Awards
The College recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of commercial finance law through several awards. Please click on the links below for more information about each of the awards.
Homer Kripke Achievement Award The Homer Kripke Achievement Award recognizes a career of noteworthy leadership and a history of exceptional dedication to the improvement of commercial finance law and practice. Award recipients have contributed to, and often changed the course of, commercial finance law and practice through activities that have had a lasting and significant impact.
Prior to becoming the Chester Rohrlich Professor of Corporate Law, Finance and Taxation at New York University School of Law, Homer Kripke served as Assistant General Counsel at The CITGroup, Inc. for 17 years. An expert in secured transactions, Professor Kripke also mastered securities law and accounting, in addition to being President of the Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys, Inc. from 1963 to 1965. Having contributed to the development of American commercial jurisprudence throughout his entire adult life, the College has deemed it particularly fitting that our lifetime achievement award be named in Professor Kripke’s honor.
Recipients of the Homer Kripke Achievement Award
2021: Seven Harris
2019: E. Carolan Berkely and Sandra M. Rocks
2018: Frederick H. Miller 2016: Professor Amelia H. Boss 2015: Maury B. Poscover 2014: Professor Neil B. Cohen 2013: John B. Power 2012: Edwin E. Smith and Steven O. Weise 2011: George A. Hisert and David S. Willenzik 2009: William M. Burke 2005: Harry C. Sigman 2002: James J. White 2001: Donald Lee Rome 1999: Donald J. Rapson 1998: A. Bruce Schimberg 1997: Professor William D. Hawkland 1996: Howard Ruda 1993: William B. Davenport 1992: Professor Homer Kripke
Grant Gilmore Award This award is given in recognition of superior writing in the field of commercial finance law. Grant Gilmore was a co-Reporter for the original Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. He authored the classic treatise on secured transactions, and taught at several schools including Yale Law School and Columbia Law School. Professor Gilmore authored a number of books on commercial law, including secured transactions, admiralty law, and contract law, including his survey and criticism of contract law, The Death of Contract.
Recipients of the Grant Gilmore Award
2020: Stephen L. Sepinuck, Professor of Law, Gonzaga University School of Law 2016: Xuan-Thao Nguyen, Professor, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law 2015: Melissa B. Jacoby, Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Edward J. Janger, Professor, Brooklyn Law School 2008: Kenneth C. Kettering, Professor, New York Law School 2002: Thomas E. Plank, Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law 2000: Lisa E. Bernstein, Professor, University of Chicago Law School 1998: Ronald J. Mann, Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School and Marshall E. Tracht, Associate Professor, Hofstra University School of Law 1996: Stephen L. Sepinuck, Associate Professor, Gonzaga University School of Law 1993: R. Wilson Freyermuth, Associate Professor, University of Missouri-Columbia 1992: Kerry Lynn McIntosh, Professor, Santa Clara University
Harry C. Sigman Special Service Award The award is presented to Fellows of the College who have made significant contributions to the College’s goals by sharing their knowledge and promoting the development and improvement of the practice of commercial finance law. These contributions include developing and promoting the enactment of model laws, such as the Uniform Commercial Code, developing authoritative model agreements for use by practitioners, and significant efforts in the areas of continuing legal education. The Harry C. Sigman Special Service Award (formerly the ACCFL Special Service Award) was renamed in honor of Fellow Harry Claude Sigman, an eminent and distinguished, internationally recognized attorney who embodied the mission of the College. Mr. Sigman passed away in August 2017.
Recipients of the Harry C. Sigman Special Service Award 2011: Richard Brown and Gary D. Chamblee received the Special Service Award in 2011 for their leadership in the development of the ABA Business Law Section Model Intercreditor Agreement. More information about Richard and Gary’s award can be found here.
2009: Ernest Bland Williams III and Jeffrey S. Turner were recognized for their many contributions to the College and continuing legal education in commercial finance law. * EIII (Ernest Williams III) was one of the founders of the College in 1991, and served as its first president from 1991 to 1993. Without his guidance and wisdom, the College would not be in existence today. EIII also taught and wrote on commercial law topics. EIII passed away in 2008, and a tribute to him can be found here. * Jeff Turner was a prolific writer and educator in the field of commercial finance. He served as Chair of the ABA Business Law Section Commercial Finance Committee and in many capacities in leadership of the LA County Bar Association and the State Bar of California. Jeff was co-author of a leading treatise on asset based lending as well as the author of numerous articles and a frequent CLE speaker. Jeff passed away in 2004, and a tribute to him can be found here.
A more detailed description of EIII’s and Jeff’s many contributions and achievements can be found here.
2002: William M. Burke, Professor Steven L. Harris, Professor Charles W. Mooney, Jr. and Steven O. Weise were recognized for Distinguished Service in the Development and Nationwide Enactment of Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The development and enactment of Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code was a landmark achievement in commercial finance. Revised Article 9 became effective in almost all states on July 1, 2001, and is currently effective in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. This major update to the most significant law ever to affect secured lending was drafted by a Committee chaired by William M. Burke. Co-Reporters Steven L. Harris and Charles W. Mooney, Jr. were aided by Steven O. Weise, the American Bar Association advisor to the Committee. Following enactment, these lawyers continued their efforts toward the successful enactment of the law.
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