Kutak Rock partner Marc Lieberman has been awarded the 2021 Award of Excellence from the Scottsdale Bar Association (SBA) for his noteworthy contributions to the legal community.
The annual award is given to an individual, who either resides or works in Scottsdale, for outstanding service to the legal community which includes service that impacts the administration of justice, such as pro bono work; service to the legal profession, such as service on law-related boards or commissions; and service to community organizations.
Mr. Lieberman will receive the award at the SBA’s Summer Social event on August 19, 2021.
For the last five years, Mr. Lieberman has served on the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, involved in hearings that determined whether an applicant meets the ethical standards necessary to be admitted to the State Bar of Arizona. He has held pro bono positions throughout his career, including as Judge Pro Tempore on the Arizona Court of Appeals, and as Chair of the Anti-Defamation League (Arizona Regional Board) and the ADL Civil Rights Committee (Arizona Chapter), among many others.
Kutak Rock partner Mark Lasee nominated Mr. Lieberman for the award, writing, “Throughout Marc’s 38-year legal career, his contribution to the legal community has been exemplary. Out of all his work, of greatest impact was Marc’s efforts in the successful passage of Arizona’s hate crimes law. The law grants judges the discretion to levy enhanced sentences upon those committing crimes for discriminatory reasons. Marc authored the bill and, despite strident opposition for many years from the legislature, Marc was able shepherd it through the legislature and the governor’s office, with the help of a large coalition of civil rights groups and law enforcement officials. Given Marc’s continuing and consistent efforts over his career in the service to the legal profession and the administration of justice, I am honored to nominate him for this recognition, which I believe to be richly deserved.”
As Chair of the firm’s Institutional Investments Group, Mr. Lieberman’s practice focuses on the representation of institutional investors in connection with their alternative investments.