Lifetime Achievement Award
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The MWELA Daniel Katz Memorial Volunteer Award is named in honor of Daniel Katz to commemorate his extraordinary legacy of selfless service and his deep commitment to the rights of the underserved. Throughout his career, Daniel distinguished himself not only as a formidable advocate in wage and hour and discrimination litigation but as a foundational pillar of the pro bono community. As a founding member of the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Employment Justice Center, he dedicated significant time to assisting low-income, Hispanic, and immigrant workers through partnerships with organizations such as First Shift, the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, and the Sexual Assault Legal Institute. By naming this award after him, MWELA recognizes Daniel’s tireless volunteerism and his generous spirit as a mentor, ensuring that his dedication to providing a voice for those most in need continues to inspire future generations of employment lawyers. 2026: Omar Melehy was selected as the inaugural recipient of this award, recognizing his transformative impact on the legal landscape for civil rights practitioners and their clients. Most notably, Omar spearheaded a persistent, multi-year campaign to reform Appendix B of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland’s Local Rules. By securing a critical Fourth Circuit decision on fees and successfully advocating before the Rules Committee, Omar broke through an entrenched barrier to the recovery of adequate attorney’s fees. This "breathtakingly broad" achievement aligns fee-shifting results with legislative intent, ensuring that experienced counsel can afford to represent employees seeking justice. Beyond this systemic victory, Omar’s leadership as a former MWELA President and Board member was vital in shepherding the organization through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. His career-long dedication to low-wage workers and his selfless service to the bar perfectly embody the spirit of volunteerism that this award, named in memory of Daniel Katz, was created to celebrate.
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