Holland & Knight Partner Leonard H. Gilbert Receives American College of Bankruptcy's Distinguished Service Award

Tampa, Fla. – March 25, 2011 – Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that Tampa Partner, Leonard H. Gilbert, is the 2011 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award (DSA), the highest honor awarded by the American College of Bankruptcy (the College). The DSA is given annually for significant accomplishments in improving the administration of justice in the insolvency and bankruptcy field, primarily arising from volunteer activities (rather than services to a client or as a judge or other professional). Gilbert was selected for this award for his continuous and dedicated contributions to the College and to the field of bankruptcy law.



The 2010 DSA recipient, Neal Batson, said during his presentation of Gilbert's award on March 18 in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, "I am honored to present the Distinguished Service Award to my friend Leonard Gilbert. His distinguished service has continued for more than half a century."

Gilbert has served with distinction as a Fellow, Regent, Director and the Chair of the Judicial Nominating Committee for the College and as a Director and Treasurer of the College's Foundation. His volunteer activities include professional, charitable and cultural organizations on the local, state, national and international levels which include: President of The Florida Bar, President of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, Chairman of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, President of the Tampa Museum of Art, Chairman of the Arts Council of Tampa and Hillsborough County, President of the Harvard Law School Association of Florida, President of the Midtown Kiwanis Club, Chairman of the General Practice Section and a Member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, Co-Chair of the International Bar Association Section on Insolvency Law, a member of the Judicial Legal Delegation to the People’s Republic of China, and many more.

Gilbert, who was recently recognized by The Bankruptcy Bar Association Southern District of Florida for practicing bankruptcy law for more than 45 years, currently practices at Holland & Knight in the areas of banking, commercial finance, creditors' rights, insolvency, and commercial litigation. In his bankruptcy practice, Gilbert has represented numerous state, national and international banks and other financial institutions and public bodies, secured and unsecured creditors' committees and equity.
Gilbert is a member of the firm’s Financial Services Practice Group. He frequently speaks on legal topics pertaining to his practice and has lectured extensively. He has written for various law reviews, was an editor of Collier on Bankruptcy, has lectured for The Florida Bar, Sections of the American Bar Association, PLI, the International Bar Association, UNC School of Law's Banking Institute, the International Insolvency Institute and the American Bar Foundation.
Gilbert has also recently served as a panelist for The World Bank Insolvency and Creditor/Debtor Regime Task Force meeting held in Washington, D.C. During this two-day meeting, participants from 40 countries review various insolvency regimes and the status of commercial law development globally. Gilbert has participated in World Bank programs since 2001.
About The American College of Bankruptcy: The College is an honorary professional and educational association of bankruptcy and insolvency professionals. It plays an important role in sustaining professional excellence. College Fellows include commercial and consumer bankruptcy attorneys, insolvency accountants, turnaround and workout specialists, law professors, judges, government officials and others involved in the bankruptcy and insolvency community.

Nominees are extended an invitation to join based on a record of achievement reflecting the highest standards of professionalism. The College now has 758 Fellows; each selected by a Board of Regents from among recommendations of the Circuit Admissions Council in each federal judicial circuit and specially appointed Committees for Judicial and Foreign Fellows.

Criteria for selection include: the highest standard of professionalism, ethics, character, integrity, professional expertise and leadership contributing to the enhancement of bankruptcy and insolvency law and practice; sustained evidence of scholarship, teaching, lecturing or writing on bankruptcy or insolvency; and commitment to elevate knowledge and understanding of the profession and public respect for the practice.

About Holland & Knight LLP:  Holland & Knight is a global law firm with approximately 1,000 lawyers in 18 U.S. offices as well as Abu Dhabi, Beijing and Mexico City. The firm is among the nation's largest law firms, providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location. www.hklaw.com