeMatteo, DeMatteo Legal Solutions, received a Star of the Year award for his work as Criminal Law Committee co-chair and for planning and moderating a three-part Legal Entrepreneur CLE Series to assist those looking to open their own firm.

Aigne S. Goldsby and Ronald J. Houde Jr. receive Star of the Year awards from 2021-2022 YLS Chair Joshua Devine		Megan Wade virtually receives a Star of the Year award at the YLS Leadership Retreat.		Sara Bonaiuto receives a Star of the Year award from 2021-2022 YLS Chair Joshua Devine

Benjamin I. Schimelman receives a Star of the Year award from 2021-2022 YLS Chair Joshua Devine		Christopher DeMatteo received a Star of the Year during the YLS Leadership Retreat.