Franchise Lawyer David Gurnick New SFVBA President | Lewitt Hackman Attorneys Honored
Photo courtesy San Fernando Valley Bar Association’s Valley Lawyer Magazine
by Lewitt Hackman
September 28, 2012
The San Fernando Valley Bar Association (SFVBA) and Valley Community Legal Foundation (VCLF) held their annual officer installation dinner at a gala celebration Saturday evening.
Our own David Gurnick was installed as SFVBA President for 2012-2013, and Kira S. Masteller was installed as a Trustee. Ms. Masteller also served as emcee for the event. Stephen T. Holzer was installed as a Director for the VCLF.
This is the first time in the SFVBA’s 86 year history that a past president will serve a second term – Mr. Gurnick was president in 1993-1994. In addition to lightheartedly asking attendees to hold the date in 2032 in case he serves again, Mr. Gurnick mentioned our firm’s ongoing commitment to the SFVBA:
Lewitt Hackman is more than a full service law firm. We are a full service supporter of this Bar Association. With past presidents Steve Holzer and Sue Bendavid, Lintz Award winner Barry Harlan, President’s Award winner John Marshall, Trustee and dinner chair Kira Masteller – the firm is ALL IN with this Association.
Other Lewitt Hackman attorneys have also served the SFVBA as members of the Board of Trustees, section chairs, and as various committee chairs. Our firm’s paralegals were instrumental in launching and now running the SFVBA’s new Paralegal Section.
Recognizing the community-minded efforts of all of our attorneys and staff, Managing Shareholder, Keith T. Zimmet said:
“We are very proud of David, Kira and Steve. Our law firm’s highly visible presence at the Installation Gala is a reminder of how dedicated we all are to our local community.”
At the gala, the newly-inducted president was introduced as someone who “loves the law.” Lewitt Hackman founder Leon Lewitt commented that the description is “succinct and accurate, and we are fortunate he is part of our firm.”
Addressing fellow attorneys, Mr. Gurnick explained:
You and I are the ministers or foot soldiers of our society’s core principle. Each day we honor and validate our history of freedom under law… You help the helpless. You give strength to those who feel weak. You give a voice to those who are afraid to speak, or who don’t know what to say…. Your daily work, even when it seems routine or mundane – it is work that holds our society together.
He further expressed a commitment to expand successful programs such as the referral and fee arbitration services, Valley Lawyer magazine, the various law sections, and VCLF.
Mr. Gurnick went on to describe the SFVBA as a geographic bar that serves a dynamically changing community – the sixth largest municipal area in the United States. There are approximately 2,000 attorney members of the SFVBA.