The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes lawyers “who have left an imprint on the legal history of the state during their career.” Mahone, who retired in 2020 after 47 years with the firm, is a beacon to Black lawyers in Pennsylvania who have aspired to reach the highest levels of success in law.
"It would not be hyperbole to say that you would be hard-pressed to find a Black lawyer in the city of Pittsburgh that Glenn has not mentored or influenced either directly one-on-one or indirectly where Glenn’s mentee then mentors others,” said Jason Hazlewood, managing partner of the Pittsburgh office. “The reverberations of his impact have and will continue to ripple out through this city for decades to come.”
Mahone has served in many roles over his illustrious career, including as chairman of the Urban League; chairman of the Allegheny County Airport Authority; director branch chairperson of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; and general counsel to the Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, overseeing the City of Pittsburgh’s fiscal recovery. He was also chair of the Board of Visitors at Virginia State University; a trustee of Duquesne University and Westminster College; chair of Manchester-Bidwell Corporation; and a director of Matthews International Corp., to name only a few of his many achievements over a half century devoted to law.
The Best Law Firm Mentor Award honors senior lawyers “who have taken it upon themselves to prepare the next generation of legal talent.” Napolitano was highlighted for devoting much of his 32-year career to developing the talents and advancing the careers of younger, less experienced lawyers, including mentoring students through the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s Success in Law School Mentoring Program and at his alma mater Notre Dame Law School and other law schools.
The Unsung Heroes Award recognizes lawyers and legal professionals who were instrumental “behind the scenes in particularly important work.” A leading partner in Reed Smith’s Global Corporate Group who joined the firm in 1995, Ron Francis was highlighted for his quarter century of contributions to Reed Smith. He served as Pittsburgh Managing Partner from 2016 to 2020, and previously relocated to Hong Kong, from 2008 to 2012, as the integration partner for the firm’s merger with the Hong Kong operations of Richards Butler.
Sponsored annually by The Legal Intelligencer, the Pennsylvania Professional Excellence Awards celebrates achievement and excellence while honoring those lawyers “who have left an indelible mark on the legal community in Pennsylvania and beyond through their unwavering dedication to the profession.” Honorees will be recognized June 24 at a special event at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia.
About Reed Smith
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