Press Release

BADC annual gala to honor appeals court judge, top lawyers, activist, and young lawyers

October 10, 2025

A federal appeals court judge, a leading intellectual property lawyer, a longtime civil rights activist, and outstanding law firm associates will receive awards during the Bar Association of the District of Columbia (BADC) annual banquet on Saturday, December 6.

Judge of the Year: Florence Y. Pan is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She is being honored for her commitment to the rule of law, the community she serves and the young lawyers emulating her. Before taking her current seat on the bench, she was a judge for the U.S. District for the District of Columbia and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Lawyer of the Year: William P. Atkins is a partner with the Pillsbury Law Firm. He is being honored for his long history with the BADC, including a term as president and many years on the Board, and as a leader who helped cultivate and support the Intellectual Property Section which is a valued part of Washington’s IP prowess and BADC’s contribution to the legal profession.

Pioneer Award: Ann Burroughs, president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, will receive this year’s Hon. Annice M. Wagner Pioneer Award. Named in honor of a revered Chief Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the award is one of the highest honors that the BADC can bestow to a leader in human rights and social justice. Burroughs is also being recognized for her human rights work as chair of the board of directors of Amnesty International USA and her previous position as chair of Amnesty International’s Global Assembly.

Young Lawyers of the Year: This honor goes to the law firm associates who coordinated Legal Aid DC’s Making Justice Real Campaign 2025 that raised more than $4 million for Legal Aid to expand access to justice throughout the DC community. Congratulations to the Associates from 75 law firms in DC who answered the call to provide legal representation for those among us who lack the resources to secure lawyers for their families’ vital needs.  Atticus DeProspo, associate with Williams & Connolly and propitious fundraiser for Legal Aid, will represent the associate coordinators of Legal Aid’s Making Justice Real Campaign and receive the Award on behalf of his colleagues. 

The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel at 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Georgetown. It will be the 154th annual dinner for BADC.

“These honorees exemplify the best qualities of our profession and legal community.  It is important that our nation follows their example as we navigate challenging times,” said Shirley Ann Higuchi, BADC president.   

The BADC, founded at the historic National Hotel (Pennsylvania Avenue & 6th Street NW) in 1871, was the first bar association in the District of Columbia and is among the four oldest bar associations in the United States.

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Contact: MaryEva Candon, Esq
candon@candonlaw.com
202-246-5155