The Metropolitan Black Bar Association (MBBA) celebrated its 42nd Anniversary Awards Gala on May 15 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.
The event brought together legal professionals, advocates, and community leaders under the theme “Amplifying Our Legacy: Strengthening Our Network, Leadership, and Advocacy to Advance Justice.”
As the largest unified association of Black legal professionals in New York, the MBBA remains dedicated to heightening the impact of Black lawyers throughout the Big Apple. The organization says it is committed to helping its members achieve their personal and professional goals while addressing the legal issues that affect Black communities across the state.
This year’s gala honored an outstanding group of legal luminaries.
Hon. Dianne T. Renwick, presiding justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, received the Jurist of the Year Award. Robert Grey, Esq., president of LCLD and past American Bar Association (ABA) president, was honored as Trailblazer of the Year, alongside organizational honoree LCLD —an organization with more than 300 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners dedicated to promoting equal opportunity within society and the legal profession.
Kermitt Brooks, Esq., chief legal officer of Guardian, received the Corporate Counsel of the Year Award. Janai Nelson, Esq., president & director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, was recognized as Public Servant of the Year.
Deborah Enix-Ross, Esq., senior advisor at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and ABA past president, was named Private Practitioner of the Year.
The MBBA Board of Directors was also celebrated at the ceremony. They include President Nicole Lester Arrindell, President-elect Justina K. Rivera, Treasurer Natalie Cox, Secretary Madjeen Garcon Bonneau, Vice President of Finance Reginald Greene, Vice President of CLE and Professional Development Sabrina Smith, Vice President of Programs Evette C. Ennis, Vice President of Membership Sonica Dixon, andDirectors at large Tanya N. Blocker, Luwick Francois, Jomaire Crawford, Hon. Claudia Daniels-DePayster, Jennifer L. Taiwo, Jenesha Tai, Monsurat M. Adebanjo, Phillip C. Hamilton, Hon. Inga O’Neale, Lola Oguntunde-Waterman, Ernestine Mings, Casilda E. Simpson, Denisse Mira, Carl Forbes, Jr., Christopher Dor, Dwayne Andrews, Shekera Algarin and Shakera Thompson.
For more information, visit mbbanyc.org.
Robert Grey, Esq. and Nicole Lester Arrindell, Esq.Photo by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin T. Bragg, Hon. Darcell Clark and Darrell S. Gay, EsqPhoto by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Nicole Lester Arrinell, Esq. and Robert Grey Esq.Photo by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Nicole Lester Arrindell, Esq., MBBA’s 23rd President, Hon. Dianne T. Renwick, Presiding Justice, Appellate DivisionPhoto by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Nicole Lester Arrindell, Esq. and Lisa Arrindell – Mistress of CeremoniesPhoto by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Lisaann R. London, Esq. – MBBA’s Member of the Year Award Recipient and Nicole Lester Arrindell, Esq.Photo by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Lisa Arrindell, Justina K. Rivera, Esq. – MBBA President-Elect and Nicole Lester Arrindell, Esq.Photo by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Kermitt Brooks, Esq, and Nicole Lester Arrindell, Esq.Photo by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Janai S. Nelson, Esq. and Nicole Lester ArrindellPhoto by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
The full MBBA Board of DirectorsPhoto by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Deborah Enix-Ross, Esq., and Nicole Lester Arrindell, Esq.Photo by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Robert Grey, Esq.Photo by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association 
Nexus Sea, Esq., Nicole Lester Arrindell, Esq. Justina K. Rivera, Esq. and Paula Edgar, Esq. – Past MBBA PresidentPhoto by Rowena Husbands/courtesy of Metropolitan Black Bar Association