Celeste del Carmen Tabares, second from left, is congratulated on her ABA award by (L-R) Daniel P. Collins, United States Bankruptcy Judge, District of Arizona; fellow 20/20 award recipient Andrew B. Haynes; Haynes’s partner Christopher C. Simpson; and Engelman Berger Shareholder Bradley D. Pack
Celeste del Carmen Tabares has been awarded the prestigious “20/20 Partners Rising Young Leaders Award,” presented at the American Bar Association Business Law Section Spring Meeting, which was held April 16–18, 2026, in Atlanta.
The award honors standout early-career attorneys in the business bankruptcy field who demonstrate exceptional leadership, professional excellence, and a commitment to service. Tabares was selected for her high-caliber legal work, growing leadership within the profession, and meaningful contributions to the communities she serves.
A member of Engelman Berger’s Creditor’s Rights, Bankruptcy, and Litigation groups, Tabares launched her legal career on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, advocating for vulnerable tenants through the Tenants Eviction Assistance Project in Phoenix. A Flagstaff native and fluent Spanish speaker, she continues to bring both skill and purpose to her work, using the law as a tool for impact. She is admitted to practice in Arizona, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Court, Colorado River Indian Tribal Court and the Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation.
“Celeste combines sharp legal insight with a deep sense of purpose,” said Engelman Berger Shareholder Bradley D. Pack. “She approaches every matter with integrity, determination, and a genuine commitment to making a difference – qualities that set her apart as a rising leader in our field.”
The ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting draws more than 3,000 legal professionals from around the world, including managing partners, in-house counsel, judges, and government officials. The event features more than 50 continuing legal education programs focused on emerging trends and key issues shaping the future of business law.
Engelman Berger is comprised of experienced lawyers who are well recognized for their expertise and commitment to resolve commercial disputes and assist clients in preventing legal problems through proper planning. The firms’ clients include national and local lenders, borrowers, lessors, tenants, family-owned businesses, developers, franchise owners, municipalities, and investors. Industries served include banking and lending, credit unions, real estate, construction, restaurant, hospitality, medical, retail, wholesale, and agricultural, among others. The firm provides creative and focused representation in all federal and state courts, bankruptcy court, arbitrations, mediations and settlement negotiations.