Partner Jon Epstein Recognized for Legal Career, Service to Community
The American Jewish Committee of Central New Jersey will present Drinker Biddle partner Jonathan I. Epstein and Dechert LLP partner Ezra D. Rosenberg with the Judge Learned Hand Award in ceremonies on Dec. 15 at the Hyatt Regency Princeton. Epstein and Rosenberg will be recognized for their outstanding legal careers.
The award is given annually to an outstanding leader in the legal profession who exemplifies the high principles for which Judge Hand was known.
Epstein, a managing partner of Drinker Biddle and the Regional Partner in Charge of the firm’s Princeton office, focuses his practice on real estate development and commercial litigation. He has dedicated much time to New Jersey’s legal community throughout his career, serving as president of the Mercer County Bar Association and a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s District VII Ethics Committee. Epstein is also a trustee of the Legal Aid Society of Mercer County and of the Mercer Bar Foundation.
“It’s an honor to receive this recognition,” Epstein said. “So many other deserving lawyers have received this award and it means a great deal to be considered among them. That the acknowledgement comes from the AJC of Central New Jersey is especially rewarding, since I have spent my entire legal career in the state.”
Rosenberg is a deputy chair of Dechert and former co-chair of the firm’s mass torts and product liability practice. He has successfully defended numerous industries in consumer fraud, mass tort and product liability class action suits. His practice also involves handling complex commercial litigation matters, both trial and appellate, throughout the nation. Before entering private practice, Rosenberg served as Counsel to the Public Advocate of New Jersey, working on special projects for both the New Jersey Public Defender and the New Jersey Public Advocate and as a Senior Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice. He received the Department of Justice Award for Exceptional Performance and the Department of Justice Award for Meritorious Service.
“It’s beyond humbling to hear your name mentioned in the same sentence as Judge Hand’s,” Rosenberg said. “I’m thankful to the American Jewish Committee and to my firm for giving me the opportunities to earn this recognition.”
The AJC established the Judge Learned Hand Award in memory of Judge Hand, a senior judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1924 to 1951 who was widely admired among American jurists. Judge Hand rendered decisions in over 2,000 cases and was particularly noted for his extensive range, especially on cases of constitutional rights.
Tickets to the ACJ Central New Jersey Learned Hand Award Dinner, at which Epstein and Rosenberg will be recognized, are available at www.ajc.org/njlearnedhanddinner or by calling (973) 379-7844.