We are pleased to announce that David M. Tang, a partner in the Firm’s Health Care, Litigation, and Creditors’ Rights practice groups, has been named the winner of the 4th Annual Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vanguard Award by the New York State Bar Association Trial Lawyers Section. He received the award during a New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) virtual ceremony and CLE program held on October 3, 2023.
The award, named in honor of the trailblazing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is presented to a trial attorney who has made extraordinary efforts in addressing and raising awareness about issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. To qualify for the award, nominees need to practice substantially as a trial lawyer in state (or federal) courts in New York State, demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and make an impact on the legal community by being a better ally and advocate through mentoring and providing opportunities to others.
David represents and advises clients in business, health care, restructuring, and commercial litigation matters. At Underberg & Kessler, he serves as chair of the Health Care and Creditors’ Rights practice groups, and co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee.
“David is a worthy winner of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vanguard Award,” said Richard Lewis, president of the NYSBA. “He is dedicated to promoting awareness of issues relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion at his firm, in his county bar association, and through his active board service. His clients and colleagues agree that he brings care and attention to everything he does – including his efforts to diversify and mentor the next generation of lawyers and to help his local community.”
In his nomination letter, Underberg & Kessler managing partner Thomas F. Knab wrote, “David’s commitment to diversity in the legal profession, through his roles as past chair of the Monroe County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee and with mentoring programs such as Lawyers for Learning and the Law Explorers Mock Trial Team at School Without Walls, is indicative of the kind of passion he brings to his work and his willingness to invest his time and energy into worthy causes.”
David, who earned his B.A. from Cornell University and his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law, is active in several charitable organizations, consistently lending his leadership in many ways. He is the chair of the board of WXXI Public Broadcasting Council and The Little Theatre, chair of the St. John’s Foundation, a former trustee of the Monroe County Bar Association and a former director on the boards of the Center for Dispute Settlement and Providence Housing Development Corporation, which supports affordable housing in the Finger Lakes region.
In his acceptance speech, David encouraged his colleagues to engage in equity and inclusion work, to continue to invest in others and to guard against the fatigue that sometimes sets in when facing the significant challenge of diversity work. He also shared a quote from the late Justice Ginsburg as a guiding principle, “Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
For more information about the 4th Annual Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vanguard Award, click here to view the NYSBA website.