The 2025 Brennan Legacy Awards
Join us for an evening to honor champions of democracy and justice
April 27, 2026
Cipriani Wall Street
55 Wall Street, NYC
6:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception
7:15 p.m. Dinner and Awards Presentation
Nightcaps Until 10 p.m.
Festive Cocktail Attire
Click here for
sponsorship information*
Honoring
For leading with vision, zeal, and resolve to protect democracy:
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland
Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee
Award Presented By
Chris Hayes
U.S. MS NOW Host, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist and
Best-Selling Author
For courage defending the rule of law amid unprecedented government abuse:
Vanita Gupta
U.S. Associate Attorney General (2021–24)
Award Presented By
Preet Bharara
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (2009–17)
and
Peter Keisler
U.S. Acting Attorney General (2007)
Award Presented By
Donald B. Verrilli, Jr.
Solicitor General of the United States (2011–16)
Featured Performance
Fisk Jubilee Singers
Fisk University’s Historic, Grammy-Winning A Capella Group
Introduced by
Ron Chernow
Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-Winning Author
Featured Speakers
Keynote
Michael Waldman
President & CEO, Brennan Center for Justice
Partnership for Southern Impact
Dr. Agenia Walker Clark
President of Fisk University
and
Dr. Kareem Crayton
Vice President, Washington, D.C., Brennan Center for Justice
Luminary
The John & Wendy Neu Foundation
Champion
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Guardian
Madeline and Alan Blinder
Leslie and Ashish Bhutani
Epstein Partners – UBS
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
Cathleen Shine and Richard D. Pomp
Leader
Robert Atkins
Julie Bowen and Brad Svrluga
Fenwick
Jenner & Block LLP
Tom Healy and Fred P. Hochberg
Charles F. Kettering Foundation
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
David Sussman
Barbara Tarmy & Family
Partner
Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP
Priscilla and Steve Kersten
Latham & Watkins LLP
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Perry Law
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
WilmerHale
Zuckerman Spaeder LLP
Click here for a peek at past Awards Dinners
*The Brennan Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donors wishing to purchase tickets or sponsor a table using funds from a private foundation or a donor-advised fund (DAF) should speak with their financial advisor or counsel about potential implications under federal tax law.
For more information:
awardsdinner@brennan.law.nyu.edu