The annual award recognizes young professionals in the Pittsburgh area for exceptional leadership, professional achievement, and for making a difference in their organizations and communities.

Hages has taken on substantial leadership responsibilities with the firm’s appellate team in high stakes and precedent-setting appeals in federal and state courts. During the past year, he convinced the Virginia Court of Appeals to grant a rare en banc rehearing over an adverse appellate decision and then presented oral argument before the full 17-judge appellate court. At the request of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Hages also briefed, argued, and won a precedent-setting constitutional case in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, securing a consequential victory for thousands of incarcerated individuals across the Commonwealth.

A champion of pro bono legal work, Hages dedicated more than 800 hours over the past two years to pro bono cases. Hages is also a dedicated mentor, serving as a mentor for the Appellate Project, the first national initiative focused on empowering law students of color to pursue appellate work. He also served as the dedicated mentor for two Reed Smith summer associates and a new full-time associate, and co-taught a training program to all new associates firmwide on legal research and analysis.

In addition to his active practice, Hages is a co-editor of the Third Circuit Bar Association’s quarterly newsletter, On Appeal, which is distributed to judges and lawyers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Hages is also actively involved in his community, serving as a mentor to law and undergraduate students interested in a legal career at the University of Pittsburgh and volunteering as a mock judge for the Pitt Law moot court competition. In addition, he serves on the boards of the John N. & Kay Mandalakas Scholarship Fund and the Metropolitan Maximos Endowment for Youth & Young Adult Ministries. For the past decade, he has coached youth basketball through his church, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and serves as a member of the St. Nicholas Parish Council.