Apr. 26, 2014

Anti-Defamation League toasts top advocates

The Anti-Defamation League's Orange County/Long Beach region honored three attorneys and civil rights advocates with the 2014 Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award, presented April 10 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. The Kaufman award is given annually to attorneys who make significant contributions to their communities and to the legal profession. This year's honorees were Arnold A. Pinkston, executive vice president, general counsel and assistant secretary of Allergan Inc.; Don W. Martens, a firm founder and now of counsel at Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP; and Edmond M. Connor, co-founder of Connor, Fletcher & Hedenkamp LLP. "Don Martens, Ed Connor and Arnie Pinkston are role models to attorneys who care about justice and fair treatment for all," said Michael D. Rubin, regional board chairman of the ADL and a partner with Rutan & Tucker LLP. "They are not only outstanding attorneys, but they all have distinguished careers of pro bono service and commitment to civil rights." More than 400 members of the Orange County business and legal community attended the event, which raised more than $250,000 for ADL's community initiatives that aim to counteract hate and secure justice for all. — Alexandra Schwappach