Steptoe Congratulates Burton Award Winners

Partners James Derouin and Frederick Bellamy and of Counsel Mark Freeze, all of the Phoenix office, received a prestigious Burton Award for legal writing at a gala event at the Library of Congress on June 4, 2007.  The Burton Awards are given annually by the Burton Foundation in partnership with the Library of Congress to commend excellence and clarity in legal writing.  This year some 1,000 entries were considered, with only 30 chosen for the award. 

Jim Derouin is a member of the Litigation and Regulatory & Industry Affairs Departments, and Fred Bellamy is a member of the Litigation, Environment and Natural Resources, and Technology Departments .  Mark Freeze is a member of the Complex Litigation, Environment and Natural Resources civil litigation and Mass and Toxic Tort Departments.  Their article about the significant obstacles that are likely to dissuade plaintiffs from bringing global warning tort claims originally appeared in a 2006 issue of Toxic Torts Reporter. 

In addition to the individual Burton award, Roger Warin accepted a Record of Distinction Award on behalf of the firm  in recognition of Steptoe's place among the very small number of firms that have won three or more Burton Awards.  Steptoe attorneys Jeffrey McFadden, Kevin Mayer and Ana Voss won a Burton Award in 2006, and Charles Cole earned the honor in 2000, the award’s inaugural year.