pro bono Spotlight

Barclay Damon LLP

Megan Bahas, Mike Ferdman, and Sarah O’Brien (pictured above L-to-R) of Barclay Damon LLP have been named to the Western District of New York Pro Bono Honor Roll for their pro bono work over the past 18 months.

Hanson Bridgett LLP

Hanson Bridgett LLP appoints Samir Abdelnour as Hanson Bridgett’s first director of pro bono and social impact. Since taking the reigns as acting managing partner in January, Kristina Lawson has prioritized putting diversity, equity, inclusion, and social and community impact work at the forefront of her strategic plan. With the previous appointment of Jennifer Martinez as the firm’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, now the addition of Abdelnour as the director of pro bono and social impact will allow the firm to further its work toward taking real action in these spaces.

In 2020, Hanson Bridgett attorneys contributed nearly 7,500 hours of pro bono work with a focus on assisting businesses and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting racial justice movements, representing families seeking asylum in the U.S., and aiding victims of domestic violence.

Rivkin Radler

The Nassau County Bar Association (NCBA), The Safe Center LI (TSCLI) and Nassau Suffolk Law Services (NSLS) have named Rivkin Radler a top law firm in pro bono service for 2020. The annual awards rank law firms by total number of pro bono service hours within their category. Rivkin Radler logged the second-largest number of pro bono hours (668 hours) among large service providers.

The firm’s pro bono work is in three core areas: 1. Through Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, the pro bono team makes dozens of court appearances annually on behalf of indigent tenants facing eviction. 2. In conjunction with KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), the team represents unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children in their deportation proceedings. 3. Through The Safe Center Long Island, the team represents victims of abuse.

“Public service is part of our firm’s culture,” said Alan Rutkin (pictured), who leads the firm’s pro bono committee. “Our lawyers volunteer in the courts and communities. Service makes us better lawyers and better people.”