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Law Practice Basil A. Paterson is a Member of the law firm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. and co-chair of the firm’s Labor practice. Among the more than forty labor unions the firm has as clients, Mr. Paterson personally represents Local 1199/SEIU; Local 237 (the largest Teamsters local in the U.S.); the United Federation of Teachers and Local 100/Transport Workers Union.Professional ProfileMr. Paterson has served as New York’s Secretary of State and as New York City Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations and Personnel. He has also served as a New York State Senator, Vice Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, and as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Mr. Paterson chaired the New York City Mayor’s Judiciary Committee for four years, and the New York State Governor’s Judicial Screening Panel for the Second Department for eight years. He recently ended his tenure at the Commission on Judicial Nominations after serving for twelve years. He also served for ten years as a member of the Board of Editors of the New York Law Journal. He was in 2003 appointed to the newly formed Commission to Promote Public Confidence in Judicial Elections. Also, in 2003, Mr. Paterson was elected Chairman of the KeySpan Foundation Board of Directors. Mr. Paterson has served as Co-Chairman of the New York State Governor’s Commission on Determinate Sentencing, and the New York State Commission on Powers of Local Government. He has the distinction of having served as the Chair of the first Arbitration Panel mandated by New York State legislation.Education Basil Paterson attended New York City public schools and graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School, for which he was honored at its Centennial Celebration as Alumnus of the Year. He has been a Visiting Professor at State University of New Paltz, an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University School of Education, and a Visiting Professor at Hunter College.Recognition Mr. Paterson is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Pierre Toussaint Award from the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the Robert J. Kibbee Award for Public Service and Achievement from the City University of New York, the Council of Senior Centers and Services’ Advocate for the Aging Award, and has received citations from the Franciscan Handmaids of Mary and the Tri-State Consortium of Opportunity Programs in Higher Education. Mr. Paterson was presented with the President’s Award by St. John’s University Law School in 2003 for his exceptional personal and professional success and the outstanding service he has rendered to the University and society. In 2006, Mr. Paterson was awarded the "Community Service Award" by North General Hospital at their Visonary Awards gala in New York City.Mr. Paterson is rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level in professional excellence and ethics. | 