James M. Wadsworth Receives Red Jacket Award

James M. Wadsworth, a partner in Hodgson Russ LLP's Estates & Trusts Practice Group, recently received the Red Jacket Award from the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society at the organization's annual awards dinner. The award is presented annually in recognition of an individual's devotion to civic progress and impact on enhancing awareness of our regional heritage.

Mr. Wadsworth was honored in recognition of his contributions of time, leadership, and vision in service on governing boards of a wide range of charitable, civic, and cultural organizations in the community. Currently the chair of the John. R. Oishei Foundation, Mr. Wadsworth is also a trustee to numerous local foundations. During his more than 40 years at Hodgson Russ, Mr. Wadsworth helped promote the Firm's commitment to Buffalo's heritage, demonstrated by his key role in the Firm's purchase of the historic Guaranty Building downtown.

In his legal practice, Mr. Wadsworth focuses on complex estate planning for high-net-worth individuals and their families. He also has extensive experience counseling clients on structuring planned and estate gifts to charitable organizations. He was formerly the managing partner and chairman of the Firm. 

This year, Mr. Wadsworth was one of three honorees to receive the historical society's highest honor, which is named for a peace medal that President George Washington presented in 1792 to the renowned Seneca leader Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, or Red Jacket. The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society has, since its founding in 1862, served the Buffalo and Western New York community as a vital center for the artifacts, documents, and stories of the people of this region.

With more than 220 attorneys practicing in all major areas of law, Hodgson Russ is among the 200 largest law firms headquartered in the United States. It is one of approximately 100 firms in the country listed in America's Greatest Places to Work With a Law Degree. In June 2005, Hodgson Russ received the Carol S. Knox Family-Friendly Employer Award from the Capital District Women's Bar Association. The Firm, which was established in 1817 and is among the oldest law firms in the United States, is the only law firm that can count two former U.S. presidents, Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland, among its alumni. Hodgson Russ has seven offices: Albany, Buffalo, and Johnstown, and two in New York, New York; Boca Raton, Florida; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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