BY JENNA FELDMAN — The 2014 recipient of the Daniel E. Murray Distinguished Service Award is Brian Toth, J.D. ’08. The University of Miami Law Review presents this award annually to an alumnus of the Law Review for distinguished achievement in the field of law and continued dedication to the Law Review. This year’s award was presented to Mr. Toth on Saturday, November 1, 2014, at the University of Miami School of Law’s Alumni Homecoming Breakfast. Joanne Koren, the 2013 recipient, and Karla Albite, Volume 69 Editor-in-Chief, presented Mr. Toth with the award.
The Daniel E. Murray Distinguished Service Award was established in 2008 in honor of Mr. Daniel E. Murray, a beloved professor and faculty advisor to the University of Miami Law Review for over thirty-five years. During his lifetime, Daniel E. Murray embodied dedication, service, and scholarship. Before commencing his study of law in 1946, Mr. Murray served with the United States Army during World War II, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and receiving two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and the World War II Victory Medal. After graduating from law school and working in private practice, Mr. Murray became a beloved and legendary professor of commercial law at the University of Miami. During his career, Mr. Murray tirelessly pursued legal research and writing, publishing eighty-seven law review articles and co-authoring a book.
The Law Review’s Executive Board enthusiastically voted to recognize Mr. Toth as this year’s award recipient. After graduating from Tulane University, Mr. Toth served as a Teach For America Corps Member in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a law student, Mr. Toth served as Executive Editor of Volume 62 of the University of Miami Law Review. He was also a fellow in the Health Rights Clinic and a member of the Society of Bar & Gavel. Mr. Toth graduated from the Law School in 2008 magna cum laude and was elected to the Order of the Coif. After graduation, Mr. Toth clerked for the Honorable Cecilia M. Altonaga at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Currently, he is a litigation associate at the law firm of Holland & Knight where he has been named a Public and Charitable Service All-Star of 2014. Further, the Daily Business Review recently named Mr. Toth a finalist in its annual Most Effective Lawyers recognition program in both the class action and public interest law categories.
In addition to contributing to the South Florida legal community, Mr. Toth has provided invaluable guidance and support to the Law Review as a member of the Law Review’s Alumni Advisory Board. He actively participates in Law Review alumni events and meetings and offers many ideas to better the Law Review. Mr. Toth’s guidance led to the first ever Alumni and Executive Board Kick-Off reception held in April 2014. His contributions also led to the development of the Law Review’s Young Alumni Council. Congratulations again to Brian Toth on being named the 2014 recipient of the Daniel E. Murray Distinguished Service Award.
