The 2009 honorees were George Canellos, Regional Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Attorney of the Year John Stratakis, a partner of Poles, Tublin, Stratakis & Gonzalez LLP. The HLA also awarded six scholarships to deserving law students, four of which were contributed by generous benefactors including the law firms of Hughes, Hubbard & Reed; Poles, Tublin, Stratakis & Gonzalez LLP; former Attorney of the Year Nick Papain, Esq., and Proto Insurance. That evening over $5,000 was raised at the silent auction for future award scholarship recipients.

In her welcome remarks, the President of the Hellenic Lawyers Association Mamie Stathatos-Fulgieri observed that despite an uncertain economic climate, the Association "continues to prosper and succeed" and the dinner gala was a paradigm of its ongoing achievements. Also in attendance was the Consul General of Greece, Honorable Aghi Balta, along with numerous federal and state judges, prominent politicians, community leaders, and attorneys from large and small law firms and government practice.

Mr. George Canellos, the highest ranking SEC official in New York, accepted an award plaque on behalf of his SEC colleagues who have worked hard to protect investors. Canellos spoke fondly of his maternal grandfather, who at the age of 15 came to New York from the Peloponnesus in June 1921 - a few months following the Titanic tragedy. He joked how his grandfather and fellow passengers spent the entire voyage looking for icebergs in the ocean, in the middle of the summer. Cannellos’ grandfather was the first Greek to graduate Harvard Medical School, and was a great inspiration to him.

The 2009 Attorney of the Year, John Stratakis, humbly and with deep emotion accepted his award. He was recognized not only for his thriving law practice, but for his generous philanthropic efforts. “I am grateful to the Board of the HLA for the honor; it is especially gratifying to receive an award from one’s peers... I am deeply touched to receive this award, and especially when our community has such a large pool of incredibly talented and capable attorneys. It is important that our community coalesce behind professional organizations that uphold our values such as the HLA,” Stratakis said in his acceptance remarks.

The absence of one of the most notable founding members of the organization, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas of the US Court of International Trade, was felt by all as he was recovering at Massachusetts. Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the US District Court expressed warm regards from Judge Tsoucalas, who is expected to be at the gala next year.

The Hellenic Lawyers Association is the premier organization for attorneys of Hellenic descent in the New York metropolitan area. As such, it provides seminars, training and networking opportunities for its members. For more information HLA’s website is http://helleniclawyersassociation.org/