HANOVER, Md. — Legal compliance services leader Hudson Cook LLP announced this week that partners Thomas B. Hudson and Michael Benoit were honored by the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers.

Hudson was awarded the prestigious Senator William Proxmire Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor reserved for attorneys who make only the most significant contributions to the field. In the history of the award, it has been given to only two other attorneys that are currently in active practice.

"I’m both proud and pleased that the College has selected Tom Hudson for this award, and this firm is honored by the selection of its chairman," said Robert Cook, managing partner at Hudco. "The College’s members are the finest consumer financial services lawyers in the nation. For Tom to be recognized as a leader by the College is of particular significance."

Hudson created the popular monthly legal reporting services CARLAW and HouseLaw, as well as Spot Delivery, a monthly newsletter for auto dealers. He has authored and edited three books on the topic of auto sales, finance and leasing. He writes a monthly column for Special Finance and is a frequent speaker at industry events.

Benoit, a partner in the firm's Washington D.C. office and an F&I Management & Technology and Special Finance contributor, was elected to the ACCFSL's professional association. The College’s invitation-only membership is limited to lawyers who make significant contributions to the practice of consumer financial services law.

“We are proud and pleased that the college has selected Michael," Cook said. "The firm is honored by Michael’s selection, and we congratulate him."

Benoit is a cum laude graduate of the Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a member of the District of Columbia and Ohio Bars. He also is a member of the American Bar Association and its section on business law, where he serves on the Consumer Financial Services Committee.