Washington, D.C., partner Betty Southard Murphy was honored for her outstanding service by the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution at its 2009 Spring Conference, held April 15-18, 2009, in New York City. The first-time award, The Section Chair's Award for Outstanding Service, was bestowed in recognition of Mrs. Murphy's service as Chair of the Section's International Committee from 1995 to 2009.
Mrs. Murphy is the only person to have served as both Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and as Administrator, Wage & Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor. She has had a total of seven Presidential appointments including the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. In 1997 she became the first lawyer in full time private practice elected to the prestigious National Academy of Human Resources.