University of Miami Law School Alumni to Honor Children’s Rights Lawyer Howard Talenfeld
Howard M. Talenfeld, a leading Florida foster care abuse attorney and life-long advocate for children’s rights, will be honored with the University of Miami Law Alumni Association’s Alumni Achievement Award at its annual Broward County Judicial Reception. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the 7th floor ballroom of the 110 Tower (110 Southeast 6th St., Fort Lauderdale 33301).
Talenfeld graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 1979 and has spent much of his career defending the rights of and seeking damages for children and the developmentally disabled harmed in cases of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and denial of benefits.
“No one sets out on their career in pursuit of such honors, so it’s humbling to be recognized for the work my team and I have done on behalf of the voiceless victims in our community,” said Talenfeld.
He has been recognized for his efforts with The Florida Bar’s “President’s Award of Merit” and the Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the 17th Judicial Circuit. In May, Talenfeld will receive the Professional Excellence Award from the Daily Business Review, and was a past recipient of its Most Effective Lawyer award in the Pro Bono category. He also received Legal Aid’s Russell Carlisle Award for child advocacy law. He also is founding president Florida’s Children First, the state’s preeminent non-profit that advocates for foster children and the developmentally disabled.
“Howard was a natural for this award. We’re very proud of his pioneering work for children’s causes,” said Edward R. Shohat, a Miami attorney and president of the Law Alumni Association. “The association represents over 30,000 alumni around the world, and Howard is an excellent ambassador for the school.”
“Howard exemplifies the characteristics and qualities that make for a great lawyer,” added Todd S. Payne, past president of the Law Alumni Association and chair of its National Advisory Council. “When you match great lawyering skills with someone who serves others, particularly those less capable of helping themselves, that’s a person deserving of recognition.”
Joining Talenfeld in receiving the award in March will be the Hon. Martin J. Bidwill. Past recipients have included the Hon. Stanford Blake, JD ’73; Michael J. Satz, JD ’67; the Hon. John P. “Jack” Seiler, JD ’88; the Hon. Melvin B. Grossman, JD ’68; and Bruce M. Lyons, JD ’67.
To learn more about the Broward County Judicial Reception and CLE Session, visit alumni@law.miami.edu or 1.866.99UMLAW.
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About Talenfeld Law
Talenfeld Law is Florida’s only law firm exclusively dedicated to protecting the rights of abused, disabled and injured children. The firm was founded by Howard Talenfeld, the preeminent children’s rights lawyer in the nation, who has earned numerous significant, multimillion dollar awards for foster children, the developmentally disabled and others harmed while under the care of state agencies and contracted care providers. The firm including its prior incarnation has been involved in precedent-setting actions and systemic reform and has established a reputation as champions of the rights of the abused in personal injury claims for damages. Learn more at www.JusticeForKids.us