
PROGRAMS & AWARDS
Don E. Bailey Civility & Professionalism Award
The Don E. Bailey Civility & Professionalism Award was established in 2000 to honor the memory of the late San Francisco ABOTA Chapter President Don E. Bailey, a plaintiff’s attorney who became ill while in office.
The San Francisco Chapter’s decision to honor a member who models civility and humanity in his/her work was triggered by Don’s premature death. The award is given to honor a distinguished San Francisco ABOTA member who continually exemplifies Civility, Professionalism, and Integrity in the practice of the law while always vigorously, courageously and expertly advocating his/her clients’ causes.
Don successfully blended tenacity with politeness; success with humility; took his clients causes seriously – but himself not so. He was a great model to younger lawyers of how to be a zealous advocate without losing one’s sense of perspective.
He was effective but not pushy; a superior trial lawyer but never condescending. He had a long term view of life, the world and our work as trial lawyers that is to be emulated.
Past Recipients

John “Jack” C. Stein
2024

Michael P. Bradley
2021

Craig Needham
2017

William B. Smith
2014

Michael J. Ney
2011

Vincent B. McLorg
2008

Nathan Cohn
2004

Richard Dodge
2000

Richard C. Bennett
2023

Thomas Brandi
2020

Eugene Brown, Jr.
2016

Daniel J. Kelly
2013

Ronald H. Rouda
2010

David Lynch
2007

Robert Barbagelata
2003

Christopher J. Beeman
2022

Dennis Moriarty
2019

Charles Warner
2015

Edward J. Nevin
2013

Ralph A. Lombardi
2010

Nelson Barry
2006

Joseph Rogers
2002

Richard H. Schoenberger
2022

James Brosnahan
2018

John A. McGuinn
2014

George Shelby
2012

John F. DeMeo
2009

William McDowell
2005

Norman Saucedo
2001