2021 GC Review

2021 Global Citizenship Review

What's inside

Highlights from our Global Pro Bono Practice and volunteering activities

A message from our Chair

Hugh Verrier

Hugh Verrier
Chair

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021 we worked with many of the world’s leading non-governmental organizations to help address a wide range of environmental and social challenges. Our capabilities and global network give us the opportunity and responsibility to do pro bono work that only a firm like ours can undertake.

Research by our lawyers on environmental law in each of the 193 UN Member States will inform the United Nations Environment Programme’s 2022 Environmental Rule of Law Report. We also assisted Conservation International on an innovative way to generate carbon credits through improved forest management across a large area of the Amazon forest.

Two major court victories in 2021 helped advance the rights of children. In a victory at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, our lawyers helped win justice for the families of children killed in a fire at a juvenile detention center and improve conditions for all detainees. Our lawyers also helped win a US$4.2 billion pre-trial settlement with New York State to honor its commitment to phase in full funding for all school districts in the state. 

This review reports on our pro bono work on these and other issues, such as balancing human rights while countering terrorism, protecting the rights of the media, protesters and police during protests, and helping refugees navigate complex legal processes.

Progress and setbacks exist in tandem in worldwide efforts to protect both people and planet. Through our Global Pro Bono Practice, we seek to do our part as lawyers to address the challenges of our time.


Hugh Verrier, Chair

Environmental stewardship

Our pro bono work continued to support important environmental advances

The role of law in protecting the environment

Our research on 193 countries informs the UNEP 2022 Environmental Rule of Law Report

Two walruses seen in profile sitting with their backs against each other on ice floating off the coast of Norway.
Andy Mann © Bespoke Reps

Carbon credits at scale

Structuring sustainable forestry projects to reduce emissions and drive investment

View from the base of the forest floor of foliage, large intertwining tree trunks and a glimpse of sky in the Amazon forest in the Madidi National Park, Bolivia.
Toniflap © Adobestock

Advancing human rights

Highlights include a major education funding victory and advice on balancing human rights while countering terrorism

Immigration navigation

Pursuing justice for immigrants in the UK

Family portraits hung on a wall in a Jamaican home in London in pastel frames with distinctive flower designs like those profiled by photographer Jim Grover in his 2018 exhibit "Windrush: Portrait of a Generation."
© Jim Grover

Balancing security and human rights 

Informing a response to the EU by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism 

A close-up of hands holding a mobile phone with the screen displaying the image of a fingerprint as the person uploads their biometric data in the form of their fingerprint.
Jason Lee © Reuters

The rights of children

Boosting the foundations of children’s rights

Afghan refugee girls in colorful headscarves seen from above as they kneel on blankets holding small personal chalk tablets while attending school in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Muhammed Muheisen © Bespoke Reps

Funding matters

A landmark US$4.2 billion settlement on education funding in New York State

Close-up of the hands and arms of two young elementary school students who are lying together on the floor and reading a book that is on the floor in front of them.
FatCamera © Getty Images

Voting rights vs. realities

Breaking down barriers for American voters

Voting rights activists during a rally at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, DC hold up large individual orange letters emblazoned with light bulbs that spell out the words Freedom to Vote.
Jose Luis Magana © Associated Press

Justice system reform

Our lawyers worked on a wide range of issues, including protections during protests and compensation for victims

Protected protest

Legal analysis to protect the rights of media, protesters and law enforcement in the US, Africa and Latin America

A journalist holding a TV camera on his right shoulder faces a police officer seen from behind while a protest is going on in the back.  The journalist is reminding the officer that the press are considered "essential workers" in regard to curfews related to protests.
Wong Maye-E © Associated Press

A 15-year journey for justice

Victory at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for victims’ families and detained children

The white, arched paneled ceiling of the Hall of Heroes at the headquarters of the Organization of American States lined with the flags of the Member States.
Juan Manuel Herrera © OAS/OEA

Creating competition

Bringing the Jessup alive online in 2021

Jessup competition
© White & Case

About pro bono

We are one of the world’s largest providers of pro bono legal services

Pro bono hours and participation

113,110 pro bono hours in 2021


100k+ pro bono hours for the 5th consecutive year
100% of our offices and practices do pro bono work

170 partners and counsel serve as pro bono leaders
50+ associates and legal staff serve as pro bono champions

 

Office highlights

Pro bono matters from each of our offices

Colorfully striped hot-air balloons float over snow-covered rock formations called fairy chimneys in the Cappadocia region of Turkey.
Anadolu Agency © Getty Images

Learn more

For more information about our commitment and activities, please visit our Global Citizenship web pages.

Close-up of the hands and arms of two young elementary school students who are lying together on the floor and reading a book that is on the floor in front of them.

Funding matters

A landmark US$4.2 billion settlement on education funding in New York State

Story

6 min read

Our legal team members, co-counsel and client discuss the significance of the settlement in this short video.

School children in New York State can look forward to a brighter educational future, thanks to a landmark settlement won with the help of White & Case.

Since 2017, our lawyers have worked in partnership with the Education Law Center (ELC) to represent parents, statewide organizations and community groups in a lawsuit filed by New Yorkers for Students’ Educational Rights (NYSER) against the State of New York.

The plaintiffs’ case sought to compel New York State to fulfill its constitutional obligation to adequately fund public schools in the New York City and Schenectady districts.

Two New York associates played leading roles on the case: Michael Jaoude and Alice Tsier.  Michael explained: “This case was fundamentally about ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to an education and the tools they need to be successful in life.”

The context of the case goes back to 2007, when the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) won its case against the State of New York and the court declared the state’s public school funding to be inadequate and unconstitutional. 

The CFE had argued that the State’s long-term commitment to provide fair opportunities for every student wasn’t clearly defined, leading to huge differences in funding between districts. The court determined that NYC schools were not providing students with the tools necessary for a sound basic education.

We were absolutely delighted with the outcome because, as we were only representing two New York State districts, there was no guarantee the governor would pledge to honor the Foundation Aid Formula for the entire state

Michael Jaoude​​​​​

​​Associate, New York

Michael said: “In the wake of the CFE case, the state committed to increase school funding by US$5.5 billion statewide over four years and to ensure that funding was distributed fairly by an improved formula that measured each district’s individual needs.”

In the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008, the State reneged on its promise, cutting budgets and even clawing back previous budget increases.

Michael said: “A decade later, schools remain billions of dollars behind the commitment of full funding.

“The result of this lack of funding is overcrowding, rundown classrooms, a shortage of qualified teachers, and a lack of basic resources such as books and teaching materials.

“To put that into context, based on the State’s own academic assessments, only 13 percent of students in the Schenectady district can read at grade level by third grade. It is widely accepted that children who can’t meet this test have very little chance of graduating.

“So, it’s clear that these children, many of whom are from minority or disadvantaged backgrounds and some with learning disabilities, are being badly let down by a lack of funding.”

We were asked to help in the fight for justice by former White & Case partner Greg Little, who is now chief trial counsel at ELC.

Michael says: “The Firm has worked with ELC several times in the past, including our successful class action lawsuit for the Children of Flint against the Michigan Department of Education, Genesee Intermediate School District and Flint Community Schools.

“I’d worked with Greg on the Flint case so, when I was asked to get involved, I was ready to go.  We were even more fortunate when partner Chris Shore signed on to the case during our hectic preliminary injunction period.”

ELC provided educational expertise while the Firm litigated the case from discovery through to deposition. 

Michael said: “The fact that a lot of our work took place during the pandemic was challenging for logistical reasons, but it also heightened the urgency and importance of the case.

“At the height of the pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo threatened school districts with a 20 percent budget cut, resulting in Schenectady laying off more than 25 percent of its staff.  As a result of COVID, the district needed more support than ever, but it was forced to cut many of the programs designed to assist its neediest students.

“For instance, in the Schenectady district, the pandemic highlighted the fact that 88 percent of students rely on the district providing free lunch at school, so the schools needed resources to provide lunches to the children at home, otherwise, many kids would go without food all day.

“It also highlighted that many students didn’t have the books or computer technology needed to study from home, so many didn’t get any kind of education during lockdown, let alone a basic one.”

White & Case drafted and filed a 52-page preliminary injunction in less than 72 hours, challenging Governor Cuomo’s budget cuts. Faced with the injunction, the State rescinded the threat and agreed to reimburse districts for money previously withheld. 

Michael says: “The preliminary injunction was a defining moment of not only the litigation, but of the New York educational movement. It signaled to the State and to our legislators that serious attention to funding equity issues was necessary now more than ever.” 

This settlement gives parents and students across New York additional assurance that the legislature will honor its word and fully fund our schools over the next two years. Our children have already had to wait 15 years. They must not wait any longer.

Jamaica Miles

Schenectady plaintiff and parent

At the peak of the case, the White & Case team included 30 lawyers who took approximately 60 depositions from officials at the Department of Education, the Board of Regents (which oversees the administration of public education) and district officials.

Several lawyers committed a significant number of hours each to the case in 2020 alone, including New York associates Renza Demoulin and Sequoia Kaul.

Their investment in the case was well worth it though—in October, New York State’s new governor, Kathy Hochul, announced that the State had reached a US$4.2 billion pre-trial settlement to honor its commitment to phase in full funding under the Foundation Aid Formula. 

Should the State fail to follow through on its promise, the settlement allows the plaintiffs to immediately restart the case in its current state and move quickly to a trial. 

Michael said: “We were absolutely delighted with the outcome because, as we were only representing two New York State districts, there was no guarantee the governor would pledge to honor the Foundation Aid Formula for the entire state.

“This is a great result for our plaintiffs, the schools and the children. We’ll now be keeping a close eye on budgeting decisions and statements to ensure the State keeps its promises.

“We’re pleased with the settlement but, looking ahead, this case raises important questions, such as whether a funding commitment made 15 years ago is enough for an education system that’s changed radically over those years and that will continue to change following the pandemic. So, there could be more work yet to ensure the children of New York State get the basic education they expect and deserve.”

Looking back on the case, Michael is delighted to have been involved in such a life-changing case. He said: “I was privileged to work on the Flint case, and I think this case is similar in importance. From a personal perspective, it’s great to know that our work is making a big impact and to learn and develop while making a lasting difference.”


Photo FatCamera © Getty Images
Elementary school students read in the school library


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