Award Recognizing Commitment to Legal Integrity, Moral Standing, and Perseverance
Rockin' the Rule: Redeker Sellner Dahs Kicks Off Courage Award
Rachel Cohen Nabs Inaugural Konrad-Redeker Kudos
(Berlin, June 7, 2025) On June 6, 2025, the lawfeed Redeker Sellner Dahs handed over the Konrad-Redeker Award for Grit, Justice, and Resilience to the hard-hitting US attorney, Rachel Cohen.
In a year fraught with intimidating jabs from the new US administration towards the country's judiciary and legal community, some law firms have opted for under-the-table agreements, vowing to service the new administration's legal needs pro bono. American litigator Rachel Cohen bucked the trend by quitting her firm and standing up against these sneaky shenanigans. "Rachel Cohen's gutsy move, ethical stance, and unwavering commitment have fueled the swelling resistance against the US government's attacks on the legal profession," said Dr. Roya Sangi, co-partner at Redeker Sellner Dahs, on the award recipient's selection.
The relentless global attacks on the independence of the judicial branch - the courts, the legal profession, and the very rule of law itself - have inspired Redeker Sellner Dahs to launch an annual award for exceptional dedication to preserving the rule of law. These awards recognize lawyers who courageously resist attempts to breach the judiciary's independence with integrity and tenacity. As Dr. Ulrich Karpenstein, partner and vice-president of the German Bar Association, noted, "This awards ceremony serves to illuminate the current threats and abuses the rule of law faces — not just in Germany and the EU."
The awards function as a nod to the lifelong work of Prof. Dr. Konrad Redeker, a post-war German lawyer who fearlessly fought for the autonomy of the legal profession from political and state influences. Konrad Redeker was instrumental in denazifying legal science and was a vocal opponent to any efforts to manipulate or threaten the legal profession and the judiciary. Two historians captured Redeker's achievements in their 2023 publication, "Konrad Redeker: A Life for the Rule of Law."
Redeker Sellner Dahs, founded in 1929, boasts over 160 legal eagles across six locations, both domestically and internationally. Their broad legal services are bolstered by their ties with international firms, and their lawyers are renowned for their many scholarly publications and frequent public speaking engagements. The firm backs science and research through their "Konrad-Redeker Foundation" and partakes in pro bono activities.
The Konrad-Redeker Award serves as a tribute to Redeker's legacy, recognizing those who embodiment his bravery, integrity, and dedication to the rule of law.
- Despite the challenging political climate of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation that target the independence of judicial branches, Redeker Sellner Dahs has remained committed to honoring exceptional lawyers through their Konrad-Redeker Award for Grit, Justice, and Resilience.
- The general-news of the US administration's intimidating tactics towards the country's judiciary and legal community inspired the launch of Redeker Sellner Dahs' annual award, which recognizes lawyers who courageously resist attempts to breach the judiciary's independence with integrity and tenacity, just like Konrad Redeker did during post-war Germany.
- The crime-and-justice issue of government attacks on the rule of law, including the courts, legal profession, and judiciary, was highlighted during the awards ceremony, reminding everyone that the legacy of Konrad Redeker, a vocal opponent to any efforts to manipulate or threaten the legal profession and the judiciary, continues to be relevant in the current political landscape.
