Diversity & Community Service. A Conversation with Goldie Hawn

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Douglas Dickerson
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Editors If you have any questions or would like more information concerning any of these topics, please contact: Cindy B. Arnold Chief Human Resources Officer and Managing Director 212.715.

1 Diversity & Community Service mosaics Spring 2013 in this issue 1 Letter from Jennifer L. Rochon 1 A Conversation with Goldie Hawn 2 In and Around Community 3 Charities and Community Support 4 Diversity & Women s Initiatives 6 Pro Bono 8 Outside Support to Cultural Groups 8 Calendar Editors If you have any questions or would like more information concerning any of these topics, please contact: Cindy B. Arnold Chief Human Resources Officer and Managing Director carnold@kramerlevin.com James A. Grayer Partner, Co-Chair of Pro Bono Committee jgrayer@kramerlevin.com Jody E. Maier Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director jmaier@kramerlevin.com Lauren Tapper Director of Diversity ltapper@kramerlevin.com Eric A. Tirschwell Partner, Co-Chair of Pro Bono Committee etirschwell@kramerlevin.com New York 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY Paris 47, Avenue Hoche Paris + (33) Silicon Valley 990 Marsh Road Menlo Park, CA Dear Employees, Clients and Friends of Kramer Levin, As the Chair of the Firm s Women s Initiative Committee, I am pleased to present this issue of Kramer Levin s Mosaics newsletter detailing our recent programs and accomplishments. Over the past few months, attorneys and staff have enthusiastically supported numerous organizations and activities that promote diversity and service to the community. Some of the highlights include the Firm s 2013 signature women s networking event for our attorneys and women clients with guest speaker and Academy Award winning actress Goldie Hawn. Also, the Firm hosted cultural heritage celebrations honoring African American and Women s History Months, and Asian Pacific American and Jewish American Heritage Months. These events included speakers, trainings and a cultural art exhibit. The Firm also teamed up to participate in a Cycle for Survival fundraising initiative. Finally, read more in this issue about the briefs proudly filed by Kramer Levin in support of same sex marriage recognition. We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, we are proud of our efforts and look forward to working with all of you on continued initiatives and events. A Conversation with Goldie Hawn Jennifer L. Rochon Partner, Litigation Department Kramer Levin hosted an evening with Academy Award-winning actress Goldie Hawn, organized by the Firm s Women s Initiative as part of its ongoing commitment to create opportunities and connections for women inside and outside the Firm. Addressing an audience of women executives from the nation s leading Left to right: Melissa Prober, Erica Klein, Goldie Hawn, Jen Rochon and Arielle Warshall Katz corporate and financial services companies, as well as the Firm s women lawyers, Ms. Hawn shared how she defied stereotypes, built a successful career and fully integrated it with a personal journey of learning and self-improvement that led to her educational and philanthropic efforts to help children across the globe. The group gathered for cocktails at Press Lounge, and participated in a lively Q&A with Ms. Hawn afterward. n Photo: Rick Kopstein, New York Law Journal Attorney Advertising

Coalition for the Homeless Camp Homeward Bound Camp Gear for Kids. The Firm organized a collection campaign for camp supplies for summer campers/children.

2 2 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics In and Around community City Harvest Skip Lunch Fight Hunger. This May, in support of the Skip Lunch Fight Hunger Campaign, the Firm collected monetary donations to help those families in need of emergency food by donating to NYC food pantries. Coalition for the Homeless Camp Homeward Bound Camp Gear for Kids. The Firm organized a collection campaign for camp supplies for summer campers/children. Donated items included backpacks, flash lights, towels, etc., as well as monetary donations. Coalition for the Homeless Project Back to School Drive. To help support the Coalition for the Homeless Project Back to School program, Kramer Levin will collect school supplies and monetary donations from employees this summer. First Step Coalition for the Homeless. Throughout the year, the Firm hosts a 14-week job training program for a First Step intern. The internship empowers one former homeless and low-income woman to achieve employment and educational goals. Kramer Levin has had a meaningful, engaging and long-lasting relationship with First Step for more than 10 years. Big Brothers Big Sisters. Kramer Levin is concluding its second school year for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The on-site mentoring program allows Bigs to work with Littles to develop workplace skills while focusing on professionalism, team work, communication and ethics. This school year, we have a 7:7 match. This program runs September-June. NAMI-NYC Metro. Kramer Levin continues to provide legal and philanthropic support to NAMI-NYC Metro, the New York City based grassroots affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which provides support, education and advocacy for mentally ill persons and their families. In addition to assisting NAMI with pro bono legal services, most significantly to help launch an anti-stigma campaign called I will listen, the Firm, led by General Counsel Charlotte Moses Fischman (also President Emeritus of NAMI-NYC Metro), supported a Kramer Levin team of walkers that participated in the annual NAMIWALK on May 11, 2013 across the Brooklyn Bridge. The team raised over $15,000, the third highest of any of the participating teams from hospitals, mental health providers, unions and business. Kramer Levin Sponsors Cycle for Survival Fundraising Team. On March 2, 2013, associate Jennifer B. Pastarnack led the 13-attorney Kramer Levin Cycle for Survival indoor cycling team at Equinox Rockefeller Center to help raise money for rare cancer research and treatment options at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Team KL SPIN raised $22,495, the fourth highest fundraising team at that location, and was honored throughout for its fundraising efforts and great spirit. n

3 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics 3 Charities and Community support Kramer Levin s attorneys and staff donated personal time, pro bono hours and financial resources to approximately 400 charities in Below is a representative sampling: ACLU LGBT Rights Project Alliance for Artists & Writers American Cancer Society American Friends of The Israel Museum American Jewish World Service American Red Cross Anti-Defamation League Apollo Theatre Foundation, Inc. Asian American Legal Defense Fund Association of Black Women Attorneys Autism Speaks Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City Blythedale Children s Hospital Boys & Girls Harbor Inc. Brennan Center for Justice Brooklyn Family Defense Project Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. Charles B. Wang Community Health Center Children at Heart City Bar Veterans Assistance Project City Parks Foundation Coalition for the Homeless Doctors Without Borders Dorot Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation Equal Justice Works Freedom to Marry Fund for Public Advocacy Gay Men s Health Crisis Inc. Greater New York Councils, Boy Scouts of America Harlem RBI Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund Hope & Heroes Children s Cancer Fund Hudson Guild Human Rights First inmotion Legal Momentum Legal Outreach, Inc. NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund NAMI-NYC Metro National Center for Learning Disabilities National Women s Law Center New Jersey Performing Arts Center New York Cares New York Center for Law & Justice Northside Center for Child Development Operation Smile Outreach Project Pencil, Inc. Pro Bono Partnership, Inc. Robin Hood Foundation Sanctuary for Families Sage The American-Turkish Society, Inc. Tikva Wadleigh Scholars Program YouthBridge-NY

4 4 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Diversity & Women s initiatives Affinity Group Initiatives The Working Parents Affinity Group hosted an interactive workshop entitled "Four Myths That Hold You Back: How to Thrive as a Parent" on December 11, The program was conducted by Stacy S. Kim, a certified career and life coach with over 15 years experience in early childhood education and co-author of Feeling Overworked: When Work Becomes Too Much with Ellen Galinsky and James T. Bond. The group also held a program on April 8, 2013 and discussed what to expect at various developmental stages for children ages 6-12 years old. The program was led by Nancy LoCascio, a trainer who facilitates parenting seminars on positive discipline, school success, internet safety, bullying and selfesteem development. The Affinity Group for Attorneys of Color hosted their quarterly Meet the Partner lunch on December 18, 2012 with Kramer Levin Intellectual Property partner Erica Klein. Erica shared her experiences "moving up the ranks" within a Firm and shared her insight as a partner. The lunch series is conducted to ensure the Firm s diverse attorneys have an opportunity to meet partners from various backgrounds across the Firm. The Affinity Group for Attorneys of Color hosted a Chinese/Lunar New Year event on February 11, Participants in the Firm enjoyed a variety of dumplings and assorted Chinese food dishes while participating in an intimate discussion around how certain foods can be important to one's cultural experience. Andrea Louie, Executive Director of the Asian American Arts Alliance, led the discussion with her own experiences as a Chinese American. Women's Initiative Kramer Levin women attorneys gathered for an internal networking event on December 11, 2012 at the home of Litigation partner Robin Wilcox. More than 60 attorneys attended this event to mingle with their extraordinary colleagues at the Firm. On January 31, 2013, Kramer Levin women attorneys participated in a discussion entitled Building Her Power Base: A Conversation on Leadership and Entrepreneurship with ABA President Laurel Bellows. The event was hosted by Ms. JD, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the success of women in law school and the legal profession. On February 5, 2013, the Women s Initiative Committee hosted a panel discussion entitled Creating an Effective Business Development Plan. Kramer Levin partners Ken Eckstein, Jay Neveloff, Kevin Leblang and Jennifer Rochon participated on the panel and discussed the importance of business planning and provided suggestions about how to move forward in business development initiatives in The Women s Initiative Committee and Professional Development Department co-hosted a CLE panel discussion on February 27, 2013 entitled "An Inside Perspective: How to Work Most Effectively with In-House Counsel." Participants included Kramer Levin Employment Law associate Eliza Kaiser as moderator and former Kramer Levin attorney panelists Jonathan Fried, General Counsel at William Ryan Community Healthcare; Matthew Haies, General Counsel at AppNexus;

5 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics 5 In the 2013 Vault Rankings, Kramer Levin ranked in the top 10 for Diversity for LGBT and the top 25 for Diversity for Women. initiatives cont'd Parthena Psyllos, Corporate Counsel, U.S. Investigations at Pfizer; Michael Sternhell, Vice President & Associate General Counsel at OppenheimerFunds; and Catherine Verhoff, Chief Legal Officer for Asset Management at Prudential Financial. The Women s Initiative Committee of Kramer Levin continued its business lunch program for women attorneys in the Firm. This program schedules small group lunches with successful women in the legal and business community and provides participants an opportunity to expand their network and discuss issues of importance to women. On February 28, 2013, Linda Manley hosted a lunch. Ms. Manley is Legal Director for Lawyers Alliance for New York, the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. On March 13, 2013, a lunch was hosted by Susan Comparato, Chief Executive Officer and President of Syncora Holdings Ltd., a monoline financial guarantee insurance provider, which provides credit enhancement for the obligations of debt issuers worldwide. The Women s Initiative Committee sponsored a book discussion on Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead on May 6, The discussion followed an interview webcast conducted by Flex-Time Lawyers with Anne-Marie Slaughter on April 24, Diversity Committee Initiatives On February 25, 2013, in honor of African American History Month, Kramer Levin hosted Hofstra University School of Law Professor Leon Friedman who discussed the Fisher v. Texas case and how it is similar as well as unlike the Brown v. Board case. On March 19, 2013, in honor of National Women's History Month, Kramer Levin hosted Rhonda Joy McLean, Deputy General Counsel of Time, Inc., who discussed her tips for leadership and networking as noted in her book, The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women. In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on May 8, 2013, the Firm hosted Glenn Lau-Kee, President Elect Designee of the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Lau-Kee discussed diversity in the bar associations, noting his own experiences as well as observations about diversity in bar associations in general. On May 14, 2013, Kramer Levin hosted a program entitled: Art Tel Aviv" which featured an art exhibit at the Firm with artworks from international emerging artists originally from Tel Aviv, Israel. The program was in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month which celebrates the history of the Jewish people in America and honors the great contributions they have made. n

6 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics pro bono Kramer Levin Files Briefs in Historic Supreme Court LGBT Rights Cases.

woman as husband and wife. The other, Hollingsworth v.

Kramer Levin s clients, who represent a diverse array of faiths, are all united in the belief that particular religious views or definitions of marriage should not be permitted to influence who the

They include the Bishops of the Episcopal Church from California and the states that permit same-sex couples to marry; the Manhattan Conference of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical

6 6 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics pro bono Kramer Levin Files Briefs in Historic Supreme Court LGBT Rights Cases. In February, Kramer Levin filed a pair of amicus briefs on behalf of a broad-based coalition of religious organizations in the historic LGBT rights cases now pending in the U.S Supreme Court. One case, U.S. v. Windsor, concerns the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ), which defines marriage for all purposes under federal law as only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife. The other, Hollingsworth v. Perry, concerns the constitutionality of California s Proposition 8, which extinguished the right of same-sex couples to marry under the California Constitution. Kramer Levin s clients, who represent a diverse array of faiths, are all united in the belief that particular religious views or definitions of marriage should not be permitted to influence who the state permits to marry or how legally married couples are treated by the federal government. They include the Bishops of the Episcopal Church from California and the states that permit same-sex couples to marry; the Manhattan Conference of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the Unitarian Universalist Association; the United Church of Christ; representatives of Judaism s Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative Movements (including, among others, The Rabbinical Assembly, The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, The Union for Reform Judaism, and The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism); and groups representing members of the Lutheran, United Methodist, Presbyterian and Quaker faiths. Confronting and rebutting arguments by religious supporters of DOMA and Proposition 8 purporting to state a uniform religious position on marriage, the briefs document the growing range of religious traditions that respect the dignity of lesbian and gay people and their families; solemnize or otherwise honor their relationships; and support civil marriage equality. And stressing the distinction between religious and civil marriage, the briefs make clear that respecting the marriage rights of same-sex couples will not impinge upon religious beliefs, practices or operations, but rather will prevent one set of religious beliefs from being imposed through civil law. The briefs conclude that civil recognition of same-sex relationships, including through marriage, is fundamentally consistent with the religious pluralism woven into the fabric of American law, culture and society and that striking down DOMA and Proposition 8 would recognize the creative tension inherent in religions interface with our own pluralistic, changing society while confirming that all, regardless of faith, are entitled to equal protection under the law. The Kramer Levin team that drafted the two briefs includes partners Jeffrey S. Trachtman and Norman C. Simon and associates Joshua Glick, Jason Moff and Kurt M. Denk. Kramer Levin has played a leading role in pro bono LGBT rights litigation for nearly two decades. The Firm has previously submitted amicus briefs in Boy Scouts v. Dale and Lawrence v. Texas, two landmark LGBT rights cases before the United States Supreme Court, and served as co-counsel in Hernandez v. Robles, which sought equal marriage rights under the New York constitution.

7 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics 7 pro bono cont'd Kramer Levin Pro Bono Client Prevails in the New York Court of Appeals. On December 18, 2012, in a 5-1 vote, the New York Court of Appeals affirmed the determination last year by a panel of the Appellate Division, First Department that the physical evidence supporting the conviction of our pro bono client Miguel Garcia was obtained through improper questioning by police officers at a traffic stop. Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, writing for the majority, re-affirmed the multi-tier approach to police-public interactions that the Court first announced in People v. DeBour, 40 N.Y.2d 210 (1976), and held that the DeBour framework applies at traffic stops as well as encounters with pedestrians. Judge Robert S. Smith dissented from the Court s holding. Kramer Levin associates Matan Koch and Shannon Hedvat took the lead in briefing and arguing this case before the Court of Appeals, with guidance from partner Stephen Sinaiko. The Legal Aid Society was co-counsel. Kramer Levin Associates Honored at InMotion s 2013 Commitment to Justice Awards. On February 7, 2013, Kramer Levin associates Samantha V. Ettari and Laura S. Milano were honored at inmotion s 2013 Commitment to Justice Awards ceremony with a Commitment to Justice Award for Kramer Levin's outstanding legal team in its representation of an inmotion client throughout her contested divorce proceedings. Kramer Levin attorneys have represented inmotion clients in contested and uncontested divorces and in matters involving custody, visitation and/or orders of protection. In addition, our attorneys have provided immigration assistance to battered women and their children through VAWA self-petitions and battered spouse waivers. Kramer Levin Honored As a "Pro Bono Visionary" for 2012 by Legal Services NYC. On December 6, 2012, Legal Services NYC honored Kramer Levin as a "Pro Bono Visionary" for 2012 for its continued staffing of a full-time Housing Court externship at South Brooklyn Legal Services a position the Firm has maintained since Legal Services NYC, the umbrella organization for Legal Services offices in New York and the largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income people in the United States, also presented individual pro bono recognition awards to several Kramer Levin associates, including former South Brooklyn externs Kristin DiFrancesco, Philip Ellenbogen and Samantha M. Ford. Peggy J. Farber was recognized for her work on behalf of the Brooklyn Family Defense Project. The Firm's award was accepted by former Pro Bono Chair Jeffrey S. Trachtman, who recently joined the Legal Services NYC board. Kramer Levin Accepts Cause Effective s 2012 Legacy of Service Award. On November 29, 2012, Kramer Levin was honored for its longtime service to the New York nonprofit community with Cause Effective's 2012 Legacy of Service Award, presented at the organization s 30th Anniversary celebration. Managing Partner Paul S. Pearlman accepted the award for the Firm, in celebration of more than a quarter century of supporting Cause Effective s work and our shared commitment to both community service and diversity. Cause Effective was co-founded in 1981 by Kramer Levin partner and former Pro Bono Chair Jeffrey S. Trachtman, who served as its Board Chair until 1994 and stepped down in 2009 after 28 years as a member of the board. Former Kramer Levin attorney Jane Abernethy also served as director and Board Chairman of Cause Effective some years ago. The organization trains other nonprofits in resource development techniques, teaching them how to mobilize all constituencies to bring in crucial financial and volunteer support. n

8 8 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Outside Support to cultural groups In May 2013, Kramer Levin supported the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) in collaboration with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund by sponsoring receptions organized in New York and Washington, DC. On March 7, 2013, Kramer Levin was a sponsor of Harlem RBI's 5th Annual Women's Event. The event, held at Radio City Music Hall, celebrated the strength and perseverance of the girls and women at Harlem RBI and DREAM Charter School. Harlem RBI, a non-profit organization, is a unique, year-round youth development program based in East Harlem, New York. Since its founding in 1991, Harlem RBI has grown to serve more than 1,200 boys and girls annually, from ages 5 to 22, providing them with year-round sports, and educational and enrichment activities. The Firm was also a sponsor of Harlem RBI's Diamond Ball held on January 17, A group of 20 Kramer Levin attorneys and clients attended the event. Kramer Levin was a sponsor of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) 2013 Annual Dinner held on February 27, 2013 at Cipriani Wall Street. A group of Kramer Levin attorneys and clients attended the event to honor Gary G. Lynch, Global General Counsel and Head of Compliance and Regulatory Relations; Stuart A. Alderoty, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of HSBC North America Holdings Inc.; and Pamela Ki Mai Chen, United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. n calendar June 2013 July 2013 August Kramer Levin offices, New York Kramer Levin honors LGBT Pride Month 3 Kramer Levin offices, New York Diversity Committee sponsored Summer Associate Welcome Lunch 24 Kramer Levin offices, New York Kramer Levin honors LGBT Pride Month with Nathan Schaefer tbd Kramer Levin offices, New York Women s Initiatives sponsored discussion 22 Kramer Levin offices, New York Affinity Group for Attorneys of Color Summer Lunch 1-31 Kramer Levin offices, New York Coalition for the Homeless Project Back to School Drive

the practice of law the way it should be

at a glance A 200 attorney Firm with 50 partners in a single office where collaboration and collegiality are valued the practice of law the way it should be 100% attorney pro bono participation for over