At this year’s Annual Meeting Luncheon, the Boston Bar Association (BBA) will present Edward J. Barshak, partner at Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen and past President of the BBA, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Barshak served as President of the BBA from 1974-1976, during which time he worked to start productive dialogue about how the Association and lawyers generally should weigh in on community and political issues of importance to Boston, and how the BBA could become more involved in public affairs. He actively addressed problems in the profession and in Boston where he felt the legal community could make a substantive difference, such as the busing crisis, for which he led the BBA in educating the public about desegregation and busing and created a new committee to plan what the BBA and lawyers could do about the issue.

During his presidency, Barshak was deeply invested in developing the equal and fair administration of justice. He made legal services a top priority, and under his leadership the BBA launched the Action Plan for Legal Services study and established the Legal Advocacy Resource Center in 1972. Additionally, he led the BBA in a call for a comprehensive review of the judicial nominating process, which resulted in the formation of the Judicial Nominating Committee by Governor Dukakis.

“Edward Barshak skillfully guided the Boston Bar Association to become an institution that is a respected and reputable leader in the Boston community,” said BBA President-Elect Julia Huston. “His work in the profession as an expert trial lawyer and as a steadfast advocate for legal services makes him a role model for all, and this award is truly deserved.”

At Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen, Barshak is the firm’s senior trial attorney. He specializes in the trial of complex, multi-party business disputes, professional liability and product liability claims at the trial and appellate levels. He has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and is widely considered as one of premier business litigators in Massachusetts.

Join us for the award presentation at the Annual Meeting Luncheon, which will take place on September 12 at the Westin Copley Hotel.