The American Law Institute is pleased to announce that Kenneth C. Frazier will be presented the John Minor Wisdom Award at the 2025 Annual Meeting. The Wisdom Award is given from time to time in specific recognition of an ALI member’s contributions to the work of the Institute or a person’s outstanding achievement in the area of civil rights and related fields following the example of Judge Wisdom.
Kenneth C. Frazier is the former Chairman and CEO of Merck, following his retirement after more than 30 years with the company, including a decade-long tenure as CEO. He is now serving as Chairman of General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Initiatives, where he advises on investments and partnerships for companies that are well-positioned to help transform the healthcare industry through collaborative and responsible innovation.
Frazier was elected to The American Law Institute in 1996 and to its Council in 2003. He is currently serving as an Adviser to ALI’s Restatements on Corporate Governance and Election Litigation, and previously served as an Adviser on the recently completed Principles of the Law Policing.
“It is with great admiration that we announce Ken Frazier as the next recipient of the John Minor Wisdom Award,” said ALI President David F. Levi. “Ken is a leader who has had a major impact across both the legal and business landscapes. His unwavering commitment to justice, economic opportunity, and moral leadership as well as his steady service to the ALI speaks to the core values that the Wisdom Award honors and that were exemplified by Judge Wisdom. Ken has long demonstrated that leadership is not only about business success but also about making a positive difference in the lives of others. In his work with the ALI, Ken has demonstrated the same dedication to fairness and ethical responsibility that has defined his career, reflecting his deep understanding of the rule of law and the importance of the work of the ALI. He continues to inspire all who work with him, and we are privileged to honor him with this award."
Prior to joining Merck in 1992, Frazier was a Partner with Drinker Biddle & Reath (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath). Upon retiring from Merck, Frazier has devoted himself to organizations dedicated to building greater opportunity for all people. He is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of OneTen, a coalition of leading organizations committed to upskilling, hiring, and promoting one million Black Americans into family-sustaining jobs.
He serves on the boards of numerous nonprofits, including the National Constitution Center, Cornerstone Christian Academy in Philadelphia, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Smithsonian Institution’s Advisory Council for the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Additionally, he sits on the boards of Eikon Therapeutics and Paradigm. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the American Bar Association, and a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Frazier is Co-Chair of the Legal Services Corporation’s Leaders Council.
Frazier is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, especially in the legal, business, and humanitarian fields. He was named one of the World’s Greatest Leaders by Fortune magazine and was also named TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, twice. He became the first recipient of the Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award for Healthcare and his peers named Frazier Chief Executive magazine’s CEO of the Year.
The Wisdom Award will be presented to Kenneth C. Frazier on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at ALI’s 2025 Annual Meeting.