The Oakland County Bar Association will salute outstanding leaders in the law and celebrate another amazing year with judges, OCBA leadership, and other OCBA members at its 91st Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Kingsley Hotel, 39475 Woodward Ave. in Bloomfield Hills.
During the event, the OCBA will recognize the 2025 OCBA award recipients, members achieving 40 years in legal practice in Michigan, and those who have been a loyal member of the OCBA for 50 consecutive years. In addition, outgoing OCBA President Dean M. Googasian will pass the gavel to incoming President Sarah E. Kuchon. She will be sworn in as the bar’s 93rd president, and her first action as the new leader will be to deliver remarks about her vision for the year ahead.
The 2025 award recipients include:
• Bonnie L. Beutler Outstanding New Lawyer Award—Sean P. Murphy, Michigan Court of Appeals
• Committee of the Year Award—Legislative Committee, co-chair Sheldon Larky and co-chair Klint K. Kesto, Kesto Law
• Lakeshore Legal Aid Pro Bono Award—Ellen M. Paynter, Paynter & Associates
• S. Gerald Gorcyca Meritorious Service to Veterans Award—Oakland County 51st District Court Judge Richard Kuhn Jr.
• Allene and Martin Doctoroff Liberty Bell Award—Khadija Walker-Fobbs, Oakland County Neighborhood & Housing Development
• Professionalism Award—Cary S. McGehee, Pitt, McGehee, Palmer, Bonanni, & Rivers PC
• Distinguished Public Servant Award—retired Judge Phyllis C. McMillen
• Distinguished Service Award—Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kameshia D. Gant and Andrew M. Harris, Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller PC
• Distinguished Career Achievement Award—Edward H. Pappas, Dickinson Wright PLLC
Sponsorships fitting a variety of budgets are available for the Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony. Anyone interested in a particular sponsorship should contact Jennifer Quick via email at jquick@ocba.org or call 248-334-3400 to discuss options.
Ticket for the 91st Annual Meeting &?Awards Ceremony are $100 for general registration and $80 for OCBA new lawyers (P83548+), paralegals, and students. To register, visit www.ocba.org and click on “events.”
