Nominate a Colleague for the Special Recognition Award
Note: Nominations are now closed. Learn about the recipients below.
The Workers’ Compensation Section is pleased to announce that we are soliciting nominations for the Special Recognition Awards. There are four separate award categories. Each has similar nomination/selection criteria. Please see below for more information.
What are the award categories?
Attorney Nominations
Knowledge of the law, professional courtesy, community service, professionalism, recent contributions to the practice of workers’ compensation, service to client, and advocacy skills. Traditionally, an award has been conferred on an Applicants’ Attorney and a Defense Attorney.
Judicial Nominations
Knowledge of the law, temperament, courtesy, timeliness of decisions, judicial integrity, clarity of decisions, community service, professionalism, contribution to the practice of workers’ compensation, and availability to the parties.
Lifetime Achievement Nominations
Knowledge of the law, community service, professionalism, and significant lifetime contributions to the practice of workers’ compensation.
New Lawyer Nominations
For the Young Lawyer award, please limit your nomination to a lawyer who has been in practice for five years of less, or who is 35 years of age or younger.
Congratulations to our 2025 Award Recipients
Congratulations to our award recipients:
- New Lawyer of the Year: Alicia Villanueva
- AA of the Year: Maria Grasso, Boxer Law
- DA of the Year: John Kamin
- Judge of the Year: Honorable Paul Maynard DeWeese
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Honorable Adoralida “Dora” Padilla
New Lawyer of the Year: Alicia Villanueva
AA of the Year: Maria Grasso, Boxer Law
DA of the Year: John Kamin
Judge of the Year:
Honorable Paul Maynard DeWeese
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Honorable Adoralida “Dora” Padilla