The Massachusetts Bar Association will honor Past President
David W. White with the MBA President's Award at the May 4 Annual
Dinner. The President's Award is bestowed upon those individuals
who have made a significant contribution to the work of the MBA, to
the preservation of MBA values, to the success of MBA initiatives
and to the promotion of the MBA's leadership role within the legal
community of Massachusetts.
A tireless advocate for lawyers and consumer rights, White has
long been a leader in the Massachusetts legal community. A partner
at Breakstone, White & Gluck in Boston, White specializes in
personal injury and insurance law.
"David is someone who never stops giving back to the legal
community," said MBA President Jeffrey N. Catalano. "In the years
leading up to and then following his presidency of the MBA, David
has been generously giving of his time. In particular, his
continuous leadership of the MBA Annual Dinner Committee, which
this year achieved unprecedented success, ensures that the MBA
remains the commonwealth's 'Preeminent Voice of the Legal
Profession.' I am so deeply grateful for his leadership and his
friendship. This award is so well deserved!"
While serving as MBA president from 2007-08, White formed the Drug
Policy Task Force, which made numerous recommendations for criminal
sentencing reform and drug treatment in Massachusetts. He also led
the Lawyers' Eco-Challenge, encouraging law firms to fight global
warming by changing their office energy use and recycling
practices. He has been involved in several MBA section councils,
educational programs and annual conferences.
Over the past 30 years, White has been honored numerous times for
his achievements. He has been recognized on the Top 100 New England
Super Lawyers list and the Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers
list. For the past 13 years, he has been consistently selected to
the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list as a top personal injury
lawyer for plaintiffs. He also received the President's Award from
the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in
2008.
In 2013, White led Breakstone, White & Gluck in launching its
Project KidSafe campaign, which has since donated more than 10,000
helmets to children in Massachusetts. For this work, White was
recognized in 2014 as a Volunteer of the Year by Boston Bikes, a
City of Boston program.
White is also commissioner of the Massachusetts Access to
Justice Commission. He was appointed to this statewide commission
in 2015. The commission is dedicated to improving legal services to
Massachusetts residents in need.
A Westwood resident, White has served on numerous boards and
commissions, and advocated for safety and preservation of open
space. He founded the non-profit Westwood Land Trust and currently
serves on its board. He is also a member of the Westwood Democratic
Committee. White is a past member of the Westwood Pedestrian and
Bicycle Safety Committee and of the Westwood Sewer
Commission.