Milbank LLP’s 28th annual Pro Bono Awards, which spotlighted the firm’s work on matters involving police accountability, immigrant rights and racial justice, was hosted virtually this year by Pro Bono Counsel Anthony Perez Cassino and Deputy Pro Bono Counsel Rebecca Heller. The event brought over 200 lawyers, summer associates and staff members together to recognize the firm’s pro bono achievements over the past year.
Chairman Scott Edelman’s introductory remarks emphasized how Milbank’s sustained commitment to pro bono was especially crucial this year, given the evolving, global conversation about racial equality, police misconduct and equal access to justice. “Although this event is reaching its 30-year anniversary, it feels particularly meaningful to celebrate our efforts and accomplishments this year,” he noted. “Our lawyers are working to secure more transparency in police proceedings, instill greater accountability measures for our institutions and to help small businesses adapt to the ongoing pandemic. So many in our community have raised their hand to help others, and we at Milbank are committed to continuing this pro bono work, which can and does change people’s lives.”
The awards’ program featured an Honor Roll recognizing lawyers who contributed 100 or more hours of pro bono work over the award year, and 20 Century Club members who performed 100 or more hours in two of the last three years. Overall, the firm averaged 80.9 pro bono hours per US-based lawyer in 2019, with 91% of US attorneys contributing 20 or more hours to pro bono. In addition, each summer associate from this year’s class contributed approximately 40 hours to pro bono work.
Mr. Cassino, who introduced the awardees and described their victories over the past year, noted, “Our community is immensely proud of the work that has been done, and proud to be at a firm that supports and encourages every single attorney to get involved in pro bono matters.”
The honorees recognized include:
Individual honorees
- Erik Wilson (NY, Litigation)
- Rachel Siegel (NY, Litigation)
- Grace Green (NY, Litigation)
- Real Estate Group (NY, Real Estate)
- James Whooley (LA, Litigation)
- Tim Fitzpatrick (NY, Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance)
- Maria Ortiz (NY, Litigation)
- Emily Glaser (DC, Litigation)
- Stephen Morgan (NY, Litigation)
Team honorees
- Alexandra Achamallah (LA, Litigation), Robert Liubicic (LA, Litigation)
- Jonathan Lamberti (NY, Litigation), Chase Beauclair (NY, Litigation), Stacey Rappaport (NY, Litigation)
- Emily Scarisbrick (NY, Litigation), Scott Edelman (NY, Litigation), Alison Bonelli (NY, Litigation)
- Tom Kreller (LA, Financial Restructuring), Sam Payne (LA, Litigation), Linda Dakin-Grimm (LA, Litigation), Andrew Lichtenberg (NY, Litigation), Katherine Fell (NY, Litigation), Ashley Satterlee (NY, Litigation), Cara O’Connor (NY, Litigation), Mandy Stupart (Alternative Investments, NY)
- Matt Ahrens (NY, Corporate), Drew Batkin (NY, Tax), Kevin O'Shea (Real Estate, NY), Jeffrey Zwerner (LA, Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance), Richard Hillman (NY, Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance), Kyle Smit (NY, Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance)
- Dani Lee (DC, Litigation), James Cavoli (NY, Litigation), Kingdar Prussien (NY, Litigation), Alexandra Paslawsky (NY, Litigation)
- Ben Nicholson (LA, Litigation), Jackie Rosen (LA, Litigation), Emile Ayoub (LA, Litigation), Robert Liubicic (LA, Litigation)
- Andi Hasaj (NY, Capital Markets), Allen Mintz (NY, Leveraged Finance), Gabrielle DiBernardi (NY, Corporate), Jerome McCluskey (NY, Leveraged Finance), Bob Kennedy (NY, Corporate), Jenny Saufley (NY, Leveraged Finance)
