Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Noted Philadelphia Lawyer, Judge To Be Honored 6/27

A dear friend of ours, Dilworth Paxson law firm partner, Nelson A. Diaz will be honored June 27 with The Legal Intelligencer’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Judge Diaz was also featured as the cover 
article in the June edition of Hispanic Executive.

The article “The Man, the Legend, the Lesson” praises Nelson for his successful career as a judge, attorney, human rights activist, and influential leader in the Hispanic community. It discusses Nelson’s poor upbringings as a Hispanic boy living in Harlem and how he rose to where he is today . To read the Hispanic Executive article, click here.

Judge Nelson A. Diaz, a partner of the firm concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation, dispute resolution, public housing issues and government relations. He has represented public entities, corporations, hospitals, banks, and nonprofit organizations in both state and federal Courts. Nelson served as a judge for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1981 through 1993. The Judge reformed a backlog case system and saved 100 million dollars for the city. He was the youngest judge elected to the Court and the first Latino judge in Pennsylvania history. He is also the first Latino to pass the PA Bar and the first to be a partner in an AmLaw 100 firm.

In addition to his legal practice, Nelson served as the city solicitor of Philadelphia and was appointed by President Clinton to be the general counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he focused on reforming public and mixed-use housing programs. Nelson also served as a White House Fellow as special assistant to Vice President Walter Mondale. As a member of the White House Fellows Commission, he has served by appointment, four Presidents, three Governors and six Mayors.

Judge Diaz is also on the board of directors of the Exelon Corporation.

To celebrate its 170th year and to honor the history of the legal profession in Pennsylvania, The Legalidentified some of the most important members of the legal community, individuals who have made distinct impact on the legal profession. The publication says the lawyers selected “represent the best the Pennsylvania legal community has to offer. They have collectively moved forward the legal profession in the state, helped foster the legal education of younger attorneys and stood as examples of some of the best virtues of Pennsylvania attorneys.”

To read more about the awards on The Legal Intelligencer blog, click here. Information about each award recipient was included in the special anniversary magazine and they will all be honored at a celebratory dinner on June 27.

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