Legends in the Law

Legends in the Law

The "Legends in the Law Award" goes to an outstanding corporate general counsel whose corporation or business had gross revenues which exceeded $1 Billion in 2009

To complete an application, please fill out the online form located below. Instructions and details can be found at that page.

• Legends in the Law Nomination Form

In 2009, The Burton Awards named nine "Legends in Law" in the category of General Counsel. The awards were presented at the Library of Congress, in Washington, D.C., on June 15th. Nominations were received from Managing Partners in the top 1,000 law firms. The winners, who were all from corporations with revenues in excess of $1 Billion dollars or more, are:

Stanley F. Baldwin. General Counsel- AMERIGROUP Corporation
Nominated by Williams Mullen

James J. Bender. General Counsel- The Williams Companies, Inc.
Nominated by Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C.

Bart J. Colli. General Counsel- ARAMARK Corporation
Nominated by Cozen O'Connor

Brackett B. Denniston III. General Counsel- General Electric Company
Nominated by Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

Michael Ettinger. General Counsel- Henry Schein, Inc.
Nominated by Proskauer Rose LLP

George J. Lykos. Chief Legal Officer- Bayer Corporation
Nominated by Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP

Charles W. Matthews. General Counsel- Exxon Mobil Corporation
Nominated by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Teri P. McClure. General Counsel- United Parcel Service, Inc.
Nominated by Morrison & Foerster LLP

Linda V. Tiano. General Counsel- Health Net, Inc.
Nominated by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

The selection was made on the following criteria: reputation in both the legal profession and as a proven authority in a specialized area of law; background and experience; complexity and scope of matters handled; global or national importance of issues confronted; and proven and exemplary leadership.

The 2009 "Legends in Law" awards were judged by William C. Burton, founder and chairman of the program. Mr. Burton was a former Vice President of Continental Insurance and in this position had over 15 years of experience in a General Counsel's Office dealing with corporate affairs. In commenting on the award winners, Mr. Burton said: "Each of the leaders selected are preeminent in their specialized fields of law. We applaud their careers and their accomplishments. They deserve the accolades and the attention that will be paid to them, and the special designation that will be conferred."

This year, the organization celebrates its eleventh year. The Burton Awards Honorary Board of Directors includes federal appellate judges, state court judges, professors of law from the finest law schools in America and leading partners in the largest law firms. Judge Richard A. Posner of the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals and Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals serves on the board as well as Carol Corrigan, who sits on the Supreme Court of California.