City Bar Justice Center Announces 2019 Pro Bono Awards Recipients

The City Bar Justice Center, the pro bono affiliate of the New York City Bar Association, has announced the winners of its eleventh annual Jeremy G. Epstein Awards for Outstanding Pro Bono Service. Honoring the outstanding volunteer attorneys in each Justice Center project, the awards will be presented at a Celebration of Service reception on October 21 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the New York City Bar Association, 42 W. 44th Street, to launch National Pro Bono Week.

This year’s awardees are:

Jeremy Barr, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

Rachael Bazinski, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Gerard F. Bifulco, Chaffetz Lindsey LLP

Christopher Cogburn, Kobre & Kim LLP

Patrick J. Campbell, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Valerie Borden Farkas, Bloomberg LP

Ellen Frank, Law Firm of Ellen Frank

Donald A. Gammon, Bloomberg LP

Erica Gómez, Pro Se Office, New York County Surrogate’s Court

Telisa Gunter, White & Case LLP

Uzoamaka N. Okoye, Troutman Sanders LLP

This year’s keynote address will be delivered by the Honorable John Gleeson, retired Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and current partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. City Bar President Roger Juan Maldonado will provide introductory remarks, and the awards will be presented by City Bar Fund Board Chair David Levine.

“The Justice Center’s annual Pro Bono Awards celebration is an event that we eagerly anticipate each year,” said Lynn M. Kelly, Executive Director of the City Bar Justice Center. “It is with great pride and appreciation that we salute our 2019 Award honorees for exceptional dedication to pro bono work on behalf of clients from across our practice areas. They have demonstrated the true meaning of justice for all and the value of pro bono work by donating their time and talent to make a difference for dozens of low-income and otherwise vulnerable clients.”

Jeremy G. Epstein (1946-2009) was a partner at Shearman & Sterling LLP and a board member at the City Bar Justice Center, The Legal Aid Society and the Fund for Modern Courts. He logged over 5,000 hours of pro bono and public service over 20 years.