NY STATE BAR ASSOCIATION ANTITRUST SECTION HONORS FEDERAL JUDGE PAUL CROTTY AND PROFESSOR HARRY FIRST

ALBANY, NY (01/26/2017)(readMedia)-- The New York State Bar Association's Antitrust Law Section has presented awards to U.S. District Court Judge Paul A. Crotty and New York University School of Law Professor Harry First.

Crotty, a district court judge for the Southern District of New York, has been honored with the section's Distinguished Public Service Award. First was honored with the William T. Lifland Award. They received their awards on January 26 during the Bar Association's Annual Meeting.

The Public Service award is made periodically to someone who has brought distinction to the antitrust bar as a whole by making significant leadership contributions to the public interest.

"Judge Crotty richly deserves to receive the Distinguished Public Service Award," said the Section Chair Michael L. Weiner, of Dechert (New York City). "As a result of his service not only as a United States District Judge, but also as New York City Corporation Counsel, Commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development, and Commissioner of Finance, Judge Crotty is an antitrust lawyer who has contributed in a very meaningful way to the public interest."

Crotty was nominated in 2005 by President George W. Bush to a seat as a district judge in the Southern District. He gained senior status in 2015. Crotty is a former partner at Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine in New York City. In addition to holding several government posts for the City of New York, he served as group president of the New York and Connecticut region for Verizon Communications.

The Lifland Award is made annually to a distinguished antitrust practitioner in honor of his or her contributions and accomplishments in the field of antitrust.

"In recognition of his contributions to antitrust scholarship, his mentorship of generations of antitrust lawyers and law students, and his years of service to the Antitrust Law Section, we are delighted to award the 2017 William T. Lifland Service Award to Professor Harry First," said Weiner.

First is co-director of the Competition, Innovation, and Information Law Program at New York University School of Law. He was twice a Fulbright research fellow in Japan and taught antitrust as an adjunct professor at the University of Tokyo.

From 1999 to 2001, First served as chief of the Antitrust Bureau of the New York State Attorney General's Office. Among the topics he teaches are antitrust, regulated industries, international and comparative antitrust, business crime and innovation policy.

The 72,000-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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