Judge David Tatel honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at 2025 American Lawyer Industry Awards

Judge Tatel’s career reflects a lifetime of service, advocacy, and legal excellence. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, he filled the seat previously held by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Over nearly 30 years on the bench, Judge Tatel became one of the nation’s most respected jurists, known for his brilliant mind, incisive questioning, and eloquent writing. He presided over some of the most consequential cases of recent decades and was awarded the 2023 American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for his distinguished work on the bench.

Before his judicial appointment, Judge Tatel was a partner at Hogan & Hartson, a predecessor to Hogan Lovells, where he founded and led the firm’s education practice, contributed to its appellate practice, and became a national leader in pro bono work. His accomplishments are all the more extraordinary given that he lost his sight in his thirties.

Judge Tatel is a member of the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In the past, he co-chaired the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Science, Technology and Law, and chaired the boards of The Spencer Foundation and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Earlier in his career, Judge Tatel served as Founding Director of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Director of the National Lawyers’ Committee, and Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Judge Tatel recently authored Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice (Little, Brown, 2024). The book traces his journey from early civil rights advocacy—where he helped lead national efforts for racial equality and education reform—to nearly three decades on the federal bench, where he shaped landmark decisions in environmental and voting rights law. With candor and insight, he reflects on navigating blindness throughout his life, from relying on aides and high-speed audio tools to embracing it fully with the help of his first guide dog, Vixen. His story is one of resilience, brilliance, and unwavering commitment to justice—qualities that earned him this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hogan Lovells is also proud to be recognized by this year's American Lawyer Industry Awards across multiple categories, reflecting the firm’s broad excellence and leadership in the legal profession. The firm is a finalist for:

• Litigator of the Year – Jessica Ellsworth

• Young Lawyer of the Year (Litigation) – Katie Wellington

• Best Provider Collaboration – Hogan Lovells/ELTEMATE and Lineal

These honors reflect the firm’s continued commitment to excellence, innovation, and impact across the legal profession.