On February 17, 2011, Cravath Presiding Partner Evan R. Chesler was honored at the annual Law & Society Award luncheon of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI). The event honors prominent members of the private bar for their exemplary commitment to public service. Evan was recognized for his accomplishments as a litigator and his deep commitment to pro bono work.

On January 27, 2011, the late Robert D. Joffe, Cravath partner from 1975 until 2010 and the Firm’s Presiding Partner from 1999 until 2006, was honored posthumously with the Distinguished Public Service Award at the Annual Dinner of the New York State Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section. Bob was recognized for his accomplishments as a preeminent antitrust lawyer who was dedicated to public service and human rights work from the earliest days of his career. This work included serving in the Ministry of Justice of the Government of Malawi for two years and representing black workers in Martin v. Wilks, a pro bono civil rights case that went to the United States Supreme Court. Bob also served as a director of public interest organizations such as Human Rights First, where he was Vice Chair of the Board, and The After-School Corporation. Cravath partner Stephen S. Madsen presented the award, which was accepted by Bob’s brother, Richard Joffe, on behalf of the Joffe family.

In 2009 and 2010, Cravath was recognized with The Legal Aid Society's Pro Bono Awards. The Firm was among those honored for its work with Legal Aid and its clients.

On October 6, 2009, Cravath was honored by the Volunteers of Legal Service, Inc. (VOLS) at its 25th Anniversary reception. The Firm received the VOLS Pro Bono Award for taking the VOLS Pro Bono Pledge, to meet or to exceed the VOLS annual goal of providing at least an average of 30 hours of qualifying pro bono work per attorney.

At the 2009 inMotion Commitment to Justice Awards, several Cravath associates and former associates received Legal Team Awards in honor of their outstanding volunteer work on inMotion cases. Additionally, numerous other Cravath lawyers and other employees were named to the Honor Roll, which recognizes the contribution of those who have volunteered, promoted or supported the cases and work of inMotion in various ways.

Cravath was presented with the 2008 Pro Bono Publico and Public Service Law Firm Award at The Legal Aid Society’s annual Pro Bono Awards for its extraordinary pro bono commitment to Legal Aid and its clients. The Firm was honored in particular for its tireless work as co-counsel in long-running litigation on behalf of homeless families with children, seeking to compel New York City and New York State to meet state constitutional requirements relating to the provision of shelter. The landmark settlement in 2008 resolved 25 years of litigation and provides a permanent and enforceable right to shelter for homeless children and their families. Fifteen Cravath partners, associates and legal assistants received individual awards in recognition of their contributions to this matter.

Cravath was honored at The Legal Aid Society’s 2007 Pro Bono Awards. Twenty-one partners, associates and legal assistants received Pro Bono Publico Awards in recognition for their involvement in two significant litigation matters. The first was the homeless children and families lawsuit. The second is a federal class action suit challenging the inadequate pre-release planning and transitional services available to people with psychiatric disabilities being released on parole from New York State prisons.

In 2007, Evan Chesler was presented with the Human Relations Award by the Anti-Defamation League.

Cravath was honored by the Innocence Project for our support of the organization, including work as the Innocence Project’s corporate counsel and assistance in establishing the Exoneree Emergency Fund.

The Lawyers Committee Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) recently presented Cravath with its “In The Trenches” Award in recognition of our extraordinary support of the work of the LCADV.