New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI), a leading civil rights advocacy group, held its 2014 Felix A. Fishman Awards Luncheon at the House of the Association of the New York City Bar. Honored at the event were Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, which promotes the well-being of immigrant communities, and South Bronx Unite, a coalition working together to improve and protect the social, environmental, and economic future of the South Bronx. Both were recognized for their progressive advocacy work around social and environmental justice. “The Felix A. Fishman Awards luncheon is a chance for us to applaud the inspiring work some of our noteworthy community leaders have accomplished,” said McGregor Smyth, Executive Director of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. “We cannot serve our local communities without leaders like Nisha and South Bronx Unite, and hope to continue working closely with both until New York is a more just place.”“South Bronx Unite strives to improve the quality of life for our local residents, especially when it comes to our children’s health. New York Lawyers for the Public Interest has been an integral partner in these efforts, particularly in our community’s ongoing efforts to oppose FreshDirect’s relocation to the South Bronx,” said Mychal Johnson, Co-founder, South Bronx Unite. “We are humbled to have been selected as a Felix A. Fishman Awards recipient and hope to continue this long journey with NYLPI until all future development decisions are made with the community’s input.”
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About Felix Fishman
Felix A. Fishman’s deep commitment to helping others, his expertise as a lawyer, and his wonderful and heartwarming sense of humor earned him the respect and affection of those who knew him.
Mr. Fishman, a graduate of City College and Columbia Law School, practiced at the law firm of Moses & Singer for sixty-five years. His impressive tenure at the firm included serving as legal counsel for Bankers Trust Company and L.F. Rothschild & Co., among others. During his accomplished career, Mr. Fishman established himself as a talented trusts and estates lawyer and, more importantly, as a lawyer whose work was guided by an unerring moral compass. For Mr. Fishman, a staunch believer in progressive ethical ideals, the capacity to care for others was the true barometer of a successful lawyer.
For 31 years, Mr. Fishman also served as a trustee and director of the Henry & Lucy Moses Fund, where he was instrumental in directing hundreds of millions of dollars of support to medical, educational, and other charitable organizations in the New York area.
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest is grateful to the Henry & Lucy Moses Fund for endowing these awards in honor of Felix A. Fishman, who shared our dedication to using the law in service of others.