NEW YORK CITY — The Puerto Rican Bar Association, one of the nation’s largest and oldest bar associations dedicated to supporting Puerto Rican and Latinx legal professionals, recently held its annual Scholarship Gala, honoring several in the legal community.
The event, which took place the evening of Sept. 30 at Tribeca Rooftop + 360° on 10 Desbrosses St., drew north of 300 attendees and raised six figures, “Far more than what we’ve raised in the past,” said PRBA President Renier Pierantoni.
Among the honorees was Rowan Wilson, chief judge of the State of New York and the New York Court of Appeals, and Maite Oronoz Rodriguez, chief judge of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Both received the Judiciary Excellence Award.
Wilson told the Brooklyn Eagle that he is humbled by the award and spoke highly of the PRBA.
“They have been a very active bar association for many years, always supported the judiciary and are such a congenial group of people,” Wilson said. “That said, I’m very happy to be here this evening.”
Other awardees included Akerman LLP, which was acknowledged as Law Firm of the Year. Carlos Perez-Hall received the Attorney of the Year award. Corporation of the Year was given to alternative legal services provider Innovative Driven.
New York State Director of Latino Affairs for Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sophia Zayas, received the Carol Robles-Roman Public Service Award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Michael Nieves, president and CEO of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, and DJ Charlie Chase, the godfather of Latino hip-hop, walked away with the Arts and Entertainment Legacy Award.
