DRI’s Annual Professional Achievement and Service Awards celebrate and honor outstanding performance by state, local, and national defense organizations (SLDOs/NDOs), DRI law firms, and individual members.
These awards identify peers who deserve recognition either for their professional contributions to, and achievements on behalf of, the defense bar and the civil justice system or their involvement in community and public service activities that have a
positive impact on society at large. Recognition enhances members’ personal growth and accomplishments, provides us all with role models and strengthens members’ images in the legal and business communities and with the general public.
Winners will be recognized at the DRI 2025 Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on October 15–17.
The 2025 award recipients are as follows:
ALBERT H. PARNELL OUTSTANDING PROGRAM CHAIR AWARD
Ilana B. Olman, Segal McCambridge | 2024 DRI Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium
DAVIS CARR OUTSTANDING COMMITTEE CHAIR AWARD
Evelyn Fletcher Davis, Hawkins Parnell & Young | Asbestos Litigation Committee
DRI FOUNDATION COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Robert J. Williams, Victor Rane Group, Inc.
DRI LAW FIRM/CORPORATE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DIVERSITY AWARD
U-Haul International Inc.
DRI SLDO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AWARD
Jenni Kilpatrick, Wisconsin Defense Counsel
FRED H. SIEVERT AWARD
Michael P. Lowry, Wilson Elser
G. DUFFIELD SMITH OUTSTANDING PUBLICATION AWARD
Whitney Lay Greene and Amanda Nardi, Chartwell Law
“We're Not Gonna Take It: New Developments in the Battle to Expose the Dark Side of Lien-Based Medical Care Arrangements,” November & December 2024 For The Defense
Kevin T. McCarthy, Chair, Larson King, Brett A. Mason, Vice Chair, Troutman Pepper Locke, Laura Clark Fey, Fey LLC, Frederick J. King, Troutman Pepper Locke, Noah J. Mason, Troutman Pepper Locke, Meredith Hamilton, Ogletree Deakins, Christian W. Castille, Reed Smith, Brent J. Arnold, Gowling WLF (Canada), Jin Yoshikawa, Butler Snow, and Garrett M. Greene
“Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice: Benefits, Considerations, and Best Practices,” DRI Center for Law and Public Policy Artificial Intelligence Working Group
KEVIN DRISKILL OUTSTANDING STATE REPRESENTATIVE AWARD
Stephen P. Cooney, Higgins Cavanagh & Cooney | Rhode Island
LOUIS B. POTTER LIFETIME PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD
Sheryl J. Willert, Williams Kastner
RICHARD H. KROCHOCK AWARD
Peyton Watts, Kutak Rock | Young Lawyers Committee Immediate Past Chair
RUDOLPH A. JANATA AWARD
Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
SLDO DIVERSITY AWARD
North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
TOM SEGALLA EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD
Shane O'Dell, Naman Howell Smith & Lee