White & Case LLP - News - White & Case Honors Pro Bono Lawyers

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White & Case Honors Pro Bono Lawyers

New York, Brussels, Istanbul, Johannesburg, London, Moscow, Silicon Valley, Warsaw, Washington, DC, June 4, 2008 ... Global law firm White & Case LLP today announced the recipients of its annual Pro Bono Awards, which the Firm bestows on a select group of White & Case lawyers for their outstanding pro bono achievements and for applying their legal skills in an effort to make a difference on behalf of individuals and the broader global community.

This year's honorees were recognized for their work across a broad spectrum of pro bono cases — from obtaining US legal asylum for a young Ethiopian refugee and working on behalf of the Polish Humanitarian Organization regarding aid given by nongovernmental organizations in Chechnya, Russia, to representing the Conservation International Foundation and Nature Conservancy on a debt-for-nature swap that will provide $26 million to protect rain forests in Costa Rica.

"The greatest role a global law firm can play is helping to build the rule of law around the world, and a strong commitment to pro bono is one way we can do this," said White & Case chair Hugh Verrier. "Today, there is no question we are a global law firm, and to me, that means our pro bono commitment should be global, too."

The growing global nature of the Firm's longstanding pro bono practice is reflected in the number of countries represented by this year's honorees, with 18 lawyers in seven different countries receiving the award. The recipients are:

Louis Apker (Brussels), for his work on behalf of the widow of a European Commission official who was seeking a pension based on her husband's death from cancer he contracted through secondhand smoke in his workplace.

Ahu Yalgin (Istanbul) for her work creating a training video for staff members of the Tohum Vakfi (a Turkish autism foundation) and other parties regarding the legal rights of children suffering from autism.

Kantha Rattay and Elizabeth Lindsay (Johannesburg) for their work in obtaining US legal asylum for a young Ethiopian refugee and reuniting her with family in New York.

Charles Lightfoot and Sara Lulo (London) for their work on a rule-of-law project in Liberia, initiated by Lawyers Without Borders. The project, which has been an enormous success, involves training the lawyers and judiciary of Liberia, especially in the criminal courts, to ensure both victims and defendants have access to justice.

Ekatarina Palagina (Moscow) for her ongoing dedication to work for a number of the Firm's pro bono clients, including Big Change, HIV, ICG, the Jessup Moot Court Competition, MSF, Mayhew Animal Home, the Polish Humanitarian Organization and UNICEF.

Jennifer Co (Palo Alto) for developing an online legal assistance system for Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts that provides VLA members with answers to frequently asked questions and quick referral to counsel.

Linda Jeannine Acevedo (New York) for her work on behalf of the Conservation International Foundation and the Nature Conservancy on a recently completed debt-for-nature swap, which will provide $26 million to protect rain forests in Costa Rica.

Aaron Books and David Suggs (New York) for leading the Firm's Juvenile Deportation Docket Program in New York.

David Lew (New York) for his multiple pro bono cases, including representing an artist who had been given a bad check by a patron. Through his resourcefulness and tenacity, the artist received complete compensation.

Irina Yevmenenko (New York) for working with Volunteers for Legal Service and the New York Presbyterian Hospital to manage the development of a Legal and Social Advocacy Code card.

Tomasz P. Chmal (Warsaw) for his ongoing work on behalf of the Polish Humanitarian Organization, particularly regarding humanitarian aid given by non-governmental organizations in Chechnya, Russia.

Grzegorz Wasiewski (Warsaw) for his work on behalf of the Kosciuszko Foundation, which grants scholarships and promotes educational activity.

Dana Foster (Washington, DC) for representing a grandmother in the adoptions of her six grandchildren, who had been living with her for several years, in addition to helping her in qualifying for funding from a special government program offering financial support to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. He also worked on a difficult Title VII employment case and assisted on an employment case in the Washington, DC, Court of Appeals.

Maury J. Mechanick (Washington, DC) for representing the Judicial Academy and handling an appeal to the Court of Veterans, in the case Dennison v. Nicholson.

Antonia Soares (Washington, DC) for her ongoing commitment to pro bono work and for representing a client in an employment case in the Washington, DC, Court of Appeals.

For the complete 2008 White & Case Pro Bono Awards Brochure, click here.

To learn more about White & Case's pro bono work and clients, please visit the Firm at whitecase.com/about/probono.

About White & Case
White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with more than 2,300 lawyers in 37 offices in 25 countries. Our clients value the breadth and depth of our US, English and local law capabilities and rely on us for their complex cross-border commercial and financial transactions and for international arbitration and litigation. Whether in established or emerging markets, the hallmark of White & Case is our complete dedication to the business priorities and legal needs of our clients.

Contact:
Reilly Starr
Media Relations Manager
White & Case LLP
1 212 819 8315

	Press Releases
Expertise Pro Bono Lawyers L. Jeannine Acevedo Tomasz Chmal Dana E. Foster Charlie Lightfoot Maury J. Mechanick David H. Suggs Grzegorz J. Wąsiewski Irina Yevmenenko Locations New York Brussels Istanbul Johannesburg London Moscow Silicon Valley Warsaw Washington, DC	White & Case Honors Pro Bono Lawyers New York, Brussels, Istanbul, Johannesburg, London, Moscow, Silicon Valley, Warsaw, Washington, DC, June 4, 2008 ... Global law firm White & Case LLP today announced the recipients of its annual Pro Bono Awards, which the Firm bestows on a select group of White & Case lawyers for their outstanding pro bono achievements and for applying their legal skills in an effort to make a difference on behalf of individuals and the broader global community. This year's honorees were recognized for their work across a broad spectrum of pro bono cases — from obtaining US legal asylum for a young Ethiopian refugee and working on behalf of the Polish Humanitarian Organization regarding aid given by nongovernmental organizations in Chechnya, Russia, to representing the Conservation International Foundation and Nature Conservancy on a debt-for-nature swap that will provide $26 million to protect rain forests in Costa Rica. "The greatest role a global law firm can play is helping to build the rule of law around the world, and a strong commitment to pro bono is one way we can do this," said White & Case chair Hugh Verrier. "Today, there is no question we are a global law firm, and to me, that means our pro bono commitment should be global, too." The growing global nature of the Firm's longstanding pro bono practice is reflected in the number of countries represented by this year's honorees, with 18 lawyers in seven different countries receiving the award. The recipients are: Louis Apker (Brussels), for his work on behalf of the widow of a European Commission official who was seeking a pension based on her husband's death from cancer he contracted through secondhand smoke in his workplace. Ahu Yalgin (Istanbul) for her work creating a training video for staff members of the Tohum Vakfi (a Turkish autism foundation) and other parties regarding the legal rights of children suffering from autism. Kantha Rattay and Elizabeth Lindsay (Johannesburg) for their work in obtaining US legal asylum for a young Ethiopian refugee and reuniting her with family in New York. Charles Lightfoot and Sara Lulo (London) for their work on a rule-of-law project in Liberia, initiated by Lawyers Without Borders. The project, which has been an enormous success, involves training the lawyers and judiciary of Liberia, especially in the criminal courts, to ensure both victims and defendants have access to justice. Ekatarina Palagina (Moscow) for her ongoing dedication to work for a number of the Firm's pro bono clients, including Big Change, HIV, ICG, the Jessup Moot Court Competition, MSF, Mayhew Animal Home, the Polish Humanitarian Organization and UNICEF. Jennifer Co (Palo Alto) for developing an online legal assistance system for Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts that provides VLA members with answers to frequently asked questions and quick referral to counsel. Linda Jeannine Acevedo (New York) for her work on behalf of the Conservation International Foundation and the Nature Conservancy on a recently completed debt-for-nature swap, which will provide $26 million to protect rain forests in Costa Rica. Aaron Books and David Suggs (New York) for leading the Firm's Juvenile Deportation Docket Program in New York. David Lew (New York) for his multiple pro bono cases, including representing an artist who had been given a bad check by a patron. Through his resourcefulness and tenacity, the artist received complete compensation. Irina Yevmenenko (New York) for working with Volunteers for Legal Service and the New York Presbyterian Hospital to manage the development of a Legal and Social Advocacy Code card. Tomasz P. Chmal (Warsaw) for his ongoing work on behalf of the Polish Humanitarian Organization, particularly regarding humanitarian aid given by non-governmental organizations in Chechnya, Russia. Grzegorz Wasiewski (Warsaw) for his work on behalf of the Kosciuszko Foundation, which grants scholarships and promotes educational activity. Dana Foster (Washington, DC) for representing a grandmother in the adoptions of her six grandchildren, who had been living with her for several years, in addition to helping her in qualifying for funding from a special government program offering financial support to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. He also worked on a difficult Title VII employment case and assisted on an employment case in the Washington, DC, Court of Appeals. Maury J. Mechanick (Washington, DC) for representing the Judicial Academy and handling an appeal to the Court of Veterans, in the case Dennison v. Nicholson. Antonia Soares (Washington, DC) for her ongoing commitment to pro bono work and for representing a client in an employment case in the Washington, DC, Court of Appeals. For the complete 2008 White & Case Pro Bono Awards Brochure, click here. To learn more about White & Case's pro bono work and clients, please visit the Firm at whitecase.com/about/probono. About White & Case White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with more than 2,300 lawyers in 37 offices in 25 countries. Our clients value the breadth and depth of our US, English and local law capabilities and rely on us for their complex cross-border commercial and financial transactions and for international arbitration and litigation. Whether in established or emerging markets, the hallmark of White & Case is our complete dedication to the business priorities and legal needs of our clients. Contact: Reilly Starr Media Relations Manager White & Case LLP 1 212 819 8315