City Bar Justice Center Launches Jeremy G. Epstein Awards for Pro Bono Service

City Bar Justice Center Launches

Jeremy G. Epstein Awards for Pro Bono Service

Ten Volunteer Lawyers to be Honored Monday at the New York City Bar

The City Bar Justice Center, the pro bono affiliate of the New York City Bar, has announced the winners of the first annual Jeremy G. Epstein Awards for Pro Bono Service. Honoring volunteer lawyers for outstanding work on Justice Center projects, the awards will be presented at a Pro Bono Luncheon and Celebration of Service as part of the National Pro Bono Celebration.

This year’s winners are:

William Bagliebter – Duane Morris LLP
Alena Brenner – Hunton & Williams LLP
Casey Laffey – Reed Smith LLP
Christopher J. Moore – Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Edward Martin Reisner
Sehar Siddiqi – Seward & Kissel LLP
Scott Smedley – Dechert LLP
Jason M. Sobel – Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Jesenia De La Torre – Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Netanella Zahavi – Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Eve Burton, Vice President and General Counsel of The Hearst Corporation, will deliver a keynote address and New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, City Bar President Patricia Hynes and City Bar Fund Chair Austin T. Fragomen, Jr. will also speak.

“At this time of recession in our city, pro bono is an essential part of addressing the lack of access to justice for low income New Yorkers,” said Lynn Kelly, Executive Director of the City Bar Justice Center. “We are so proud of the many talented attorneys who have given their time to help needy clients through the projects at the City Bar Justice Center.”

What: Jeremy G. Epstein Awards for Pro Bono Service

Who: 2009 Honorees (see above)

Hearst Corporation Vice President and General Counsel Eve Burton
New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman
New York City Bar President Patricia M. Hynes
City Bar Fund Board Chair Austin T. Fragomen, Jr.
City Bar Justice Center Executive Director Lynn Kelly

When: Monday, October 26, 2009, Noon

Where: New York City Bar Association, 42 West 44 th Street

The Luncheon is co-sponsored by the City Bar Committee on Pro Bono and Legal Services—Stacey Fahey, Chair, and the City Bar Justice Center—Lynn M. Kelly, Executive Director.

Invitation only. Media welcome.  

Jeremy G. Epstein
Jeremy G. Epstein, who passed away in May 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 the last 20 years

The City Bar Justice Center , the pro bono affiliate of the New York City Bar, increases access to justice by leveraging the resources of the New York City legal community. Justice Center projects are focused on three areas: immigrant justice, economic justice and Access to Justice Innovations. The Justice Center also operates the city’s busiest legal hotline and special projects. The Justice Center annually provides direct legal representation, information and advocacy to over 25,000 poor and vulnerable New Yorkers. .

About the Association
The New York City Bar Association (www.nycbar.org) was founded in 1870, and since then has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law, and providing service to the profession and the public. The Association continues to work for political, legal and social reform, while implementing innovative means to help the disadvantaged. Protecting the public’s welfare remains one of the Association’s highest priorities.