Bar Awards

Each year, the New Hampshire Bar Association gives out awards at its Midyear and Annual Member Meetings to recognize outstanding achievement and service among its membership. See the links below to find out more about each award and past recipients. We encourage you to nominate your peers for their accomplishments.

Awards given at the Annual Meeting

To honor the memory of E. Donald Dufresne this award is presented to an attorney that best fits the following:

A professional lawyer is an expert in law

Pursuing a learned art in service to clients and in the spirit of public service;

And engaging in these pursuits as part of a common calling

To promote justice and public good.

2024Bruce Felmly
2023Russell F. Hilliard
2022Pamela E. Phelan
2021Hon. Richard E. Galway
2021Bill Glahn
2019William C. Saturley
2018James J. Tenn, Jr.
2017George Moore
2016R. David DePuy
2015Hon. John Kissinger
2014Eileen Fox
2013Thomas R. Watson
2012Gretchen L. Witt
2011John B. Garvey
2010Christopher M. Keating
2009Graham P. Chynoweth (posthumously at the Midyear Meeting)
2008Peter G. Beeson
2006Emily G. Rice
2005Arpiar G. Saunders
2004Cathy J. Green
2003Frederic K. Upton
2002Dort S. Bigg
2001Randall F. Cooper
2000Arnold R. Falk (posthumously)
1999*William L. Chapman

To honor the memory of Justice William A. Grimes this award is presented to a judge who best reflects the highest standards of integrity, legal knowledge and ability, judicial temperament, diligence and compassion.

2024Hon. David King
2023Superior Court Chief Justice Tina L. Nadeau
2022Hon. M. Kristin Spath
2021Master Thomas G. Cooper
2019Chief Justice Robert J. Lynn
2018Hon. Gillian L. Abramson
2017Justice Carol Ann Conboy
2016Hon. J. Michael Deasy
2015Hon. Pamela D. Albee
2014Hon. Albert Cirone Jr. (retired)
2013Hon. Harold W. Perkins (retired)
2012Hon. Steven Houran
2011Hon. Paul Moore
2010Chief Justice John T. Broderick
2009Hon. Pamela D. Kelly
2008Hon. Raymond A. Cloutier
2007Hon. Joseph A. DiClerico, Jr.
2006Hon. Martha W. Copithorne (Marital Master ret.)
2005Hon. Paul H. Lawrence
2004Hon. John R. Maher
2003Hon. Patricia C. Coffey, Hon. Carol Ann Conboy, Hon. Kathleen A. McGuire and Hon. Robert E.K. Morrill
2002NH Supreme Court Bench: Hon. David A. Brock, Chief Justice, Hon. John T. Broderick, Jr., Hon. Joseph P. Nadeau, Hon. Linda S. Dalianis and Hon. James E. Duggan
2001Hon. Gerald F. Giles
2000Master Peter J. Bourque
1999*Hon. Walter L. Murphy

This award is presented to the nominee who best exhibits service to the legal profession.

2024Richard Guerriero
2023Thomas Quarles
2022Mitchell M. Simon
2021David H. Bradley
2019Jennifer A. Eber
2018Wilfred “Jack” Sanders, Jr.
2017Charles Douglas
2016Justice Carol Ann Conboy
2015John Burwell Garvey
2014Mary Searles
2013James R. Starr
2012Philip Waystack
2011Robert A. Wells
2010John B. Andrews
2009Charles A. DeGrandpre
2008Gretchen L. Witt
2007Hon. John R. Maher (retired)
2006John F. Bomster
2005Michael S. DeLucia
2004Edward H. Adamsky
2003Robert C. Varney
2002Bruce W. Felmly
2001Howard J. Zibel
1999William S. Harrold; John C. Norton
1998Richard Y. Uchida
1997Andrew D. Dunn
1996Hon. William F. Batchelder
1994Stephen L. Tober; Linda S. Paquette
1993Paul W. Chant
1992Nashua Bar Association, Donald E. Mitchell & Deskbook Committee
1991Edward B. Mulligan, IV
1990Jack B. Middleton, Senator Warren B. Rudman

This award is presented to the nominee who best exhibits service to the legal profession.

Awards given at the Midyear Meeting

Instituted in 1998 to honor the memory of Vickie M. Bunnell “A Country Lawyer” and to applaud the community spirit that is a hallmark of our profession this award is presented to an attorney from a small firm (four or fewer attorneys) who has exhibited dedication and devotion to community by giving of their time and talents, legal or otherwise.

2025Tony Naro
2024Ines Cristina Rousseau
2023Chrissy Hanisco
2022Martha M. Jacques
2021Bernard H. Campbell
2020Jack P. Crisp, Jr.
2019Kimberly A. Weibrecht
2018H. Alfred Casassa
2017Robert C. Varney
2016Roger Phillips
2015James Gleason
2014Jonathan Frizzell
2013Christopher T. Regan
2012James Noucas
2011George C. “Kit” Carter
2010Quentin J. Blaine
2008Solo & Small Firm Attorneys
2007Matthew Lahey
2006Mary L. Wade
2005David D. King
2004Katherine B. Stearns
2003Vicki S. Roundy
2002Paul D. Desjardins
1999Gerard J. Boyle
1998Ignatius MacLellan

This award is presented to the nominee who best exhibits service to the public on behalf of the administration of justice.

2025The NH Public Defender
2024Helen G. Honorow, William Henry Barry III
2023Sarah T. Blodgett
2022Gilles R. Bissonnette
2021Howard J. Zibel
2020Barbara R. Keshen
2019Janet F. DeVito
2018Chief Justice Linda Stewart Dalianis
2017Hon. Joseph Laplante
2016Judge Joseph DiClerico
2015Judge Edward “Ned” Gordon
2014Gordon J. MacDonald
2013Margaret H. Nelson
2012Roland Morneau
2011Charles Greenhalgh
2010Jack B. Middleton, David L. Nixon, Kimon S. Zachos
2009Carol L. Kunz
2008Rule 170 Volunteers
2007Paul S. Moore
2006John C. Norton
2005Military (active) members of NHBA
2003Members of the Judicial Selection Commission: Atty. Ken Brown, Atty. John Dwyer, Atty. Fred Hall, Atty. Katherine Hanna, Chair, Ms. Kathy Keller, Atty. Marilyn McNamara, Atty. Diane Nicolosi, Ms. Marcia Sink, Mr. William Walker, Atty. Phil Waystack, Chief William Wrenn
2002W. John Funk
1999Hon. Robert D. Marshall
1998Thomas B.S. Quarles
1996Hon. William Batchelder

This award is presented to a member of the New Hampshire Bar, or an organization employing eligible members, with at least five years of service in government, military, law enforcement, or public interest law services (including prosecution, public defense, legal advocacy in low-income communities or for individuals with disabilities at a nonprofit organization), or at another nonprofit organization. 

2025Paul A. Halvorsen
2024K. Allen Brooks, Anna Zartler Krasinski
2023Melissa L. Davis
2022Cordell Johnston
2021Lucy C. Hodder
2020Kay E. Drought
2020Lisa L. Wolford
2019Lynne J. Clay
2018Besty Paine
2017Maureen F. O’Neil
2016Dorothy Graham
2015Joseph Malfitani
2014Jeffrey Strelzin
2013Alan Linder
2012Barbara Keshen
2011Marshall Buttrick
2010Cheryl A. Sessions
2009B. Randy Hawkes*
2009James E. Fender*

This award is presented by our Gender Equality Committee honoring Judge Hollman’s efforts as a stalwart advocate for gender equality in the legal system. Awarded to the recipient who has taken initiative in matters of gender equality and has been a role model exhibiting dedication to promoting respect and fair treatment toward all members of the judicial system.

2025Emily Gray Rice
2024Kathleen C. Peahl
2023Hon. Susan B. Carbon
2022Lindsay E. Nadeau
2021Hon. Landya B. McCafferty
2020Christina A. Ferrari
2019Holly B. Haines
2018Joni N. Esperian
2017Joseph Keefe
2016Sherry Young
2015Jaye L. Rancourt
2014Heather E. Krans
2013Hon. Gillian L. Abramson
2012Hon. Gary E. Hicks
2011Hon. Linda S. Dalianis
2010Jennifer L. Parent
2009Linda S. Paquette
2008Katharine A. Daly
2007Honey Hastings
2006Linda S. Johnson
2005Maureen Raiche Manning
2004NH Public Defender Program

Other Awards

This annual award is presented to the nominee who best exhibits a high degree of professionalism: possesses an outstanding level of job-related knowledge; has motivation that exceeds expectations; is considered a role model for other paralegals; and promotes paralegal work as a profession.

2024 Megan Dillon, NH Legal Assistance
2023 Jessica Gendron, Shaheen & Gordon PA
2022 Laura Maynard, Office of the NH Attorney General, Environmental Protection Bureau
2021 Diane Aikens, Office of Public Guardian
2020 Monica Marcotte, Cleveland, Waters and Bass P.A.
2019 Tricia G. Bell, Atkins Callahan PLLC
2018 Margaret O. Conway, Orr & Reno
2017 Nancy Dorr, McLane Middleton
2016 Priscilla Sleeper, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green
2015 Christine Foley, Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella
2014 Kari Fridley, Niederman Stanzel & Lindsey
2013 Anna McLaughlin, Boutin & Altieri
2012 Stacey Peters, Preti Flaherty
2011 Suzanne Blake, City of Concord Solicitor’s Office
2010 Melissa McNally, Bourque & Associates
2009 Linda Hammond Lewis, Wiggin & Nourie
2008 Candace C. Gebhart, NH Legal Assistance
2007 Anikó Bouley, GoffWilson Professional Association
2006 Renee C. Wormell, Citizens Bank NH
2005 Deborah Snow, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield
2004 Sue Gendron, Hebert & Uchida
2003 Michele Berardo, Orr & Reno
2001 Thomas Van Beaver, Merrimack County Attorney’s Office
2000 Heather Molkentine, Hamblett & Kerrigan
1999 Lorinda Gaillard Monroe, Ransmeier & Spellman
1998 Rebecca L. Myers, Boynton, Waldron, Doleac, Woodman & Scott
1997 Cheryl Meachen, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton
1996 Merry Sweeney, Garner & Minkow
1995 Kathleen Williams-Fortin, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton
1994 Charles A. Barkie, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton
1993 Felicia Bessey, Feeney, Adams & Bennett
1992 Pauline Leman, Wiggin & Nourie
1991* Betty Jean Bailey, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green
2021Virginia A. Martin
2020Eileen Fox
2019Raymond “Ry” Sumner Perry, Jr. (posthumously)
2017David M. Rothstein
2015Hon. John T. Broderick, Jr.
2014John Tobin
2014Foreclosure Relief Project, HomeHelpNH, 2-1-1 NH
2000Richard Gagliuso
2000Nina C. Gardner
1999Jack B. Middleton
1992Tom Rath

Awards no longer given by the NHBA

This award recognizes a NH Bar member and UNH Law alumni member who embodies the values and work of Bruce Friedman, the late founder of the civil practice clinic at the law school and a legend in the world of civil legal services in New Hampshire.

2019 Thomas A. Fredenburg (posthumously)
2018 Kirk C. Simoneau, Nixon, Vogelman Slawsky & Simoneau
2017 Marilyn Mahoney, Harvey & Mahoney PA
2016 Catherine E. Shanelaris, Shanelaris & Schirch PLLC
2015 Jack P. Crisp Jr., The Crisp Law Firm PLLC
2014 Quentin Blaine, Blaine Law Office PLLC
2013 Steven B. Scudder
2012* Marilyn Billings McNamara, Upton & Hatfield

This award was named for Jon Ross in 1988 to recognize his work on the state and national level to mobilize bar leaders to support civil legal services for the poor along with his unsurpassed leadership and dedication to pro bono legal services.

2020Roger B. Phillips
2018Quentin J. Blaine
2017Brian Shaughnessy
2015Marilyn Mahoney
2014Charles Greenhalgh
2013David L. Nixon
2012Pamela Peterson
2011Steven Scudder
2009Richard Y. Uchida
2008Katherine Bucklin Stearns
2007Chief Justice John T. Broderick
2006Patrick T. Hayes
2005Alethea Froburg
2004Michael P. Hall
2003Stephanie A. Bray
2002John C. Norton
2002Sanders & McDermott Law Firm
2000Phil Rader (posthumous)
1999Steven V. Camerino
1998Donald F. Hebert
1997Elliott Berry
1996Marilyn B. McNamara
1995Robert D. Gross
1994Chief Justice David A. Brock & Chief Justice Joseph P. Nadeau
1993Bruce Friedman

*First such award given.

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