From the Litigation Counsel of America 
The Litigation Counsel of America is pleased to announce that Jeffrey L. O'Hara of Connell Foley in Newark, New Jersey, is a recipient of the Peter Perlman Service Award. The award was presented to Mr. O’Hara by the award’s namesake and 2013 President of the LCA Peter Perlman of Lexington, Kentucky, at the 2019 Fall Conference & Celebration of Fellows held at Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina.
The Peter Perlman Service Award recognizes LCA Fellows who contribute in meaningful ways to society by giving back their time and resources in an effort to improve the lives of others. In the words of Peter Perlman, “The profession of law not only allows us to advocate on behalf of those whose rights need to be protected but gives us a platform to improve the quality of life for those not engaged in the legal system. The betterment of society, the environment, and our way of life, improvement of the positions of people who have faced challenges outside their control, and effecting change on behalf of those without a strong voice are all causes we should take on as professionals as we work within one of the very pillars of our government. The practice of law is what we do, but our opportunities to protect and defend transcend the profession.”
Outside of his 28 year practice focused on civil trial law, Mr. O’Hara has been actively engaged in multiple charitable endeavors during his career. Starting in 2005, as a member of the “IM for Matty” team, he competed in 5 iron-distance triathlons, collectively raising over $100,000 for autism research. From 2010-2014, Mr. O’Hara served as vice-chair of the Board of Directors for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games. More recently, he was accredited by the Department of Veteran Affairs to prepare, present and prosecute claims for veterans’ benefits. Arising directly from his pro bono representation of Command Chief Master Sergeant William “Calvin” Markham, Mr. O’Hara and Chief Markham have co-founded One Vet @ A Time, Inc., d/b/a Project OVAT, a non-profit entity focused exclusively on providing legal and medical support at no cost to select veterans pursuing VA disability claims.
Pictured: Peter Perlman and Jeffrey O'Hara
The Litigation Counsel of America is a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Fellows are selected based upon excellence and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. The LCA is aggressively diverse in its composition. Established as a trial and appellate lawyer honorary society reflecting the American bar in the twenty-first century, the LCA represents the best in law among its membership. The number of Fellowships has been kept at an exclusive limit by design, allowing qualifications, diversity and inclusion to align effectively. The LCA has offices in New York, NY, Washington, DC, Birmingham, AL, and Seaside, FL.
For more information about the Peter Perlman Service Awards or the Litigation Counsel of America, please contact Beth Rich at beth.rich@litcounsel.org or 212-724-4128.