Kramer Levin’s Jeffrey S. Trachtman to Receive NYC Bar Association Award for Service to LGBT Community

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP is pleased to announce that Jeffrey S. Trachtman will be presented with the Arthur S. Leonard Award for distinguished service on behalf of the LGBT Community at the City Bar Association’s annual reception celebrating LGBT Pride Month on June 24. The Award, named for the distinguished law professor and scholar of LGBT rights, is given annually to two members of the bar selected by the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights.

Trachtman, a Partner in the Litigation Department who specializes in bankruptcy and mass tort cases, served for 17 years as Chair of Kramer Levin’s Pro Bono Committee and has maintained an active pro bono practice since joining the firm in 1986. The City Bar award recognizes his work in the area of LGBT rights dating back nearly 20 years.

Most notably, Trachtman served as lead co-counsel with Lambda Legal Defense in Hernandez v. Robles, the historic 2006 case seeking equal marriage rights under the New York constitution. The case resulted in one of the first decisions upholding marriage equality, and while that decision did not survive appeal, the public education impact of the case encouraged the New York Assembly to pass a marriage equality bill within a year, an important step towards full passage in 2011. In related work, Trachtman led a Kramer Levin team that co-counseled with Lambda Legal in a series of cases establishing recognition under New York law for the valid out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples – precedent that established standing as a surviving spouse for Edie Windsor, plaintiff in the case striking down a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act last year.

Trachtman also led Kramer Levin teams that submitted important amicus briefs in a series of historic Supreme Court cases, including Dale v. Boy Scouts of America, Lawrence v. Texas, Windsor v. United States, and Perry v. Hollingsworth. Kramer Levin has submitted an updated version of the Perry and Windsor briefs – addressing the growing support for marriage equality among mainstream religions – in several of the marriage cases now pending in federal appellate courts across the country. Earlier, Trachtman represented the lesbian survivor of a 9/11 victim in establishing her right to share in her partner’s Victims’ Compensation Fund award. Trachtman also serves as point person for Kramer Levin’s pro bono general counsel relationships with the LGBT Community Center and Freedom to Marry.

“Kramer Levin is proud of Jeff’s accomplishments as a leader in pro bono work on behalf of the LGBT community,” said Kramer Levin’s Managing Partner, Paul Pearlman. “It reflects a commitment to diversity and equality that is a bedrock value of our firm, and indeed our involvement in service to the community dates back to the founding of GMHC in 1981. Jeff has helped us build on that commitment and to recruit and mentor a generation of outstanding Kramer Levin attorneys who share our values.”

Trachtman has previously received pro bono awards from both the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association for his leadership of Kramer Levin’s pro bono program and involvement in a wide range of civil rights and poverty pro bono work, including his LGBT rights work. The firm has also been recognized for its commitment to LGBT equality by the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation, which is currently co-chaired by Kramer Levin Partner Norman C. Simon, another active participant in the firm’s LGBT rights litigation work.

“I am humbled to receive this award for doing work that has been incredibly fun and rewarding,” said Trachtman. “Kramer Levin was one of the first large firms to enthusiastically embrace LGBT civil rights work and has steadfastly supported me and my colleagues in doing this work over the years. Playing a small part in the tremendous change of the last decade has been a highlight of my career.”

The City Bar Pride reception will be held on Tuesday, June 24 from 6 to 8 PM at the House of the City Bar at 42 W. 44th Street. The event is co-sponsored by the City Bar Justice Center, The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, and the National Association of Women Lawyers.

To register for the free event:

https://services.nycbar.org/iMIS/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=LGBT062414&WebsiteKey=f71e12f3-524e-4f8c-a5f7-0d16ce7b3314