PDC Presents Two Long-time Members with the PDC Richard Pearson Award

Award Presented to Burt Lipshie and Anita Zigman during Winter Meeting 

December 14, 2015 (McLean, VA) The Professional Development Consortium (PDC) is pleased to announce the 2015 recipients of the PDC Richard Pearson Award, Burt Lipshie, Managing Attorney and Director of Attorney Enrichment, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and posthumously to Anita Zigman, former Chief Legal Personnel Officer at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. The award was presented last week at the 2015 PDC Winter Meeting held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC.  

This award was established in memory of Richard Pearson, long-time PDC member and stalwart in the legal professional development community.  Pearson, whose previous positions included serving as Chief Learning & Development Officer at Davis Wright & Tremaine LLP in Seattle, died suddenly in March of 2014 while rowing, one of his passions.  Richard left behind an impressive legacy of innovation and collaboration as a legal PD professional.  He was a true thought-leader.  Richard served on the PDC Board from 2011 through 2013.

This year, the 25^th Year of the PDC, the awards committee selected two honorees for this award.  Burt Lipshie received this award in recognition of his innovative spirit, a commitment to mentoring and a lifelong love of learning.  Since 1977, Lipshie has been the Managing Attorney of the Litigation Department of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, its national litigation coordinator, Director of the firm’s Attorney Enrichment Program, and Co-Chair of its CLE Committee.  Since 1985, Burt has also been Adjunct Professor of Law at Cardozo School of Law, where he teaches New York Practice.  He has been voted “Outstanding Adjunct Professor of the Year” by the graduating class 18 times in the last 22 years. He led the PDC as Chair from 2001 to 2003 and has been actively involved in PDC initiatives for years, including, most recently, in the establishment of a new member mentor program.  Burt’s commitment to and enthusiasm for welcoming and mentoring new members is legendary. 

The committee also honored Anita Zigman who recently passed away after a short battle with cancer.  Zigman had more than 30 years of experience leading PD at several of the most prestigious law firms in the U.S.  She most recently served as Chief Legal Personnel Officer at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York. She also served as a member of the inaugural New York State CLE Board, and was an important voice of reason in those early days of mandatory CLE in the State, as the only representative of law firms to serve on that first Board.  She succeeded Burt as the PDC Chair in 2003 and served in this role for two years.

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“Both Burt and Anita were among the pioneering members of the PDC and it is due, in large part, to their innovative spirits that we are the organization we are today. Anita had a deep commitment to teaching and mentoring and treated everyone as if they were old and dear friends and I would be willing to bet that Burt would make it onto most members’ short lists of their favorite PDC members. Burt makes this seem like the very best, most exciting profession there is, while still acknowledging (and having a terrific sense of humor about) the many challenges we all face. I can’t think of two people who are more deserving of this award,” said Amy Hancock, PDC Chair.

“Receiving any award is wonderful.  Receiving an award from colleagues and peers is a special treat.  Greatest of all is receiving an award from family.  And you, my fellow PDC members, are my family.  I am very grateful. To say that we will miss Anita Zigman is a vast understatement. It is an honor beyond honor to share this award with her,” said Burt Lipshie.