mosaics Diversity & Community Service Kramer Levin One of Five National Law Firms to Receive Immigration Equality s Annual Safe Haven Award

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1 Diversity & Community Service mosaics Dear Employees, Clients and Friends of Kramer Levin, Spring Kramer Levin One of Five National Law Firms to Receive Immigration Equality s Annual Safe Haven Award 2 Kramer Levin Pro Bono Efforts Result in Three Asylum Wins for Clients of Diverse Backgrounds 2 Affinity Group Sponsored Events 3 Charities and Community Support 4 Interview with James Grayer: Co-chair of the Legal Recruiting Committee and Newly Appointed Co-chair of the Pro Bono Committee 5 Community Service Activities 6 Cultural Heritage Month Celebrations & Diversity Training 6 Women s Initiatives 7 Outside Support to Cultural Groups 7 Kramer Levin Wins Criminal Appeal for Indigent Defendant 7 Legal Services NYC Hails Kramer Levin as Pro Bono Visionary 8 Diversity and Community Calendar As the firm s Chair of the Diversity 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 dedicated much time and energy to organizations supporting a broad range of interests. The firm has successfully won grants of asylum for individuals fleeing persecution. In addition, the firm was notably recognized by Legal Services NYC as Pro Bono Visionaries for its more than decade-long commitment to staffing a full-time Housing Court externship at South Brooklyn Legal Services. Legal Services NYC is the umbrella organization for Legal Services offices in New York and is the largest provider of free civil legal services to low-income people in the United States. In recent months, we have held cultural heritage celebrations honoring African American History Month, Women s History Month and Asian Pacific Heritage Month and have held diversity discussions including one in the art of communication. These events included speakers and authors, training sessions and the viewing of a documentary. With our continued mission to create a more inclusive society in mind, we welcome any ideas or comments that you may have to help us promote diversity and service to the communities in which we live and work. Christopher S. Auguste Corporate Partner Chair of the Diversity Committee Kramer Levin One of Five National Law Firms to Receive Immigration Equality s Annual Safe Haven Award On May 31, 2011, Kramer Levin will be one of five national law firms to be honored with Immigration Equality s annual Safe Haven Award. The Safe Haven Award is presented annually to firms for their pro bono work on behalf of Immigration Equality s LGBT clients who are seeking political asylum in the United States. Kramer Levin s asylum program, headed by associates Aaron Frankel and Michael Sternhell, and the firm s asylum win for an HIV positive gay man from Grenada (a case handled by associate Matthew Abbott and former associate Carmel Gabbay Legault, and one of seven such cases handled by the firm in 2010) were noted. Immigration Equality is a national organization that advocates for equal immigration rights for the LGBT and HIV-positive community. n Attorney Advertising

2 2 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Kramer Levin Pro Bono Efforts Result in Three Asylum Wins for Clients of Diverse Backgrounds Kramer Levin recently won three different asylum cases for clients of diverse backgrounds. n Dannie Cho and Samantha Ford, with the assistance of Katrina L. Baker and Kristen DiFrancesco, and supervised by Aaron Frankel, obtained a grant of asylum for a gay man fleeing persecution from Jamaica. The client was persecuted his entire life because of his sexual orientation. Not only did our client suffer assaults and discrimination, but his family members and acquaintances were also assaulted and even murdered. Upon receiving threats to his safety and life directly and through his close family members, our client felt it was no longer safe for him to stay in Jamaica. Kramer Levin successfully pled his case and demonstrated that a return to Jamaica would invariably result in bodily harm or even death due to the fact that his sexual identity was revealed. His case was referred to Kramer Levin by Immigration Equality. n Jill N. Filipovic and Edwin Hermawan, with the assistance of summer associates Emily Elman and Laura Kaufman, obtained a grant of asylum for a lesbian Belarusian woman. Our client fled Belarus after a lifetime of persecution which culminated in an attack by a government security agent that almost killed her. Kramer Levin successfully argued that the persecution, threats of violence and physical attacks that our client survived made it unsafe for her to return to Belarus and warranted a grant of asylum. Aaron Frankel supervised the case. The matter was referred to Kramer Levin by Immigration Equality. n Kramer Levin obtained a grant of asylum for a 28 year old member of China s Uighur Muslim minority. Our client was forced to flee China after peacefully participating in a demonstration last year to protest widespread discrimination against Uighurs and the Chinese government s suppression of their civil and religious rights. Chinese authorities violently cracked down on the demonstration and apprehended Uighurs throughout the historically Uighur region of Xinjiang, located in the far west of the country. The authorities subjected those who had participated in the demonstration, or were suspected of having done so, to harsh interrogation and indefinite detention. A number of participants in the demonstration were sentenced to death and executed. Kramer Levin successfully argued that as a result of our client s participation in the demonstration and subsequent interrogation by the Chinese authorities, it was unsafe for him to return to China. The matter was referred to Kramer Levin by a Uighur-American activist who had previously served as an interpreter for the firm s Uighur clients detained at the Guantánamo Bay military base. Mark D. Koestler and former associate Nakeeb Siddique assisted with the case. n Affinity Group Sponsored Events On February 16th, the Affinity Group for Attorneys of Color hosted an internal lunch for its members. During the lunch, Kramer Levin Corporate Partner John Bessonette provided candid and personal insights on his career and led a discussion on business development and best practices. This event is part of a new series of Meet the Partner lunches that will be held quarterly by this group. On March 16th, Kramer Levin s Working Parents Affinity Group hosted Hannah Wiltshire, Director at Every Day Parenting. Her discussion focused on children s peer relationships and on how the relationships children form with their peers from a young age exert enormous influence on their lives. Ms. Wiltshire highlighted when parents should interfere with their child s relationships and how to address cliques, bullying, aggressive play and gender stereotypes. 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 62 charities in Below is a representative sampling: n American Red Cross n American Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief n Anti-Defamation League n Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund n Boys and Girls Clubs of America n Brennan Center for Justice n Brooklyn Community Housing and Services, Inc. n Cause Effective n Charles B. Wang Community Health Center n Children s Cancer and Blood Foundation n Citizens Committee for Children of New York n Citymeals-on-Wheels n Coalition for the Homeless n Community Soup Kitchen & Outreach Center n Crohn s & Colitis Foundation of America n Developing Opportunities through Meaningful Education (DOME) n Diabetes Research Institute n Dorot n Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation n Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation n Equal Justice Works n Facing History and Ourselves n Foundation Fighting Blindness n Gay Men s Health Crisis n Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund n Hope & Heroes Children s Cancer Fund n Human Rights First n inmotion n Inner City Scholarships n Jewish Board of Family and Children s Services n Jewish Community Relations Council of New York n LAMBDA Legal n Lambi Fund of Haiti n Legal Action Center n Legal Outreach n Legal Services For New York City n LGBT Community Center n NAACP Legal Defense Fund & Education n NAMI-NYC Metro n National Center for Learning Disabilities n New York Cares n New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc. n Northside Center for Child Development n Operation Smile n Pencil, Inc. n Phipps Community Development Corporation n Probono Partnership Inc. n Ronald McDonald House of New York n Seeds of Peace n Share n The AHRC New York City Foundation, Inc. n The All Stars Project, Inc. n The City Bar Justice Center n The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson s Research n The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC) n The Turn 2 Foundation n UJA Federation of New York n United Jewish Appeal Japan Disaster Relief Fund n The Vera Institute of Justice n Volunteers of Legal Services, Inc. n Worldwide Orphans Foundation n YouthBridge NY

4 4 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Interview with James Grayer: Co-chair of the Legal Recruiting Committee and Newly Appointed Co-chair of the Pro Bono Committee Question. James, please tell us about your background, how you came to Kramer Levin, and about your practice? Answer. I started at Kramer Levin as a summer associate in 1990 and returned to the firm in 1991 as a corporate James A. Grayer attorney. I attended Boston University School of Law and Middlebury College. When I was interviewing for summer positions after my second year of law school, I was looking for a firm which would allow me to express myself as an individual as well as allow me to do sophisticated legal work. Kramer Levin was such a place. It was the right size for me, had a sophisticated practice and allowed me the flexibility to be me. In 1994, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia in order to get married. While in Atlanta, I spent a year helping low income individuals living with HIV, as an employee of the AIDS Legal Project of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society. The position with Legal Aid reinforced my commitment, which I was able to nurture in law school as well as at Kramer Levin, to assist low income individuals with their legal needs. Upon my return to New York, I once again found Kramer Levin to be a place where I could practice high caliber corporate law as well as continue my commitment to pro bono work. Q. Why do you believe you were chosen to take on the new position as Co-chair of the Pro Bono Committee? A. Jeff Trachtman, the former chair of the Pro Bono Committee, has done a wonderful job as the leader of Kramer Levin s Pro Bono Committee and has brought the firm great honor through his endeavors. After 17 years, Jeff seemed ready to give up the administrative work associated with the position so he could devote more time to his growing litigation practice, including his pro bono pursuits. Eric Tirschwell, my co-chair, and I were eager to take on the role given our passions in this area. I personally believe I was chosen for a few reasons. The management of the firm clearly recognized my commitment to pro bono work and wanted to make sure that the firm continues its robust and long standing dedication to high quality pro bono work. Since I have been a member of the Pro Bono Committee for over ten years and have been running the firm s summer social security disability program for many of those years, I already have the background to do the job. Additionally, as a non-litigator, I will bring a slightly different perspective to the program and perhaps be able to increase pro bono work in our transactional departments. Finally, my new role combined with my recruiting and professional development responsibilities, will hopefully allow me to enhance all three areas by making sure they compliment and build upon one another. Q. Please tell us about one of your most rewarding pro bono experiences and why it meant so much to you. A. Various representations are rewarding in different ways, whether it be helping an organization that will aid countless others, helping a micro-entrepreneur get his or her business off the ground, or knowing that the matter will provide financial security for the individual and his or her immediate family. If I had to pick one, I would have to say my assisting a low income and HIV positive woman get a standby guardianship for her minor child. New York State, in response to the HIV crisis, enacted a statute whereby a child s custodial parent can petition the Family or Surrogate s Court to have a guardian appointed for the minor child after the death of the custodial parent. In most states, this determination is done after the death of the custodial parent. If done after death, there can often be fact allegations by the surviving non-custodial parent that the deceased custodial parent cannot refute. Also, if done prior to death, the custodial parent will have the piece of mind of knowing who will take over the custodial role and raise the minor child. I filed a petition in Surrogate s Court in the Bronx to provide that her best friend would care for her minor child if she passed away while the child was still a minor. The petition was ultimately granted and the client was very relieved. Subsequently, I learned that the client has continued on next page

5 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics 5 indeed passed away from complications due to HIV and the minor child was being raised by the person selected by my client. While this representation does not have the happiest ending in that the client is no longer living, it was the most fulfilling representation as I was able to give my client peace of mind as she faced the end of her life. Q. Since you are also co-hiring partner, you work closely with summer associates and junior lawyers who are very interested in giving back to the community. How does the firm s pro bono program work within the summer associate training program? What do you believe are the benefits to those individuals who participate in pro bono and community activities? A. Our summer program has always had a pro bono element to it it is supported and encouraged; however, it is not required. We offer our summer associates the ability to participate in several established pro bono programs, such as asylum cases, social security disability cases, simple wills and uncontested divorces. There are also a variety of other pro bono opportunities available over the summer in which a summer associate can participate. The benefits of participation are manyfold. For many people, the main reason is the sense of satisfaction that comes when you are able to take your skills and use them to help another person or group in need. Pro bono projects allow summer associates and junior associates the ability to do work at a level they might not be able to do on a billable case and gain valuable professional development training at the same time. In many of the cases (most of which are also open to all lawyers junior or otherwise), the summer associate takes a lead role. Additionally, this allows the summer associate (or junior associate) to get more exposure to other firm lawyers or staff, whom they might not otherwise meet. Q. Any guidance you would like to give to folks in the legal profession as to why they should consider pro bono work? A. There are few activities in our lives that present so many benefits including the personal satisfaction it gives, as well as the training and networking it provides. For all these reasons, I recommend that everyone, be it lawyer, paraprofessional or other staff, commit some time to pro bono work. n Community Service Activities American Cancer Society, Daffodil Days, March 14, Kramer Levin supports the American Cancer Society, Daffodil Days program. The program welcomes the arrival of Spring with the distribution of thousands of daffodils. The daffodil is the first flower of spring, a symbol of hope and renewal, and for the American Cancer Society, the promise that one day the world will be free of cancer. The dollars raised through Daffodil Days enables the society's lifesaving research, prevention, early detection, and support programs. This year Kramer Levin employees raised a total of $1,875 in donations towards the cause. New York Cares, Hands on New York Day, April 16, Each Spring, Kramer Levin joins New York Cares, New York City's leading volunteer organization, for some Spring cleaning at public spaces, such as parks, gardens, playgrounds, community centers, homeless shelters and schools. Kramer Levin employees, along with family and friends, will be assigned to a location in one of the five boroughs, and in a matter of hours will transform one public space into a cleaner, greener and healthier environment for the local community. City Harvest, Skip Lunch Fight Hunger, May 11, Every year, Kramer Levin joins the fundraising efforts to help feed the hungry men, women and children of New York City. Skip Lunch Fight Hunger is a city-wide initiative that asks individuals to donate what they would normally spend on lunch to help feed New York City's hungry children and their families. Coalition for the Homeless, Camp Homeward Bound Program, June Kramer Levin hosts a camp drive collection to support the Camp Homeward Bound Program. Camp Homeward Bound hosts nearly 300 homeless children each Summer from all five boroughs of New York City. Campers in the program receive daily lessons in literacy, creative projects and writing, as well as hands-on computer access, which ensures that they learn necessary skills for daily school and job survival. n

6 6 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Diversity Cultural Heritage Month Celebrations & Diversity Training On January 26th, Kramer Levin hosted Professor Marcia L. McCormick, of Saint Louis University School of Law, to conduct a training session on The Art of Difficult Conversation. Professor McCormick s discussion focused on a variety of social science and humanities research to explain the role of reflection in how individuals experience life, the cognitive processes that take over absent reflection, and the effect these have on a person s ability to communicate. On February 8th, in honor of African American History Month, Kramer Levin hosted New York-based filmmaker Bennett Singer, to show excerpts from his award-winning documentary Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin. Bayard Rustin, often referred to as the unknown hero of the civil rights movement, is best remembered as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Joining Mr. Singer Women s Initiatives after the film excerpt for a discussion was Walter Naegel, Bayard Rustin's partner. On March 1st, in honor of Women s History Month, Kramer Levin hosted Taina Bien Aime, Executive Director of Equality Now. Ms. Bien Aime discussed her work with the organization which is a legal advocacy organization that focuses on women and children. Equality Now works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. Ms. Bien Aime shared not only the startling data on how many women and children have their rights violated but also several stories of success for women that were victims of human rights violations. On May 16th, in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Kramer Levin hosted Mae Ngai, a Columbia history professor whose new book is a critically acclaimed history of a Chinese American family in San Francisco. n As part of the Women s Initiative, Kramer Levin sponsored a lunch and discussion in November 2010 on client networking. Kramer Levin Associate Peggy Farber led the interactive discussion for the women attorneys of the firm. On March 29th, Kramer Levin s Women s Initiatives Committee sponsored a discussion on the importance of an attorney biography. The program, open to all attorneys, highlighted the essential components for composing an engaging message that highlights an attorney s strengths and capabilities. Kramer Levin attorney Arielle Warshall Katz and the firm s Chief Marketing Officer Jody Maier led the discussion. n

7 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics 7 Outside Support to Cultural Groups New York Women s Agenda (NYWA). On December 7, 2010, the firm was a sponsor for the New York Women s Agenda Star Breakfast. The event brought together 2,000 influential women and men from the New York metropolitan area and presented awards to several women who hold distinguished corporate or professional positions. Several attorneys at the firm attended this event. New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). Kramer Levin was a sponsor for the NYSBA 8th Annual Celebrating Diversity in the Bar Reception held on January 24, 2011 at the Hilton, New York. This networking reception was held in collaboration with NYSBA committees and sections and minority and ethnic bar associations in New York. During the event, the 2011 Diversity Trailblazer Award was presented to Sharon Y. Bowen, Esq. and the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the Hon. Theodore T. Jones. Kramer Levin attorney Benu Mehra was an active member on the planning committee for the event. Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY). Kramer Levin was a sponsor for the AABANY 22nd Annual Dinner held on February 23, Among the awards given out at the event was the Corporate Counsel Leadership Award to Timothy B. Goodell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Hess Corporation. Attorneys of Kramer Levin also attended this event. Native American Law Students Association (NALSA). On February 25-26, 2011, Kramer Levin attorney Brittlynn Hall participated as a judge in the NALSA National Moot Court Competition in New York City. Latino Law Student Association (LaLSA) at NYU Law. On March 7, 2011, Kramer Levin attorney Brandon Cody participated as a volunteer for LaLSA s Interviewing Skills Workshop which was offered to diverse first year law students. Harlem RBI. On March 8, 2011, Kramer Levin women attorneys and women clients of the firm attended the third annual Harlem RBI Women s Event. This event gathers more than 300 attendees to celebrate the success of the women and girls of Harlem RBI. Kramer Levin was also a sponsor for this event. Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) at the University of Michigan Law School. Kramer Levin was a sponsor for the sixth annual APALSA Origins Banquet held on March 25, n Kramer Levin Wins Criminal Appeal for Indigent Defendant On February 15, 2011, Litigation associate Jennifer Diana, working with the Legal Aid Society, won a criminal appeal in the New York Appellate Division, Second Department, on behalf of an indigent defendant. The defendant had been convicted on March 12, 2008 of assault in the second degree and sentenced to four years of incarceration and three years of post-release supervision. Ms. Diana successfully argued that the trial court s admission of testimony from a police detective improperly bolstered the complaining witness s identification of the defendant, constituting reversible error. Accordingly, the Second Department reversed the defendant s conviction and ordered a new trial. Litigation partners Steven S. Sparling and Robin Wilcox assisted Ms. Diana with this case. n Legal Services NYC Hails Kramer Levin as Pro Bono Visionary Legal Services NYC honored Kramer Levin as one of its Pro Bono Visionaries for 2010 for its more than decadelong commitment to staffing a full-time Housing Court externship at South Brooklyn Legal Services. 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 former South Brooklyn externs: associates Rachel Feinberg, Elizabeth S. Larsen, and Nakeeb Siddique. The firm s award was accepted by Pro Bono Chair Jeffrey S. Trachtman. n

8 8 Diversity & Community Service Mosaics Diversity and Community Calendar March 2011 s m t w th f sa April 2011 s m t w th f sa May 2011 s m t w th f sa June 2011 s m t w th f sa March 1, 2011 (Kramer Levin offices, New York) Women s History Month Program with Tania Bien-Aime. March 8, 2011 (Kramer Levin offices, New York) Kramer Levin sponsored Harlem RBI s Annual Women s Event. March 14, 2011 American Cancer Society, Daffodil Days. March 16, 2011 (Kramer Levin offices, New York) Working Parents Workshop on Peer Relationships with Hannah Wiltshire. April 16, 2011 New York Cares, Hands on New York Day. April 28, 2011 (Waldorf Astoria, New York City) Kramer Levin was a sponsor for the Crohn s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) 18th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon. May 16, 2011 (Kramer Levin offices, New York) Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Program with Mae Ngai. May 2011 City Harvest, Skip Lunch Fight Hunger. June 2011 Coalition for the Homeless, Camp Homeward Bound Program. June 6, 2011 (Cipriani, New York City) Kramer Levin is a sponsor for Harlem RBI s Bids for Kids annual Gala event. June 7, 2011 (The Harvard Club, New York City) Kramer Levin is a sponsor for KALAGNY s 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner. June 13, 2011 (New York City Bar Association, New York City) Kramer Levin is a sponsor for the ABCNY s LGBT Rights Committee s annual event in honor of LGBT Pride Month. June 15, 2011 (New York City) Kramer Levin attorneys will attend the broadway show The Normal Heart in honor of LGBT Pride Month. June 21, 2011 (New York City) Kramer Levin is a sponsor for the ACLU LGBT & AIDS Project s 25th Anniversary Reception 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 Lauren Tapper Director of Diversity ltapper@kramerlevin.com Eric A. Tirschwell Partner, Co-Chair of Pro Bono Committee etirschwell@kramerlevin.com Jody E. Maier Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director jmaier@kramerlevin.com