Kim Koopersmith Honored with Fordham Law Medal of Achievement

(New York) – At a ceremony held in New York City, the Fordham Law Alumni Association awarded Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith its Medal of Achievement. This award, bestowed annually since 1952, is presented to an alumnus or alumna of the Law School who has a distinguished career in law or business.

Ms. Koopersmith was introduced by Akin Gump senior counsel Vernon Jordan Jr., who praised her “incisive legal mind” and her role as “an accomplished leader at our firm and in our field, and a force for positive change, for diversity and inclusion.” He added that “[Kim] consistently treats her success as an opportunity and an obligation to lift up those around her…She has used her position to continue advocating for women, for attorneys of color, for flexibility and fairness….”

Ms. Koopersmith, in her remarks, said that her professional journey began at Fordham Law. She noted the role of women in her education, pointing out that two of her four first-year professors were women and highlighting what an “amazing” thing that was in 1981.

In that vein, she described being “overwhelmed” at those who have come before her in receiving this honor, including nine women in the award’s 67 years, quipping, “We’re going to work on that percentage going forward.”

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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