Good Afternoon,

As part of IMLA's Annual Conference this year, there will be an awards ceremony to recognize municipal lawyers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. We have many awards that you may feel you or your colleagues are deserving of, but I wanted to be sure you were aware of the below awards!

Intent to Nominate Form Deadline: June 13, 2025
Nomination Form Deadline: July 18, 2025

Click herehttps://imla.org/awards/ to learn more about all awards and to nominate someone today!

Charles S. Rhyne Lifetime Achievement in Municipal Law Award

The Lifetime Achievement in Municipal Law Award is the highest award given by IMLA. The award is not intended to be bestowed in a regular basis, but rather is intended to be a recognition bestowed only occasionally and then only upon a truly uncommon individual. No active solicitation of nominees for the award will be made. Nevertheless, should an IMLA member wish to nominate an individual for receipt of the award, the procedure is provided below.

James H. Epps III Award for Longevity of Service to a Community Award

IMLA established this award to honor the memory of James H. Epps, III by recognizing local government attorneys who have distinguished themselves by years of service to the same community. Jim Epps served his hometown of Johnson City, Tennessee for over 40 years as its attorney. He also served IMLA in many capacities, including as its President. He was a consummate gentleman and was respected for his kindness as well as his legal skill. This award seeks to recognize those local government lawyers who have been able to persevere through changes in government over a period of at least 30 years. This award is a milestone award that recognizes the significant achievement of having the political and legal skills necessary to represent the same community for at least 30 years.

Daniel J. Curtin Young Public Lawyer Award

This award is established to honor the memory of Daniel J. Curtin, Jr. by recognizing a new practitioner who exhibits those qualities that made Dan one of the truly remarkable lawyers working on behalf of public clients. In addition to the traditional qualities of excellence in the practice of law, the award seeks to recognize a public law practitioner who has provided outstanding service to the public and who possesses an exemplary reputation in the legal community, the highest of ethical standards and who revels in maintaining a life that balances a passion for professional excellence and the joy of family and friends. In addition, the award seeks to recognize a person who exhibits qualities of openness and humility coupled with a sincere concern for the interests of others, including the professional development of newer practitioners. The award is authorized by Article VI, Section 6 of the IMLA Bylaws.

Brown, Mulligan, Rocha Distinguished Public Service Award

This award is established to honor a local government attorney for significant and surpassing achievements in the field of local government law occurring or culminating in the previous year.

In the past, this award was known as the Joseph I. Mulligan Distinguished Service Award. The additions of Benjamin Brown and Susan Rocha, however, both reflect IMLA's rich and diverse history as well as its continued recognition and celebration of local government attorneys who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to further the practice of municipal law.

William I. Thornton, Jr. IMLA Faculty Award

IMLA established this award to honor the memory of William I. Thornton, Jr. by recognizing a person dedicated to IMLA and to the practice of local government law and who has participated as a member of the IMLA faculty in helping local government attorneys learn about or reaffirm their knowledge of issues important to their practice of local government law. In addition to the traditional qualities of excellence in the practice of law, the award seeks to recognize a practitioner who has provided outstanding service to the public and who possesses an exemplary reputation in the legal community, the highest of ethical standards and who is devoted to mentoring young lawyers and educating lawyers in local government law.

Brad D. Bailey Assistant City/County Attorney Award

This award is established to honor the memory of Brad D. Bailey, by recognizing an assistant local government attorney who exhibits those qualities that made Brad one of the truly remarkable lawyers working on behalf of public clients. In addition to the traditional qualities of excellence in the practice of law, the award seeks to recognize a public law practitioner who has provided outstanding service to the public and who possesses an exemplary reputation in the legal community, the highest of ethical standards and who revels in maintaining a life that balances a passion for professional excellence and the joy of family and friends. The award is authorized by Article VI, Section 6 of the IMLA Bylaws.

Burk E. (Buck) Delventhal Legal Advocacy Award

This award honors the life and legacy of Burk E. Delventhal, known to all as Buck. Buck served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco for almost 50 years from 1970 to 2019. He carried a legal library in his head and the history of San Francisco and its community in his heart. His distinguished legal career is summarized in the award description on our website. The award recognizes the work of an attorney of an IMLA member in legal advocacy and education who has demonstrated superior professional skills in advancing the interests of the nominee's clients and of local government generally, and who, through litigation, legislative work, and educational efforts, has advanced the health, safety, and welfare of the community or communities the attorney has served.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

IMLA is committed to supporting members who embrace diversity as part of their core values and we are excited to provide a way to recognize the people that are leading these efforts. Diversity covers the variety of cultures, experiences, expertise and viewpoints that offer value in every community and are incorporated into the fabric of every community. Diversity encompasses age, education level, ethnicity and race, gender expression and identity, nationality, national origin, physical and mental ability, religious perspectives, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status and other human differences. By embracing diversity, municipalities and their law departments attract and retain skilled and talented employees dedicated to excellence in providing service to the community and to their clients. Nominations will be accepted for an individual's or a group's efforts, initiatives or programs that promote diversity and inclusion values within their local government, office or community.

[logo]https://imla.org/

[facebook icon]https://www.facebook.com/InternationalMunicipalLawyersAssociation/[twitter icon]https://twitter.com/imlalegal[linkedin icon]https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-municipal-lawyers-association-inc./
Caroline Storer (she/her)
Director of Marketing and Communications
International Municipal Lawyers Association
P: (202) 466-5424 x7104
D: (202) 742-1384
51 Monroe St. Suite 404 Rockville, MD, 20850
Plan Ahead! See IMLA's upcoming eventshttps://imla.org/events/, calls and programming.

Good Afternoon,

As part of IMLA's Annual Conference this year, there will be an awards ceremony to recognize municipal lawyers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. We have many awards that you may feel you or your colleagues are deserving of, but I wanted to be sure you were aware of the below awards!

Nomination Form Deadline: July 18, 2025

Click herehttps://imla.org/awards/ to learn more about all awards and to nominate someone today!

Charles S. Rhyne Lifetime Achievement in Municipal Law Award

The Lifetime Achievement in Municipal Law Award is the highest award given by IMLA. The award is not intended to be bestowed in a regular basis, but rather is intended to be a recognition bestowed only occasionally and then only upon a truly uncommon individual. No active solicitation of nominees for the award will be made. Nevertheless, should an IMLA member wish to nominate an individual for receipt of the award, the procedure is provided below.

James H. Epps III Award for Longevity of Service to a Community Award

IMLA established this award to honor the memory of James H. Epps, III by recognizing local government attorneys who have distinguished themselves by years of service to the same community. Jim Epps served his hometown of Johnson City, Tennessee for over 40 years as its attorney. He also served IMLA in many capacities, including as its President. He was a consummate gentleman and was respected for his kindness as well as his legal skill. This award seeks to recognize those local government lawyers who have been able to persevere through changes in government over a period of at least 30 years. This award is a milestone award that recognizes the significant achievement of having the political and legal skills necessary to represent the same community for at least 30 years.

Daniel J. Curtin Young Public Lawyer Award

This award is established to honor the memory of Daniel J. Curtin, Jr. by recognizing a new practitioner who exhibits those qualities that made Dan one of the truly remarkable lawyers working on behalf of public clients. In addition to the traditional qualities of excellence in the practice of law, the award seeks to recognize a public law practitioner who has provided outstanding service to the public and who possesses an exemplary reputation in the legal community, the highest of ethical standards and who revels in maintaining a life that balances a passion for professional excellence and the joy of family and friends. In addition, the award seeks to recognize a person who exhibits qualities of openness and humility coupled with a sincere concern for the interests of others, including the professional development of newer practitioners. The award is authorized by Article VI, Section 6 of the IMLA Bylaws.

Brown, Mulligan, Rocha Distinguished Public Service Award

This award is established to honor a local government attorney for significant and surpassing achievements in the field of local government law occurring or culminating in the previous year.

In the past, this award was known as the Joseph I. Mulligan Distinguished Service Award. The additions of Benjamin Brown and Susan Rocha, however, both reflect IMLA's rich and diverse history as well as its continued recognition and celebration of local government attorneys who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to further the practice of municipal law.

William I. Thornton, Jr. IMLA Faculty Award

IMLA established this award to honor the memory of William I. Thornton, Jr. by recognizing a person dedicated to IMLA and to the practice of local government law and who has participated as a member of the IMLA faculty in helping local government attorneys learn about or reaffirm their knowledge of issues important to their practice of local government law. In addition to the traditional qualities of excellence in the practice of law, the award seeks to recognize a practitioner who has provided outstanding service to the public and who possesses an exemplary reputation in the legal community, the highest of ethical standards and who is devoted to mentoring young lawyers and educating lawyers in local government law.

Brad D. Bailey Assistant City/County Attorney Award

This award is established to honor the memory of Brad D. Bailey, by recognizing an assistant local government attorney who exhibits those qualities that made Brad one of the truly remarkable lawyers working on behalf of public clients. In addition to the traditional qualities of excellence in the practice of law, the award seeks to recognize a public law practitioner who has provided outstanding service to the public and who possesses an exemplary reputation in the legal community, the highest of ethical standards and who revels in maintaining a life that balances a passion for professional excellence and the joy of family and friends. The award is authorized by Article VI, Section 6 of the IMLA Bylaws.

Burk E. (Buck) Delventhal Legal Advocacy Award

This award honors the life and legacy of Burk E. Delventhal, known to all as Buck. Buck served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco for almost 50 years from 1970 to 2019. He carried a legal library in his head and the history of San Francisco and its community in his heart. His distinguished legal career is summarized in the award description on our website. The award recognizes the work of an attorney of an IMLA member in legal advocacy and education who has demonstrated superior professional skills in advancing the interests of the nominee's clients and of local government generally, and who, through litigation, legislative work, and educational efforts, has advanced the health, safety, and welfare of the community or communities the attorney has served.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award

IMLA is committed to supporting members who embrace diversity as part of their core values and we are excited to provide a way to recognize the people that are leading these efforts. Diversity covers the variety of cultures, experiences, expertise and viewpoints that offer value in every community and are incorporated into the fabric of every community. Diversity encompasses age, education level, ethnicity and race, gender expression and identity, nationality, national origin, physical and mental ability, religious perspectives, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status and other human differences. By embracing diversity, municipalities and their law departments attract and retain skilled and talented employees dedicated to excellence in providing service to the community and to their clients. Nominations will be accepted for an individual's or a group's efforts, initiatives or programs that promote diversity and inclusion values within their local government, office or community.

[logo]https://imla.org/

[facebook icon]https://www.facebook.com/InternationalMunicipalLawyersAssociation/[twitter icon]https://twitter.com/imlalegal[linkedin icon]https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-municipal-lawyers-association-inc./
Caroline Storer (she/her)
Director of Marketing and Communications
International Municipal Lawyers Association
P: (202) 466-5424 x7104
D: (202) 742-1384
51 Monroe St. Suite 404 Rockville, MD, 20850
Plan Ahead! See IMLA's upcoming eventshttps://imla.org/events/, calls and programming.