The Awards Committee is charged with making recommendations for the award of The James M. Dennis Memorial Award and The William Nagle, Jr. Memorial Award. The James M. Dennis Memorial Award shall honor a member or members of the San Mateo County Bar Association for contributions to the profession and to the community at large. The William Nagle, Jr. Memorial Award shall honor a member or members of the San Mateo County Bar Association for service to the San Mateo County Bar Association.
WILLIAM NAGLE, Jr. Memorial Award
Presented in recognition of the attorney whose successful innovations and selfless commitment of time and energy advance the professionalism of the San Mateo County Bar Association.
1992 – Dorothy Wolfe |
1993 – Melvin E. Cohn |
1994 – William L. Nagle |
1995 – P. Terry Anderlini |
1996 – William F. Lanam |
1997 – Robert L. DuRard |
1998 – Carol L. Mittlesteadt |
2002 – Peter G. Riechert |
2004 – Bernard T. Cotter |
2006 – Robert J. Lanzone |
2007 – Cameron Miller |
2008 – Lauren Zorfas |
2009 – Hon. Walter Harrington, Jr. |
2010 – Niall P. McCarthy |
2011 – Adam C. Kent |
2012 – Kristi Cotton Spence |
2013 – Chuck Finney |
2014 – Linda J. Noeske |
2015 – Robert D. Vale |
2016 – No recipient |
2017 – Colleen E. McAvoy (Posthumously) |
2018 – Sadhana “Sandy” Narayan |
2019 – Walter E. Shjeflo, Jr. |
2020 – Sandra McNabb |
2021 – George R. Corey (Posthumously) |
2022 – George W. Wailes | 2023 – William “Bill” Bauld |
JAMES M. DENNIS Memorial Award
Presented in recognition of the attorney whose courage and determination, even in the face of adversity, contributes significantly to justice in the community and raises the ethical standards of the San Mateo County Bar Association.
1992 – Joseph Cotchett |
1993 – Douglas J. Gray |
1994 – Jack Robertson |
1995 – Peter H. Reid |
1996 – Eugene Majeski |
1997 – George R. Corey |
2000 – James P. Fox |
2001 – Board of Directors, |
2004 – Charles M. Riffle |
2005 – Thomas C, Casey III |
2006 – Glenn D. Martin |
2008 – Paul Wendler |
2009 – Charles Dyer |
2011 – Jackie Speier |
2012 – Sheila Purcell |
2013 – Linda M. Gemello |
2014 – Amanda L. Riddle |
2015 – John Summers Blackman |
2016 – No recipient |
2017 – Geoff T. Carr |
2018 – John S. Digiacinto |
2019 – Paul N. McCloskey, Jr. |
2020 – Robert Brady | 2021 – James Kevin Allen & David A. Silberman |
2022 – Shirley E. Gibson (posthumously) |
2023 – Hon. Judge Leland Davis III |
DENNIS L. WOODMAN Memorial Award
Presented in recognition of the Private Defender who heedless of opposition and with ceaseless determination fights for those whose liberty or lives are in peril.
1993 – Philip S. Barnett | 1994 – Geoffrey T. Carr | 1995 – Kathy Jacomb |
1996 – Gordon L. Rockhill | 1997 – David M. Goldstein | 1998 – Peter F. Goldscheider |
1999 – Gary Merritt | 2000 – Richard K. Keyes | 2001 – William R. Johnston |
2002 – Edward C. Pomeroy | 2003 – Richard Halpern | 2004 – Steven L. Schaiman |
2005 – Myra Weiher | 2006 – Patrick S. Concannon | 2007 – Savas Loukedis |
2008 – Charles M. Robinson | 2009 – Dek Ketchum | 2010 – Bonnie Miller |
2011 – Steven A. Chase | 2012 – Connie O’Brien | 2013 – John K. May |
2014 – John A. Halley | 2015 – Jeffrey L. Boyarsky | 2016 – Paul E. DeMeester |
2017 – Kathryn D. Yolken | 2018 – Kevin Nowack | 2019 – John A. Elworth |
2020 – Regina Jett 2023 – Brandon Douglass |
2021 – Mitri Hanania |
2022 – M. Gabriella Guraiib |
LES WILLIAMS Diversity Award
The Les Williams Diversity Award (formally known as the Diversity Award) recognizes an individual or organization who has demonstrated a meaningful and consistent commitment to increasing and maintaining diversity in San Mateo County at all levels of the legal profession.
2011 – Joseph W. Cotchett, Jr. | 2012 – Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley | 2013 – Sadhana “Sandy” Narayan |
2014 – Women Coaches of Mock Trial | 2015 – Les Williams Posthumously | 2016 – Nancy de Ita |
2017 – Susan I. Etezadi | 2018 – George Corey | 2019 – Charles Riffle & Peter Riechert |
2020 – Katrina Logan |
2021 – Ray Buenaventura | 2022 – Amanda L. Riddle |
ELINOR FALVEY Award
Elinor Farvey became the first female president of the San Mateo County Bar Association in 1950. Each year, at the Women Lawyers Spring Judges’ Luncheon, we present the Elinor Falvey Award to a person or organization that advances the interests of women. Nominations are based on: 1. Service to women lawyers practicing in San Mateo County, or law related achievement in San Mateo County, 2. Service to women lawyers in general or law related achievement in general, and 3. Service or achievement in areas of special concern to all women such as equal employment opportunity, domestic violence, child advocacy, child care, education or service to families. To nominate someone please contact the Women Lawyers’ Section Chair.
1986 – Elinor Falvey (posthumous) | 1987 – Hon. Margaret Kemp | 1988 – Hon. Rosemary Pfeiffer |
1989 – Hon. Barbara Mallach | 1990 – Pat Sullivan | 1991 – Battered Women’s Services |
1992 – Schlichter | 1993 – Hon. Linda Gemello | 1994 – Hon. Susan Illston |
1995 – Jackie Speier | 1996 – Lempert | 1997 – No recipient |
1998 – Reichel | 1999 – Lynda Burton | 2000 – Women’s Recovery Association |
2001 – Sor Juana Inez | 2002 – Elaine Tipton | 2003 – Monica Rands |
2004 – Stacey Hawver (Legal Aid of San Mateo County) | 2005 – Barbara Hammerman | 2006 – Linda Noeske |
2007 – CORA | 2008 – Hon. Marta Diaz | 2009 – Regina Deihl of LAPP (Legal Advocates of Permanent Parenting) |
2010 – Vivian Kral | 2011 – Leticia Toledo | 2012 – Nancy de Ita |
2013 – Bay Area Legal Aid | 2014 – Hon. Beth Freeman | 2015 – Hon. Elizabeth Lee |
2016 – Janet Seldon | 2017 – Flora Garcia Sepulveda | 2018 – Jessica L. Rowe |
2019 – Amanda Riddle | 2020 – Hon. Nancy Fineman | 2021 – ADZ Law, LLP |
2022 – Deborah Kemper | 2023 – Lisa Maguire |

Chair: Kathleen Durrans
Aaron, Riechert, Carpol & Riffle
333 Twin Dolphin Dr. Ste. 350 Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 368-4662