Evan Drake ’20 Wins Burton Award in Legal Writing

Evan Drake ’20, Executive Articles Editor of the Brooklyn Journal of International Law, was one of 15 law students nationally to receive the “Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award” from the Burton Awards. He was honored for his note, Sovereign Immunity for Russia's Rocket Engines? Enforcing the "Yukos" Award, 45 Brooklyn Journal of International Law (2019).

The winners were chosen from nominations submitted by professors at renowned colleges around the country. Other recipients this year hailed from George Mason, Fordham, Howard, Stanford, Arizona State, University of Arizona, University of Florida, University of Houston, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, West Virginia University, and William & Mary. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on June 8.

“I am grateful to the editors of the Brooklyn Journal of International Law, past and present, for their support,” said Drake. “It has been a particular privilege to work with Professors Julian Arato, Jean Davis, and Max Shterngel, whose advice and encouragement made my note possible. They taught me to ask the right questions. I am also indebted to Hon. Claire Kelly ’93, who has been a tremendous asset to the Brooklyn Journal of International Law. I was incredibly fortunate to receive her advice during the formative stages of my note.”

“[Evan] stands out as the finest student I have had in my classroom,” said Shterngel, an adjunct professor at the Law School. “His note provocatively explores the question of how prevailing claimants in investor-state arbitrations can look to U.S. courts to secure the assets of sovereign states—an issue as vexing as it is timely. I am eager to see how Evan will continue to apply his formidable legal talents, honed at Brooklyn Law, in his career. “

This is the third year in a row that a Brooklyn Law School student has won the prestigious writing award. Chloe Gordils ’19 and Alexa Bordner ’18, who both served as Executive Articles Editors for the Brooklyn Law Review, were selected for their notes in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Burton Awards, established in 1999, honor the finest accomplishments in law, including writing, reform, public service and interest, regulatory innovation, and lifetime achievements in the profession. This year’s awards are sponsored by Law360 and cosponsored by the American Bar Association and the Library of Congress.