JUDGE A. GAIL PRUDENTI RECEIVES FULD AWARD FROM COMMERCIAL AND FEDERAL LITIGATION SECTION

ALBANY, NY (01/29/2015)(readMedia)-- The Commercial and Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association has recognized Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti with its 2015 Stanley H. Fuld Award.

The award, named for the late chief judge of the state Court of Appeals, was presented on January 28 during the Bar Association's Annual Meeting in New York City. It is awarded for outstanding contributions to the development of commercial law and jurisprudence in New York.

Prudenti has led the court's efforts to promulgate new rules to promote active case management, settlement and streamlined discovery.

"Judge Prudenti has helped New York's Commercial Division convey a clear message to the business community that it is committed to being a leader in the resolution of commercial disputes," said Paul D. Sarkozi (Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt), chair of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section.

Prudenti has been chief administrative judge of the Courts of New York State since Dec. 1, 2011, overseeing the administration and operation of the statewide court system. Prior to her appointment, she served as the presiding justice of the Appellate Division for the Second Department, the first woman to hold that position. She also was the first woman from Suffolk County to serve as an associate justice of the Appellate Division for the Second Department.

Past recipients of the Stanley H. Fuld award include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, former state Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, former state Chief Administrative Judge Ann T. Pfau and last year's winner U.S. District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin of the Southern District of New York

The 74,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in 1876.

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