Bar Foundation Awards
The New Hampshire Bar Foundation recognizes the contributions of members of the legal community towards ensuring access to legal justice in New Hampshire with the following awards.
Frank Rowe Kenison and Robert E. Kirby Award Nominations:
We are now accepting nominations for the Frank Rowe Kenison and Robert E. Kirby awards which will be given out the Bar Foundation Annual Dinner on October 9, 2025, at Manchester Country Club. Please submit your nomination to be considered by the ward committees on or before August 15, 2025.Nominate someone for the Frank Rowe Kenison Award.
Nominate someone for the Robert E. Kirby Award.
Frank Rowe Kenison Award
Robert E. Kirby Award
Nixon-Zachos Award
Frank Rowe Kenison Award
The Kenison Award was established by the Bar Foundation to recognize an individual (or individuals) who makes substantial contributions to the betterment of New Hampshire citizens through the administration of justice, the legal profession, or the advancement of legal thought. The award is made annually, selected by vote of the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Bar Foundation. Recipients need not be members of the New Hampshire Bar Association, but are carefully chosen to honor individuals who meet the criteria for the award in its broadest sense.
Frank Rowe Kenison (1907-1980) was a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association for 48 years, and served as Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1952 to 1977. He was an exquisite legal thinker who committed his life to the legal system, education about the law, and the promise of equal justice for all.
Recipients are listed below with their firm affiliation at the time of the award.
Frank Rowe Kenison Award Recipients
2024 | Robert P. Sullivan |
2023 | Hon. Gary E. Hicks |
2021 | Steven B. Scudder |
2020 | Hon. Norman H. Stahl, (deceased) |
2019 | Hon. Jeffrey R. Howard |
2018 | Hon. Joseph P. Nadeau, retired |
2017 | Professor John Garvey |
2016 | Hon. Paul Barbadoro |
2015 | Hon. Chief Justice Linda Stewart Dalianis, retired |
2014 | Hon. Kenneth R. McHugh (retired) |
2014 | Hon. Amy Beth Messer |
2013 | Claire Ebel (deceased) |
2012 | David L. Nixon (deceased) |
2011 | Hon. Chief Justice Dean John T. Broderick, Jr., retired |
2010 | Howard J. Zibel |
2009 | Hon. Jacalyn A. Colburn, Richard Guerriero |
2008 | Hon. Francis J. Frasier |
2007 | Frederic K. Upton (deceased) |
2006 | Elliott Berry |
2005 | Nina C. Gardner |
2004 | Jack B. Middleton |
2003 | Ronald K. Lospennato |
2002 | Hon. James E. Duggan (deceased) |
2001 | Marcia Sink |
2000 | Hon. Susan B. Carbon |
1999 | John E. Tobin, Jr. |
1998 | Hon. Edwin W. Kelly |
Robert E. Kirby Award
The Robert E. Kirby Award was established in 1996 to honor the memory of Bob Kirby, a young lawyer “of great skill, civility and good humor” who died that year at the age of 35. Kirby was an attorney with the Concord law firm of Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell.
The purpose of the award is to honor Bob’s memory and to remind all of us that decency, courtesy and perspective neither inhibits nor defeats excellent advocacy. The Kirby Award recipient is an attorney 35 years old or younger who demonstrates the traits of civility, courtesy, perspective and excellent advocacy.
Recipients are listed below with their firm affiliation at the time of the award.
Robert E. Kirby Award Recipients
2024 | Israel F. Piedra |
2023 | Lyndsay N. Robinson |
2021 | Megan C. Carrier Henry R. Klementowicz |
2020 | Caroline K. Leonard |
2019 | Hon. Sandra L. Cabrera |
2018 | Nicholas E. Abramsom |
2017 | Rory Parnell |
2016 | Anthony Galdieri |
2015 | Jonathan Eck |
2014 | Julian B. Jefferson |
2013 | Daniel J. Feltes |
2012 | Michael S. Lewis |
2011 | Holly B. Haines |
2010 | Sarah E. Mattson Dustin |
2009 | Jaye L. Rancourt |
2008 | Charles J. Keefe |
2007 | Joceline D. Champagne |
2006 | Mary Ann Dempsey |
2005 | Mary E. Tenn |
2004 | Kelly Ayotte |
2003 | Jennifer Parent |
2002 | Hon. John T. Pendleton |
2001 | Hon. Joseph N. Laplante |
1999 | James J. Tenn, Jr. |
1998 | Diane Murphy Quinlan |
1997 | Hon. Mark E. Howard |
1996 | John P. Kacavas |
Nixon-Zachos Award
The Nixon-Zachos Award was created to honor the memory of David Nixon and Kimon Zachos, two New Hampshire attorneys who were leaders in the law and in their community. Both were active members of the New Hampshire Bar Foundation and the Bar Association. They were preeminent lawyers, but some of their most important contributions were to their communities generally. Through their work, they emphasized the important role of lawyers – including shaping the law, serving in the state legislature and working to ensure that we remain a society in which all stand equal before the law.
*Only Fellows of the NH Bar Foundation may submit nominations for this award*
Nixon-Zachos Award Recipients
2025 | Bradford E. Cook |
2024 | Hon. John T. Broderick, retired |
2021 | Rodney N. Dyer |
2019 | Anthony A. McManus |
2018 | David H. Bradley |
2017 | Claudia C. Damon |
2016 | Jack B. Middleton |
Kimon Zachos
1930 – 2014
David Nixon
1932 – 2014
