October 07, 2021
Retired partner Ellen Odoner has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Law Journal for her many accomplishments in the law and impact on the legal community.
NYLJ published a profile of Ellen written by retired partner Andrea Bernstein, who started at Weil with Ellen in September 1977 and worked alongside her throughout her career. A brilliant attorney with a firm moral compass, success for Ellen went hand in hand with a desire to “do the right thing.”
“She showed us all how to be excellent lawyers, what it really means to do your best for clients and colleagues, and the ways to reach our utmost potential,” Andrea said. “Ellen also showed us how to be excellent individuals.”
The award recognizes Ellen’s trailblazing career and her influence as a mentor and driving force for diversity in the profession. Ellen excelled for more than 40 years at Weil, building a prominent M&A practice and then establishing herself as a leading corporate governance attorney. She was founder and co-head of the Firm’s Public Company Advisory Group, which advises U.S. and foreign public companies, as well as a wide range of private entities and not-for-profit organizations, on corporate governance, securities regulation and compliance.
Throughout her career, Ellen was instrumental in Weil’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and served as founding chair of Women@Weil, the Firm’s professional development group for women, among many other roles.
The winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards will be recognized in the New York Law Journal’s upcoming Professional Excellence magazine and honored at the New York Legal Awards in New York City on October 13, 2021.
