News release:
Dave Nee Foundation Bestows Uncommon Counselor Award on Michael J. Lane of Anderson Kill & Olick for Work Countering Depression in Legal Profession
New York, NY (October 12, 2011) -- Anderson Kill & Olick is proud to announce that Michael J. Lane, a shareholder in the firm's New York office, is the recipient of the Dave Nee Foundation's 2011 David S. Stoner Uncommon Counselor Award, bestowed on Mr. Lane for his commitment to the betterment of the legal profession and his compassion and concern for his fellow attorneys and for law students.
Mr. Lane, a civil litigator with over twenty five years of experience, is also an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University School of Law, where he has taught Legal Research and Writing to first-year students since 1993.
The Dave Nee Foundation was created in the wake of the 2005 suicide of Dave Nee, a brilliant law student at Fordham University who struggled silently with depression for many years. The Foundation’s Uncommon Counsel program fights depression and works to prevent suicide among law students -- recognizing that attorneys have the highest rates of depression and suicide of any profession, and that 40% of law students in their third year of school report experiencing symptoms of
depression. Uncommon Counsel educates law students (currently within CUNY School of Law, Duke University School of Law, Fordham University, New York Law School, and Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center) about depression, its prevalence in the legal profession, and the availability and effectiveness of treatment.
The David S. Stoner Uncommon Counselor Award is given to a member of the legal profession who exhibits extraordinary compassion and concern for his co-workers, family, friends, and community. The Award is named in memory of David S. Stoner, a close friend of Dave Nee and a founding Director and Vice President of the Dave Nee Foundation from 2006 to 2010. Regarding Mr. Lane's selection, Wynne Kelly, Vice President of the Dave Nee Foundation, stated:
"Mike has been a staunch supporter of the Dave Nee Foundation, but more importantly has lived the message of the Foundation in both his practice and in his classroom. Mike lets his fellow members of the bar and his students know that, due to various factors, they are at risk of depression, but also that depression can be easily treated and that there are many people who care and a variety of resources available. In addition to being highly supportive of the Foundation's Uncommon Counsel presentations in his classroom, Mike reinforces the Foundation's programming year round through his open communication and constant expressions of care and concern to his students. Mike represents the best of the legal community."
In its award announcement, the Dave Nee Foundation further notes, "At Fordham, Professor Lane is held in the highest esteem and beloved by his students who, in addition to receiving a practical and wide-ranging education in the art of legal research and writing, know that Professor Lane cares about them as people and serves as a mentor and confidant. Since the Foundation’s inception, Mr. Lane has been a passionate supporter of the activities of the Dave Nee Foundation. It is his unwavering commitment to the well-being of his fellow members of the bar and law students, however, that have earned him this honor."
Michael Lane stated, "I have long held the Dave Nee Foundation in the highest esteem. Its work is critical to improving the legal profession. I am deeply honored by this recognition."
The Uncommon Counsel program addresses an acute need within the profession. The Foundation's program description notes, "Lawyers are 3.6 times more likely than any other occupational group to suffer from depression. Statistics demonstrate that the rate of suicide attempts among attorneys is increasing as the effects of the economic downturn of the past few years continue to spread. It is urgent that law students and attorneys who exhibit the warning signs for suicide get the help they need."
The Uncommon Counselor Award will be bestowed at the Foundation's 2011 gala, to be held on November 4 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City.
About Anderson Kill
Anderson Kill practices law in the areas of Insurance Recovery, Anti-Counterfeiting, Antitrust, Bankruptcy, Commercial Litigation, Corporate & Securities, Employment & Labor Law, Health Reform, Intellectual Property, International Arbitration, Real Estate & Construction, Tax, and Trusts & Estates. Best-known for its work in insurance recovery, the firm represents policyholders only in insurance coverage disputes, with no ties to insurance companies and no conflicts of interest. Clients include Fortune 1000 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, governmental entities, and nonprofits as well as personal estates. Based in New York City, the firm also has offices in Newark, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Stamford, CT, Ventura, CA, and Washington, DC. For companies seeking to do business internationally, Anderson Kill, through its membership in Interleges, a consortium of similar law firms in some 20 countries, can provide service throughout the world.
About the Dave Nee Foundation
The Dave Nee Foundation is a leading nonprofit organization working to reduce the rate of suicide and the prevalence of emotional distress among youth and, specifically, law students. The Dave Nee Foundation’s programs are guided by an expert board of mental health professionals and assist in educating and providing resources to adolescents, law students, graduate schools, and the general public. We welcome you to explore our site to learn more about our work and how you can get involved in our efforts to help both young and graduate level students across the country in addressing depression and suicide.
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