FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2024.
On June 8, 2024, the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (“HBA-NJ”) hosted its 43rd Annual Scholarship Gala & Awards Dinner at The Riverview Ballroom in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. It was a full-house at The Riverview Ballroom, with over 260 attorneys, judges, law students, legal professionals, guests united in celebration of the HBA-NJ’s 2024 Scholarship Recipients and its Corporate Partner of the Year Award, Law Firm of the Year Award, Corporate Attorney of the Year Award, and Margarita Echevarria Trailblazer Award honorees.
Thanks to the continued support of its generous sponsors, the HBA-NJ awarded a total of $53,000 in scholarships. These scholarships were awarded to 18 deserving law school students from Rutgers Law (Newark and Camden), Seton Hall Law, Charles Widger School of Law (Villanova University), City University of New York Law, Irvine School of Law (University of California), and Harvard Law. Scholarships were also awarded to two high school students from Passaic and Union City who participated in the HBA-NJ’s very own American Dream Pipeline Program. The HBA-NJ applauds its scholarship recipients for their academic achievements, their demonstration of perseverance and accomplishment within the Hispanic community, and the great promise they hold for the future of the bar and our community at large.
Further, the HBA-NJ recognized four honorees for their dedication to the mission of the HBA-NJ, their advocacy for diversity and inclusion, and their leadership within their respective spaces. Notably, the HBA-NJ honored Esquire Process Servicing, LLC as Corporate Partner of the Year for its support of the HBA-NJ and its programming, as well as its comprehensive and trusted legal support services nationwide. The HBA-NJ honored Riker Danzig LLP as Law Firm of the Year for its commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and its dedication to the highest standards of professional excellence. The HBA-NJ also awarded its inaugural Corporate Attorney of the Year Award to José Ramón González, Esq., Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Equitable Holdings, Inc., for his exemplary contributions and leadership in the corporate space, as well as his advocacy for underrepresented voices by way of his integral involvement in organizations like Latino Justice PRLDEF, the Latino Donor Collaborative, and the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership & Education (CAALE). The HBA-NJ’s award segment concluded with the recognition of its Margarita Echevarria Trailblazer Award recipient, Daniel Mateo, Esq., a partner at Holland & Knight LLP, the 2023-2024 President of the Hispanic National Bar Association, and a past president of the HBA-NJ. Mateo was highlighted for his longstanding mentorship of Hispanic attorneys in New Jersey and beyond, his extensive work advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives and his courage and foresight as a trailblazer for Hispanic Attorneys.
During the Gala, the HBA-NJ’s 44th President, Jacqueline Peña, congratulated the honorees and spoke of this year’s theme of Pa’lante: Progress Through Purpose. President Peña expressed the HBA-NJ’s pride in helping this year’s scholarship recipients realize their aspirations of becoming future members of the legal community. Ms. Peña also congratulated this year’s award recipients for embodying the spirit of progress through purpose through their work in furthering the interests and representation of members of the Hispanic community.
Gala attendees also enjoyed the guest performance of My Passion Dance Studio from North Bergen, New Jersey, who entertained guests with a salsa dance routine.
The HBA-NJ extends its deepest gratitude to our Gala guests for their generous support and their attendance at this year’s ceremony. We would also like to extend a special thank you to our Gala sponsors:
Annual Underwriter and Diamond Gala Sponsor
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Annual Benefactor and Gold Gala Sponsor
Archer & Greiner, P.C.
Annual Amigo and Platinum Gala Sponsor
Reed Smith LLP
Platinum Gala Sponsors
Day Pitney LLP
Johnson and Johnson
Annual Amigo and Gold Gala Sponsors
Baker Hostetler LLP
Bederson LLP
Bowman and Brooke LLP
Hudson Court Reporting
Riker Danzig LLP
Stark & Stark, P.C.
Annual Primo and Silver Gala Sponsor
Plata Law Group LLC
Silver Gala Sponsors
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Holland & Knight LLP
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About The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
Founded in 1980, the HBA-NJ is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association that is comprised of attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and other professionals who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community.
The purpose of the Association is to serve the public interest: (i) by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, (ii) by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and (iii) by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers.
Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
P.O. Box 25562, Newark, NJ 07101
For press inquiries, please contact: Jacqueline S. Peña, Esq., HBA-NJ President, at Jacqueline.Pena@bowmanandbrooke.com, and Press Secretaries, Janett Smyth at jsmyth@ryker.com and Maria Marrero at m.marrero22@gmail.com
For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, please visit our website at: www.njhba.org.
