PrO BOnO: An Integral Part of Fried Frank Culture We regard pro bono work as an opportunity to give back to our community and shine as lawyers. Our long tradition of pro bono service extends across all of our practices. At every level, from partner to summer associate, we apply the same exacting standards to pro bono representations as to everything we do. New York Washington DC London Paris Hong Kong Shanghai friedfrank.com
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP One New York Plaza New York, NY 10002 Phone: (212) 859-8000 www.friedfrank.com locations New York, NY Washington, DC Frankfurt Hong Kong London Paris Shanghai MAJOR DEPARTMENTS & PRACTICES Antitrust and Competition Bankruptcy and Restructuring Corporate (Asset Management, Capital Markets, Corporate Governance, Derivatives, Environmental, Financings, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Acquisitions and Private Equity, Corporate Real Estate Transactions) Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Intellectual Property and Technology Transactions International Trade and Investment Litigation (Antitrust Litigation, International Arbitration, Bankruptcy- Related Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Government Contracts, Real Estate Litigation, Securities Enforcement and Regulation, Securities and Shareholder Litigation, White Collar Criminal Defense) Pro Bono Real Estate Tax Trusts and Estates THE STATS No. of Attorneys: 544 No. of Offices: 7 Chairperson: Valerie Ford Jacob Hiring Partner(s): David B. Hennes S steven J. Steinman EMPLOYMENT CONTACT Robert O. Edwards Director of Attorney Recruitment and Development Phone: (212) 859-8671 Email: robert.edwards@friedfrank.com Careers website: www.friedfrank.com/careers 219
Who s Who Does the firm have one or more pro bono coordinators and/or partners? If so, how many? 2 For each of your pro bono coordinators and/or partners, please specify how much of his/her time is spent on pro bono work and/ or administering the firm s pro bono program. Pro Bono Coordinator/Partner 1 All of his/her time Pro Bono Coordinator/Partner 2 All of his/her time Please provide the primary pro bono contact(s) s information below. Jennifer L. Colyer Special Counsel Phone: (212) 859-8285 Email: jennifer.colyer@friedfrank.com Karen T. Grisez Special Counsel Phone: (202) 639-7043 Email: karen.grisez@friedfrank.com Does the firm have a pro bono committee? How often does the committee meet? Monthly Please describe the composition of the committee. Partners and associates from the New York and Washington, DC offices, and the two pro bono special counsel (one resident in each office). THE SCOOP Does your firm have a written pro bono policy? Can associates bring pro bono matters of interest to the firm? How does the firm decide whether to take on a pro bono matter? We consider the nature of the client and the matter to ensure that it can be staffed and supervised appropriately. Has the firm signed on to the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge? What are some of the areas of law in which your firm has performed pro bono legal work since 2010? Arts and historic preservation, Asylum, Bankruptcy, Civil rights, Community economic development, Domestic violence, Education, Employment, Environment, Fair housing/tenants rights, Family law, First Amendment and constitutional issues, Immigration, Indigent criminal defense, Nonprofit corporate law, Nonprofit incorporation/tax exemptions, Nonprofit intellectual property, Prisoners rights, Public benefits, Real estate transactions, Veterans benefits/appeals, Voting rights Are there areas of law in which, as a matter of policy or practice, your firm does not perform pro bono work? No List up to 10 of your firm s pro bono clients or partners since 2010, including legal service providers or clearinghouses. Human Rights First Lawyers Alliance for New York Volunteers of Legal Service inmotion Sanctuary for Families CAIR Coalition Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Children s Law Center National Veterans Legal Services Program DC Bar Pro Bono Program List up to three representative examples of your firm s pro bono matters since 2010. Please limit your answer to a short paragraph per matter. Fried Frank represented The Innocence Project, Peter Neufeld and Vanessa Potkin in a high-profile defamation case in the Southern District of Mississippi. The Innocence Project had represented and exonerated two men, Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer, after they had spent a combined thirty years in Mississippi prisons for crimes they did not commit (two separate murders of young girls). In the process, the Innocence Project found the actual killer of both girls and uncovered significant problems with the forensic pathology that led to both men s convictions. In the wake of the exonerations, the Innocence Project, Neufeld and Potkin wrote to the state board of medical licensure about Dr. Steven Hayne, the forensic pathologist in both cases describing shortcomings in Dr. Hayne s practice. In the wake of this letter, Dr. Hayne sued the Innocence Project, Neufeld and Potkin for defamation. On May 2, 2012, Fried Frank achieved 220 2012 Vault.com Inc.
a major victory for the defendants after the close of fact discovery. Over the past two years, Fried Frank has dramatically increased the transactional pro bono work that it handles. For example, we have taken on several clients referred by the Lawyers Alliance for New York, to provide corporate form and governance advice, advice on formation, finance, leasing and dissolution. In addition, we have held several clinics to provide legal advice on contract, licensing, trademark and other matters to clients of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Through these clinics, our lawyers have advised more than 40 artists on various issues impacting their work. Fried Frank has long been recognized for its high level of activity in representing asylum seekers before the Asylum Offices and in removal proceedings in Immigration Court. A distinguishing factor of our practice is that we normally continue representing our asylee clients in obtaining their lawful permanent resident status (green cards) and eventually in applying for naturalization. In this way, we help these clients move from temporary protection from persecution in their home countries to full civic integration in the United States. In 2011 and 2012, we have successfully represented 14 clients from Afghanistan, Burma, East Timor, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Nigeria, Tibet, Russia and Montenegro (former Yugoslavia) in becoming new U.S. citizens. List up to three pro bono matters that are highlights (e.g., a Supreme Court case). Please limit your answer to a short paragraph per matter. On March 26, 2012, Fried Frank filed two important amicus briefs in support of the position of the United States in Arizona v. United States, the case involving the constitutionality of Arizona s controversial immigration law. One of the briefs was submitted on behalf of 68 members of Congress, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and civil rights icon John Lewis, as well as the chairpersons of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. The second brief was submitted on behalf of the American Bar Association. On June 25, 2012, the United States Supreme Court issued a 5 3 decision in favor of the U.S. government, striking down three major parts of the law (a law making it a crime for an illegal immigrant to work or to seek work in Arizona, a law which authorized state and local officers to arrest people without a warrant if officers have probable cause to believe an individual is an illegal immigrant, and a law that made it a state requirement for immigrants to register with the federal government). The decision likely bears significant implications for other states that have enacted similar laws. A three-judge federal panel issued a ruling in Texas v. United States denying preclearance under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act for three Texas statewide redistricting plans. Fried Frank and co-counsel MALDEF represented the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force in a successful intervention on behalf of Latino voters to challenge the congressional and state House redistricting plans for discriminating against Latino voters. Fried Frank also worked with MALDEF to oppose Texas s motion for summary judgment, and helped with preparations for trial. After months of deliberation, the three-judge panel held that: the Congressional Plan reduces Latino voting strength and was enacted with discriminatory racial intent; the State House Plan reduces minority voting strength; and the State Senate Plan was enacted with discriminatory racial intent. Texas has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of the United States. Over the past eight years, Fried Frank summer associates and counsel have represented clients each summer at the South Texas Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) in Harlingen, Texas, where there are several immigration detention centers. We primarily represent clients seeking asylum, but have also handled cancellation of removal cases. This past summer, we won asylum for Endale T., an Ethiopian man who was detained at the Port Isabel detention center after seeking political asylum from Ethiopia at the U.S. border. Mr. T. had participated in elections that the Ethiopian government claimed were going to be free and open, and he had campaigned for a candidate who was not from the ruling party. As a result, Mr. T. was detained (with no trial) in a local jail and beaten for a month. He was later transported to a central prison, but during the transport he was able to escape when the truck he was in was stuck in the mud. He had escaped with a friend who was shot while running from the truck, but Mr. T. survived that ordeal and then traveled to the U.S. It took him six years to wind his way through Africa, South America and Central America before he could present his claim to a U.S. court. BY THE NUMBERS What is the total number of hours that lawyers at your U.S. office(s) spent performing pro bono legal services, as defined by the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge, in 2010 and 2011? Do not include summer associate or non-lawyer pro bono hours in your answers. Total number of pro bono hours in 2010: 27,586 Total number of pro bono hours in 2011: 35,387 What was the attorney headcount in your firm s U.S. offices? Number of attorneys as of December 31, 2010: 543 Number of attorneys as of December 31, 2011: 550 Using the number of attorneys listed above, what is the average number of pro bono hours per attorney in your firm s U.S. office(s) during the following years? Average number of hours per attorney in 2010: 51 Average number of hours per attorney in 2011: 64 What percentage of attorneys employed during 2010 and 2011 in your firm s U.S. office(s) did at least 20 hours of pro bono during that calendar year? Percentage of attorneys who did pro bono work in 2010: 21 30% Percentage of attorneys who did pro bono work in 2011: 21 30% Visit www.vault.com for company rankings, ratings and reviews to learn what it s really like to work in an industry or company and how to position yourself to land that job. 221
SUPERVISION AND EVALUATIONS Is there partner supervision on all pro bono matters? Do partner supervisors or, if applicable, senior associates provide written evaluations of associates work on pro bono matters? Are those evaluations taken into account in determining salary or bonuses?, they are taken into account when determining salary, they are taken into account when determining bonuses Are those evaluations taken into account in determining advancement within the firm? Is there a pro bono requirement at your firm? What is the requirement and to whom does it apply? Associates and counsel are required to record 20 pro bono hours. In the Washington, DC office, lawyers are expected to perform at least 50 hours of pro bono service per year. Does the firm give billable hour credit for pro bono work? N/A - The firm does not have a billable hours target Does the firm have a maximum number of pro bono hours that can be applied toward the billable hour target? N/A - The firm does not have a billable hours target Does the firm consider pro bono hours when determining bonuses? PRO BONO POINTS What training opportunities are open to associates working on pro bono matters? Associates receive training year-round in a wide variety of skills. Those trainings are applicable to pro bono matters as well as to billable matters. In addition, associates who are interested in particular types of pro bono matters are given the opportunity to attend trainings in specific legal areas applicable to those matters throughout the year. Does the firm offer the use of support staff in handling pro bono matters? Please indicate how many total hours and average hours per person your summer associates spent performing pro bono in 2010 and 2011. Total hours summer associates spent on pro bono work 2010: 3,635 2011: 1,981 Average hours per summer associate spent on pro bono work 2010: 64 2011: 43 Percentage of summer associates in your firm s U.S. office(s) engaged in pro bono work 2010: 88% 2011: 70% Please provide any additional information about pro bono opportunities available to summer associates. Public service is an essential part of our practice at Fried Frank. Summer associates are offered a variety of public interest projects to choose from. Some of the dynamic organizations and programs that we work with include: Sanctuary for Families Court Room Advocates Project (CAP), Volunteers of Legal Service Training Program (VOLS), Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Human Rights First and National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP), and the South Texas Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) (see pro bono matter highlights above for discussion of ProBAR). Does the firm have established programs, such as externships, that enable its associates to work in a public interest setting? Please describe the established program(s) and their duration, if applicable. In collaboration with some of the country s leading advocacy organizations, we have created unique programs that effectively bridge the worlds of private law firm litigation and public service law and offer our attorneys pro bono fellowship and externship opportunities. These organizations include the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), inmotion, the New York Legal Aid Society, and The Constitution Project, among others. What other law-related public interest and community service programs (that are not pro bono as defined by the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge) do you offer and manage? For example, list any law school collaborations and public interest scholarships, auctions at law schools, monetary support, or fellowships. The Firm sponsors a Street Law educational program created by New York Law School which brings together economically disadvantaged high school students with law students and practicing attorneys in an effort to educate the students about 222 2012 Vault.com Inc.
how the law affects their daily lives, and inspire the students to focus on their studies and consider a career in the legal profession. Fried Frank s DC office also works with School Without Walls, a non-traditional high school that uses the city as its classroom, participating in citywide mock trial tournaments and organizing other activities including a career day, tutoring program and tours of local courts and historic sites. Additionally, the Fried Frank Pre-Law Scholars Program includes partnerships with New York s Hunter College, to prepare the college s diverse student body to become competitive law school candidates through intensive LSAT and academic preparation and mentoring programs, and with Just the Beginning Foundation (JTBF), to collaborate on outreach programs for DC-metropolitan area elementary, middle and high school students to expose them to law practice. What non-law related volunteer opportunities does your firm offer? For example, list any work with high school students and non-legal volunteerism for organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Fried Frank participates in various community programs, including the AIDS Walk and Habitat for Humanity. The Firm hosts volunteer days for partners and associates in select departments several times a year with New York Cares and Greater DC Cares. Additionally, the Firm participates in the Career Exploration Program with the Girl Scouts by hosting workplace visits for middle school girls. We also host high school students visiting the Washington, DC area as part of the National Youth Leadership Forum. Please list any special recognition or awards your firm has won since 2010 for its pro bono work. Founders Award, presented by the IDEAL School to Fried Frank, real estate partner Ross Silver and litigation partner Gregg Weiner for real estate and litigation work. (November 2012) Courageous Luminary Awards for Legal Service, presented by the National Immigration Law Center to Fried Frank, litigation of counsel Robert Juceam and litigation special counsel Karen Grisez. (December 2011) Pro Bono Publico Awards, presented by The Legal Aid Society to Fried Frank, corporate associate Thao Tran and former corporate associate Andrew Idrizovic, in recognition of the Firm s work on the Legal Aid Society s Community Development Project. (November 2012 and 2011) Outstanding Achievement Award, presented by the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, in recognition of Fried Frank s multi-year representation of the Equal Rights Center (ERC) in a number of federal actions against developers who failed to comply with the Fair Housing Act and the ADA. (June 2011) Girl Scout Council of Greater New York s Impact Award, awarded annually to an organization that has made a valuable investment in the development of New York City girls through the Girl Scout program. (March 2011) Please add any additional information about your firm s pro bono program. Fried Frank Pro Bono Mission Statement Fried Frank s pro bono program continues the Firm s longstanding tradition of public service. The Firm s tradition was apparent as far back as the 1950s, when former partner Colonel George A. Spiegelberg represented an army staff sergeant accused of treason, many believed unfairly, in the landmark case of United States v. Proovoo. It continued into the 1960s when former partner William Josephson was instrumental in founding the Peace Corps, and when retired name partner Sargent Shriver founded the National Center for Poverty Law, which is now recognized as the Shriver Center Sargent Shriver National Center for Poverty Law. This commitment is currently reflected in the wide-ranging pro bono work performed over the years by attorneys, summer associates and legal assistants in such areas as representing indigent individuals accused of crime, assisting microentrepreneurs with finance and real estate issues, representing non-citizens who seek to enter or remain in this country or are threatened with denial of basic civil liberties, working on behalf of veterans to secure much-needed benefits and representing other persons in desperate need of legal assistance. The Firm s pro bono program is designed to further several goals. The first, of course, is to provide representation to people of limited means, and to worthy public interest organizations. The program is also there to help each of the Firm s attorneys fulfill their ethical obligation to provide representation to those in need. In addition, the program is designed to ensure skill development in all areas of practice and foster relationships between partners and associates. Finally, through the program, the Firm strengthens its ties to various minority communities, which cultivates overall diversity in the Firm. In addition to the many pro bono opportunities that are available at the Firm s U.S. offices, lawyers in our London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, and Shanghai offices are also involved with public service and provide pro bono legal services. We are proud of our pro bono tradition and the lawyers who help to keep it alive, and expect to be leaders in pro bono in the decades to come. Visit www.vault.com for company rankings, ratings and reviews to learn what it s really like to work in an industry or company and how to position yourself to land that job. 223