BOSTON – Oct. 24, 2024 – Robert A. Sherman, senior counsel at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP and former U.S. ambassador to Portugal, was awarded an International Leadership Award by the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS). The PALCUS Leadership Awards are presented annually to outstanding Portuguese-Americans who have distinguished themselves with noteworthy achievements in their professions or service to the community. Sherman and fellow honorees were honored Oct. 11-12 at the annual PALCUS Leadership Award Gala, where they were recognized for their personal accomplishments as well as for the honor that they have brought to the Portuguese-American community.
PALCUS Chair Katherine S. Soares said, "Ambassador Robert Sherman and fellow honoree Kim Sawyer exemplify the spirit of true leadership through their unwavering commitment to fostering connections between Portugal and the United States. Their dedication to cultural exchange, diplomacy and community support through initiatives like Connect to Success not only enriches our nations but inspires others to follow in their footsteps. We are honored to recognize their profound impact and tireless efforts in strengthening these vital ties."
“We congratulate Bob on receiving the prestigious International Leadership Award from PALCUS,” Greenberg Traurig Boston office Co-Managing Shareholders David J. Dykeman and Terence P. McCourt said in a joint statement. “Bob’s extraordinary service as U.S. ambassador to Portugal and his tireless efforts to strengthen ties between Portugal and the United States are truly inspiring. This award is a testament to his extraordinary leadership, diplomacy, and commitment to fostering global collaboration.”
During the course of his 40+ year career, Sherman has held both public and private sector roles. From 2014-2017, he served as the U.S. ambassador to Portugal, having been nominated by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate. As ambassador, he focused heavily on bilateral economic development and international security issues, such as cybersecurity, refugees, narcoterrorism, and NATO. In recognition of his work in the country,
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa decorated him with the country’s highest civilian award, the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator.
Sherman is a founding member and former co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Boston office. He has wide-ranging trial and regulatory experience in the areas of government investigations and litigation, internal corporate investigations — with an emphasis on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance — as well as consumer protection matters. Sherman has also represented clients in complex, high-profile cases, including those that have generated significant media attention. He served as co-lead counsel for hundreds of victims in the Boston Archdiocese clergy abuse scandal, which was the subject of the Academy Award-winning movie Spotlight.
Sherman was selected as a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly 2024 Hall of Fame honoree. He also received a Lifetime Achievement award from Law.com, and is regularly recognized for his legal contributions by the top peer-ranked legal honors in the world, including Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who in American Law, Super Lawyers of Massachusetts, and New England Super Lawyers. Sherman holds appointments as a distinguished visiting professor at universities on both sides of the Atlantic.
PALCUS is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 by a group of Portuguese-Americans with the purpose of “providing a singular national voice that would advocate for the interests of Portuguese-Americans in the United States.” PALCUS’s goal was to establish and maintain communication between the Portuguese government and the U.S. congressional delegation representing Portuguese-American communities.