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 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 21–23.
The 2026 award recipients are as follows:
ALBERT H. PARNELL OUTSTANDING PROGRAM CHAIR AWARD
Peter Bredin, Dillon Eustace LLP
DAVIS CARR OUTSTANDING COMMITTEE CHAIR AWARD
Ryan M. Hathcock, Burke Moore Law Group
DRI FOUNDATION COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Lori K. O'Tool, Preg O'Donnell & Gillett
DRI LAW FIRM/CORPORATE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DIVERSITY AWARD
Perez Morris, Perez Morris (Founding Partners Troy B. Morris and Juan Jose Perez)
DRI SLDO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AWARD
Michelle Barrus, Utah Defense Lawyers Association
FRED H. SIEVERT OUTSTANDING DEFENSE BAR LEADER AWARD
George L. Simpson IV, Simpson Law Firm
G. DUFFIELD SMITH OUTSTANDING PUBLICATION AWARD
Henry M. Sneath, Houston Harbaugh; Christopher M. Jacobs, Houston Harbaugh; Acacia Perko, Homer City Redevelopment
"The AI Daily Routine: An Artificial Intelligence Practicum for Defense Attorneys," February 2025 For The Defense
JOHN R. KOURIS PRESIDENTIAL AWARD
R. Matthew Cairns, Textron Inc.
KEVIN DRISKILL OUTSTANDING STATE REPRESENTATIVE AWARD
Elliott I. Pinkie, Amundsen Davis
LOUIS B. POTTER LIFETIME PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD
John E. Cuttino, Gallivan White & Boyd
RUDOLPH A. JANATA OUTSTANDING DEFENSE BAR ASSOCIATION AWARD
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
SLDO DIVERSITY AWARD
Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
TOM SEGALLA EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD
Mark E. Schmidtke, Ogletree Deakins
RICHARD H. KROCHOCK YOUNG LAWYER AWARD
Andrew T. Smith, Collins and Lacy