The President selects the recipient based upon their dedication and commitment to the Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF), volunteer service above and beyond, leadership role in major LBF accomplishments, willingness to volunteer for new projects and assists the President in addressing concerns facing the LBF.
2024 President's Award
Shayna Sonnier
The 2024 President’s Award was given to Shayna Sonnier in recognition of her outstanding support, volunteer service, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) from 2023-24 LBF President Deidre Deculus Robert during the Annual Fellows Membership Meeting on Friday, April 19.
Sonnier, with the Veron Bice Law Firm in Lake Charles, has been a LBF Fellow since 2012. She is the 2023-24 President of the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA). She has served on numerous LBF committees including the Grants Committee, the Domestic Violence Subcommittee, the Development Committee and has been a member of the Southwest Community Partnership Panel for many years. This year, she played a pivotal role in advancing our unique partnership with the LSBA.
President’s Award Caption- 2023-24 LBF President Deidre Robert presents the President’s Award to Shayna Sonnier at the LBF Annual Meeting. Pictured L-R: Deidre Robert and Amanda Brown. (Photo by Patrick Niddrie)
2023 President's Award
David E. Verlander III
The 2023 President’s Award was given to David E. Verlander III in recognition of his outstanding support, volunteer service, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) from 2022-23 LBF President Alan G. Brackett during the Annual Fellows Membership Meeting on Friday, April 21.
Verlander, with the Law Offices of McLeod Verlander in Monroe, has been a LBF Fellow since 1995. He served on the Grants Committee and has been a member of the Northeast Community Partnership Panel for many years and currently serves as chair. This year, he was instrumental in leading the effort to activate the Northeast Louisiana Bar Foundation to establish an organized pro bono project in collaboration with the 4th Judicial District Bar. Mr. Verlander is supporting the LBF mission to preserve, honor, and improve our system of justice by funding, developing or otherwise promoting efforts which enhance the legal profession, increase public understanding of the legal system, and advance the reality of equal justice under the law.
President’s Award Caption-2022-23 President Alan Brackett presents the President’s Award to David Verlander at the LBF Annual Meeting. Pictured L-R: David Verlander and Alan Brackett. (Photo by Patrick Niddrie)
2022 President's Award
Maggie T. Simar
The 2022 President’s Award was given to Maggie T. Simar in recognition of their outstanding support, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) from 2021-22 LBF President Christopher K. Ralston. Maggie has been a LBF Fellow since 2010 and has been a member of the LBF board since 2020. Maggie serves on the membership subcommittee and has been a member of the Acadiana Community Partnership Panel since 2011. Maggie also serves on the Grants Committee as the CPP Subcommittee Chair, working with the nine panels to review funding recommendations. This year, Maggie also worked with the panels to identify potential programs and projects located in areas designated as legal deserts that are eligible for LBF panel funding.
Zebulon M. Winstead
The 2022 President’s Award was given to Zebulon M. Winstead in recognition of their outstanding support, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) from 2021-22 LBF President Christopher K. Ralston.
Zeb has been a LBF fellow since 2006 and has been a board member since 2018. Zeb serves on numerous LBF committees including Development, Grants, Governance and Investment in addition to serving as a member and chair of the Central Community Partnership Panel. He currently chairs the Education committee. Zeb is a generous donor and has been instrumental in working with the LBF to launch the LBF Infinity Fund, created to ensure that the LBF is able to meet staffing and operational expenses, in good economic times and in bad.
2021 President's Award
Alan G. Brackett
Alan G. Brackett, the managing member of Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett in New Orleans, received the prestigious Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) President’s Award from 2020-21 LBF President Harry J. “Skip” Philips, Jr.
The 2021 President’s Award was given to Brackett in recognition of his outstanding support, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Brackett has been a LBF Fellow since 2001 and has served for many years on the LBF Greater Orleans Community Partnership Panel. He has served as a member on the Grants, Development, Gala, and Communications Committees. He is a current member of the LBF Board of Directors and was recently inducted as the 2021-22 vice-president.
2020 President's Award
Harry J. “Skip” Philips, Jr.
Harry J. “Skip” Philips, Jr., a partner in the law firm of Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips, L.L.P. in Baton Rouge received the prestigious Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) President’s Award from 2019-20 LBF President Amanda W. Barnett.
The 2020 President’s Award was given to Philips in recognition of his outstanding support, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Philips has been a LBF Fellow since 1997, has served on many LBF committees over the years including Building, Grants, Budget, Communications, and Investment. He is a current member of the LBF Board of Directors and was recently inducted as the 2020-21 president. He is dedicated to advancing the LBF goals of funding civil legal aid and promoting access to justice.
2019 President's Award
Alan G. Brackett
Mike Street, 2018-19 LBF President, presented the President’s Award to Alan G. Brackett at the Annual Fellows Membership Meeting at the Annual Assembly on April 5, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. The President’s Award was given to Brackett in recognition of his outstanding support, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Brackett has been a LBF Fellow since 2001, has served on several LBF committees over the years including Grants, Development and the Gala as well as a chair of a community partnership panel. He is a current member of the LBF Board of Directors and was recently inducted as the 2019-20 secretary. He is dedicated to advancing the LBF goals of funding civil legal aid and promoting access to justice.
2018 President's Award
Dona K. Renegar
Valerie Briggs Bargas, 2017-18 LBF President, presented the prestigious President’s Award to Dona K. Renegar at the LBF Annual Fellows Membership Meeting during the Annual Assembly April 20, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. The President’s Award was given to Renegar in recognition of her outstanding support, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. She is currently the President of the Louisiana State Bar Association and has been a LBF fellow since 2000, served on several LBF committees, chaired a Grants subcommittee for many years and has served on the LBF Board of Directors. The recipient is dedicated to advancing the LBF goals of funding civil legal aid and promoting access to justice. She does this every day through her leadership on the LSBA Board of Governors, with the Louisiana Access to Justice Commission and the Louisiana Bar Foundation Board.
2017 President's Award
Donna C. Cuneo and Chuck Davoli
Donna C. Cuneo and Chuck Davoli each received the prestigious Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) President’s Award from 2016-17 LBF President E. Jane Sherman. Cuneo was presented with the award at the LBF Annual Fellows Membership Meeting during the Annual Assembly April 21, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Davoli was presented with the award at the Baton Rouge Bar Workers’ Comp Section Annual Kids’ Chance Fundraiser in Baton Rouge on May 12.
The President’s Award was given to Cuneo in recognition of her outstanding support, dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Cuneo has served the LBF for 22 years, the last 15 as it’s Executive Director.
The President’s Award was given to Davoli in recognition of his outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Davoli was instrumental in bringing the Kids’ Chance Scholarship Program to Louisiana in 2004 and served on the LBF Kids’ Chance committee for 12 years. This year, Davoli led a special effort to have Governor John Bel Edwards officially proclaim Louisiana Kids’ Chance Awareness week.
2016 President's Award
Christopher K. Ralston
H. Minor Pipes III, 2015-16 LBF President, presented the prestigious President’s Award to Christopher K. Ralston at the LBF Annual Fellows Membership Meeting during the Annual Assembly April 8, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.
The President’s Award is given in recognition of outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Ralston serves on the LBF Board of Directors in addition to several LBF committees. He dedicates countless hours and is always willing to assist with new initiatives. He recently served as co-chair of the 30th Anniversary Gala, his fourth year doing so. He is also on the Development committee, and has accepted appointments to many other ad hoc committees the past year. Ralston is a partner in Phelps Dunbar LLP’s New Orleans office.
2015 President's Award
Harry J. “Skip” Philips, Jr.
Hon. C. Wendell Manning, 2014-15 LBF President, presented the prestigious President’s Award to Harry J. “Skip” Philips at the LBF Annual Fellows Membership Meeting during the Annual Assembly May 1, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. The President’s Award is given in recognition of outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Philips is a longtime Fellow, serves on several LBF committees and dedicates countless volunteer hours. He is currently a member of the Campaign committee and has been a Grants committee member since 2008, chairing the LSC subcommittee. This year, he was instrumental in planning and facilitating our grantee board trainings that were designed to strengthen grantee leadership and improve our legal aid network. Philips is the managing partner at Taylor Porter Law Firm in Baton Rouge.
2014 President's Award
Bennett L. Politz and E. Jane Sherman
LBF President Leo C. Hamilton presented the prestigious President’s Award to Bennett L. Politz and E. Jane Sherman at the LBF Annual Fellows Membership Meeting during the Annual Assembly April 11, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. The President’s Award is given in recognition of outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication and advancement of the mission and goals of the LBF. Sherman and Politz have co-chaired the LBF development committee, leading the efforts of the “Louisiana Campaign to Preserve Civil Legal Aid”.
2013 President's Award
Christopher K. Ralston
During the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s Annual Fellows Membership Meeting, Christopher K. Ralston of Phelps Dunbar, LLP, was presented the President’s Award by Patricia A. Krebs, 2012-2013 LBF President. This award is given in recognition of outstanding support, volunteer service, dedication, and the advancement of the mission and goals of the LBF. Ralston served this year and last year as co-chair of the gala and he currently co-chairs a Development subcommittee.
2012 President's Award
Michelle Sorrells
Michelle Sorrells of Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens LLC in Baton Rouge, was presented the President’s Award by Mathile Abramson, LBF President prior to the LBF Gala, April 20. This award is given in recognition of outstanding support, volunteer service, dedication and the advancement of the mission and goals of the LBF. In addition to serving on the Fellows Gala committee for two years, she helped organize two special fundraisers through the Baton Rouge Bar’s Workers’ Comp section that raised money for the LBF Kids’ Chance Scholarship Program.
2011 President's Award
Leo C. Hamilton
Leo C. Hamilton, a partner of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson LLP in Baton Rouge, is the recipient of the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s (LBF) prestigious President’s Award. Hamilton was selected by Herschel Richard in recognition of his outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication to the mission and goals of the LBF. This past year he served on the LBF Board of Directors as Secretary and as the board liaison and chair of the Editorial committee.
Hamilton practices in the areas of labor and employment law, administrative law, constitutional law, and governmental relations. He received his BA from LSU and his JD from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
2010 President's Award
Mathile W. Abramson
Mathile W. Abramson, a partner of Kean Miller Hawthorne D’Armond McCowan & Jarman LLP in Baton Rouge, is the recipient of the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s (LBF) prestigious President’s Award. Abramson was selected by Drew Ranier in recognition of her outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication to the mission and goals of the LBF. This past year she served on the LBF Board of Directors as Treasurer and as the board liaison and chair of the Budget/Investment Committee and the Grants Committee.
Abramson practices in the areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution. She has served as Judge Pro Tempore of Division “D”, 23rd Judicial District Court. She works with clients in a wide variety of litigation and mediation matters. Her general practice includes gaming, asbestos, toxic tort, municipal, personal injury, contract, commercial and construction litigation. Recently, she has assisted clients in cases involving complex contract disputes, municipal litigation, wrongful death, RICO, employment law and zoning. She attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, earned her B.A. from Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University and her J.D. from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
2009 President's Award
Elwood F. Cahill, Jr.
Elwood F. Cahill, Jr., a founding partner of the law firm Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert in New Orleans is the recipient of the Louisiana Bar Foundation President’s Award. 2008-09 LBF President Marc T. Amy presented the award to Cahill at the LBF Annual Fellows Meeting in Sandestin, Florida in June. Cahill was selected in recognition of his outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication to the mission and goals of the LBF.
Cahill, a Fellow since 1987, has served as chair the IOLTA Banking Committee, the Budget/Investment Committee, the Grants Committee and as president in 2007-08. He also had the privilege of serving as the attorney representing the Foundation on a pro bono basis in the original acquisition, financing and renovation of the Louisiana Bar Center in 1987-89. He is actively involved with many professional, civic, charitable and trade organizations, including sitting on the Governing Council of the American Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and on the Executive Committee (as 3rd Vice-President) of the New Orleans Bar Association, as well as a Member of the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates. Cahill is also a member of the Board of Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.
2008 President's Award
Marta-Ann Schnabel
Marta-Ann Schnabel is the recipient of the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s (LBF) prestigious President’s Award. Schnabel was selected by Elwood F. Cahill, Jr., 2007-08 LBF President in recognition of her outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication to the mission and goals of the LBF. For the past three years she has actively served on the LBF Board and was instrumental in helping the Foundation work toward achieving rate comparability serving on various committees and as the liaison between the LBF and LSBA Boards.
Schnabel is a member of the firm of O’Bryon & Schnabel, PLC. In her years of practice, she has primarily represented clients in business, commercial and insurance litigation involving a wide variety of issues, including construction, products liability, professional malpractice and employment matters. She has been active in bar and community service for a number of years. She was the first woman to serve as President of the Louisiana State Bar Association when she was sworn into office in June of 2006. She is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, with a B.A. Honours in History and she received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University School of Law.
2007 President's Award
Mathile W. Abramson
Mathile W. Abramson of Baton Rouge is the recipient of the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s (LBF) prestigious President’s Award. Abramson was selected by John W. “Jock” Scott, 2006-07 LBF President in recognition of her outstanding support, volunteer service and dedication to the mission and goals of the LBF. This past year she served on the LBF grants committee, the Grantee Excellence Award Selection Committee, as board liaison for the Annual Fellows Gala and as special liaison for the Community Partnership Panels.
Abramson, a partner of Kean Miller Hawthorne D’Armond McCowan & Jarman LLP, practices in the areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution. She works with clients in a wide variety of litigation and mediation matters. Her general practice includes gaming, asbestos, toxic tort, municipal, personal injury, contract, commercial and construction litigation. Recently, she has assisted clients in cases involving complex contract disputes, municipal litigation, wrongful death, RICO, employment law, and zoning. She attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, earned her B.A. from Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University and her J.D. from Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU.
2006 President's Award
Frank X. Neuner, Jr.
Frank X. Neuner, Jr. of Lafayette was awarded the LBF’s prestigious President’s Award on Thursday, June 8, 2006 in Sandestin, Florida. The award is presented each year to a volunteer attorney who has shown extraordinary commitment and dedication in supporting the mission of the LBF, which is to honor and improve the system of justice by funding and promoting efforts which aid and enhance the legal profession. Neuner was recognized for the leadership he displayed during the unprecedented devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
LBF President, Donna Fraiche of Baton Rouge stated, “Frank was instrumental after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in establishing a legal hot-line which to date has received more than 13,000 calls. This hot-line has provided vital information for victims of the storms and for lawyers in Louisiana. Also, Frank was actively involved in securing grants from various sources which provided funding for disaster related legal services to Louisiana residents. The LBF is forever grateful to Frank for his leadership, sensitivity and call to justice during and after the worst disaster in US history. The partnership between the LSBA and LBF has never been stronger as a result of the commitment of the presidents of these two organizations to address disaster relief efforts.”
Frank is managing partner in the Lafayette firm of Laborde & Neuner. He received a BS degree in 1972 from Louisiana State University and his JD degree in 1976 from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He was admitted to practice in Louisiana in 1976 and in Texas in 1994.
Frank served as Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) president in 2005-06, president-elect in 2004-05 and treasurer in 2002-04. He served on the LSBA Board of Governors from 1997-99 and in the House of Delegates from 1980-96. He is a past chair and current member of the LSBA Professionalism and Quality of Life Committee. He is currently serving as a Louisiana delegate of the American Bar Association House of Delegates. He received the Isaac Hecht Award in 2004 from the National Client Protection Organization.
In January 2006, he was honored by the LSBA with its Professionalism Award for his dedicated service in assisting the bench and bar in re-establishing the rule of law in the storm-affected areas of Louisiana and for his successful efforts in assisting the lawyers of Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute and the Maritime Law Association of the United States. He is a Fellow of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. He is a past president and board member of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association and the Lafayette Parish Bar Foundation. He served as the 2005 co-chair of the Lafayette Outreach for Civil Justice campaign. He serves on the Council of the Louisiana State Law Institute, is a team leader and past president of the Acadiana Inn of Court, and has served on the Louisiana Supreme Court’s Committee on the Prevention of Lawyer Misconduct.
2005 President's Award
Suzanne M. Jones
Suzanne M. Jones was selected by 2004-05 LBF President David F. Bienvenu based on her dedication and commitment to the LBF, volunteer service, leadership role in major LBF accomplishments, willingness to volunteer for new projects and assistance in addressing concerns facing the LBF.
Jones has been an active participant on various committees since she became a Fellow in 1991. She served as president from 2000-02; vice president from1998-2000; the first LBF Kids’ Chance Scholarship chair from 2002-03; and as Annual Dinner chair in 2004 and 2005.
Jones graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge, and received her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans. Currently she is with Young, Richaud & Meyers in Metairie.
Besides being very active with the LBF, Jones has participated in multiple professional associations, including Louisiana State Bar Association’s (LSBA) Young Lawyers Section, Member Services and Access to Justice; Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers; Lafayette Parish Bar Association; American Bar Association; Access to Justice; The Pro Bono Project; Covington Bar Association; Louisiana Lawyers for Life and Council for a Better Louisiana. Jones is also the recipient of the Loyola University School of Law, Gillis Long Poverty Law Center, Public Service Award.
2004 President's Award
Marilyn C. Maloney
The Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) presented the 2004 President’s Award to Marilyn C. Maloney at its Annual Breakfast Meeting on Thursday, June 10, 2004 in Sandestin, Florida. Marilyn has been a Fellow of the LBF since 1999 and her LBF activities include: Board of Directors since 2002, IOLTA Grants Committee since 1999, Chair of the Bar Center Lease Committee for the past two years and she is currently serving as the Planned Giving Sub-committee Chair of the Resource Development Committee. Ms. Maloney graduated from Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU, where she served as an Associate Editor of the Law Review and was selected for Order of the Coif. She joined Liskow & Lewis immediately after graduation. Her practice is concentrated in corporate and commercial matters including real estate, construction lending, corporate trust, intellectual property and secured transactions. Besides being a Fellow of the LBF she is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and she actively serves on many city, state and national organizations. Marilyn is a regular speaker at LSBA, LSU and ABA continuing education seminars. She is married to Rev. Paul F. Longstreth and they have two children, Paul David and Kimberly.
2003 - 2001 President's Award
2003- Cyrus J. Greco
2002- Charles S. Weems III
2001- Harry S. Hardin III
*Deceased
