Page 18 - NYLJ Professional Excellence 2021

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

GEORGE PATAKI

SENIOR COUNSEL AT NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT

We congratulate our long-time colleague and friend Gov. George Pataki on his well-deserved

Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Law Journal.

As former governor of New York and a lawyer ethanol and fuel cells. He also championed sev-
at Norton Rose Fulbright, Governor Pataki has eral initiatives related to cleaning up the Hudson
made a significant impact through his leader- River and created more than 60 new State Parks,
ship, governmental service, legal practice and including the Hudson River Park on Manhattan’s
civic involvement. Beyond these many accom- west side.
plishments, we would be remiss if we did not After completing his third term as governor,
acknowledge his many contributions to our firm, the Governor reentered private practice and
and particularly the personal relationships he joined Chadbourne & Parke, which merged with
BY JEFF has built over the years. It is our privilege to Norton Rose Fulbright in 2017. He has simultane-
CODY practice law alongside the Governor, and we are ously continued his public service work as Co-
proud he is one of us. Chair of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Task
Governor Pataki has achieved many major Force on Climate Change, recommending changes
accomplishments during his 50-year career as a to U.S. energy and foreign policy and proposing
lawyer, which includes a quarter century working a U.S. negotiating strategy for a global climate
in politics. In 1994, Governor Pataki won the race accord, and as Co-Chair of the Alliance to Save
for New York governor and went on to serve three Energy’s National Energy Efficiency Task Force
terms with a platform that was tough on crime Governor Pataki is also a passionate advocate
and federal spending. He was governor when the for human rights, serving as the U.S. Public Del-
Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks devastated New egate to the 62nd United Nations General Assem-
York and beyond, and he led the emotional recov- bly in 2007 and the head of the U.S. Delegation
ery that followed. He played a significant role in to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the
the redevelopment of the original World Trade 1956 Hungarian Revolution in Budapest in 2006.
Center site and the building of the 9/11 Memorial. He also served as Chair of the U.S. Delegation to
During his tenure as New York’s chief execu- the Organization for Security and Co-operation
tive, Governor Pataki also advanced award- in Europe conference on anti-Semitism.
winning, cutting-edge policies in the renewable In recognition of his career achievements,
energy and environmental fields. His initiatives Governor Pataki was awarded the Ellis Island
included the protection of more than one million Medal of Honor, which is bestowed on Americans
acres of open space, the adoption of the Regional who have made significant contributions to the
Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the implementation United States while acknowledging their ethnic
of the nation’s first green building tax credit as heritage. He was also awarded the Yale Medal—
well as the introduction of landmark brownfield the highest award presented by the university’s
legislation and programs to enhance the produc- Alumni Association.
tion and use of alternative energy like biodiesel, Congratulations to Gov. George Pataki on a life-
time of service and leadership. We at Norton Rose
Fulbright are delighted that the New York Law
Jeff Cody is U.S. Managing Partner at Norton Rose Journal has bestowed this prestigious and well
Fulbright. deserved honor on our friend and teammate.

16 October 2021 |