William C. Burton
Encyclopedia
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William C. Burton is a partner in the law firm
of Sagat Burton LLP, Park Avenue
, New York
. His practice is devoted primarily to lobbying
for banking, financial services
and insurance
business interests. As an attorney
, Mr. Burton has devoted the past twelve years to promoting the legal profession and enhancing legal writing
. He is an established author in law who has published one of the most authoritative legal reference books entitled, BURTON’S LEGAL THESAURUS. Mr. Burton served as Assistant Attorney General, as well as an Assistant New York State Special Prosecutor. Previously, Mr. Burton was Director of Government Affairs for Continental Insurance, and a partner in the law firm of D'Amato & Lynch LLP.
with his wife Michele. He serves as the Village of East Hills' Village’s Attorney for the past thirteen years. Mr. Burton has two children, Marni and Brian Burton. Marni is a prominent hair and makeup artist and represented by Agency Gerard Artists. Brian is a fifth year practicing lawyer at Proskauer Rose
in New York City
. Mr. Burton attended Long Island University
for both his Bachelors (1971) and Masters Degrees (1972), where he majored in Political Science. He received a scholarship during his graduate degree and worked at his father's Public Relations and Advertising Firm during college. He graduated from Hofstra University School of Law
in 1975. Mr. Burton is admitted as a member of the bar in both New York and Florida
.
In 1999, Mr. Burton created the Burton Foundation, which promotes the practice and the profession of law. The program is a non-profit, academic organization that rewards the finest achievements in law, including excellent legal writing. Each year more than 50 awards are given out to the leading members of the legal profession including professors, partners in leading law firms, general counsel in the largest corporations in America and other leaders in law. The program is run in association with the Library of Congress
in Washington, D.C.
Prominent officials who have been guest speakers at the event have included Supreme Court Justice Breyer, Justice Scalia, Justice Ginsburg, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor
. In the past, other well-known dignitaries have participated in the program including Tom Brokaw
, Bob Schieffer
, Tim Russert
, Chris Matthews
, George Will
and master of ceremonies Bill Press
.
Mr. Burton is the author of BURTON'S LEGAL THESAURUS (McGraw-Hill
). The book is the first thesaurus
ever published in the legal profession. The standard reference tool is now in its fourth edition, and was published in 1980. The introduction is by Justice William O. Douglas
. When the book was published, The Association of American Publishers
presented Mr. Burton with an award for having written one of the most innovative and creative projects of the year.
In an in-depth empirical study, entitled “Beyond Black’s and Webster’s: The Persuasive Value of Thesauri in legal Research and Writing" author and adjunct legal writing instructor at the University of Minnesota Law School
Brian Craig affirms “Burton’s Legal Thesaurus as the leading legal thesaurus.” The authoritative reference was held to be the most relied upon thesaurus in law based on the frequency of citations in written decisions by the Supreme Court and Federal and State Courts.
Since 2001 the “courts have particularly favored Burton's Legal Thesaurus." Over the past five years there has been a “threefold disparity between Burton’s legal thesaurus and its competition.”
Mr. Burton has also authored two articles for the New York State Bar Journal on campaign financing.
Recently in 2010, the Legal Writing Institute
awarded Mr. Burton the Golden Pen Award, which is given to those who have a positive impact on the field of Legal Writing. The Legal Writing Institute is the second largest association of law firm professors in the United States
. It has over 2,000 members world-wide.
In June, the Friends of the Law Library of Congress presented Mr. Burton with the "Blackstone Award" for exemplifying the best objectives of the Law Library of Congress and his contributions to the institution. Also honored with Mr. Burton was former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stephens. The Justice succeeded William O. Douglas who wrote the introduction to Mr. Burton's book.
William C. Burton is a partner in the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Sagat Burton LLP, Park Avenue
Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His practice is devoted primarily to lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
for banking, financial services
Financial services
Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,...
and insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
business interests. As an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Mr. Burton has devoted the past twelve years to promoting the legal profession and enhancing legal writing
Legal writing
Legal writing is a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators, and others in law to express legal analysis and legal rights and duties.- Authority :...
. He is an established author in law who has published one of the most authoritative legal reference books entitled, BURTON’S LEGAL THESAURUS. Mr. Burton served as Assistant Attorney General, as well as an Assistant New York State Special Prosecutor. Previously, Mr. Burton was Director of Government Affairs for Continental Insurance, and a partner in the law firm of D'Amato & Lynch LLP.
Early Life
Mr. Burton grew-up in Great Neck, New York. He now resides in East Hills, New YorkEast Hills, New York
East Hills is a village in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. It is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area, which is anchored by the Village of Roslyn...
with his wife Michele. He serves as the Village of East Hills' Village’s Attorney for the past thirteen years. Mr. Burton has two children, Marni and Brian Burton. Marni is a prominent hair and makeup artist and represented by Agency Gerard Artists. Brian is a fifth year practicing lawyer at Proskauer Rose
Proskauer Rose
Proskauer Rose is one of the largest law firms in the United States, with twelve offices in the United States and around the world...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Mr. Burton attended Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
for both his Bachelors (1971) and Masters Degrees (1972), where he majored in Political Science. He received a scholarship during his graduate degree and worked at his father's Public Relations and Advertising Firm during college. He graduated from Hofstra University School of Law
Hofstra University School of Law
The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is located in Hempstead, New York. Founded in 1970 and accredited by the ABA in 1971, the school offers a JD, a joint JD/MBA degree, and LL.M degrees in American Law and Family law...
in 1975. Mr. Burton is admitted as a member of the bar in both New York and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
The Burton Awards
-->In 1999, Mr. Burton created the Burton Foundation, which promotes the practice and the profession of law. The program is a non-profit, academic organization that rewards the finest achievements in law, including excellent legal writing. Each year more than 50 awards are given out to the leading members of the legal profession including professors, partners in leading law firms, general counsel in the largest corporations in America and other leaders in law. The program is run in association with the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Prominent officials who have been guest speakers at the event have included Supreme Court Justice Breyer, Justice Scalia, Justice Ginsburg, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Maria Sotomayor is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 2009. Sotomayor is the Court's 111th justice, its first Hispanic justice, and its third female justice....
. In the past, other well-known dignitaries have participated in the program including Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw
Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors...
, Bob Schieffer
Bob Schieffer
Bob Lloyd Schieffer is an American television journalist who has been with CBS News since 1969, serving 23 years as anchor on the Saturday edition of CBS Evening News from 1973 to 1996; chief Washington correspondent since 1982, moderator of the Sunday public affairs show Face the Nation since...
, Tim Russert
Tim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
, Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews
Christopher John "Chris" Matthews is an American news anchor and political commentator, known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, which is televised on the American cable television channel MSNBC...
, George Will
George Will
George Frederick Will is an American newspaper columnist, journalist, and author. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winner best known for his conservative commentary on politics...
and master of ceremonies Bill Press
Bill Press
William "Bill" Press is a US talk radio host, political commentator and author.-Career:Press has a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Niagara University and Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the University of Fribourg. He started his broadcasting career in Los Angeles for TV stations KABC-TV and...
.
Published Works
-->Mr. Burton is the author of BURTON'S LEGAL THESAURUS (McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
). The book is the first thesaurus
Thesaurus
A thesaurus is a reference work that lists words grouped together according to similarity of meaning , in contrast to a dictionary, which contains definitions and pronunciations...
ever published in the legal profession. The standard reference tool is now in its fourth edition, and was published in 1980. The introduction is by Justice William O. Douglas
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...
. When the book was published, The Association of American Publishers
Association of American Publishers
The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the American book publishing industry. AAP has more than 300 members, including most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly...
presented Mr. Burton with an award for having written one of the most innovative and creative projects of the year.
In an in-depth empirical study, entitled “Beyond Black’s and Webster’s: The Persuasive Value of Thesauri in legal Research and Writing" author and adjunct legal writing instructor at the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
Brian Craig affirms “Burton’s Legal Thesaurus as the leading legal thesaurus.” The authoritative reference was held to be the most relied upon thesaurus in law based on the frequency of citations in written decisions by the Supreme Court and Federal and State Courts.
Since 2001 the “courts have particularly favored Burton's Legal Thesaurus." Over the past five years there has been a “threefold disparity between Burton’s legal thesaurus and its competition.”
Mr. Burton has also authored two articles for the New York State Bar Journal on campaign financing.
Awards
-->Recently in 2010, the Legal Writing Institute
Legal Writing Institute
The Legal Writing Institute is "a non-profit organization dedicated to improving legal writing by providing a forum for discussion and scholarship about legal writing, analysis, and research." LWI maintains several resources for its members including a national conference held every two years,...
awarded Mr. Burton the Golden Pen Award, which is given to those who have a positive impact on the field of Legal Writing. The Legal Writing Institute is the second largest association of law firm professors in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has over 2,000 members world-wide.
In June, the Friends of the Law Library of Congress presented Mr. Burton with the "Blackstone Award" for exemplifying the best objectives of the Law Library of Congress and his contributions to the institution. Also honored with Mr. Burton was former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stephens. The Justice succeeded William O. Douglas who wrote the introduction to Mr. Burton's book.