Isabelle Kirshner received the Hon. Thurgood Marshall Award from the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL). Isabelle was sixth woman to ever receive the award.
Isabelle was honored at the NYSACDL Foundation Annual Dinner on January 17. The award recognizes jurists and practitioners who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to further the goals of criminal justice. Past recipients include former Judge Stuart Namm, William M. Kunstler, Herald Price Fahringer, Ronald Tabak, Gerald B. Lefcourt, Martin B. Adelman, Lawrence S. Goldman, Jack T. Litman, Barry Scheck, Peter Neufeld, Ray Kelly, Kevin M. Doyle, Donald G. Rehkopf, Jr., Gerald Shargel, Benjamin Brafman, Mark J. Mahoney, James P. Harrington, Susan Brune, and David Ruhnke.
The other women recipients of the award include Susan Brune, Susan R. Necheles, Marianne Mariano and Lisa Peebles (who received it along with David Patton as the three Chief Federal Defenders in the state), and Tina Luongo.
“Isabelle Kirshner is among the most prominent criminal trial lawyers in the world, and we are honored to present her with this award,” said Lori Cohen, president-elect of the NYSACDL. “Throughout her career, in countless matters that have drawn national attention, Isabelle has fought tirelessly to ensure that the rights and liberties guaranteed under the law are provided to everyone, regardless of their position in society.”
Isabelle has more than 25 years of experience defending individuals in a wide range of criminal matters, including one of the largest criminal tax shelter cases ever brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. She has been involved with investigations and prosecutions relating to securities fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, tax fraud, drug trafficking and violent crimes.
She served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office from 1982 to 1986. She then entered the private sector as a criminal defense attorney and joined Clayman & Rosenberg LLP in 2005. She is also a long time faculty member of the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Isabelle has been appointed to the Criminal Justice Act Committee and the Criminal Justice Advocacy Board for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She served as a member of District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s transition committee and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the New York Council of Defense Attorneys, the New York State Criminal Bar Association and the New York City Criminal Bar Association.
She is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (an organization comprised of the nation’s elite trial lawyers) and served as the Chair of its Downstate New York Committee. She has been selected as a “Super Lawyer” in the New York City Metro area annually since 2008.
“Few attorneys anywhere in America have demonstrated the range of skills and legal acumen that Isabelle provides to her clients every day,” said Charles Clayman, managing partner of Clayman & Rosenberg LLP. “This well-deserved award recognizes a remarkable career dedicated to not only balancing the scales of justice, but to expanding the role that women have played in the criminal justice process. I am honored to call her my partner and congratulate her on this award.”