NEW YORK (Feb. 11, 2015) — Susman Godfrey partner Jacob W. Buchdahl has been honored with “The James H. Fogelson Emerging Leadership Award” from the UJA-Federation of New York, bestowed annually to an attorney whose dedication both to the field of law and to Jewish community leadership serves as an inspiration to others.
Buchdahl was given the award at Tuesday’s Lawyers Division Annual Event in New York City. Donald S. Bernstein, a partner with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, was also recognized at the event with “The Judge Joseph M. Proskauer Award.” This award is given to distinguished individuals who have shown a deep commitment to philanthropy and whose conduct and service exemplifies the highest ideals of the law.
Buchdahl first became involved in UJA-Federation of New York fundraising while still in college at Yale University, and he now serves on the organization’s Lawyers Division Executive Committee. He is married to Senior Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue in Manhattan.
“Our committee chose Jacob for this prestigious award not just for his professional success, but because he and his family epitomize what UJA-Federation of New York is all about,” said Shuli Karkowsky, Director of the Lawyers Division at UJA-Federation of New York. “The Buchdahls truly dedicate themselves to public service and our community.”
Buchdahl is on the Board of Trustees of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School, a pluralistic Jewish Day School in Manhattan, and the Board of Directors of Recess, a nonprofit artists’ workspace open to the public.
At Susman Godfrey, Buchdahl represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of commercial litigation in federal and state courts and before arbitration panels across the country. He recently was named to the “Super Lawyers,” New York Metro Edition list and was named one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America” by Benchmark Litigation.