Four Decades for Justice
As a result of our commitment to pro bono work, we have received the following awards and recognition:
On December 5, 2022 Cravath earned Standout recognition in the Responsible Business category from Financial Times’ North America Innovative Lawyers in 2022 for our Incarcerated Survivors’ Initiative, which assists incarcerated survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, including on matters related to resentencing, parole and civil rights violations, and in partnership with legal and social services organizations.
On November 2, 2022, Sanctuary for Families honored Cravath as a recipient of its 2022 Above & Beyond Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Advocacy. The awards recognize attorneys who have provided outstanding pro bono representation to survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence. Cravath was honored for its work assisting a survivor of gender‑based violence secure parole. This case is part of a larger effort, Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors’ Initiative, led by partner David M. Stuart. The ISI assists incarcerated survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, including on matters related to resentencing, parole and civil rights violations, and in partnership with legal and social services organizations.
On October 27, 2022, Cravath was honored by New York Legal Assistance Group (“NYLAG”) at its 2022 Pro Bono Awards. The Firm received the Hero of Justice Award in recognition of its work with NYLAG over the past year. NYLAG highlighted Cravath’s work with NYLAG on humanitarian parole applications, including for individuals from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
On December 16, 2021, The Legal Aid Society honored Cravath as one of its 2021 Pro Bono Publico Award recipients for outstanding service to the organization and its clients. Each year, Legal Aid recognizes the work of volunteer lawyers, law firms, corporations and other professionals who support or participate in its Pro Bono Program by providing exceptional legal services to vulnerable New Yorkers. Cravath received the 2021 award in recognition of our work for immigrant rights, incarcerated women who have survived domestic and/or sexual violence and low-income New Yorkers in need of transactional legal assistance. A number of attorneys were nominated for individual recognition, including partners Rachel G. Skaistis, David M. Stuart, Omid H. Nasab and Matthew M. Kelly and 12 associates.
On June 17, 2021 VOLS recognized Garret Biedermann, Amanda Lamothe‑Cadet, Natalie Li and Mark Davies as part of their New York, Together Awards. VOLS recognized pro bono teams who helped keep the community afloat during this year of crisis. As part of the VOLS Children’s Hospital Project, the Cravath team worked with a patient being treated for chronic kidney disease to have a guardian appointed. Due to COVID, guardianship proceedings have been paused unless deemed an emergency, which the team successfully argued.
On May 20, 2021 Cravath was honored for its pro bono work representing asylum seekers at Immigration Equality’s 2021 Safe Haven Awards Virtual Gala. Immigration Equality is America’s leading LGBTQ and HIV‑positive immigrant rights organization. Through our partnership with Immigration Equality, we have worked with immigrants fleeing persecution from Burkina Faso, Cuba, El Salvador, Georgia, Honduras, Jamaica, Russia and Ukraine. In recognition of the lifesaving work for LGBTQ and HIV‑positive asylum seekers Cravath has provided, Immigration Equality commented, “We've been consistently impressed with the dedication Cravath has shown, especially in depth and quality of work, taking multiple cases, taking advanced level defensive cases during a pandemic, and taking long‑distance cases. We’ve truly enjoyed and appreciated working with everyone at Cravath.”
On March 17, 2021, Her Justice selected our Pro Bono Manager, Aviania Iliadis, to receive a 2021 Commitment to Justice Award. This year, the 2021 Commitment to Justice Awards was a week‑long recognition of Her Justice’s valued pro bono partners and supporters. Her Justice noted, “It has been a year like no other and we would like to celebrate the extraordinary pro bono service that this award honors. We are extremely grateful for the firm’s support of our work! We look forward to this opportunity to pay tribute to Aviania, and other members of the legal community for their collective commitment to pro bono legal services.”
On September 16, 2020, Human Rights First announced it will award Cravath its 2020 Marvin E. Frankel award, which is presented annually in recognition of a law firm’s demonstrating outstanding dedication to pro bono service related to protecting refugees, clients in immigration detention and asylum-seekers. The Firm is being honored for its work on various asylum cases in 2019, for helping to establish new case law that will likely assist other asylum-seekers, and for its longstanding support of Human Rights First.
On July 21, 2020, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (“NLADA”), the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel, announced that Cravath will be honored with a 2020 “Beacon of Justice Award,” for pro bono work serving vulnerable people seeking asylum in the United States. Those individuals represented by Cravath included men and women from Africa, Europe and Latin America, each of whom faced serious prospects of persecution in the countries they left. Cravath also provided pro bono legal services to sick children and their families facing various immigration issues, and to immigrant victims of domestic violence.
On October 28, 2019, The Legal Aid Society honored Cravath as one of the recipients of its 2019 Pro Bono Publico Award for outstanding service to the organization and its clients. Associates Dyan Jones and Nicole Valente were nominated for individual recognition.
On October 16, 2018, The Legal Aid Society awarded Cravath with the 2018 Pro Bono Publico Award in recognition of outstanding pro bono service, dedication and commitment to the organization and its clients. The Firm received the award in recognition of its work on juvenile rights issues. In addition, partner Darin McAtee was nominated for individual recognition.
On October 25, 2017, The Legal Aid Society awarded Cravath with the 2017 Pro Bono Publico Award in recognition of outstanding pro bono service, dedication and commitment to the organization and its clients. In addition, a number of attorneys were nominated for individual recognition, including partners Damaris Hernández, Darin McAtee and Rachel Skaistis.
On October 17, 2017, Cravath was honored by Sanctuary for Families at its annual “Above & Beyond Pro Bono Achievement Awards and Benefit,” which was held in New York City. The awards recognize “outstanding pro bono representation and advocacy” provided to victims of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence. Cravath was selected as a 2017 honoree for its work on a Sixth Circuit amicus brief, which focused on domestic violence issues that must be considered in Hague Convention abduction cases. The Cravath team working with Sanctuary for Families on this matter was led by partner Rachel G. Skaistis.
On June 14, 2017, Cravath was honored for its longstanding commitment to pro bono work by MFY Legal Services Inc., an independent, not‑for‑profit law firm dedicated to achieving social justice, at the organization’s annual Dinner‑Theatre Benefit in New York City. MFY prioritizes the needs of people who are low‑income, disenfranchised or have disabilities, by providing direct civil legal assistance, conducting community education, engaging in policy advocacy and bringing impact litigation. Cravath partner Thomas E. Dunn, a member and past Chairman of MFY’s Board of Directors, attended the benefit and accepted the award on behalf of the Firm.
On April 27, 2017, the Disability Rights Advocates honored Cravath at an event celebrating co‑counsel. Led by partner Darin McAtee, Cravath has partnered with the Disability Rights Advocates on two class action law suits, one regarding the lack of access to police departments by those with mobility disabilities and the other regarding the failure of the City of New York to install and maintain curb cuts at the ends of sidewalks, and an amicus brief and argument regarding police officers fired for using hearing aids.
In 2013, Cravath received the 2013 Social Justice Award from the Urban Justice Center for outstanding pro bono work. For 29 years, the Urban Justice Center has served New York City’s most vulnerable residents through a combination of direct legal service, systemic advocacy, community education and political organizing. They assist their clients on numerous levels, from one-on-one legal advice in soup kitchens, to helping individuals access housing and government assistance, to filing class action lawsuits to bring about systemic change.
On April 10, 2013, Cravath was honored by the City Bar Justice Center at the program’s Annual Gala. The City Bar Justice Center, as part of a public service affiliate created by the New York City Bar Association, has dedicated itself over the past four decades to providing low-income clients throughout New York City with the information and tools they need to succeed within the legal system. By assembling a vast and diverse network of legal service providers, the Justice Center has created a wealth of pro bono resources and programs to ensure equal access to economic, immigrant and family justice. Over the years, Cravath has played an active role in supporting this mission through its leadership with the New York City Bar Association and ongoing financial support of the City Bar Justice Center.
On February 7, 2013, Cravath was honored at Her Justice Inc.’s (formerly inMotion) 13th annual Commitment to Justice Awards in New York City. Her Justice provides free legal and social services to low-income women, including recent immigrants and those suffering from domestic violence. Each year, the organization honors the contributions of those who have volunteered, promoted or supported the cases and work of Her Justice. Cravath received the “Law Firm Award” for its pro bono work. Cravath associate Lindsay J. Smith received a “Legal Team Award” for her outstanding advocacy on behalf of a mother of two children who was abused by her former husband. Lindsay helped the client obtain final orders of child support and custody after the client had moved to a domestic violence shelter with her daughters. She is now assisting the client to obtain a divorce, helping to ensure that she and her children will be free from future harm. Additionally, discovery attorney Alysa D. Mokas received a “Pro Bono Liaison Award” for her initiative in recruiting Cravath attorneys to represent Her Justice clients, as well as organizing Her Justice CLE training sessions at the Firm.
On February 9, 2012, Cravath individuals were honored at Her Justice’s 12th annual Commitment to Justice Awards. Her Justice provides free legal and social services to low-income women, including recent immigrants and those suffering from domestic violence. Associate Christopher D. Belelieu received a “Legal Team Award” for his outstanding legal work representing a Hispanic mother of three children who was abused by her former husband. Christopher helped the client obtain legal immigration status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), employment authorization and lawful permanent residence as well as a divorce that allowed her to gain custody of her children. 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.
On November 9, 2011, Cravath was honored at The Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Awards Ceremony in New York City. Each year, the organization honors leading pro bono lawyers, legal support staff, law firms and corporations for their outstanding pro bono services provided to The Legal Aid Society and the Society’s clients. The Firm was recognized for its victory in a murder case on grounds of newly discovered evidence, and successfully defending the ruling on appeal. As a result, the Society’s client was released from prison after serving 14 years. Cravath partners Evan R. Chesler, Darin P. McAtee and Antony L. Ryan and associate Robert A. Miranne were recognized for their contributions.
On November 5, 2011, Cravath was honored by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan at the organization’s annual dinner. Each year, the ACLU of Michigan honors individuals and organizations that have worked to advance the cause of civil liberties and civil rights in Michigan. Cravath was recognized for its pro bono work, donating more hours to ACLU of Michigan cases than any other firm in the country. Cravath partners Julie A. North and Karin A. DeMasi and their teams were recognized for their contributions.
On February 17, 2011, 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 Her Justice (formerly 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 Her Justice 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 paralegals 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 paralegals 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) presented Cravath with its “In The Trenches” Award in recognition of our extraordinary support of the work of the LCADV.
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