The Greater New York Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel America (NY ACCA) recently presented its annual Distinguished Service Award to The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel and its publisher Martha Driver and to the chapter's immediate past president, Thomas C. Baxter, executive vice president and general counsel of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The presentation took place at the chapter's Annual Meeting on November 9 at the University Club in New York City.
Also at the Annual Meeting, the chapter's board approved the election of two new officers: Ellen Zimmerman, general counsel, UJA Federation, as secretary, and David Skoblow, executive vice president and general counsel, CLS Bank International, as treasurer.
In his presentation to The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, NY ACCA President Richard Wolf said, 'Our congratulations go not to the staff, the catalysts for assimilating and integrating the very vital information supplied within its pages, but to all who have contributed to making The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel an important adjunct to the required reading of in-house counsel.'
Mr. Wolf noted that Ms. Driver's background includes postgraduate work in constitutional law, service as an investment officer at TIAA-CREF and ownership of an investment advisory firm, Martha Driver Associates. 'During her years at TIAA-CREF and her own firm, she worked with in-house counsel and law firms on negotiating private placement agreements, which provided her with insights from the client's perspective,' Mr. Wolf said. 'She also brings newspaper experience to her role as publisher and her responsibility for editorial and financial oversight of The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel.'
In thanking NY ACCA for its recognition, Ms. Driver noted that The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel has existed for more than 13 years, about half of the life of the Association of Corporate Counsel. 'During that time we have enjoyed a great symbiotic relationship in partnering on many issues,' she said.
'As the new year begins, MCC continues its expansion to serve the legal community, expanding its distribution from the Northeast corridor to all points of the U.S.,' Mr. Wolf said. 'If you are not, you should be familiar with the website at www.metrocorpcoun-sel.com.'
Mr. Wolf also lauded Mr. Baxter for initiating 'a bedrock of corporate governance reforms for the Chapter that has provided the springboard for much of what we have achieved and can achieve in the future as an organization.'
Mr. Wolf added that Mr. Baxter 'impressed upon the board the importance of knowing and improving its own governance' as he spearheaded as chapter president advances including new bylaws, a first-ever audit of the chapter's books, strategic planning and meeting with accountability for action.
Noting that Mr. Baxter's achievements were recognized last year by the Association of Corporate Counsel, Mr. Wolf said, 'today we in New York wish to bestow our own recognition on Tom Baxter in honoring him with this award.'