WATCH: Joe Crowley honored at the 2025 IrishCentral Legal Elite Awards

The 2025 IrishCentral Legal Elite Awards gathered an inspiring cross-section of Irish American legal talent for an evening of recognition at the American Irish Historical Society. Esteemed guests, including elected officials, community leaders, judges, and members of the Irish American community, joined honorees and nominees to celebrate service and mentorship. 

The ceremony took place in a warm, lively reception hall, where speeches mingled with laughter and the clinking of glasses. Honorees reflected on long careers, recent victories, and the mentors who paved the way, while younger lawyers shared the stage to emphasize generational continuity in the profession.

Attendees included partners from leading law firms, members of the bench, representatives of civic organizations, and former elected officials, all of whom turned out to honor achievement and service. The evening underscored the American Irish Historical Society as a hub for cultural connection and civic recognition within the Irish American community.

Lifetime achievement award - Joe Crowley

Joe Crowley was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a career that bridged politics, policy, and community service. His decades of public service and continued advocacy for Irish American causes anchored the night and set the tone for the awards.

A proud son of Queens, Crowley represented New York in Congress for nearly two decades, during which he chaired caucuses and served on committees that shaped healthcare, tax, and social safety net policy. After Congress, he moved into influential advisory roles where his knowledge of the legislative process continues to inform policy and civic life. 

Technology and law award - Laurence A. Kraemer

Laurence A. Kraemer was honored for his leadership at Northwell Healt,h where he steers legal strategy across a vast healthcare system and supports innovation in health technology. His role at one of New York’s largest health systems exemplifies how in-house counsel can shape the future of care and technology.

Kraemer has guided investments in startups focused on artificial intelligence and genomics while also serving on boards that bridge research and enterprise. His work highlights how legal experts can be architects of responsible innovation in medicine and data. 

Client service excellence award - Daniel S. Connolly

Daniel S. Connolly received recognition for a career defined by zealous client advocacy in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters. As a managing partner, he has led complex cases across banking, construction, and pharmaceutical sectors while advising corporate boards on compliance and ethics.

Connolly’s roots as a Manhattan prosecutor, where he tried scores of cases, inform a courtroom steadiness and an ethic of service that clients rely on in moments of crisis. His award celebrates both legal skill and a steadfast commitment to client outcomes.

Rising star award - Mary Cecelia Johnson

Mary Cecelia Johnson was named Rising Star for her rapid professional growth and public service in the Bronx courtroom. A recent graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, she has quickly distinguished herself as an Assistant District Attorney and a community volunteer.

Beyond her prosecution work, she volunteers with organizations that support athletes with disabilities and mentors young amputees through community groups. Her early career already reflects the blend of courtroom rigor and civic heart that the Rising Star Award seeks to honor. 

Public interest law award - Burton T. Ryan Jr

Burton T. Ryan Jr. was celebrated for a half-century of public-interest work targeting organized crime, narcotics networks, and corruption affecting New Yorkers. His leadership on specialized task forces resulted in a large number of prosecutions and significant restitution for victims.

Now counseling pro bono immigration attorneys and working on constitutional issues, Ryan’s career is a model of public service that adapts to the needs of the community he has served for decades. His award honors sustained impact across generations of cases. 

Mentorship award - Arthur J. Smith

Arthur J. Smith was recognized for a lifetime devoted to trial practice and for shaping the lawyers who followed him. His work in negligence, labor, and toxic tort litigation has been matched by decades of teaching, lecturing, and serving as a judge in moot court competitions.

Colleagues praised Smith for a steady hand in seminars and bar association work that nurtured trial advocacy skills across the region. The Mentorship Award celebrates how one committed practitioner can elevate an entire profession through patient guidance.

Human rights defender award - Anna Marie Gallagher

Anna Marie Gallagher earned the Human Rights Defender Award for three decades of work in refugee and migration law at home and abroad. Her blend of private practice, advocacy, and academic work has supported vulnerable populations and helped establish protections under challenging contexts.

Gallagher’s scholarship and policy work amplify the voices of displaced people and train the next generation of advocates who will continue that mission. The award acknowledges a career dedicated to defending human dignity.

Outstanding community service award - Michael Breen

Michael Breen was honored for sustained leadership in Irish American cultural and educational causes and for channeling resources to community initiatives. His board work with language and educational foundations points to a career that merges legal practice with civic stewardship.

Breen’s dual citizenship and active role in Irish American networks helped ensure that philanthropy and law worked together to support schools and cultural projects. His award celebrates the quiet but transformative work of community builders.