The Burton Awards has recognized Pillsbury partner Elina Teplinsky and senior lawyer Vincent Zabielski as among the finest law firm writers of 2017. Teplinsky and Zabielski have been honored for their article “Whatever Happened to the Nuclear Renaissance,” which appeared in the October 2017 edition of The Energy Industry Times. The Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Awards will be formally announced on May 21 at the 19th annual Burton gala awards ceremony at the Library of Congress.

An Energy partner and key member of Pillsbury’s International Nuclear Projects team, Teplinsky focuses on international nuclear energy matters, including advice to U.S. and global clients on transactional and regulatory issues. She is a trusted advisor to nuclear owner-operators, reactor and equipment suppliers, architect-engineering companies and technical consulting firm on complex nuclear transactional and regulatory matters.

As a senior lawyer in Pillsbury’s Energy practice in London, Zabielski also focuses on international nuclear energy matters, including nuclear new-build EPC contracts, power purchase agreements, operation and maintenance agreements for nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel supply chain, nuclear liability issues and export controls.

The Burton Awards program is funded by the Burton Foundation, a nonprofit, academic effort devoted to recognizing and rewarding excellence in the legal profession. Nominations are submitted by law firms and include exemplary articles that have been published by their lawyers during the past year. Out of the 1,000 largest law firms in the United States, only 25 winners are selected each year.

“Clear, compelling writing is an essential tool for all lawyers,” Law360 general manager Scott Roberts said in a Burton press release announcing the winners. “Law360 is proud to be associated with these awards, which recognize the best of the best writers in the legal profession. We salute all of the winners and commend them on demonstrating these talents and sustaining such high standards of written excellence.”

The Burton Awards also will honor Pillsbury Real Estate partner and Chair Emeritus Jim Rishwain with the 2018 Law Firm Leadership Award at this year’s ceremony. Rishwain will deliver remarks at the awards gala in May during a program that also will feature lawyer and “First Lady of the Supreme Court” Jane Sullivan Roberts, New York Times reporter and CNN Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin and Fox News personality Tucker Carlson.

The Burton Awards are run in association with the Library of Congress, as well as lead sponsor Law360 and the American Bar Association. This year’s awards ceremony and gala will feature a performance by Broadway stars Megan Hilty and Stephanie J. Block from the hit musical Wicked.