Linda A. Klein, senior managing shareholder at Baker Donelson and past president of the American Bar Association (ABA), has been recognized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Southeast Region with its 2020 Elbert P. Tuttle Jurisprudence Award.
Ms. Klein was among the distinguished honorees recognized by the ADL as part of its 23rd Annual Jurisprudence Awards. The Tuttle Award is given each year to a lawyer who best exemplifies ADL's mission "to secure justice and fair treatment for all." In addition to Ms. Klein, the ADL honored the late Congressman John Lewis with its Lifetime Achievement Award and Daniel Huynh of Morris, Manning and Martin LLP with the Emerging Leader Award. The honorees were recognized on August 6, during a special edition of the ADL's Speaking Out in the South webinar series, "An Afternoon of Good Trouble." The webinar featured a panel discussion with Ms. Klein and Mr. Huynh on access to justice and diversity that was moderated by former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Carol Hunstein. A recording of the webinar is available online here.
Event co-chair Robin Sangston of Cox Communications said, "We are honored to bestow the Tuttle Award on Linda Klein, who has been a fierce advocate for justice and civic engagement. Her career exemplifies the values that Judge Tuttle personified – public service, promotion of fundamental civil and human rights for all and pursuit of law for a higher purpose."
Ms. Klein, who is resident in Baker Donelson's Atlanta office, focuses her practice on most types of business dispute prevention and resolution, internal investigations, contract law, professional liability, and risk and crisis management. She has worked extensively with clients in the construction, higher education and pharmaceutical industries.
In addition to her role as past president of the ABA, the world's largest voluntary professional association, Ms. Klein previously served as chair of the ABA's House of Delegates, the association's policymaking body. She has also served as chair of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, chair of the Committee on Rules and Calendar of the House of Delegates, chair of the Coalition for Justice, and chair of ABA Day, the Association's Congressional outreach effort.
The first woman president of the State Bar of Georgia, Ms. Klein received the State Bar's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award in 2015, and in 2011 was recognized with the State Bar's Chief Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism Award. She was recognized with the first Lifetime Achievement Award from The Daily Report in 2015, and was named a "Champion for Justice" by the Georgia Legal Services Program in 2013. In 2018, she was chosen "Attorney of the Year" by the Daily Report. In 2004, the American Bar Association honored Ms. Klein with the prestigious Margaret Brent Achievement Award.
Ms. Klein has delivered the commencement addresses at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School, Georgia State University College of Law, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law, and Washington and Lee University School of Law, her alma mater. She holds honorary Doctorate of Laws degrees from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and Pepperdine University School of Law.
Ms. Klein was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to The Carter Center Board of Councilors for the 2019 – 2022 term. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, executive committee of the Buckhead Coalition, and on the advisory board of Super Lawyers. Ms. Klein is a past president of Southface Energy Institute, the Board of Directors' Network, the Caucus of State Bars, and past chair of both the Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Georgia and the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. She also served a six-year term on Baker Donelson's Board of Directors.