The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA) honored Dominic A. Liberatore, deputy general counsel for DLL, with the 2026 David H. Fenig Distinguished Service in Advocacy Award. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to ELFA’s advocacy efforts in support of a strong equipment finance industry.
Liberatore was formally honored during ELFA’s Capitol Connections & Best Practices Roundtables event on May 19 in Washington, DC.
“I am truly honored and grateful to receive this recognition for my involvement in ELFA’s advocacy. Partnering with ELFA has been one of the most rewarding and favorite parts of my career, and during my three decades in the industry, it has been a labor of love,” said Liberatore. “I have been fortunate to work with the very talented and dedicated ELFA team and many outstanding industry colleagues on numerous initiatives. ELFA is a driving force behind our industry’s success, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute and give back to the industry that has been my home for so long.”
Liberatore’s support for ELFA’s federal and state advocacy agenda over the years has promoted a wide range of industry issues. A recognized authority on e-leasing, Liberatore has been a major contributor to ELFA’s advocacy on this issue. For the past decade, he has supported ELFA’s multi-year initiative to expand the use of e-docs and e-chattel paper in equipment finance, speaking and writing frequently on the topic. He also served on the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s E-Signatures Study Subcommittee.
Liberatore has had regulatory engagement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Section 1071 of Dodd-Frank, and participates regularly in ELFA’s Capitol Connections. He was selected as an industry observer by the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) relating to amendments made to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) in 2022 that are critical to the equipment finance industry. More recently, he was selected as an industry observer by the ULC for the drafting of a uniform state disclosure act, also critical to the industry.
In addition to advocacy, Liberatore is a past Chair of the ELFA Legal Committee and has participated in and served leadership roles in numerous subcommittees, including E-Commerce Subcommittee, Lead Editor for the Leasing Law column of ELFA’s Equipment Leasing & Finance Magazine, State Legislative & Regulatory Subcommittee, Capital Markets Subcommittee, Legal Resources Subcommittee, Energy Subcommittee, and Federal Equipment Finance Compliance and Regulatory Subcommittee. He is currently the ELFA Legal Subcommittee Coordinator.
“Dominic Liberatore is not only an exceptional advocate for our industry, but a compassionate leader and mentor to so many,” said ELFA President and CEO Leigh Lytle. “His passion for the industry stretches beyond our committees and boardrooms, bringing a constant encouragement and positive energy to everyone around him. Our team and membership deeply admire his decades of dedicated service, and we are proud to honor him with the 2026 David H. Fenig Award.”
