The Charles Siegal Distinguished Service Award was established in 2020 to recognize outstanding contributions to the Branch. After considering several compelling nominations, the Selection Committee, chaired by Michael Scharf and including William Aceves, Christina Cerna, Paul Dubinsky, and Peter Yu, selected David P. Stewart to be the 2022 recipient.

David Stewart has been a longstanding leader in the American Branch. He has served as an ABILA Executive Committee member, Vice-President, President-Elect (2012-2014), President (2014-2018), and Chair of the Board of Directors (2018-2022). Prior to his term as President, he took on many presidential duties, including the Branch Newsletter. During his tenure as President, he organized several conferences, including the inaugural International Law Weekend–South, and served as a key member of the organizing group for the 76th International Law Association Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2014.

Professor Stewart represented the American Branch on ILA committees, including the International Protection of Consumers Committee and the Committee on Protection of Privacy in Private International and Procedural Law. He also led several American Branch committees including as Co-Chair of the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Committee and Co-Chair of the Commercial Dispute Resolution Committee.

Committed to service and innovation, he spearheaded joint initiatives with other organizations, for instance, serving as Co-Director of the 2009-10 ABILA-ASIL study of the implementation of transparency norms in international investment and commercial arbitration. He is a regular panelist and panel chair at International Law Weekends. Professor Stewart has been a mentor to many ABILA members, a friendly and diplomatic colleague, and a willing participant whenever assistance has been needed.