The National Law Journal Selects Kenneth Feinberg as 2004 Lawyer of the Year for Handling of 9-11 Victim Compensation

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2004--The National Law Journal(R) today announced the selection of Kenneth Feinberg as its 2004 "Lawyer of the Year" for his oversight of The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, the federal program created to compensate victims, and families of victims, injured or killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks. Feinberg served as Special Master, managing the fund and its negotiations with victims and their families for its entire 33-month life, entirely on a pro bono basis. The editors of the newspaper also named Jeffrey L. Fisher as the runner-up in this year's award program for his role in winning two major U.S. Supreme Court criminal procedure decisions this year for pro bono clients. Profiles of both lawyers headline the year-end December 20th issue of The National Law Journal, available today, and are also online at www.nlj.com and www.law.com.

Feinberg, who successfully mediated some of the most complex mass tort cases in recent history, including the Dalkon Shield, breast implants, asbestos and Agent Orange cases, volunteered for his assignment when the fund was created. He drafted regulations and held more than two dozen often stormy town hall meetings with families, seeking to convince them to relinquish their right to sue and to instead file claims with the fund. Families that were unhappy with an award could appeal and Feinberg personally presided over more than 900 of the 1,600 appeal hearings that took place. Feinberg concluded his work with the delivery of his final report in November, which detailed awards totaling $7 billion and the participation of 97% of the families.

“For almost three years, Kenneth Feinberg served in one of the most difficult and visible jobs imaginable, in roles that ranged from regulator to accountant to psychiatrist”

"For almost three years, Kenneth Feinberg served in one of the most difficult and visible jobs imaginable, in roles that ranged from regulator to accountant to psychiatrist," said Rex Bossert, editor in chief of the NLJ. "Over that time, he gained the respect of even many of his harshest and most public critics. Although a lawyer by training, his commitment to the principles of alternative dispute resolution played a central part in his success and in our decision to name him as the 2004 Lawyer of the Year."

Fisher, a 34-year-old associate at a Seattle law firm, roiled the worlds of criminal procedure and sentencing when the U.S. Supreme court ruled in his clients' favor in two separate cases this year. Interested in committing pro bono time to people and causes that lacked a ready advocate, Fisher actively sought out both his clients, based on their pending appellate cases that offered significant constitutional questions. The impact of Blakely and Crawford, as the cases are known, continues to be felt by both prosecutors and defense attorneys across the country.

Founded in 1978, The National Law Journal has the largest paid circulation of any weekly publication serving the legal community. The newspaper is published by American Lawyer Media, Inc. (ALM).

Headquartered in New York City, ALM is a leading integrated media company, focused on the legal industry. ALM currently owns and publishes 35 national and regional legal magazines and newspapers, including The American Lawyer(R) and The National Law Journal. ALM's Law.com(R) is the Web's leading legal news and information network. ALM's other businesses include book and newsletter publishing, court verdict and settlement reporting, market research, production of legal trade shows, conferences and educational seminars and distribution of content related to the legal industry. ALM was formed by U.S. Equity Partners, L.P., a private equity fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP. More information on ALM, its business and services is available on the Web at www.americanlawyermedia.com.