Lifetime Achievement Award for Michael Bamberger

Lifetime Achievement Award for Michael Bamberger

More years ago than I care to consider, I attended my first meeting of what was then the Committee on Partnerships and Unincorporated Business Entities (today it is the Committee on LLCs, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities).  The meeting was in November, and was held in the Ritz Carlton in Washington D.C.  Knowing nothing of the protocol I arrived early and found myself alone in a basement conference room.

After awhile a distinguished looking gentleman arrived, and he took the seat next to me.  He turned to introduce himself, saying “Hi, I’m Michael Bamberger.”  At that point I knew I was way outside my weight class; Michael was a known expert in the law of LLCs, having considered cutting edge topics such as the status of an LLC doing business in a foreign jurisdiction that did not have LLCs.  Such was my introduction to the ABA Committee I now consider a second home.

Since then, in recognition of his work in the field, Michael has received the Martin I. Lubaroff Award. Most recently, in recognition of all he has done “toiling in the vineyards of the law,” he has received a lifetime achievement award from the New York Law Journal.  Following is the announcement circulated in Denton’s, Michael’s firm:

Congratulations to Michael Bamberger on being recognized as Lifetime Achievement Award honoree by the New York Law Journal. Michael is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading First Amendment authorities.

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors those who have made an impact on the legal community and the practice of law over an entire career. With more than 40 years of experience, Michael has dedicated his career to the importance of free speech and has a broad background in constitutional law, intellectual property, media law, corporate law, securities law and business law. He has defended publishers in defamation actions; has counseled publishers and other media clients in their review of potentially defamatory and infringing material; and has published widely in the field.

A tireless volunteer, Michael has provided pro bono legal service to nonprofits such as the Center for Jewish History and the Leo Baeck Institute. For more than 25 years, he has served as pro bono general counsel of the Tourette Association of America. As a result of his work, Michael was named the inaugural honoree of the American Booksellers Association's Joyce Meskis Free Speech Award, which honors those "who have provided extraordinary service in defense of the First Amendment rights of booksellers and their customers,” as well as awards from the Freedom to Read Foundation of the American Library Association and the Book Industry Study Group.

Michael is also a scholar of limited liability companies and partnerships, and has taught the subject at both Cardozo Law School and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He has been active on committees of the American, New York State, NY City and NY County bar associations, including serving as chair of the ABA committees on technology and intellectual property and on security interest and intellectual property, and the NY City Bar committee on civil rights.

            I of course add my congratulations to this beyond well-earned recognition, and I count myself lucky to know Michael Bamberger.