Business Law

Message from Christopher Hughes and Soyeun Choi, Co-Chairs of the Business Law Section

September 30, 2025

Business Law Business Law eNews

One of the most enjoyable privileges of serving as Co-Chairs of the CLA Business Law Section is hosting the Roland E. Brandel Lifetime Achievement Award luncheon.

The award generates conversations about legal legends in our history and what our members would consider a lifetime of achievements. As we, Christopher Hughes and Soyeun D. Choi, look forward to our upcoming term as Co-Chairs, we pull from our past sources of inspiration, especially within the BLS. Our paths were paved by the mentorship and generosity of BLS attorneys who helped shape the perspectives and practices of the legal community. These practitioners were present. They tackled everyday questions and unprecedented issues with consistency. They provided encouragement during challenging moments and celebrated successes.

This community approach embodies the best of an American law practice. Our community equips us to manage the tumultuous and ever-changing practice of law and, by extension, the unruliness of life itself. Consider a moment in history. In the Spring of 1854, a corporate attorney received news that the Kansas-Nebraska Act had just passed and that slavery could be legal in every state in the United States. That corporate attorney was horrified at the news and he started taking action. His action led to another action, which led to another action, with each action connected with the actions of our nation’s communities. Nine years later, our country provided a self-educated corporate lawyer from the prairies the platform to give the Gettysburg Address.

Your actions are influential. From the smallest seemingly mundane exchange to a larger sustained effort, you improved our community, strengthening energy that was waning, changing someone’s perspective, or otherwise being a role model for others. Our actions today give rise to the legends of tomorrow. And while we honor historical legends like Lincoln, we do not need to wait for the next Lincoln to lead us. We lead us. We save us. We keep us safe.

Among our communities, some individuals receive awards and, more rarely still, others rise to the type of prominence that merits the construction of monuments. From any perspective though, monuments were never the goal. We take action to help our neighbors, our families, our friends, our community, and our country. We give, we share, we support. No matter our time in history, there is struggle and hardship. But equally true — we are not alone. We are so grateful for the support of the BLS community and welcome your participation and engagement in the next term.

In the meantime, if you are saying to yourself that you are horrified by any number of things that are occurring in this world today, start thinking about what actions you can take, whether they be small or large. And, perhaps, give some thought to the past, present, and future lifetime achievements you may be remembered for.