D.C. Bar CEO Bob Spagnoletti Wins Bolton Award for Outstanding Leadership
May 12, 2025
The Association for Bar Professionals (NABE) has chosen D.C. Bar CEO Robert J. Spagnoletti as the recipient of its 2025 Bolton Award for Outstanding Bar Leadership, the organization’s highest accolade for professional excellence. Spagnoletti will be honored at NABE’s Annual Meeting in Toronto in August.
Spagnoletti said he was “speechless, which is extremely rare,” when he received the call from NABE President Whitney von Haam. “It’s extremely meaningful that this recognition comes from my peers who understand the importance of serving our members,” Spagnoletti said. “I’m truly honored. I’m also grateful for my incredible colleagues at the D.C. Bar who are essential partners in everything we’ve accomplished. This award reflects their dedication as much as any contribution I’ve made.”
Prior to becoming the Bar’s CEO in 2017, Spagnoletti was a partner for 10 years at Schertler Onorato Mead & Sears. Spagnoletti served as attorney general for the District of Columbia from 2003 to 2006, and as president of the D.C. Bar from 2008 to 2009.
Spagnoletti successfully led the Bar during the global pandemic and through other transformative changes in the legal profession. “Our greatest challenge has been meeting our members where they are, whether they're established practitioners, adapting to new realities, or new lawyers entering a rapidly changing profession,” Spagnoletti said. “Many of our members are engaged in exploring new career paths, struggling with mental health issues, or trying to navigate a constantly changing environment.”
“At the same time, lawyers are learning to adapt to new technology, such as AI,” Spagnoletti continued. “The role of the D.C. Bar is to support our members by providing services and education that will equip them with the skills to practice with excellence. Whether through our upcoming federal attorney summit, Basic Training & Beyond program, Lawyer Assistance Program, Legal Ethics Hotline, Career Center, or MyDCLawyer™, we stand ready to help our members throughout the arc of their careers.”
As CEO, Spagnoletti said he tries to listen to and collaborate with staff and volunteers. “I believe in setting a clear vision and trusting our talented team to execute it in ways that best serve our nearly 121,000 members,” said Spagnoletti, who concurrently serves as executive vice president of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. “I prioritize transparency, inclusive decision-making, staff well-being, and creating an environment where innovation can flourish.”
Both Bar leaders and staff applauded Spagnoletti’s leadership, grace, and professionalism, especially during challenging times. When he first joined the Bar’s Board of Governors, D.C. Bar President Shaun Snyder said he recognized Spagnoletti’s “quiet confidence.”
“Now, as president, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable Bob’s leadership is,” Snyder said. “In a politically complex and sometimes challenging environment, he brings calm, clarity, and a deep understanding of the Bar’s processes and responsibilities.”
Darrin P. Sobin, the Bar’s chief programs officer, praised Spagnoletti’s ability to assemble an effective executive team at the Bar. “These folks include a former physicist who worked at CERN [the European Organization for Nuclear Research], a finance chief who previously managed finances for the national airline pilots’ association, a top former political leader, and others of similar caliber,” Sobin said. “A common thread is that they all recognize great leadership in Bob and understand that through Bob’s vision and execution, the D.C. Bar has become a leader among bar associations. We also recognize Bob’s restraint and patience in his leadership style.”
Chief Information Officer Caterina Luppi cited last year’s launch of the Bar’s MyDCLawyer™, the country’s first AI-powered lawyer referral service platform, as an example of Spagnoletti leading the charge in understanding and incorporating emerging technologies to serve Bar members while making it easier for the public to access legal services.
“Bob is a model of professionalism, consistently upholding the values of integrity, ethical leadership, and transparency,” Luppi said. “His commitment to ethical decision-making and his ability to navigate complex legal and managerial landscapes with grace and fairness have earned him the respect of colleagues, staff, and members alike.”
D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Executive Director Kelli Neptune commended Spagnoletti for his continuing support of efforts to close the access to justice gap for underserved individuals and communities. “Bob’s managerial skills are matched by his creativity,” Neptune said. “He sees around corners and finds solutions others miss. He has a remarkable ability to balance innovation with the practicalities of running a large, complex organization.”
The Bolton Award is named after Fred Bolton, who served as executive director and secretary of the Pennsylvania Bar Association between 1966 and 1977.
